Michael Jenkins
September 2, 2012
Dear ACLC Leaders, Pastors and Supporters,
May the love of God bless you on this day. At 12:54 pm Eastern time, today, Sunday, September 2nd. Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, our beloved founder, transitioned into the heavenly realm. (This occurred at 1:54 a.m. on September 3rd Korea time.)
There will be a 13-day period of remembrance, leading to a sung-hwa ceremony shortly thereafter, in which Father Moon’s life will be celebrated with a glorious homegoing. The 172 clergy are asked to be part of the international organizing committee, and many of you, as well as top clergy of ACLC, will be invited to come to the ceremonies in Korea.
We sincerely thank you for the beautiful letters of support that many of you sent. They were given to Mother Moon through Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, our international president, delivered by Rev. In Jin Moon and Dr. Yang, our continental director. These letters brought great comfort to Mother Moon during this time as well as to Rev. Hyung Jin Moon.
Now we would like to ask you to consider making memorial statements concerning Father’s life, or how True Parents touched you during their ministry in America.
Father Moon prepared us well for this time as he told us for many years that Mother Moon and he are one in heart and spirit. Under Jesus’ anointing they stand as our True Parents and they will continue to lead and guide us into the Blessing of marriage and family, and to bring down all the walls between races and religions to build God’s kingdom.
Mother Moon recently said to us, “For us there is no stopping.” Therefore, all the things that Father Moon taught us about realizing God’s word and teaching the Original Substance of the Divine Principle will help us realize the Kingdom of Heaven – not only externally but most importantly in our hearts and in our family. As Jesus taught, the Kingdom of Heaven is within you. We must expand that Kingdom of Heaven within us to our families, communities, the nation and world.
Father Moon also guided us that the day would come when Mother Moon would take his role and responsibility and that she would lead us. That day has come, and now Mother Moon is courageously standing strong but she needs our support and prayers.
On Jan. 15, 2009 in Korea, then again on Jan. 31, 2009, at 5 a.m. in Seoul and at 5 pm in the New York after True Parents flew from Korea, Father anointed Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, his youngest son, to be the international leader of our church and all our organizations, representing True Parents. Father Moon will guide us in spirit, Mother Moon will lead us on earth, and centering on Rev. Hyung Jin Moon we will organize to bring about God’s kingdom.
As you know, Jesus anointed Father Moon when he was 16 (by Korean age) and for 9 years he received Jesus’ direct guidance as he studied the Bible and in prayer sought Heaven’s direction. Jesus’ anointing of Father Moon meant that Father Moon would stand as the Messiah, “the anointed one.” Therefore, we know Father Moon was not a self-appointed Messiah but that God anointed and appointed him through Jesus. Because of your leadership he has been widely acclaimed as the anointed one with the messianic role to bring about the family of God.
We are grateful for your faith. Jesus’ grace to the individual is now extended through the Blessing of our marriages by True Parents, standing before God in God’s image, male and female. Thus, the error of Adam and Eve made in the Garden of Eden is restored through our blessed families. Father Moon guided us through his teaching that the key things that would give us inspiration and direction when he transitioned were the 8 textbooks that he gave us.
Father Moon predicted that Jan. 13, 2013 (Feb. 22nd by the solar calendar) will be a day of great transition between good and evil, in which good will irreversibly expand rapidly across the earth and evil will lose power. We expect that just as the Berlin wall came down, the walls that have divided people of God, families and marriages will come tumbling down.
As we are remembering him in this time, we remember the wonderful experiences we had when he would gather the clergy together and teach for hours. Many other memories include the fishing time at Geomundo and on the Hudson River, theACLC world tour of 120 countries, the peace missions to the Middle East and the crowning of Jesus, and eventually the crowning of True Parents, the many rallies across America, and most importantly, the Blessing ceremonies that he conducted for all humanity, every race, religion and culture.
We now call upon all ACLC Co-chairs and leaders to be strong in faith, as we know that our work and devotion will be more important than ever to unify the body of Christ and secure God’s providence as the Kingdom of God unfolds. Father Moon was particularly moved by the 172 that responded to his call and were the first to register into God’s kingdom. The 172 clergy have a most significant role to play.
Let us prepare for the great celebration of God’s victorious life, love and lineage that was brought to us through Father and Mother Moon.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Michael W. Jenkins
Chairman, ACLC