The city of the Gateway Arch rolled out the welcome mat for the "We Will Stand" national interfaith tour.

The appearance before 2000 people at the Regal Riverfront Hotel in Saint Louis was the 31st day
in the 31st state of the 52-day, national "We Will Stand" tour. The theme remained constant : "Rebuild the family, restore the community and renew the nation and the world".

Kathy Rigney, and her sister, Barbara Harrington, had recently returned from a 25-year mission in Africa and still have many responsibilities there, but both pledged their total support in making sure the St. Louis meeting would be triumphant in every way. Other African missionary families, the Shandalalas and the Winters, immediately came on board to assist the 10 families working in Missouri.

"We cannot afford to have anything less than total victory" stated Rigney.

A local Christian radio show provided some controversy and excitement prior to the event. Reverend Michael Jenkins, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) was interviewed on the show and was heard to affirm the salvific power that comes through the blood on the cross.

But he was also challenging and asked:

"Why is it that when a born-again man and a born-again woman give birth to children they are born in sin ?"

"Christian pastors are coming together because they feel that the spirit of Jesus Christ has anointed Father and Mother Moon. Jesus said, Greater works will you do than I have done. It's because of the transfer of that anointing by Jesus to Father Moon that this work goes on."

Every day on the radio they were calling for "Christians" to unite together in protest and to try to cancel the event. Calls went to the hotel and the media.

The spirit of faith, hope, and love prevailed.

Reverend Samuel Bradford of the Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal Church who was on the invitational committee stood strong despite some of the calls he received.

He told one concerned caller and brother:

"I don't know you, and all I do know is that now you're trying to advise me how to run my church, but you never even took the time to come and visit my church. "

Reverend Bradford had walked with Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. and had been through church bombings and burnings, but he was still alarmed by the viciousness of these verbal attacks.

A special police escort was given to the keynote speaker and the other ministers accompanying him supported by overhead helicopter.

The program that night was truly one of great inspiration born through challenge.

Bishop Irma Cannida opened the program and introduced the emcee, Reverend Michael Jenkins. Reverend Jenkins proudly read city proclamations from St. Louis, East St. Louis and Kinloch, honoring Reverend Sun Myung Moon and declaring March 28, 2001 as "Stand Together America Day."

The Invocation was offered by Reverend Dr. Samuel Bradford.

The beginning entertainment included the great voices of the True Family Values Choir and the combined choirs of Bishop Michael West's St. Michael's Temple and Bishop Cannida's Greater True Vine Spiritual Church of Jesus Christ. Another St. Louis musical favorite, Gregg Haynes and the "happy guitar," got the whole room clapping and singing to "On Time God."

Archbishop West single-handedly mobilized two bus loads of guests to the event and stated:

"Reverend Moon is a visionary. What he is saying now, our children and grandchildren will be teaching to their children."

Dr. Hycel Taylor, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Evanston, Illinois, introduced keynote preacher Father Moon.

"Father Moon, like Jesus, doesn't need anyone to validate him. He is a prophet in his own right. We can feel the spirit of the Lord is upon him."

Dr. Taylor said he had looked at the fruits of the ministry and found that the fruits were good.

"The first fruit is that of world peace. Father Moon is effectively calling religious leaders together from all the world religions to form an advisory council for world leaders.

"The second fruit is the blessing of marriage and the strengthening of the family. The marriage movement and the rededication of marriage initiated by Father and Mother Moon have had enormous impact on strengthening families throughout America.

"The third fruit is that of breaking down the racial and denominational walls. Father Moon's support of the Million Family March and his efforts to bring denominations together are having an effective impact on all of Christendom."

Imam Donald Muhammad, leader of a local Nation of Islam Mosque and one of several hundred area clergy supporting the conference stated :

"If America would hear and welcome the message of Reverend Moon, this nation would be able to have salvation."

Father Moon spoke for about two hours in Korean with Mr. Peter Kim giving translation to his impromptu and the prepared text, "The Path for America and Humanity in the New Millennium."

"The family unit is at the core of a healthy community and nation", he said.

He and his wife have 12 children and more than 40 grandchildren.

When he asked who was seeing him for the first time, almost everyone raised their hands.

At the conclusion of the sermons, Reverend and Mrs. Bradford offered a bouquet of flowers to Father and Mother Moon. Archbishop West and Bishop Cannida, both local pastors, decided to surprise them with three gifts as well --- a water resistant hunting jacket, an eagle trophy and a glass trophy commemorating their historic visit to St. Louis, Missouri.

Eleven Young Hero Awards, recognizing youth "living for the sake of others," were presented to Madelyn Johnson, Christine Hubbard, Nimo Ibrahim, Andreas Berry, Janai Randolph, Tyron Lamar Bell, Meron Alemayehu, Damanjit Singh, Helen Swearson, Joaquin Tanksley, and Paul Muhammad.

Not to be out done in giving, Father and Mother Moon presented gold watches to Archbishop West, Bishop Cannida, Reverend Bradford and Bishop James Stewart.

Twelve members of the audience also received certificates for Christian Bernard watches.