The Spirit of Global Top Gun Comes to France

Contributed by Diane Chaillié 

The first French Top Gun Workshop was held from Thursday, May 5, to Sunday, May 8, at the French Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) training center at Chamarande, south of Paris. The approximately 45 participants comprised both Unificationist-born young adults and others who had joined the movement.

Three of the four organizers—Diane Chaillié, Sophie Thiébaut and Jonathan Burt—had participated in the Global Top Gun Workshops in Korea in February. The fourth organizer, Alexandre Huard, made up for his lack of Top Gun experience with a great investment of heart.

The highlight of the first day was the visit of Dr. No Hi Pak and Dr. Lan Young Moon, the special emissaries to Europe who brought with them not only True Mother’s message but also her love. We were all so grateful that they came to talk to us. It was really an amazing blessing. The other highlight was the lecture on the three hearts of God, inspired by the lecture given by Mr. Gerry Servito at the February Global Top Gun Workshop, which was given by Alexandre Huard.

At the end of the day, we had a clan meeting, through which everyone felt the familial and energized spirit of Top Gun and had a deeper understanding of the heart of God. A few people declared that getting to know the suffering heart of God throughout human history made them realize how much He needs us as children to comfort Him.

The participants were also moved that our special emissaries had taken time from their busy schedule to come speak to us. Just before the Dr. Pak and Dr. Moon left, they conveyed True Parents’ love by treating all the workshop participants to pizza.

During the second day, the question/answer session after the lecture of Mr. Jacques Marion, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) secretary general for both France and Europe, was greatly appreciated because we talked about the story of Cain and Abel and how their roles continue to be reflected in important ways in our daily relationships even today.

The activities of the afternoon also were very much appreciated. During one activity, we carried someone on our back to experience True Father’s experience of crossing the Han River with someone on his back and to challenge our limitations. When reflecting on our limitations afterward, many participants expressed that it was difficult to open up with sincerity because a lot of times we wear a mask to feel less vulnerable. Another lecture which moved a lot of people was Jonathan Burt’s lecture on True Parents’ course in which he described how he sees True Parents in each of us, as we are the fruit of their incredible work.

On the third day, Diane Chaillié spoke about “creating the environment,” in other words, about how important it is to have plans to succeed in accomplishing our goals, to share our gifts with others, etc. The participants realized that the quality of their experience depended on how much they were willing to open their hearts both to give and receive. The main highlight of the day was the testimony of Patrice and Nellie Huard, a French-Dutch couple, on how they accomplished the goal of bringing 430 couples in the Philippines to attend the Marriage Blessing Ceremony in just four months. In the evening we had a campfire where some testified about their experience so far during this workshop. Everyone was impressed to see that in just a few days we had become much closer in heart to each other, even coming from different generations and backgrounds, which made us feel like a bigger family.

During the last day, we first discussed our priorities for the Unification movement in France and then about our cultural sphere. To conclude the workshop, we had an acknowledgment ceremony in which we expressed our gratitude to everyone; many were very touched to have received so much love!

We hope that the Top Gun spirit has taken root in the hearts of all those who attended the workshop so that our unity of heart will be a greater base upon which God can work to advance His providence in France.