Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon Proclaims the Beginning of Cheon Il Guk and Foundation Day

February 21, 2013
Press Release
Translated by Lymhwa Kim
Edited by Ariana Moon

Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) is celebrating Foundation Day (Giwonjeol) at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea at 10:00 a.m. on February 22, 2013. On Foundation Day, which marks the beginning of a new era of history guided by God’s Providence (Cheon Il Guk,) FFWPU will pledge to become a “life religion” and a “national religion” through opening a new phase of Unificationist social engagement, including communicating closely with society according to the vision of the late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and his widow, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon.

Throughout his life, Rev. Moon invested time and effort in anticipation of a day of proclamation of everlasting peace and unity, which he long declared would be marked on Feb. 22, 2013 as Foundation Day. From the beginning he taught that the fundamental unit of peace is the family. At the Foundation Day event in Korea, approximately 50,000 attendees from 130 nations will dress in wedding attire. This symbolizes the desire of the FFWPU members to usher in the new era of a peaceful world through true love and the determination to build true families. Three million members from 194 nations are expected to participate in this event via live broadcast.

Furthermore, a total of 250 former heads of state, religious leaders, politicians, economic leaders, NGOs, women leaders and youth leaders, etc., will transcend historical conflicts and participate in the Foundation Day event.

This event, to be supervised by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, will include a congratulatory message from the Hon. Dennis Hastert, the former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, as well as performances from choirs in Korea and Japan.

Hak Ha Han's Cosmic Blessing Draws Critiques and Curiosity

Ariana Moon
February 19, 2013

The 2013 Cosmic Marriage Blessing in Gapyeong, Korea continues to draw a flurry of online media stories days after the ceremony on February 17, 2013 (Korea’s time). Scores of news agencies pointed out the significance of this particular mass-wedding, as the first of its kind since the passing of the Unification Church’s founder, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon.

As has been done countless times before, articles presented Rev. Moon as a controversial leader of a potentially “dangerous cult”. In what may seem like evidence of a selective memory to a Unificationist, reporters persistently reminded readers of how Rev. Moon had been convicted of tax evasion and subsequently sent to Danbury prison in Connecticut in 1984 without citing the fact that major Christian and civil rights leaders, including the late Rev. Jerry Falwell and Rev. Joseph Lowry of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, had held a press conference to decry the injustice of his imprisonment.

Alzajeera wrote, “The founder has been a lightning rod for controversy and was once jailed in the US for tax evasion. He also declared in 1992 that he and his wife were messiahs. …Critics have for years vilified the organisation as a heretical, weird and dangerous cult while questioning its murky finances and how it indoctrinates followers.”

With a similar perspective, Rawstory.com, reported that “‘Moonie’ critics have pointed to [the mass weddings] as evidence of cult underpinnings,” and that despite being “revered by his followers,” Rev. Moon was “denounced by critics as a charlatan who brainwashed church members” and “was a deeply divisive figure whose shadowy business dealings saw him jailed in the United States.”

Many other agencies, such as Examiner.com, showed poor judgment by slandering Unificationists with the pejorative term, “Moonies.”

An article by MailOnline’s Tara Brady, titled “Moonie wedding: We're going to need a bigger cake: Astonishing 3,500 couples from 200 countries gather for mass wedding ceremony in South Korea,” was a favorite among news websites, reposted on sites such as TopNewsToday.org.

“Critics have vilified the group in the past as heretical and a dangerous cult, questioning its murky finances and accusing it of indoctrinating followers which the church denies,” wrote Brady of the Unification Church, which she labeled as “one of the world's most controversial religious organisations.”

On the other hand, other news agencies took the high road in their reportage, delving into topics such as the cultural significance of the church’s mass weddings. For example, AsiaNews.it explained that “Many of the identically-dressed couples were of mixed nationality. According to the religion's precepts, they were dressed the same to symbolise world union through peace. They were of mixed nationalities so as to achieve peace through the union of various cultures.” This report also included less-known but nonetheless interesting details about the Unification Church, such as “Moon is also known for having celebrated the marriage of a Catholic prelate, Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, with a Korean woman, Maria Sung, in New York City, which caused a lot of discussions and frictions within the Catholic Church.”

In what can be a response to the question of whether the Unification Church will survive the death of its founder, Catholicism.org wrote “Think again” as the first sentence of its announcement, “Did You Think Moonism Died with Rev. Moon?” suggesting a future for the movement under the leadership of Rev. Moon’s widow, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon.

The Telegraph posted a video that featured brief but heart-warming interviews with couples in various languages.

Finally, in response to BuzzFeed.com’s panorama of images from the Blessing ceremony in South Korea, a certain Tim Lee posted the following, a comment that would resonate with Unificationists worldwide: “[The mass weddings are] really not as ‘crazy’ as you think it is. One of my best friends at school is part of the Moon Church and the marriage process is incredibly intricate and beautiful! Divorce is unheard of between these couples, because as mentioned above, they feel as if they are destined for these relationships and prepare for them as if they are. This article places a bad light on a normal occurrence, not to mention the use of the term “moonie” which has its negative connotations. Rewrite the article, so people can appreciate other cultures/religions not gawk at them in disbelief.”

Hak Ja Han and Hyung Jin Moon give the Cosmic Blessing

Douglas Burton, with support by Krista Moon, Erika Hiromitsu and Sebastian Rinkema
February 18, 2013

There was pomp and ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, confetti galore and press coverage by the TV networks and wire services about the inspired following of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon who insisted on wedding bashes with a cast of thousands. The significance of this ceremony was that it was the first such event since the ascension of True Father on Sept. 3, 2012. At least 3,500 couples gathered for the marriage blessing in Gapyeong, Korea on Saturday, February 16, 2013 (February 17th by Korea’s time). Of these, 1,000 couples were newly married, and 2,500 couples were rededicating their marriages. An additional 12,500 couples were wed by video link in dozens of countries, including 70 couples in the United States.

But the pomp did not obscure the personal, and reporters picked up on it. One handsome couple in the BBC clip is Taesun Krishnek, son of the Seattle District Pastor, Larry Krishnek. "I'm really excited,” Taesun Krishnek told the BBC, adding, “Karisa (Karisa Morikawa, from New Jersey) is the most beautiful, lovely lady I ever met. So I feel really lucky to have a girl like her in my life."

The largest gathering of Unificationist couples stateside was at the elegant Grove wedding center in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, where 51 couples tied the knot. “The Blessing ceremony at The Grove was simply beautiful, a wonderful mixture of the traditional elements of a wedding with the formal blessing ceremony, including an exchange of vows, and a first dance. My favorite part of the program was when the couples were introduced. I felt so much love and support from my friends and family gathered.” said Jana Iparraguirre, of Clifton, New Jersey. Jana and her groom, Kester Wilkening swept across the ballroom square with panache.

Elegance in New Jersey

Hyomi Carty, a lithe, second generation vocalist began the entertainment at The Grove with renditions of “If I Ain’t Got You,” by Alicia Keyes, “Stay Together,” by Al Greene and “Endless Love” by Diana Ross. 520 participants dined on a feast of Korean spiced short rib and Porcini crusted breast of chicken that was given rave reviews by the diners. Each of the 51 couples got their own cheer as they descended the curving staircase leading down to The Grove’s main ballroom. Chris and Lena Yasutake served as the emcees.

“My most memorable experience at the Blessing was during the ceremony when I faced Jana and looked into her eyes. I thought of her depth of heart, her loyalty to her family, and as I thought about spending the rest of my life with this beautiful woman, I knew that our commitment to God was unique, eternal and most definitely exciting,” Kester Wilkening texted to Unificationnews.com from his engineering class at Cornell University where his studies continue.

Satellite blessing ceremonies on a smaller, more intimate scale were held in more than a dozen cities in the United States, including Berkeley, CA. “Love was in the air as six couples participated in the Cosmic Blessing Ceremony 2013 via internet broadcast together with thousands of couples worldwide,” wrote Rev. Kevin Thompson of the Cosmic Blessing in San Francisco area. He continued: “At the historic Hearst House in Berkeley 120 people gathered to celebrate the wedding of three couples and the rededication of marriage of three more. Even though we were physically thousands of miles from Korea, where the main ceremony took place, we were all one as we experienced the joy of young love and hope for a great future together. The brides looked beautiful and the grooms dashing and family and friends were there to support and enjoy the occasion. As couples from around the world simultaneously affirmed the wedding vows read by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon our couples in California did so with enthusiasm and everyone felt connected across the oceans.”

In Pasadena, California, where the Los Angeles congregation meets, there were five couples, three of whom were previously married, and two newly-married second-generation Unificationists. At least 110 people cheered the brides and grooms on.

“It was an elegant setting since it was in True Parents House. They catered a meal after the ceremony and had a smaller scale after party. They followed along with the Korea Blessing on a huge screen. I personally felt there was a lot of value in going to Korea for the blessing, but I also felt a different, unique value by having the ceremony locally with the local music and being together with the friends and family you love," Los Angeles Pastor George Kazakos emailed to Unificationnews.com.

“It's an honor to be a part of the creation of six new blessed couples. Overall it was happy and joyful; everyone seemed very happy," observed Pastor Jario Gavin of the Cosmic Blessing in Chicago, which went on smoothly and drew 100 participants.

The Blessing Message of Rev. Hyung Jin Moon

The Blessing address was given at the Korean Blessing venue by Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, as follows; “The True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind has set this year of 2013 as the starting year of Cheon Il Guk and its Foundation Day. The ideal of Cheon Il Guk is a nation where two people become one centered on the Heavenly Parents and it is an ideal kingdom of peace where there is no conflict or struggle. And now we only have five days left until that so long awaited Foundation Day. “

He continued: “True Parents are presently offering tearful conditions to create a new environment centered on Foundation Day. Trying to encompass all the seven billion people in the world and not leaving one person out, True Parents are conducting this providence of love to bring about a vision to every single person till the very end. And so, I sincerely hope that every one of you receiving the Blessing today may live up to the sincere love and hope and expectations of the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind. And for this reason, all Blessing participants here today must realize the four position foundation and the three great kingships centered on the heavenly parent. And I also hope that you can establish Hoon Dok Hwe, the tradition of reading the words and always remember True Parents in your heart and always read the tradition of the words of eternal life from the holy textbooks and set that tradition within your family and your responsibility as a true teacher, true owner and true parent within your tribe and society.

“Blessing participants, this sacred blessing ceremony is being held under the blessings of your physical parents, close friends, and of course, ancestors within the spiritual world; they’re all supporting you. And so, if you can all firmly preserve and develop the heavenly tradition and absolute sex, the spiritual world will greatly and surely support you. I would like to congratulate you again upon your blessing marriage, and hope that the great love and grace of the Heavenly Parents and that the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind remain in your families for all of eternity.”

The master of ceremonies was Dr. Chang Shik Yang, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) -Korea. Rev. Dong Mo Shin, FFWPU Regional President for South America offered an invocation, and FFWPU International President Rev. Dr. Hyung Jin Moon gave the Blessing Address. Dr. Moon congratulated the couples who participated in the holy wedding ceremony and who received the sacrament of the Blessing upon their marriages. He encouraged each couple to resolve to establish an ideal family, to keep the tradition of purity in the future, and to cherish receiving the blessing from heaven, and from their families and relatives on this day.

Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the officiator of the Blessing ceremony, performed the “Holy Water Ceremony,” which represents a new beginning for the couples. This was followed by an affirmation of vows, in which the couples pledged to inherit the tradition of eternal love between husband and wife and to establish an ideal family.

Benediction and Proclamations at the Cosmic Holy Blessing Ceremony

Hak Ja Han
February 17, 2013
Peace World Center, HC 1.8

Hak Ja Han - February 12, 2014

Benedictionof theCosmicBlessing

Most beloved Heavenly Parent,

How could there not be praise and laudation on this glorified occasion!

This is the first year in which the history of the providence of restoration through indemnity carried out by the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind is brought to completion and a new era is ushered in. Beginning with the Holy Wedding of True Parents in 1960, Heaven has carried out the providence of salvation for humanity, which was born into the lineage of Satan due to the Fall and who have been moaning in anguish. Through the Holy Wedding of True Parents, they were permitted the grace of being born into a new lineage, and You have lighted a beacon of hope for the fallen humanity through the great Blessing Ceremonies, which was first commenced with the blessing of 36 couples in 1960 and has now been held 53 times until today, January 8, 2013. However, we are lacking in so many ways and we have been unable to fulfill our missions and responsibilities given to us by Heaven as blessed couples. We truly have no excuses to offer.

Our Heavenly Parent,

You have nevertheless embraced us in Your bosom in this first year of Foundation Day. I hope and pray that all blessed families of the Unification Church across the world and the blessing ceremony participants gathered here today will fulfill their responsibilities and missions before our Heavenly Parent and the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind, return infinite glory to Heaven in the face of the great significance of Cheon Il Guk lead lives of practicing the true love of the Heavenly Parent in all corners of the world, and be reborn as proud blessed families who can open the gates to Cheon Il Guk in this new era of unceasing laudation and praise. The blessed families present here today, and the newly Blessed 12,000 couples receiving the Blessing across the globe through the internet, all resolve anew before Heaven to dedicate their lives and give everything they have to become Your proud people who can return the blessings given to them from Heaven. Our Heavenly Parent, please accept this promise we make before You.

May laudation and praise last forevermore to the ends of the earth.

Aju!

Proclamation of theCosmicBlessing

On this eighth day of the first month of the first year of Cheon Il Guk, the 2013 Cosmic Holy Blessing Ceremony, conducted by the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind, is proclaimed in front of heaven and earth to have been accomplished through the grace of the Heavenly Parent and the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind.

Proclamation ofCheon IlGuk

Our revered Heavenly Parent, the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind, the king of peace and king of kings, Your royal benevolence is without limit. I hereby declare to the Heavenly Parent that I have designated this nation to be called Cheon Il Guk, and offer to Heaven the rose and lily as the national flowers, the crane as the national bird, together with the Cheon Il Guk flag and the Cheon Il Guk national anthem. Today, on this, the thirteenth day of the first month of 2013, I proclaim the founding year of Cheon Il Guk.

Proclamation of the RegistrationBlessing

I offer thanks and glory to our revered Heavenly Parent and True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind. All the blessed families in heaven and on earth, and all the blessed families here on behalf of global humanity, do you now promise on the occasion of the new history of Cheon Il Guk, to inherit the tradition established by the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind and to advance with all your energy to establish the tradition of the Unification Family with absolute love, absolute obedience and absolute submission until you embrace all the people of the world, whom Heaven seeks to embrace?

Where is your hometown?

Hak Ja Han
February 15, 2013
To Church Elders
Cheon Jeong Gung

I want to see from close up how the years have changed you. You have changed much. I thought I was the only one who had aged.

Welcome.

If I were to say a few words, I would first like to ask you, where is your hometown? Where is your birthplace? Is it Korea? What ties do you have to your birthplace? I was born in North Korea, and I only have memories of living there until the age of six. How about you?

In the report Rev. Yang gave a while ago, he said that he had decided to send you to pioneer your hometowns, but when he checked, he found that more than 90 percent of them were no longer there.

That being the case, where do you wish your hometown to be?

Well? Do you wish it to be Jeongju or Anju? [Yes.]

You are just saying that because that's where I'm from. That's what I think. For most of you, it has been fifty or sixty years since you joined our church. Wherever it was, the place where you first found and joined the Unification Church all those years ago could be called your hometown, couldn't it? Isn't that so? Don't you think so?

At that time, were any one of you unexcited and not delighted or grateful in your heart to see Father and hear his message? You were.Weren't you? You were all excited. Weren't you? You had met the Lord who brought a new, true life to you in this fallen world, so you must have been excited. Isn't that true? There are many Christians in the world and many believers of other religions as well, but we alone came to know of Heaven's providence and met the Lord before others. Isn't this something to be grateful for?

What did you do next, then? Rather than keeping it to yourself, didn't you wish to share it with others? You wanted to witness to others. Didn't you? Well, did you? Did you actually go out to do that?

Looking at the larger picture, we can see that we have received deep grace and blessings from Heaven. We have received blessings that we could not have even imagined as fallen human beings. For one, the fact that we have separated ourselves from Satan is a great blessing in itself. The fact that you came to know me is in itself a miracle.

In the three years of his public life, Jesus traveled back and forth in Israel, a small nation. Some time ago, I visited Israel and toured the nation by car. It took only four hours to see everything in it. Haven't you ever thought to yourselves that we too are only going around in circles in such a small environment? What do you think?

Is the environment of fifty or sixty years ago similar to the environment of today, or different? Answer me.

Some of you here are younger than I am. Therefore, if I had one wish it would be to reignite the yearning you felt in your hearts for the homeland at the time when the church was in its beginning and help it to bear fruit, and then take you with me. Would you like that? [Yes. Applause] Will you do that?

It has been almost six months since True Father's Seonghwa Ceremony. When I look back after all this time, I cannot help feeling that we are so unworthy. We did so little for him.

If we only stay where we are and do nothing, there will be no way for you to avoid accusations from the 7 billion people of the world and your descendants.

I heard that a devout member who offers many devotions had a vision of the spirit world and saw that Father was having so much trouble there because of the blessed families who were in the spirit world. What do you think is the meaning of this?

You know that after the fall of Adam and Eve, Heaven's providence of salvation has continued until now with much difficulty. Don't you?

And the history of True Parents, which began in 1960, has also been providential history of restoration through indemnity. We could not move forward without paying indemnity. You are well aware of that. Aren't you? True Parents shouldered all the burdens of fallen humanity and resolved them all. What did you do? You only received.

When you think that as an elder blessed couple you are not being treated right, you feel dissatisfied, and no matter what the situation is in the church, you only think about yourselves -- even those of you who formerly worked as church leaders. If I were to ask you to close your eyes and raise your hands if you could say in good conscience that your thoughts were 100 percent about God's will and the providence, I'm sure that not one of you could raise your hand.

Father, on the other hand, is working desperately to open the way to the era of Cheon Il Guk. You have now been given this last chance to show filial piety to your parents and make up for all that you failed to do until now. When the time comes for us to go to our hometown and homeland in the eternal world, don't you want to go there with pride?

I want you all to be in the position of a victor. Therefore, I want to establish you as blessed couples and elder members that are free from accusation or indemnity. Will you help me do that? [Yes. Applause]

Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon to Preside at International Mass Wedding

February 13, 2013
Translated by Lymhwa Kim
Edited by Krista Karjalainen

The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) will hold the International Mass Wedding Ceremony, also known as the Cosmic Blessing, at 11:00 a.m. on February 17, 2013. (Korea Standard Time) at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea. (Due to time differences, the ceremony will be broadcast at 9 p.m. EST to U.S. locations.) The Family Federation’s wedding ceremony is the largest mass wedding in the world. This will be the first wedding ceremony in which Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon will officiate the ceremony by herself after the ascension ceremony (Seonghwa) of her husband, Dr. Sun Myung Moon six months ago. The wedding ceremony takes place before “Foundation Day,” (Giwon Jeol), which is the day that Dr. Sun Myung Moon proclaimed 12 years ago to be the day of unity and peace. The Foundation Day event signifies a new era for FFWPU centered on Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon.

For this International Mass Wedding Ceremony, more than 20,000 people will participate, including 1,000 newly-married couples, 2,500 previously married couples and 13,000 guests. The event order includes an address from Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, international president of FFWPU; a congratulatory message from Buddhist Monk In Gong; Holy Water ceremony; exchanging vows; exchanging rings and a proclamation of marriage.

The significance of the Family Federation’s International Mass Wedding Ceremony is to make ”true families” that transcend religion, race and nations by pledging their commitment to make “true families” centered on God. FFWPU teaches that the family centered on true love can bring world peace.

FFWPU’s wedding ceremony began with three couples in Korea in 1960. The ceremony was repeated internationally and has been held in various places more than 30 times chiefly in Korea and in the United States. The first mass wedding outside of Korea was held in Washington, D.C. in 1969 and included 13 couples. For this coming International Mass Wedding Ceremony it will be broadcast live via internet to 194 nations.

Before the wedding ceremony, there will be an evening event for brides and grooms to celebrate their blessing and to prepare vows at the Cheon Ah Camp in Gapyeong, Korea on February 16. 2013. There will be a buffet, a jazz band, an a cappella choir and a group-proposal event for the couples to create happy memories before their wedding.

Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon proclaimed a new era for the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification

February 5, 2013
Translated by Lymhwa Kim and edited by Krista Moon and Ariana Moon.
Press Release from Korea for Foundation Day and Related Events

The 2012 International Joint Marriage Blessing ceremony at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, South Korea

Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, widow of the late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, has proclaimed that that a new era for the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) will begin this month. February 21, 2013 is the day that Rev. Moon proclaimed as a “Day of Peace and Unity,” which is called Giwon Jeol, or, “Foundation Day.” On this day, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon will inherit the great achievements to which Rev. Moon devoted his life and will lead FFWPU into a new era. An event will be held in Gapyeong, in the Gyeonggi province in South Korea, and approximately 50,000 participants, including VIPs, are expected to attend. In addition, 194 nations will participate via live broadcast.

Events leading to and following Foundation Day include a Joint Marriage Blessing ceremony, a “World Summit” conference, a youth leader’s conference, an interreligious soccer competition, a multicultural festival and a performance from the Universal Ballet in Seoul and Gapyeong, South Korea.

On February 17, 2013, 12,000 people will attend the International Joint Marriage Blessing Ceremony, during which 3,500 couples (or 7,000 people) will recite marriage vows at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong. The couples are arriving from a total of 60 nations and will attend this event to start “true families.” The Foundation Day ceremony on February 21, 2013 and the International Joint Marriage Blessing ceremony will be broadcast live via internet to 194 nations.

The following is the schedule of events.

Multicultural Festival

(Korea Time: February 16, 14:00-17:00 at the Universal Art Center in Seoul)

Multi-cultural families who have contributed to the South Korean society will be honored with awards, and artists from nine nations will offer congratulatory performances. This event is to wish for world peace and share in the cultures of other countries through multi-cultural families.

International Joint Marriage Blessing

(Korea Time: February 17, 10:00-13:00 at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong)

This is an International Joint Blessing Marriage ceremony in which 3,500 couples will pledge the beginning of a new family. 12,000 people will gather for the event, including 5,000 guests. On this day, the couples will pledge to God their eternal marriage, transcending nationalities.

Youth Assembly and International Forum

(Korea Time: February 18, 10:00-16:30 at the Cheong Shim Youth Training Center in Gapyeong)

Youth from 10 countries will debate on the topic “What is the role of youth for the unification of Korea and to establish a freedom society?”

Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) Assembly

(Korea Time: February 19, 10:00-16:30 at the Cheon Ju Cheong Pyeong Training Center in Gapyeong)

This four-day event will attract about 1,000 college students from around the world who will share their efforts to fix social issues through service. Participants will also attend a seminar about God’s existence.

Inauguration of the Won Mo Pyeong Ae Foundation

(Korea Time: February 20, 14:00-17:00 at the Cheon Jeong Gung in Gapyeong)

The Won Mo Pyeong Ae Foundation will be launched on February 22, 2013 by its CEO Min Ha Kim. This Foundation is to honor the will of Dr. Sun Myung Moon, who dedicated his whole life to world peace. After Dr. Sun Myung Moon’s Seonghwa, his widow Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon donated all monies given to her as condolences to establish this Foundation. The Foundation’s vision is to bring peace, educate the talented youth and work towards social contributions. At its inauguration, the Won Mo Pyeong Ae Foundation will donate four billion won (about $3.7 million dollars) in scholarships to approximately 700 scholars. Five individuals and five organizations that served the underprivileged will be awarded for their services.

Foundation Day

(Korea Time: February 22, 10:00-13:00 at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong)

Broadcast live to 194 nations, this event will be attended by a total of 50,000 people at the Gapyeong Cheong Shim Peace World Center. Every participant is to wear appropriate attire, and during a choir consisting of 400 people from Japan and Korea will perform.

World Summit Conference

(Korea Time: February 23, 9:00-12:00 at the Walker Hill Hotel in Seoul)

A total of 600 former- and present Summit and religious leaders will rally for world peace and symbolically light candles and ring the “bell of peace.”

Civil Debate: “The Unification of Korea”

(Korea Time: February 23, 14:30-17:00 at the National Assembly Visitor Center in Seoul)

More than 100 people from religious movements and civic groups, as well as celebrities, and 400 onlookers are invited to this event. This event will be held to diagnose the situational change that caused by changing power structures near Korean Peninsula and find a way to facilitate the reunification of Korea.

Multi-Religious Soccer Tournament

(Korea Time: February 28, 13:00-18:00 at the Guri Wangsuk sports park in Gyeonggi province)

Religious leaders and celebrities will come together to tear down the walls between religions through a Friendship Soccer Tournament. Leaders from Christianity, Korean Buddhism (Taegojong), Islam and FFWPU will participate in this event.

Little Angels Performance

(Korea Time: February 23, 15:00-17:00 at the Universal Art Center in Seoul)

The Little Angels Children’s Folk Ballet of Korea, established by Dr. Sun Myung Moon in 1962, will give a two-hour performance to celebrate Foundation Day and the 50th anniversary of The Little Angels.

Universal Ballet Performance

(Korea Time: March 1, 15:00-17:00 at the Universal Art Center in Seoul)

The Universal Ballet, founded by Dr. Sun Myung Moon in 1984, will perform the classic ballet “Swan Lake” to celebrate the Foundation Day and the beginning of the new era.

Hak Ja Han Attends Divine Principle Lecture Competition in Korea

Lymhwa Kim
January 29, 2013
Edited by Krista Karjalainen

The winners of the Divine Principle competition pose together with True Mother. From left to right: Pastor Jang Jin Jin, Pastor Ju Won Jeon, True Mother, Pastor Hong Deuk Kim and Pastor Yuk Hyun Jo.

“Save the world with Divine Principle” was the title of the first Divine Principle competition to manifest the era of Cheon Il Guk, held at the Cheon Jeong Gung Chapel in Gapyung, Korea on Sunday, January 20, 2013.

The event drew 450 people, including Korean pastors and Japanese leaders. The purpose of the event was to teach members how to present the Divine Principle in a positive way, as well as to bolster faith that Divine Principle could bring more members to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU).

For this event, Jong Kwan Kim, secretary of FFWPU Korea headquarters, served as emcee for the competition. The event order was as follows: Opening announcement; a collective bow, a prayer report and then the Divine Principle lecture contest. After True Mother awarded the contest winners their awards, she gave a speech, followed by a benediction from Dr. Chang Shik Yang, president of FFWPU of Korea and ended with three cheers of Eog Mansei.

Altogether, 19 participants passed the preliminary round and presented individual 10-minute lectures with PowerPoint presentations. The judging criteria was based on a total of 100 points, which included: 40 points for lecture contents, 25 points for voice, 20 points for attitude, 10 points for audience reaction and five points for staying within the time limit.

Though it appeared to be nerve-wracking to present in front of True Mother and a large audience, each participant did his/her best and received cheers and applause from the audience.

Pastor Hong Deuk Choi from the Geojae Church won first prize, Pastor Ju Won Jung from the Suwon Church won second, Pastor Yuk Hyun Jo from the Gangnam Church and Pastor Jang Jin Jin from the Jecheon church won the thirdplace prize.

“I am so proud of our lecturers,” commented Dr. Yang. “Everyone joins the church after hearing the Divine Principle. The purpose of hearing the Divine Principle lecture is to prove and to know who is in the center of the Principle. Fallen humans don’t know who True parents are. Through Divine Principle, they can learn what the truth is, as well as about True Parents, who are the substance of truth. The Divine Principle is the most precious treasure. It is the first step to help people recognize True Parents.”

Dr. Yang further explained the greatness of the Divine Principle by quoting the book, Theology of the Transition Period by Professor Nam Dong Seo. “In the introduction of his book, Professor Seo said, ‘Unification Principle is a global theology made in Korea,’” said Dr. Yang. He continued: “We, who teach the Divine Principle, need to teach as closely as possible to the Principle. Divine Principle is 100 percent from True Father. When you teach the Divine Principle, you shouldn’t use personal examples from the outside world.”

After observing the entire event True Mother, said, “I am so proud of you. Our future is bright,” and she presented the awards to the winners.

Participants had time to reflect through fellow pastors’ lectures. “I realized the most important skill a pastor must cultivate is the ability to teach the Divine Principle,” one participant said. “I will research the Divine Principle more deeply and I will put everything to witness to new people and teach members. I will live up to True Mother expectations.”

The lecture contest was preceded by a Unificationist sermon competition on November 11, 2012.