HSA-UWC -- A 20-Year Perspective

Members in three cities-Pusan, Taegu, and Seoul-were expanding our work in South Korea, despite all manner of persecution and hardship. Mr. C. W. Lee, Mr. H. W. [Hyo Won] Eu, and I began in early 1954 actively witnessing to recruit new members from the Seoul area, distributing both English and Korean literature. Beginning in the month of March 1954, when a strong foothold was achieved in the Seoul area, the need to set up an organization for the work was seriously discussed. In a small rented room, on May 2, 1954, the formation of an organization was initiated.

Five members were present-Sun Myung Moon, C. W. Lee, H. W. Eu, David S.C. Kim, and H.M. Eu (a cousin of H.W. Eu). It was in this tiny room that Mr. Moon submitted to us three names, asking us in all seriousness to choose the one most suitable for our new organization.

They were all written in Chinese letters, and two of them I do not even remember now, probably because they were not relevant to our movement. But the third name was the one that we all agreed upon, that which we now use for identifying our work-”Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity” (HSA-UWC, or Unification Church). I translated our final choice into English for a small sign board on which were written both Chinese and English letters. I had a little difficulty in translating it, because Holy Spirit implies one of the Trinity as taught in orthodox Christianity, but in Korea it means holy, or spiritual association (Sil-Yung). I could find no other way to translate the original Chinese letters.

After this was accomplished, we moved into a tiny, two bedroom house called “The house of three small doors.” The small signboard was hung up on May 3, 1954. Nobody in the world realized the significance of the birthday of HSA-UWC in Seoul, Korea at this tiny, cottage-type house, located at Book-Hak Dong, Seoul, Korea. From that day on our movement officially began, with the purpose of uniting world Christianity and further uniting all souls and all faiths. The official date of dedication was announced retrospectively as May 1, 1954, even though the signboard was hung up on May 3.

Mr. C. W. Lee was the first president of HSA-UWC and Dr. H. W. Eu the second. Even after the official formation of HSA-UWC, repeated, unbearable persecution and hardships confronted us. The tiny signboard was damaged by vicious vandals and knocked down to the ground many times by opponents and betrayers. But that same signboard endured all these tribulations and today hangs at our headquarters in Seoul. Since 1954, it has been a symbol of our victory and hope for the future of all mankind. Along

with the small signboard we have all shared the common tears, toils, and sometimes heavenly joy, too.

Of all the accomplishments I have been able, with God’s help, to achieve, I am most proud of the fact that I was fortunate enough to have been one of the five living participants in the establishment of HSA-UWC in the year 1954 in Seoul, Korea.

In August 1954 Mr. Kim went to England on a one-year mission, and on September 19, 1959 began missionary work in the United States.

I quit my U.S. government job in 1971, realizing the need for offensive forces to restore this nation. I prepared myself for one year and figured out by prayer and meditation how I could fit into God’s plan.

In 1971 I began work as a commander of a One World Crusade team and am now president of the International One World Crusade. My other responsibilities include executive director of the overseas missions of the Unification Church, preparing for 120 missions next year; and superintendent of the International Training Center. I am also preparing a book on the Day of Hope tour and the One World Crusade, with the help of Soshana Baum, Kong Ja Dal and Steve Mudgett.

I am getting old, but I want people to know that now is the right time for God’s work. In the future, regardless of whether we are strong or weak, we must believe, support, follow, pray and discover where we fit in with God’s plan. If you are sick, a doctor will prescribe medicine for you, but unless you believe in it and take it, you will not be healed. I want everybody not to give up.

Twenty-one years ago it was much harder than it is now. You must have absolute faith. This is harder for Westerners co do than for Orientals. If you have faith, go ahead and act on it. It will work, and you will receive much help.

My greatest source of power comes from the training center, listening to the lectures, prayer, and singing. I have a loudspeaker in my room coming from the microphone there. I am vitalized by the word of God, the Divine Principle. I am an addict of the Divine Principle.

The trainees know me. They know I am loving, but strict. They adopt me as a dad. I feel that if they should fall into a creek, I must stop them. All people should have this quality of heart.

Here at Belvedere, old and young come together. They complement each other, just like a family unit. Even though I am old, I become young when I talk to them. People are coming and learning. If we just talk and have no application of the truth, we will not grow. But I see in the training center lots of people changing. In the morning they get up with prayer and in the evening go to bed with prayer. So problems are solved. God is taking care of them.

The environmental factor is very important. I believe it is then the beauty of individual uniqueness comes out. It is like going to the greenhouse and seeing every individual uniqueness and beauty coming out. This is joy and happiness to me