‘Run Forward’: Celebrating the 3rd Anniversary of WCLC

You should be able to embrace the nation and the world with true love, living for the sake of others, instead of living only for yourselves ... Please remember that the founding of the World Christian Leadership Conference, which will bring your individual foundations into unity, is the way to realize Heavenly Parent’s dream and humankind’s hope in the shortest time. I pray that you will all become the righteous people and religious leaders standing in the vanguard and that will not look back, but run forward. — True Mother (Clergy Rally, Dec. 2019)

December 28 marks the third anniversary of True Mother’s launch of the World Christian Leadership Conference (WCLC) in 2019 — inaugurated during the “Peace Starts With Me” rally held in Newark, New Jersey. The WCLC’s many accomplishments were highlighted in a special live online program commemorating its anniversary. Presented by ACLC National Co-Chair Dr. Luonne Rouse, the program included keynote addresses from True Mother and Bishop Noel Jones, and messages from Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, WCLC Chair; Dr. Thomas Walsh, UPF International Chair; Dr. Michael Jenkins, UPF International President; Sooman Kim, KCLC leader; Dr. Robert Kittel, PCLC Co-Chair; and Prophet Samuel Radebe, among others.

“Christian unity is important to transform this world,” said Dr. Walsh in his remarks. “I think we have a chance at this juncture to impact the nation, the culture, the society, and the moral and ethical standards that we live by with our institutions. This is the idea of building Heavenly Parent’s Holy Community. This is the standard we can aspire to.”

True Mother initiated the WCLC to unite Christian denominations under God and guide all people toward becoming Heavenly Parent’s children through the Marriage Blessing. “When we think of the 7.6 billion people of the world, we cannot turn a blind eye to the children whom the Heavenly Parent wants to embrace,” she said in her keynote address. “I sincerely hope that you become the righteous people, clergymen, clergywomen, and other leaders who can guide people to become Heavenly Parent’s children in the shortest possible time.”

Since its launch, the WCLC has connected with numerous faith leaders worldwide and birthed affiliate organizations including the Korean Christian Leadership Conference (KCLC), Young Christian Leadership Conference (YCLC), and Pacific Christian Leadership Conference (PCLC). “The WCLC has supported [PCLC] in our first year, where we’ve reached out across the Oceania region with our webinars,” shared Dr. Kittel. He recalled connecting with Palau’s Vice President, who was “inspired to bring these programs into the parliament and into their schools,” he said. PCLC also donated laptops to the people of Tonga after an underwater volcano erupted in January 2022 and brought about a powerful earthquake and devastating tsunami.

In Korea, the KCLC has held monthly prayer meetings that have included sermons and educational seminars. “All of our team members worked very hard for Heavenly Parent,” said Dr. Sooman Kim of KCLC. “We participated in a religious peace forum and multiple faith summits, attended ILC meetings over the summer, and invited new members to fellowship together.” He said KCLC members also held a prayer vigil in Itaewon for those killed during a stampede in late October.

Dr. Franco Famularo of WCLC Canada recalled monthly prayer meetings during the pandemic where members discussed Christian unity, restoration, harmony and reconciliation, and other related topics. The group engaged “every possible denomination, including Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptists, Pentecostal, and so on,” he said. “Through our meetings, we’ve had a global impact as well, with faith leaders from Africa participating in Uganda, Cameroon, and other places to receive the Marriage Blessing,” he said.

During a time of global turmoil, speakers noted that unity among faith leaders is critical now more than ever. “Mother Moon has brought together eminent leaders from around the world under the banner of Think Tank 2022, World Summits ... and the WCLC,” said Dr. Young-ho Yun, FFWPU International President, in his remarks. “Since the coming of Jesus Christ, Christianity has been tasked with unifying the world in order to advance God’s providence ... Let WCLC be a shining light of hope for all the world to see.”

Quoting True Father in his keynote address, Bishop Noel Jones said, “No human power can stop heavenly fortune from coming to the Korean Peninsula. Rise with the tide when heavenly fortune arrives.

“The fundamental principle of the world in harmony begins with the family,” he continued. “True families begin with blessed marriage ... An age of peace is about to be inaugurated [and] our fire must not go out. It will take that intense energy to scale the most difficult peaks — this is the mission of the WCLC. Harmonizing and combining our strengths to bring this vision to pass for the billions of people on earth who need this message of peace on earth.”

You can learn more about the ongoing work of the World Christian Leadership Conference here.