Manado, Indonesia - UPF-Indonesia conducted an Interfaith Peace Blessing and Pure Love Assembly in Manado, Indonesia on Sept. 15, 2014. David and Ursula McLackland officiated in this Interfaith Peace Blessing, in which 400 couples and more than 200 youth leaders participated. A similar ceremony took place in Manado in December 2013.
The purpose of the event was to highlight the importance of God-centered families in rebuilding the nation and creating a world of peace where everybody can live together as one family under God. Religious leaders in Indonesia joined in promoting the ideals of the family as a project and activity achieve the harmony of religions.
The second purpose of the event was to raise youth who will prepare for a good married life based on the foundation of sexual purity. They pledged to remain pure (virgin) before marriage and practice fidelity within marriage. They also committed to refrain from vices such as drug and alcohol abuse and smoking.
Ambassador for Peace certificates were given to Governor S.H. Sarundajang of North Sulawesi and Dr. Fasli Jalal, national head of the government's Family Planning and Population Board.
The government’s BKKBN (Family Planning and Population Board) and FAPSEDU (Forum for Interfaith Harmony) worked in partnership with UPF to make this event possible. UPF-Indonesia is making preparations for similar events throughout the 33 provinces in partnership with the provincial offices of BKKBN and FAPSEDU.