Unification News for February 2004

Historic Divine Principle Seminar for Jewish, Christian and Muslim Leaders"

by Rev. Michael Jenkins

Immediately after the victory of February 4th the core leaders of the American Clergy Leadership Conference conducted a Divine Principle Seminar for the leaders of the Abrahamic Faiths that are leading the way in the Holy Land. Almost 40 attended including key Unificationists. It was a most significant event as a synopsis Divine Principle - the core teaching of Father Moon which was given in the two day (February 5- 6) conference at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, Va.

The leaders were very inspired by the Ambassadors for Peace program with Congressmen and Senators the night before (Feb. 4). They were particularly touched by the Coronation and Reconciliation ceremonies.

Rev. Levy Daugherty, Executive Director of ACLC led off with the first presentation. It had profound content relating with the introduction of the DP as a "Principle" like gravity, not just a theology. It also highlighted through pictures the early life of Father Moon. Rev. Philip Schanker lectured the Creation, Rev. Kevin McCarthy gave the fall. Our National lecturing team gave the very best in terms of heart and depth of content.

Imam Bundakji (LA) , Imam Kiwan (an Arab Moslem from Israel) and Imam Jodeh (Denver) sat with their Koran's and were finding collaborating verses for each major point. Dr. Bundakji proclaimed in one of the question and answer sessions that he was so pleased to hear these formal presentations. He had seen Father Moon and his disciples in action as well as the Amb. for Peace who come from many faiths. He also heard many presentations and sermons in Israel and in LA over the years as well as attending Father and Mother's speaking tours in LA. He was confident in the message. His reaction to the core teaching of the Principle - " I am so deeply pleased to experience this unifying teaching. I can see it is consistent with the Koran on all major points. We will now work to find more collaboration with the Koran so that the Muslim world, which loves Rev. Moon very much will be even more strengthened in this bond of faith and friendship. This bond will greatly affect the path to peace of the world."

Dr. Frank Kaufman chaired and excellent question and answer session. As an expert in Interreligious dialogue and understanding, Dr. Kaufman played the critical role of allowing participants to express themselves just enough to not allow conflict to emerge blocking the give and take of heart and sincere intellect. Through the Q and A session every religious leader felt the incredible openness Father Moon has in reviewing and researching the Principle. Mr. Baruch Shalev said - " The Q and A was profound for him. Muslims, Christians and Jews have many points of divergent opinion on God and the teaching of the Principle presents things that are very challenging, yet it was the openness with which the Principle could be openly discussed and even tested without the presenters or the leaders becoming defensive or narrow. The Abrahamic faiths came closer through the Principle." ACLC Co-Convener, Dr. T.L. Barrett had very deep questions as did Dr. Gloria Wright, and Evangelist Tanya Edwards (wife of Jesse). Questions concerning the nature of the development of evil, how we can become "True" parents. Dr. Benit Hayes of Texas got up and stunned everyone saying, " I know the Bible and I know Jesus. I know the Divine Principle is true and has changed my life. I am leaving the level that I was at as a Baptist in which I was focused on the development of my church and denomination. God has called me to a higher level and my church is moving with me. Now I'm going to the Kingdom by building it. I'm not afraid. I saw how much I could trust our leadership.

I am a Viet Nam vet and I saw many things that broke or shook men's faith. When I saw Dr. Yang and Rev. Jenkins faces when the representatives of the U.S. Embassy officially notified us on the October trip into Gaza that there was a high probability that we would be killed - their faces were peaceful and full of light. I've seen men under fire in times just where they were sure to lose their lives. I saw that on that day I saw there was absolutely no fear in their hearts or in their eyes. The other clergy also had the same courage. This gave me profound confidence in our mission and our leadership. We will prevail. I would like to say that I totally believe in Jesus. I know Jesus. I also know that the spirit of Jesus is in Rev. Moon. It wouldn't be wrong to say that Father Moon is Jesus. He is not the historical Jesus, he has the spirit of Jesus, Jesus said, "I am in the Father and the Father in me and I am in You." Jesus is in Rev. Moon and he is in me. Then I know now that I am to become one with Jesus. I am to "become Jesus" by perfecting my character in his image and likeness. !!" ( This is the level of development going on with the fearless Christian leaders who are leading the ACLC. It is every bit as serious as the profound spirit that touched leaders such as Martin Luther for the Reformation and the same spirit that touched the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in America.

A revolutionary process has begun that will not be reversed. The level of the questions are beyond belief. These pastors and religious leaders are understanding the Principle in a most profound way. Bishop Stallings gave a powerful presentation on the Principle as the revealed word of God. He said, "the more you probe it and pray over it the more you learn. I couldn't understand why Father Moon would always begin his sermons with the ideal of the family and the fall of man. I thought at first that he was just repeating himself unnecessarily. A couple of years ago Dr. Yang and Rev. Jenkins invited me to an in depth seminar on the Divine Principle in Glouster, Massachusetts. It was there that my understanding was deeply inspired and enlightened. I began to understand that Father Moon always repeats these basic points over and over again because its the key to understanding the Bible, the mission of Jesus and the contents of God's history. It all revolves around restoring the ideal of the family back from the time of the fall. The Blessing restores the fall through the change of blood lineage. Once I understood I could walk by this truth, I could receive my bride by this truth and I can all for this truth. I became sure and confident in the path God had placed me on through the understanding of the Principle."

With this kind of profound spirit the Christian , Muslim and Jewish leaders who gave Jesus the crown could be greatly strengthened. All feel that the Principle is fascinating and meaningful. Dr. Joshua Ben Ami gave an incredible presentation that Cyrus of Persia (a non Jew) was called the Messiah in the Hebrew scripture as the "anointed one who saved the chosen people". Father Moon is not a Jew but again he is the Messiah that we have been waiting for. He is the one who has been "anointed" and through the coronation ceremony he has saved the Jews. Therefore I believe he is the savior!!" Dr. Norma Foster director of the powerful U.N. Association and board member of the Women's Federation for World Peace supported and studied seriously. Senator Donzella James also a great leader in the movement of the Amb. for Peace also led the way in showing confidence in the work that God is doing through Father and Mother Moon. She said, " I am not afraid. Once I understood the Truth I could see now that we are going to lead America out of immorality and darkness into unity and love. It's gonna happen."

That night Dr. Yang gave a profound presentation on the history of ACLC taking down the cross and the history of going to the Holy Land and the power of the work in the dispensation. Dr. Yang was extremely honest in testifying to Jesus and the fact that Jesus bride has arrived. He also talked with great courage of the need to teach both the Palestinian and Israeli leaders the way of Father's teaching to "Love your Enemy". Sheikh Ali Birani (of the Druze Religion) who is a real patriot to Israel expressed very strong sentiments about the wrongs of violence toward the Israelis. Earlier Dr. Hassan Amer, a Palestinian leader expressed the concern the same violence repeated over and over again toward Palestinians. Dr. Yang brought harmony to all through the presentation he gave. It wasn't easy but the trust that has been built by Israeli's and Palestinian's toward Father Moon is real and substantial.

The next morning ACLC took another revolutionary step in history. Bishop C. Phillip Johnson of the ACLC executive committee and chairman of the Washington Region ACLC, gave an in-depth presentation on the Mission of Jesus. He gave the presentation with total confidence and conviction and could demonstrate through the Bible that if there had been faith, Jesus could have brought life without going the way of the cross. Because of the lack of faith, there was no other way. Bishop Johnson stimulated all to understand that they must become teachers. He did it with a profound representation of the Scriptures.

Rev. Jenkins gave the presentation on restoration with an in-depth focus on the religious leaders understanding the Foundation of Faith and the Foundation of Substance. These indemnity conditions are the absolute requirement to establish the Foundation for the Messiah and to "receive the Messiah" - without those conditions we cannot "know who he is." Because John the Baptist who was in the position of the Elder (Cain / Esau) to his younger brother Jesus (Abel/ Jacob) could not set the condition to unite with Jesus, drop his work and follow completely he could not remove the fallen nature and "see the Messiah". Rev. Jenkins announced that this is why Israel could not see Jesus as the "Messiah". The key central figures who were chosen to make the foundation of faith and substance leading to the foundation for the Messiah failed to unite with Jesus. John the Baptist and Peter both did not remain faithful to Jesus. Because of this Israel couldn't see Jesus as the Messiah.

One Jewish religious leader cried out - "...not anymore. Last night at the Ceremony of Reconciliation (Feb. 4) we gave Jesus a crown and made the foundation of Substance Therefore Israel will now be able to see the Messiah !!!" This is exactly what Father has proclaimed through the success of December 22nd and now February 4th. Because the foundation of Substance was established Jews and Israel will be able to receive Jesus and unite with Christians and Muslims forming a global sphere of Godism based on the Abrahamic faiths. The struggle between Good and Evil will not be misled into a struggle between Judeo/ Christianity and Islam but now will be Islam/Judeo / Christianity/ with all believers against the darkness of faithlessness and No God. This has refocused the battle. Father also proclaimed that the December 22nd victory and now its expansion through the Elder son Nation to the world has completely liberated Jesus heart and freed him. Now Father has proclaimed that we will see the walls between Christians come down. The walls between Catholics and Protestants will dissolve. Jesus will have power for the first time to unify all Christians and lead America in a moral direction. Not only Christians but also Jews will become one with us, and also Mohammed is leading the Muslim world to become one with us. The sphere of believers will gain momentum until the ills of immorality in our society will be dissolved by the foundation of Substance being made by the Abrahamic Faiths. This foundation of substance was substantiated through the Coronation of True Parents as the King and Queen of Peace on February 4th. The Foundation for the Messiah is now set for all eternity.

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