Monday, July 02, 2007

Aloha Message!

Aloha! Mahalo Nui Loa! Thank you very much!

   I am Rev. Tetsuya Abe and I have been assigned to the Hawaii Missionary Area as Acting Chief to succeed Rev. Shozo Sawa who will be retiring at the end of June.

   It is my great pleasure to meet you all. I was in Hawaii in 2000 to attend the 19th International Spiritual Training Seminar at Jisso Center when I was a reporter at the Public Information Department, Seicho-No-Ie International Headquarters. It seems only yesterday that we were greeted by the bright blue sky and radiant smiles of all the members here. By participating in the seminar, I was extremely moved to share the joy of believing in the absolute Goodness of God with people of various cultural backgrounds. Then and there, I had a dream to join the movement, expanding the joy of practicing the teachings of SNI with those in the United States.

   After I was transferred to the International Department in 2002, I was assigned to support leaders in Europe and South Korea, attending many seminars as the minister representing International Headquarters. I met many wonderful members at the Spiritual Training Seminars and Leaders Seminars held in South Korea and Europe, as well as Readers Meetings and Leaders Seminar in Hong Kong. At these seminars, we studied together the basic teachings of SNI such as, "Man is a child of God," "Our environment is a reflection of our mind," and "All religions emanate from one universal God" and shared the joy of practicing the teachings with the attendees. Through these experiences, I have gained an invaluable spiritual asset that encouraged me to propagate the teachings of SNI in the global arena.

   Now, I am honored to join you here in Hawaii as a person responsible to promote the Humanity Enlightenment Movement-International Peace-by-Faith Movement. I would like to keep in mind the fact that the SNI movement in Hawaii has a long, valuable history and there are many distinguished senior members who have dedicated themselves. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to them as well as to Rev. Shozo Sawa who has given priceless guidance and Rev. Leslie Iwatani who has long contributed to the movement here.

   I will strive to develop our movement and make as many people as possible happy by deeply awakening to the basic teaching that we are children of God as taught by Dr. Masaharu Taniguchi, studying the teachings as delivered according to current situations by Rev. Seicho Taniguchi, President of SNI, and Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, Vice President, and following the guidance given by Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara, Bishop of U.S. Missionary Headquarters.

   Actually, since the day I arrived at Honolulu Airport, I have felt like I AM already an AMERICAN and a HAWAIIAN. Let us join hands and promote the International Peace-by-Faith Movement in a bright and cheerful manner. Thank you very much! Mahalo Nui Loa!