Thank you very much. I am very grateful to God to become the Chief of the Seicho-No-Ie Southern California Missionary Area. As you may know, I was selected as the Vice Bishop of the Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters to assist Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara, Bishop of the Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters as of August 7, 2008. At the same time it was decided that I would become the Chief of the Southern California Missionary Area as of October 1, 2008. The former chief, Rev. Masayo Tsuruta, was a very devoted chief, so I will work as hard as Rev. Tsuruta did for you.

            Moving to Los Angeles is very special to me.   Back in 1991, I lived Torrance for over 5 months. The people in Southern California were very kind and I would like to reciprocate them for their kindness. I am grateful that I will have a chance to pay them back by spreading the blessings of the SNI teaching.

            I was very pleased and excited by the activities and results of the past eight years at the SNI Northern California Missionary Area.  In the beginning, there were hard times between the members and myself because of misunderstandings. However, their generosity and kindness as well as my hard work resolved this, and we were able to achieve many great things in Northern California Missionary Area. I am now the Vice Bishop, but still young and sometimes stubborn and act premature.   So, I need your understanding, generosity and forgiveness as the Northern California members did for me and, at the same time, ask your help and devotion in order to spread the Seicho-No-Ie teachings in the Southern California Missionary Area.  

            I will work hard to spread the teachings so let us stand together to assist each other, to better our community, to lead and guide our children in the right direction and to contribute ourselves to make this country better and realize world peace.  This is our International Peace by Faith Movement.

            Lastly, my wife, Fujiko, and our daughters, Mika, Eri and Saki will move to the Southern California Missionary Area in a few months. I would like to ask your kindness and support to my family. We are all exciting to move here. Thank you very much.

Rev. Mario Kawakami, Chief
Southern California Missionary Area