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Check the schedule for the next ISTS right now!
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Online registration is available. Please register online for the
next ISTS today!
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People said goodbye and left the center in Riverdale revitalized, energized and
"pumped up" |
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You know how you feel when some-thing is just so
moving, so inspiring, so wonderful that you just want to stay quiet for a while
and enjoy the lingering memories for as long as possible? And yet, on the other
hand, you DO want to tell others about it, share EVERY DETAIL with every-one,
so that NEXT TIME they will be there, too…Well, that’s EXACTLY how I felt, and
still FEEL, about the First International Leadership Training Seminar held in
Riverdale, New York, March 22-24. It was PHENOMENAL! Just imagine what hap-pens
when you put 87 eager, enthusiastic, and energetic SNI LEADERS from ALL OVER
the United States and Canada in one room!
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Yes, that’s from HAWAII, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, BOSTON, FLORIDA, PENNSYLVANIA, TORONTO,
VANCOUVER… Can’t imagine what would happen? Well, I don’t think any of us could
have anticipated the tremendous synergy that came from this three-day weekend
when we joined our spiritual brothers and sisters from throughout North America
in this first-ever seminar. It was a rare opportunity for all to take a step
away from their everyday lives and refocus energies and renew commitments to
leadership within SNI. It was an exceptional weekend of training, designed to
inspire, motivate and expand leadership skills. In a combination of
mind-expanding lectures, open discussions and brainstorming with trainees,
Reverends Hiei Ando, Leslie Iwatani, Masayo Tsuruta, and Bruce Mallery provided
guidance and direction for the 87 trainees. The 87 trainees fortunate enough to
have been able to reserve a spot in this historic event, thoroughly enjoyed all
the humorous and captivating lectures and workshops for which the ministers
spent literally months preparing. |
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Oh, and the MUSIC!!! It was wonderful to sing the many
songs that have become tradition at the International Spiritual Training
Seminars to the beautiful accompaniment of Ihoko Nishimura and Hideki Takao!
People really gave their vocal cords a great workout in some hand clap-ping,
foot-stomping musical sessions!
What set this seminar apart from any other, however,
was the fact that we were blessed with two wonderful speakers from Tokyo
International Headquarters― Reverends Yoshiko Teshigawara and Tatsufumi
Yukishima.
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Reverend Yukishima gave a fascinating and motivating lecture, "Meaning of
Propagation", using PowerPoint as a visual enhancement. Both motivating and
growth-enhancing, his lecture energized and excited people about sharing the
SNI teachings with the world. Rev. Teshigawara is a masterful lecturer, who
speaks with deep emotion and passion. People literally wept, not only at the
content of her lectures, but at her sincerity, innocence, and obvious love for
Seicho-No-Ie. She spoke about the International Peace by Faith Movement…She
spoke about the environment… She spoke about and quoted Dr. Masaharu Taniguchi
and Rev. Seicho Taniguchi and Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi… She spoke about the
past…She spoke about the present, the past and the future. People rose as one
in a thunderous standing ovation at the end of her third and final message,
showing THEIR love and appreciation, and promising to be true illuminators of
the human spirit
People said goodbye and left the Passionist Center in Riverdale, New York
revitalized, energized, "pumped up" and committed to going back to their
respective areas and communities, and sharing the teachings of SNI with as many
people as possible. They left embracing the challenge of shaping the future of
SNI in North America. And they wouldn’t have had it any other way…Yes, it was
THAT good!! It was EXHILARATING, GALVANIZING, STUNNING, INNOVATIVE, nothing
short of AMAZING…a true landmark event which has begun the path to a fabulous
new frontier… THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all the ministers and ISTC staff and
volunteers who made the First ILTS the GREAT SUCCESS that it was! THANK YOU
VERY MUCH!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! And THANK YOU VERY MUCH to the SNI leaders
who were there with us, guiding us from the Spiritual World, I know, and who
paved the way for it ALL!!! Gassho with Love and Gratitude |
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