The Words of the Irwin Family

Profile: Marianne Irwin

Kevin Thompson
January 22, 2010

1. Most admired person:

True Mother, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon

2. Biggest influence in your life:

My husband

3. Hobbies:

Gardening, singing in a choir, dancing

4. Favorite quote:

"Wherever you are, whatever you do, you can always be sure of your parents love." -- True Mother

5. Nicest place visited:

The little city of Granada in Nicaragua, on the shore of Lake Cocibolca.

6. Why?

It is untainted, untouched by modern civilization, has these colonial style ancient houses, with the backdrop of extinguished Volcano Mombacho, guarding the city like a roof.

7. How did you come to your faith?

As a young person I always wondered why I was so lucky to be born in a comfortable country to good parents. I was a Catholic and went to church every Sunday. But some deep questions I had, no one in that community could answer. So I searched in many directions. After the early passing of my father when I was just 16, the urge to know about Spiritual World added to that. When I had just turned 21, a friend invited me to go to listen to these "strange lectures."

Many things I heard I liked, but when it came to Jesus' life I was sure they were so wrong. I went home to prepare myself with the Bible for the next session, to convince them otherwise. They won. I asked God what he needed of me. After a lonely battle He told me clearly that He had prepared me to help His Son on earth.

8. What legacy would you like to leave?

To have lived my life as an offering on God's altar. To have made a difference in the lives of many. Lots of people are hurting so badly inside. I would like to contribute to their healing.

9. What do most people not know about you that may be a surprise?

To be learning how to drive a car at my blessed age of 57. I was a coward in this respect all my life. I am learning how to resolve fears and other emotional issues with the self-help meridian-tapping-method.

10. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

I can envision, as the providence accelerates and many more people like the Principles, that there will still be a need for our input of guidance and wisdom to some capacity. Also I'd like to be trained as therapist so that I could apply what I learned in helping people help themselves. Age should not play a factor in this.

11. If you were suddenly given $1 million what would you do with it?

To build up and run a nationwide institute for character education and principled living, probably in Jamaica or Nicaragua, our former mission countries.

12. What do you like most about BAFC [Bay Area Family Church]?

The immense congregation. It's a wonderful feeling to sing all together as a big group, you feel empowered. One suggestion: let's include some of our own fellowship songs by which we got inspired years ago. We have a endless list of this most soul-moving music, why not bring it out again?

13. What suggestion do you have for improvement?

I would like to see a vibrant women's circle, where sisters could come together and share from the heart, network and the like. Next, it would be nice to have other such type of community-building programs. And last but not least, I think we should institute a regular evening program in which one or several persons from the congregation could share their testimony. We have living saints among us and to hear from them will be totally enriching to our young and less young people. 

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