{"id":2910,"date":"2014-12-09T04:11:23","date_gmt":"2014-12-09T04:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=2910"},"modified":"2021-03-01T13:31:26","modified_gmt":"2021-03-01T04:31:26","slug":"joyous-life-lectures-held-in-overseas-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.tenrikyo.org\/?p=2910","title":{"rendered":"Joyous Life Lectures Held in Overseas Countries"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Joyous Lecture was held at four venues including Tenrikyo Mission Center in the Philippines with a total participation of 159 people from September 12 through 14.<\/p>\n

This comes as more and more followers serve as performers at the mission center\u2019s monthly services this year. The center has been calling on followers to practice the hand movements before the monthly services of their mission stations and fellowships since last January when it announced that it would put emphasis on \u201cthe service and the Sazuke\u201d in anticipation of the 130th Anniversary of Oyasama.<\/p>\n

With the aim of conveying the teachings of the path to as many people as possible in this pre-anniversary season, the number of lecture venues was increased from two last year to four, which are in three cities: Santa Rosa, Metro Manila, and Manila, where Tenrikyo Mission Center in the Philippines is located. Moreover, 250 sheets of original flyers were prepared so that local followers were able to visit their neighbors with the flyers to invite them to join the lectures.<\/p>\n

On September 13, Okaohara Para\u00f1aque Mission Station gathered 52 participants including 30 non-followers. Rev. Mitsuzo Nakanishi, the lecturer, stressed the importance of performing the service to sweep away the dust of mind. The lecture was followed by a practice session for the seated service. Charmy Martin, a 30-year-old Yoboku who invited five participants, said with a smile: \u201cOne of last year\u2019s participants now comes to our mission station every day. I made a lot of efforts to distribute flyers and invite people, in order not to miss this pre-anniversary season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rev. Makoto Hamada, head of Tenrikyo Mission Center in the Philippines, commented: \u201cWith the increased number of venues this year, many local followers were involved in setting up the venues, managing logistics, and serving as interpreters, not to mention inviting people to participate in the lectures. In order to ensure that this momentum continues in our pre-anniversary activities, we intend to increase our efforts in salvation work in this region.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>In Australia, the lectures were delivered by Mrs. Stacy Takahashi, wife of the head minister of Itakano Branch Church, at seven venues in several cities including Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, drawing a total of 124 participants. For the first time in three years, the event also took place in Perth, the only western city among the five major Australian cities where more than 70% of the country\u2019s total population live. In the Oceania region, the Joyous Life Lecture has continued to be held almost every year since 2000.<\/p>\n

In preparation for this year\u2019s lectures, Rev. Tomoharu Matsui, head of the Oceania Centre, worked closely with those who were responsible for each venue. \u201cI told them that inviting non-Tenrikyo people to the lectures would lead to salvation work,\u201d said Rev. Matsui, who also made proactive efforts to increase participants in the lectures.<\/p>\n

Working with the Oceania Meeting\u2014the meeting between the Overseas Department and directly supervised churches that have mission facilities in the Oceania region\u2014local followers made arrangements and preparations for the lectures.<\/p>\n

In the lectures, Mrs. Takahashi shared a variety of stories about salvation work based on her own experiences. In Australia, where there are many Christians, a lot of people seem to be used to listening to preaching. Comments from non-Tenrikyo participants included: \u201cI was very surprised to hear the lecturer, who is in a similar position to a priest, share personal stories about how she and her family members were saved. Her stories were very new to me and intriguing.\u201d After the lectures, the lecturer and staff members administered the Sazuke to those who requested it. Some participants talked with the lecturer about their personal worries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Joyous Lecture was held at four venues including Tenrikyo Mission Center in the Philippines with a total participation of 159 people from September 12 through 14. This comes as more and more followers serve as performers at the mission center\u2019s monthly services this year. The center has been calling\u2026<\/p>\n

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