CARP: A Powerful Force of Hope and Revival
“To bring the true teaching of self-sacrifice for the sake of the people to university campuses, we need to have young people who have borne the responsibility of conducting matters for village development,” said True Father. “This is the purpose of establishing the National Collegiate Association of Principles (CARP).”
From rural parts of South Korea to major cities in the U.S. and around the world, CARP is celebrating 56 years of bringing Unification principles to college campuses everywhere. Established January 10, 1966 by True Parents, the founders’ envisioned “student trinities that take charge of leadership guidance, daily life guidance, and education,” in both their schooling environment and wider community.
“If college students who are sent out for one year to these locations take responsibility for providing secondary education, they will come to love their country,” said True Father.
Today, CARP has more than 30 chapters at colleges and universities across the U.S. alone, including hundreds of members — a huge leap from its humble beginnings at the original Cheongpa-dong church headquarters in Korea.
“If you are going to move the world, you start by moving university campuses,” said True Father. “The world’s campuses create ideas that impact the media world and economic world. Therefore the one who moves the world’s campuses can lead the world.”
In the course of nearly six decades, CARP has held numerous on-campus talks and seminars, workshops, service projects, fundraisers, and other various activities benefiting diverse communities while sharing the spiritual and familial values central to Unification teaching. CARP has also partnered with other youth and student-led groups, nonprofits, and a wide range of organizations.
“I joined CARP in it’s 19th year when I was 20,” said Janice Maddox, a Unificationist from Washington. “I’m so glad [we’re] keeping it alive. Keep it up!”
In 2021, CARP USA saw expansion with three reestablished chapters in Seattle, Bridgeport, Conn., and Hawaii, as well as a new chapter in Denver.
“We had our first meeting as Colorado CARP in October,” said Colorado Family Church Pastor Adonia Heintrich. “We made plans for the year, ways in which each person wanted to grow and serve... We’re focused on uplifting Unificationist young adults through spiritual and career mentoring and familial community involvement.”
The group tackled renovating a CARP house in Denver, while members in Hawaii hosted their first workshop retreat in November. “All the participants appreciated the content and received each lecture very well,” said CARP Hawaii leader Rika Otsubo. “Two new CARP members attended for the first time as well as three local high schoolers.”
During a national retreat last August, CARP President Jinil Fleishman said a primary focus of the U.S. chapter is further expansion, aiming to create 1,200 CARP chapters and establish 30,000 CARP members in North America over the next six years. Fleischman, a CARP Las Vegas alumnus, said he draws great hope and inspiration looking back on his own CARP journey and what’s to come this new year.
“Through CARP, I have seen lives transform; I have built some of the greatest friendships I have ever known, and I have discovered the joy of striving to make the world a better place,” he said. “I truly believe that CARP can and will be a powerful force of hope and revival for the entire United States and the world, and I am so proud to be a part of it.”
You can learn more about CARP USA here, and stay tuned for more updates.
