Brown's Memorial Baptist Church was the holy site for the 32nd stop of the "We Will Stand" 51-day tour and revival of America.

The event began at 5 p.m. with an hour of music, followed by impassioned remarks by several ministers.

"We Will Stand" is part of an effort by the American Clergy Leadership Conference to build an interfaith and interracial religious coalition. The tour began February 25 in the Bronx, New York.

It was pouring rain heavily all evening, yet the church was filled to its capacity of over 800, including 150 clergy.

The host pastor, Reverend R. Lee Johnson, is President of the Progressive Baptist Minister's Conference and Vice President of the Baptist Ministers Conference. He warmly welcomed everyone to his "home".

The local invitational committee was led by Reverend Willie Ray and Reverend St. George Crosse and was outstanding in its preparations and organization.

Representatives from several Christian denominations and the Nation of Islam's Minister Lyle Muhammad were recognized and given the opportunity to share remarks with the very mixed congregation.

Reverend Michael Jenkins, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) was the evening's master of ceremonies.

The pre-program included Dr. Milton Reid who gave some powerful words of insight that uplifted and inspired the congregation.

Archbishop Augustus George Stallings of the Imani Temple gave the keynote speaker's introduction with incredible vigor and sheer gusto. He preached while walking the tops of the center aisle pews demonstrating absolute faith and trust in the God of his heart. (His walk of joy was even captured on the local evening news.)

"Father Moon has God's triple A rating. He is anointed, appointed and approved!
Anyone who has God's anointing is a messiah, and we should all become messiahs too. "

He read in Psalms, "The Lord God said unto the people: Do you not know that everyone is to be a small god?"
We are to be in the image and likeness of God. That's why Father Moon was persecuted. They think he claims that he's God himself. But he's god with a small 'g'. God is in him."

"Also when they hear he is talked about as a messiah, again, they don't know their Scripture. They don't know the etymological exegesis of the Bible. Not being biblically grounded, they attack out of emotion and fear. Messiah means anointed one, and many, many in the Bible carried the title of the anointed one.

"Jesus was the messiah, and he was certainly the anointed one. Father Moon is inheriting that mantle from Jesus and standing as messiah and calling us all to be messiahs.

"He is also standing as true parent and calling us all to be true parents."

At about 7:20 p.m., after a video highlighting some of his accomplishments around the world, the keynote speaker, Father Moon walked to the podium amid a burst of applause.

He spoke for 90 minutes spontaneously in Korean with simultaneous English
translation by Mr. Peter Kim before beginning his prepared address, "The Path for America and Humanity in the New Millennium".

"When you raise a child, that is the most precious thing a woman can do under the sun. That's the way you will deserve praise from your husband that yes, you did your mission."

"Those who separate the finances as husband and wife and keep secrets from one another are sowing the seeds of division in their marriage."

"The Roman Empire declined from within because of moral degradation and the United States of America is on the same path of decline unless it repents and moves towards the ideal of creating true families."

He spoke of God as a grieving father, exceedingly sad over the suffering of humanity, and called upon the religious leaders whom he called prophets, to work to build God's Kingdom. He noted that no one religion can build God's Kingdom, not even his own.

"It will take the cooperation of all people of faith and goodwill.
In liberating humanity of suffering, we liberate God also."

After the sermons, Father Moon awarded gift certificates for handcrafted gold watches to those ministers who had worked tirelessly (so far) supporting and promoting the crusade and for their work in the community.

"These ministers will be those who will lead the future of America by bringing the nation to hear God's call to repent and transform the lives of its citizens," he said.

Reverend Willie Ray presented other awards to organizations that had supported the "We Will Stand" outreach efforts and theme.

Reverend John Wright received an award for his interfaith efforts.

Ecumenical awards were given to Rabbi Dr. David Ben-Ami of the American Forum for Jewish-Christian Cooperation and Minister Lyle Muhammad of the Nation of Islam.

The 50th day of the tour will be on the Monday (April 16th) immediately following Easter Sunday in the adjoining city of Washington, D.C.