29. My Father's Dream for America (September 14, 2008)

In Jin Moon
September 14, 2008
New Jerusalem Church
Clifton, New Jersey
Notes: Yukari Takashima

Thank you, New Jerusalem, for giving me such a warm and inviting welcome this morning, and to Rev Jenkins for giving such a wonderful introduction. I'm delighted to be here with all of you. And it's truly my honor to stand in this position as the chairperson for HSA.

When I look out into the audience and I see your faces, many of those faces that I know and many young new faces that I look forward to getting to know, I realize that we truly have something quite profound here.

Our True Parents, when they came to this country, this great country of America in the 70's some decades ago, my father had a vision, my father had a dream that he really wanted to help this country become the great God-chosen country that it was suppose to be. Father realized that it was a superpower, and Father has often said to me, "What is power?" If you were to sit in political science introductory course 101, they would define power as the ability to influence. Father knew that as a God-chosen country America held that power to influence the world.

So when Father came here and he started preaching and he started teaching and he started living this life of true love and this message of true love, he was hoping that all the American brothers and sisters chosen by God to come into this fold could be the true parents for this great country, to raise up the consciousness of the American people, to raise up the consciousness of the young people that are on their way. And being in this incredible position of influence, Father was hoping that America can really show the way, show the way how we must honor God, how we must love each other, how we must celebrate the life that we're given, and to think about how we're going to give back, so that this true love power can go on and on in perpetuity.

When my Father came here and was initially embraced by America I remember being a little girl and seeing all these little keys to different states that were given by mayors and governors welcoming, "Welcome Rev Moon to the state of Nevada," "Welcome Rev Moon to the state of Colorado." But then after a couple of years and with all these hundreds and hundreds of members joining in I remember once, when I was a little girl, somebody told me that in one weekend 200 or 300 members were joining for a weekend workshop.

It was an incredible time and there was so much energy in the air, and young and beautiful and accomplished American brothers and sisters were so fired up about the fact that the Messiah was here and the fact that they were in the right time to effectuate something profound, not just for their own individual lives but for their country and possibly for the world.

And I remember when I went out to places to visit like Camp K, all the different choo-choo pow that was going on and I was like this little girl with wide eyes watching and being so moved that all these people, these were American beautiful brothers and sisters, and they were just so gung-ho about my dad. And as much as I adore my Father, (for me) he is just this one lovable Oriental man, but to you guys he was the most hippest thing around and the way you were so inspired to be in his presence, and the way you were just so empowered that you were feeling like you were a part of something big, something profound, something important, that's what stayed with me all my years.

And here we are, fast forward, a couple of decades later, we've grown a little wider, we've grown a little grayer and maybe a bit weathered, and a bit tired. But I still see in your eyes that initial spark that you felt when you walked in to our communities, to our family centers, and you heard the DP for the first time. And as we grow, having children of our own, I know that many of us ask ourselves, "How do I keep that spark alive? How do I keep going, when I can't put food on the table, how do I keep going when my teenage daughter won't come home until 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning? How do I keep going, when I'm no longer attractive to my spouse? How do I keep going, when I seem to be just drowning and wallowing in my problems?"

Well, I've been there; too, brothers and sisters, and I know what you are going through. But you know, no matter what we go through, suffering is really a part of the human course. It's a part of our lives and instead of trying to struggle with it, I embrace it. And the minute you start to realize that this is something that I need to go through to become a deeper person, to become a richer person or a wiser person, the fear of suffering or the burden of suffering kind of goes away because you begin to see suffering as a reason to grow, as a way to mature, as a means to take us somewhere that we maybe voluntarily would not have gone otherwise. And so, when I stand here together with you, brothers and sisters, as a mother of five kids... and I know that all of you have families of your own... you're not alone on this road, my brothers and I are very much with you.

But no matter what we go through in our personal lives, let's not forget that initial spark. Let's not forget why we are here. From time to time let's look around and see each other and maybe gain strength from each other and maybe help each other and think about how we're going to come together as a community, because that's what I feel like my responsibility is as the chairperson of HSA. How do we bring our community together, how do we bring it closer, how do we make it real again, and how do we make it exciting for the young people of our movement.

And I've thought about quite a few things but one of things that I feel we need to do is to kind of look at where our movement has been and figure out where we are going to go. When I look at the history of the Unification movement with the initial influx of all these people joining the movement in the 70's and 80's, we've had an endless array of events. You were working against the timeline, you were working against deadlines, "We have to do this by such and such a deadline, we have to do that, we have to accomplish this"... and those are all lofty goals.

But I feel like we've become so busy that we forgot what was important, we forgot that the most important thing in our life of faith is our family, and the most important thing in our lives is our children.

When Jesus came to visit Mary and Martha, and Martha out of her love for Jesus was busy scurrying around preparing this and that, preparing dishes, making sure Jesus had the correct chair, making sure Jesus had the proper cushion, Mary just sat at his feet, next to his foot, and just quietly took care of him, and quietly prayed for Jesus. And as hard as Martha worked externally, and maybe Martha looked at Mary and said, "What's the matter with Mary, why is she not helping me, why is she just sitting there?", Jesus was using that example to teach a very, very valuable lesson. The external hurrying and the external campaigning is great and what Martha is doing is great, but what is greater is where we are internally, and what we are going to be doing internally as a movement, as a family, in our life of faith.

So if we look at our movement in terms of all the things that have been accomplished... great things were accomplished, Yankee stadium, Washington Monument, and all those speaking rallies, it's wonderful. And all the great work my brothers and sisters are doing, my husband just coming back from Mongolia GPF, it's just wonderful work. But what about our home, what about our children?

So for me I've always told my Father when he asked me "What do you want to be?" I said,” Well, frankly, Father, I want to be a medical doctor." And he said, "Oh, no, no, no, you can't be a medical doctor, you're a women. I don't want you operating on people. I don't want you touching blood." I said to my Father, "But Father, I want to work with children and I want to help the elderly. I want to be a doctor." He said, "No, no, no. Go study political science." So I did and then I said, "Father, now I've studied political science and I did what you asked me to do. But in the meantime I've taken enough courses so I can take the MCAT so I can go to medical school. Can I go?" He said, "No, you go to Divinity School." So I said, "Yes, Father" and I went.

Once when I came back from my fall semester classes and my Father and I were having this discussion and he said to me, "Why do you always bother me that you want to be a doctor? Didn't you give it up?" And I said, "Well, Father, it's kind of late now. Maybe one of my children might fulfill my dream. But I always thought being a doctor was a really mothering thing to do." And I told my Father, "One of the best things that I want to be in my life is to be remembered on my tombstone, 'She was a great mother.'“ And I said "If I can have that, if I can have my children inscribe that on my tombstone, I'm going to be a happy camper up there."

I've done a lot of things in my life. I've fundraised, and I was a good fundraiser. I've witnessed, and I was a pretty good witnesser, too. And I've had jobs, I've waitressed, I've taught kids, I've taught college students, and I've done a lot of things in my life but the most difficult thing that I've ever done was to have kids and to raise them. And I know you mothers out there know what I'm talking about, right? It doesn't matter how great we are as human beings, it doesn't matter if I win the Olympic gold, or if I become the prime minister of India? Well, I can't because I'm not Indian, but for an example. It doesn't matter what I do, if at the end of the day I am not a good mother, then what good am I? What good or what value have I given to myself and to my family and to my community?

So when we think of this movement as a church and a larger family, we've been doing a lot of great works, but I think part of the reason why my Father asked me to be responsible for this position is that a women's touch was missing in the picture. Also the emphasis on education, the emphasis on mothering, the emphasis of a support system, the emphasis on cooperation, and all the while empowering our children and letting them know how special they are and how each and every one of them were chosen by God, literally, right?

Because many of you, I'm sure, many of your children, were the product of picture blessings and many of you have never met your spouses before. And probably given your own choice you would not have chosen the person you are blessed to, right? Its okay, I can say the same thing, too. But in all of Father's great wisdom when I think about my husband and me, you know, we are like oil and water. We are like night and day. You just could not find two people that are more opposite than my husband and me and many times I ask God, "What was I in my former life to deserve this, if there is ever such a thing (as former life)?"

But you know, through the growth and through the difficulties I came to realize something really profound and that is this. Because I am blessed to this person I have these incredible five children that I never would have otherwise. And they are my reason for being, just like the way I know that your children are the reason for your being, and the reason why you continue on. So one of things that I tell my kids all the time is... we love to tell stories about how mommy and daddy got together. And they think it's hilarious that their granddaddy would marry their mommy to somebody that she absolutely never wanted to marry, and it's all in good humor now. But I think as they kind of mature in their own way and think about what kind of people they want to be and how they are going to live the rest of their lives as grown adults, you've got to hand it to granddaddy, at least life is not boring.

I really hope that this time, you know, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, young adults, young men and women, can really kind of look around and see and think about how you can contribute and be a part of this movement. I always tell my children and I always tell my friends, "If I'm not inspired, I'm no good to anybody, and if we as a movement, as a family and as a community are not inspired by what we are and who we are, we are no good to anybody."

Brothers and sisters, we can claim to high heaven that we are going to teach the world about true love, that we are going to teach the world how to be One Family under God, but if we are not inspired as that family under God, what good are we? And who would ever want to be part of our movement if we ourselves are not living it?

Last week I spent some time with STF. It was their kick-off meeting before they go on their way for a year, and we had a wonderful time. We had a time of sharing and I heard some stories about some of the things they're going through. And what I've been basically sharing with members all around the world was the importance of natural witnessing. We spend a great deal of time teaching but many times we don't give our guests or our friends a chance to ask us, or even a chance to be curious about what we are all about, because, "Here we are, Principle of Creation, we want to start with that."

I was talking to them about how the best and the most effective way you can witness is to raise good families, is to raise awesome kids. And I don't know how many countless times I've had moms and dads come up to me saying, "You know, your kids are amazing. What are you doing that we don't know about?" Or like, "How did you and your husband meet?" And I always say, "Oh, that's a long story.

Maybe we should not start it today." But they are naturally curious, they want to know, and then slowly just by inviting them into your homes like the way you are doing with the small group gatherings, group fellowships, they naturally come to see the beauty of True Parents in you and in your kids. Then the difficult part is already done, brothers and sisters. They are already curious, they already want to know. They already want to hear about your secret or your formula.

And part of the reason why I bring up my sharing about STF is... this one young brother, he is on STF now and his name is Mathew Love, I believe. He was talking about his own experience about this natural witnessing. He said he was going out for a walk, and now we have a sign called True Father's trail, right as you turn to drive into UTS, and there were some people asking about it. "Can you show me the trail, where is the trail?"

And this young brother, together with some of his friends, went out of his way to take care of this lady, to talk about what Father's trail is, where it is, "This is the way you go." And this woman was totally love-bombed and she asked, "Why are you guys so different? You guys are so different from the teenagers that I see everywhere. You guys are so respectful, you guys are so caring." And in that instant that women came to realize the beauty of the True Parent's message.

And it's instances like that in our daily lives, where we can really make an impact, slowly and quietly and naturally, a natural, very organic way of witnessing, that is more profound and more effective than what comes out of our mouth. So if we as a movement can maybe share a moment of silence, maybe 5, 10, 15 minutes in the morning, maybe after your HDH or maybe even before.... I always make it a point to at least give myself 20 minutes a day just reflecting about my day, what I've done, what I didn't have time to do, what I could have done, how I can start the next morning, and in a way make myself a daily list of everything that I want to accomplish, with regards to my relationship with my spouse, my relationship with my children, my relationship with my friends, and now my colleagues.

These little things that are done in the silence, or in the quiet of your home, become the plan for your day, becomes the plan for your week, becomes your plan for the month, and before you know it, these little things add up to something great. Here I have my two pianists who for many, many years have practiced their skills, from 8 o'clock in the morning sharp, 4 octave scales, on and on. Even as a mother -- and you know, your children are good, whenever they start 8 o'clock sharp on their scales -- it's the same old scale. Year after year these kids are becoming amazing. Year after year what started out as chopsticks has turned into Prokofiev Concerto #3, has turned into Schumann Concerto, has turned into Rachmaninoff, and it's just amazing what little things that you do everyday can ultimately accomplish.

So I'm not here, brothers and sisters, promising you big results. I'm here basically saying, could we take a moment to think about the little things that matter in our lives? The little things, like coming together as a community, and doing something for our children, education-wise, culturally, something that is exciting.

On my end, I'm working very, very hard at Manhattan Center. When I work meeting many, many different powerful people of media and of entertainment, all the different celebrities and all the different people that basically influence the whole world, it takes me right back to my conversation with my Father, talking about, "What is power?" Power is the ability to influence.

What is power in America now? It is the cult of celebrity, right? In a way the celebrities have become God for our children. Why is it that, brothers and sisters, we have our True Parents, who have given more and suffered more and done more than the Dalai Lama, have done more than Nelson Mandela, and these men are being honored and recognized as men of peace? They are being awarded Nobel Prizes. What about our True Parents?

I remember many times when Hyo Jin oppa used to come to my room and we used to talk about this because he was just incredibly obsessed with media. Why? Because media has the power to influence and right now it's the celebrities that are influencing your children, that are influencing the world. So Hyo Jin oppa understood this very, very clearly and that is why he strove so hard to make Manhattan Center into the cultural hub of NY that can effectuate a good power, that can have great influence on young people to help them and empower them to achieve the kind of greatness that these young people know that they have inside of them but never really knew how to show.

So these young people that are your children are being taught to dress by the celebrities, taught how to live. MTV shows this all the time, right? Check out my crib. All these music, mansions, money, capitalism. This is what your children, what our country... and this country is doing to the world... what we are engaged in. This incessant advertisement of capitalism, money, power, that is all that matters, and young people are buying into it. So how do we, brothers and sisters, show or tell and, in a way, inspire our children that it is not the most meaningful thing in life?

We've got a tremendous battle ahead of us. It's not easy for me, and I'm sure it's not easy for you. And especially those of you first generation who've given up everything, you have no power, you have no money. In the eyes of your second generation, your children might be looking at you like, "My mom and dad, they have nothing, they are social losers." I know how difficult it is, but if there is any second generation here in the audience, I'm here to tell you that your parents are the most incredible people in America today. Because they are the ones inspired by God to say that it's not about power, it's not about money. It's about love and how we treat each other, and how we can grow together and come and work together so we don't have something like 9/11 happening on our doorsteps again.

I just came from Manhattan Center, and last night's evening program was a party for the NYPD, remembering 9/11, remembering the hatred, remembering the shock, and remembering what America went through, because we were not ready. We didn't realize what Father was saying 20, 30 years ago. In a way what happened with terrorism and what happened with 9/11 was something that Father was warning us about 20, 30 years ago. Father fought against communism and said we have to fight, we have to stand against communism because it is wrong and because it does not recognize human value, human life. My father has seen hundreds and thousands of people murdered at the hands of communism. Father wanted to come to this country and say, "America, please do not be swayed by its message."

Brothers and sisters, terrorism, what is it? What is terrorism? Terrorism is the new communism. It is because the religions didn't unite. It is because religions were not able to unify and work together as One Family under God. And it is because these young idealistic fanatics in these movements are thinking they're the best, they are the new chosen people, and they are literally blowing themselves up to hurt another human being in the name of God, in the name of religion. How can that be? If we don't do anything about it, if we don't come together as a movement, and if we don't realize what kind of time we are living in... people are constantly talking about how it is going to happen again. Politicians are talking about that probably it won't be NY, it might be Chicago, and different things.

What are we going to do as a movement, but more important than a movement, what are we going to do as Americans? If True Parents are really the peacemakers, if they are the men and women of peace, how are we going to save America from another terrorist attack? I feel that in a way this is a new opportunity or a chance, I don't like to use this word, but to re-brand our movement, to rethink what we are all about, and to kind of make it very, very simple for our second generation, what they are.

We've had a lot of talk about generation Xers, generation Y, generation Z. We are now up to millennials' generation, to the 'show me generation' where capitalism is king, but what will our generation be? How are our children going to brand themselves as a new movement that is going to keep this world peaceful? We have to raise our young people to see themselves as a generation of peace. They have to be the gen peace. They have to be the ones who basically say, "Look, we are not just second generation, we are more than that.

Second generation is the way we define ourselves in our movement. But we must always think of ourselves in the context of the larger whole. We are the generation peace makers. We are the ones who are going to turn and tap our colleagues or our friends in the classroom and say, 'Who is going to make this world a better? It starts with me.' “And how are we going to do that? By concentrating on the common denominators, like what? The belief in a higher power. You can call it anything you want, God, Yahweh, Allah. Call it whatever you want, but believe in a higher power. Why? Because if you believe in God, you have this feeling of gratitude. Because when you believe in God you realize that life is a gift, a gift that needs to be cherished, nurtured, and given back.

And secondly, what are we going to tell our kids? It's not just a belief in a higher power; it's about the celebration of life. The sanctity of life. Life is precious. And in our church we always teach our children, living for the sake of others. With what word starts that phrase, brothers and sisters? Living! We must live in order to be able to serve others, meaning we have to be a good, complete individual. We have to be a loving couple. We have to raise great, emotionally, spiritually, physically healthy children. And we have to live. And we have to help our kids to try to be the best, to strive for their dreams, "Go and become the president of the United States, go and be the next Mandela. Go and be the next Rosa Parks." There are so many great luminaries all throughout history. Your children can be the ones that follow in their name. Make your children believe in something great. Living for the sake of others.

And frankly when I think about our church I think all of us were dying for the sake of others. We were individually dying for the sake of our brothers and sisters. We were as a couple dying for the sake of our children, and as a family we were literally dying to make ends meet. So instead of a community that's degenerating into something much darker and not beautiful things, we must be living for the sake of others. We have to raise our children to be the best that they can be. And if you're having problems putting food on the table, encourage your children to get the best education, get the best job. You don't have time to hang out in malls and complain.

We have enough time, and as long as there is willingness and an effort and a desire for persistence, America is a land of opportunity. Your kids can become the greatest men and women of this country. Barak Obama came out of a single family home, and look, he is running for the president of the United States. Who in their wildest dreams ever thought that was possible? I'm sure Dr. Lowery did not ever think that he would see the day when a black man was running for the president of the United States.

Brothers and sisters, your children might very well be running for the president of the United States in the future, as long as we can keep our faith alive and show our children to be passionate, be the best in something and make sure whatever you choose makes economic sense. Tell these three things to your children: be passionate, be the best at something you want to do. If you want to be the best musician be the best, be passionate, and make sure it makes money.

You want to be the best cookie maker, like Debbie Fields, be passionate; she loved those chocolate chip cookies. God bless her because I'm her best client. Be the best chocolate chip cookie maker, and then make sure you can financially take care of your family. If we can encourage our youth to be all that they can be and more, and on top of that every now and then you can remind them how special they are. Because they are really, truly, literally hand-picked by God and True Parents. None of them would be here if you and your spouse were not blessed. So they were literally hand-picked.

The third thing, what is our generation going to be called, what is your children's generation going to be called? We have to stand against violence in any form. Violence is implicit in racism, in sexism, in fanaticism, and we've seen it over and over again in the acts of terrorism. We have to be a generation that basically says, "You know what? I want my world to be a generation of peace. I want my world to be a generation where we honor and not just tolerate each other." In a way the liberal educational system is teaching the importance of tolerance. Brothers and sisters, that's just the bare minimum. That's like telling your spouse, "You know honey, I really, really tolerate you." It's just not the same.

So instead of teaching tolerance, more important is teaching the importance of love, of actually loving your Islamic brothers, loving your Christian fellowman, loving freakish people that sometimes your society wants to ostracize. Then I think in a way we can give our children something to latch onto. Because being second generation in a way is so exclusive. It's not embracing, it's not inviting to the world. We as a movement need to reach a place where True Parents are going to be recognized in the next four and a half years. It just breaks my heart to hear my father say that he'll be leaving us in 2013.

Well, let's work backwards, brothers and sisters. If it is my father's last wish to be recognized before 2013 as the Peacemaker of this World, what do we have to do? If you know you want to get a PhD, there are certain things that you know you have to do. You have to graduate high school, you have to go to college, you have to go to graduate school, and then apply to a PhD program.

Well, I really feel like the first step we need to do as a movement is to heal within. In a way to invite back the people that were afraid to come. Maybe people were somewhat questioning the value of tithing. "If I tithe, is it really going to go to our community? Or is it going to disappear into the black hole?" Well, I am here to tell you that one of things that I would like to work towards is transparency in our organizations. That means to be responsible for the money spent and how it should be spent.

I have a certain bias because I feel that the children need more investment. The education system needs more investment, maybe the support group systems needs more investment. And that is exactly where you will see our resources go. And at the same time, promoting culture, promoting music and the arts as an expression. For so many years we are so busy telling our children, "You can't do that, you can't do this." Many times I ask my brother and sister friends, "What do you tell your kids that they can do? Is there anything you are going to allow them to do?"

Because we love our children so much and we try to take care of them, sometimes we become so possessive and we control them so much that they want nothing to do with us and the movement. And I feel that in a way a constructive outlet or a constructive wonderful way of expressing what our children are going through emotionally, maybe spiritually, is through the arts. It's wonderful to have music. When I walked in and I heard music, I said, "Today is going to be a great day."

When I saw this morning that it was not the 'hippie' generation on the instruments but it's bright and incredibly talented young people, I said, "This is awesome! Now if this is not the beginning of the Kingdom of Heaven, I don't know what is."

So brothers and sisters, truly this is not an opportunity for me to just come and talk to you. It's really my opportunity to hear some of the things that you have been doing, and to get a sense of how our movement has been run at the different locations as I slowly make my way around the country.

So in a way I'm inviting all of you to take part in helping to re-brand our movement, helping to re-brand the second generation to think larger than themselves. Maybe you give them the concept of a generation of peace and they will take it to their schools and say, "You know what? These three points, I bet I can get half my school to sign off on it." And boom! One person has a global petition drive going. Just one child. Think about it. And it doesn't matter how young and how old, in elementary school, in middle school, in high school, or in college. Who can say that belief in a higher power, celebrating life and opposing violence is a bad thing? We can start on the common denominators that make us all feel like we're a part of one big family. And if we can do that, even as we grow by inviting people who don't know our movement, then I think we can do incredibly great things.

So I'm hoping that you can join me in my work as I serve you and serve this great country of America. I am so lucky that I get to work with really, really wonderful and incredible brothers and sisters.

Let me not take any more of your time, and I do hope that you will all have a good week. And if it didn't start out that way, I am hoping that you will make it a good week and a good day. I hope to see you again real soon. 

28. In Jin Nim's Monthly Journal No. 1 August - September (September 2008 - Pdf)

In Jin Nim's Monthly Journal No. 1 August - September (September 2008 - Pdf)

27. Inaugural Speech As Chairman Of HSA-UWC and FFWPU (August 18, 2008)

In Jin Moon
August 18, 2008
Manhattan Center, New York, NY

Thank you brothers and sisters for coming here and sharing this beautiful evening with me. I am truly honored and truly so grateful for my family being here and for my friends, like Lynn and Bishop Stallings, and Bishop Edwards and all the dignitaries of our movement. I am truly blessed.

Part of the reason why I wanted to have this inauguration party at The Manhattan Center is because my dearest brother who I loved very, very much, gave his heart and soul into this building and he’s the one who introduced the concept that media and entertainment is crucial to win the hearts of people in America.

And because he himself was a profound musician and he himself was impacted and influenced by media, he said, “Father, we need this for God. We need a building like this. Can I take the Manhattan Center and turn it into a multi-million empire?” And my Father said, “Mm. Keu-rae.” That means ‘go ahead’. And he really took that to heart and tried his best with the people he had available. But with his passing, and with my Father asking me to take on the role as the Chairman and C.E.O. of Manhattan Center I realize that, that dream must carry on.

The importance of media and the importance of how we package ourselves as a movement is of utmost importance and it’s really, truly, my first priority at this moment. I feel like everything I was able to accomplish here at Manhattan Center was really standing on the shoulders of the brother that had gone before me. It is truly his inspiration and his passion that still resides in the walls of this building and it fills me everyday that I walk in here and I realize, you know what, it’s just so satisfying to be able to fulfill and to carry on my brother’s vision and my Father’s vision.

So the promo that you saw tonight is really just a taste of the whole branding process that is taking place at the Manhattan Center. This is just a promo video but we are we doing the brochure, as well as business cards, and in a way, educating the employees and our directors on the importance of client services and taking care of anyone that walks into our building because that’s the first experience that they will have with our movement, with True Parents.

And if we can give them a great experience, if we can take care of them like no other, what better way is there to serve America, then by taking care of the people and giving them a wonderful time in entertainment and in music and maybe give them a couple hours away from the difficulties of life or from the pressures at work? This is the kind of thing that I would like to do for HSA as well.

You know, I always tell my husband, True Parents are really the world’s best kept secret. As I have this opportunity to meet all the different CEOs and the media and entertainment business, they always end up asking me, “How come I never knew this before?” And I say, “Because God was giving me the opportunity to tell you first hand.” I tell them it’s the world of media and entertainment that really misunderstood and misconstrued what my father and mother was all about.

In a nutshell their message is quite simple and quite profound. And I always tell these CEOs and my friends that what I strive for in my daily life is simple elegance. And my father’s message, theologically, in a nutshell is that simple elegance. I tell them, that my father was inspired when he was 16 years old by the vision of Jesus Christ that he had of Jesus, our savior and our Lord. He was moved by that vision when he was praying on that mountain asking God “How can I help you, God?” “How can I help you Jesus Christ.”

And Jesus Christ appeared to him on that beautiful Easter Sunday morning and asked him, “Please, son, finish my mission, fulfill my mission.” What does that mission entail? “Please build a family. Something that I never had the chance to do. Please have a loving wife, please have loving children, and establish and substantiate the ideal family that I’ve longed to build.”

And starting at the age of 16, even though my Father is 88 years old, that passion that he received from Jesus Christ has never wavered. He has been in an out of prison six times; he was scheduled for execution on the morning of October 14th, 1950, but because of the allied forces he was liberated from his prison sentence at Hungnam, which he served for 2 years and 8 months. And it was the American soldiers that saved his life.

That’s why he came here, brothers and sisters. He said, “America saved my life, and therefore, my life belongs to this country.” My father always said that God especially blessed this country. This country is like a chosen country that God prepared for beautiful people like you. When Father came here in the 60’s and the 70’s and saw all the difficulties, different issues with morality -- that was the height of the hippie movement, a lot of young people lost their way; a lot of young people lost hope. That’s when Father wanted to come here and bring his message of love, and bring his message of an ideal family, so that all those young people who were looking for something, looking to be grafted into the true olive branch, if you will, would connect together with the True Parents so that they can rise up and make America great.

My father, as the True Parents, did not come to America just to be the sole True Parents, and rule over America as if nobody knows what they’re doing.

His intention was to raise all of us up, so we can be just as wonderful, and just as loving a True Parents as they are, so that we can have all the love, and the beautiful children that we -- ‘we’ meaning my siblings and I -- would like to aspire to. It’s all for you.

So when my father came here and invested his heart and soul, and I told my friends at MTVN-VH1, did you know that my father spent over two billion dollars in the Washington Times alone? Why? To save the world from communism because he had witnessed first hand the atrocities that are committed under that name.

I was having lunch the other day with a PR firm and we were talking about communism, socialism, fascism, and he said, “You know, Tatiana, in my understanding of things, communism is just an economic model, and a profound one at that.” And I said, well, that’s an intellectual way of understanding communism, but the reality of communism is that many, many, lives have been wasted because there is no concept of God; there is no concept of human value; there’s no value placed on life. And my father did not want the young Americans to be swayed in thinking that communism was just an economic model.

It was an intellectual proposition, but in reality, it’s an atrocity in the making. And my father felt it and he experienced it in all the concentration camps that he sat in. And he said, during all those lonely nights when I was in solitary confinement, and I was searching for God, and I was trying to understand why I had to go this way, and why I had to suffer, God spoke to him in so many ways. But the most profound way was that he heard a kind of singing, little scratches of sound like a small whistling. It was music to his ears and when he investigated a little bit further, he realized that it was a pair of cockroaches making love. And when he saw that, he said, “There is God. Look how happy those little critters look. I want to be happy like those little cockroaches when I get out!”

It was simple experiences like that that helped him survive and that helped with his own conviction that, “I’m going to live and I’m going to carry out His message.” And because he believed so firmly in the fact that he will survive, the allied forces came, the American’s came; you guys came! And you saved my father. So, as his daughter, I am indebted to you and indebted to this country because I would not be here otherwise, would I? And on top of that, I have the most wonderful brothers and sisters with me, sitting in this front row: Preston Hyun Jin Moon with his Universal Peace Federation. And my handsome brother Kwon Jin -- I have a proclivity towards Kwon Jin because in my eyes he’s so handsome. And Yeon Jin and Jeung Jin, such beautiful young women, such talented young women.

So in our family, it’s interesting how all of us are developing in many, many different ways, but at the heart of everything, we are very creative beings. You know, Hyun Jin Moon, I don’t know if you know, but he’s quite a rocker at heart. And Kwon Jin is an actor and Yeon Jin will be a famous, famous female director. And Jeung Jin is an incredible writer. She has this dry wit and a way of putting words together that should not be. Kind of like my husband and me, but when it works, it works!

So when I have this family backing me up saying sis, “We can work together. We can do this. We can bring the people back” -- many of you that have been kind of hanging on for dear life, climbing the endless rung each day, wondering, ‘Is there going to be a light at the end of the tunnel?’ Yes, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel! And all your sacrifice and all your hard work is not wasted because we have the most important thing and that is content. You are the content. You are the best kept secret in the United States, and my job as your chairman is just to make sure it’s attractive, and it’s packaged well. And you will look so beautiful, and you will shine like the Chrysler building. I want our movement to be a movement that people are dying to join, dying to be a part of.

My father always said, it only takes one person to change the world. He would say, “Look at me! I’m just an oriental man who had nothing. But I had the belief in God and the belief that I could do it. So I believe that all of us sitting here in the room are the next True Parents of America. And I’m counting on you brothers and sisters to kind of help me walk along this path, because I cannot do it without you, and True Family cannot do it without you.

But if we can come together as a community and remember the defining moment, that defining moment that I know all of you had -- the first generation -- that defining moment that of you had when you joined this movement, if we can kind of revisit that and remember why you joined, and feel it again and think about, “how do I translate that, and how do I give that to my children, or how do I make this movement exciting enough for them to want to be a part of,” then I think, we’re not that far off. So, brothers and sisters, I don’t want to take anymore of your time because I’m the kind of person that likes to do before I talk.

I have a lot of work ahead of me but the most important thing that I would like to do is ask for your input. I would love to be able to have the opportunity to tour the country, to sit down with each and every one of you and listen to your ideas. Yes I have a vision in my mind, I have an idea of where I want to go but I feel the best way to work together is to communicate. And I want to learn from you as to how I can be a better chairperson for this great, great country of the United States. So if you can share with me on this glorious day, because it is truly your day, not mine, then I think we have a lot of work to do but many exciting things to look forward to and I really feel that we can do it. So can I ask you brothers and sisters, one more time, can we do it? (Yes!)

Thank you very much 

26. Introduction To Dr. In Jin Moon, Chairperson HSA-UWC; USA (Jin Sung Park Moon - August 14, 2008)

Jin Sung Park Moon
August 14, 2008

Good evening brothers and sisters. It is truly a great honor and privilege and some what of a tremendous surprise for In Jin and I to be standing here this evening. I wanted to make one thing clear and that is, her father promoted her, not me. (Laughter) I’m just going to back her up, but she’s got the job.

I first would like to recognize other members of the True Family that are here. You know Father and Mother have been so inspirational in educating their children and in teaching them the importance of education and many years have been spent by all the members of the family educating themselves so they could be better participants in this community that we are building here tonight and around the world.

Starting with the youngest daughter, Jeung Jin Moon, is now a recent admittance to the graduate program at The New School, because they recognize that she has tremendous writing skills and she is going to work towards her masters degree there this fall.

The next youngest daughter is Yeon Jin Moon, she has her graduate degree, pretty much in hand from the London school of film, studying to be a director.

The next brother is Kwon Jin Moon and he is studying acting as well as developing his real estate career in the west coast, as well as pursuing his graduate degree at the Unification Theological Seminary. And of course you all know Dr. Preston Hyun Jin Moon who now serves in the very important task as our True Parents’ eldest son due to some tragedies that we of course are all aware of recently.

He has a tremendous burden, one that he has been carrying now for many years together with brothers and sisters here in the west particularly, but also around the world in expanding the work of Universal Peace Federation and the Global Peace Festivals. He has his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, his graduate degree from Harvard Business School, and his doctorate from Sun Moon University. Could we honor Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

I have two Korean friends, Dr. Choi and Dr. Kim and I was telling them about In Jin, about how beautiful she is and how intelligent she is and they said, “You know, James, it’s not good form to brag about your wife.” And I said to them, “But, have you seen my wife?”

In Jin was born in Korea as the second daughter, third child of Rev. and Mrs. Moon, on August 14th, 19 -- (clearing of throat followed by laughter from audience). You see I’m a very well trained husband. She came to America with her family in 1973. My parents were already here so I had met her at that time, together with her brothers and sisters, so I’ve known her since 1973 which is a good many years. She went to high school here in America and in 1984, her father said to her, “I think it’s time for you to get married.” And she said, “No Dad, you promised I could go to college before you got me married.” But he said, “Well I think now is a good time.

Anybody in particular that you want us to consider for you?” And she says, “Dad, you told us not to date, you told us just to focus on studying. Of course I don’t have anybody in mind.” And her parents said, “Okay, then we want to introduce a young man to you,” and she says, “Oh wait, but I do have one condition if you’re going to marry me off now, I will be obedient and respect your wishes and marry anybody that you recommend except for Jin Sung Park.” You could see what that meant for me. I’ve had my work cut out for me for 25 years and I’m still just getting the hang of it.

Soon after we were married in 1984 her father was unjustly incarcerated as most of you know, and she, together with Dr. Lowry and other civil rights leaders from Washington, and Atlanta and around the country, formed the Coalition for Religious Freedom. And just out of high school she was marching arm-in-arm with folks like Dr. Lowry, in Washington D.C. and other cities, speaking out for religious freedom and against religious injustices committed against people like her father, and other religious figures that were being persecuted by an intolerant government. That was the beginning of her career. She has an older brother and an older sister, but somehow, Father had reached down and asked her to take on that responsibility.

There is a stunning front page picture of her and Dr. Lowry and other civil rights leaders in the Washington Post in the summer of 1984. From that very important beginning she went on to go and get an undergraduate degree from Columbia University studying political science and philosophy. I remember when she graduated from Columbia University after 6 years, she said, “You know, honey, it took me 6 years to get a 4 year undergraduate degree.” And I said, “But you’ve had 3 children along the way as well.” That’s quite an accomplishment, 3 children and 4 years of college in 6 years.

But Father has often asked many people to go to the Unification Theological Seminary, it’s a very wonderful school and the only other school that Father wants people to go to besides that one is the Harvard Divinity School. And In Jin set her sights for that, went and got admitted into the Harvard Divinity School for her graduate studies. She studied there and of course, everyone knew this, she was Rev. Moon’s daughter. She was the talk of the school, theologians and religious scholars would ask her things, ask questions about Father; they would say things like, “You know your father is a very, very significant regional religious leader. And she would say, “No, my father’s a world religious leader. Let me explain to you why.”

Something you may not know is that after her first semester of Harvard Divinity School she came home to greet her parents during Christmas time, Father was sitting there in the family room and Father said, “In Jin, In Jin, come here. So what do they teach you at Harvard Divinity School? What are they talking about?” And she said, “Well, Father. The primary question between the men and women and professors at Harvard Divinity School and for the last 6,000 years is the proper relationship between men and women.

Rev. Moon said, “Well, of course, there’s God and man and women and they are equal and together they make a 4-position foundation and they strive to make an ideal family. But men and women are equal.” And In Jin said, “Yes but everyone who studies you as theologians knows that you give all the speeches and Mother sits there besides you.” (Laughter) And then he goes on, “Well Eve fell first, and Adam fell second, and restoration of the fall…” on and on and on. And In Jin said, “Yeah well, that’s just the perception out there. And Father said, “Well maybe we’ll have to do something about that. It’s only inevitable after the original Adam is restored that the original Eve is restored.” Do you know what came out of that talk a few months later? Women’s Federation for World Peace.

After graduating from Harvard Divinity School gave her a title: Chook Sa-Jang. “Chook” as in “Chook-bok” -- the marriage blessing, and “Sa-Jang” -- which basically means chairman. The literal translation is “Chairman of the Blessing.” But if you really think about it, one of the most important functions of any ordained minister of any faith is the blessed people in holy matrimony. And that’s what Rev. Moon was bestowing upon her at that time in ’95. After that he said, “Where are you going?” and she said, “I’m going to take care of my kids. If you want to lead the world and teach them how to build ideal families, Dad, I have to take of my kids first, raise them up, and practice before I preach what it’s like and what it takes to make an ideal family.” So many of you may not have seen her for some time but she spent a tremendous amount of time raising her kids.

Some of you may know this, she home schools the children, educates them at home. Someone once said, “In Jin Nim you do everything so well. How did you know how to do this? I would explain to friends of hers, she, like you, when she was a first time mother, raising her own children, she doesn’t know much more than you do, I got to tell you, we bought every book in the Barnes and Noble about pregnancy when she was pregnant, we have a whole library on them, and she bought every book on child rearing and child education. And she reads voluminously, left to right, A-Z.

As she home schools the children, educates them, and as she teaches them different things, including cooking -- they’re very good cooks -- as they go on to science and languages, she goes on the internet and researches and finds young teachers to assist her, finds tutors to come to our home and supervise, lend their expertise to particular subjects and categories. This is how we are able to show the children’s accomplishments with you and share with you Rex and Ariana playing piano, and Trustin and Paxton’s art work -- and they’ve only been painting with a teacher and with In Jin’s instruction for about a year and a half.

We had our second son, Rexton, and Ariana, start playing the piano like any other parents. In Jin and I both play the piano, so she and I educated them first by ourselves and we saw something developing there, and a very short time later they both won a very big piano competition, several of them in a row. That caused us to have to travel around the world because part of the prizes of these competitions were world tours. We found ourselves in Japan where we have a very large community of first and second generation. In Jin said, “While we’re here in Japan, why don’t we have give and take with the people and I can help support and educate and teach them about excellence in academics and the arts, pursuing a passion in raising yourself up.”

In the video you saw earlier, you saw the first 7 years of Concerts for World Peace and Ideal Families. This year in April 18th, Rex and Ariana were invited back to play Tokyo Philharmonic, so on that occasion we held the 8th annual Youth Concert for World Peace and Ideal Families and there, she also met with many of the brothers and sisters and sold CDs -- she’s a songwriter and singer and she is working on her fifth album. And we raised quite a significant amount for a scholarship program for 2nd generation in Japan. Early this year, part of the room and facility that we are standing in is the vision and inspiration of her oldest brother, Hyo Jin Moon, who tragically passed away on March 17th of this year.

The Moon family has gone through a tremendous difficult year but one of the things that I’ve learned about this family is difficulty and tragedy makes them stronger. It depends their conviction; it depends their commitment to True Parents and to each other to work together to unite with each other and together with the brothers and sisters. A very difficult year.

In the midst of the Moon family’s eldest son passing away earlier this year -- that particular son was the inspiration by which we are sitting in the Manhattan center -- by which the Manhattan Center came to be created. Father bought the Manhattan Center in the mid ’70’s. New York City was going bankrupt. The New Yorker Hotel was nearly condemned and so was this building. They were unused, practically being thrown away.

For $2 million and for $5 million dollars, Father invested very important resources in the early ‘70’s to help New York and to help bring culture and entertainment to New York at the highest level, that was his dream. It continued to lay dormant until In Jin’s eldest brother, Hyo Jin, decided to create the Manhattan Center and also who inspired her Father to allow the New Yorker to turn into a first class hotel in the New York area. So the facility that you stand in was started by her older brother. After passing away, the family had gathered together and In Jin’s father asked her to take over Manhattan Center. This was about four months ago. So she came here. She met with all the employees. She’s created a tremendous bond, she respects them and earned their respect.

In the entertainment world we have seen executives of MTV, VH1, Live Nation, they’re all lining up to come meet her and when they meet her they find that she’s a fascinating woman, a fascinating daughter of our True Parents, graceful and yet quite firm in negotiations. I’ve been by her side for the last three or four months watching her, she keeps an intense schedule, it’s really truly amazing to see her work -- part of what she found here was a diamond in the ruff; something that needed a lot of attention and a lot of love. And she started to put forth a strategy, creating a branding strategy, a marketing strategy, a strategy about how the public perceives the Manhattan Center.

Recently, with Father asking her to take responsibility to HSA-UWC and FFWPU, she has had similar thoughts about why is such a wonderful dad, a wonderful leader like Rev. and Mrs. Moon is misunderstood by the American people? They’re wonderful people, but the marketing, the public relations, the branding is off.

I see executives from companies come to meet the new CEO of Manhattan Center and they find it to be In Jin Moon, and after talking and discussing business and getting to know her, invariably they say, “Oh, by the way, tell me about your Father, Rev. Moon. What does he believe in?” and thirty minutes later, that man is saying, “How come nobody knows this in America? How come this great story about a man of sacrifice and a man of truth and tremendous effort on behalf of God, this country and the world, how come nobody knows this story?”

And she goes on to say, “Perhaps my dad, so focused on the mission, really didn’t care about PR very much.” Part of what In Jin and what other True Children want to do is raise the image of True Parents to where it should be. I think nothing makes True Parents look more wonderful than sons and daughters like these we have in front of us and those we saw on the screen and if they unite and put their minds to it and get the truth out -- I think In Jin wants to make our movement, our fellowship, our community one of the coolest and one of the most exciting communities to belong to.

One of the things that we found here at Manhattan Center is a phrase -- because there was no marketing at Manhattan Center at all for many years -- was that it was the best kept secret of Manhattan. And she said, “Why keep it the best kept secret?” But isn’t our movement the best kept secret in our society today?

Brothers and sisters is it my deepest privilege and honor to introduce to you your new chairman of the Holy Spirit Association and the Federation for World Peace, my wife, In Jin Moon. 

25. Developing the Vision (In Jin Moon - August 14, 2008)

In Jin Moon
August 14, 2008
Manhattan Center, Grand Ballroom
New York, NY

Thank you, brothers and sisters, for coming here and sharing this beautiful evening with me. I am truly honored and truly so grateful.

Part of the reason I wanted to have this inauguration party at the Manhattan Center is because my dearest brother, whom I loved very, very much, put his heart and soul into this building. He's the one who introduced the concept that media and entertainment are crucial to win the hearts of people in America. Because he himself was a profound musician who was influenced by media, he said, Father wanted this -- for God. We need a building like this. Can I take the Manhattan Center and turn it into a multi-media empire? And my Father said yes, go ahead.

He really took that to heart and tried his best, and with his passing, and with my father asking me to take on the role of the chairman and CEO of the Manhattan Center, I realized that that dream must carry on. I realized that the media and how we package ourselves are of utmost importance. It is truly my first priority at the moment. (Applause)

I feel as if everything I was able to accomplish here at the Manhattan Center was done standing on the shoulders of my brother. His inspiration and his passion still reside in the walls of this building. It fills me every day that I walk in here. I realize it is so satisfying to be able to fulfill and to carry on my brother's vision, and my Father's vision.

The promotional video that you saw tonight is just a taste of the whole branding process that's taking place at the Manhattan Center. We are redoing the brochure as well as the business cards, and in a way, we are educating the employees and our directors in the importance of client services and of taking care of anyone who walks into our building because that's the first experience they have with our movement, with True Parents.

I always tell my husband, True Parents are the world's best kept secret. When I meet with CEOs in the entertainment and media businesses, they always end up asking me, "Why haven't I heard this before?" And I say, "Because God was giving me the opportunity to tell you firsthand." [Applause!]

I tell them it's the media and entertainment worlds that have misunderstood and misconstrued what my Father and Mother are all about. You know, in a nutshell, their message is quite simple and quite profound...

From the age of sixteen -- even though my father is now eighty-eight -- the passion he received from Jesus Christ has never, never wavered. He has been in and out of prison six times. He was scheduled for execution on the morning of October 14. 1950, but because of the allied forces, he was liberated from his sentence at Hungnam prison, which he served for two years and eight months. He said, America saved my life and therefore my life belongs to this country. My father has always said that God especially blessed this country. This country is like a chosen country that God prepared for beautiful people like you! When he visited here in the sixties and the seventies and saw all the difficulties, the different issues with morality and saw that a lot of young people had lost their way, lost hope, he wanted to come here with his message of love, of an ideal family, so that all those young people who were looking for something, looking to he grafted into the true olive branch, could connect with the True Parents so that they could rise up and make America great...

I want our movement to be a movement that people are dying to join, dying to be a part of. My father has always said, "It only takes one person to change the world. Look at me; I was just an oriental man who had nothing. But t had belief in God and the belief that I could do it."

So I believe that all of us here sitting in this room are the next "true parents" of America. I am counting on you, brothers and sisters, to help me walk along this path, because I cannot do it without you! The True family cannot do it without you, but if we can come together as a community, if you can remember the defining moment that I know all of you in the first generation have had as to why you joined this moment -- If you can revisit why you joined and then ask, "How do I translate that?" How do I give that to my children? How do I make this movement exciting enough for them to want to be a part of? If you can do that, I think we are not far off!

So, brothers and sisters, I don't want to take any more of your time, because I'm the kind of person that likes to do before I talk. I have a lot of work ahead of me, but the most important thing that I would like to do is ask for your input. I would love to be able to have the opportunity to tour the country and sit down with each and every one of you and listen to your ideas. Yes I have a vision in my mind, I have an idea of where I want to go, but I feel the best way to work together is to communicate. I want to learn from you as to how I can be a better chairperson for this great, great country of the United States. If you can share with me in this glorious day -- because it is truly your day, not mine -- I think that although we have a lot of work to do, there are many exciting things to look forward to. I really feel we can do it. Can I ask you bothers and sisters, one more time, can we do it? [Yes!] (Applause) Thank you very much. 

24. Most Effective and Lasting Witnessing (April 19, 2008)

In Jin Moon
April 19, 2008

Excerpt from In Jin Nim's Message on April 19, 2008 at the meeting with Blessed Wives in Tokyo. (From the book True Children's Words, published by Kogensha)

People sometimes asked me, "In Jin Nim, why don't you do witnessing?" As the answer, I said, "I am quietly doing witnessing every day." True, one method of witnessing is to go around here and there, raising our voices and persuading guests to attend workshops. However, people are observing us.

People in the world observe you and me, who are the Unification Church members, thinking, "The Unification Church emphasizes the importance of making an ideal family, but are their families really ideal families?" When they evaluate us, we might get zero points for making an ideal family. If our families are really good, even though we don't say anything, they will visit us. Then, we can do witnessing naturally. We can do witnessing quietly without any words. Such a method of witnessing is most effective and lasting.

You Can Become a Model

When people in the world see you, if they think, "You are a beautiful person; you raise your kids excellently and support your husband; how do you do that?" they get interested in you, and they feel many things. Then, you can become a model of an ideal family.

If so, how good it is for you as the representative of True Parents! True Father's words should not go in one ear and out the other. Listening to True Father's words, you can plant the seed of your life and make a beautiful family. Nothing is more beautiful and wonderful than this.

True Parents found a spouse for you and gave the blessing to you. I strongly feel that I need to talk to you from the mother's position.

Women Should Be Careful of Their Words

In your long life in the church as members of a blessed family, you might have had the experience of being hurt. Sometimes, you might get angry with your husband. Every woman will have had an experience of thinking, "Why doesn't this person understand me?" I'm also the same. (Laughter) However, in front of our children, we should never say bad things about our husbands, or complain of our husbands, saying, "Why do you always do this?" The child is the existence into which husband and wife are combined. Therefore, when mother complains about father, their children feel as if they were cut into two.

Also, I feel that women need to be careful about what they say to their children. When they talk to their children about a poor result at school, it would be good to say, Is there anything that happened to you at school?" rather than saying, "Why can't you get good grades?" Then, your children feel that you understand them. They feel that they can tell their mothers even what they cannot tell other people. When they feel in such a way, they always will want to come and talk to their mothers.

When our members in America come to my house, they see my husband and I often joking. I also joke with my children.

Sex Education Should Be Naturally Given by Parents

Some members were surprised to see that we were naturally giving sex education to our children. They asked, "How can you talk about such a sexual issue with your children naturally?" As the answer, I said to them, "Parents should give sex education to their children." Unless parents give sex education to them, they will learn it from their friends or bad people. Therefore, it is important to talk naturally even about the sexual issue.

When your children reach the age of puberty and have some questions about sex, it is good to talk with them, isn't it? Then, you can help them a lot. It is the best way, because no one loves your children more than you love them.

You need to have a lot of conversations with your children as opposed to just giving meals to your children or making them clean externally. You should try to stay with them as long as possible. You can make a time to go shopping, clean the house, or play together with them no matter how busy you are. It is necessary to do these things with them.

It is not good to fail to catch what is going on in your child's mind due to the busy activities of the church. There is sometimes Hoon Dok Hae at 5:00 am in the church, but your children might think it is boring because we just read True Parents' words at Hoon Dok Hae. At the time, you need to prepare an interesting time for them. Even though it is a short time, it is good to have an interesting time together with them. I think, if you prepare such an opportunity for them, your children will perk up at Hoon Dok Hae. 

23. Best Method for Witnessing Is to Raise Great Children (February 13, 2008)

In Jin Moon
February 13, 2008
Chungshim Village, Chung Pyung, Korea
To Blessed Japanese Wives

We are all mothers. When you see me, you might see me as a True Child, but I think myself as one of the mothers. It is the most important responsibility in our lives for us to be mothers. If we really believe God and attend True Parents, what should we do? We should not only suffer but live well. When we emphasize ideal families, excellent children should appear from the ideal families.

Secular people check the credibility of the Principle there. It is important for us to do church activities and do witnessing, but the most effective way of witnessing, I think, is to become an excellent mother and to raise excellent children. It is the treasure of the Unification Church to raise outstanding children, isn't it? Until now, all of you have worked hard. Even if you have a mind to raise children well, you have been in financial difficulty, and there has been no support from the church.

Fortunately, my son won the grand prize at a concert competition in Italy with a supplementary prize of a world tour. Fortunately, there was an opportunity for a youth concert in Japan. At that time, we met second generation members in Japan. We tried to make an atmosphere in which they could feel, "We are One Family with members of True Family."

We did not do only a concert but also a Yute game, and laughed together. We wanted to make an opportunity to know each other's names. We started this concert 8 years ago without depending on the church. We prepared money and started from our family little by little. There are many talented second generations in Japan.

True Parents always talk about the importance of culture. I also felt that children needed culture. It might be necessary for us to push our children to study hard. However, the society they grow in now is different from ours in the past. There are many pressures from their friends, the Internet, etc.

Therefore, it is necessary for them to overcome the pressure. I saw my children struggle a lot without art. Then I thought that music was necessary. Children can get good training and habits through music. Through not only music but also fine art, or other arts, we, as mothers, need to allow our children be able to express themselves artistically.

Our church invited famous people with money, but my dream as a mother is to say, "We can raise such famous people." Let's raise a future president. Let's train our children to be famous scientists. With the power of mothers, let's train our children to be musicians who can touch many people. I want to do this. Then the image of the Unification Church would be changed. You have really worked hard. However, every mother wants her child to be great. A mother can sacrifice herself eternally if her child grows well. It is mother's heart, isn't it?

Therefore, I ask you not to leave your children to the church to raise when you give birth to them. Please be responsible for your children. Anyone can give birth to children, but only mother can raise them. I realized after meeting many people that there was mother's sincere devotion behind excellent children.

Even though children have some talents, the talents cannot grow without the mothers' help. Children are encouraged by their mother's belief, "You can do it." They can overcome difficulties one after another thinking, "My mother says I can do it, so I can do it." Our works are inconspicuous, and we don't often hear the word, "Thanks."

We wash, clean, and prepare the table every day. We prepare meals thinking our children; "My kid will have a big exam soon. So, he needs to have protein to get power." If a child is beaten by his friends at school, his mother thinks, "My kid needs mother's love. I will make his favorite Toppokki for him." Only a mother thinks like this.

It is our important mission as mothers to raise our children to be excellent persons in the future. At that time, people in the secular world would think, "The Unification Church is a wonderful church." However, how many people speak ill of True Parents now? You live in poverty and difficulty; so many people do not want to join the church.

We all have the same experience as mothers. Sometimes, it is difficult and lonely. Sometimes, our husbands are so busy that we feel that we are raising our children alone. However, we have to raise our children to be great; even through sacrificing ourselves, don't we?

I heard again and again that you suffered hardships as the Eve nation. (In Jin speaks with tears.) Thank you for your hard work. Now, we have to make the Unification Church great instead of just a church of suffering and hardship. In America, the Mormon Church is growing the fastest now. The Mormon Church helps members to educate their children.

They support their members' children, saying, "Study hard in your school. If you are interested in something, we can help cultivating your interests." In our church, many of second generations choose between going to good schools and going to the path of faith. Children who go to good schools leave our church. Meanwhile children who cannot go to good schools go to the path of faith.

A mother knows her child's talent better than anyone else. Therefore, please watch your children every day, and find their talents. Only mother can do it. If your children have a talent for music, please push them to cultivate it. Then they can have more self-respect. Once they get enthusiastic about something, they can make all-out efforts. With your love, your children will become crazed about music or the arts, and they will become great. We can raise our children to be great, which is True Parents' wish. When I made my CD, I made it with my children. It was a kind of music class.

Human beings are the same. Rather than distinguishing True Family and members, please think people are the same. When your children go through hardships, please talk with them. It is not true that everything will go well if you just send your child to church workshops. Even though children go to workshops, they cannot grow properly without mother's love.

Therefore, talk with your children. Wash and prepare meals together with them. I have four sons and one daughter. It is easy for me to talk with my daughter. However, sometimes a son escapes from me when I try to talk with him. From my experience, it is good to have some activities together with a son; going to somewhere, going on a picnic, making something together in the garage. I think that we need to raise our children by talking together and through activities that we do together.

True Parents always think big with a great vision. However, a mother needs to think from a tiny thing and be responsible for small things. We have to make Japan a great country and change the image of the Unification Church. The best method for witnessing is to raise great children. If we succeed in it, people in the secular world will ask us, "Why is your child so diligent? Why does your child listen to you?" Then it is natural to do witnessing. To raise great children is connected with witnessing.

Therefore, please smile even though you are tired. When a mother is tired, her child becomes tired. After taking a shower, dressing nicely, and combing your hair, hug and smile at your child when they leave for school. It will cheer them up. 

22. Crimson Sketches CD Is A Token Of My Appreciation For Donations Received (September 25, 2005 )

In Jin Moon
September 25, 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I'm truly grateful for your support in dedicating your time and resources to help me with our fundraising campaign. Dr. Pak is indeed a lucky man to be loved by so many of you.

In honor of your devotion to our cause and as a token of my appreciation for donations received, I would like to offer you a complimentary Crimson Sketches CD. When you make your donation, please leave me an email with your name and address so that I can send you my CD.

For donations of $30 to a $100, you will receive one unsigned CD. For donations of $100 or above, you will receive one signed CD.

If you are interested in obtaining more CDs, you can purchase them directly at www.crimsonsketches.com. And yes, all the proceeds from CD sales will go directly to Save DP fund.

Thank you once again for your love and prayers.

InJin