Mombasa, Kenya - A rally to communicate the UPF peace message was held at the Summerlink Hotel. The strikingly diverse interreligious audience included the leaders of the Hindu council, imams, sheikhs, bishops, pastors and government representatives.
MC Moses Ouko introduced UPF activities and the recent series of world peace tours. The invocation was offered by a Muslim leader, Sheikh Suleiman.
The chairman's address was read by the UPF regional leader, Fred Rangala, after which a short video presentation on UPF was shown. There was a standing ovation to welcome our principal speaker, Rev. Marilyn Kotulek, an American pastor and Ambassador for Peace from Oklahoma City in the USA.
She began by giving a moving testimony of how she was introduced to Father and Mother Moon’s work through the efforts of Japanese women volunteers several years ago. Then she read the keynote address with heart as the audience read along with repeated applause. At the end of the reading the audience was really moved and gave a round of applause as she was presented with a bouquet of flowers.
Twenty new Ambassadors for Peace were appointed, and seven gave remarks and testimonies. Sheikh Suleiman Thabit explained how he had received inspiration from his wife, who recently passed on to the spiritual world. She was a woman of peace who had worked with UPF-affiliated Women’s Federation for World Peace. “Peace must be integrated into our whole way of life,” he concluded.
Another Muslim cleric Sheikh Sineno, who had been appointed an Ambassador for Peace during a previous peace tour gave a testimony of how he had mobilized 22 elders to attend the peace gathering. He has been preaching peace around the towns in Kenya and even the neighboring country of Uganda since his appointment. He has even been appointed to the peace committee of one of the local churches.
"This has been a wonderful gathering and the only solution to religious indifference,” said Archbishop Dr. Assphy Darra of Soul Harvest Church. “UPF should keep up the good work and create more forums like this.”
To read a message delivered at UPF peace rallies, click here.
