The Words of the Burton Family
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The Words of the Burton Family |
The Family Federation was treated to an elegant evening and an intimate look at the family of its new leader, Dr. In Jin Moon, on August 14 at the Manhattan Center in New York. In Jin Nim’s inaugural speech as the new chairman of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification was brimming with appreciation for the sacrifices of members and bright with hope for the Unification movement in North America.
Her talk was particularly encouraging in three areas:
First, she expressed gratitude to America, pointing out that the U.S. military had saved her father’s life when he was about to be executed in Hungnam prison. This formative experience led him to dedicate so much of his ministry in the United States and to start so many projects to honor the American people. She gave excellent tribute to her Father and Mother and demonstrated how they love and care so much for America.
Second, she said she was “indebted to America,” adding that without the faith and support of the American members [for 38 years], “I wouldn’t be here.” American members were visibly moved to hear these words uttered at such a formal gathering by a member of the True Family.
Third, she pointed out that Unificationists are among America’s best-kept secrets, and that she intends to put them into the public light. Having served as the manager for several months of the Manhattan Center, she found that, after talking with clients and vendors about her father and our movement, explaining the true story, most of them were simply amazed and asked “Why doesn’t everybody know this? " But In Jin said that we are a secret that must be told.
She explained that she wanted people to think of Unificationists as “the coolest people in the world,” and that she wanted to create “a movement that people are dying to join.” Her ability to upgrade the Manhattan Center’s brand was on display that evening: the guests were awed by a brand new promotional video showcasing the range of its production facilities, a “best-kept secret” in New York that soon won’t be a secret anywhere.
The program included finely-produced videos about the musical and artistic accomplishments of her children and her support of musical education for second generation in Japan. This was a way of telling us: “Ye shall know a tree by its fruits, here are my fruits.” Dr. Jin-Sung Pak Moon, her husband, gave a warm and eloquent tribute. The unmistakable message of his words and these videos are that Dr. In Jin Nim has spent years preparing herself to be a Unification spokesperson at the highest levels of society, but she has invested her time, her heart and soul in her four beautiful children as well, and she has been down in the trenches with our members, too. Without question, she is qualified to lead.
It is noteworthy that she took the time to introduce her brothers and sisters on stage and to tell us about their career plans. She gave special recognition and declared her continuing support for her brother Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, for his pioneering work with the Global Peace Festivals and guiding the world wide foundation of the Universal Peace Federation as its International Co Chairman. Dr. Hyun Jin Moon’s presence and humble support gave strength to all as he is rising globally and in America as Dr. Joseph Lowery and Dr. Fauntroy have said, “The leader of the Joshua Generation.” In Jin Nim gave encouraging accounts of the career plans of Kwon Jin Nim, an aspiring actor, Yeon Jin Nim, an aspiring film director, and Jeung Jin Nim, an aspiring writer. This was a way of telling us: “We, the True Family, welcome the bright lights; we want you to know about us, and we want to know about you.”
In Jin Nim’s announcement is all more significant in the context of the more-recent public-service initiatives of her younger brother, Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, through the the Global Peace Festivals and her younger brothers, Mr. Kook Jin Moon and Rev. Hyung Jin Moon in Korea. The latter two have been receiving nationwide and extremely positive media coverage in Korea. They have been changing the public image of our True Parents and our faith community before the Korean people while moving the hearts of our members in Korea and reaching our world wide members through the Internet streaming of the Sunday worship. During the last year with his spiritual guidance and religious leadership Rev. Hyung Jin Moon has brought a so much hope and growth to the families, youth and ministries of the Family Church. (on public display at Two Rivers VIP.com).
Without a doubt a person who has known the pain of childbirth and the strain of nurturing many young children will have “a mother’s heart” and “a mother’s ear” when dealing with the challenges of our extended family. It was inspiring to see on video how she had been helping members of the Japanese family form children’s choirs for seven years.
The melding together of a True Child as head of the FFWPU with the “body” of members in North America is an ongoing process, and it is such a positive process for growth and development that we must go through as a church, as a movement and as a global family. It is simply a fact that we are entering into a new era, and the inauguration on Aug. 14 was a helpful gesture of introduction to a person, and a family, that is taking on a range of public missions. There is every reason to believe that in Jin Sung Nim and In Jin Nim and their children, God has three generations faithfully pointed in the same providential direction. It is another historical marker and a promise of things to come. Certainly, those who love the Lord have reason to hope.