Weekly Dong-A

(May 27, 2015 issue, 3 pages)

Korean National Major Weekly Magazine

[Local Coverage]

Family Federation for World Peace and Unification Celebrates 50 Years of Evangelism in Europe

Commemorative Events Held in Austria, Germany, England…Drawing Crowds of Thousands of Followers from across Europe

Just as Korea celebrates Parents’ Day on May 8th, so does the Western world celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, as well as Father’s Day on Ascension Day. The Ascension of Jesus is celebrated 40 days after Easter, which, according to Christian tradition, marks the day upon which Jesus ascended to heaven after his resurrection, to be seated at the right hand of God. This year, Mother’s Day falls on May 10th, while Father’s Day is to be celebrated on the 14th.

Debut of 2nd Generation of Unification Movement, Humankind as One Family

The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification celebrated Mother’s Day and Father’s Day with events commemorating ‘50th Anniversary European Movement’ in Vienna, Austria and Limburg an der Lahn, Germany, a small city near Frankfurt. Another similar event was held on May 16th in London, England as well.

“Rev. and Dr. Moon first visited Europe on their world tour. They visited 16 nations over 40 days, including Lisbon, Portugal and the Vatican, and established 19 new holy ground sites,” said a representative of the Family Federation. “As we celebrate 50 Years of Evangelism in Europe through this event, we hope to emphasize the importance of ‘One Family under God’ and outline a path of direction for people’s lives.”

It is 9:00 AM on May 10th at the Austria Center in Vienna, the capital city of Austria. Members and followers have gathered to celebrate 50 Years of Evangelism in Europe. About 2,500 members and families from across Europe have filled the seats of the venue. Before the main event, second generation children, born in the 1980s and 1990s to Austrian fathers and Korean mothers, German fathers and Japanese mothers of the Unification family, assemble on stage for entertaining musical performances. The son of Family Federation Austria’s Vice President Mag. Herbert Wolf was among the performers on stage. “Our Unification Movement second generation are taking the lead in various areas throughout Europe,” said Vice President Wolf.

“In order to begin the providence of the Family Federation, Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon spent four months in London in 1978, and blessed 118 couples at the England Headquarters Church. In 1981, Rev. and Mrs. Moon spent several weeks in Germany, where they blessed 39 couples and matched 309 couples. They also built a foundation for investment in the machine industry,” said a representative of the Family Federation.

This profoundly significant event, held in Austria on Mother’s Day, was attended by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, who is revered in the Family Federation as ‘True Mother.’ “My heart is beating so quickly today. I feel as if I have come to visit my son or daughter, who I married off 50 years ago,” said Dr. Han. She then ruminated over the significance of the last 50 years of evangelism in Europe. The following excerpt is taken from her keynote address.

“We have been evangelizing Europe for over 50 years, over half a lifetime. Over the past 50 years, we have put down our roots in this land. It takes about 15 years for an olive tree to put down roots in the infertile soil of Israel, but it lives for over 2,000 years. The roots which all of you have planted will remain healthy and strong until the dream of humanity is realized. We have come here today to reveal the truth. We have achieved astonishing results over the past 50 years. Now the time has come to reveal the truth to those who do not yet know. I hope that you will continue to spread your roots deeply and widely, as you look toward the coming 50 years. Become the fruit of hope for the future for those who cling only to the past, and become the light that expands your horizons.”

Vienna, the Headquarters of Evangelism in Eastern Europe

Due to its geopolitical location in the midpoint between Eastern and Western Europe, after World War II, the democratic powers of Western Europe and the Communist powers of Eastern Europe struggled for power over Austria over approximately ten years. England, France, Russia and many other nations of the European Union, were involved in the struggle. Then, in 1955, Austria gained its independence by claiming its status as a permanently neutral nation. The Family Federation revealed that Austria was used as the advancement headquarters for their evangelism of Eastern Europe. “Vienna was the gateway into Eastern Europe during the Cold War,” said European Family Federation Regional President Young-Sik An. “Our evangelists learned the languages of Eastern Europe in Austria before heading out onto the front lines.”

It is Father’s Day and Ascension Day, May 14th. The “50th Anniversary European Movement German Celebration” is being held at the City Hall Auditorium in Limburg an der Lahn, a small city located northwest of Frankfurt, Germany. Family Federation International President Sun Jin Moon, who was newly appointed in March, gave a special keynote address for about one hour to a crown of about 800 Family Federation members from around Germany. “You must establish the eternal legacy of true families and true love for the sake of mankind here in Europe, the capital of Christianity and the pivotal continent in establishing the fruit of God’s providence,” said President Moon. “It is a tragedy that we have damaged the earth, our home and garden, to the extent that it groans in agony beneath our feet,” she continued. “Let us cultivate hearts of love and sincerity and bring about changes in our daily lives in order to transform the world.”

After the events held in Vienna, Austria and Frankfurt, Germany, a final “50 Years of European Evangelism Celebration” event was held on May 16th at the Royal National Hotel in the center of London, England, to a crowd of about 800 people. International President Sun Jin Moon, on behalf of the Family Federation, expressed her gratitude to Henry and Avril Masters, who donated 500 acres of land and more than 20 buildings to the Family Federation after being moved by the work and teachings of Rev. and Dr. Moon. According to the Family Federation, the buildings donated by the couple are currently being used for Family Federation education.

Interview: Head of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification

Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon

“I have seen when is the best time to visit North Korea for the benefit of North and South”

At 2:00 PM on May 11th, the “The UN at 70: Toward a Resolution of Tensions on the Korean Peninsula” conference was held at the UN Office International Center in Vienna, the capital city of Austria. The event was hosted by the international NGO Universal Peace Federation, the Women’s Federation for World Peace, the Academic Council on the United Nations System(ACUNS), Segye Times and Sun Moon University.

Head of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Family Federation) Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon gave the keynote address at the conference. “The UN has paved the path towards peace over the last 70 years since its establishment, yet we have been unable to see a peaceful world, and we have not been able to understand how we can band together,” she said. “Just as a family can unite when the siblings, no matter how many, center upon their parents, so can humankind resolve the conflicts between nations, races and religions by attending God as our parent, and all of humanity as our brothers and sisters,” she continued. “I hope that the UN can lead the way towards making that ideal a reality.”

After Dr. Han’s keynote address at the conference, she met with reporters who came to Austria to cover the “50th Anniversary European Movement” event. She had a tea time with reporters for about 20 minutes at the Hilton Vienna Hotel, where she was staying. “This is my first time meeting with reporters and serving tea,” she said.

Dr. Han was accompanied to her interview by Family Federation International President Sun Jin Moon, International Vice President In-Sup Park, Women’s Federation for World Peace International President Yeon-Ah Moon, Universal Ballet General Director Hoon-Sook Moon, Dr. Han’s Chief Secretary and International Headquarters Director-General Man-Ho Kim, Tongil Group Public Relations General Manager Ho-Yeul An and others. The interview is published below.

How are you taking care of your health?

“I take a lot of walks.”

Events celebrating 50 Years of European Evangelism are being held not only in Austria, but in Germany and England as well. Is there a particular reason for your attendance of the event in Austria?

“When Rev. Sun Myung Moon began evangelism efforts in Europe in 1965, most of Eastern Europe was under Communist rule, and there was no religious freedom, so we had no choice but to carry out our activities underground. Austria, a neutral state, became our evangelism advancement headquarters.”

At the “50th Anniversary European Movement” event, held on May 10th in Vienna, Austria, you presented elders of the underground European evangelist movement with plaques of gratitude.

It was very impressive to see the 2nd generation of those who received the blessing performing before the event.

“The 2nd generation youth have grown so much. They are working hard in many different fields.”

The true families and purity advocated by the Family Federation seem to be urgently needed by the rising nations of Asia. Do you have any plans to come forward in the evangelism of these nations?

“We are already carrying out several projects there.”

Rev. Sun Myung Moon matched and married couples from around the world in the mass wedding ceremonies. Do you also have any plans to match 2nd generation couples?

“I could match the couples myself, but recently, the young people prefer to match themselves.”

Do you have any plans to visit North Korea?

“I have seen when is the best time to visit North Korea for the benefit of North and South”