The Sung Hwa for Dr. David S. C. Kim, first President of UTS

“Congratulations!

Dr. David Sang Chul Kim entered the Garden of Heaven as a representative of loyalty and filial piety for the establishment of the Fatherland, centering on True Parents.” SMM

”Sung Hwa (Heavenly Harmony) Ceremony”

Close family and hundreds of alumni and friends of Dr. David S. C. Kim gathered for his Sung Hwa – an exceptionally moving, warm event where we could share memories, tears, and laughter- befitting the passing of our generous and high-spirited old general; our mentor, friend, coach, and “grandpa”.

Current UTS President, Dr. Richard Panzer, reads David S.C. Kim’s biography

David S.C. Kim has had many firsts. Dr. Yang, Continental Director of HSA-UWC North America ( and UTS ’97) who gave the Sung Hwa address, elaborated:

“Since 1984, True Father designated the ascension ceremony for Blessed members as the Seung Hwa, but from today we will have Sung Hwa ceremonies.”

1) David S.C. Kim is the first to have the Sung Hwa ascension ceremony.

2) True Parents have given David Kim the privilege of being the first to enter heaven into the “Garden of Eden before the Fall”.

3) Being one of the five founding charter members of HSA-UWC on May 1st, 1954

4) The first President of UTS, serving for 20 years.

5) The first overseas missionary in August 1954 to Wales, in the UK.

6) One of the first two missionaries to the USA in 1959.

7) Current record for longest life in the UC- 97 years of age ( Korean counting).

Dr. Yang gave further accolades. David Kim has consistently been faithful and single minded to serve

God’s purpose. It has been almost one year since his wife passed on ( November 13th 2010) yet David Kim has never shown any weakness, even to his last moments. When Dr. Yang visited him, David Kim asked him not to come to him, but to visit and pray for others. Even when his physical body was frail he remained forever young. Dr. yang told us that on hearing of his passing, True Father immediately stopped what he was doing and called for paper and pen and wrote a calligraphy to honor David S.C. Kim’s life ( the quote at the top of this article).

The Chapel at UTS

Further beautiful and insightful testimonies were given by Michael Mickler (UTS’ 77), professor of church history at UTS ( see the later article), Dr. Therese Stewart, former dean of UTS, and Dr. Tyler Hendricks (UTS ’78), former president of UTS.

Dr. Stewart who has known David Kim since early in 1975 where she first met him at a meeting of future foreign missionaries, and then worked under him at UTS, described him as:

- always witnessing to Rev. Moon’s vision

- having an “open door” policy – ready to meet with staff, faculty and students without appointment

- having an ability to listen (he had studied counseling)

- being “present”

- a model of taking “ownership”

- showing balance between left and right brain; logical and analytical but also ”heartisitc’ and intuitive.

Dr. Stewart was attending David Kim during his last couple of days and commented on the calmness with which he approached death. She shared that “he taught us how to live and how to die”.

Dr. Hendricks then came up to share his memories. He shared about the great reflexes of David Kim: he was able to catch flies in his bare hands even at the age of 75 – possibly paralleling his ability to catch the vision and needs of Rev. Moon. In summarizing the organizational issues of UTS and the UC , David Kim would remark: “organized but unorganized…. unorganized but organized” and another of his sayings which brought the house down: ” Every job is like going to the bathroom, its never over till the paper work is done.”

Early in David S. C. Kim’s life, he believed that it was his destiny to unite the world’s religions, but after

meeting True Father, who was five years younger, God told him that this younger man would carry out this mission. David S. C. Kim subordinated himself to this younger man – “Not an easy thing for a Korean to do in 1954.”

A final farewell to David S.C. Kim

Let me share the beauty of Dr David S.C Kim’s family. His eldest son, Song Soo, gave the family greeting. At first his words seemed like they would be harsh judgment….he commented that the wonderful slide presentation of David Kim’s life had shown only one slide of David Kim’s immediate family. Tens of photos of his father, his life in the early church, and then his life in the missions in the UK and the USA. Song Soo acknowledged that his father had dedicated his whole life to be in alignment with True Parents, and that had been at the expense of family life. David Kim had given his life to the Unification Movement, its members and friends… many of us gathered in the chapel … many of the alumni and friends reading this.

However, in a style and voice reminiscent of the great old general himself, eldest son, Song Soo, said “we ……David Kim’s children and grandchildren are PROUD, PROUD to have him as a father.” His words resonated throughout the chapel and brought the gathered crowd to its feet in a round of long and loud applause….. we too proud, proud to have known David Kim and proud to see his nobility and grace inherited and present within his family. It felt like a healing moment – a moment of great unity between spiritual family and immediate family.

Later Song Soo Kim visited each table at the reception luncheon in the UTS dining room to personally thank each and everyone for attending.

Download a pdf photo journal of the Sung Hwa

NATIONAL SUNG HWA CEREMONY of

Dr. David Sang Chul Kim

October 15th of the Heavenly Calendar (November 10th, 2011) UTS, Barrytown, NY

Congratulations! Dr. David Sang Chul Kim entered the Garden of Heaven as a representative of loyalty and filial piety for the establishment of the Fatherland, centering on True Parents.