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As one of countless war refugees, Rev. Moon reached the southern port city of Busan, where he and a single disciple constructed the first Unification Church using discarded army ration boxes. He shared with his small group of followers that the Divine Principle’s message would one day resonate globally, predicting that people worldwide would honor that hillside where his humble hut stood. At the time, such claims seemed far-fetched, yet today, tens of thousands visit the site in pilgrimage.
After nearly five years of evangelizing in the North, Rev. Moon reunited with his wife in the South. Despite this, his unwavering commitment to his religious mission strained their relationship. Unable to accept his prioritization of the mission over family, she sought a divorce, despite his strong objections and attempts to reconcile.
On May 1, 1954, in Seoul, Rev. Moon established the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, widely known as the Unification Church. The church quickly gained followers, particularly from Ewha University, a prominent Christian women’s institution tied to the Korean government and mainline Protestant denominations. Alarmed by the number of students joining, the university sent professors to investigate. When some professors also joined, the school issued an ultimatum: leave the church or leave the university.
Simultaneously, Seoul newspapers began publishing sensationalized stories accusing the church of illicit activities and labeling Rev. Moon a North Korean agent. He was briefly jailed but released when no evidence supported the charges. The following year, he faced imprisonment again on baseless draft evasion charges, despite having been in Heungnam prison during the alleged period. After months of detention and intense media scrutiny, the charges were dropped, though his release garnered little attention. This marked the beginning of ongoing collusion among religious leaders, government, and media to suppress Rev. Moon and his church.
Despite this persecution, Rev. Moon fostered a devoted community, often called the “weeping church” due to the tearful prayers of its members. By 1957, the church had expanded to 30 cities and towns across Korea.
In the late 1950s, Rev. Moon sent the first international missionaries to Japan in 1958 and to the United States in 1959.
On March 16, 1960, Rev. Moon was blessed in holy marriage with Hak Ja Han, followed by group marriage ceremonies for his followers. Hak Ja Han and her devout Christian mother, both war refugees who fled south, had joined the Unification Church shortly after arriving.
Rev. Moon founded the International Federation for Victory Over Communism, one of many initiatives aimed at peacefully dismantling communism through education on the fallacies of Marxism-Leninism. He promoted the universal principle of “Godism” through conferences, global networking, and rallies across Asia, the United States, and Latin America.
In 1971, God guided Rev. Moon to take his ministry global by moving to the United States, a nation representing diverse peoples, races, and religions. He recognized America’s global influence and its role in liberating Korea but noted its drift from its founding ideals. Rev. Moon believed God held high expectations for this blessed nation.
