Music, Media and New Ministry Helped Unificationists Break Barriers in 2011

The year began and ended with a dance, but along the way the Unification Church romped. For the first time ever, hundreds of ministers and hundreds of their closest followers heard and signaled their agreement with the full spectrum of the teachings of the church; breakthroughs were made in the publicity war to publicize the deprograming issue, the re-christened STF, now GPA, caught a bevy of newspaper stories; the Launch Pad, an elaborate experiment to redefine the church’s community building got off to a promising start; approximately 250 new members joined the church nationwide.

Students of Generation Peace Academy join Rev. Jesse Edwards (far left) on stage for a rousing musical offering.

Evangelical Outreach to Clergy

In response to Father Sun Myung Moon’s calling for 3,000 clergy to undergo the Original Substance of the Divine Principle (OSDP) program by the middle of December, six OSDP conferences have since been successfully organized and completed. The 172 clergy who embarked upon the pilgrimage to South Korea in September were instructed to choose 12 of their clergy and to educate them through the OSDP conferences as their disciples. Turning away historical precedent, Father Moon allowed several of the

conferences to be taught in English as opposed to in Korean with an English translation. Young adults from the Generation Peace Academy were also present at the conferences as an interfaith choir, which according to Vice President Rev. Cotter, was “on fire” and “blew away the pastors.”

The location and dates of the six OSDP workshops are:

October 16-19 at the Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. October 21-26 at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. November 6-9 at the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. November 14-17 at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. November 28-December 1 at the Trump Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. December 14-17 at the Hilton Chicago Hotel in Chicago, IL.

Rev. In Jin Moon shares her father’s teachings of practicing the philosophy of living for the sake of others in our daily lives.

The War of Ideas in Media

After two years of fitful efforts to draw media attention to the scandal of abduction in Japan, the topic was aired in the Washington Times on July 13, 2011 after a team of Unificationists held a religious-freedom symposium there that drew a dozen representatives of persecuted religions. In September several survivors of deprogramming got radio time on the John Flowers Show in Poughkeepsie, New York. In

following months, Ms. Ichiko Sudo, the coordinator of the victim group, became a talk-show host herself. Also in September Unificationists got respectful coverage of their beliefs through interviews on KNPR in Las Vegas.

Yet, the big breakthrough came through the unsolicited initiative of a second-generation student leader in Atlanta. Seijin Tranberg, the student body president at Georgia Gwinnet College, and Joshua Wildman of the San Francisco Bay area, also a second-generation Unificationist, are pedaling for social justice this winter in what they call a “Tour De Cause” bicycle challenge aimed at bringing attention to the issue of faith-breaking in Japan. The tour began from Tranberg’s hometown in Atlanta, Georgia on December 15, 2011 and will end in Los Angeles in January, 2012.

Tranberg and Wildman are undertaking the 2,300 mile cycle tour under the banner of “Faith, Family and Freedom” to protest religious persecution of minority religions everywhere and Unification Church members in Japan in particular. On Jan. 2, 2012 five TV stations covered the Faith, Freedom and Family rally at City Hall in Dallas. The release of a report from the respected European NGO, Human Rights without Frontiers, on Dec. 31, 2012, promises to bring more publicity in coming weeks.

STF Morphs into Generation Peace Academy

Under the guidance of Rev. In Jin Moon, the Special Task Force (STF) program was renamed Generation Peace Academy (GPA) and drastically remodeled to follow a tripartite module system. The three modules include the fundraising-training module, which focuses on character building and experiencing the heart of God, the leadership module, which takes place at the Lovin’ Life Learning Center, and the international service module, which allows the GPA trainees to work in underprivileged countries.

“This year has by far a record number of applicants,” said Roland Platt, director of GPA. “We actually anticipated a few years back that the number of applicants would decrease, based on the demographics. But despite this, last year we had a record number of applicants for its time – 111 first-years – and this year set an even higher record at 122. [Rev. In Jin Moon] is the one who transformed STF to what it is now, she’s the reason we have so many applicants now, and that the numbers are only going to go up.” Media training of GPA leaders resulted in community-newspaper stories in seven cities following public- service trips of GPA members to Caribbean countries in November.

Launch Pad Debuts

Lovin’ Life introduced the Launch Pad on April 10, 2011, a complete package of ministry materials and guidance for nurturing small groups arranged by Heather Thalheimer, the director of the Ministry Department at Lovin’ Life Ministries, and her team. The Launch Pad has five different categories of “Inspire, Empower, Connect, Contribute and Inherit” and was used as a resource for strengthening a sense of national community through 10-week long programs.

In the Launch Pad plan, members are encouraged to choose, or to start their own group in an area that interests them. Set to last at 10 weeks at a time, “Growth” groups are designed around a curriculum teaching something new, and “Affinity” groups are interest-based and more focused on building relationships.

“By placing groups on a quarter system, members can feel that they can accomplish and complete something versus feeling that they will make an indefinite commitment with no end result or gratification,” wrote Pastor Mike Lamson from Columbus, Ohio.

“This never happened before in Unification Church history,” said one mother in Chicago. “It was a good idea to give us motivation to contribute our time and heart to do something for the church. I am so grateful to Rev. In Jin Moon for this idea.”

Rev. Berg, left, and Dunkley, stand at the entrance of KNPR studios in Las Vegas on Sept. 14, 2011.

From left, Minister Tanya Edwards, Bishop Michael Sykes, Dr. Tina Saxon, Bishop Jesse Edwards, Rev. Michael Jenkins (at podium).

Major Events of 2011

January 8, 2011: CARP held its 2nd Annual young adult Winter Ball at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan under the theme of the 1950’s Age of Hollywood Glamour.

January 22, 2011: Rev. In Jin Moon gave the keynote address at a historic women’s leadership conference in San Jose, Costa Rica.

January 23, 2011: Rev. In Jin Moon gave Sunday service to Unificationists gathered at the Ramada Plaza Herradura Hotel in Costa Rica.

February 3, 2011: The 44th True God’s Day ceremony was held with Father and Mother Moon in South Korea. Since 1968, Unificationists have celebrated the first day of the year as True God’s Day based on the Gregorian Calendar, however, in 2011 for the first time Unificationists around the world celebrated this Holy Day centered on the lunar calendar, or Cheon-gi, that is, the “heavenly calendar.”

February 3, 2011: Mr. Toru Goto, a well-known victim of kidnapping and de-conversion, filed civil suit in Tokyo District Court demanding damage compensation of 200 million Yen ($2.4 Million) against deprogrammers Takashi Miyamura and Yasutomo Matsunaga.

February 17, 2011: Father and Mother Moon held a special ceremony before a crowd of 5,000 to name and launch the Cheongjeongho (boat of heaven) the first luxury yacht built in Korea through the revolutionary “NC Negative Resin Mold” process invented and patented by Father Moon himself.

March 5, 2011: Father Moon and about 2,000 disciples gathered at the Octavius Ballroom at Caesar’s Palace to celebrate the life of living for the sake of others.

March 20, 2011: Father Moon donated $1.7 million for relief of Japanese earthquake victims.

April 8, 2011: Mr. Kook Jin Moon, chairman of the Korean Unification Church Foundation, visited Japan to inspect the damaged areas in Sendai caused by the massive earthquake in East Japan and express his condolences to church members.

April 10, 2010: The first Lovin’ Life Ministries “Launch Parties” were held around the nation.

April 24, 2011: Father and Mother Moon’s world speaking tour of 2011 began on Easter Sunday with a speech to 1,200 people at the Songdo Convensia in Incheon, South Korea.

May 1, 2011: A Japan-Aid festival and concert in Landover Hills, Maryland drew 300 citizens and financed relief for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011 through the Red Cross and WFWP. Four local newspapers published stories.

May 21, 2011: Father Moon concluded the last leg of a 10-nation speaking tour in the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas and declared to 3,000 that a new historical era will begin formally in 2013. A charity gaming tournament to benefit the Salvation Army and two other nonprofits in Las Vegas took place.

June 2, 2011: The Second Annual Commencement Gala took place at the Manhattan Center for a night of celebration for 300 graduates from around the country.

June 19, 2011: Rev. In Jin Moon delivered Sunday Service before 600 Malaysian members and Ambassadors for Peace in Kuala Lumpur, the capitol of Malaysia. In the evening, a banquet was held at the Mandarin Hotel, centering on Mr. Kook Jin Moon and featuring the presence of about 25-30 parliamentarians.

June 20, 2011: Mr. Kook Jin Moon and Rev. In Jin Moon were invited to lunch at the Malaysian parliament.

June 25, 2011: For the first time in 15 years of annual meetings, the Japanese Society for Cult Prevention and Recovery (JSCPR) was challenged at their convention in Kyoto, Japan by a group of 40 Unification members.

July 4, 2011: More than 2,000 members gathered at the Palace of Heavenly Blessings (Cheon Bok Gung) to participate in the “Assembly for Blessed Families and Members from Around the World to Resolve to Carry Out True Parents’ Proclamation.”

July 6, 2011: Father and Mother Moon celebrated the distribution of 120,000 copies of Father Moon’s autobiography in Las Vegas.

July 8, 2011: Unificationists challenged faith-breakers and their allies at a major international conference held by the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), in Barcelona, Spain.

July: Heirloom Recipes and Tribute, Reflections from the Early Years became available at hsabooks.com.

July 13, 2011: “Stop Religious Persecution Now!” was the banner for a meeting of 12 minority religious groups, including the Unification Church, that reported their struggles with persecution at the Washington

Times’ Arbor Ballroom.

July 17, 2011: The International Conference Center in Abuja, Nigeria hosted the UPF Founder’s Peace Tour 2011. The historic conference was headed by Father Moon and included a worship service of Lovin’ Life Ministries.

July 2011: Camp Lovin’ Life was the first national camp with the focus of empowering Blessed Children and provided the opportunity for young Unificationists all around the United States to develop lasting friendships.

August 5, 2011: Eminent women from around the world gathered to hear from a range of female speakers at the 19th Annual Assembly of WFWP in New York City under the theme of “We – Unlocking the Power of Relationships.”

August 9-12, 2011: The seventh annual Blessed Culture and Sports Fest (BCSF) was held on the Barrytown campus of UTS drew more than 700 registered participants to compete in a range of sports and cultural events.

August 18, 2011: A prototype of a new 27-foot leisure fishing vessel was unveiled before 500 observers at the Peace Palace in Las Vegas. This gathering of clergy of various faiths, religious allies, and faithful followers was attended by reporters for Korean Radio, the Asia Pacific Times, elected officials of the city government, and the Nevada governor’s office.

September 9, 2011: Radio host John Flowers aired first-hand accounts of faith-breaking practices in Japan on the John Flowers Show in Dutchess County, New York. The guests were representatives of WFWP and Survivors Against Forced Exit (SAFE).

September 14, 2011: Demian Dunkley and Rev. Staffan Berg participated in a free-ranging discussion of Unification Church beliefs during a live radio interview broadcast by KNPR Las Vegas, an affiliate of National Public Radio.

September 2011: 172 Christian clergy from a range of denominations completed a historic, unprecedented tour of Korea and joined True Parents to proclaim the mission of Korea as God’s central nation of God’s kingdom on earth. They arrived in Seoul on Sept. 10, 2011. On September 22, 2011, a delegation of U.S. clergy joined Unificationist leaders and marched to the “Bridge of Freedom” over the DMZ in Imjingak.

September 2011: Roland Platt, Director of Generation Peace Academy (GPA), formerly known as the Special Task Force, says a record number of trainees are attending GPA this year.

September 2011: Lovin’ Life Ministries introduced Snapshot.

October 5, 2011: More than a thousand assembled in the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas with little more than 24 hours’ notice to hear Father Moon speak under the banner of “Registration for God’s Kingdom and the Fatherland - America Stands with True Parents for True Love, Family and Peace.”

October 16-19, 2011: The first OSDP workshop took place at at Bally’s in Atlantic City,

November 9, 2011: Third OSDP conference concluded at the Trump Plaza hotel in Atlantic City. In contrast to previous OSDP seminars, there were several presentations in English by Rev. Michael Jenkins and Archbishop George A. Stallings.

November 10, 2011: More than 200 attended the first-ever “Sung Hwa (Heavenly Harmony) Ceremony that was held in honor of Dr. David Sang Chul Skim, 96 at UTS.

December 9, 2011: CARP welcomed its first woman-president, Victoria Roomet and celebrated the work of former CARP President Hero Hernandez.

December 15, 2011: Seijin Tranberg and Joshua Wildman, who are biking across the United States under the banner of “Faith, Family and Freedom” to raise awareness for deprogramming, are welcomed by Georgia State Sen. Donzella James at the Georgia State Capitol.

December 9, 2011: Rev. Hyung Jin Moon arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the historic meeting between Father Moon and Kim Il Sung. He was escorted to the Moranbong Presidential Guest House, where he met representatives of the Korean Asia Pacific Peace Committee (KAPPC). Shortly after returning from North Korea, he traveled back to Pyongyang on December 24, 2011 to pay his respects to the late Kim Jong Il.

December 17, 2011: The 16th Annual True Family Values Banquet at the Hilton Chicago Hotel marked the culmination of the OSDP workshops that drew more than 3,000 ministers and members of different faiths during the last three months.

December 30, 2011: The third annual CARP Winter Ball, billed as “A Royal Affair,” drew nearly 1,000 Unificationists and rave reviews from attendees in the Hammerstein Ballroom of the Manhattan Center.