You may know us as the Unification Church or the Moonies (a derogatory term, by the way). These are the firsthand stories of how our members joined this new religious movement and why they stayed.
Publisher
Family Federation for World Peace and Unification USA
Today we’re joined by Shinghi Detlefsen. Born in Berkeley, California, Shinghi is the youngest son of George and Pat Detlefsen, who were Blessed in marriage at Madison Square Garden in 1982. He was raised in a Unificationist household, and like most second-generation Unificationists, he had to discover the value of that.
Shinghi’s journey of spiritual discovery started when his father died in 2005 from Parkinson’s disease. Shinghi was just 15. His father’s death sent him on a path to discover his faith, his principles, and his purpose.
After seven years of corporate life at Google and Amazon, Shinghi now works alongside his wife running Wholesome Story (https://wholesomestory.com/), a leading fertility and women's wellness supplement company. He has four wonderful children who are the greatest teachers in his life.
22 Jan 2024
Peggy Yujiri: No One Can Make Me Do Anything
Today we’re joined by Peggy Yujiri. Peggy grew up in a small college town near Philadelphia. She spent her junior year of college in Munich, Germany, and decided to finish her studies there. While there, she met and joined the Unification movement in 1974 after receiving a revelation from God.
Peggy returned to the U.S. in 1977 and Blessed in marriage to her husband from Japan in 1982. They then moved to Colorado, where their three children were born. They all inherited the tradition of receiving the Marriage Blessing. Peggy has served in various leadership positions in the Unification movement. She also returned to school to complete a degree in accounting and earned a CPA license in 2015. She and her husband continue to find ways to serve the greater community and their local church.
13 Jan 2024
Sandra Lowen: I Was Looking for the Messiah
Today we’re joined by the Rev. Dr. Sandra Scott Lowen. Dr. Lowen is a licensed clinical therapist with more than thirty years of experience and a Ph.D. in Literature and Creative Writing. She is an ordained minister and author of several novels, articles, poems, and musical compositions.
Dr. Lowen became affiliated with the Family Federation through what was known as the Unified Family in November of 1966, moved by the Divine Principle. Just one year later, she was inspiring others with its teachings and became one of the earliest African-American members in the U.S. In 1972, she performed her original music with a choir on the initial Day of Hope tour.
Dr. Lowen attended the Marriage Blessing in 1975 and continued with the performing arts for several more years. She worked with Common Suffering, an organization set up by Mrs. Moon to bring awareness of religious persecution. She then returned to New York in 1985 as a lecturer of Apartheid and Economics.
The Lowens have maintained a private therapy practice since 1992, specializing in couples, family, and group therapy, and have conducted marriage and other seminars throughout the United States. They have one adult son and two grandsons.
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4.7 / 5
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