Thank you to all who responded to the survey in the December issue of the Unification News. People were inspired by all the Certificate Programs that are being proposed with the Certificate in Family Ministry receiving the most requests, closely followed by the Certificate in Counseling. The whole UTS distance learning program is still a work in process, with the hope that it will be up and running by the Fall trimester. Two courses are currently available, Unification Philosophy and Divine Principle. Unification Philosophy requires a prerequisites, so it is available to alumni who are working to upgrade their diploma to an accredited degree. Divine Principle is available to everyone on an open enrollment basis. For more details please contact Gillian Corcoran at utsadmis@epix.net
Children’s Christmas-Break Workshop in Detroit
David Kasbow
Detroit, MI
Lectures, hot chocolate and a sleep-over all made for a great time at the first Christmas-Break Second Generation Children’s Two-Day Workshop of the Metro Detroit area. Twenty-seven children ranging in age from 9 to 15 years old attended.
They heard lectures on the Divine Principle, as well as internal guidance such as the meaning of being a Blessed Child. Some of the younger children experienced lectures for the first time and enjoyed the new experience. Discussion groups were separated by age and gender which worked out very well. Some interesting issues were brought up during discussion time; one eight year old girl wanted to know how we could be sure that we had the right religion. The question led to some great give and take on prayer life and the importance of having a personal relationship with God. The older boys had a lively discussion on the creation of the first man and woman. They speculated about whether God prepared for the creation of Adam and Eve by first creating humans without a spirit.
Another aspect of the workshop was food. Hot chocolate was extremely popular. We went through 200 servings in 2 days! Pizza was the most popular food served.
From the reflections written by the children, these are some of the things they learned: How their spirit can benefit from goodness, the importance of prayer and a clearer understanding of the foundation of faith and substance. Besides lectures, the children enjoyed many fun aspects of a workshop such as soccer, dominos, karaoke and, most of all, spending time with each other.
I was renewed and inspired by the children’s quest for truth. I felt the most important part of the workshop was the bond that they made with each other which deepened as they shared the two days together.
I was grateful for all the parents who volunteered their time as lecturers and group leaders, and to the parents who entrusted their children to us. We plan to make the Christmas-Break workshop an annual event and to follow it up with one during the children’s summer vacation.
Chicago Family Church Joins Blessing '99
Hiromi Umino and Richard Lemont
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Family Church conducted a Blessing Ceremony through satellite video at 5:00 p.m. February 7, 1999. 14 newly matched couples and 3 married couples attended our blessing ceremony at Ashland Church. We had over 100 family members, brides & bridegrooms' families and friends, and our witnessing guests as an enthusiastic audience.
The program began with welcoming remarks by Rev. Bruce Sutchar and an opening prayer by Rev. A.I. Dunlap, pastor of Mt. Olive AME Church. All the brides & bridegrooms were standing in lines, some were together with their spouses and some were holding pictures of their spouses
Rev. Sutchar explained about the Holy Wine and Holy Water, and then eight attendants wearing white robes entered and an officiator couple, Rev. & Mrs. Reiner Vincenz, entered. The officiators gave Holy Wine to each couple and we watched a video of Blessing Ceremony held in Korea the night before.
When True Parents sprinkled Holy Water in the video, the officiators sprinkled Holy Water on each couple and when True Parents asked for the Affirmation of Vows, the officiators asked for the affirmation of vows of the brides & bridegrooms and they shouted "Yes"!
Then we joined True Fathers' prayer and proclamation of this blessing. 2nd Generation children presented flowers to the officiators and we finished the ceremony with 3 cheers of "MANSEI"! After the ceremony the brides & bridegrooms remained in the sanctuary and they held the indemnity stick ceremony, too.
The blessing ceremony was very beautiful and the spirit was very high. All brides & bridegroom were so happy and the audience was also inspired very much. Our witnessing guests were so excited and said that they want to apply for the next blessing.
All the Chicago family members worked together to prepare well organizing the program and decorating the sanctuary etc. and Rev. Jack Toren used our new sign making machine to prepare a professional quality banner.
After the ceremony we had a banquet in our dining room. The room was decorated beautifully and the dinner, prepared by Mrs. Song Im Chae Kim, Mrs. Kum Ae Jares , Mrs. Kathleen Sometani and the Kodan sisters, was delicious. We cut the celebration cake and some members presented songs to brides & bridegrooms. Newly blessed members enjoyed the dinner and entertainment, talking with their friends and taking pictures.
One newly blessed member said, "I felt sad before the ceremony because I couldn't go to Korea. But now I'm very happy because all my families and friends are here and celebrate my blessing."
Blessing Ceremony Via Satellite in Montevideo, Uruguay
by Steven Boyd
Montevideo, Uruguay
Despite the 12-hour time difference, a warm and intimate Blessing Ceremony was held via satellite in Montevideo, Uruguay. The ceremony took place in the Conference Room on the 4th floor of the Victoria Plaza Hotel.
Because of the lateness of the hour, 1:30 a.m. local time and because of the heavy downpour of rain that continued up until the arrival of the guests, we really had no idea how many people would participate. To everyone's delight, our original estimate of 100 people was greatly exceeded by the 360 people who finally attended. Among those in attendance 36 couples took the holy wine just prior to the commencement of the satellite transmission from Korea.
Participants began to arrive at 11:30 p.m. of February 6, and were treated to a buffet style meal before the beginning of the program at 1:00 a.m. on February 7. Participants received welcoming remarks by Jesús González, Vice President of the FFWPU in Uruguay, who began by recognizing those couples who had been married for over 50 years, and who were now to receive True Parents' Blessing. In recognition of their marriages of many years, they were awarded with a gift of a pin with the symbol of the Family Federation.
Following the Holy Wine Ceremony and an explanation of the history, content and significance of the Blessing Ceremony, including the 40 day separation period and the use of Holy Handkerchiefs, a crystal clear image of the Blessing Ceremony in Seoul was projected onto a large screen at the front of the conference room. Throughout the transmission there was full and enthusiastic participation on the part of all those present, as an intimate atmosphere was created in the meeting room.
All of us here attributed the success of the ceremony here to the investment and sacrifice of our True Parents, and the invisible support of those in the Spiritual World, and wish to express our deepest gratitude to them.
Blessing 99 by Satellite in New York City
By Rev. Eric Holt
NYC
On a rather chilly Sunday afternoon on February 7, 1,500 people gathered in the ballroom of New York City’s Manhattan Center for the satellite transmission of the 360 Million Couple Blessing (Seoul, Korea).
Even before the doors opened, people started lining up for the 4:00 p.m. reception. A brief snowfall did not deter people from coming. As the reception began, guests downed coffee, soft drinks and snacks as they mentally prepared for the largest Blessing ever. Meanwhile, in a specially prepared area behind the stage, Dr. and Mrs. Dietrich Seidel conducted the Holy Wine Ceremony, assisted by Irene Olivier and Irina Kouznetsova. We expected only 30 couples for the Holy Wine Ceremony. But, after 30 minutes the number was up to 60 couples; this was due to last minute matchings and certain other couples who requested to receive the Holy Wine, including a couple from the United Nations. The Holy Spirit was moving throughout Holy Wine Ceremony, and it took much longer than expected. Most couples were moved to tears during the inspiring ceremony.
Towards the end of the reception, the emcee (Rev. Daryl Clarke, UC Westchester pastor) and the ushers re-arranged the seating so that men and women were lined up in columns, Blessing-style. Especially in the center section of the hall, women wore veils, and were lined up behind each other, and sitting next to their spouse. When we advertised the event, we had asked everyone to follow a dress code: blue suits and white shirts for men, and white/light dresses for women. In addition to the women receiving veils and hand-bouquets, the men were given boutonnieres and white Blessing scarves. The finished product was an event that resembled a mini-Blessing 98 (Madison Square Garden.) The large center section with around 200 couples lined up Blessing-style was a beautiful sight to behold. This was all the more inspiring because, when we eventually went to the satellite transmission, we saw a similar sight, although on a much grander scale (!), (and considerably more chilly), in Korea.
Local religious leaders sat on the stage, facing the audience. In American Christian churches it is a tradition that a visiting clergyman will be escorted to the front/sanctuary section of a church or chapel. So, we honored this tradition by doing this. In God’s providence, America has a unique role especially in regard to the work of Jesus through the Christian churches. So, we wanted to let our fellow clergy from many denominations participate in the event to the fullest extent. As it turned out, around twenty clergy sat on the stage.
The program began at 5:00 p.m. with a 40-minute pro-family rally, along the lines of the Blessing 98 (MSG) event. The Chambers Memorial Baptist Church Choir from Harlem burst into song. They had participated in the 2,000-voice choir at MSG. Also, their co-pastors, Rev. and Mrs. Lawrence Edgerton sat on the stage later. After the choir, the emcee introduced Harlem activist Professor Preston Wilcox who spoke about family values and transcending racial boundaries. His speech was very well received. Professor Wilcox has been very supportive of FFWPU. Following Professor Wilcox, Margaret Hill-Vanderstok, from the Pure Love Alliance spoke passionately about purity and preparation for marriage. Then, Bishop Eric Figueroa of the New Life Tabernacle from Brooklyn, NY, gave excellent spiritual and practical advice to the couples in his impassioned mini-sermon. The pro-family rally concluded with a rousing rendition from the New Life Tabernacle Choir.
At 5:40 p.m., the emcee announced that the (delayed) satellite transmission would begin. The hall became hushed as we waited in expectation for the curtains to open. After a brief wait, the curtains slowly moved, and we gasped as we saw a packed Olympic Stadium in Seoul, Korea; (later reports revealed a crowd of 150,000 with 30,000 unable to get in.) The cameras panned over all the soon-to-be-Blessed couples, dressed in white (the women that is). Several minutes later, it was time for the national anthem. In Korea, the Korean national anthem was sung. We closed the curtains, while Raoul Joseph sang the U.S. national anthem. The curtains opened again and we listened and observed as the various religious leaders offered their Blessings and prayers.
When it was time for the Ceremony, three couples in Holy Robes entered on to the stage. This took place at the same time as the entrance of the officiators in Seoul. Then, when True Parents descended the steps in the stadium, our officiating couple, Manhattan pastors Rev. and Mrs. Chen Fong, descended the stairs on the stage followed by two bowl-bearing, robe-clad sisters. The Fong couple sprinkled the first row of couples at the same time as True Parents sprinkled Holy Water on the couples in Korea. Then, the Fongs read the 4 Holy Blessing Vows, in English, while the sound was turned down from the Stadium in Korea. When it was time for the Blessing prayer, Rev. and Mrs. Lawrence Edgerton, dressed in their white robes leapt to center stage and joined the Fong couple to pray for the newlyweds. Several other ministers on the stage raised their hands to pray for and bless the couples. It was a truly inspirational and interdenominational moment!
As the satellite transmission concluded, we proceeded to the banquet and entertainment. All were treated to a sumptuous banquet served by tuxedo-clad attendants. The New Life Tabernacle Choir sung again as well as the harmonious "His Voice Gospel Ministry Choir". This was followed by Barney Webster, a modern dancer from Harlem. The event concluded with Electric Duro, a (loud!) Latin band. Many people broke into dance and the event concluded with song, dance, wedding cake… and cherished memories.
Biblical History
Paul Carlson
February, 1999
Many prominent historians consider the twin mainstreams of western thought and culture to be Hellenism and Hebraism. These are, respectively, the major humanist and God-centered schools of thought. The Divine Principle agrees, and elaborates.
In the December 1998 Unification News we discussed the Hellenic side of history. This month we’ll look at some Hebraic, or Biblical, issues. The subject embraces enough material to fill an entire library, so we’ll focus mainly on the "hard reality" of the Bible, as opposed to the theologies derived from it.
History
From Constantine’s time until the Renaissance, Hebraism dominated. The literal reality of the Bible was unquestioned. Even the most extreme heretics invoked it, while doubting the Roman Church’s standard interpretations. The Bible’s future rival, Science, didn’t even exist then; certainly not as a separate discipline, and hardly so as a rigorous way of thinking.
Following the revival of Hellenism, the Bible was openly questioned. After the French Revolution it came under heavy criticism. Next, scholars like Nietzsche and Voltaire sought to banish it—and the spirituality it embodied—entirely. (In a masterstroke that Christians never tire of boasting about, a Bible Society office now occupies Voltaire’s old home in Vienna.)
Ultimately, Marx and Lenin sought to liquidate not only Hebraic beliefs, but the believers themselves.
Communism has now fallen, in almost every country, but the intellectual debate continues.
In a parallel development, Europe’s age-old undercurrent of anti-Semitism gained intellectual pretensions. It reached its apex in Germany, with a nature centered, Pagan/Aryan revival. Under Hitler and the Nazis, this school clashed directly with the God centered, human elevating, Judeo-Christian tradition.
Heinrich Himmler’s occult center, Wewelsburg Castle, was to be the "Vatican" of a newly dominant Aryan religion. A faith proudly spartan, forest loving, piously vegetarian—and viciously ruthless towards its "inferior" human opponents.
The Nazi edifice has also fallen, but like its Marxist cousin, its ideas continue to play a role in the modern "culture war."
Archaeology
A sense of wonder surrounds the Bible, and the ancient lands of its birth. Science has finally come around to regarding it with due respect.
Scholarly attitudes are now swinging dramatically away from denouncing the Bible. The scientists most directly concerned with the Bible are Archaeologists, and it falls upon them to verify the reality of the Bible’s accounts—or not.
During the late 1800s, Schliemann found Troy and Mycenae by reading Homer’s Illiad carefully. He turned Archaeology from a simple "treasure hunt" into a method of divulging history itself. (He also decorated his mansion in Athens with an ancient pagan symbol—the swastika.)
Others then applied this new science to the Bible, and quickly discovered solid evidence of the places and people mentioned therein. This process of discovery is far from over, nor is the debate it engenders. The very existence of King Solomon’s Jerusalem is still a matter of vigorous dispute!
Scholars are finding Biblical and Homeric names, sites, and miscellany all over the Middle East. The name of King David has now, in all probability, been found on three ancient (and contemporary) stone carvings.
Archaeologists have been digging in Jerusalem for over a hundred years, and as crowded and picked-over as that city is, they’re still making dramatic discoveries. In 1998 it was announced that a previously unsuspected system of underground tunnels, water channels, and guard towers; dating from the time of Joshua’s conquest; have been found near the fabled Siloam Spring.
Other experts are combing old records, and combining the resources of several disciplines. The Ritmeyers, a famous husband-and-wife team, have conducted an exhaustive analysis of the Temple Mount, and especially the area now enclosed by the Muslim’s sacred Dome of the Rock. They assert that they’ve identified the rectangular imprint of (the original platform for) the Ark of the Covenant, still visible on the rock’s heavily-scarred surface.
Belief & Heresy
Profound and deeply held beliefs lie at the very heart of Hebraism. Many have died for them. Any research on the Bible is steeped in the beliefs of the scholar that expounds upon it. Most prominent Bible scholars, of this and past generations, are either Jewish or Christian. These beliefs cannot fail to influence their conclusions, especially the version that they announce publicly.
There are other versions of Biblical history than the mainstream ones. Many of these are well-known, and even respected, while others are downright wacky.
The Koran asserts that Jesus did not die, but that another man took his place on the cross. He is said to have lived out his life in a more ordinary fashion. (This author is not a Koranic scholar, and will not attempt to address this profound interfaith issue.)
Other doctrines take this "didn’t die" idea even further. The ancient Gnostic heresies, and the Nag Hammadi scrolls found in Egypt, describe Jesus as getting married and fathering children. The Principle casts a special poignancy upon this idea, for we understand that Jesus’ fondest—but unfulfilled—wish was to have done exactly that.
Nonetheless, it would be a good idea to review these ideas. They are very old, and today they’re finding new currency with the New Age movement.
From the Books of the Maccabees to the legend of King Clovis, several Tribes of Israel have long been "connected" to Greece, and thence to the heartlands of Europe, especially southern France.
The Grail legends go into great—if oblique—detail, describing the bloodline of Jesus himself. These, and other centuries-old occult writings, trace Europe’s Merovingian dynasty back to children that Jesus (allegedly) sired, some say by Mary Magdalen.
The Knights Templar, Masons, Mormons, and various others agree on this. In the case of the LDS Church, unofficially—though devout Mormons have told this author that Joseph Smith was himself a descendent of Jesus! (Read Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Baigent, Leigh, and Lincoln.)
Is there a Principled explanation? Perhaps there was an actual descent from Jesus’ brother James, or from Lazarus, who may also have been related. Technically they’d have been half-siblings, but even so . . . Remember that the "Zechariah connection" was not well known, and Mary and Joseph certainly weren’t going to bring it up! Eventually the reality will be known, and no doubt it’ll be very interesting indeed.
The Soul
The very heart of Hebraism—that which sets it apart from Hellenism—is the understanding that man possesses a spirit. Not merely a fuzzy "divine nature," but an individual, immortal soul, bestowed by God the Creator. A unique spirit not shared by the animals, or by any other part of the physical Creation.
Adam and Eve, who were probably born in Africa some 130,000 years ago, were the first true humans. From their infancy they possessed souls, and even the Fall did not alter this.
The Bible names their three sons, but no daughters. Many have asked: so how did their lineage, and thus the human soul, get passed along? Uncomfortable speculations abound.
Geneticists are currently mapping the total human genome (every bit of our DNA). Despite racial and other apparent differences, we humans have virtually everything in common. Despite the speculations of a best-selling novel, The Miracle Strain, even Jesus’ DNA would likely prove "only" human.
What of the soul? It seems there are two ways to look at it: as something you have, and about how you’re regarded.
Let’s use viruses as an example of the former. They’re so small that it takes a very sophisticated microscope to see them. The soul is even harder to detect. A cold (a physical entity caused by rhinoviruses) can be passed along, and there is no such thing as a "half cold." Generally speaking, you either have one or you don’t.
Take citizenship as an example of the latter. It is a purely conceptual entity, which can be "granted" to persons. The paperwork (a passport, etc.), is only an outward manifestation. It can be inherited upon birth; otherwise, it must be conferred upon each person individually.
The mortal mind can hardly grasp the concept, but it would seem that the soul has aspects of both. Adam and Eve’s sons could have "passed along" their souls, perhaps to their proto-human wives, and certainly to their children. God would then have recognized them as fully human, and granted them an eternal home in the spiritual world.
Conclusion
We can hope that further discoveries await. Perhaps, as already depicted in fiction, sacred objects like the Ark of the Covenant will be located. As the Principle makes clear, Jesus’ Resurrection did not involve his physical body. Therefore, his final resting place may yet be discovered. (If it’s already known to some occult sect, then, revealed to the world.)
The soul is real, and there have been tantalizing hints (and more than a few false starts) that scientists may someday observe it directly. Famous science fiction writer Poul Anderson speculates that our mind’s unique "quantum states" may be imprinted upon spacetime itself, and might thus survive the brain’s demise. (Read his latest novel, Starfarers.)
As we have often stated before, the Principle is clear that Religion and Science are both aspects of the God’s truth, and methods for understanding His vast Creation. Giving the Bible its due has already enriched Science greatly, and this trend shows every sign of continuing.
At the River Jordan
UViews February 1999
Tyler Hendricks
It is not easy for a Unificationist to interpret what is happening today with Christianity. The Divine Principle predicts the demise of Christianity. We long ago announced that it is a hollow shell, a dead body of clergy trailing empty slogans, invaded by secularism, confused about sexual morality, unable to guide, inspire or save. One might note that this analysis is of Christianity in Europe, as the entire DP interpretation of Christian history centers around Europe, giving little regard to America. Perhaps it is arguable that our expectation of Christian demise is correct with reference to Europe. It might arguably be correct in reference to the mainstream Protestant denominations in America as well. But it does not predict the resiliency of evangelical Christianity in America.
Part and parcel of the DP prediction of Christian demise was the expectation that masses of people would be searching for spiritual answers in a secular wasteland, and in that context the answers provided by the DP would shine as a lighthouse in the darkness. When I was on MFT in 1975 I received an official letter from the church leadership telling me that in three years time we would begin the physical establishment of the Kingdom of God, so great would be our pulling power amid the social decay. It was not to be.
Then how are we to understand the booming prosperity of the new paradigm Christian churches? Where in DP's predictions would we place the Promise Keepers, Campus Crusade, Focus on the Family, Marriage Savers, the cell churches, the mega-churches, the enormous popularity of Pope John Paul II, the growth of the Latter Day Saints, the fatherhood movement, or the fact that the Bible is America's best-selling book year in and year out? How do we explain the proliferation of independent churches associated together as the Vineyard Fellowship, Hope Chapels, Calvary Chapels, Antioch Association, and many others? These four movements, each started from a Bible-study group in a home or parks thirty years ago and by now have multiplied into some 3,000 churches throughout the world, out of nowhere, out of the "Jesus Freaks."
I see that in these churches and movements lives are being transformed for the good. People are being saved from addiction to alcohol, drugs and sex. Marriages are coming alive, families are healing, "The hearts of the fathers are turning to their children and the heart of children to their fathers." It cannot be but the work of God, for, as Jesus said, Satan's house divided against itself cannot stand.
I found some clues to help me put this together at a recent "pastors' rally" in Philadelphia. It was put together by several organizations, chief of them Promise Keepers and MissionAmerica. The opening speaker, David Mains, gave me the primary clue: "We," he said, "are the John the Baptist generation." Let us consider the meaning of this.
God blessed John the Baptist greatly. Some thought he might be the Messiah, but he knew that he was not, but that someone greater than he was to come, for whom he was simply preparing the way. Dr. Mains said this directly at the meeting, quoting the Baptist's words from the New Testament. As Malachi predicted the returning Elijah would do, turning the hearts of fathers and children, so too are these contemporary prophets working on families and making for the Lord a people prepared. In the process, church hierarchies are breaking down. The new movements are anti-hierarchical, are locally controlled and managed by the members themselves. At the meeting, I met a United Methodist pastor there who is preparing to bring an alternative service into his church soon. The new paradigm Christians abjure dogma and doctrine and struggle to speak directly from the scriptures without a super-imposed theological framework.
Let me convey a few points from the meeting I attended. It was entitled a Rally for Revival, and the main theme was how to bring revival to America.
Mission America
The first speaker, Dr. Mains, is calling all churches in America to install a satellite dish, so that the exciting developments can be shared directly to the local churches throughout the nation. (Sound familiar?) He described the origin of MissionAmerica in Billy Graham's ministry many years ago, and how it now includes 67 denominations and 200 para-church ministries. All the speakers, including Mains, stressed that Christianity has to unite and work together for a common cause, putting aside denominational barriers. (Sound familiar?)
Mains described a "Lighthouse" movement, which is similar to what we call home church. I will reserve detailed description of it for later, but Mains pointed out that denominational barriers can be overcome best on the local level. When he, a Baptist, develops a prayer fellowship with a neighbor who is Roman Catholic, or Jewish, or Muslim, there, not in official conference rooms, is where religious barriers are crossed. (Sound familiar?) He spoke from his personal experience making his house a lighthouse for his neighborhood, and said that we can lead with integrity only by doing it and then encouraging others to do it. (sound familiar?)
The following speakers, Rev. Andre Allen, Rev. J. Daniel Lupton and Greg Asimakoupoulos, introduced the "50-Day Adventure." It is an eight week course that an entire congregation takes together. Each Sunday the pastor introduces, from the pulpit in the sermon message, the week's theme. The theme is one of the seven promises of a promise keeper. During the week all members maintain a journal, do Hoon Dok Hae, do exercises (such as serving someone each day, and recording it), pray and fast centering on that week's "promise worth keeping." The purpose, beyond individual spiritual growth and family unity, is unity of the church, with everyone following the same track to gain "accelerated, measurable and lasting spiritual growth."
Glenn Barth repeated the Lighthouse strategy, but added noteworthy points. He said, "The day of the professional minister is over. The day of the missionary pastor has come. We no longer have local churches; we have missionary outposts." He sees Christianity as an embattled cause, fighting an aggressive adversarial culture. In such a setting, we cannot afford intramural struggles. He called the church "a gathering of 2 or more people in Jesus' name, uniting together for the purpose of praying for, caring for and lovingly and appropriately reaching out to neighbors and relatives." (Sound familiar?) He said it is now time that we define the church of the future, and it is in this neighborhood outreach.
Right Brain Food
Threading through all the speakers was music and worship led by Terry and Barbi Franklin. They are a couple who write and perform contemporary Christian music, and throughout the program they called everyone to prayer and song in praise of Jesus, in repentance and reflection, and in celebration. They made it clear that the most important aspect of their lives is their family. When they travel to perform, they always travel with their two sons-both of whom participated in the program. Mrs. Franklin spoke about the restoration of the family when husband and wife are unified. (Sound familiar?) They home school their boys. So the event had an emotional, right brain component intermixed with the cerebral left brain content. All the speakers except Bill McCartney utilized computer-generated images and several short videos—we viewed some eight videos, ranging in length from 3 to 10 minutes, in the four and a half hour program. All together the music, the mixed media, the prayer and the interesting content made for an enriching experience.
Unificationists, I believe, may have pioneered this type of seminar production, especially with the CAUSA seminars in the early 80s. Our 1996 True Family Values seminars had an impressive mix of music, prayer, media and content as well. But these people, I daresay, are surpassing us, especially in one area. That area is the integration of music, worship (a word virtually unknown to Unificationists) and prayer with the intellectual content. Another area in which they surpass us is packaging and marketing their materials.
The final speaker was "Coach" Bill McCartney, founder and guiding light of the Promise Keepers. His greatness, for me, lies in the confessional stance that he takes when he speaks. He constantly uses the phrase, "I believe." And he takes what could be controversial stands, stating, "I believe this." He brought up the idea of our civilization reaching "total moral anarchy," defined as the absence of moral authority, that God will not be known as God, that God's word will have no authority and that Christianity will have no influence. He has feared that America is dangerously close to the line of moral anarchy. Then he told us that he had set aside time to hear Bill Clinton's State of the Union address this year. He wanted to hear what the man had to say to the nation. At the beginning, he heard Clinton proclaim, emphatically, "The state of the union is strong." And then he heard the Congress explode in applause-not just polite applause, but enthusiastic applause.
He said that at the moment that Clinton spoke those words and received that applause, he believes, our nation entered a state of total moral anarchy. And he stood up and turned off the speech. That a major religious figure of this nation would make that statement and take that action is very significant. (I, not yet a major religious figure, could not even bear to set my eyes upon the State of the Union dog and pony show.)
Mr. McCartney has been researching about revivals in history. He cited Charles Spurgeon and David Brainerd, and it brought my dry old American church history bones to life. He identified six signs of a revival, as evidence that we are already in the midst of at least the beginnings of one. First, longing for something better, "holy unrest." Second, Concerted prayer effort (Ps 85.4-6). Third, a renewal and new appreciation of spiritual gifts-preaching, music, prayer. Fourth, the deepening of conviction and tearful sorrow over sin (Phil 2.15-16). Fifth, a special sense of the presence of the Lord spreading mightily. Sixth, reformation, both of the individual and of society. He said, several times, that we are in the last days, that we are out of time, that a massive revival is barreling down upon us, that an explosion of love is coming soon. He foresees that "God is coming to visit us in an extraordinary way."
He even said that January 1, 2000, is "judgment day." He is calling Christians to spend that day first in family devotions, then in church devotions, making a special effort to cross denominational and racial lines. Also he has commissioned 15 major Christian preachers, independently, to pray for two months and then articulate God's message for the new millennium. He asked them to video tape their conveyance of God's message, and send the tapes to him. He will edit them, and he expects-it seems-some degree of unanimity. The final product he will broadcast January 1, 2000.
Then he cited Christian pollster George Barna's publication that 80% of GenX youth who were raised in the church have left. He said that if we do not build a strategy to reach young people we will lose an entire generation (sound familiar?).
He concluded by expounding on the Lighthouse strategy, using Luke 10.5 as his resource. This is the story of Jesus sending out his disciples to witness. Jesus outlined four steps. First, walk by the house and send your peace upon it. Second, fellowship with the people. He said that in his new neighborhood, to which he just moved, he spent time walking and "sending his peace" into each house, and then anyone whom he encountered from those houses on the street were obviously sent to him by God. He would make friends. Third, after developing friendship, he asks if there is a way he can help them, especially in prayer. Fourth, he welcomes them into God's kingdom.
David Mains has a different strategy. He sets up a food drive for a local shelter, and then goes door to door in his neighborhood asking if they would like to donate anything. He does this once every two weeks. Then, after getting acquainted with the people this way, he asks if they had any prayer requests. The next step is to invite them to join his prayer group.
Two Personal Encounters
I was there with HSA Publications Director Michael Inglis. During a break, Michael spotted Coach McCartney coming into the room, introduced himself and gave him a gift of two True Family Values seminar lecture manuals. Mr. McCartney was happy to receive them, Michael said, and gave him a hug.
At the moment that was taking place, I was talking with a pastor of a new paradigm church, one that he started "as a Bible study with a bunch of long-haired people" outside of Philadelphia. When I told him I am senior pastor with the Unification Church in Manhattan, it drew a blank, and I helped him identify me with the standard follow-up, "You know … Reverend Moon!" Oh yes, and he was immediately asking me if we have a relationship with Jesus, and about the current rumors, and if we are a cult. I told him that God anointed Reverend and Mrs. Moon as True Parents and so we are a little different from your standard church. We were on our way to a good talk when the break ended, but he caught me at the end, among the 300 or so pastors there, to give me his card.
Why did he give me his card? Here's what I think. The conservative Christians can't figure us out. We're in all their anti-cult books alongside the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientology and so forth. But they know that we are promoting what they believe in and that we are, for want of a better term, good Christians. We believe in the blood of Jesus. If we were really of the devil, they know we would have disappeared long ago, but here we are, with a university and powerful pro-family newspaper, adventuring with the Garden of Eden in South America, filling up stadiums with godly brides and bridegrooms, and full of interest in what they are doing. We are still around, and they know we believe all Christianity should unite, that True Parents are the Messiah in some way, shape or form, and that we believe in the family and faithful marriage.
Because of True Parents' work, God is preserving and prospering the new paradigm Christians. But because of our own lack of love and proclamation as members, they still do not understand True Parents. They still have the "hold" button pressed. Their new paradigm relates to method, not message. When they receive, from God, the message of True Parents, then their "John the Baptist generation" foundation will allow the message to blossom and America, with Jesus' help, will fulfill her divine destiny. Then, Coach McCartney, the revival will come, the likes of which you and I can never imagine.
Alumni Aloha
Dan Fefferman
I wrote this song in the information booth one snowy night at about 2 a.m. It was almost accepted as the school's alma mater, but David Kim felt it was a little too wistful, not majestic enough. I think it captures some of the mood of UTS very nicely.
Life at Barrytown
As the Hudson returns to the sea
Here we pledge our complete loyalty
Faithful we will remain
Faithful we will remain
Study the truth of the ages
Our knowledge will free the world
Marching through history's pages
Love's beauteous banner unfurled
And though the seasons pass and the tears flow
Still our motto resounds
Ever strong as the years roll
Faith is our life at Barrytown
She endures through our fond memories
Center of God's great new history
Alma mater restored
Alma mater restored
Netting carp by the river
He showed us with his own hands
Memories and victories linger
Throughout all ages and lands
And though the seasons pass and the tears flow
Still our motto resounds
Ever strong as the years roll
Faith is our life at Barrytown
Our True Parents forever remain
Through the sunshine, the wind and the rain
Here at dear Barrytown
Here at dear Barrytown
Father's path still reminds us
That he was the true pioneer
Wherever providence finds us
Our hearts will always be here
And though the seasons pass and the tears flow
Still our motto resounds
Ever strong as the years roll
Faith is our life at Barrytown
Faith is our life at Barrytown
Faith is our life at Barrytown
Editor’s note: Last month Dr. Hendricks included a song in his Alumni Aloha that he had written with Dr. Baughman while at UTS; now Dan shares this beautiful song with us. It seems that being at UTS stimulates our creativity allowing it to flow and find expression.