On March 30, a National Service was held at Shoto Headquarters in Shibuya, Tokyo, and was streamed online. After the moderator read from the scriptures, President Tomihiro Tanaka, who gave the sermon, talked about the struggle against the communist forces behind the Tokyo District Court’s decision to order the dissolution of the church, and appealed to all blessed families and members in Japan to unite with Holy Mother Han and bring victory in the holy war of Heaven’s providence.
Editorial Department
Scripture reading
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
Matthew 11:2-9
True Mother took in the report of the dissolution order
Good morning, beloved blessed families and members!
We are pleased to have the last Sunday service of March as a joint service. We know that there are many people attending from church, together at home, or watching on their smartphones.
Today, we have decided to hold a joint service online, hoping to connect with all the members nationwide. We offer our absolute faith and absolute love to True Parents, and with earnest desire, we would like to greet all the members.
At this very moment, the faces of all members around the nation and even the world, the faces of our future generations, are surging toward me like a huge wave. Moreover, many voices and concerns are reaching me at my e-mail address.
I wonder how much sorrow and heartache True Mother must have felt at the decision of the Tokyo District Court issued on March 25. I am filled with anguish that I am unable to share good news with you. I am at a loss for words when I think of Mother who is more heartbroken than any of us, just before such a historically important day. When she received the news of the dissolution order, I heard that she quietly closed her eyes and was at a loss for words. As the parent and Only Begotten Daughter of Heaven, I am sure there were many, many things she wanted to say. However, she took in and swallowed the whole report.
When evil strikes against goodness, Heaven always ensures that it is overcome, restoring the righteous path according to its providence. Reflecting on this, I strive to resemble even a small part of True Parents’ dignified and resolute attitude. Above all, I am grateful for the wisdom, strength, and courage granted to me, so that I may stand united and never retreat in the face of this struggle against goodness.
The reason we walk this path
The persecution by the government, society, and the distorted media coverage over the past two years and eight months has been truly harsh and cruel. Social justice, religious freedom, and universal human rights did not work out in this country. This massive evil overrode goodness, distorted the truth, and led public opinion into a witch hunt, just like the worst incident that led to the crucifixion of Jesus 2,000 years ago.
After the shooting of former Prime Minister Abe, one family lamented, “From now on, our second and third generation children will have to live cuddled up and hold their breath in fear.” I fully understand. I fully sympathize with this person. I cannot hide my heavy and broken heart from that reality.
But are such hardships and difficulties only for blessed children? How about you, the first generation who have been misunderstood by your families and society and have suffered a lot since the moment you chose the path of faith? In fact, I can say that all of us have experienced that suffering and are still going through that tunnel.
However, as a person of faith, I confess here today: Has (the suffering) truly made us unhappy? Can we say that the life we chose and the life we have led were wrong because of this?
Did we not decide to endure and accept this sacred affliction when we set out on this path? What, in fact, have we desired and what have we seen as we walked this path?
As mentioned in the scriptures:
As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
This is a question for us. Beloved members, for what purpose have we been walking in the wilderness? What was the purpose of our faith in True Parents? Was it to become people in silk kimonos? Not so. Rather, we were not envious of those who wore extravagant clothes from the beginning. Then why have we followed this path of faith?
In the sixty-five years since we were founded as the Unification Church in Japan, we in the Family Federation have developed a victorious movement to confront the evil ideology that buries the name of God and undermines the core values of the nation. I believe that it was a life-threatening struggle. Our senior members have paved the way for this struggle. They have never stopped even for a moment. It was because the nation was at a crossroads whether it would be destroyed by communism. That long struggle has changed its shape and is still ongoing, even at this very moment.
The last stand to defend freedom and peace in Japan against communist forces
In an attempt to win this battle at all costs, the communists have continued their illegal practice of abduction and confinement against our precious families for decades. Yet, this country has never once stood up against their anti-human rights practices and violations of religious freedom.
If those who were supposed to protect us, who have fought on the front lines against the communist forces to build a better country for freedom and peace, have instead stood on the side of persecution against us, then who are they, and who are they serving? Whose purpose are they serving?
The government, which has turned a blind eye towards our persecution ever since the inception of our church, has now admitted to the whole world that it is a nation that has destroyed freedom and democracy in the aftermath of former Prime Minister Abe’s assassination.
The series of trials to dissolve the Family Federation has been illegal from the beginning. For them, truth and justice do not matter one iota. It was imperative to make us the perpetrators in their planned scenario. We were not driven to become the perpetrators because we were at fault or at a disadvantage. It is because our truth, our justice, has undeniably cornered them, that is, the communist forces.
This was the same reason True Father suffered at Danbury Prison in the United States. It was obvious that if America collapsed, the bulwark of democracy in the world would fall apart. Therefore, True Parents had no choice but to fight against the communist forces with their lives on the line.
They framed True Father for tax evasion in order to stigmatize him. Father was well aware of their intentions. In his statement the day before his incarceration, he testified that the case originated not with the tax evasion issue but from religious persecution by the U.S. government, that he himself was innocent, and that the communist forces were behind it.
True Father founded the Washington Times to save America, which persecuted him and threatened his life. This is because the democratic camp in the world can be protected only if America was kept alive.
It was for the same reason that the Victory over Communism movement was started while enduring severe persecution in Japan. If Japan collapsed, Korea would collapse, and the whole of Asia would collapse, so he wanted to root out communism from Japan.
This struggle is an inevitable heavenly “holy war.” As long as we are in the ranks of Heaven’s Providence, we must win this battle. We are the last line of defense for freedom and peace in Japan. If we fall, Japan will fall. Our mother country will perish.
We who have been called by heaven have a clear responsibility. We were not called so that we can live in material abundance. We are to make sure there is an environment in Japan that can welcome the Heavenly Parent. Japan must welcome the Heavenly Parent.
This is the thirteenth year of Cheon Il Guk where we have attended the Heavenly Parent in substance. We must surely fulfill the responsibilities of true children as the chosen people who have become one with True Parents. This is the best way to protect our beloved children, the future generations of the second and third generation.
Full-scale “holy war” against communism for heaven’s providence
We must not be deceived any longer by the illegal and distorted reports (the media) have created. We must not be swayed by public opinion of this evil giant that is trying to frame us as the perpetrators. We must tell the world that we are the victims of the state’s violation of religious freedom, the most basic principle in a democracy. We must stand up for our innocence to the bitter end.
The communist forces want us to be swept up in negative emotions: shock and sadness, worry and fear. They want us to turn to resentment and anger directed at our inner selves and cause a split in the Family Federation. We will never be what they want us to be. We will never be afraid or divided. Let us be strong in our solidarity, more passionate and more united.
We will search for the righteous whom heaven has prepared and develop an educational movement for the nation. We will stand in solidarity with religious people and journalists around the world who are seeking righteousness, and we will stand in solidarity with righteous nations where religious freedom and democracy thrive. We will also appeal to the United Nations against state persecution of religions. We, the church of Japan, will wage an all-out “holy war” against the forces of communism and for heaven’s providence.
Members all over the world are paying attention to Japan, and their hearts will never cease to do so. There is power in the Anthem for God’s Will . There is power when our hearts and voices are united in prayer. Our cries are alive and will become even more powerful.
History and the providence speak eloquently of the universal truth that evil will perish and goodness will always prevail. We remember the life of True Parents who overcame hardships and crises hundreds and thousands of times. Our lives are proof that we have inherited that great tradition of true love and connected Japan to heaven. Let us move forward in life with honor and dignity.
Beloved members, let us return to those days when we were filled with fervor for the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, not for the sake of wearing luxurious clothes. We will move forward boldly so that the Heavenly Japan can be fully established as the motherly nation.
Let us push forward in our struggle without stepping back in the face of this evil giant that is communism. If we do not give up, victory will surely be ours. If we do not back down, heaven will surely protect us.
Prayers filled with the certainty of victory will move spirit world
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak with the leaders of the second generation for the first time since the district court’s decision. There were words of frustration, sadness, shock, and other feelings expressed in response to the decision. In the midst of all this, I was grateful to hear them speak with their own words, saying that they wanted to protect this church that was built by the first generation and for the sake of future generations. It was as if True Mother was sending me a message through their words.
One of the brothers said this:
“Some people around me assure me that there will be no dissolution, while others worry about what will happen after the dissolution. For myself, I think it is not good to think about what will happen afterwards. There should not be even one ounce of thought (of dissolution). The spirit world will not move unless we have the attitude that we will surely win.”
The spirit world moves because we pray with the conviction that we will surely be victorious. Because we unite our hearts with this belief in victory, the absolute good spirits cooperate with us. How can the spirit world cooperate if we pray with a wavering heart?
Now that spirit world and the physical world are completely united, now that True Mother is calling on us to pray to Heaven, let us not pray with anxious hearts. We will surely be victorious. We must pray for cooperation to achieve this. Let us pray before Heaven without wavering hearts, without ceasing to have (wavering) thoughts.
It is True Mother who is most frustrated than anyone else. I am sure that she feels that she wants to fight on the front lines more than any of us. I really don’t have any words (that can comfort) Mother.
True Mother has already told us many times about the path to victory. (She says,) “If you unite with me, you will surely be victorious.” She has said nothing else. “Become one with Holy Mother Han, and you will surely be victorious.” It is the responsibility of the children to create form to these words spoken by Mother. It is not for Mother to shape them.
If that is the only way to victory, then we have only one mission. Become completely one with Holy Mother Han. Where else can we look for the path to victory? Once again, we must be aware of our responsibility as children and face True Mother.
Call on Holy Mother Han when praying and move forward as one
Today, March 30, 2025, is exactly 30,000 days since True Mother was born on earth. It was Joo Jin-dae, director of Cheon Shim Won, Japan who counted the days. I am truly grateful to receive strength from such a memorable day and to be able to make a new start.
And exactly one hundred days from tomorrow, March 31, is July 8. That day marks the third anniversary of the shooting of former Prime Minister Abe. These three months are a period of victory for our fate. We must absolutely be victorious and overcome.
As we welcome April 13—which will be a historic and providential turning point, the day that True Mother pours out her heart—we will join her in victory and embark on a new future together during this time. Let us make these next hundred days a time to establish the most vital spiritual groundwork. And during this time, let us enter into Mother’s womb, be completely united with her and be born again before departing with the belief that we will surely create this future.
During these one hundred days, let us all join together in cheongseong prayers, and let each of us and each church push forward in mobilizing spirit world and linking them to our cause as much as possible.
Beginning tomorrow, the Cheon Shim Won Special Night Vigils will be streamed on YouTube, not Zoom. All members can have access to it from wherever they are and offer up the cheongseong prayers together. Please make up your mind that we will surely mobilize the spirit world and move forward.
And, hopefully, you will challenge yourself to pray a thousand invocations each day. The name to pray is Holy Mother Han. Please pray for True Mother’s health and long life. Let us all challenge ourselves to pray 1,000 invocations of Holy Mother Han so that Mother may greet April 13th in good health and with the best of intentions, and so that we can start anew as one, completely united.
Those who can do this quickly can finish in about twelve or thirteen minutes. Usually it takes about 15 minutes. For those who pray this invocation prayer slowly, it can be done in one or two hours. Since True Mother emphasizes the need for 1,000 invocations, let us first move forward as one, invoking the name of Holy Mother Han in prayer.
The Cheon Shim Won Special Night Vigils given to us by True Mother is a treasure. I hope that you will cherish it as the greatest weapon from Heaven and give it your all.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the Blessed Families and members throughout the country. Headquarters will also unite and challenge to overcome this crisis and I ask all of you on the front lines to make a general march toward victory. Let us do our best to fulfill our responsibilities as children before heaven.