The Words of the Chang Family
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The Words of the Chang Family |
The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity was founded by Mr. Sun Myung Moon, who was born at 221 Sangs-Ri, Tukeun-Myun, Jungjoo-Gun Pyungln Buk-Do, Province on January 6 (by lunar calendar), 1920.
On Easter-day (April 17th) when he was at 16, he received a revelation from Jesus about His mission for the fulfillment of God's Providence, and ever since he has been putting His heart and soul into the performance of his bestowed mission.
From that time to the Korean liberation from the Japanese domination on August 15, 1945, he spent his time for internal preparation in silence, concentrating his whole mind in spiritual prayer research of truth.
While making efforts for the dispensational basis along with the revelation, Mr. Moon went to Pyongyang under the Soviet Military Government on June 6, 1946.
By giving lectures on the essence of faith centering on God's purpose of creation he gathered devout and dedicated Christians from the established churches, when the group grew up to the considerable number he was imprisoned by the North Korean communist regime by the accusation of the pastors and elders of the established churches claiming him heretic and breaking social security against the communist policy in 1948. And when the Korean conflict broke out on June 25th, 1950, he went down South for refuge on December 4, 1950 owing to the counteroffensive of ROK Army toward the North Korea.
Reaching Pusan on January 27, 1951, Mr. Moon continued to propagate and lecture, getting his livelihood through a wharf labors and established churches in Pusan and Taegu in a few years.
Immediately after the removal to Seoul early in 1954, he activated the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity in due form at 391, Pook Hak-Dong, Sungdong-Ku, Seoul on P, lay 1, 1954. And thanks to the positive response of collegiate students to this movement, believers were increased so rapidly that the Sung Wha Christian Students Association came to be organized on December 31st, 1954, for the first time.
The Sung Wha Young Men's Association organized after removal to 241 Heungin-Dong, Sungdong-Ku, Seoul on January 17, 1955, executed as proxy for the office of the association until its posts were established, and the same day, the first number of the Sungwha Monthly, the organ of the association was published.
On March 30, 1955 there was the first examination of the Divine Principle which was the origin of examination system in this association. The HSA moved to 37 1st Ka, Chang Choong Dong, Choong-Ku, Seoul on April 27th, 1955 and further moved to 71-3, 1st Ka, Chungpa-Dong, Yongsan-Ku 1, Seoul, the present address, on October 7th, 1955.
Approximately for one year and half since the removal, The Association quickened the internal power by means of the organizational adjustment and promotion as well as the mission work in Seoul area.
After the simultaneous seven day fasting entire throughout the country since July 14, 1957, 120 groups consisting of 2 propagators each were dispatched to 120 selected cities of South Korea for 40 days dating from July 22nd, and as the result, al-.out new 30 churches were established.
In August 15, 1957, "Commentary on the Divine Principle", the first creed of the HSA came out.
Through dispatched missionaries to Japan and the United States of America between 1958 and 1961, the overseas mission of HSA began earnest.
There have been many various training of preachers since the first nationwide training of preachers on January 10, 1959 and at the end of the year, churches increased to 70.
40 days summer propagations and 40 day winter enlightenment during the seven years since 1960 brought forth 700 churches besides big contribution to the improvement of the national culture.
Starting from April 11, 1960, there have been annual joint wedding of 3, 36, 72, 124, 430 couples etc.
On October 14, 1960, the official business posts of HSA were established and old 5 districts and 36 sub-districts were recognized to 9 districts and 72 sub-districts dated August 31st, 1961 and the sub-districts were divided into 122 on March 15th, 1962 aid further amounted to 160 sub-districts in total.
The Holy Spirit Association completed the registration of social organization with the government on May 31, 1963 and was authorized foundational juridical person from the government dated October 4, 1963.
In 1965, Mr. Sun Myung Moon made a round of calls on 40 countries during the ten months, and encouraging and inspiring all the family members scattered in the world, he blessed 120 Holy Grounds in 40 countries.
On May 1, 1966, "Discourse of the Divine Principles" made up for "Commentary on the Divine Principles" came to appear.
In summer of 1967, 15 officials in responsible posts of HSA in Seoul paid a visit to Japanese Holy Spirit Association for retraining the Japanese family members.
On the other hand, 50 backbone members of Japanese Holy Spirit Association who visited Korea and armed with ideology for victory over communism a stimulus to the realization of universalism rising above the barriers of race and nation.
In spring of 1969, making a round of calls on 21 countries during three months accompanied by the late President Hyo Won Eu of the Association, and blessing 43 couples consisting of 9 races, he took a step forward for the realization of the universal family society.
The old 9 districts and 122 sub-districts were reorganized to 34 districts and 169 sub-districts dated July 8, 1970 `with 300,000 members and 900 churches in South Korea as of October 10, 1970.
Early in 1970, 73 backbone members of Japanese Unification church paid a visit to Korea and had special training, joining Anti-Communist activities, and Korean-Japanese Joint conference of staff members for the victorious frontline for unification in 1970's.
The Holy Spirit Association became a member of the Korean Religious Conference dated April 15th, 1970.
The Association consists of 11 departments and there are districts, sub-districts and wards in Provinces, Kuns and Myuns under its jurisdiction.
Mr. Young Whi Kim, former director of General Affairs Department, HSA-UWC was newly appointed to the President of the Association dated August 1, 1970.