David Hill
September 9, 2012
He is revered by millions as the Messiah and True Parent, who was born in Korea but who lived more than forty years in America, and who is loved by families of peace the world over, has ascended. In his last hours he was surrounded by our True Mother, his children and close disciples. If the Divine Spark is an ability to love “the Other,” he had it. That incredible gift was his gift to us, and to the Ages.
We are so fortunate to have lived at the same time as the Messiah, who lived an unparalleled life of devotion to God and to God's will to save humanity. Together with his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, he leaves behind a remarkable legacy, the impact of which will be multiplied in the generations to come. His vision of sacred marriage, of the formation of ideal families and a world of peace has been taken up by millions of people around the world and a second and third generation of Unificationists.
We are secure in the knowledge that Rev. Moon's vision lives on through the leadership of his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, who always has shared in the leadership of the Unification Church International, standing together with her husband as the True Parents. In January 2009, Reverend and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon appointed their youngest son, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, as the spiritual heir and International President of the Unification Church. Under the guidance of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and our International President Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, we have tremendous hope for the future of our church worldwide. The Unification Church in North America is prospering under the leadership of Rev Moon's daughter, Rev. In Jin Moon. The U.S. ministry of the Unification Church, Lovin' Life Ministries, is attracting young people across the country who share the vision and desire to pursue excellence both personally and professionally. Young Unificationists have great pride in their faith and church, and Lovin' Life Ministries has taken Rev. Moon's vision to the next generation of Americans.
In the Unification tradition, death is not an ending of one's life but rather a new beginning. Rev. Moon always encouraged us to live in harmony with the eternal world, so we understand that Rev. Moon is very much with us.
Rev. Joshua Cotter,
Executive Vice President, Unification Church USA
A few postings on Facebook:
SunJae Smith
The Rev. Sun Myung Moon matched and blessed me to my wife, Mie Smith, nearly 8 years ago. On this day, 6 years ago, we celebrated our marriage with our family and friends. This is a gift I could never repay. Happy Anniversary Mie! Thank you, Father!
Eric Roschuni
Rev. Moon who I owe my life, my marriage, and most everything I believe in, passed away last night in Korea. I am not sure if I should be mourning because he can no longer work on the earth or happy because he may be more powerful in spirit. He lived a very full life, and even with the most negative eyes, no one can say he didn't make a positive impact in this world.
Bento Leal
Today, Rev. Moon, the founder of my faith tradition, passed away at age 93. I'm grateful for his love, life and legacy, and how he personally touched me, my life, marriage and family. I'm now even more emboldened to strive to live the virtuous life he taught and modeled for me. Thank you, Father Moon -- you're in my heart, the sun is shining, and the path is clear
Mie Smith
Rev Moon has passed away. Every blessing that he has given me and my family, I promise to pass on to
future generations. God Bless Rev Sun Myung Moon.
Roderick Miller
The Rev. Sun Myung Moon died today at the age of 92. Rev. Moon was responsible for bringing my parents together over thirty years ago and founded a faith that has been a source of purpose, hope, and inspiration for my family over the years. RIP Father Moon, and thank you for everything that you gave us.
Jeff Adshead
Thank you Father for saving my life, for giving me the tools to truly live, for the gift of an incredible family who have continued to be God for me, for the chance to work with the most beautiful, brilliant creative beings. You are the most understanding, accepting, loving, embracing & forgiving parent of us all. I promise to do my best to live what you have taught. Swift journey. I'm sure we'll be talking again soon.
Frances Ichijo
Today, the inspiration in my life, Rev Sun Myung Moon, passed peacefully into the next life. God Bless
him and all his family!!
Angela Brooks
I had a dream about Father last night. He was lying as though he was in a deep sleep. I and another sister were going to present a small white cake that was cut in six pieces to him. We started to help him sit up and all of a sudden Father was on his feet, and talking very strongly to us, like when he spoke in his fifties. I was surprised and awed by it.. I hope we can all have a strong faith in these days
Susana Palencia Pearson
By Rev. Moon: (True Father) Throughout my life, I have offered myself for the liberation of God, the one and only True Parent of heaven and earth, to restore to Him His rightful position as Parent, to save all human beings who suffer in the realm of death, and to return them to God’s bosom....
Ladies and gentlemen, the word "death" is sacred. It is not a synonym for "sadness and suffering". True Parents have created the term Sunghwa [ascension] to explain the true significance of death. The moment we enter the spirit world should be a time that we enter a world of joy and victory with the fruits born of our lives on earth. It is a time for those of us remaining on earth to send off the departed with joy. It should be a time for great celebration. We should be shedding tears of joy instead of tears of sadness. That is the way of the sacred and noble Sunghwa Ceremony, the first step the spirit of the departed takes toward enjoying eternal life in attendance to God, within His embrace. At the moment of death, our spirits should feel more excited and thrilled than a newlywed bride feels when she goes to her groom’s home for the first time. (Assembly to Proclaim the Substantial Word and the Era of the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind - Jan. 8, 2012)
Deb Howell
May his purpose never be forgotten & his message never waver :)
Franette Roschuni
I thinking this morning that without having encountered the movement Rev. Moon started (Unification) I would still be a hippy, still totally lost in life or dead. Because of him I was able learn about God in a way that I could actually reconcile with my intellect and experiences, I am so grateful for the Divine Principle which made so much sense. Without it, I could have gotten heavier into Marxism which I was dabbling with when I met this movement. It is because of him that I have my wonderful husband, with whom he matched me in 1975, and my wonderful children. There is so much that he did that I am grateful for. He really touched the whole world trying to help people and to do what God and Jesus led him to do. We have witnessed the passing of a great man into the spiritual world. I pray that even though he is there, people will learn more about him and about the ideas and principles he lived by. First and foremost, the motto he shared: living for the sake of others.
My friend Debra Gertz found this quote from Rev. Moon about passing from life in the physical to life in
the spiritual world, and about suffering:
"I would like to share something important with you. I have had many experiences in which I was misunderstood, yet I remained absolutely silent without protesting and stood quietly on the side of God, giving Him my utmost loyalty and knowing that He was on my side. There is no death anymore, and if I were to suddenly die I would continue to work in the same way in the spirit world. That is why I don't protest, even though the world curses and criticizes me and is scornful to me. After my death millions of people in the spirit world and here on earth will testify to my deeds, and to what I have done in history. This may not come in my own lifetime, but in eternity I know that my deeds will shine.
Moreover, I will have opened the way to help those who suffer most, after I go to spirit world. I can be in... a position to assist those who are suffering here on earth, because by my suffering I will have set the condition. You see, in the spirit world those in history who suffered the most in the name of God occupy the central positions, so I intend to outdo or surpass the suffering of all the past saints, so as to not only dwell among them but rise up above them, so that together we can more quickly liberate the suffering souls of the world. Do you understand? It's all a part of heavenly strategy. Even though I have suffered, and will suffer still more, and I will be misunderstood and accused even more, by taking this treatment without protest I continuously nurture this tradition, and eventually our way of life and our truth will prevail. I know it. The work will never stop, whether I am here on earth or up in heaven." Sun Myung Moon
David Hill
Sun Myung Moon - 1920 - 2012: Thank you, True Father, for devoting your life to help me (and countless others) understand the fathomless love our Creator, God - Heavenly Parents have for all of humankind as unique children. You helped me to understand the desperate heart of Jesus to share his firsthand knowledge of that love with all of us. You helped me understand the enormous sacrifice Jesus and Heavenly Parents have made to reach and save even the worst of us. I know that physical death has not stopped Jesus, nor will it stop you in your efforts to enlighten us. I will do my best to live for the sake of others, as you have tried to teach me. Thank you.