In preparation for the Oyasama 130th Anniversary Yoboku Gatherings, which will take place between March and June this year at many venues in the country and overseas, a seminar for those appointed as lecturers at the gatherings was held at Yoki Hall of South Right Wing on December 27, 2013. It was attended by approximately 150 people—including resident staff members of Church Headquarters and head ministers of directly supervised churches.
The Yoboku Gatherings, sponsored by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters, seek to provide Yoboku and other followers with an opportunity to pledge together to carry out their resolution in their communities and thereby promote salvation activities during the second year of the “three years, one thousand days” leading up to the 130th anniversary of Oyasama. The gatherings will be held at a total of 1,759 venues, including 107 overseas venues, with at least one venue in each diocese.
This seminar aimed to help the lecturers grasp the whole picture of the program and have a common understanding of the purpose of the gatherings. After Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs Yoshitaro Ueda made the opening remark, Rev. Michikazu Takahashi, chairman of the Preparation Committee for the 130th Anniversary of Oyasama, explained the general structure of the program. Further, Salvation Work Committee Chairman Yoshitaro Fukaya talked about important points that lecturers should keep in mind when making an outline and drafts for their lectures.
In addition, the participants watched the two videos that will be shown at the gatherings: “With Faith in a Trustworthy Path” and “Relying on the Parental Heart.” In the question-and-answer session that followed the video presentation, Rev. Zensuke Nakata, head of Church Headquarters Office of Yoboku Gatherings, took questions from the floor and answered them.
The same seminar was held on January 6 at Yoki Hall for lecturers who did not attend the one in December.