How to contribute to our community
With three kids ages 5 and a half, three, and 5 months, I really don't have the time to blog. I don't even check my mail every day any more.
However, my hopes of making a change have not disappeared.
My question now is: How can the Tenrikyo Church in America contribute to the community?
Anyone?
posted by Hiroko @ 12:52 PM
6 Comments:
Thank you for your blog. I look for what I can get of Tenrikyo online because I am hundreds of miles from the nearest church here.
Hey, Avery. Thanks for your comment. For example, what do you do (line of work, I mean)? Are there ways in which you think the Tenrikyo community can contribute to the society? If we could use our skills to help others, I think that's what Oyasama would really want.
Hiroko
Right now the churches in America teach the Japanese language and culture as well as doing charity work. I think these are both real contributions to society that use the skills of Tenrikyo believers wisely. When we pour our energy into these efforts, which necessarily involve meeting new people in our communities, we will naturally get suggestions from them or think of more ideas. I just wish there were more churches! :) Seriously, if more people were to join in, the effects of our hinokishin would multiply.
Avery
I think the churches need to be appealing for people to want to join. What is your opinion on what the greatest appeal (sales point) for Tenrikyo is?
How do we reach out to people? Basically, what kind of missionary work needs to be done?
I think the best thing about Tenrikyo is its very this-worldly approach to religious practice. The commanded Joyous Life is something you do here on Earth, not something you wait to receive in heaven. It's very easy for people to understand and I like the attitudes of the Tenrikyo priests I have met towards acceptance or rejection of religion.
As for specific examples of charity work, right now I'm arranging some tutoring at my local high school... that's something that's easy to do, can be accomplished by anyone with free time and a high school education, and (hopefully!) people will be grateful for it!
That's great, Avery. I hope I'll be able to find something I can do that I like doing and am good at, that can help people. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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