“Today, the legacy of my parents is manifest as a global faith-based, civil society movement that reaches to every continent, to as many as 194 nations. It is recognized by the United Nations, allied with believers from all the world’s religions, and engaged in education, academia, publishing, media, the arts, sports, and business. Through their words, and their example, they have given us all the tools we need to repair this world, to transform this world.”

Looking out at the audience, I realized that this is our family and we’re all working toward the same vision. They want to see us succeed and we all want to make True Parents proud. It was really incredible to be able to sing and connect with other people—to have access to other people’s hearts through a new language. I think this experience of learning Korean songs helped me to connect to and understand the heart of True Parents and Korean culture and tradition. I think that’s the spirit of hyo jeong: to inherit True Parents’ heart and their tradition. I feel like this was a really great step and offering. I hope we can become fluent in Korean very soon, and I hope we can give back in many more ways. It was a really tremendous opportunity to be part of this, and I’m really grateful to everyone who made this possible. 

-Teresa Rischl, Apple Heaven USA

When I first found out that we were singing Korean songs, it was really challenging for me to learn another language. But I really appreciate the opportunity because it helps me to connect more deeply to True Parents by speaking their language. I really feel that being able to make an offering—even if it wasn’t perfect or if it was different from what we expected—the most important thing is that we were able to make the offering from our heart. I feel that tonight was a wonderful opportunity to do that. Every year when I see Japan or Korea perform, I’m always so moved by their filial heart toward True Parents. They invest so much into their practice and their performances are so beautiful because of all the investment they put into them. I really feel that this time America was able to offer that, too, as cowgirls and cowboys bringing joy to True Parents. I really look forward to next year and the next time we celebrate True Parents’ Birthday and Foundation Day.

-Angelica Moraes, Apple Heaven USA

We had an incredible experience performing for True Parents. We practiced a lot before, it was very challenging, and we all got sick—we lost our voices in between the practices—but we all knew that we had the same goal: we wanted to share our talent with True Parents; we wanted to unite and give something back. Also we wanted to give something to Korea and connect with the Korean people. We really tried our best and it was just an incredible experience on stage. The atmosphere was incredible. There was so much love and we are really grateful that we could make an offering, too.

-Nora Waldman, Apple Heaven USA

We just finished our performance in front of True Mother and we had a really great time up on the stage. I really enjoyed performing and I hope True Mother enjoyed our performance, too. 

-Karen Nishinaga, Apple Heaven USA

During the musical performances, I could feel Mother’s heart resonating with the story. She was tearing up, and I think she was really reflecting about Father’s life—I think everybody was reflecting about Father’s mission and what he had accomplished. The atmosphere this time felt very heartistic. Everyone was not just watching and attending but really listening, really reflecting on their lives as Blessed family members following in our True Parents’ footsteps. This time, I really felt that there’s more of a sense of unity around True Mother and support for True Mother to help her fulfill True Parents’ dream.

-Shinyoung Chang, NJ

Just thinking about today’s events, there was so much I realized personally about my faith and about the wider movement. I really feel that, at the end of the day, what we’re trying to achieve and accomplish is a global family. It’s easy for me to lose sight of that in the big productions and the shows, but trying to understand that that’s ultimately the goal, and actually seeing that in the Hyo Jin Moon Band’s performance with Hyo Jin-nim’s kids and then again when everyone came on stage to sing “Saranghae Dangshineul” to True Parents was very moving. It was really clear that that sense of family was there and that it can grow. I think a lot depends on how much effort we put in to helping it grow. But I do think, based on what I saw and felt today, that it’s possible to share and grow that spirit of family and that it could be really worthwhile.

-Mi Young Eaton, NJ

The highpoint for me was the meal True Parents shared with everyone and even more her beautiful loving letter. It made me feel I was in the stadium with everyone.

-Irmgard Baynes, Glen Ridge, NJ

It is wonderful to be a part of this grand happy birthday celebration. It’s wonderful to see the highlighting of the fulfillment of God’s long cherished hope to bring True Parents to us. True Parents have become the shining light for all humankind.

-Jeddie King, Kissimmee, FL

We rejoice to be able to celebrate the birthdays of our True Parents with True Mother, True Parents’ family and our worldwide brothers and sisters. We deeply appreciate Sun Jin Moon’s heartfelt words of harmony and love.

-Dale and Joy Garratt, Albuquerque, NM

Over the last few years I have been attending the Holy Day celebrations in the beginning of each year. I am amazed to see them get better every time. This year’s quality and atmosphere of the True Parents’ Birthday celebration was very outstanding.  The musical and all the afternoon performances were wonderful. Also, the idea of eating lunch with True Mother was great. It created a family atmosphere and I felt True Mother’s parental heart. I think it is important for our movement to have such a fabulous but family-like celebration together as a global family. I thank True Mother for her great investment, care, and love for us. 

-Kazuo Takami, Honolulu, HI

Wow! That was amazing! Happy Birthday True Parents! We just watched the celebration for True Parents Birthday! Everyone was moved. It was incredible! I could feel the deep heart of Heavenly Parent and the overflowing shim jung of True Parents. True Mother looked so beautiful! Sun Jin Moon have a wonderful message that made my heart more determined to accomplish heaven’s will for 2020!! I truly felt her heart to attend True Parents. The musical was so good and so professional we could feel Heavenly Parent’s pain and the sorrow of Jesus and True Parents as the people could not understand them. Thank you for everything. We love you True Mother.

-Fusae Jackson, Dallas, TX

The video of True Parents’ providence repeatedly brought tears to our eyes as we saw the long history of True Parents’ profound love for the world. A great and happy day for the world! As Sun Jin Moon so joyfully said, “We offer our eternal love and thanks.” The musical play was such a professional and heartistic tribute to our wonderful True Parents! An awesome and warm lunch nourished us with True Parents’ love. Thank you, thank you so much!

-Ernest Patton, Virginia

This was an extraordinary celebration of True Parents’ life, work and vision. I can honestly say it was overwhelming. Thanks to all those who worked so very, very hard.  I think most of the young dancers in the musical are the second generation Unificationists True Mother has been raising up even in the last 40 days. That in itself is an amazing effort, but it is only one among so many. When we see the numbers “97/74” we are reminded again that there are only three years left to the centenary year of 2020, and we must redouble our effort. Happy Birthday again, True Mother! You are leading us on the road to victory. 

-Michael Balcomb, FFWPU USA President

Coming to Korea this time is very special. Participating in the Pledge today and especially watching the musical was a time of reflection for me. I realized that in God’s Providence there are two kinds of followers. The first are those who are in the arena totally invested and who are doing actual work of God and the second are spectators who are watching what is happening in the arena. Most of the time the spectators do not contribute to actual work; they just comment, sometimes agreeing, sometimes criticizing what those in the arena are doing. I have to admit that in my life of faith I have been on occasion one of the spectators. 

I understand that today during the musical we heard True Mother’s original pledge that she gave to God in 1960. I think that from this day on she committed herself to the life in the arena of God’s providence. I think that on many occasions True Father’s and her life has been difficult beyond any imagination. Through their example they motivated me and many others to dedicate our life to God’s providence and to realization of Vision 2020.  

-Chris Hempowicz

I was so happy to attend True Parents’ birthday celebration in Korea. It was a heavenly occasion in every way. I am especially grateful for the emphasis of Hyo Jeong, filial heart before heaven. It is one more aspect of the way, the path, that True Mother and True Father have pioneered in their relationship with God, our Heavenly Parent, and have now given to us as a gift.

Thank you, True Parents, for living a life of Hyo Jeong in your relationship with Heavenly Parent, with True Father, with your parents, and with all your children. When we are young we do what our parents say. When we are older, we do what our parents do. Thank you for being a precious example of Hyo Jeong.

-Alexa Ward

What a lovely celebration! I feel humbled and blessed to be able to celebrate the birth of the Messiah with my family through the video broadcast. What an incredible experience. The whole program embodied love and was a living testament to the fact that we truly are one family under God, and that True Mother is the true mother of us all. Throughout the program, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude for our True Parents, especially while cuddling my three young children. In those moments I felt so happy and so much love, that my life was full and complete. During that time all I could think about is how precious our True Parents are. After thousands of years of suffering, they have allowed Heavenly Parent to feel these feelings of joy that only embracing one’s child can bring, and this brought me to tears. Thank you True Parents for allowing our Heavenly Parent to experience this. Truly what a happy day this is!

-Mari Curry

The young performers were very good; purity, passion and joy exemplified.  Their interaction with True Mother was really nice to see. The sets and effects were outstanding. The performers after lunch were all extraordinary.  I was inspired to tears many times.

-Larry Krishnek

We felt happy to see and hear True Mother. As True Mother spoke of building the Garden of Eden, we felt and heard Heavenly Mother coming through. We believe in you, True Mother. We are also truly grateful for our wonderful President, Sun Jin Moon, and Vice President In Sup Park for their love and attendance to True Mother. We truly enjoyed the musical. Showing Jesus’s and True Parents’ course at the same time was brilliant and powerful.

-Tim and Margaret Sisserson

I am grateful to have participated in the magnificent birthday celebration. The program felt flawless with incredible staging, the message from Sun Jin Moon, and all of the musical performances. The production quality was outstanding. It was a wonderful tribute to True Parents!

I was moved most by three key aspects of the celebration. First was the depth of heart and devotion that True Mother displayed. Second was the clarification of her mission as True Parent together with True Father, conveyed through the beautiful musical. It brilliantly addressed the issue of confusion in the minds of many members about this point and clearly portrayed its correlation with the fulfillment of Jesus’s and True Father’s mission and the culmination of 6,000 years of human history. The songs, acting, and visuals were very professional and effective. I felt deeply grateful to Heavenly Parent and True Parents from this experience.

The third aspect was the powerful and hopeful glimpse into the future through the professionalism and energy displayed by the young people throughout the program. I am grateful for True Parents’ investment in raising the next generation of leadership in God’s providence. Their strategies for engaging our young people have been brilliant and I’m very excited about their response and the great possibilities it represents.

-David Rendel