The Ocean Era - 21st Century

Terry and Annie McMahon-Jersey City, NJ

On May 18 - 19 Ocean Church hosted "Ocean Festival `96" at Liberty Harbor Marina of Jersey City, NJ. under the theme of "Ocean Era - 21st Century". This Ocean Festival was prepared as one of three festivals to occur this year at Liberty Harbor Marina, the next being held on July 4th. Ocean Festival `96 was created so that we could have an opportunity to connect to the ocean, and to share Father's vision for the ocean providence. It's an excellent way to witness and to keep relationship with our contacts, in a relax atmosphere. Ocean is also the best place to connect with God.

Ocean Festival `96 began with an opening ceremony at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday morning. True World Group Vice-President, Mr. Kobayashi, gave the introduction and spoke about the meaning of the theme "Ocean Era - 21st Century". Mr. Kobayashi later received a certificate of appreciation from the Jersey City Police Dept. for the donation of a 28 foot Good Go boat last year. We took this opportunity to inaugurate this boat, which will be used for water rescue and diving operations.

Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler attended the opening ceremony with his little daughter and gave appreciative remarks, recognizing the festival as a family oriented event. Although Mayor Schundler had planned only a brief appearance, he stayed for lunch and was later introduced to many of Ocean Church's activities and projects.

Also U.S. Congressional Candidate, Mr. Kenneth C. Suria attended the ceremony along with several guest speakers including Mrs. Linda Howard, manager of Liberty Harbor Marina; Ron Gurtatowski, N.J. Family Federation for World Peace President; Dr. Kyung Hee Chin, President of Bridgeport University; and Rev. Sun Jo Hwang (who was N.J. regional leader at that time), who gave the invocation.

Ocean Festival `96 included all the things that should be included in the connecting point between us and the ocean. Mr. Paul Durgin descended from Westbrooke, Maine to present three "Ocean Awareness" programs throughout the weekend. Mr. Durgin's education program presents a serious challenge to today's computer-based education culture. His presentation is really surprising for those who don't know much about the ocean creatures! It opens the mind to something greater, different, and future oriented, proposing solutions for world hunger, and a new way of life based on the ocean.

Mr. Frank Zochol gave information on the new fish farm (at Tongil Farm), several boats went out as part of a Captain's Training course, and the U.S. Coast Guard had set up a booth to provide on boat inspections (without fines) to promote boating safety and education. And of course, there was fishing and boat rides.

As food is an important part of any event, lobster, clams, mussels, shrimp, squid, sushi, sashimi, cod, flounder, tuna, salmon and swordfish could all be found in abundance. Liberty Seafood Market presented a full variety of fresh local fish filleted or whole.

Live music was also part of the event, with Mrs. Miyuki Harley, and several other groups and singers that offered their talents to the Ocean Festival.

Raffles, ocean crafts, karate demo, sushi class, pond fishing, eel catching, pi, ata, miniature golf, and coin toss completed the cultural circle for Ocean Festival `96.

As connecting to the ocean will connect us to God, who will invariably connect us to the Completed Testament Age, a special Blessing Registration for the International Holy Wedding of 1997 was held during the festival for those who felt drawn directly to the Completed Testament Age. The "Ocean Education Center" above Liberty Seafood Restaurant was transformed into a banquet room, bookstore, and video center presenting "True Love, True Families", a 10 minute video. Many festival participants were able to watch the video and take part in the "Blessing Atmosphere" under the guidance of Ron Gurtatowski. On Saturday afternoon, we had the opportunity to welcome Mr. Gary Pobanz, who gave a lecture about "True Family Values". Several guests attended. Throughout the weekend, 12 people signed our guest book for attending a lecture about "True Family Values" in a near future. All were curious, all were inspired, all were positive.

Ocean Festival will come again, you can be sure. Liberty Harbor Marina should eventually become a model center representing the Ocean Providence. It should be the place where Father's vision for the ocean can be realized. Take part of this great vision on July 4th, in participating with your guests to a similar event, including also a Lobster Dinner Cruise!

If you'd like to participate in any way in an upcoming festival, please contact Mrs. Annie McMahon at 201-451-0010. If you'd like to go fishing this summer, please contact M.M. Tackle & Bait at 201-451- 6272.

Many thanks to the supporting army of Bridgeport University students whose spirit and labor made this event possible, and for all the volunteers that helped organizing this festival. Thanks also to all the sponsors and participants! Your presence and help was greatly appreciated. See you again on July 4th!

Student Profiles - Jesus Navarro

by Debbie Truin-Barrytown, NY

Intense! That's a word that came up many times during a conversation with this native of Caracas, Venezuela. Jesus entered the Seminary in January of 1995, only two months after joining the Unification Movement! He did not expect to come to UTS when he did but God was working in his usual intense way in Jesus's life and everything came together very quickly in order for him to come.

Jesus had simply called our Admissions Officer, Hong-Yu Kovic, for information and she invited him to attend an upcoming orientation workshop. He did so and submitted an application and, at the same time, he called his family in Venezuela. They pledged to offer him financial support right then and there and so he was able to enroll in classes. He feels that God sent him to UTS.

Life has always been very intense for Jesus who grew up as a Catholic, became an atheist at age 19 and at age 27 became a Hindu. Hinduism brought him to the United States in 1992 where he came to work and study with the Siddha Yoga group in New York and attended their Ashram in Catskill. Though his study of Seva, which means service, he learned that it is through service that one can achieve enlightenment. He also spent much time meditating and chanting and praying one hour a day to achieve spiritual growth.

At the same time, Jesus was writing a book on intuition and healing based on his own experience of healing himself through both spiritual and physical means. He suffered from chronic asthma since he was a child and even though his parents, who are both in the medical field, did everything known to medical science to help him, including special treatments from Europe, he had to have an oxygen tank with him wherever he went and was constantly on medications to manage his condition.

Jesus met a person who introduced him to the macrobiotic way of life and through this he was able to cure his asthma. Within two weeks he was able to stop taking anti- spasmodic drugs, within 2 months he was able to stop taking anti-allergy drugs and one year later he was without any symptoms. Through this experience he was reborn and began his spiritual journey which brought him to the United States.

Jesus met his spiritual father in July of 1994 and attended all workshops up to 40 days and then moved into the World Mission Center in November, 1994 where he continued to work on his book. When he was attending U.C. workshops, he realized that the new members who were attending lectures with him were growing even more rapidly than people who spent many years in the Ashram, and he felt that he understood the teachings of Siddha Yoga more deeply through study of the Divine Principle.

Jesus is still very much into service because he believes it is the most powerful educational tool where people can understand truth by working together and supporting one another with tolerance and respect through experience. He has taken part in a Religious Youth Service project in Atlanta, and recently helped to set up an RYS-type experience in the Kingston area to bring 40 people of many backgrounds together to restore and beautify a local park (See report in this issue).

Jesus was Blessed in 1995 to Chieko Akashi, a UTS graduate, of the class of 1994. They have visited both of their families in Venezuela and Japan and have been making progress in bringing them closer to the movement. Jesus's parents are planning to attend the upcoming Blessing in Washington, D.C. He was able to witness to his mother and sister after he joined the movement when he went back to Venezuela to take care of his visa situation.

Jesus mentioned that he is keenly aware of God taking care of him and guiding his life and that, when he became an adult, his mother made a special prayer condition and offered his life to Jesus Christ when she felt she could no longer guide him. He said that when he wants to deny this guidance, God gives him a sign, as in his recent experience in organizing the Oratorical Contest. He spent many days praying for the participants and coaching them so that they could do their best as well as all the usual running around to get everything set up the day of the contest. On that day, he received a letter from Chieko, who was in Japan, but he put it away to read after the contest. That evening, when the contest was over, he received a call from his mother in Venezuela who had been trying to reach him the entire day. When he spoke with his mother and read Chieko's letter they both said they were coming to JFK airport on March 24th at 1:50 PM! He felt that this was yet another example of how God is intimately involved in his life because he felt this was God's way of showing that He was pleased with Jesus's offering of his work with the contest.

He doesn't know what the future holds for him but Jesus plans to someday complete his book and to trust in God's guidance in his life.

Poem To My Cousin

I know that life goes in cycles.
The other night
I had a long dream about you,
and I reflect
on how much our spirits are
intertwined.
Life has gone different directions
for all of us,
We have come a long way
from playing monopoly at midnight,
from chasing dreams and friends,
and from freezing on a Chicago winter's way home.
Your sister was the first to help me grow,
but you taught me how to smile and how to dance.
It is always good to be with you.
I miss our long
brother-sister conversations and
I'm sorry that our lives don't lead us
on paths that cross more often.
I just wanted to let you know that
I think of you often,
And I always think of you fondly.
Life's cycles being what they are,
Its nice to keep the special feelings
with you at all times.

May 29, 1996

Hometown in Manchester

by Alfred O'Connor-Birmingham, England

It has been a very long time since I last wrote to UNews. Nevertheless, as a subscriber and reader, I have felt continually in touch with-and inspired by-its various contributors of articles over the months and years.

At long last, I write to share briefly some of the main events in which I have been involved since graduating from UTS in '88 and returning to live in Britain.

Upon my return, I was initially engaged in the Tribal Messiahship/Hometown providence in Manchester. I worked as a part-time lecturer in social science at South Manchester College. I also participated in outreach to Christian ministers and in interfaith activity on a local level. I served for about two years as a publicly elected representative on the Race Sub-Committee of Manchester City Council.

For over a year, I searched long and hard to find a university department somewhere in Britain which was both willing and able to supervise a Ph.D. degree thesis by research into aspects of Unification theology. Eventually, through Prof. Ursula King, I was put in touch with Prof. Paul Badham at Saint David's University College (SDUC), University of Wales at Lampeter.

Research on my thesis, entitled "An Understanding of Sin and Redemption in Traditional Christianity and in Unification Theology," began in 1990.

My wife Marie, our two young children and I moved to the city of Birmingham in August '91. Since then, I have been working as a full- time science teacher at a high school, having trained as a science teacher many years previously.

Studying on a part-time basis, while using Birmingham University library for research material, I periodically commuted to SDUC for meetings with my advisor. Incidentally, I understand that Dr. David S.C. Kim had studied at the University of Wales (at Swansea) between 1954 and 1956, in the earliest pioneering days of the Unification Church in Britain!

At last, after about five and a half years, with the loving Heart and strength of Heavenly Father, the sacrificial support of my wife and family and a sustaining vision inspired by True Parents, I was able successfully to attain my Ph.D. degree-in November 1995. Praise be to God!

Incidentally, the "viva voce" took place on 28 November 1995. The one hour ten minute interview was of such "absorbing" intensity that it almost seemed to pass by in less than ten minutes!

I am also one of the assistant pastors of the Unification Church in Birmingham, with some involvement in interfaith work. Marie is the Sunday School coordinator for the region, and she has developed a Sunday School curriculum which has been very much appreciated by children and parents alike in Birmingham and beyond.

Words are not adequate to describe my sense of gratitude to Heavenly Father and True Parents, for it is due to their unfailing Hearts of love and sacrificial example that I was able to persevere to the end.

My sincere hope is that Unificationists, traditional Christians and others will be able to gain something of value from their reading of this study and that it will serve to stimulate further research.

Freedom: A Quality of Distinction

by Haven Bradford Gow

A zoologist and professor of psychology at Emory University, Dr. Frans De Waal, tells us in his new work Good Natured: The Origins of Right and Wrong in Humans and Other Animals (Harvard University Press) that "In addition to being human, we pride ourselves on being humane. What a brilliant way of establishing morality as the hallmark of human nature-by adopting our species name for charitable tendencies! Animals obviously cannot be human; could they ever be humane?"

Dr. De Waal points out that Darwinians have a difficult time explaining morality: "For one thing, inasmuch as moral rule represents the power of the community over the individual, it poses a profound challenge to evolutionary theory. Darwinism tells us that traits evolve because their bearers are better off with them than without them. Why, then, are collective interests and self-sacrifice valued so highly in our moral systems?"

Are human beings really qualitatively different from mere animals and the rest of physical nature? In his book The Difference of Man and the Difference It Makes (Fordham University Press), the eminent American philosopher Dr. Mortimer Adler argues that the answer to that question is a firm and resounding Yes. Dr. Adler says humans differ from animals because they possess the ability to reason, conceptualize, utilize and comprehend symbols, and to engage in propositional speech. And as Dr. Adler notes in his two-volume work Freedom, humans possess the inherent capacity to make free choices and judgments.

For Dr. Adler, freedom of the will is a quality of distinction. By freedom of the will, he means the natural freedom of self- determination: a freedom which is possessed by all men, by virtue of a power inherent in human nature, whereby man is able to transform his own character creatively by deciding for himself what he will become or do. In this sense, man's choices are self-caused and are not determined by processes beyond his control. Circumstances may affect the way human beings exercise this inherent capacity, and so may moral and mental traits that they do not or do acquire; however, neither acquirements nor circumstances of any sort are able to confer or deprive of this freedom.

When a person goes to a Chinese restaurant and decides to eat chow mein instead of fried rice, he is thereby exercising his natural freedom of self-determination. Reflection upon our common experience will yield many such instances in which we exercise our free judgment and free will by choosing between alternatives or goods (good, in a neutral philosophical sense, means any object of desire). For example, a young mother must choose between having an abortion or giving birth to a mentally and physically handicapped child. All the medical evidence indicates that the newborn child will be deformed, and she is tempted to procure an abortion to save herself and her husband from future emotional pain. Nevertheless, the young mother decides to have the child; and by so doing, she has both manifested and exercised the freedom of self-determination.

Freedom in this sense of self-determination is of crucial importance. For if, as some (e.g., B.F. Skinner) allege, man is not self- determining but rather is determined by processes beyond his control, then one is unable legitimately to maintain that man should be held accountable for his deeds. (Traditionally in the West, motives behind a person's actions are part of the morality of the actions.) Among those who would negate man's dignity by denying that he has the natural power to make free judgments are the behaviorists.

Behaviorism has done much to undermine the philosophical and religious roots of freedom, roots which we who believe that man has intrinsic moral worth and dignity and more than just instrumental value must conserve and defend. We ought not to remain complacent as the scientific hubris, which manifests itself in behaviorism, rejects the "divine spark" within man.

The behaviorist contends that there are no activities (e.g., the utilization of our rationality) and that there is no such thing as principled behavior (i.e., behavior that is influenced by consciously entertained generalizations), since man's behavior, he further argues, results from processes outside of his control.

However, what occurs when the behaviorist is challenged to prove his assertions? Does he not, in fact, engage in activities, in principled behavior? The obvious answer is: Yes, for if the behaviorist is to validate his point of view, he must search for evidence, appeal to the norms of inquiry, consult the principles of logic. By engaging in these activities, the behaviorist-by his own behavior-refutes his own elaborate theories. Perhaps the philosopher C.D. Broad was not being unduly harsh when he said that behaviorism is "so preposterously silly that only the very learned men could have thought of [it]."

First American to Attend Chung Pyung Lake Workshop

by Richard Fairbrother-Portsmouth, NH

Richard Fairbrother, who is suffering from multiple sclerosis, was the first American to attend the Chung Pyung Lake workshop.

While in New York for the True God's Day celebration this year, my wife Yukiko excitedly told me that a "Mrs. Kim" was doing a spiritual liberation in the recently-converted dining room on the second floor of the World Mission Center. As we joined the meeting, Mrs. Hyo Nam Kim was speaking about our ancestors' desire to bless us, but that a blockage exists due to our own evil actions and thoughts.

As was noted in the Jan. '96 UNews on p14, "True Father introduced Mrs. Hyo Nam Kim, an 1800 Couples sister carrying out a special mission as representative of Daemonim (Great Mother Hong), healing and bringing good angelic support for our members' work for God."

At first we joined in Holy Songs for what seemed an endless time (more about this later). Then Mrs. Kim began moving through the crowd, sending unwanted spirits away with her hands and pausing to slap our bodies and heads.

As soon as she reached me, the shower of whacks to the top of my head both cleared my mind and showed me my "spiritual condition"!

Mrs. Kim invited Yukiko and me to go to Korea to join the next prayer meeting. Within days we and our children were headed for Seoul, Chung Pyung Lake, and the 85th prayer meeting. I was sure we would benefit from the experience spiritually, but I also harbored the hope that my physical situation could be improved.

When we arrived, we read the plaque at the entrance: "The Chung Pyung Training Center was erected at the site where True Father used to pitch his tent-originally a sloping orchard of mulberry trees."

True Father said: "The views from (CPLTC) are among the most beautiful in the world-mountains harmonizing with a lake, together forming the shape of a Rose of Sharon flower. The Chung Pyung holy ground symbolizes the restored Garden of Eden. In its valleys, traditional folk villages representing the cultures of the world's nations will be built, creating a miniature world. ... True Father used to come here to Chung Pyung before and after every important providential event. This is the very place where he wrote his speech for the World Rally for Korean Freedom in 1975. In short, (CPLTC) is the cradle of a new history, Heaven's Training Ground, and a holy place which will become mankind's internal hometown."

To educate us and our ancestors, a series of 18 lectures is presented over a three-day period. But time and again I was brought back to the simple message of a spiritual master: Be here now; Make each moment a real moment; or simply, Pay attention. These are not just buzzwords or offhanded advice; our lives depend on it.

The lectures were in Korean, but I was often lucky enough to sit next to someone who could translate for me. Probably at later meetings a translation will be broadcast at the lecture hall. Bring your Walkman!

Illness

My physical condition has not improved. Mrs. Kim must have looked at me 50 times and gently but firmly said, "You have to open your heart!" Could this be the "tragic flaw" which my eighth-grade English teacher spoke of? Surely Heavenly Father and True Parents will rebuild us all to factory specifications.

Some members have contacted me about the prospect of helping physical disabilities/sicknesses. This was our hope when we went in February.

The most important aspect of the Chung Pyung Lake experience, however, is the lecture content. I feel that the spiritual aspect of the experience is related, but it is primarily to make us aware of the reality of Daemonim and Heung Jin Nim.

In my case (multiple sclerosis), the problem is a blockage of signals through the fatty sheath around the axon of each nerve-a hardening of the sheath, resulting in plaques. Their higher resistance blocks the impulses. For me, the stiffness in my legs is occurring because all the muscles in an extremity are being stimulated.

My physical problem was not improved in Korea or thereafter. Actually, it is a bit worse, but my neurologist said that as I age it will worsen. So for those with physical problems, they must ask themselves if the cause is spiritual.

The lecture content is very important, and should be the primary reason for attending. It is a wonderful chance to become aware of and make relationship with Daemonim and Heung Jin Nim.

Donating Baby Quilts: A WFWP-CT Project

by Veronique Ballinger-Southington, CT

Ever since I discovered the American art of quilting four years ago, I have not stopped learning about and developing it. First I made quilts for my own children, relatives and friends. When I became the vice president of WFWP in Connecticut, I initiated the "Praying Hands" project in 1993. We completed seven quilted wall hangings of praying hands that were donated to churches in three major cities for Christmas.

In 1994 heather Thalheimer, our regional Women's Federation chairwoman, asked me to design and make a large quilt. After several quilting bees with women from all New England, the "Star of Hope" quilt was completed in January 1995, based on the famous Ohio Star pattern and later on donated to In Jin Nim on behalf of our New England WFWP.

Quilting is not just a simple sewing art; it was a big part of the building of America. The struggle and joy of the founders and pioneers of this great nation can be discovered on those old and antique quilts.

I came to this country in 1980 from France, and in 1994 I became a U.S. citizen. I recall the day that I was in Hartford at the Justice Building waiting to receive my citizenship. I had a little time, so I went across the street to an old cemetery. It was so peaceful and contrasted strangely with the noisy downtown area. I had a great feeling as I thought about those first pioneers who with Rev. Thomas Hooker came braving everything to settle the state of Connecticut. I though how much the quilt and its history had brought me so much closer to those great people.

In 1995 the president of WFWP in Connecticut moved to Washington, D.C. I was appointed to be the next WFWP president here. I felt that based on all the words of our founder, Mrs. Moon, and the affirmations of our organization, there was nothing else to do but put the words into action.

After we finished the large quilt the desire to do the "Baby Quilt Project" (an idea which had come to me a year before) became very strong. We officially started our project to make 50 quilts over the next winter. We were determined to complete at least 30 by Christmas for children with special needs. We held several small quilting bees around the state, but this time I was not on my own. Debby Sand, a woman I had met at one of our quilting bees earlier in the year, became my biggest source of support. It is enough sometimes to have just one person who is there with you all the time. Though sometimes you can get discouraged, it is usually not at the same time. But it was not without challenge that this project was finally completed.

In the meantime, a neighbor of mine who likes quilting was find enough to put a message on the Internet under a quilting file. Later on I received a box of fabric donated from a woman in California who wanted to help. A group of Quakers which my friend Debby belongs to donated money for us to buy the batting for our quilts (the middle part of the quilt made of polyester). Other women contributed time to help with the project as well.

We were able to bring 30 hand-made quilts to Newington Children's Hospital, an internationally known children's medical center, just in time for Christmas. It was a very stormy day and snow was coming down heavily, but Debby has four-wheel-drive on her car, so we just went on with our schedule. Together with the 30 quilts we gave a lot of information about our WFWP organization. The vice president of the hospital was there to receive us, and everyone was so amazed and touched by our quilts. They had a photographer come and take pictures of us. That afternoon, my husband wrote a press release which we sent to the daily newspapers in our state, accompanied by a WFWP brochure and a photograph. Three newspapers covered our story: the New Britain Herald, Meriden Record-Journal and Bristol Press. The Record-Journal sent two reporters to my house, and the other papers received several phone calls from women wanting to donate fabric or become involved with WFWP.

Later on, we donated another 21 quilts (one of them made by a Quaker). For a while, I could not go anywhere in town without having someone recognize me from the newspaper.

Our plan is to establish this tradition in Connecticut. That is, we want to bring a minimum of 50 quilts each year to the children's hospital from WFWP. (Each quilt has a WFWP tag showing that we made it.) The hospital was very pleased, which made us feel good. 

Chicago Church Bids Farewell to Rev. Hong

by Bruce Sutchar-Hanover Park, IL

At the May 1st Leaders meeting at East Garden, True Parents assigned many of the Regional Directors to become National Leaders all over the world. Rev. Hong was assigned to be the National Leader of Peru. Therefore last week, the Chicago Church once again gathered together to bid adieu (adios--bio con Dios) to Rev. Hong and to welcome our new regional Director, Rev. Ki Hun Kim (back) to Chicago. It was a moving tribute, especially in that the entire Church auditorium was filled to capacity on a Wednesday night.

Through testimony, prayer and song, the brothers and sisters shared their grateful hearts. We are now excited to move forward on Rev. Hong's 7 year foundation with Rev. Kim and we pray that Rev. Hong will bring great victories in South America as he works to bring Christians from both the Americas together. This is my testimony:

My most intimate experience with a Korean Regional Director, occurred shortly after graduating from seminary in 1985. I was the assistant State Leader in New Mexico and was working closely with Mark Boitano. In December of that year, a "brand new" Korean leader arrived in our region. His name was Reverend Jong Bok Hong. Rev. Hong had not been in America over the past several years and I had never met him before. However, the day after his first visit to Albuquerque we received a phone call in the midst of our morning prayer. Rev. Hong had just appointed me State Leader of Wyoming and I was to report to Denver immediately to begin my new mission.

I would only be in Wyoming for about 9 months, but it would prove to be one of the most significant periods of my life. Working directly with any Korean elder can be a very special experience, but working with Rev. Hong proved to both enlightening and educating for me. 1985 was the time of the Signature Campaign and Rev. Hong would call or visit our center nearly everyday. Through his guidance I saw many miracles occur, both on a providential level and also in the lives of our young members. Through his guidance, our region, the lowest population region in America, came in third place in the country in number of signatures. And under Rev. Hong's direct guidance our Region flourished and our membership grew spiritually.

Soon we came to understand that our "brand new" Korean leader was a 36 Blessed Couple who was actually the 4th member to join our church in 1954. Rev. Hong had had so many experiences working directly with our True Parents and he spent many hours with our members sharing the intimate details of his life with us.

When my first child was born, Rev. Hong took several weeks to give him a Korean name. He explained to me that after he received a name in prayer, he sent it to a special prayer lady in Korea for approval. He explained how important it is for a child to have the right name. Finally it came--Kook Whi: a light shining out to the nation!

After coming to New York for God's Day in 1986 I became part of the ACC Africa mission. Soon I learned that it was Rev. Hong who had recommended me for the position. However, as ACC began in Princeton, New Jersey, I had the opportunity to return to my home town of Chicago. I returned only briefly to Wyoming to complete my mission and say good-bye to Reverend Hong.

Two years later at a meeting in East Garden, Father was changing all of the Korean Regional Directors and amazingly, Rev. Hong was chosen to come to Chicago. I was so elated--my heart leaped when Father anointed him to oversee Region #5.

I am sure that it was not easy for Rev. Hong to drop everything and come to Chicago. He had developed a very significant ministers base in the Denver Region, but he came immediately. He had heard many stories about the great success that Chicago had had with the CAUSA ministers. Yet, as with all principled work, Rev. Hong had to personally develop a give and take relationship with the members and ministers in Chicago. His arrival in Chicago coincided with Father's Korean Tour of America and then Mother's Tour, Father's Tour, the True Children's Tour, Mother's Campus Tour, the Blessing and Father's "True Family and I" Tour came to Chicago.

Recently, we just completed our fifth consecutive IWFC conference here in Chicago. 200 women attended the event which Rev. Hong once again orchestrated toward a great success. But as I reflect upon these past seven years in Chicago, I am so deeply moved by the example of sacrifice, service and love that Rev. Hong has taught the members of Region #5. As American members, coming back to our hometowns and beginning our families we are brought face to face with Rev. Hong's example. Rev. Hong has been living in Chicago since 1990 while his wife has been serving as an IW in Japan. In fact, Mrs. Hong was in Kobe the night the earthquake struck. At 3 AM she was thrown out of her bed and only through the grace of God she was not injured. The buildings on each side of our center were destroyed and one Buddhist priest was killed. Also, Rev. Hong's children have been separated from their Father and Mother for so many years. Happily, our members were able to share with Rev. Hong's son and daughter and finally Mrs. Hong herself, came to stay for a time in Chicago. Presently Rev. Hong's youngest daughter, Sun Sook and her older blessed sister Chin Sook are here studying in Chicago.

Several years ago when so many of the Korean leaders returned to Korea, we had a good-bye party for Rev. Hong. For me, it was very sad occasion that he would be leaving Chicago. But shortly after leaving he returned, because when Father asked him directly, if he wanted to return to Korea, he told True Parents that he wanted to stay in America and take responsibility for American Christianity. And that is exactly what his mission is today. After over 40 years of serving our True Parents so faithfully, Rev. Hong has now taken on this new mission to serve and unite American Christianity.

My experience with Rev. Hong is that he has always been exact in following Father's directions. Five years ago, at a leaders meeting, father instructed the Korean leaders to make a "Committee" of leaders in each region to help to serve to lead their community. This is exactly what Rev. Hong has done in Chicago. And as a result, each of our campaigns have proven successful, much in part due to the unity of the department leaders with our Korean elder.

Now, as I reflect on the 8 years that I have worked with Rev. Hong I see clearly that he leads us by following Father's direction, through the example of his own lifestyle and prayer life and by studying, teaching and living the Divine Principle. I have seen him transform the lives of those members and ministers who were able to unite with him through the Divine Principle and I have seen him succeed in Father's mission by his absolute life of faith, love and incredible sacrifice.

I pray that the day will come when American members are able to pay back Rev. Hong and his brothers and sisters from our early church in Korea. Until then we can go forward together in faith and gratitude for all that he has taught us through his example and all the love that he has given us through so many years.