CHICAGO�To the thunderous roar of cheers from a standing-room only 1,200-plus crowd of family, followers and friends at Mosque Maryam Dec. 12, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan delivered his first words from the rostrum of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad since early January.

"I am very happy to see you," the beloved Minister told the crowd to another ear-shattering ovation. "I wanted to ease your minds because there have been so many rumors spread (about my health). Well, I�m not all the way there yet, but you can see I�m on the road," he said.

The internationally known Muslim leader has been recovering since March from an illness caused by treatment given to him for prostate cancer.

During his 40-minute message, Min. Farrakhan publicly thanked his wife Khadijah and family. The Minister expressed his gratitude to his National Board, believers and supporters for their constant prayers for his complete recovery. He also warned that the believers of a religious community should put their total faith in God and not lose faith when the leader of their community becomes ill, or even dies.

"Prophets get sick. Messengers get sick. Leaders get sick. (Prophet) Job was very sick," he said. "It�s a trial � and trials purify. I came to encourage you."

Wishing the Muslims a blessed Ramadan (a month of fasting and prayer), Min. Farrakhan officially announced that Saviours� Day 2000 would be held in Chicago Feb. 24-27. Saviours� Day is the convention of the Nation of Islam held annually to celebrate the birth of its founder, Master Fard Muhammad.

The four day event will consist of the Second World Islamic People�s Leadership Conference Feb. 24-26 at the McCormick Center where Islamic scholars from Africa, the Middle East, China, Japan, Russia and other parts of the world will gather for workshops and panel discussions on the important issues of the day.

On Feb. 25, an Islamic Family Reunion will be held.

"There are Muslims (followers of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad) who graduated from the Universities of Islam in Chicago, Detroit, New York, Boston � that have gone out into the world to do great things. Some of us have not seen each other in 20-30 years," he said, calling also for foreign-born Muslims in the United States to attend.

"We cannot go into the new century and the new millennium a fractured people. If we can come together as a family, then the light of Islam will be so bright in America that the things America suffers from that Muslims generally do not suffer from, we will be able to present a light to the world," he said.

The crowning event of the weekend will be a Feb. 27 keynote address by Min. Farrakhan at the United Center.