A Letter from the President: Celebrating True Parents’ Birthday in America

January 7, 2020

Dear Pastors, Community Leaders, Brothers and Sisters,

Thank you all for the tireless efforts and investments to support True Parents’ vision and work in America. It was truly an incredible victory of our True Mother just a week ago, on December 28, when she launched the World Clergy Leadership Conference at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

We now turn our focus on bringing the victory in substance to Korea for the World Summit and the celebrations of True Parents’ Centenary and the 60th Anniversary of their Holy Wedding. But before we go to Korea, we would like to celebrate True Parents’ Birthday in every state here in America, and we’d like to celebrate it with our Christian brothers and sisters. As much as possible, our ACLC teams should work with our clergy partners to co-host these celebrations. In other words, it is our role to lead by example and encourage our Christian clergy to attend True Parents.

We encourage all communities to hold their celebration on January 25, which is also the 53rd Heavenly Parent’s Day by the Heavenly Calendar and the true start of the new year. Ultimately True Mother envisions a holy week of devotions and celebrations from the first of the year, Heavenly Parent’s Day, to True Parents’ birthday. With many leaders going to Korea, our aim is to celebrate beforehand on Jan. 25, Heavenly Parent’s Day.

Each subregion is expected to hold a large subregional-level celebration, and we’d like to ask all the communities and states to hold local celebrations for True Parents’ Birthday with local clergy and guests.

Currently, in New York, I’m planning on holding midnight prayer vigils in each community on the night of January 24. Then I’m planning on hosting a 7:00 a.m. Holy Day celebration with an offering table, possibly at Manhattan Center or another large and beautiful location, followed by a modified prayer breakfast. I intend to invite both members and clergy alike, and I hope that the clergy can help fundraise and support the event. I will be working closely with Dr. Rouse and I encourage a similar format across the country.

As we’re planning these celebrations, let us also remember to offer our gifts to True Parents’ Birthday and Holy Wedding. You may offer your gift online here: A Birthday Gift for True Parents or give at your local church.

We’d also welcome photos and reflections from your subregional and local celebrations, as we would like to show True Mother that America and American Christianity are fully with her.

God Bless you all,

Rev. Demian Dunkley

Photo credit FFWPU-USA