Your Weekly Update – August 12
Every week the National Ministry Team compiles stories and important upcoming events in a quick weekly update video. Here is what we cover this week:
GTGY
From August 3-5, the Global Top Gun Youth (GTGY) Workshop participants embarked on a pilgrimage to historic and sacred Holy Ground sites located throughout Korea. Twenty-six buses carried over 1200 GTGY participants, Universal Peace Academy (UPA) cadets, and FFWPU International staff to the holy sites, including Cheongbok Gung, Chungpa Dong, Paju Wonjeon, Beomneggol, Mungyeong Sae Chae, and Ocean Resort.
Holy Days
During the first week of August, Unificationists celebrated two significant and historical Holy Days: the Day of God’s Eternal Blessing (7.1 Jeol, known in Korean asChil Il Jeol), and the Day of Cosmic Sabbath (7.8 Jeol, or Chil Pal Jeol). On August 9, in a national ceremony at East Garden and also in local churches across the country, our American family gathered to give thanks to God and True Parents for these two significant anniversaries.
National Parents’ Day
National Parents’ Day was proclaimed as a federal national holiday in 1995, after True Mother had proposed its creation before the U.S. Senate one year prior, and has been celebrated annually ever since. The 22nd annual Parents’ Day banquet, organized by FFWPU USA, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF USA), the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC), the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP USA), and The Washington Times Foundation, was held on August 5, 2016 at The Washington Times in Washington, D.C., where over 250 people gathered to honor finalists and recipients of the National Parents of the Year Award.
Japan Youth Pilgrimage
On August 8, 2016, 30 university-age Japanese Unificationists visited the FFWPU USA National Ministry offices and met with the National Ministry Team, including FFWPU North America Continental Chairman, Dr. Ki Hoon Kim; FFWPU USA President, Dr. Michael Balcomb; FFWPU USA Vice Presidents, Miilhan Stephens and Mari Curry; Kodan Director, Mr. Hiroshi Inose; and others.
BCSF
On August 10, 2016, the 12th Annual Blessed Culture and Sports Festival (BSCF XII) commenced at the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) in Barrytown, NY. Unificationists from around the country and the world gathered together to celebrate our faith and community, as well as engage in spirited and respectful competition with one another all the way through Sunday, August 14.
Essay Competition
On August 19, 2016, Unificationists and friends from around the world will observe the 4th anniversary of True Father’s Seonghwa (ascension). As we take this time to remember our True Father and reflect on True Parents’ ever-growing legacy, the National Ministry Team invites you to participate in the 2016 Essay Competition. Write a 250-500 word review of the Cham Bumo Gyeong, and you could win a $500 scholarship prize!