YAYAM ‘Is A Way to Practice My Faith’

FFWPU-USA

“We had our first son after college and I was looking for an outlet to be myself,” says Katherine Anglin, a young Unificationist. “I wanted something that allowed me to express myself.”

For Anglin, now 26, that outlet was remotely joining the evangelism team at the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) USA headquarters in 2017, under Rev. Demian Dunkley’s department leadership. 

Anglin, an only child raised in Omaha, Nebraska, among a small community, was looking to develop herself and make a difference while helping others. With a degree in psychology from the University of Nebraska, she flourished in sharing her faith through the evangelism department.

“That role really connected me to the forefront of the Unification movement with tribal messiahship,” says Anglin. “I worked with developing the TribeNet program there for a little more than three years.”

Now a mother of two young sons, Anglin (née Lincoln), who received the Marriage Blessing with Jordan Anglin from California, still calls the Cornhusker State home; however, her mission has changed to a larger one.

In early March, Anglin was appointed as the Youth and Young Adult Ministry (YAYAM) national coordinator, succeeding Kaeleigh Moffitt of Maryland.

“It’s a huge responsibility,” says Anglin, feeling humbled and grateful for the opportunity. “I worked to merge TribeNet with YAYAM’s Young Tribe Call, so my heart has always been for serving our young people.”

Anglin’s investment in younger generations, which traces back to her days as a former team captain of Generation Peace Academy (GPA) where she spent two years with the program after high school, is kindled by the love she received from her community.

“It comes from my elder brothers and sisters who really loved me growing up,” says Anglin. “And also seeing peers my age who have struggled. I really have a heart to connect with people who are disengaged and disconnected in their faith.”

For Anglin, that means becoming a bridge for all young people.

“I have a sense of responsibility to lead our youth in the direction of God’s providence, because we can do more for God with more people and manpower,” says Anglin. “I’m just trying to let God work through me, and connect through prayer to let God guide my decisions.”

Anglin will have help from a familiar face. Camarie Eaton, who was also a part of GPA for two years, is about to graduate from The College of New Jersey in May. She is filling the role of YAYAM national administrator, vacated by Sunhwa Reiner of New York.

“I’m now in this transitional phase of my life,” says Eaton, 26. “Even though I’ve been working with YAYAM pretty consistently since 2015—through a lot of workshops and team work—this allows me to

contribute in a new way to YAYAM’s vision and direction on a bigger level and I am grateful for the opportunity.”

Eaton is eager to support Anglin as they plan ahead with new projects on the horizon.

“I love the experience of working with youth,” says Eaton. “It’s so fulfilling. That’s the beauty of YAYAM, even though we’re not perfect, it’s an outlet for growth and to come closer together. Being in a leadership position, big or small, is about serving other people. I believe YAYAM is a way to practice my faith and put it into action.”

Anglin and Eaton are looking to uplift the voices of young Unificationists and provide activities that are inspiring and educational. To start, a master class series and resource link on YAYAM’s website are recent additions for the national community.

“We want YAYAM to be an outlet and resource for the youth,” says Eaton. “For example, there are all these young Unificationists starting conversations with podcasts and it’s so cool to highlight that and share what they are doing.”

And on a broader scale, Anglin says, “I think we have amazing things to offer the world. We want to make sure it’s better than anything that’s out there, including a life of faith and marriage that people see in our movement and are attracted to.”

Moffitt and Reiner call the new duo an “unstoppable team,” but the pair say it’s the foundation and support of their predecessors that makes it all possible.

“They saw our strengths and our hearts,” says Anglin, “and we want everyone to feel God’s love in our community.”

To learn more about YAYAM, click here.