A Rebirth Experience: CARP Momentum 2023
Photos courtesy of CARP USA
National CARP members experienced a “rebirth” during their annual CARP Momentum leadership retreat. The weeklong program, held Aug. 2 through 7 at IPEC in Las Vegas, featured special guest speaker Rev. Demian Dunkley, FFWPU regional chair and national president.
Rev. Dunkley, who has hosted the Rebirth workshop series around the country since June, shared personal stories and guidance based on his recent experiences with True Mother. “His guidance and testimonies were incredibly powerful and helped the CARP leaders understand the heart and vision of Mother Moon more deeply, providing deep inspiration for our CARP activities this school year,” said National CARP President Jinil Fleischman.
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Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, president of Cheon Shim Won USA, also spoke recently about the Rebirth workshop — which includes prayers and devotions at each local Cheon Shim Won hall — stating the experience explores True Mother’s identity as the Only Begotten Daughter.
“This experience is centering on True Mother ... bringing her closer to us,” said Dr. Kim. He noted the workshop has also been foundational for True Mother’s upcoming visit to America. “This is really something great that God prepared,” Dr. Kim said. “With this offering, and True Mother coming back [to America], this is a great investment and effort [from] Rev. Dunkley who has given everything and all his energy.”
Every year, the Momentum retreat brings together student leaders from CARP chapters across the country to clarify their goals and vision for the new academic year. The retreat also provides strategic planning, networking, and an opportunity to build greater bonds between chapters. This in turn equips and empowers CARP members with the tools needed to reach their peers at school.
A recent study from Pew Research Center revealed a “snowballing” effect where, decade over decade, fewer young people identify religiously with each subsequent generation in America. The study notes that college graduates who were asked about their religious identity were more likely than others to describe themselves as atheists or agnostics (11% of college graduates versus 4% of U.S. adults with a high school education or less).
“Overall, higher levels of education are linked with lower levels of religious commitment by some measures, such as belief in God, how often people pray, and how important they say religion is to them,” the study reported. “Among all U.S. adults, college graduates are considerably less likely than those who have less education to say religion is ‘very important’ in their lives.”
Though some attribute this change to a cultural shift, and other related factors, it further underscores the importance of CARP’s work on U.S. campuses as members publicly share about the Unification movement’s teachings and True Parents.
“We are very excited for what we can accomplish this school year, centering on Mother Moon and her vision for peace,” said Fleischman.
You can learn more about National CARP’s activities for the 2023-24 school year here.