The historic, three-day leadership conference headed by the Founder of the Universal Peace Federation, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, included the first-ever worship service of Lovin’ Life Ministries on July 17, 2011, including the band, Sonic Cult, and a signature message from Lovin’ Life Founder, the Reverend In Jin Moon.

Rev. In Jin Moon encouraged her audience to change Africa "to be something incredible, something brilliant, something inspiring for the rest of the world."

More than 900 people gathered to hear Rev. In Jin Moon's Lovin' Life Ministries service in Abuja, Nigeria.

Eye witnesses reported that the worship service at the International Convention Center in Abuja made a tremendous impact. More than 900 attendees, far exceeding the expected audience of 500, gathered to hear Rev. In Jin Moon’s sermon and readily-embraced the performance of Sonic Cult. Many of the Nigerian church members have been watching Lovin’ Life online, yet families and national church leaders came from all over Africa to attend the first-ever live service in the country.

Sonic Cult opened the worship with “Grace of the Holy Garden” and “I Saw the Light,” then followed with lead singer Ben Lorentzen’s “Naked, Homeless, and Hungry,” and Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released.” The band was extremely well-received and for Sonic Cult’s final number before the sermon, Hillsong’s “With Everything,” the congregation was on their feet in worship, according to Rev. Joshua Cotter, who played keyboards with the band.

Rev. In Jin Moon then took the stage and promptly encouraged her audience to “know the importance of…the time we’re living in.”

“All of you sitting in the auditorium today can be that agent of change that changes your country of Nigeria, truly understanding your place as a child of God,” she said. “You can be that agent of change that changes your continent, this great continent of Africa, to be something incredible, something brilliant, something inspiring for the rest of the world. God has hand-crafted and hand-picked all of you to unite with True Parents at this crucial time, to bring about a change in the world, to bring about a change in the way people think, to bring about a change in the way people feel, to bring about a revolution of heart. Change in culture, the way we relate to each other, the way we look at each other, the way we love each other.

“I believe that with a president named Goodluck Jonathan, if Nigeria can truly embrace and unite with the heavenly fortune that travels with our True Parents, Nigeria can continue to prosper as the great country that God has planned for it. Brothers and sisters, just the fact that our True Parents shook hands and met with your president, Goodluck Jonathan, is an auspicious sign for many great things to come. I’ve heard many people throughout my life say, ‘well, that person is lucky, that person is not lucky.’ But the thing about good luck is that people have it when they unite with our True Parents. Because then we can channel the heavenly fortune that comes through our True Parents, and everything we do becomes anointed. Everything we do becomes blessed.

“Brothers and sisters, you need to understand what an incredibly blessed time this is and how lucky you are. Out of all the Nigerians that have lived, why you? Why beautiful you? Why unique you? Why special you? Why were you given this chance to work together with our True Parents? I will be the first one to say, ‘why not me? And why not you?’ So brothers and sisters, go in peace and go with a heart of gratitude because you have our True Parents with us in Nigeria today.”

Rev. In Jin Moon also highlighted the importance of realizing the eternal uniqueness of True Parents and the duty of the True Children as serving True Parents. “There is only one God and there is only one True Parents,” she said. “There is no substitute for True Parents. There is only one, now and forever, and we have the duty and privilege to honor them as the eternal True Parents. After the True Parents will be the youngest son, Hyung Jin. He is the spiritual head of our movement and the spiritual head of our family. And it is the job of the True Family to truly unite with that head, as different body parts, like different hands and different feet, and work as one body for the sake of the world, in service of the world, in service of the True Parents.

After the service, the line to greet Rev. In Jin Moon stretched around the entire convention center. Likewise, Sonic Cult was overrun by enthusiastic attendees. Every Sonic Cult CD and many Sonic Cult t-shirts were purchased as countless families insisted upon taking pictures with members of the band, Rev. Cotter reported in an email to Familyfed.org.

The Founder’s message to the leadership conference was reported in the online edition of The Niberian Observer, which quoted former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, saying that “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and true love for humanity will make you live life for others. This is why the fundamental teachings of Father Moon on universal peace must be embraced and practiced by all good leaders who truly want to lead their people to prosperity.”

Contributed by Ariana Moon