7-Day CARP Workshop: ‘A Beautiful Experience’
Photo courtesy of CARP
“I have been so moved to see how young Unificationists are thriving in an environment of support and love and encouragement,” says CARP National President Jinil Fleischman. “We had a seven-day workshop in Texas, which focused on some of our new guests, and it was such a beautiful experience that was built upon the foundation of what we have been experiencing among our core team.”
Fleischman said the recent weeklong “Discover Purpose” workshop — held at the Morgan family ranch in Blanco, Texas, and hosted by the CARP Dallas chapter — left participants feeling united and inspired during a time of much uncertainty in the world.
“We felt such freedom and love in our relationships with our guests,” he recalled during a report among FFWPU leaders on May 24. “There wasn’t any tension from what has been happening in society. We just freely expressed our love and support for everyone.”
CARP leaders shared the Divine Principle and True Father’s autobiography, As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen, with guests while engaging in meaningful discussions about the texts. “We covered the entire Divine Principle and talked about True Parents’ life course,” says Fleischman, who has overseen the student CARP house in Dallas for the last two years. He noted that a number of the young students staying at the house are studying abroad from Japan.
“We have young Unificationists who come from many different places,” he says, “and some of them are GPA graduates from several years back. But many of them are international students who are studying in America ... with zero foundation of the Divine Principle, or knowledge of True Parents and our faith movement.”
Photo courtesy of CARP
“We’ve focused on embracing and accepting each person where they’re at,” says Fleischman, “while also having some basic commitment and encouraging them to take the next step. I’ve been so amazed to see how our movement’s culture of family has spread to our guests and in our CARP community. It really feels like everyone is brothers and sisters — there is no separation between new guests and current members.”
Fleischman said the atmosphere of the workshop moved guests, who heard testimonies from various speakers, including Rev. John Jackson, FFWPU southwest regional leader and senior pastor of the Dallas Family Church. “We appreciate Rev. Jackson’s love and support and the great lectures from Rev. Sekai,” says Fleischman. “Regardless of each person’s reaction to the Divine Principle, they recognize and feel this unconditional love. Some of the guests were very open and really understood True Parents.”
FFWPU leaders nationwide are focused on reviving the faith of young people in their communities as True Mother emphasizes the importance of the youth and outreach efforts in America. For CARP, expanding to more campuses across the U.S. is a primary goal. National CARP leaders aim to create 1,200 CARP chapters and establish 30,000 CARP members in North America by 2027.
Photo courtesy of CARP
“It’s very encouraging and heartwarming to hear about this workshop from Dallas CARP,” said FFWPU USA President, Rev. Naokimi Ushiroda. “[These activities] are a natural way to inspire more people to join CARP.”
Currently, there are more than 30 CARP chapters at colleges and universities across the U.S.
You can connect with a CARP chapter near you here.