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On January 2rd to 5th, CARP Los Angeles hosted their 4th Turning Point Workshop at the Los Angeles Family Church with the theme, “Owning a Principled Life.” The purpose of the workshop was to commit to building a life of faith by understanding God’s heart and learning about how CARP’s Founders, Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, lived their lives for God and for world peace. It was also to help participants realize the need for young leadership.
The Midwest CARP Chapters, Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Indianapolis, brought together 25 participants for a weekend retreat in Camp KOHOE in Benton Harbor, Michigan last weekend from January 9 to 11. The theme of the retreat was “Becoming a Global Citizen” inspired by CARP Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s autobiography.
We utilized the HyoJeong Promise as a framework for CARP members to become a global citizen by first developing a personal and living relationship with God, devoting oneself for the sake of marriage and family, and then impacting the world in a positive way. Lectures were given throughout the three days by Gerry Servito, affectionately known as Uncle Gerry, and Pastor Josue Kisile of Grand Rapids.
From December 16 to 18th, CARP Los Angeles hosted a 3-Day Principle Workshop with around 50 college students in attendance. Mrs. Naoko Hiraki, parental mentor to CARP LA, gave the presentations, supported by Maiko Shimogawara.
The most important concept covered today was the importance of true love coming from God. It is clear that, if we exchange true love amongst each other, we will achieve heaven on Earth. - CARP ECC Member
On Friday, November 22, CARP Bay Area held their second “Peace Starts With Me” Campus Event at Chabot College with the message of “Education Empowering Peacemakers.”
The vision for these Campus Events is to offer principled education of heart and character on the campus level and encouraging more faculty, students, and community leaders to stand up for these values.
“This topic is especially relevant because we’re in college. We always ask, ‘What do we want to become?’ but not ‘Who do we want to become?’ I think that’s important to discuss.” - Mikuni Tamura, CARP Chabot College
On December 4th, CARP New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) hosted a campus wide event titled Peace Starts With Me: Standing for True Love.
“Going through this event, it made me see how life is tremendously better if we all dedicate ourselves to a higher purpose and not focus on the worldly things around us like fame and riches. You start to realize that life is so much more beautiful and fulfilling once you pursue goals with love at its center.” - Erik Fernandez, CARP NJIT member
“The thing I loved most about the conference was the environment. I really felt it was an environment where people did their research and were passionate. They all had the same values as me, and I felt very inspired and comfortable talking to them. It gave me a lot of hope for CARP as well. The talks were very amazing and logical, but heartfelt and filled with love. I felt God has been raising these people.” - Reimi Mizuguchi, Freshman at Bergen Community College
From November 8 to 9th, around 20 CARP members from 10 chapters joined the 12th annual Love and Fidelity Network Conference, Sexuality, Integrity, and the University, at Princeton University in New Jersey. The purpose of the conference was to help students articulate the reasons for sexual integrity, marriage, and family using research-based arguments. It was also an opportunity for like-minded students to interact and network with professionals and with each other. Roughly 100 students, primarily from Ivy League schools and representing different Christian denominations, came to attend the conference.
On Saturday, November 2nd, over 170 attendees gathered to take a stand for a life of sexual integrity at CARP Las Vegas’s 5th Campus Talk: You Are Worth More at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Student Union Ballroom.
Although this Campus Talk was about standing firmly for sexual integrity, the spirit of the conference was very inviting and friendly, regardless if participants completely resonated with the perspectives being offered. That being said, in a collegiate environment where it is difficult to stand up for certain values, Campus Talk was a great place to gain conviction and stand together.
On October 19th, the 24th TFV Awards Banquet was a 'Peace Starts With Me' Gala and JAM Concert attended by 1,300 people of different backgrounds and co-hosted by Family Federation for a Heavenly USA. Read more about the Banquet here. This year, CARP Grand Rapids brought 26 students to the Gala from Grand Rapids, Michigan.
CARP Grand Rapids took the Gala as an opportunity to experience a culture of heart and peace, one that lives for the sake of others, and invited their members and friends on a road trip to Chicago to see peace in action. Twenty-two students came from Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) and four from other colleges in Grand Rapids.
On October 31st to November 3rd, CARP Bay Area spent our Halloween weekend at our well-anticipated three day Unification Principle (UP) Retreat out at Oakhorse Ranch in Valley Springs. The retreat was co-hosted by Family Federation for a Heavenly USA and CARP with the theme “Discover Your True Value.” This retreat gave us, as students, the opportunity to step back from school and our regular day-to-day activities to focus on nurturing our hearts and discovering our life’s true value and purpose.
“I’m truly satisfied that I made the right decision to be here and to be a part of CARP. Because after every presentation, I can think more positively, feel peace inside and love from the people around me.” - Olivia
