Tenrikyo Young Men’s Association Headquarters held the 25th International Cultural Seminar on the afternoon of April 26 at Moya 38 with the participation of 227 people.
This seminar aims to heighten association membersʼ awareness of the overseas mission, provide relevant information, and encourage directly supervised chapters to conduct more activities related to the overseas mission.
After the opening remarks were delivered by Association Headquarters Overseas Section Head Shinichiro Yasumura, Mr. Hiroaki Asai, a Taiwan-based missionary, gave a talk on his joy in engaging in missionary activities.
São Paulo Church Head Minister Sérgio Tadashi Ota then gave a lecture entitled “Get Moving toward World Salvation.” After referring to the 80-year history of the Tenrikyo mission in Brazil, he talked about association activities conducted by the local chapter. “When I became the chairman of the Brazil chapter 14 years ago,” he said, “as part of the activities to prepare for the 50th anniversary of the Mission Headquarters in Brazil we organized mission caravans to eight Brazilian states that did not have any mission facilities.” He added that they were on the road for 20 to 30 days a trip and traveled about 10,000 kilometers (6,250 mi.) in total while sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and engaging in salvation work. He then said: “This type of activity where young followers who are to shoulder the path in the future convey the teachings to others while praying for their salvation has since been maintained by the younger generations. We now have mission facilities in five of the eight states.”
He also touched on a mission caravan to Portugal organized in 2000—the year that marked the 500th year since Portuguese explorers first landed in Brazil—and another mission trip to the Amazon region in November last year with former association members. “I will never forget what I experienced through the association activities,” Rev. Ota said, adding: “Regardless of where we are from, we all are Yoboku. With an awareness of being Oyasama’s instruments, let us work toward world salvation.”