The Boys and Girls Association leaders' first meeting of the year was held on January 27 at the Home of the Parent, drawing 1,751 participants--including heads of diocese and directly-supervised-church corps and nurturing committee members from those corps as well as from district chapters--who were fully aware of the particular significance this year has for Tenrikyo as a whole as it is the first year of the specially designated three-year period preceding the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama.

The leaders first listened to an address delivered by the Shinbashira, who serves as the president of the Boys and Girls Association. He emphasized the need for the adult leaders to perceive, assimilate, and live out Oyasama's intention embodied in the Divine Model. "If those of us senior members who have acquired Oyasama's teachings set an example by actually walking the path in our own lives, we can instill confidence in those who will follow in our footsteps," he said. "The aim of the Boys and Girls Association is to work with children--starting when they are very young--to help them lay the foundation that will enable them to live their lives based on the conviction of faith that is single-hearted with God."

Association Chairman Harunobu Nakayama then announced the new activity guideline: "Let us convey the mind of single-hearted salvation from parent to child--promoting activities leading up to the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama." He also stated three concrete goals to be pursued this year, goals that are designed to help this association implement the activity guideline. They are: "Promoting participation in the 50th Children's Pilgrimage to Jiba," "Conducting overnight stays at churches and encouraging parent-and-child visits to churches," and "Enhancing activities that allow junior high school students to take leading roles."