Tenrikyo Faith Conference

Presenter: Rev. Tad Iwata, Head Minister, Tenrikyo Honolulu Ko Church

Set the tone for the inaugural SoulFire Tenrikyo Faith Conference by emphasizing how our faith was presented to us by Oyasama so that all people can live the Joyous Life.
How our faith is more important now than it has ever been to bring our global community together as children of God the Parent.
The responsibility that each of us has to apply the teachings to address the challenges we confront both locally and globally.

COVID Panel:

“Heroes from the Frontlines: Tenrikyo Followers Who Put Others Before Themselves During the COVID-19 Pandemic”

Panelists: Julia Yuge ICU Registered Nurse

Dr. Reid Honda Medical Doctor

Rev. Audrey Suga-Nakagawa Advocacy Director AARP

Moderator: Etsuko Okui-Isada Consultant

To share personal experiences of frontline workers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To discuss how faith in God the Parent enabled panelists to get through the daily physical, emotional, and spiritual toll when COVID-19 patients overwhelmed health facilities.
To apply our teaching from this experience to help all of us be better members of our common humanity.

Workshop A:

“How to Help People Dealing with Anxiety and Mental Health Challenges”

Presenters: Rev. Owen Nakao Head Minister Tenrikyo Pearl Church

Ben Tadokoro Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Facilitator: Rev. Michael Yuge Executive Director Tenri Cultural Institute

To understand mental health issues and their impact on the lives of many people in society.
To encourage Tenrikyo practitioners to learn how to identify signs of mental health issues and know of mental health resources.
To learn how to apply practical and spiritual tools from our Teaching to help those in need.

Workshop B:

“Nurturing Our Children and Families in Faith”

Presenters: Rev. Susumu Yuge Head Minister Tenrikyo Heritage Church

Rev. Lynn Nagata Head Minister Tenrikyo Waikiki Church

Masako Okui Board Member Tenrikyo Women’s Association of America

Christine Yukimoto Minister Broad Path Fellowship

Moderator: Erika Koyama-Hsu Early Interventionist

To provide personal experiences of how Tenrikyo parents raise their children in the faith.
To discuss how to continue the faith with children when one parent is not Tenrikyo.
To provide strategies on how to explain Tenrikyo to children in general.

Workshop C:

“Using Our Faith to Stay Joyful Through Life’s Challenges”

Presenters: Yumi Litke Intensive Behavioral Intervention Specialist

Alisha Herrick Executive Coach Lyft

Rev. Ray Tadokoro Head Minister Tenrikyo High Sacramento Church

Jimmy Do Yoboku

Moderator: Rev. Hiroko Okazaki Head Minister Tenrikyo Hollywood Church

To discuss how we can find gratitude in challenging times (illness, job loss, financial instability, etc.).
To review how we can face and overcome stress.
To determine how to find strength from Oyasama’s Divine Model.

Workshop D:

“Understanding and Applying Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as Followers of the Path”

Presenters: Dr. Lui Amador (Dean, Student Equity and Success, Cerritos College)

Rev. Koji Uesugi (Head Minister, Tenrikyo Pacific Valley Church)

To provide a space for followers and friends of our faith community to reflect and engage in courageous conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
To explore how our own implicit biases of others and lack of understanding of the importance of DEI negatively impacts our ability to be useful instruments of God the Parent.
To discuss DEI-based strategies that we can incorporate into our faith-based practices to help create a world that values all people equally as our brothers and sisters

Closing

Presenters: Rev. Koji Uesugi (Head Minister, Tenrikyo Pacific Valley Church)

Please click the button below to donate via PayPal. Your generous donations help us create these wonderful events:

Please note that a PayPal transaction fee (2.2% + $0.30 per transaction) will be subtracted from your total donation amount. For example, if you donate $50, $48.60 will go directly to Tenrikyo Mission HQ in America & Canada and the fee amount of $1.40 will go to PayPal.

Follow Tenrikyo Faith Conference on social media:

Have any questions? Please contact us: