Remembering Hyo Jin Moon
This week we pause for a moment of reflection and appreciation for the life of our elder brother, Hyo Jin Moon, True Parents’ eldest son who, due to a heart attack, unexpectedly ascended to the spirit world eight years ago on March 17th, 2008, at the age of 45. True Father and Mother were deeply affected by his sudden passing, and True Father wrote a special calligraphy in recognition of his life of filial piety, which reads in English, “He will open and liberate the deepest heaven and turn it into a flower garden as the lord who opens the gates of loyalty and filial piety.”
Photos by Ken Owens and FFWPU USA archives
The Life of Hyo Jin Moon
Hyo Jin Moon was born on December 29, 1962 and was an elder brother to our international community. He actively spoke around the world during his presidency of the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) over a span of 10 years. He earned a Master’s degree in religious studies from the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) and an honorary Doctorate in theology from Sun Moon University. In 2006, he accompanied True Mother on a Universal Peace Federation (UPF) global tour.
Hyo Jin Moon is widely remembered for his leadership qualities, his impact on the worldwide Unificationist community, and the 10,000 passionate songs he wrote during his lifetime. He actively wrote, performed and produced music, and hosted many professional musicians at the Manhattan Center Studios where he served as president and chairman. He also founded Manhattan Centers in Korea and Japan.
I Remember Hyo Jin Moon
“I remember Hyo Jin Moon at the World CARP Convention in London in 1989. At that time I was serving as the British CARP President, and one day toward the end of a very busy week with Hyo Jin Moon, we were watching the Hanmadang Sports Games. Suddenly, news came that one brother from Japan had collapsed during the 5K race and been taken to the hospital. Although there did not seem to be immediate cause for alarm, when I reported the incident to Hyo Jin Moon a few minutes later, and he suddenly became very attentive and prayerful. Within a few seconds, he decided, ‘Let’s go right now to the hospital and pray for him.’
When we got to the hospital we learned from the very worried doctors that the situation was much more serious than we thought and there was a real risk that the brother might not make it. Right there in the hospital Hyo Jin Moon led us in a beautiful, passionate prayer that his life would be spared, and indeed he recovered consciousness the next day and after several weeks of convalescence was eventually able to return to Japan and make a full recovery.
I’m quite convinced that without Hyo Jin Moon’s decisive leadership and prayer on that day, the outcome could have been tragically different.”
-Dr. Michael Balcomb, FFWPU USA President
“I remember the calm stillness of a windless day, fishing with True Parents on the Hudson river for stripped bass. I was always uneasy getting too near to True Father’s boat and interrupting the concentration and intensity of his fishing. This afternoon, the stillness was broken as a Good Go boat came flying up the river, its wake spanning out across the calm water as it pulled a u-turn and came to rest alongside True Father’s boat. Hyo Jin called out to his dad; I don’t remember if he climbed on board, but I do remember thinking nobody else but a true son could express that freedom, the simple expression of love from a son to his father. Thank you Hyo Jin for showing that true courage, love and integrity can shine through the battles of life. We still miss you.”
-Kit Ogden, United Kingdom
“I was so fortunate to be in Korea for the Coronation of God’s Kingship. I will never forget when True Parents came out and walked down the center aisle toward the stage. In the procession we saw Hyo Jin Moon. How wonderful, how much joy filled my heart to see him there. He is truly a warrior showing us incredible will and perseverance.”
-Dominick Ladolcetta, Alabama
“After long, hard training for a 5000-meter race in preparation for the Hang Ma Dan Games in France for the 1990 France CARP Convension, I took my first flight ever out of the country. I sat in a crowd in the Paris Convention Center, where Hyo Jin Moon got on the stage and started strumming that guitar like I’ve never seen before. All the strain and fatigue I felt just receded. His powerful spirit uplifted me and I was ready to receive our brothers and sisters from East Germany and partake in the 5000-meter run the next day. His beautiful lyrics, melodies and talks were a way to welcome in his warm embrace our brothers and sister from behind the Iron Curtain. It feels just like yesterday. Hyo Jin Moon is very much alive in my mind.”
-Ernest Thabo Leballo, South Africa
“In Berlin, suddenly Hyo Jin Moon came into a lecture room with a humble attitude one cannot forget. He said a few words, but they were to the point. His passion still lives in the over 100 albums he composed dedicated to True Parents. Hyo Jin Moon was a rough diamond, but a diamond nevertheless, for which one digs deep. His short but meaningful speeches toward the end of his short life puts it all in a nutshell. Dear beloved older brother, Hyo Jin, we love you and miss your jokes and music!”
-Campagne G., France
Words and Music
Speeches of Hyo Jin Moon is a compilation of messages delivered by Hyo Jin Moon on Sundays at Belvedere.
“How do we go about changing reality? Oh, boy. Where should we start? Look at you. Look at yourself. What can you do? If that is the basic simple question that we have to answer, where do you stand? What kind of community can you make? Ultimately achieving that goal, that’s the task at hand. Somebody has got to do it.”
CanaanStation is a compilation of Hyo Jin Moon’s music, video projects and concert photos. Revisit his words and work and take a moment to send him your thoughts on this day.
Hyo Jeong Legacy
At the joint celebration for True Parents’ Birthday on February 2, 2017, two of Hyo Jin Moon’s children, Shin Heung and Shin Yeo, sang with the Hyo Jin Moon Band for the finale of the Hyo Jeong Culture Festival. Their performance was a true tribute to their father’s life and vision for principled arts as well as their parents’ legacy of filial love for God and True Parents.
Sera Hirano
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Thank you so much for all the beautiful testimonies and comments. Heart is filled with so much love for True Parents and True Family. Prayer for all.
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Irmgard Mäntler
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We miss Hyo Jin Nim very much! His deep heart and filial piety is so incredible.
I am still very greatful that he came to Berlin when True Father asked him.
Thank you for the video!
I was looking and thinking in great hope:
He has such a wonderful wife and beautiful children!
Yeoh na nim and also Heung Jin Nim`s wife, Julia are an role-model for us in attending
True Mother with deep love , filial piety and humbleness, loyality and strongness.
True Father always strengthened this daughters in law. Now True Father in Spirit world
together with Hyo Jin Nim and Heung Jin Nim and True Mother on earth together with Sun Jin Nim, In Soop Nim, Yeo Na Nim and Julia are an incredible unified team. So let us all work together with them and that we have the same loyality and filial piety to the Heavenly Parents to bring change in this world and bring the people to the Heavenly Parents and the True Parents .That we have more courage and directness.
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Margaret Baron
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Thank you so much for these testimonies.
I would like to share a spiritual experience which I had with Hyo Jin Nim last year.
I was involved in some protests to protect (1) the definition of family; and (2) parental rights to teach their children values and (3) demand a respectful way of teaching sex-education in schools. As parents´ spokesperson I was under pressure to speak out boldly. I felt inadequate and knew that we parents could only make progress if the spiritual world would help us.
One morning I was sitting on my daughter´s bed thinking about everything when suddenly Hyo Jin Nim appeared before me spiritually. His eyes were open wide with anger and he was holding something like a baseball bat. I was shocked and stood up to face him. He raised the bat as if he were going to hit me and suddenly all feelings of worry and anxiety left me and I felt completely liberated and peaceful. Then he disappeared. We didn´t exchange any words or thoughts, he just seemed to chase away some heavy spirits and then left.
I realized how powerful spiritual support can be.
I was humbled by the experience
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Rev. Thillairajan
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Last Sunday I was asked by the National Leader in Canada to be the MC to welcome Yeon Ah Moon as the representative of TP’s to Canada. This time I prayed and asked help from Hyo Jin Nim and Heung Jin Nim to help out. When I was nearing the Toronto Church I felt incredible power of the Holy Spirit all around me. It is a very happy and good feeling to know that they are helping us in very powerful ways. I feel we need to develop a living relationship to them and we could inherit heavenly power to do incredible things.
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Lorna Galvan
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Wonderful, Rer I am so inspired.
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Wesley and Gladys Samuel
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In 1974 when Hyo Jin Nim with his seven brothers and sisters came to America for the first time. The New York Family Church with True Parents greeted the children when they arrived at Kennedy Airport in New York. After we greeted the children we went to the window looking at the planes. Standing next to Hyo Jin Nim I said wow what a big 747 jet. Hyo Jin Nim said it is too small.
Thank you our Elder Brother for your good example of filial piety you left to the world.
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Lorna Galvan
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Beautiful comment, Rev and Mrs Wesley and Gladys Samuel.
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David Timmer
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It’s wonderful to remember the UC in the 70s the youth were so full of love for the true parents, today with so much gadgets in people’s lives makes me wonder…
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Joe Longo
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The battles placed in front of Hyo Jin Nim because of so many historical failures were enormous and seemingly endless. His love for his parents and his search to find a way to serve the providence they took responsibility for existed in him from a young age. He wanted to find a way to make the movement “cool” so there would be an easier correlative base between young people and the movement. Father had said “Your mission is to restore the rock bottom of hell!”and we walked through those regions together. When we were “on” great things were accomplished and when we were “off” we blew everything apart. His battle to make things right and serve God and True Parents never stopped.
I dream of Hyo Jin Nim always and his battles for personal and providential progress in the spirit world has never ceased. He woke me in a dream very recently and he was in what felt like a completely liberated state. He seemed so child like and empowered and ready for the next level of victory. He was smiling and joking with me and said “Well what are we gonna do now!?”
He missed Heung Jin Nim so much during the time we worked together but i feel that their unity in the spirit world (which i believe is now complete) will create a new level of a Foundation to Recieve the Messiah for all of us and that miracles of healing and enlightenment will begin to happen in all realms. Thank you Hyo Jin Nim for always fighting through! 8 is the number of new beginning. The future is now and the future is bright!!!
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Lorna Galvan
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This is such a lovely post, brother Joe Longo
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Dee Longo
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Thank you to both my spiritual fathers for their example of unchanging filial piety. ❤️
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Leslie Rigney
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Thank you, Joe! And thank you especially for your deep belief and faith in Hyo JIN I’m during some dark days. I was so moved by your loyalty. How much Hyo JIN I’m wanted to convey Heavenly Parents’ Heart, and how much he wanted us to ‘get with the program’ !! Thanks to you and Felicia!
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Lorna Galvan
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Thank You, Our Precious and Beloved Elder Brother and Beloved Leader, Hyo Jin Nim, for everything You did and are doing. Love, the Galvan family, ITN
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Margaret Baron
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It is so nice to read kind words of gratitude for the True Children.
It would be nice to hear more testimonies, because many of us from around the world never had the chance to meet them personally.
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Margaret Baron
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I really appreciate reading kind words of gratitude for the True Children.
It would be nice to hear more testimonies, because many of us from around the world never had the chance to meet them personally.
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