Chapter 2 The Unification Movement in Korea

1984 - Creation and Building of the Fatherland

The motto for the year of 1984 was Creation and Building of the Fatherland. The "Fatherland" in this slogan was the Kingdom of Heaven, the ideal world Heavenly Father originally wanted to establish.

"This year, you should invest more effort than any previous year, with renewed determination. This is because you are now confronting a new providential turning point. As we survey the democratic world today, we can came to realize this is a turning point in the providence. We can understand that today's free world, centered upon America, has no way other than to make the transition to a new phase. It should be said that it is not only national policy, but also religion-which has played the role of the spiritual support for the citizens who have advanced and maintained the nation- that must make this transition."

It can be said that the motto Creation and Building of the Fatherland signified the crucial turning point in the providence of entering the national level, having surpassed that of the individual, family, tribe, and race.

The year began with all members in mourning as the World Seung Hwa Ceremony for Heung-jin Moon was held. Heung-jin Nim was severely injured in a car accident on Route 9 at Hyde Park (north of Poughkeepsie) in New York state, on December 23, 1983. He received medical treatment at St. Francis Hospital, but finally passed away quietly at a quarter past one in the morning of January 2, 1984. Reverend and Mrs. Moon, together with their family, sang hymns at his bedside.

Because of his filial piety, Heung-jin Nim had been concerned for the safety of his father who had, since the end of the previous year, been planning to carry out the VOC rallies to save Korea. He therefore became an offering in place of the blessed families and members. Reverend Moon was able to declare the Day of Victory of Love of True Parents had prevailed over Heung-jin Nim's death. His remains arrived in Korea at 6:55 on January 5 and were enshrined at the Shinmunro residence at seven o'clock in the morning of January 8. Eventually, his coffin was moved to the Little Angels Performing Arts Center, and at nine o'clock in the morning of January 8 his Seung Hwa Ceremony was held.

In March, the Holy Weddings of In-jin Moon, second daughter of Reverend Moon, and Jin-sung Pak, second son of Bo-hi Pak, and of Heung-jin Moon, second son of Reverend Moon and Hoon-sook Pak, second daughter of Bo-hi Pak, were held jointly at Belvedere at ten o'clock in the morning of February 20.

On May 1, the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the Unification Church (HSA-UWC) was celebrated. The path trodden by the Unification Church has been similar to the wilderness course of the ancient Israelites, whose wandering led them through suffering and pain. This was necessary in order for the church to complete the race (min-jok) level restoration of Canaan and to advance to the era of the national level providence.

An IFVOC campaign to sign up seven million members was completed on May 5, two months in advance of predictions. The campaign was initiated at Reverend Moon's bidding during the nationwide VOC rallies held in eight cities the previous December, at which time he had also stressed the necessity for the establishment of a foundation for Korea's unification through the formation of a non-governmental IFVOC program.

The Supreme Court refused to hear Reverend Moon's final appeal, and he therefore began serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution at Danbury from midnight on July 20. Reverend Moon, accompanied by Dr. Mose Durst, president of the church in America, together with many church leaders, arrived at Danbury Prison at eleven o'clock in the evening, one hour before his sentence was due to begin, and two years and nine months after the original indictment. He then held a press conference and entered the prison with Mr. Kamiyama at two minutes to midnight.

On July 25, following the incarceration of Reverend Moon, 3,500 religious leaders representing diverse denominations staged a large rally of protest in front of the White House. Some religious leaders expressed their determination to each spend a week in prison with Reverend Moon in order to protect the freedom of religion guaranteed by the United States constitution.

Members felt that not a day passed during 1984 that did not bring news of Reverend Moon's case. It became a major event in providential history.

The church leaders in Korea held a special prayer at Chungpyung Training Center for three days from August 1. Nationwide, members also joined in a special forty-day prayer from July 22 to August 30, creating an atmosphere of new determination on the part of each member to join in Reverend Moon's suffering and to repent of their past life.

Even in this difficult situation, previously scheduled events went ahead. The Fourth Conference on Religious Unity, sponsored by the International Christian Professors Association, was held at the Lotte Hotel from August 10 to 16. Youth representatives from the major religions came to Korea under the auspices of the Youth Seminar on World Religions, held at the Plaza Hotel from August 10 to 16.

In addition, the First CARP Convention for World Students was held at the Olympia Hotel in Seoul on November 2. Three thousand CARP members representing some forty nations including America, Britain, Germany, and France, participated. The convention's schedule of events included the Hanmadang Games, an international students' symposium, a ceremony to match Korean and Japanese students together, a field study of the infiltration tunnel discovered near the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ:), and a pilgrimage to the Holy Grounds at Chungpyung and Pomnetkol.