A Tribute to Our Elder Brother Hyo Jin Nim – Hyo Jin Nim's Family
Unlike in Section one: Ascension, Seung Hwa Ceremony and Memorials, an html document where the embedded links in violet will work,
currently sections two through seven are in pdf format. In this particular pdf format, only the complete links beginning www. in blue will work. We will update the entire tribute to an html document over the next several weeks, so check back.
Thank you for reviewing this.
All the best, Mary Jane Despres
A Tribute to our Elder Brother Hyo Jin Nim
Section five: Hyo Jin Nim’s Family
Link to an enlargement of this beautiful portrait of True Parents and Hyo Jin Nim’s Family, True God’s Day 2008
Section five: Hyo Jin Nim’s Family
Table of Contents
Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim’s Blessing Day, February 5, 1999
Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim’s Beautiful Blessed Family, Formal Education and Honors
Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim’s Blessing Day, February 5, 1999
Hyo Jin Nim was blessed to Yeon Ah Nim on February 5, 1999. Yeon Ah Nim’s maiden name is Choi. (Her name was at first spelled Yun Ah Nim.)
painting link
A Heavenly Couple from the text, Life in the Spirit World and on Earth * by Dr. Sang Hun Lee “Original Love,” August 7, 1997 (a link to a different online edition)
What is the appearance of a couple who have established the original love when they both finally come to the kingdom of heaven and are meeting God? They come to the spirit world just as a bridegroom and a bride enter the wedding hall, wearing the most beautiful clothing on earth. As the bridegroom and the bride whom God receives are extremely beautiful, the scene brings to my mind the image of an angel from heaven having descended to the earth. The good man and good woman go forward to God and offer a full bow while receiving resplendent light within a beautiful melody. Within the bright radiance of light, the husband and wife embrace each other. The appearance of the couple loving is as the world of light becoming one, and is very bright. Within the light, God embraces them and rejoices by radiating the love in a stem of light.
Here are Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim leaving the hall as newlyweds. Enlargement
a detail from this photo http://tinyurl.com/cjyths on their Blessing day with members of True Family at the time of their Pyebaek Ceremony
True Father guided them the day after their blessing, February 1, 1999, saying:
Hyo Jin Hyung [Hyung here means “elder brother”], without understanding Father you cannot know yourself. … [Yeon Ah,] please follow Hyo Jin Nim well.
Internally he has many treasures.
[Hyo Jin,] your name means filial piety, and you have to accomplish it. [Hyo Jin Nim replies,] “I will.” You have three years before reaching forty; why don’t you determine this? … I forgave murderers and sinners; can I have the authority to forgive my real son’s mistakes? … I taught you everything. Hyo Jin, you should be a son I can love. Yeon Ah, go together with Hyo Jin wherever he goes, to recreate him.
Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim pray on February 4, 2006, from this group at FFWPU Korea
On February 28, 1999 http://tinyurl.com/cb3dw3 Dr. Chang Shik Yang shared further details about the significance of this blessing:
True Parents made a very important decision this time and conducted Hyo Jin Nim’s re-marriage. They took full responsibility for the situation and established all the indemnity conditions so they could marry Hyo Jin Nim again. During this entire time of the difficulty in Hyo Jin Nim’s family, I was often with True Parents. I never saw a single instance where they blamed or scolded Hyo Jin Nim for the situation. Instead, Father always took responsibility himself, feeling that because of his public work he was not able to take care of him.
This time also Father stood before many members and said, “As a father I was not able to fulfill everything that I should do.” But we all know why it was that Father was not able to do everything he needed to do as head of a family.
Father gave a great deal of meaning to this recent holy marriage. He said that it is a comprehensive indemnity for all the history that has gone by. Hyo Jin Nim was also able to stand in this position because even through all his difficulties, he always had absolute loyalty to his father. That was one important condition that led to his being able to be blessed again.
Another effect of this is that by forgiving Hyo Jin Nim, Father has established the condition for all the second generation to be forgiven, no matter what they have committed. In Korea there are older couples and church leaders whose children also had a great deal of difficulty growing up because their parents were away on public missions. There have been problems there. Through Hyo Jin Nim’s blessing all those acts have been forgiven.
The grace that was given in this blessing was really tremendous. Now there really is no sin that cannot be forgiven. But those sins must not be repeated.
Now no matter what acts have been committed, the way of restoration for those people has been opened up through the sacrifice that took place through the situation of Hyo Jin Nim.
True Parents with Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim in Hawaii, November 11, 2000 * This photo comes from page 10 of the November/December 2000 Today’s World.
On November 11, 2000, True Father said:
True Parents’ Holy Wedding was the first step to create a family similar to Adam’s family on the global level and that indeed was the marriage supper of the lamb. …
Now we can stand in the highest position of the realm of liberation where the bloodline of God, the True Father and his true son can be connected. I have blessed saints with evil people. Since the True Parents have the authority to break down the walls between heaven and earth, the wrongs in my family can be forgiven. We are now in the age where all faults can be completely resolved.
I have to finish everything I came to do by the time I am eighty years old. You cannot be God’s and True Parents’ direct children without having gone through the eight stages. It is quite a fearful fact. I am not making this up.
Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim’s Beautiful Blessed Family, Formal Education and Honors
Hyo Jin Nim, Yeon Ah Nim and their daughter Shin Soon Nim, born in November 2004 a detail of a photo taken by Janine Takahashi, sent to us electronically for this tribute
Hyo Jin Nim studied political science at Columbia University. He completed studies for the ministry at the Unification Theological Seminary graduating in June 2003. About Hyo Jin Nim’s endeavors, Dr. Tyler Hendricks wrote:
His work revealed a strong grasp of Unification ideology and important creativity regarding its application for the transformation of religion and society.
Prayer at Hyo Jin Nim’s Birthday celebration December 3, 2003 lunar (December 25, 2003 solar) In this photo, Yeon Ah Nim is holding Shin Weol Nim.
Here are True Parents on September 7, 2003 displaying the calligraphy True Father wrote as he named Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim’s baby girl (born September 7, 2003 lunar) Shin Weol Nim. At the link are additional pictures taken of this occasion.
Yeon Ah Nim holds Shin Weol Nim on January 11, 2004.
True Parents together with Hyo Jin Nim’s Family January 22, 2004 In this photo, Yeon Ah Nim is holding their daughter Shin Weol Nim.
Hyo Jin Nim holds his daughter Shin Yeo Nim on January 25, 2004 FFWPU Korea enlargement
Yeon Ah Nim holds her daughter Shin Yeo Nim on January 27, 2004, True Parents’ Birthday FFWPU Korea enlargement
In this (retouched) family portrait circa early 2004, Hyo Jin Nim is holding daughter Shin Weol Nim and Yeon Ah Nim is holding daughter Shin Yeo Nim.
This picture of Heung Jin Nim’s family comes from this March 7, 2004 group at FFWPU Korea.
Photo of February 8, 2004 from this FFWPU Korea group
Upon hearing True Father’s advice about this, Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim decided to offer their beloved daughter Shin Weol Nim in adoption to Heung Jin Nim and Hoon Sook Nim’s family. [Additional reference here]
FFWPU Korea enlargement Hyo Jin Nim with sons Shin Heung (blue shirt) and Shin Chul (gold shirt) on March 21, 2004
FFWPU Korea enlargement from this group Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim on April 25, 2004 in Japan (a detail)
Here, Dr. Chang Shik Yang reports that Yeon Ah Nim graduated from the same junior high school as True Mother and that she later graduated from Ewha Women’s University.
Yeon Ah Nim graduates from the Unification Theological Seminary June 26, 2004 Dr. Chang Shik Yang is repositioning the tassel of her cap as Dr. Tyler Hendricks looks on. This picture, a detail, comes from FFWPU Korea.
Here is another picture of Hyo Jin Nim and his wife Yeon Ah Nim, and others, upon her graduation on June 26, 2004 from Unification Theological Seminary, Barrytown, New York.
True Parents, Yeon Ah Nim and children October 24, 2004 from FFWPU Korea
On December 4, 2004, True Parents greet Shin Soon Nim, born in November (an enhanced detail of this photo, from this group http://tinyurl.com/cc4rsn)
This True Family portrait was taken on True God’s Day 2005.
On February 14, 2005, Hyo Jin Nim was awarded an honorary doctorate in theology from Sun Moon University. Yeon Ah Nim represented Hyo Jin Nim at this ceremony. Here at FFWPU Korea are some pictures of this occasion.
True Parents, Hyo Jin Nim, Shin Chul Nim, Shin Bok Nim, Hoon Mo Nim and other HSA-UWC Leaders on May 1, 2005, the 51st Anniversary of the Founding of HSA-UWC, held at Blue Sea Garden, Yeosu This photo, a detail, comes from this FFWPU Korea group. The occasion is discussed at FFWPUI News posted May 3, 2005, including the following report about the pledge being promised:
Resolution for the Rally for Education on Attendance and Protecting the Root Ancestor
On this historic 51st anniversary of the foundation of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, we are strongly resolved to inherit the heavenly fortune and the tradition of True Parents, who had Satan naturally give in and overcame all the difficulties in order to attend God on this land and to fulfill God’s ideal of creation. We are also committed to fulfill our responsibility by making 2005 the year when we will create the substantial foundation for Cheon Il Guk.
Hence, we pledge, as follows, to obey the call from True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind, and to establish ideal families of peace and unification by accomplishing God’s ideal of creation from the levels of the individual, to that of the family, tribe, people, nation, world, and cosmos.
We pledge to lead a life of absolute faith, absolute love, and absolute obedience through attending True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind, the king and queen of peace.
We pledge to acknowledge the settlement of Cheon Il Guk, the kingdom of peace, as our fate and responsibility, We also pledge to complete the Regional Witnessing Program (Tongban Kyokpa) through Hoondok family church activity and to fulfill the responsibility as tribal Messiahs.
We pledge to cut off all the Satan-related custom, culture and lifestyle in the fallen world and to be the leader in creating a culture of heart by transforming them into culture of true love in order to realize the ideals of Cheon Il Guk.
May 1st, the 5th year of Cheon Il Guk Members of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
Several members of True Family on Chusok, September 18, 2005 from this noteworthy group
The first birthday of Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim’s daughter Shin Soon Nim and sixth birthday of their son Shin Chul Nim, celebrated on November 20, 2005
This is a detail from a photo of Shin Soon Nim’s first birthday. Here’s a link to the original photo.
Hyo Jin Nim’s Family (a detail, from FFWPU Korea) on November 20, 2005, Shin Soon Nim’s 1st birthday and Shin Chul Nim’s 6th birthday
Shin Chul Nim blowing out the candles of his birthday cake (a detail) Here’s a link to the full photo and several other photos taken at this party.
Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim’s son Shin Heung Nim and daughter Shin Yeo Nim as they are about to give flowers to True Parents on May 13, 2007 (an enhanced detail from this FFWPU Korea group)
True Parents greet Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim’s son Shin Jin Nim on May 13, 2007 from this FFWPU Korea group
Hyo Jin Nim’s family attends True Parents on True Children’s Day 2007 at East Garden (a detail) This photo comes from this FFWPU Korea group
Yeon Ah Nim receives an honorary doctorate in theology from Sun Moon University on September 11, 2008 (a detail) from this group at FFWPU Korea
Hyo Jin Nim’s Children
The original of this slightly enhanced photo is located here. Portrait of Hyo Jin Nim’s Family, circa 2006 Yeon Ah Nim is holding Shin Soon Nim, who was born in 2004
At the Westchester, New York, National Memorial Service for Hyo Jin Nim on March 30, 2008, Rev. Michael Jenkins said (as transcribed from an audio recording):
I love Hyo Jin Nim with all my heart and I want you to know how much I’m so proud of him. And I’m
so grateful for his life of faith and the beautiful blessed family that Yeon Ah Nim and Hyo Jin Nim established together. To understand Hyo Jin Nim, we have to understand God’s providence, because
Hyo Jin Nim is one of the dispensational figures of God’s providence. And centering on the historic course of God’s providence from Adam’s family, to Noah’s family, to Moses’ family to Jesus’ family, True Family emerges. And on that foundation, True Parents established the basis to fulfill and complete the ideal of God through the four position foundation. And now Father has revealed that it
must extend and expand to three generations for the family to be secure. And how wonderful it is that True Parents can know that Hyo Jin Nim, Yeon Ah Nim and their family established that second generation blessing as the elder son’s position forever. And it can never, ever be erased. Aju! So we congratulate Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim on this day. We congratulate True Parents, because the dispensation is now secure. …
I saw the slings and arrows of all of the power and principalities of darkness hurled first at Father, then at Mother, then at every single member of True Family. But, I want to say, I don’t think there’s anyone who’s more a target among the sons and daughters than the eldest daughter and the eldest son. So both of them have an incredible dispensational course, and we are grateful.
We’re grateful for Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim’s victory.
Link to an enlargement of this beautiful portrait of True Parents and Hyo Jin Nim’s Family, True God’s Day 2008
Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah [Choi] Nim’s children: (Italicized names indicate girls; italicized dates are lunar.)
Shin Chul Nim (also spelled Shin Chool Nim) (b. 10/14/1999) 2005
Shin Heung Nim (b. 1/7/2001) 2004
Shin Yeo Nim (also spelled Shin Yuh Nim) (b. 3/2/2002) 2008
Shin Soon Nim (b. 2004 - her first birthday was celebrated on November 20) 2007
Shin Jin Nim (b. 01/17/2007 solar or 11/29/ 2006 lunar, probably) reference 2008
True Parents, Hyo Jin Nim’s wife and children and two other True Grandchildren a photo from this FFWPU Korea group taken on September 11, 2007 (also found here)
In front are (left to right) Hyun Jin Nim’s son Shin Kwang Nim in the gold tee shirt leaning against Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim’s second son Shin Heung Nim (who’s wearing green shorts). In front of True Father is Hyung Jin Nim’s son Shin Joon Nim. True Mother is holding Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah
Nim’s youngest son Shin Jin Nim. Next is Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim’s older daughter Shin Yeo Nim. On the far right is their eldest son, Shin Chul Nim. In the back is Yeon Ah Nim who is holding their second daughter Shin Soon Nim.
True Father holding Shin Jin Nim on September 11, 2007 a slightly enhanced detail from this photo from this FFWPU Korea group
Again, Hyo Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim gave their daughter Shin Weol Nim (b. 9/7/2003 lunar) in adoption to Heung Jin Nim’s family.
From this FFWPU Korea Photo group:
True Mother with Heung Jin Nim’s Family on 11/13/2004
Shin Weol Nim and Hoon Sook Nim on 2/7/2008
Hyo Jin Nim was previously married to Nan Sook Nim [Hong] http://tinyurl.com/dzkz23 (b. 3/21/1966). They were blessed January 7, 1982, yet this marriage ended in December 1997. Together they had the following five children:
Shin Joong Nim (also spelled Shin Jung Nim) (b. 1/16/1983) ll 2008
Shin Young Nim (b. 10/18/1986) 2/25/1994 February 1994 Today’s World, p. 20
Shin Gil Nim (b. 12/26/1987 – a. 12/28/2005) ll 2005 Heung Jin Nim’s painting art link
Shin Ok Nim (b. 9/18/1989) 2/25/1994, February 1994 Today’s World, p. 20
Shin Hoon Nim (b. 10/6/1994) FFWPU Korea December 30, 2005
True Parents were particularly delighted when Hyo Jin Nim’s first son Shin Gil Nim was born. Great significance is given in Unificationist tradition to the fact that Shin Gil Nim fulfilled the position of the first grandson born of a son of True Parents. True Father prayed on March 23, 1988 (as transcribed on p. 2 of the May 1988 Today’s World):
Heaven and earth are watching and blessing this place today—the fortieth day after the birth of Father’s grandson Shin Gil, marking the establishment of the third generation of True Parents’ family. Father, I thank You for Your wondrous love, in having led Hyo Jin’s family to this blessed point through many difficulties. … We should not have had to wait so long for this day. … Please let this baby’s parents do everything in their power to raise and take care of this baby with a good heart for the sake of the Unification Church and the entire world.
From p. 33 of the Spring 1988 Blessing Quarterly, we learn
When Jesus, as prince of heaven, was born, gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were brought to welcome him. So, too, in acknowledgement and welcome of baby Shin Gil, the American members prepared a gift of gold, and the frankincense and myrrh were sent from Korea.
As Hoon Sook Nim explained on April 29, 2008 (in this video in Korean, mentioned in Section one of this tribute), Hyo Jin Nim basically lost his children from his first marriage as it was very difficult for Hyo Jin Nim to communicate with these children or visit them due to the stringent custody arrangements made at the time his first marriage ended. Towards the end of 2005, Hyo Jin Nim was excitedly looking forward to the day when Shin Gil Nim would become 18 years old and no longer subject to any restrictions on visiting Hyo Jin Nim. In fact, we understand that Shin Gil Nim was planning to move nearer to his dad to make it more convenient for his commute to university. Shin Gil Nim’s solar birth date was February 13, 1988. Shin Gil Nim passed away in a car accident on December 28, 2005, only 47 days before he would have become 18 years old.
December 30, 2005 Seung Hwa picture of Hyo Jin Nim’s son Shin Gil Nim (left) and Hyo Jin Nim’s family at Shin Gil Nim’s Won Jeon (right) Hyo Jin Nim and Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak (and someone else) at Shin Gil Nim’s Won Jeon (below)
The above three (cropped) photos of Shin Gil Nim’s Seung Hwa are from this group of photos at the FFWPU Korea website.
Log in here at PeaceTV to see the entire picture from which this one is a detail. In this 1987 picture, True Mother is holding hands with her daughter Jeong Jin Nim and her granddaughter Shin Joong Nim, the eldest daughter of Hyo Jin Nim. Jeong Jin Nim is wearing a pink blouse. Shin Joong Nim is wearing a yellow blouse.
In this slide (section: True Parents, # 370), True Father is holding two of Hyo Jin Nim’s children in his lap: Shin Gil Nim (wearing a red bow tie) and Shin Young Nim (in a black dress), circa 1990.