Born in one of the poorest nations on earth, Sun Myung Moon grew up in a loving family that converted to Christianity when he was ten years old. As a young teenager, he began his lifelong habit of deep prayer, seeking answers for the cause of suffering and sorrow in the world. At the age of 15, Jesus Christ appeared to him and told him that God was in great sorrow because of the pain of humankind. Jesus then told him that he would have a very special mission on earth having to do with Heaven’s work.
Reverend Moon’s life is one of unparalleled love and sacrifice- he devoted his entire being to end the suffering of God and humankind. He liberated the heart of God through breaking down the barriers of race, religion, and cultures through international marriages. He strove to end world hunger through utilizing the rich resources of the ocean. He practiced loving his enemy on the world level, and defeated communist ideology through his teaching of Godism.
Once he understood God’s deep desire to save mankind, nothing could stop Reverend Moon from carrying out everything God had planned for him. He endured persecution, imprisonment and torture, eventually establishing a worldwide movement for the purpose of building God’s Kingdom on earth.
Early Life and Spiritual Calling
1920–1935
- Born as one of 13 children, on January 6, 1920, in Sangsa village in Pyong-an Province, now part of North Korea.
- Family converts to Presbyterian Christianity in 1930.
- After praying all night at Mt. Myondu, on Easter morning in 1935 he had an encounter with Jesus and received the mission to complete God’s kingdom.
Education, Biblical Research, and Revelation
1936–1945
- Studies electrical engineering at Waseda University in Japan (1941–1943).
- Joins underground independence movement for the liberation of Korea from Japanese imperialism.
- Imprisoned and tortured by Japanese.
- Dedicates himself to intensive prayer and study of Scripture to uncover the original purpose of creation, the root cause of evil and God’s arduous journey to recover what was lost.
Early Ministry & Persecution
1945–1954
- Begins public ministry after Korea’s liberation (August 15, 1945).
- Arrested, imprisoned, and tortured in Pyongyang for preaching the Gospel.
- Sentenced to five years hard labor in Heung Nam death camp. Gains 12 disciples in prison.
- Freed by U.N. forces and walks more than 100 miles to Pyongyang to find followers.
- Journeys on foot southward to Pusan during the winter months with two followers, one of whom had a broken leg. Rev. Moon pushed him on a bicycle and also carried him on his back.
- Begins public ministry after Korea’s liberation from Japanese occupation.
Founding of Unification Church
1954–1971
- Establishes Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (1954) in Seoul.
- Holds the Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony with Hak Ja Han.* Establishes the position of True Parents.
- Publishes Divine Principle.
- Initiates mass wedding ceremonies, emphasizing ideal families as the foundation of the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Made first visit to United States (1965) and created 120 “holy grounds” as part of the first of many world tours.
Global Expansion and Controversy
1971–1992
- Moves to the United States (1971), gains prominence through public speaking tours such as “Christianity in Crisis” and “Day of Hope.”
- Holds rally in Madison Square Garden with 25,000 in attendance.
- Holds Yoido Island Rally in South Korea with over 1 million in attendance.
- Founded the Unification Theological Seminary in Barrytown, New York.
- Holds Yankee Stadium Rally (45,000 in attendance) and Washington Monument Rally (300,000 in attendance).
- Sends Unification Church missionaries to 120 countries.
- Creates Ocean Church, a ministry to build personal character and revive boating and fishing industries in order to solve world hunger.
- Creates CAUSA, conducting hundreds of “Victory Over Communism” conferences worldwide.
- Launches conservative newspapers worldwide, including News World in New York, Washington Times in Washington D.C., Tiempos del Mundo in Latin America, Segye Ilbo in Korea, and Sekai Nippo in Japan.
- Faces politically motivated lawfare, leading to1982 tax evasion conviction. In response, hundreds of ministers, protesting this as religious persecution, joined his defense.
- Founds Universal Peace Federation (2005) and other organizations for global peace.
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Later Years & Legacy
1992–2012
- Speaks in Moscow at a World Media Conference and meets with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
- Travels to North Korea and meets with Kim Il Sung.
- Conducts mass wedding in Seoul Olympic Stadium of 36,000 couples (360,000 couples via satellite) from over 160 countries.
- Holds the first Middle East Peace Initiative, in which clergy of different faiths visit Rome and the Holy Land to discuss peace.
- Publishes autobiography, As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen (2009).
- Anoints youngest son Hyung Jin Sean Moon as successor in three coronation ceremonies (2009).
- Declares Kook Jin Justin Moon and Hyung Jin Sean Moon as victorious Cain and Abel in formal ceremony held in Las Vegas on June 5, 2012.
- Ascends to spirit world on September 3, 2012.
- Hyung Jin Sean Moon continues the teaching and ministry of his father.