Communities Co-Host Spring Break Youth Retreat

The spring break youth retreat directed by Alina Button and Irvin Granstrom for the Seattle and Portland Unification communities was held at the Portland Family Peace Fellowship in Oregon from March 31 to April 2. About 40 young people from each community gathered and had a fun time of exciting games, sports, and lectures and discussion about living for the sake of others. They also completed a service project at the retreat site, cleaning up the inside and outside of the fellowship center and painting one of the education rooms.

On Sunday, they joined the Portland Sunday Service, where District 10 Pastor Rev. In Chan Park gave a sermon, sharing that “the very best way to bring peace” is through the Marriage Blessing of the Unification movement. Following the sermon, they had a chance to experience peace dances celebrating various religions. The Portland Family Peace Fellowship runs peace dance programs every first Sunday of the month after Sunday Service. Then, there was a testimony and video report by Masataka Asaoka about the Los Angeles Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) activities and upcoming USA CARP trip to Japan and Korea in June and July.

Through this retreat, the youth had their first reunion since the last winter workshop, “Camp True North,” refreshed their memories and hearts, and concluded looking forward to this year’s summer camp.

Rev. In Chan Park said, “it is really amazing to see these young generations from different communities like each other and miss each other. They are building up a real unity between the Portland and Seattle communities. This unity brings strength and growth. I really appreciate the elder second-generation community members who work hard to take care of their younger brothers and sisters.”

SungJoo Keating from Seattle commented on the retreat, “It was really good to see my brothers and sisters from Portland again. We had so much fun. And it is my first time to visiting the Portland fellowship center. It was a good experience to see how other communities in our movement run their Sunday Service.”

Share your story at familyfed.org/share-a-story.