What Are We Training For?

What are we training to become?

It’s a question that has crossed the minds of generations past and present. Leaders of Ocean Tribe—also known as Ocean Church—challenged themselves with this very query during a new training seminar.

“We are developing a program where we can nurture global leaders of the future era,” said Minobu Joo, the northeast regional coordinator of Ocean Tribe USA. “Our leaders shared a presentation on the overall vision and purpose of Ocean Providence and Ocean Church according to Rev. Moon’s words, exploring the strategy behind Ocean Providence and the purpose of ocean training.”

Joo said the new ocean training program stems from the teachings of the late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, who co-founded Ocean Church in 1980 as a movement guided by a philosophy and vision that humanity is the natural stewards of the ocean and all of Creation.

From September 25 to October 2, Joo and Branch Gaarder, national coordinator of Ocean Tribe, led the weeklong training seminar in Little Ferry, New Jersey, to clarify the vision and purpose of Ocean Tribe and outline its immediate and long-term goals.

“We want youth and young adults to experience life on the ocean to receive character training and spiritual training,” said Joo, “as well as training to unite their mind and body. At the same time, we want them to gain practical skills such as planning and running a successful fishing boat through captain training, basic maintenance of boats, capability to implement local projects through ocean-related activities, and a vision and mindset to become a global leader who can love and live for the entire world through this kind of action.”

The training seminar included Ocean Tribe staff, alumni, and local community members. Rev. Moon’s vision of Ocean Church quickly expanded nationwide and abroad after its launch, followed by the 1981 inception of the National Ocean Challenge Program (NOCP) for young people. 

​​“The vision of Ocean Church is to go to major ports and begin training young people with fishing and the ocean,” said Rev. Moon in Gloucester, Mass., at the time. “We call it Ocean Church because our plan is not just for fishing, but to create a network of people with a vision for the ocean.”

“The longer a person spends on the ocean, the greater the spiritual aspect of his life will become,” he continued. “Even when the waves have risen and a fearful wind is blowing, the fish in the water have no trouble sleeping. They give themselves over to the waves and don’t resist them.”

“This is what I learned from the fish. I decided not to be afraid, no matter how strong the waves were. I let the waves carry me. I made myself one with the boat, and we rose with the waves. Once I started doing that, my heart was never shaken, no matter what kind of waves I came up against… Once a person receives intense training to become a fisherman, he can go anywhere in the world and become a leader of people.”

As the regional coordinator, Joo said he has seen firsthand how ocean training often deepens the faith of participants and helps them through physical and spiritual challenges. Guest speakers of the training seminar included business veterans of marine companies who shared about the power and energy they harnessed from the ocean.

“In that spirit, we are creating a more consistent program with practical ocean-related skills,” said Joo. “The first step is making our local property ready for action with maintenance work, cleaning and repairs. We will also be gathering every Saturday morning for rotational fishing and boating sessions, kayaking, and other classes as we implement a wonderful year-round program for Ocean Tribe.”