On January 30, we gathered clergy and Ambassadors for Peace from the Los Angeles area for a gala event to introduce the autobiography of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, “As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen.” Around 220 people gathered in our new facility for the banquet and program.

We heard from Haitham Bundakji, who has a deep testimony of learning true love for a former enemy because of True Parents. His short reflections on the Middle East Peace Initiative were a very persuasive endorsement of the work for peace by True Parents. He was strongly applauded and received a deserved standing ovation. 

The keynote speech delivered by the Archbishop George Augustus Stallings was truly remarkable. I have come to have high expectations from him, due to the many excellent preaching demonstrations I have witnessed from him in the past. But this was on a different level. His talk began slowly, in an almost nonchalant review of the events leading up to his blessing in marriage to his wife, Sayomi. There was little of the peppery excitement so characteristic of the Archbishop’s preaching. 

Then it was as though the Holy Spirit came down. He read from the book where True Father explained his commissioning by Jesus on Easter morning of 1935. He spoke of the heart and character of the True Parent he had come to know. He testified strongly, depicting with personal experiences the character of a man who refused to compromise principle, but had dedicated himself 100% for the will of God. “My Journey with a Peace-Loving Global Citizen” was the title of his message. By its conclusion people were deeply moved. I believe it was the single greatest speech I have ever heard. 

Everyone that night was stunned in a good way to hear the Archbishop’s admiration and loving loyalty for the True Parents. He spoke with enormous conviction and courage. Standing before the crowd of 220 representing nearly 100 different ministries, he actually grew in conviction and strength of heart and love to testify to True Parents, in a situation that has caused so many ministers to shrink back from testifying. Archbishop Stallings delivered the truth with stunning confidence and authority. I thought to myself, “This must be the very voice of God’s heart pouring out the message.”

(A close friend of his who is one of the most influential Pastors in the greater Los Angeles area, with a church of more than twenty thousand, did actually confirm that he would attend our event. I had given him a copy of the autobiography during a meeting made possible by the persistent witnessing of Rev. Naoko Hiraki who has attended the services at his church for years. He read it and was impressed. He promised just a five-minute visit to our event, and that in itself would have been remarkable. But he stayed more than an hour, listening to each word of the Archbishop’s declaration.) 

Each guest received a copy of the autobiography with their $25 dinner ticket. The Commissioner on Disability for the City of Los Angeles received appointment as an Ambassador for Peace. Many wonderful networking transactions took place that evening. The event closed with our first ballroom dancing event.

As I left the sanctuary that evening I was somewhat dazed from being tired. Looking up at the huge poster of Father Moon copied from the book cover illustration, it seemed as though it wasn’t just a picture but that he was really present. “Good night, Father,“ I murmured as I moved toward the door. “Yes, it was!” echoed into my thoughts.