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South Africans Encouraged to Use Peace Principles
Written by Professor J.S. Maseko, secretary general, UPF-South Africa
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Johannesburg, South Africa—“Interfaith Peacebuilding in South Africa” was the theme of a UPF-South Africa meeting.
UPF invited eight representatives from the African Indigenous Churches (AIC) to the meeting, which was held on January 19, 2016, in the newly built African Centre of Excellence of Prophet Samuel B. Radebe in Marshalltown, a suburb of Johannesburg.
Bishop Dr. Vusi Gama, national chair of All African Federation of Churches (AAFC) and an Ambassador for Peace, served as the master of ceremonies. Bishop N. Mbele, chair of the Interfaith Committee, purposely invited these eight special and powerful representatives from the AIC to be part of this Interfaith Committee, as they have very large followings, some with over a million members.
The program opened with a prayer session conducted by Prophet Radebe, the president of UPF-South Africa. Each representative faith formed part of a solemn invocation through a candle-lighting ceremony.
Welcoming remarks were given by Rev. Moruti Ledwaba of the South African chapter of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), an affiliated organization. He also presented the structure of UPF International, Africa and South Africa.
Rev. Robert Williamson, a UPF emissary from Scotland, gave a talk on the topic “The Significance of Being an Ambassador for Peace in South Africa and the World.” In his introduction he gave a short history of the founder of UPF, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, the growth and development of UPF, and its effect on the world stage.
Rev. Williamson stated that Ambassadors for Peace must lead exemplary lives, engaging in humanitarian activities, working for peace and sacrificing for the benefit of the nation. He further said that Ambassadors for Peace must eschew selfishness and greed, and think about how their lives can affect others positively. He called upon all Ambassadors for Peace to live for the sake of others to promote peace. He ended his presentation by urging the participants to promote universal moral values, maintain strong family lives and family values, and work diligently toward the renewal of the United Nations to establish a global culture of peace throughout the world.
UPF President Prophet Radebe next presented his 2020 roadmap. More Ambassadors for Peace must become active in addressing the moral decay and anti-social and xenophobic behavior that are threatening the social structure in South Africa. He also said that the African Indigenous Churches should continue to minister to the poor and assist those who are unemployable, those who are sick and in need of counseling. The purpose of this meeting, he said, was to encourage people of faith to become peace activists. The UPF Peace Principles are the cornerstone for addressing community social problems, he said, with moral, spiritual and universal values as the main answer to resolving conflict.
UPF-South Africa plans to engage all interfaith organizations and individuals in a dialogue in order to promote coexistence and create peace, Prophet Radebe said. This will be the first step in conflict resolution and a cessation of violent crime.
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