Fifth Anniversary Ceremony of the Great East Japan Earthquake was held on March 6, 2016. Reverend Toshimasa Okanari, the former Chief Administrative Director, gave an address.
The Power of Gratitude and Joy―What I Received from My Parents―
By the Rev. Junji Fujii
Konko Church of Kojima Akasaki
Entering a Konko Church with My Parents
My father was born in Konko Town and he was raised at Konko Church of Nuttari in Ni’igata Prefecture, where his parents did goyo (selfless service for Kami/Divine Parent) as the church’s successors. Father finished school in Ni’igata, and he then entered Konkokyo Gakuin Seminary in Konko Town, Okayama Prefcture. After graduating from the Seminary and being ordained as a Konko minister, my father did goyo at the Konkokyo Headquarters for thirty-eight years. His goyo in Konko town lasted until 1995. Shortly after he was done as a staff member of the Headquarters, my father went into Konko Church of Kojima Akasaki on a permanent basis as the church’s successor, since the church had been without Konko ministers for eleven years. Father was excited about his new environment, because it was his long-time dream to do goyo at a local church. He was also pleased with it that the size of the building of the church, its garden and inner room looked like the Replica of the Founder’s Mediation Hall. 続きを読む
Let’s Be Happy, Thankful and Express Our Gratitude!
Rev. Yasunori Kato
Konko 
Church of Hirabari
The Spiritual Turning Point of my Father’s Faith
My father, the late Reverend Jonosuke Kato, was the second Head Minister of our church and he passed away at the age of 90 in October 2014. Father went to be with our Divine Parent (Kami) on the very next day of Ikigami Konko Daijin Grand Ceremony at our church. He was a Konko minister for 68 years, serving as our church’s head minister for 40 years. 続きを読む
Konkokyo Establishment Day Service was held on November 15, 2015. Reverend Toshimasa Okanari, the Chief Administrative Director, gave an address.
Reverend Jun’ichi Watanabe, the head minister of Konko church of Habikino gave a lecture in the 1st Konko International Celebration held in 2015.
Reported by Reverend Lisa Uzunoe, Konko Church of Portland, USA
(edited from full 6 page report)
On April 15th this year, to my delight I received an email from the Konkokyo International Center asking if I could help with their annual faith gathering in London from June 4th -10th with Reverend Yukie Morimoto, Deputy director of KIC. I’ve never been to Europe before, and after receiving Mediation, as work and home schedule allowed it I was able to reply “yes.”
We had a total of four scheduled events: a “mama’s party” for the mothers to get together and talk specifically about families and children, a faith workshop presentation and discussion, a prayer service and social hour, and a requested prayer service at a believer’s house.
On the 6th, we had a wonderful mama’s gathering, where the everyday Sunday school items we use, the kid’s prayer book, Sunday school pledge, family teachings, etc, were so well received and needed.
In the morning of the 8th, we had a faith workshop presentation. My main message for the workshop was the teaching,
When practicing faith, there are more blessings which cannot be seen than those which can be seen. The blessings you unknowingly receive number more than the blessings you knowingly receive. If you think about it, you will come to realize the many divine blessings you have received. If you can do this, you are a true believer. (Voice of the Universe #130)
Then emphasized how important Mediation is to becoming able to achieve the above teaching. And even though there are no churches or Mediators in the UK, how KIC’s Mediators are there for them, and soon KCNA’s website Mediator request link, skype, and other media – truly through technology, Mediation is available anytime, anywhere. Also through sharing my own experiences, hoped to establish a connection for them with Konko Sama, as he doesn’t need technology to Mediate! At the end, wished to empower them by sharing stories of the KCNA pioneers.
In the afternoon, Reverend Morimoto and I officiated the prayer service with sermon.
On the 9th, prayer service at a believer’s house was held and after the service we all enjoyed a wonderful lunch.
It truly opened my heart when I saw their faith, how deeply appreciative they were to be able to hold and attend a service, to have the opportunity to be able to come together and talk (as many of them live very far apart), and how they had incorporated faith into their lives and were receiving blessings directly through Konko Daijin’s teachings. One lady said she had always wanted to expose her kids to the faith and see people praying together just as she had done when she went to church. Another lady commented that although she recited the prayers at home, it was much more spiritually inspiring to say the prayers together as a group.
Lately, I’ve been pushing away “world propagation” as I felt that was a bigger organization’s job, and our local churches should be concentrating on helping our local communities. I have been working hard at doing so, however I feel Kami is showing me (showing all of us) that we can do both at the same time—that we need to do both at the same time, to keep our hearts truly open and in fulfilling Kami’s greater wish.
Thank you to the Konkokyo International Center for the daily goyo you do, to my Head Minister for allowing me this goyo, to Konko Sama for your prayers and guidance, and to everyone for all of your prayers and support. Most of all, my deepest appreciation to the wonderful believers I met in London, for each one of you have taught and inspired me in so many more ways than you know. I truly appreciate the experience which has broadened and opened my heart, and I pray, the hearts of many others in turn.
Two believers from Konko Churches of North America, participated in volunteer activities for recovery from the Great Earthquake disaster in Kesennuma, from April 15 to 17. They attended the grand service of Konko Church of Kesennuma, which is the volunteers’ base, and helped clean-up an affected house and a hotel. The hotel was preparing for a scheduled reopening for May. The following are their impressions. To see their entire impressions, visit our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/KIC1993
Mr. Scott Wong, Konko Church of Vancouver:
“In the United States, most of the main stream media coverage of the earthquake and the tsunami died down a couple of weeks after the events of 3/11/11. Then, YouTube videos started popping up. These videos sensationalized the power of the earthquake and the devastation of the tsunami and fires. Once we started volunteering, the reality of the catastrophe sunk in. My transformational volunteering event was helping family move belongings from their home that was to be torn down. This drove home the scope of the human suffering in the tsunami areas. The YouTube videos showed surging water and raging fire, but didn’t show the impact on people’s lives. In this family’s home, there was nothing left on the bottom floor and the second floor had a layer of mud everywhere. Almost all the belongings had mud on them. When I think back on the impact on this one family’s life, I shudder with sadness. When I think of the impact on the thousands of family’s lives, I feel unbearable sorrow. I pray that the affected areas of Miyagi Prefecture are reborn and the shattered lives are healed.”
Mr. Robert Giulietti, Konko Church of Seattle:
“During our stay, we were able to visit many of the damaged areas. I saw major devastation in the form of cars swept inside of buildings, protective barrier sea walls collapsing, ships isolated on land, entire neighborhoods wiped out with nothing left but the foundations of the buildings. I witnessed that I never saw in my life. Take away the risk of earthquakes and tsunamis, this has to be one of the most beautiful areas to live on this planet. The views are tremendous and the proximity to the water is a great blessing. This community has done a great deal of recovery work over the last year, but still has a long way to go before matching what was prior to the disaster. I believe that one day, this will be a strong community of survivors and the town will revive into one much better than it has ever been.”
Reverend Eric Cherry, Director of International Office of Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregation (UUA), visited KIC today. UUA has supported and given prayers for Konkokyo congregations in the areas affected by the Great Earthquake. Reverend Yamada, KIC Director, expressed his appreciation for their support. We had a great conversation and shared the desire to create world peace. KIC staff appreciates the friendship with UUA.
In Brazil there is a group named “Wakaba”, which means “young leaves” in Japanese. The group was formed in 2004 by Reverend Katsuyuki Kajiwara, Head Minister of the Konko Church of Curitiba to nurture young people.
In March 25, the 14th Contest of Japanese Drum was held and “Wakaba” won a prize!!
Please check the video below when “Wakaba” won! Enjoy Japanese drum!!
Between the 18th and the 24th of November, a group of staff from KIC went on a trip to North America. The group included Rev. Shinji Yamada, Director of KIC, Rev. Masafumi Kimoto an intern of KIC and Rev. Shinji Kawasaki, Deputy Director of the Outreach Department at the Konkokyo Head office.
The itinerary included visits to the Vancouver Church in Canada and churches in Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco in the USA. The group had discussions with ministers and members of the Churches as well as an administrative meeting with office staff of the KCNA was held at the San Francisco Church.
The main topics of the meetings were: “What kind of problems we are facing concerning the situation of world outreach activities?” and “How we have to improve: and what trials do we need?”.
The group also eagerly mentioned about the necessity of outreach materials and publications in English as well as the importance of the outreach vehicles such as animation and music of Konkokyo, cultivating human resources, and so forth.
At the conclusion of the meetings, we shared the common wish that all of us would do our best to promote world outreach, keep in touch more tightly with Headquarters, KIC in Japan and KCNA. Thus, the trip was very beneficial to all involved.