Trump’s Summit Draws Prayer Warriors to Bowie

Worldwide viewers locked into the television coverage of Donald Trump’s historic sit-down with Kim Jong Un, which took place on Tuesday, June 12. On the eve of the summit, 140 Unificationists gathered in Bowie, Maryland to pray and watch ambitiously for the outcome.

The idea for the Summit Watch and prayer came from Dan Hess, a young Unificationist who had been part of a teleconference prayer circle. The group prays regularly with people who call in from across the United States every night at 10 p.m. (EST), and have recently focused their prayers on the reunification of North and South Korea due to the summit meeting.

Dr. William Gertz, a national security reporter for The Washington Times, briefed the audience of 140 people on the latest information about the significance of the missile threat from North Korea. Gertz also shared a 13-minute clip of a news backgrounder from CBS’ 60 Minutes.

Last summer, North Korea demonstrated that it had the capacity to attack the lower 48 states with an intercontinental ballistic missile, although, according to 60 Minutes, it lacked a re-entry vehicle that could deliver an atomic bomb.

The crowd heard from Dr. Michael Jenkins, Co-Chairman of the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC), who reported on the national security briefings carried out by The Washington Times and Korean-security sessions. It was reported that True Mother had suggested Times editors to go to Korea last year to attend a conference entitled “Prospects for Peace in Northeast Asia.” Investigative reporter Gertz was among a group of national security experts who were invited to participate. He shared his insights with top South Korean officials at the National Intelligence Service headquarters, Dr. Jenkins explained.

Dr. William Selig shared a power-point presentation illustrating the Unificationist-North Korean engagement that began with a surprise meeting between True Father and Communist regime founder Kim Il Sung on Dec. 6, 1991. At the time of this historic meeting, the two North Koreans hugged each other and vowed to cooperate on projects related to culture and economic development in their home country. True Father was also able to visit the 100-year-old farmhouse where he grew up in North Korea and visited the graves of his family members.

According to Dr. Jenkins, the United States and Korea have come a long way since last year when Kim Jong Un ordered missile tests to be fired into the far Pacific, which was then countered by President Trump’s threatening response of “fire and fury.”

When tension between the two nations soared, True Mother called for a rally of 80,000 people on Nov. 11, 2017 at the World Cup Stadium in support of Korean reunification. One speaker at the rally noted that “the risk is higher today than ever that threatening rhetoric between the U.S. and North Korea could spiral toward war.”

Seven months later, however, President Trump and Kim Jong Un came to an agreement on denuclearization during the first summit between North Korea and America. As the 140 Unificationists watched with heartfelt joy, it was clear that True Father’s efforts have finally been noticed. Dr. Jenkins told the audience, “For this meeting [between Trump and Kim Jong Un] to happen tonight is based on what True Parents have done.”

All who would like to join the nightly call are welcome. The number to call is (712) 775-7031; access code: 330-190-356 #.