Beloved True Parents,
distinguished guests, members of the Family Federation
for World Peace and Unification International, family,
friends, ladies and gentlemen. It is a distinctly
humbling experience as well as a great honor to stand
here before to receive this appointment as vice
president of this world-renowned organization.
This appointment is
all the more significant to me since the Family
Federation represents the culmination of my father's
lifelong efforts. It has always been my life's goal to
ultimately aid my parents in building God's kingdom here
on earth through the formation of God-centered families
and, with this appointment, I can finally join them in
their crusade.
Before I begin, I
would like to extend my appreciation to all of you
gathered here today to celebrate this day with me. I am
deeply touched by this warm reception, your best wishes,
and your vote of confidence. Thank you very much.
Fellow members of the
Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
International, we stand today at a crossroads as we
welcome the new millennium. Although your efforts over
the past three years have laid the seeds for positive
change throughout the world, the world is still plagued
with its historical problems of war, social and moral
decline and, most importantly, the disintegration of the
family. Every day we are bombarded with images and news
of regional, racial, ethnic and even religious conflict
around the world, in our communities, and even in our
homes, flaming the sparks of cynicism and defeatism in
the human condition. The alarming statistics of high
divorce rates, teenage pregnancies, drug abuse, youth
related crimes, and AIDS attest to this sate state.
The true casualty of
this onslaught is the family. That is why the mission of
the Family Federation for World Peace to establish
God-centered families working to bring about world peace
is so important in addressing the many problems of the
world today.
My father, from a very
young age, knew that the key to unlocking God's misery
as well as the suffering of mankind lay in the formation
of a God-centered ideal family a true family. According
to his teachings, the family in its perfected form is
the highest expression of God's ideal. Within this basic
social unit, the purpose of an individual man and woman
is fulfilled when upon their union as husband and wife,
they bring forth children as a product of their love. In
addition, all the realms of heart expressed in the form
of son and daughter, brother and sister, husband and
wife and father and mother relationships are fulfilled
within the family.
Regardless of who we
are or what station we hold in life, are we not the son
or daughter, brother or sister, husband or wife and
father or mother of someone else? It is within the
family then that we find all the essential relationships
of heart that teaches us about faith, trust, obedience,
compassion, forgiveness, humility, vulnerability and
most of all true, unconditional love. It is within the
family that our social consciousness is formed and our
worldview molded.
If this essential
social unit were flawed, then, would it not affect the
whole of human society and even the world? I think the
answer is clear. Problems stemming from the first human
family have infected tribes, nations and ultimately the
world throughout the course of human history. My father
has been working tirelessly over the past 60 years to
restore man's first family so than once again mankind
could rest in the bosom of God.
The cross my parents
had to bear to bring forth the Family Federation for
World Peace and Unification International just three
years ago was fraught with unspeakable, and often unseen
suffering. As a son, I understand the sacrifices they
made all too well. My parents had to endure ridicule,
false accusations, and even imprisonment from the hands
of those they were trying desperately to help.
I still vividly
remember the day my father had to leave our home in East
Garden to enter Danbury prison. I was only fourteen
years old then and I remember how much anger I felt
towards America in first humiliating and then
incarcerating my father. However I remember how my
father consoled me and my brothers and sisters,
reminding us that through this sacrifice God will bless
America even more.
I do not think any man
or woman has endured the level of persecution that my
parents have faced throughout their ministry, yet they
hold no bitter feelings or ill will towards anyone.
Walking the course of pioneers, they faithfully and
unflinchingly paved a path for us here today This path,
unfortunately, has been paid for in blood, sweat and
tears.
Recognizing the
immense suffering endured to erect the Family Federation
for World Peace, I cannot but feel unworthy in receiving
my appointment. As a young man, who has yet to be tested
by life's trials, I still have much to learn and
prepare. However, what I might lack in experience, I
hope to make up for in youthful vigor and deep-seated
desire to aid my parents in their life's mission.
I believe there are
two areas in which I could make a positive contribution
to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
International. The first area is in the field of
education. As a son, I have been very fortunate to
intimately witness the extraordinary lives of my
parents. Although I have been constantly impressed with
the level of dedication and faith that many early as
well as current disciples have exhibited, I could not
help but notice the difficulty many have faced in trying
to live up to the standard of faith, love and obedience
maintained by my parents. Intimately knowing the
standards by which my parents live as well as struggling
myself to live by them, I feel I am in a unique position
to offer guidance and assistance to those in need.
Secondly as a young
man, I believe I have a clear obligation to revive the
second generation of our movement as well as offer a
fresh new vision for the world's youth. I firmly believe
that the second generation carries the hope of our
movement as well as the world, for they are the direct
heirs of my parents' work. Up until now, however a
systematic course of education and development was not
laid out to prepare these youths to rightfully inherit
their birthright as the heirs of our movement. As a
result, many have become disillusioned and have fallen
astray I pledge to alter this current state by
reinvigorating them to recognize their value as
historical figures in bringing about a world of peace
and love. By raising these young people to represent
God's ideal, they will offer an alternative standard of
life to the young people of the world.
Over the last three
years, the Family Federation for World Peace has touched
the lives of hundreds of millions through its mass
blessings and rededication ceremonies as well as through
its countless peace initiatives to spawn co-operation
and understanding in the fields of academia, religion,
politics and the media. Clearly, it has been
unprecedented that an organization with such a short
history could have made such an impact in addressing the
world's many problems.
The success of the
Family Federation is rooted in its statement of purpose:
to create God-centered families as the cornerstone of
building a New World of Peace and Harmony. I ask all of
you to embrace this motto and move forward with me in
spreading this message throughout the world, thereby
fulfilling my parents' lifelong mission.
Dear members of the
Family Federation, we stand in the springtime of a new
era. What we sow today we shall harvest in the future.
Since we are standing at a crossroads in history, please
rise with me and face the challenge of redirecting a
world of decay into a world of hope and life. As we
enter the new millennium, let us move forward with
confidence that the day will come when all the 6 billion
people of the world may shout with joy for their
liberation from the heavy yoke of sin, hatred and
conflict. May the year 2000 represent a new era in man's
history where he may live once again in the bosom of
God's heart.
Thank you very much.
