A Call to Serve -- Choosing Back at the MSIA Ministers Meeting at the Conference of Service

Click here to view a photo slideshow from the MSIA Ministers Meeting at the Conference of Service

As I arrived at the Sheraton Universal Hotel on Sunday morning, July 4th, to attend twenty ordinations to take place prior to the MSIA Ministers Meeting at the Conference of Service, I realized that I was celebrating my own nineteenth ministerial anniversary. I headed for the studio rooms where the ordinations were to take place and lots of excitement and joy was present.

Among the 20 people being ordained were five applicants who are between the ages of 18 and 21 years old. We are very joyful in welcoming these young and wise Souls into the ministry. The time came for all of us to get settled in our seats. This is indeed a very special and celebrated day as many of our new ministers are from other countries, and there are family members being ordained as well. After each of the new ministers are ordained there is a rousing round of applause. Next we moved upstairs to register for the MSIA Ministers Meeting taking place at noon.

The hotel lobby was filled with lots of reunions, homecomings, hugs, kisses, tears of joy, and glad tidings of all kinds. It is the most wonderful time of the year to see our spiritual family from all over the world. For some of us this is the only time we get to see those who only make it to Los Angeles at Conference time, so it is very exciting.

I joined my fellow Ministerial Board members as it was time to go inside and prepare a place for ourselves and the Traveler. NOW Productions was playing the Ani-Hu Chant as people were entering the ballroom, and the ballroom became like a sanctuary.

At noon the doors were closed and the meeting started. Our chairperson, Alexandra Roberts, was on stage and called us present. Alexandra announced a special treat. 84 year old Chiyoko Nishimura called in the Light with her beautiful arm movements. A joyful sigh is heard from those of us that know Chiyoko’s ministry. It’s like she waves a beautiful magic wand with both hands very gently and slowly and it is felt all through us. After Chiyoko’s Light, we chanted for a few minutes until Alexandra returned to the stage.

To acknowledge all of the Ministerial Board members, Alexandra asked our current board members stand. The next group to acknowledge was the Spanish board followed by the advisory board members. Each group receives a round of applause for their service. Next we heard the names of the new board members. Alexandra then said that if we wanted to see something special, to watch what was next — she asked all those who have ever served on a ministerial board at any time to stand. It was amazing, almost the entire room of ministers stood up.

Afterwards all those who traveled from out of state and other countries to attend the Ministers Meeting were asked to stand.

Next on the agenda was the Minister of the Year awards. Last year’s Ministers of the Year, Deborah Martinez and Joan Shea, came up on stage to present the awards to this year’s recipients. Joan Shea presented the award to Gregory Stebbins, who amusingly commented that he thought he could just slip away silently. Deborah Martinez presented the award to Vincent Dupont. Vincent mentioned that actions speak louder than words and said his humble “Thank you.” The ministers burst into applause as the new Ministers of the Year were announced, and gave Greg & Vincent standing ovations.

So after that excitement, we watched a video clip of John-Roger back in 1974 at the Light Castle giving a seminar and sporting a beard and a moustache. We also watched great promos from Now productions introducing the new DVD set of the PAT IV and V travels to Egypt & Israel, and a new CD for spiritual exercises.

Following that, Paul Kaye invited us all to the Spiritual Day Spa retreat on Saturday, July 10th at Prana. Next the final 2 raffle winners for spaces at the Blessings Fest Lunch were announced, and the winners were Leslie Freeman, and Don Ward. We then watched another clip from the new DVD “Journey to the East.”

Paul Kaye gave us an update on Prana West and led us in a seeding meditation. Afterwards, Paul, Vincent Dupont, and Mark Lurie, also known as the MSIA presidency, presented this year’s service awards to Leigh Briggin, David Bransky, and George Scott. George Scott, who is not an ordained minister but is a very dedicated volunteer, was quite surprised by this award as he was brought into the meeting to receive it. George is also the father of Bambi Scott, and Wendy Vahanian who work in MSIA’s accounting office.

Alexandra returned to the stage to introduce our beloved Traveler, John Morton. John shared about his ministry. He talked about the infamous “death bed ” quotes that John-Roger has spoken over the years. The bottom line was — come, even if you are on your death bed. It’s about showing up no matter what. The ministry is to work and serve. It is also to make the teachings of the Traveler available to those who are looking for them.

John then worked with us towards the consciousness of service, defining what the ministry is in our choosing back. Again the key for the day was to “show up” in the ministry. I heard John tell us that the greater ministry is to let go of all judgments for the highest good of all concerned.

John spoke of self loving. To put our arms around ourselves and comfort ourselves. At that point I really let myself go and allowed myself to be worked with. John’s parting words were Baruch Bashan — the blessings already are.

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