On the 10^th, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification held an event in Vienna, Austria celebrating 50 years of European evangelism.

The event, which was held at 10:00 AM at the Austria Center in the center of the new quarter of Vienna, was attended by about 2,500 members from Austria, England, France, Italy and other European nations. They gathered to celebrate the victory over the difficulties faced by the Family Federation in Europe, and the strong, deep roots that they were able to put down in the continent.

The event was very meaningful, as it marked the first official tour of Europe by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon (72) since her husband, Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s (1920-2012), Seonghwa ceremony, as well as the first international tour by Family Federation World President Sun Jin Moon (39), who was recently appointed on March 13^th.

The event held on Mother’s Day, which was celebrated in Europe on May 10^th. Dr. Han is held in high esteem in the Family Federation, and is referred to as “True Parents.” Just as parents sacrifice for their children, so does Dr. Han spread the message of “One Family Under God” and exemplify the course of their lives.

The event also commemorated 70 years since 1945, when the democratic world and the Communist world clasped hands to end Hitler’s rule and Nazism in World War II on May 8^th, and bears the meaning of seeking peace in the world.

 “Just 70 years ago, the people of Europe were pointing guns at each other. Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon has come to celebrate the coming of peace after the war,” said Family Federation European Continental co-Director Jack Corley. “On this day, which marks 70 years since the end of the World War, we have gathered together with Dr. Han in Vienna, Austria, which is steeped in the history of these events.” Family Federation European Continental Director Young-Sik An and other high-ranking Family Federation Europe officials spoke in a similar vein about the meaning of the event.

“I am deeply honored to be able to celebrate 50 years of European evangelism together with you today. I want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you,” said FFWPU International President Sun Jin Moon. “You have all followed in the footsteps of Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, and have been victorious to all judgment, obstacles and opposition by holding on to your absolute faith, absolute love and absolute obedience.”

“I feel as if I have come to visit my son or daughter, who I married off 50 years ago. My heart is pounding with excitement,” began Dr. Han. She then reflected on the European evangelistic activities of the past half-century, encouraged the members and urged them to make a new start. She especially urged them to work hard to emerge as the Family Federation European Church by 2020, the 100^th anniversary of Rev. Moon’s birth. She then implored them to inherit Rev. Moon’s unfinished work.

“We need to reveal ourselves as the blessed families who will become the hope for the future of the unenlightened subjects who cling only to the past. I pray that all of you can become blessed families and true ancestors who can be remembered throughout history for the effort you made throughout your lives to fulfill your missions as tribal messiahs to expand your communities.”

“I am grateful to the Family Federation, which has worked hard to bring about world peace,” said former Defense Minister of Austria Dr. Werner Fasslabend in congratulations. In commemoration of 50 years of Family Federation evangelism in Europe, representatives from Austria, Germany, England, France, Italy, the Netherlands and other nations presented gifts to Dr. Han.

Dr. Han then presented the elders and veterans of the last 50 years of evangelism with awards for their dedication and hard work. She then presented funds to Family Federation France and Family Federation Albania, both of which have a growing youth congregation, to allow them to build youth education centers.

The Family Federation was founded in 1962, and spent the last 50 years expanding throughout the world. They also founded the Little Angels performing arts troupe, the “Origin of Hallyu,” which have traveled around the globe with enthusiastic support.

“We want to use Dr. Han’s visit to the European churches as an opportunity to invest all of our strength in Dr. Han’s plan for Vision 2020,” said a representative of the Family Federation.

In 1965, Rev. Moon visited 16 nations, including England, Germany and France, and appointed 19 new Holy Ground sites, sowing the seeds for evangelism of the Family Federation in Europe. On March 28^th, 1969, Rev. and Dr. Moon presided over the eight couples blessing marriage ceremony in Essen, Germany, just nine years after the first marriage blessing ceremony in 1960 for three couples.

In 1985, Rev. Moon held the Professors World Peace Academy International Conference at the Continental Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland, where he confidently predicted the fall of the Soviet empire.

In 1987, under the influence of Rev. Moon, about 2,000 members of the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP), an affiliate of the Family Federation, marched in front of the Berlin Wall in Germany for peace, as well as for breaking down the wall. It was the largest recorded national assembly since the installment of the wall.

In 1989, the Soviet Union collapsed ....  

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