—Is there anything else you would like to share about nurturing?
From the point of view of creating contact with people in need, I mentioned that it would be fine to utilize such things as the social welfare system, but there is a clear difference between the goal of welfare activities and the goal of our salvation work.
I believe that welfare activities aim to help people get out of their immediate difficulties, reintegrate into society, and become independent. Our salvation work may begin in the same manner, which is to say, by making efforts to help sufferers get rid of their immediate difficulties, pain, worries, and sufferings. However, we are doing so believing that this will help them embark on the path to true salvation.
Through these efforts, we try to help people understand God the Parent’s guidance that lies at the root of their difficulties. Our salvation work entails helping people sweep away the dust of the mind to achieve salvation of the mind and further encouraging them to become aware of the causality that lies deep within their problems so that they can start making efforts to cancel their causality. In this manner, we pray and work for the salvation of not only those sufferers but also their children, grandchildren, and so forth. Since our salvation work is so extensive, it is essential for those of us engaging in salvation work to be thoughtful and painstaking in our approach to nurturing. This is not something that can be accomplished overnight, so we may need to continue our efforts in this regard for years.
Oyasama made painstaking efforts to teach and guide followers, using every possible means, including through Her spoken words, Her written words, and Her everyday actions. Since this Divine Model is what we need to emulate, we must become more considerate and thoughtful of those in need of salvation and put a great deal of effort into nurturing them by paying close attention to them and engaging in salvation work at the best moment for them.
—I see. In order to help save the mind of others, we first need to settle the teachings firmly in our minds. We then should thoughtfully nurture and guide them while walking the path with them until they are truly saved.
Lastly, is there anything you would like church head ministers to keep in mind?
There are many things, but what I would like church head ministers to keep in mind in particular is the importance of being connected to Jiba in terms of their position and role as a church head minister. I believe that the role a church head minister is expected to play is different from that of an ordinary Yoboku or follower.
What does it mean for church head ministers to connect their hearts to Jiba? Yoboku and followers receive the truth of Jiba and blessings through their local churches. Therefore, church head ministers must be the conduit through which the truth of Jiba flows. This is the role of a church head minister. That is why church head ministers must dedicate their utmost sincerity to Jiba and have a strong spirit of contribution and dedication. This is something that church head ministers should keep in mind. I also hope that this awareness will be further strengthened through their respective church affiliation.
A Divine Direction teaches us:
The truth of Church Headquarters and the truth of the churches: these are a single breath. Unless you settle this unity in mind, Heaven cannot work.
Osashizu, December 13, 1906
This means that Jiba and churches are connected as a single breath and that God the Parent will surely work for us if our churches work in unison with Jiba. This is a vital point from the perspective of receiving the blessings of God the Parent through our churches, and thus this is the most important point that all church head ministers must keep in mind.
I am sure that church head ministers have many concerns. However, I would like them to perform their tasks with confidence without needlessly being self-deprecating about or belittling their churches even if they feel that their current efforts are not sufficient. If head ministers feel that their work does not measure up, they just need to increase their efforts from now on.
My hope is that all churches will shine more brightly in their respective local communities and become training centers for salvation. I would like all church head ministers to envision a concrete future 15 years from now and do their best in high spirits to bring about that future so that they can make progress toward that goal.