On December 7, 2021, a ceremony was held at a hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo, to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. In his commemorative speech, Bang Sang-il, Regional Group President of the Heavenly Japan for the the Heavenly Parent’s Holy Community, called all blessed families in Japan to bring victory as Cheonbo families, while sharing about True Mother’s situation, who is making rapid progress in the providence.
Editorial Department
Celebrating 30 Years Since True Parents’ Visit to North Korea
To distinguished guests and ambassadors of peace at home and abroad, thank you very much for joining us today for commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. I would like to send greetings to senior family members, regional presidents, district leaders, church heads and women representatives from all over the country, as well as Taiwan’s leadership joining online.
First of all, let us give a warm round of applause to the Heavenly Parent (God) and the True Parents, who have guided us to be able to hold this precious ceremony. I would like to express my gratitude to senior family members, who have courageously followed the path in servitude of the Heavenly Parent and True Parents for more than 60 years.
Today is December 7th. On this day 30 years ago, True Parents concluded their visit to North Korea and departed that country. They stayed in North Korea for about a week and had a historic meeting with Kim Il Sung the day before leaving the country. This news was not limited to the Family Federation, but spread throughout the world.
The day before yesterday (Dec. 5th), a “Prayer Rally for the Salvation of the Homeland” was held at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in South Korea where we welcomed True Mother. Many religious leaders from around the world attended this prayer online as we celebrated 30 years since True Parents’ visit to North Korea. U.S. Pastor Paula White, who served as a special religious advisor under President Trump, delivered an emotional message in her welcoming address.
Ladies and gentlemen, have you ever thought of what kind of conditions True Parents set in order to visit North Korea? North Korea is a country that denies the existence of God. True Parents prayed in earnest to liberate, that country that had cursed God, in order to welcome that day. Please give another big round of applause to True Parents.
True Father spends time in Hawaii in deep prayer
I once asked Jeong Won-ju, Secretary to the President (about True Parents’ visit to North Korea). Let me share some of what she had said.
Before visiting North Korea, True Parents had stayed in Hawaii. One day, True Father suddenly said, “I’m going to Hawaii,” and he ordered Jeong Won-ju to prepare his bags. Since it’s hot in Hawaii, she was preparing summer clothes when Father told her to prepare winter clothes. However, she was never told the reason why. And because they had packed so many winter clothes, they used more suitcases than was needed for a summer trip to a place like Hawaii.
During their stay in Hawaii, Jeong Won-ju asked True Father about the luggage several times, but he wouldn’t say anything.
About ten days later, True Father ordered to have their bags ready to leave for the airport immediately and said they were going to China. Jeong Won-ju was taken aback and asked Father what was going to happen, but he kept saying that she didn’t need to know and that she would find out once they arrived in China. Upon arriving in China, she was informed that they would be entering North Korea.
At that moment, Jeong Won-ju realized that while they were in Hawaii, True Parents had been praying deeply every day, and they seemed different than usual. (She hadn’t noticed it while in Hawaii), but she realized that their prayers were for visiting North Korea.
The members that had accompanied Jeong Won-ju were also nervous. Reverend Park Bo Hee (36 couple) has already shared a detailed account of the trip, but those who entered North Korea on that visit had an internal struggle, knowing that they could die, but told themselves that they would follow True Parents.
Greatness in the power of absolute faith, love, and obedience to heaven
In 1958, True Father sent missionary Choi Bong-chun to Japan. Korean members at the time didn’t know anything about this. Father spent time with missionary Choi Bong-chun at Kapsa Temple (South Chungcheong Province), and while they were walking on a path in the mountains, he was suddenly told that he was being dispatched to Japan.
Japan and South Korea normalized relations in 1965. So in 1958, there was no notion of going to Japan. It was clear that going to Japan would be dangerous. Nevertheless, True Father had insight into the future of heaven’s providence and decided to send a missionary.
Choi Bong-chun maintained absolute faith in True Father and immediately answered, “Yes, I understand I’ll be risking my life, but I will go.” He never questioned Father; he didn’t ask, “Why do I have to go,” or “It is difficult to go to Japan now.” Instead, he replied, “Yes,” and proceeded to prepare for his voyage.
Japan was able to be fostered from this one missionary, and now, on the occasion of the 62nd anniversary, are gathered so many leaders. We must understand how great things can be accomplished by a single person with the power of absolute faith, absolute love, and absolute obedience to heaven.
You are leaders. No matter how difficult the situation or environment may be, leaders must follow the hopes of the Heavenly Parent and True Parents. From the moment they act (with absolute faith, love, and obedience), heavenly works begin.
The senior family members that are here have walked with the same heart as missionary Choi Bong-chun. That is why we are able to be here today. My heart is filled with gratitude to them.
True Parents have been wishing for the integration of the Father Nation, Korea, and the Mother Nation, Japan
Japan is Korea’s most hated enemy. Yet, True Parents have loved countries like Japan the most. If you think about it, who in their right mind would devote so much love to an enemy?
Japan was established as the Mother Nation by True Parents to play a central role in the providence. In addition, Korea was clearly defined as the Father Nation, America as the Elder Son Nation, and Taiwan as the Elder Daughter Nation, giving them these roles to lead the other nations of the world—the child nations. At every opportunity, True Parents have insisted that Korea and Japan—the parent nations—must become one. Leaders, that have been attending True Parents, may feel that the two nations have already become one in their hearts.
At home, if the father and mother are not united, children become anxious. It is impossible for children to be happy when they see their parents arguing and complaining. Children can only be happy when their parents are united.
Peace will come to the world when the Father Nation of Korea and Mother Nation of Japan become one. If the two countries take up their roles as parent nations, who respect each other and are united with love, I am sure that a peaceful world will emerge, which is the hope of Heaven and True Parents. This is also True Mother’s wish, and she has emphasized the unity of Korea and Japan many times. So in some ways, she has loved Japan more than Korea.
True Mother making rapid progress in the providence without rest
We are now on the second 7-year course. As the first year draws to a close, the COVID pandemic has restricted our global and national activities. We were not able to hold large-scale rallies (in person) in Japan.
Under these circumstances, True Mother has been determined not to delay the progress of the providence, and in the last two years, about 200 general meetings have been held. As Vice President Lee Song-man mentioned in his representative prayer, Mother has given 171 speeches to Japan to show her devotion and love. But over the past two years, she has presided over 200 online conventions for national-level leaders.
When we observe this number, we can see how much True Mother is in a hurry to push the providence forward. There is a saying, “one day is like a thousand years,” and Mother is doing exactly that, pouring all of her energy into the providence.
I sometimes hear from Rev. Yoon Young-ho, Director-General of International Headquarters, and Jeong Won-ju on how Mother is doing, but when she is faced with a serious matter, she often does not sleep at all. This is the image of parents that we respect. With parents working tirelessly unable to sleep at night, what steps have we taken to protect this country as leaders responsible for Japan?
If an event were to be held every week, presided over by True Mother, you might get used to it and not feel the pressure, but we must understand Mother’s heart, her situation and wishes, each time she faces these events.
We must devote all of our hearts and souls into the victory of Cheonbo families, which is what True Mother emphasizes, in particular.
Fortunately, there are over 2,000 Cheonbo families in Japan. I was able to achieve this sometime in August, and I sent a letter to True Mother about it. Because I explained, in great length, about the number of victorious families in each district, it became a very long letter.
Afterwards, Yoon Young-ho called me. Communication is often done by email, so it was very rare for me to receive a phone call. When he read my letter to True Mother, he said she was very pleased, so he felt the urge to call me.
Ladies and gentlemen, True Mother is sincerely hoping for the victory of Cheonbo families. No matter how tough or difficult your situations may be, leaders must not be dragged down. You have to have the spirit that “my subregion, district, or church will break through!”
People of Cheon Il Guk are Cheonbo families that have brought victory to Heavenly tribal messiahship
In 1945, Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule. During the 40 years of Japanese rule, how much did the Korean people suffer and how many tears were shed in anguish?
True Father shared the pain of his compatriots and studied in Japan for about two and a half years. During that time, he committed himself to Japan and searched for the truth. As he did so, it became evident that the relationship between God and human beings is that of parent and child.
The truth of all truths was found in the land of Japan. As a result, the Family Federation in Japan may be the strongest of any Family Federation in the world. However, Japan’s Family Federation did not develop on its own. We are here today because of True Father and True Mother’s guidance and their devotion and strength.
How important were the 7 years of the providence from 1945 to 1952 in the course of the 6,000- year history of God’s providence of restoration? At that time, if Korean Christianity had accepted True Father, the providence of restoration could’ve been under control. However, the churches in Korea could not unite with Father.
True Father overcame seven years of hardship starting in 1953, and in 1960, married True Mother in the Holy Wedding. True Parents are the core of the Family Federation, so we can say that the history of the Family Federation began in earnest with True Parents’ Holy Wedding.
People celebrate “kanreki”(60th birthday) in Asia. Sixty years have already passed since the Holy Wedding, so we can say that the Family Federation has celebrated its “kanreki” in 2020. Therefore, when we welcomed the year 2021, True Mother said that it was the start of a new heaven and new earth.
During the first 7-year course from 2013 to 2020, True Mother toured the world after attending Father’s tomb for three years. In those last four years, seven nations and seven religions were restored. After laying the foundation for restoring continents, she declared the firm establishment of Cheon Il Guk.
Ladies and gentlemen, for a nation to be viable, it needs its people. The people who will enter Cheon Il Guk are the Cheonbo families that have brought victory to Heavenly tribal messiahship. As we build a new heaven and new earth together with True Mother, let us devote our cheongseong so that all blessed families in Japan can be victorious Cheonbo families.
Lastly, I would like to share some things stressed by True Father.
Satan is clever and cunning, so he prefers the easy way, not the hard way. That’s why God is in places where there is a lot of difficulty and hardship. That’s where you will see heaven’s work. The life of True Father and True Mother was and still is a path filled with thorns. It is on these thorny paths where you can find God.
Leaders of Japan, the Mother Nation, please do not shy away from the path of hardship that God shares with us.
As we celebrate our 62nd anniversary, let us renew our resolve to work hard for heaven’s will. The year 2022 is a key year to bring victory for Vision 2027. Therefore, no matter how difficult the path may be, let us overcome it knowing that our Heavenly Parent and True Parents are with us.
Thank you very much.
