In America the Unification Church is on the verge of becoming a powerful force

The Unification Church was formally organized 20 years ago in Seoul, Korea. The year 1974 marks the 21st year of its existence. Its growth has not been an easy one.

The early history of the church in Korea is filled with incidents of persecution, including imprisonment of many members and its founder, by those who opposed its growth. This pattern of struggle has been repeated in each of the countries in which missionaries have worked. Now the Unification Church has attained national recognition and praise for its anticommunist ideology and activities in Korea and Japan.

In America the Unification Church is on the verge of becoming a powerful force on many levels: spiritual, political and social. The Unification Church is making headlines and attracting the attention of influential people all over the world. This trend culminated in the meeting between Rev. Sun Myung Moon and President Nixon on February 1, 1974 in Washington, D.C.

This quality and degree of recognition could not have come at a more propitious time for the success of the Unification Church missionary endeavors in America. 1974 is the year that will tell whether America will fulfill the providential timetable set by Rev. Moon. The pace of its work here has quickened continually since Rev. Moon arrived in December of 1971. First there was the seven-city tour and the opening up of centers in every state in the continental United States and the formation of two One World Crusade teams. Next came the formation of ten owe teams to reinforce this young front line of small outposts. On the foundation of the earlier experience and growth, the 1973 21-city Day of Hope lecture tour was launched, and it was continued this year by the 32-city Day of Hope tour which will result in Rev. Moon having spoken in every state in the union. This campaign will be followed immediately by the Sun Myung Moon Christian Crusade (SMMCC) which will visit ten cities. And next fall, the most ambitious undertaking of all will occur.

This, of course, is the eight-city tour which will begin in Madison Square Garden in New York City where Rev. Moon will address 25,000 spectators. The young people of the Unification Church appear to be in “combat readiness” for their battle to win the hearts of Americans. Members from five continents are engaged in this spiritual revolution, which in its ambitiousness, is not unlike the military one which the founding fathers fought 200 years ago. Truly, forces of good are on the march to victory in America. And Rev. Moon’s next step? Occasionally he will refer to worldwide evangelical crusades involving hundreds of participants.

It is an exciting time for the Unification Church, one that no one should want to miss out on. After a long, foundational struggle we are dashing forward to make our way in the world.