For a long time we heard Rev. T. L. Barrett might be coming to San Diego, but nothing was certain. Finally one week before the scheduled date, although we were still uncertain, we decided to send out flyers anyway. The next day we heard that he was coming. That was Saturday.

So it was that on a sunny and warm Thursday (May 24th) shortly after noon Reverend Barrett arrived at Lindberg Field to the welcome of a group of Family Church members. Toshiko Modisett took Rev. Barrett to lunch and then her home, where he could see the astoundingly beautiful artwork of our brother John Modisett and spend some time relaxing and preparing for the evening Prayer Dinner.

The dinner was scheduled to begin at 6:30 and by that time several ministers had already arrived. Before long we had twenty-one guests and the room was full. Rev. Walter Frank, pastor of San Diego Family Church, was truly the Master of Ceremonies. He led us through a magical evening, successfully mastering the art of leading seamlessly from one stage to the next and kept absolutely on time throughout the evening.

Guests were ushered in to tables adorned with flowers and a menu choice of top sirloin, chicken in basil sauce, chicken fried steak or Cobb salad. Towards the end of the meal the Family Church "OneVoice" choir (six second-generation women and six second-generation men) entered and sang unique adaptations of "He Has Called Me" and "The Perfect Child." Then a surprise rendition of "Happy Birthday" sung by all for Christina Davies, one of the choir and soon to be blessed.

Elder Nichols led us in the Bible reading. Rev. Margaret Tate, a blessed minister from Los Angeles, read the "ACLC Goals and Objectives" and the Ambassadors for Peace video was shown. After this Maseru (Mark) Tengan introduced Rev. T. L. Barrett.

Of Rev. Barrett’s speech I can only tell you it was truly the inspired words of God given by a great preacher who knows his audience and how to reach them. He was serious, then joyful, then playful and joking, all the time building on the theme of what hope, harmony, and healing really mean.

To describe harmony he went through a series of exercises having the audience repeat affirmations and actions after him and finally touch the hair of one’s neighbor of a different race, saying "How much I like the feel of your hair because it is so different." He didn’t explain what harmony meant; he showed us what it meant, with ourselves as the main actors. Who could not feel Heaven’s joy with this gathering of saints?

At the end of his speech Mrs. Keiko Loew presented Rev. Barrett with a bouquet of flowers. After accepting them he immediately gave them to Mrs. Virtus Manley, the wife of Rev. Dr. Manley, who has recently been very ill and is now recovering.

Following this Rev. Marcus Beresford presented a foot-high statue of an African drummer, a family heirloom purchased in 1949 by Marcus’ father in Uganda. Reverend Barrett was very happy and explained that he collected African art. Then he became serious and testified about how Reverend Moon had brought his wife back to him after ten years of separation and that Father Moon was truly a prophet of our time and the man who God is working through to bring peace and harmony.

Rev, Marcus Beresford gave the closing prayer, and many stayed a while longer for fellowship. It was truly a night of hope, harmony and healing!