Attendance through Social Distance
The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) USA National Ministry Team gathered through a video conference call on May 5 for their monthly meeting. The meeting focused on the four segments of the Offering Table: attendance, leadership development, social impact, and education and Blessing. The Offering Table is a system to track community contributions to FFWPU Co-Founders Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, affectionately known as True Parents.
Though the country is practicing social distancing, the National Ministry Team has remarkably adapted to societal norms and has found ways to continue attending God and True Parents. Regional Chairman of FFWPU North America Dr. Ki Hoon Kim and FFWPU USA President Rev. Demian Dunkley stressed the importance of attendance. “Attendance is unity,” Dr. Kim began. “And unity is happiness,” Rev. Dunkley added. In order to strive for complete unity and total happiness, a monthly Heavenly Action Plan was put in place, highlighting current priorities from the Offering Table to focus on each month.
National Director of FFWPU Youth and Young Adult Ministry (YAYAM) Kaeleigh Moffitt opened the leadership development segment, stating how now “is an opportunity to allow God to work and change our culture, and eventually change the world. We need to soak in God’s love.”
National President of the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) USA Jinil Fleischman presented about the heart and enthusiasm of the CARP youth, and how CARP members are continuing Divine Principle (the main teachings of the Unification movement) education through video conference calls. CARP USA has also been expanding their CARP centers, with four new locations to open in the fall.
Director of Generation Peace Academy (GPA) Roland Platt inspired everyone with how the GPA program has adapted to the new circumstances. “God is working and teaching us many new things through GPA at home,” said Platt. GPA students are practicing Divine Principle lecture training, and one student even got creative and made a 17-page comic book about understanding God’s heart. The Cheon Il Guk (CIG) youth missionaries who were required to return home due to the coronavirus have been using video conference calls to keep in contact with their international guests and teach the Divine Principle.
As times are changing and social gatherings have become limited, it has become more difficult to create a social impact. However, FFWPU affiliate organizations, like Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) USA and the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC), have been persistent in holding online webinars and workshops, including the 40-Day CHOSEN: Online Divine Principle Seminar. WFWP USA has also donated 100 meals to healthcare workers, as well as 100 craft kits to elementary-school students.
After hearing all the great news from around the country, Dr. Kim pointed out that the National Ministry Team has been demonstrating “the most fundamental foundation we can offer [to True Parents]: the culture of heart through attendance.” Rev. Dunkley added, “As a nation, America’s offering is its unique roll to learn from True Parents and share the truth with the world.”
Underlining the importance of attending True Parents and connecting deeply with them, Dr. Kim encouraged everyone to read True Father and True Mother’s autobiographies. “I learned a lot about who True Mother really is by reading her autobiography.” Dr. Kim explains it all in a letter to True Mother.
Generation Peace Academy (GPA) is currently accepting applications. For more information, click here.