Toronto, Canada – About 50 Ambassadors for Peace and friends of UPF took part in a “Vision Seminar” in Toronto on April 13, 2024. The program focused on the vision of UPF and its founders, and aimed to provide inspiration for future UPF-Canada projects and activities.
Guided by Dr. R. Thillairajan, former president of UPF-Sri Lanka, the program began with Mr. David Stewart reviewing an impressive array of UPF activities around the world in 2023 and so far this year. Beginning with an in-depth analysis of the May 2023 World Summit in Korea, Mr. Stewart then assessed the progress of continuing regional Leadership Conferences in Cambodia and the Balkans. This was followed by a quick look at activities at the national level around the world, ending with Canada and Toronto.
Ms. Lilly Tadin, president of Women’s Federation for World Peace-Canada, then offered a commentary on words of guidance from co-founders Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon on the role of Ambassadors for Peace (AFP), “a precious and valuable title not to be taken lightly!” Beginning with their words about peace, Ms. Tadin explained the role of “cross-cultural marriage Blessings” as a path to peace. She then explored Rev. Moon’s answer to the question, “How shall we live?” by focusing on the three-generation family. She shared her own experience of living in a four-generation household, and the value of unconditionally serving her aged “mother-in-love.”
UPF-Canada Chairman Dr. Moonshik Kim led the audience through the fascinating history of Rev. and Dr. Moon’s work in combating atheistic communism with a God-centred worldview. Dr. Kim began with the inauguration of the International Federation for Victory over Communism (VOC) in Japan in 1968, and ended with the Moons’ historic meetings with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in April 1990, and North Korean President Kim Il Sung in December 1991.
Dr. Kim wove together world events with the development of the Moons’ VOC work, educating leaders and the general population in Japan, Korea and the Americas. Most striking was the video of Rev. Moon waving his finger, then standing and preaching to the North Korean Politburo members, prior to meeting and embracing "my enemy, the killer of my parents," the “Great Leader” Kim.
The program ended with the appointment of three very worthy AFPs, followed by a wonderful lunch, over which many participants lingered to fully enjoy the time for fellowship. Many thanks were expressed to all who supported the event, especially to the UPF youth volunteers for their entertainment and service.
