The Boys and Girls Association leaders\u2019 first meeting of the year was held on January 27 at Dining Hall 2 in the Home of the Parent. Attending the meeting were heads of directly supervised chapters and diocese chapters as well as nurturing committee members from those chapters and district chapters.<\/p>\n
This year, the association will be promoting the same guidelines and concrete goals for association activities as last year. The guidelines are \u201cLet\u2019s implement the teachings using Oyasama\u2019s Divine Model as a dependable guide and convey to children the joy of faith.\u201d The concrete goals are as follows: (1) Let\u2019s tell children stories of Oyasama; (2) Let\u2019s hold children\u2019s sleepovers and get-togethers at our churches; and (3) Let\u2019s carry out hinokishin<\/em> activities with children in local communities.<\/p>\n At the meeting, Honbu-in Daiichi Umetani, who serves as the association\u2019s senior adviser, took the podium to read a message from the Shinbashira, the president of the association.<\/p>\n In his message, the Shinbashira noted that Oyasama laid the path of the Divine Model for single-hearted salvation and demonstrated the teachings for the purpose of constructing the world of the Joyous Life so desired by God the Parent. He then urged those involved in the Boys and Girls Association to always keep this in mind, to carefully consider what ought to be done now to nurture children so as to ensure the continued existence of the path leading to the Joyous Life, and to wholeheartedly engage in the association\u2019s activities.<\/p>\n He then stressed that the mission of the association is to promote the vertical mission. We adults must help lay a foundation for children to grow into fine Yoboku by providing them with care and guidance at appropriate times until they become able to straightforwardly embrace the joy of faith that we are trying to share with them, said the Shinbashira.<\/p>\n Further, the Shinbashira pointed out that the path cannot be passed down to children unless those of us who are walking the path ahead of them follow the Divine Model and show it to them by example. \u201cIt is crucial that we make utmost efforts to cultivate our minds in ways that will allow us to learn and internalize the parental heart of Oyasama\u2014who made wholehearted and exhaustive efforts to continue the path\u2014but also to apply the insights gained to our respective roles and positions and thereby put them into practice in the course of our daily lives,\u201d the Shinbashira said.<\/p>\n Toward the end of his message, the Shinbashira encouraged the listeners to bring to mind the Divine Model and straightforwardly implement the teachings by using occurrences that are shown to us in our day-to-day lives as opportunities to make progress in spiritual growth. He asked them to strive with renewed focus to fulfill their duties as leaders while purifying their minds during the final year of the pre-anniversary period.<\/p>\n Following the Shinbashira\u2019s message, Chairperson Daiji Tanabe addressed the audience and provided an overview of the association\u2019s activity guidelines and concrete goals. Noting that this year marks the final year of the current pre-anniversary period, he said, \u201cFor the Children\u2019s Pilgrimage to Jiba this year, I hope that all of us will work together in high spirits so as to be able to share the joy of returning to Jiba with as many children as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Regarding the Children\u2019s Pilgrimage to Jiba for 2025 (Tenrikyo 188), which is to be held from July 27 to August 3, more details will be announced in March at the meeting of heads of directly supervised chapters and diocese chapters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Boys and Girls Association leaders\u2019 first meeting of the year was held on January 27 at Dining Hall 2 in the Home of the Parent. Attending the meeting were heads of directly supervised chapters and diocese chapters as well as nurturing committee members from those chapters and district chapters.\u2026<\/p>\n