Wahiawa 

“Ohiromae” or the Main Worship Hall

The designated place of worship for church congregation is called “Ohiromae” or the Main Worship Hall.  The center of the sanctuary is referred to as “Goshinden” or Kami altar.  Next to the left is called “Reiden” or Mitama altar. 

At the “Goshinden” or Kami altar, Parent God, Tenchi Kane no Kami as well as the Founder, Ikigami Konko Daijin and the spirits of the successive Spiritual Head of the Konko Religious Organization are also worshipped.   

Posterior to the fence is called “Kyoojou” or “Gaiden” or outer sanctuary and the designated place of worship by the Head Minister is situated.  The Japanese writing in the Kami altar is called “Tenchi Kakitsuke” or “The Divine Reminder” which represents the core of the entire religious messages in the Konko religion. 

In the “Reiden” or Mitama altar, Mitama spirits of the founding minister of this church, the Rev. Haruko Takahashi, the deceased ministers of the related churches, such as the Revs. Masayuki and Kikue Kodama of Honolulu Church and the Rev. Matsutaro Yasutake and the Rev. Fumio Yasutake of Konko Church of Amagi, and the church members and all other related people who have been mediated to the minister are worshipped.   

On the right side of the Kami altar, three pictures are placed on the wall.  They represent significant meanings for the Konko Mission of Wahiawa.  The late Rev. Haruko Takahashi, on the right, is the founding minister of our church in Wahiawa.  The late Rev. Fumio Yasutake, in the center, was the second Head Minister of Konko Church of Amagi who contributed in supporting the missionary work in Hawaii.  The portrait of the late Rev. Setsutane Konko (3^rd Spiritual Head) is on the left.  The third Spiritual Head of Konko Religion Organization has helped the Rev. Haruko Takahashi to begin her missionary work in Wahiawa.   

The desk at the far right hand side of the sanctuary is referred to as “Toritsugi no Za” or Toritsugi-Mediation Desk.  This distinctive place is referred to as “Okekkai” or “Kekkai” Mediation Desk because it serves as a connecting point between the sphere of Kami and the world of humanity. 

The Toritsugi-Mediation Desk was designated in that particular place in the church in accordance with a divine instruction revealed on April 20, 1873.  Basically the place is reserved only for the Head Minister who serves as a Toritsugi-Mediator in representation of the Spiritual Head at the Headquarters Church at Konko Town in Okayama, Japan.  If the Head Minister is not available temporarily, other associate ministers may serve in place of the Head Minister.  The primary work of the Toritsugi-Mediator is to receive messages from the people and convey their forwarded messages to Kami and relays back the messages of Kami to the people in return.  The messages forwarded to the Toritsugi-Mediator is recorded in the “Gokinen-cho’ or Record Note for Prayers.  The Head Minister relates the messages to Kami through his prayers daily. 

The church is open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily except for some situations where other church or community functions overlap. 

We use a common term “Ohikiyose” for our church visitation because we come to church not only through our own initial intent but also through Kami’s guidance.  It is appropriate for us to extend our thanks to Kami upon arrival at the church. 

When you ascend the stairs into the church, there is a hand-washing basin on the left.  This is used to cleanse and purify our hands and mouth as a form of cleansing not only our hands and body, but as well as our heart before we enter into the worship hall.

An offertory box called “Saisen-bako” or an offertory chest is placed in the center of the worship hall up front.  The tradition of the offertory box may come from the Japanese Shinto tradition.  “Saisen” means a monetary offering