51+ Retreat Connects Older Unificationists
Photo courtesy of Sdf Rahbar
A new kind of singles gathering is here — the upcoming 51+ Matching Connect retreat is bringing together older Unificationists looking for love. The virtual meeting is a unique opportunity for first generation singles who are at least 46 years old to connect with their peers with the hope of finding their eternal spouse.
Hosted by the BFM Department, organizers said they are focusing on a sometimes overlooked demographic of the Unificationist community. “We will be taking care of the older folks,” said Christian Nseka, a BFM matching advisor, during a presentation shared at an FFWPU-USA leaders meeting on Sept. 26. He said the retreat, which is free for participants in the U.S. and abroad, is open to any Unification members or affiliates who are legally single.
The meetup is being held on October 7 through Zoom from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EDT. A tentative schedule includes introductions as well as six breakout sessions over the course of the program. Individual reflection time is also a component of the retreat. Organizers noted that one-on-one talks with someone online in a breakout session might bring about “a mix of emotions,” however, the program offers much more than just meeting new people. “[The retreat offers] practice asking good questions and really listening to people,” organizers said, while advising participants to “be open.”
Unificationist leaders are also encouraging older singles in their communities to register for the upcoming retreat. “I think [this program] would be a good experience for them, to put themselves out there,” shared Rev. Miilhan Stephens, pastor of Manhattan Family Church. “[This opportunity] helps people with their deepest need,” he said, referring to partnership and marriage as the “most joyful experience” in life.
While the retreat allows each participant to connect more personally with one another, organizers said it also helps them discover whether they are compatible through meaningful conversations. Since 2011, the Unification community has seen tremendous success connecting young couples with annual retreats held in person through the grassroots 24+ Connect program, and more recently hosted online. Similar 21+ and 30+ programs have also flourished.
True Parents have long emphasized the central role marriage plays in relation to God as individuals and as a couple, establishing the Marriage Blessing as the gateway.
“By the Blessing, we can receive God’s substantiality and God’s substance,” True Father shared in his text, Blessing and Ideal Family. “That is why marriage means to inherit everything,” he said. “The most valuable part of God’s love is being bequeathed; God Himself is being bequeathed, and everything is being bequeathed. In these contexts we use the word ‘Blessing’ ... [which] means receiving good fortune.”
You can learn more about the upcoming retreat here, and register for free here. Please contact Christian Nseka at cnseka@unification.org or Anne-Marie Mylar at amie2013@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.