Remembering Reverend Moon: ‘A Day to Rejoice’
FFWPU-USA
“Today is a day to rejoice,” said Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon during the 9th Anniversary of the Holy Ascension of Sun Myung Moon, a virtual program honoring her late husband’s 2012 ascension and the couple’s dedication to bringing about lasting peace and unity in the world.
“Humanity needs to find hope, and that is why I have been working tirelessly to bring about the day when humanity could find hope once again,” she said.
The virtual celebration, broadcasted live from South Korea on August 24 KST, drew an international audience and global leaders commending the co-founding couple of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) and their decades of peace work.
“This is a time to reflect on the vision of peace, reconciliation, and harmonious coexistence, which Rev. Moon lived and pursued with vigor,” said Goodluck Jonathan, former president of Nigeria.
“This celebration of the struggle for peace, led initially by Father Moon and continued now by Mother Moon, is particularly important,” said Newt Gingrich, former US Speaker of the House. “[They] personally know the value of peace, have experienced pain, and have an intimate deep knowledge of tyranny [in North Korea].”
“Because of the uncertainties in the world, by the processes in Afghanistan, there are going to be people all over the world looking and asking how we can move toward peace and not war,” he said while applauding the timeliness of the program and the efforts of Rev. and Dr. Moon.
Video tributes highlighted the couples’ range of global peacebuilding projects, conferences, world tours, and other endeavors, as well as the ascension and seonghwa of Rev. Moon. The couple, known for their international cross-cultural Marriage Blessing ceremonies, have long advocated peace through couples and families who transcend barriers of race, religion, nationality, and ideology.
“I always miss Rev. Moon with tears every year,” said National Assemblyman Cho Myung-chul, a high-profile North Korean defector residing in South Korea. “I cannot help but long to see the face of Rev. Moon, who brought sunlight to Pyongyang with his bright yet rumbling voice with Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon by his side.”
“One reason I so dearly miss Rev. Moon so much could be a harsh reality that I’m facing where my brethren are still unable to escape from a republic of darkness,” he said.
Natives of modern day North Korea, Rev. and Dr. Moon fled to the south to escape the war-torn area. The couple aimed to reunify their homeland, with Dr. Moon continuing this work through various channels. She has hosted six Rallies of Hope where hundreds of millions of citizens from around the world have participated with the hope of reunifying the Korean Peninsula and creating a united world under God. Global leaders have joined this initiative, as well as Think Tank 2022, a project dedicated to achieving lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
“We have the responsibility to realize God’s ideal of Creation,” said Dr. Moon in her remarks. “We need to guide humanity to return to God’s bosom; and educate humanity on how they can become the children of God who receive the love of God and live each day filled with God’s love.”
Dr. Moon called on people to unite and work with her in solving critical problems facing the world, including preserving and restoring the natural environment, and raising families of faith who honor God. Commemorative addresses were also shared by former Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu; former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon; former US Senator Orrin Hatch, and Hong Il-shik, chief director of the Research Institute for Cultural Territory.
“Those who know the truth have the responsibility of sharing the truth with others,” said Dr. Moon. “Let us all realize God our Heavenly Parent’s dream together… Let us become true citizens of God’s Kingdom. That is my earnest hope and prayer and blessing to all of you.”
You can watch the full 9th Anniversary of the Holy Ascension of Sun Myung Moon here.