The First Step is Faith in God
Photo credit FFWPU-USA
The third international HyoJeong Conference of 2020 kicked off November 13 addressing the current global political climate, including promoting the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
The conference—a series hosted by the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) USA, Korea and Japan—was broadcasted online through Facebook, drawing more than a thousand participants from around the world.
“This conference was launched through the vision for a unified Korea, which comes from CARP founders Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon,” said Jinil Fleischman, CARP-USA president. “After living through the painful division of their home country and the militant ways of communism, they have dedicated their lives to world peace.”
Dr. Moon, the Mother of Peace, has tirelessly worked toward universal peace through numerous global initiatives—including the Rally of Hope and Peace Starts With Me movements—as she continues the peacebuilding legacy of her late husband. The HyoJeong Conference, which began in August, creates the space for young people to engage with understanding and advocating for the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula while gaining greater awareness about communism.
“Father and Mother Moon have taught that true peace can only come from God and unconditional love,” said Fleischman. “It’s crucial to have a unified Korea based on the values of interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universal values, which are the center point for lasting world peace.”
The conference featured a video montage of messages from Father and Mother Moon encouraging cooperation between different nations and religions. Uplifting musical performances from the Soul Children of Chicago, B. Slade, and Kanye West (courtesy of City of Refuge megachurch) were also part of the program.
Since its division in 1945, the Korean Peninsula has been fraught with political tension, with communism in the north and a democratic republic in the south. Guest speakers, including former U.S. Representative Honorable Dan Burton, shared remarks on communism, reuniting Korea, and the integral role young people play in supporting global peace.
“I was in Congress for 30 years,” said Hon. Burton, “and I have been convinced every single year of my political career that the one guiding principle and governing factor in America that made us free and strong was a firm belief in a Supreme Being and God Almighty.”
“The first step is to believe in God,” said Hon. Burton. “Have a strong faith and do everything you can to make sure that you share that faith with everyone you meet to make sure that strength spreads.”
Mr. Song Gwang-Suk, another guest speaker and chairman of the national Rally of the North-South Unification Movement, spoke of delicately handling issues of reunifying Korea by further developing the Peace Road project there, among other peacebuilding ventures.
You can watch the recent HyoJeong Conference here. And register here for the third Rally of Hope happening live November 21 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
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