The "We Will Stand" interfaith tour rounded up the faithful and curious of the "Equality State" at a Little America Hotel banquet hall in Cheyene on a brisk Tuesday evening.

This was the 30th stop along the trail winding through America at breakneck speed.

In the midst of all the outreach efforts a sister named Alvertina Ogai came to Cheyenne in the hope of sharing the holy Blessing of marriage with one of the local volunteers. She was of Korean descent from the Republic of Uzbekistan, spoke English, and therefore soon found herself in the midst of the speaking tour outreach preparations working hard too. However, the altitude proved to be challenging for her physically so after a few days she felt ill and stayed back to rest. She was discovered in the evening to have suffered a heart attack and was immediately taken to the hospital. She was pronounced dead.

When Dr. Chang Shik Yang, the Continental Director of North America for the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification heard about her death he had a deep feeling that her life had been offered as a sacrifice for the tour, especially for Wyoming. She will not be forgotten.

Reverend Michael Jenkins, president of the Family Fedration for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) was the evening's emcee. The idea for the tour started in Korea with 150 pastors, and has since attracted the support of 12,000 clergy, according to Jenkins.

At a news conference just prior to the evening event he stated:

"The entire effort depends on the sanctification of the family, which began as a formal movement in 1995 with Father Moon's mass weddings of millions of couples. We do believe a new age has dawned. The "Stand Together" movement does not discriminate against single people, who can be blessed by God."

The invocation was given by the Reverend Louis Johnson of the New Beginnings Christian Church of Casper.

Several other minister preached, including Reverend Jesse Edwards of Philadelphia. His simple message got the crowd excited and in the spirit.

Elder C.J. Brown, a Cheyenne city councilman and associate pastor of New Kingdom Church of God in Christ came to hear the message of unity and reconciliation as did the Reverend William Ephriam of Colorado Springs.

The Reverend Vic Walter of the Evangelical Free Church in Cheyenne said he attended the event out of curiosity.

Former Natrona County Republican Party Chairman Marvin Emrich and his wife Maureen came because of an invitation by Michael Hentrich, of Casper, a member of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

Maureen Emrich had recently received the American Century Award presented by The Washington Times Foundation at an inaugural prayer luncheon in January.

The keynote speaker for the evening, Father Sun Myung Moon, 81, addressed the more than 300 people assembled with warmth and righteousness.

With Mr. Peter Kim giving simultaneous translation, Father Moon captivated much of the audience with his extemporaneous humor, provocative declarations, and a simple, yet profoud message.

"Life, love and lineage, these are the most important values. Am I right? "

"Don't you think Jesus would have wanted to marry if he found a holy bride? If a holy bride sent by God was there, and they were together, don't you think Jesus would have functioned like a man, like between a husband and wife?"

"If Jesus and his wife had a family, their descendents would have been able to conquer the Roman empire and establish a political kingdom that would endure. Then, there wouldn't be George W. Bush as president of America, but one of Jesus' descendents would be king."

Using the examples of polar bears, brown bears and black bears as representatives of the different races, he said, "Bears developed different colors as a reaction to the environment and were not made that way by God."

He also spoke of his life and ministry and the years of persecution endured and overcome.

John Kambutu, a professor of educational studies at the Casper College Center for the University of Wyoming, spoke in favor of the tour sponsors stated views against racism.

Gail Ridgely, president of Wind River Community College, told the crowd that American Indians need more equality in the "Equality State".

John Redmond of Arvada, Colo., brought his family to Cheyenne for the talk. Arvada is a 20-year member of the Unification Church (now Family Church of Colorado) and attributed much of the controversy to a distrust of foreigners.

He stated to the media:

"Our society's social problems can be traced back to the breakdown of the family. It is best solved by a connection to a religious entity."

"He (Father Moon) is saying challenging things, but in America a lot of people don't know what he thinks or believes. I think he provides a way of making the races work together to restore the family."