Hideo Oyamada, former National Leader of Japan
Rev. Oyamada gave this testimony almost 30 years ago on October 27, I 992 in Kodiak, Alaska at the missionary workshop in the presence of True Father and many missionary brothers and sisters.
Part 7 (Click to read Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3 and Part 4 and Part 5 and Part 6)
Father has advised us: “If you want to know the background of the Divine Principle, pray.”
Once I asked a kind of nonsense question to Father. It was 1969, and being a CARP leader I had been invited to the Korean CARP convention in Haein-sa, a famous Buddhist temple in South Korea. After the convention, we were invited to Cheongpyeong Lake. There I asked Father, “Can you write the Divine Principle so that it is easier to understand?”
Father’s answer was, “What do you mean? Thinking like this about Unification Thought is okay, but not about Divine Principle. Divine Principle is not human knowledge. You don’t know the spiritual background of Divine Principle. You should pray to know the depth of the background of Divine Principle. You should pray, ideally at midnight. Pray about the Divine Principle lectures to the spiritual world and to God Himself. You can receive an answer.”
From that time on, at least once or twice a month we held midnight prayers. We had so many experiences. We prayed especially about restoration-from Adam’s family, Noah’s family, Abraham’s family, Jacob’s course, Moses’ course, Jesus’ course, and then True Parents’ course.
We would pray and receive Father’s words in answer from the spiritual side. We would realize how much grief Heavenly Father must have felt at the time of Adam and Eve’s fall. We would realize His patience and heart at the time of Noah. We felt God’s anxiety when He asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. We prayed about Sodom and Gomorrah, about Jacob and his lonely fight in the wilderness. Then came Moses and Jesus Christ.
Whenever we lectured, the spirit world was always with us. Especially when we lectured on Jesus Christ, Jesus’ spirit was always with us. Whenever we lectured about Father, Father’s spirit would come. I was a humble little guy, just a single person, but when I lectured, I felt I was representing the highest truth, Divine Principle.
Renewed confidence in the Principle
Before Father came to Japan, I always had the feeling that the explanations contained in the Divine Principle were not enough. I felt I needed additional explanation of the truth; otherwise, I could not stay in the Unification Church. I was searching. Then I had a dream. I dreamed that Father had come to bring us a new kind of Divine Principle workshop. That was like life and death for me.
When Father came to Japan in 1967, I met President Eu Hyo-won for the first time. He had put the entire Divine Principle in his brain. He had memorized everything in Divine Principle, from the introduction to the end, including the Second Advent. President Eu had a difficult physical condition, but when he spoke to our Japanese members, he forgot everything about his situation. He talked as if he were reading the Divine Principle. It was as if Father were sitting in the room with us, just like he is now.
When I prayed about the contents of President Eu’s workshop, I had a completely new understanding of the truth. I was so moved, I just cried and cried. Throughout President Eu’s teaching, I was just crying. Beyond the valley of tears, there was Father’s warm heart. Then I realized: indeed, I can still continue in the Unification Church.
During the same workshop, I was told, “Oyamada, you must lecture in front of Father, President Eu, and Mr. Choi Young-suk,” all of them renowned lecturers. That was the first time I gave the introductory lecture in front of Father. I was afraid, but grateful at the same time. To have lectured in front of Father became a source of great power for me. After that, I wasn’t afraid of anyone—because I had lectured in front of Father! No matter how important the people in my audience were, I could be confident because I was representing Father! When I gave lectures, it was not I that was talking; it was Father. Father’s spirit would come into me.
Prior to that time, I would feel a lot of anxiety before beginning the lecture, a lot of confidence during the lecture, and a loss of confidence at the end. After being trained by Father, my attitude changed completely. I realized that on my own, I had nothing to be proud of, but I was always proud of Father, and Heavenly Father. The best lectures I have given did not come from myself. This is a common experience. In fact, I am the one who learns the most from my own lectures.
I recall my first lectures to ministers. From a human point of view, I was lacking in knowledge and experience. How could I, an inferior person, lecture to a superior person? Then I would think, “Oh, it’s not me who will give this lecture. Father will.”
Before a lecture, I would simply pray and ask, “Heavenly Father, what is Your intention this time? What is the theme for this minister, this professor, this public official?” Once I got the theme, I would keep it throughout the entire lecture. That is how I would give my lectures and sermons.
When I first started giving sermons, I was not a good speaker. As soon as I approached the podium, I would be overcome by fear and forget everything I had prepared. Finally, I would just stop speaking. I never imagined I could overcome that terror. I believe that God gives wonderful abilities that we could never develop in the satanic realm.
Concluded next week….