FFWPU USA: A Soul-Stirring Workshop Inspires Midwest CARP Members — Jinil Fleischman

“I felt God’s hands tugging at my heart and asking me to know that I am loved,” shared an Indianapolis CARP member. “I learned more about [God’s] ideal and that first I have to receive love and understand it before I can give it and live in it.”

CARP chapter leaders ushered in the new year with a soul-stirring “Midwest CARP Winter Workshop” from January 5 to 8 in Chicago. More than 20 participants, including five new members who recently finished studying the Divine Principle, joined the program from chapters in Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Ohio.

“The first day was filled with liveliness and high spirits as participants took part in icebreakers and team-

building activities,” reported an organizer. “The mornings began with a small group reading of Mother of Peace … [and] the participants learned about [True Mother’s] life and the contributions she made for the world at large.”

A series of lectures presented during the workshop included topics like “The Essence of God,” “Creating A Life You Love,” and “How to Practice A Life of Faith.” A worship session of praise and music was followed by a special “Letter to God” activity, where participants privately addressed their repentance, determination, and gratitude to Heavenly Parent.

“I felt I really opened up and exposed myself to God,” said a CARP member from Minnesota. “I enjoyed everyone’s company and learning God’s grace through everyone … I want to forgive and love unconditionally, [and] care for everyone like they are my brother and sister.”

Organizers said the group was touched by the letter-writing exercise and also felt inspired by discussions about True Parents’ life and the hardships they overcame through their enduring love for God and people. In particular, an organizer shared, “One participant was so moved by the sacrifice and spiritual

investments made by True Parents that he couldn’t stop himself from proclaiming all of their successes as a couple working toward peace.”

As participants created meaningful relationships over the weekend, they enjoyed games like Pictionary and friendly rounds of bowling. Activities prompting deeper introspection and reflection, such as goal- setting, left many of them feeling uplifted and in a fresh headspace for the coming year.

“Individuals had the opportunity to set intentions for the workshop,” recalled an organizer. “Afterwards, each person shared about the goals that they had set for the weekend and the growth they hoped to achieve [throughout the year].”

The group was encouraged to take responsibility for the life that they wish to lead and practice good faith habits to support them on their respective journeys. The workshop concluded with personal testimonies and sharing inspirations from the program.

“After the workshop, I want[ed] to start teaching and giving unconditional love to everyone; [to] forgive a hundred times and more,” shared a participant from Minnesota.

You can learn more about CARP USA here, and support its ongoing work here.

January 16, 2024 Q. Search

Contributed by Chungbom Katayama

STUDENT STORIES

ALUMNI STORIES

Year in Review On January 5th-8th, th e Midwest CARP chapt ers in clud ing Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Ohio collaborated to host the 2024 Midwest CARP Winter Workshop in Chicago, Illin ois. A tot al of 21 parti c ipants j oined the workshop , inc ludi ng 5 new CA RP members w ho recently fi ni shed studying t he Divine Prin cip le. 2023

The first day was filled w ith liveliness and high spirits as participants to ok part in icebre akers and team building activities. It starte d off w ith com petitive ga mes of “Would You Rather “ and Pictionary. The afternoo n was then fo llowed by a reflect ive 2022 activ ity where indiv idua ls had t he opportunity to set intent ions for the workshop. Afterwards, each person shared about the goa ls that they had set fo r the weekend and the g rowth th ey hoped to achieve.

The mornings began w ith a small group reading of Mother of Peace, a me mo ir by Dr. 2021 Hak Ja Han Moon, one of CARP’s co-fo unders. T he pa rticipa nts learned about her life and t he contribut ions she made fo r the world at large. The day was followed by three lectures including “The Essence of God” by Rosia Schm idt (CARP Chicago d irector) and

“Creating a Li fe You Love” by Ch ung bom Katayama (Mi dwest CARP coord inat or). The last lecture of t he day was base d on the life o f Rev. and Mrs. Moo n, w ho are lovingly 2018 called True Pare nt s. Many of th e participants were insp ired by the strugg les t hey bot h ove rcam e thro ugh the ir love for God and th e people . O ne partic ipant was so moved by the sa crifice and spiritua l investme nts made by True Parent s that he couldn ‘t stop himse lf f ro m p roclaimin g all o f th eir successes as a couple working toward s peace. 2017 In add ition to the le ctures, the mem bers e nj oyed some e nergetic games of bowling. There w as hea lthy competitio n a mong the members despit e it being some of the pa rticipants’ first time bowling . Bubble tea was awarded to all the in div iduals, and it International was an enjoya b le afternoon for everybody.

The eveni ng of th e fi rst d ay con cl uded w ith praise and worshi p. There was Trips insp irational music played by so me of th e CARP me mbers, and the au die nce was moved by th e soul-stirring lyrics. The prai se an d worship session was followed by a “Letter to God” activ ity. The part icipants were inst ru ct ed to w rite a lette r to God o n 2018

three t opics: gratitude, repenta nce, and dete rminatio n. Each person took time t o reflect on the po ints of the le tte r and lat er had the o ppo rtunity to share with their t eams.

The next d ay, the fi nal lecture was given on the to p ic o f “ How to Practice a Life of Faith” by Chungb om Katayama. He share d abo ut th e significance of life of fa ith ha bits and e ncouraged the pa rtic ipants to start taking responsibility for the life that t hey w ishe d t o lead. The workshop wa s then concluded with a goal settin g session, discussio ns, an d testimo nies. Many shared abo ut the inspiratio ns they received fro m the lectu re s and activ iti es, and the meanin gful re lati onship s they c reated over the weekend. Some of these are shared be low.

“Ou r letter to god activ ity was nice as I felt I really opene d up and exposed myself to God . I enj oye d everyone ‘s company and lea rn ing God’s grace thro ugh everyone … I want t o forg ive and love unconditionally. Ca re for everyone like th ey are my brother and sister.”

Felix, University of Minnesota

“I think more th an po ints from the lectures, [the spea kers’] hearts w ere wha t stru ck me the most. I learned more about the id eal and that first I have to receive love and understand it before I can give it and live in it. I felt God’s hands tugg ing at my hea rt and asking me to know th at I am loved . Q uickly believe that you are loved !”

Anonymo us, Ind iana po lis CARP me mber

“After t he wo rkshop, I wa nt t o start teach ing and g iving un conditiona l love to everyone. Forg ive a hun dred and mo re times.”