CaribPR Wire

CARIBPR WIRE, WASHINGON, D.C., Sat. March 25, 2023: Under the theme of “Institutional Peace: Strengthening Communication to Build Trust”, international peace NGO, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), held its 7th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) from March 14^th to 19^th in 41 countries from Africa, Europe, North America and Asia.

With the foundation of “Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)” as a tool for comprehensive global peacebuilding cooperation, 7,000 people in the fields of politics, legal profession and religion, education, media, women and youth, will join the event where the participants share the cases of conflict prevention, mediation, and resolution to institutionalize peace as a universal culture and norm.

“This declaration, comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses, aims to restore the spirit that served as the basis for the establishment of the United Nations and to achieve sustainable peace by promoting the universal values of the global community. The DPCW contains the message of no war, peace between nations and societies, friendly relations, prosperity, happiness, this is a simple message and everyone can relate to this message,” said Prof. Dr. Md Nazrul Islam, Chairman of International Law, University of Dhaka who drafted the DPCW, in the event on March 14^th.

In his progress report presentation, Pravin Parekh, President of the Confederation of Indian Bar, presented major activities of overcoming disconnection and distrust and the progress for realizing the introduction of the DPCW to the United Nations. “HWPL has been strengthening trust and communication with youth, women, and civil society around the world in solidarity through activities such as the Legislate Peace Project, WARP Office, and Peace Education,” he said.

Emphasizing the need for dialogues among religious leaders to facilitate tolerance and understanding, Ven. Myeong An, Vice President of Yeorae Order of Korean Buddhism, said, “Currently, many conflicts, persecutions, and conflicts among religions are taking place in the global village. It’s because of intolerance and a lack of communication. However, what if many religious people come to discuss with scriptures? It will only be a matter of time before a world of peace comes.”

In the event, action plans to advocate peace in Ukraine were prepared. Participants from over 100 countries write “Peace Letters” to denounce Russian invasion of Ukraine as a violation of international law and demand Russian President Putin a total withdrawal from the Ukraine territory. “Future generations of Russians will remember you and this war as an indelible and shameful history, and you will be left in history as the one responsible for sacrificing countless innocent lives,” the letter stated. These letters will be collected and sent to Ukraine, where a peace monument will be erected.

During the speech, Chairman Lee Man-hee of HWPL emphasized, “Peace cannot be achieved alone. If everyone can live together as one, there will be no wars or conflicts. As the saying goes, love your neighbor as yourself, war will disappear only when there is love for each other. Current international law cannot prevent war. Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations, waged a war. The DPCW was introduced to renew the inoperative international law to eliminate war. Now is the time to achieve peace. Just as people learn when they have to create (something), peace must be taught at home and at school to create peace. If people’s hearts change, a better world will be created. Let everyone in the global village become messengers of peace.”

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CARIBPR Wire, PASAY CITY, Philippines, Mon. Feb. 13, 2023:The 1st National Peace Convention was held on January 25, 2023 in the Philippines under the theme, “Peace Builds One Nation, One Future: Peace is Here.” It was attended by over 1,500 peace advocates to build a holistic roadmap towards the attainment of national unity through peace in consonance with the Marcos Administration’s agenda.

Dr. Ronald Adamat, Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education, (CHED), and Founding Chairman of Volunteer Individuals for Peace, (VIP), spearheaded the event.

“We want peace to reign in our country. We want peace to be the language every one of us will speak and every Filipino and every foreigner will understand. Today, let’s declare peace as a pandemic. Infect people not to rest in peace but to live in peace,” said Dr. Adamat.

Dr. Adamat is the first Filipino recipient of the prestigious Mahatma MK Gandhi Prize for Non-Violent Peace awarded last year in recognition of his contributions to peacebuilding including the higher education.

In attendance also was Chairman Lee Man-hee of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light, (HWPL), a 92 year-old Korean war veteran.

“Peacebuilding in Mindanao after conflict is becoming known worldwide. This is the case of transforming death into life for peace. Starting with Mindanao and the Philippines, when we unite in love, peace will come to our world. For this reason, everyone in the Philippines has to become one and work together as messengers of peace,” said Chairman Lee.

The two peace advocates first met in 2017 during HWPL World Peace Summit held in South Korea. As an expression of their shared commitment to promoting peace, CHED and HWPL signed a Memorandum of Agreement, (MOA), in 2018 to integrate peace education in the higher education curricula.

The convention commenced with the first Plenary Session followed by parallel sessions in the afternoon. The parallel sessions were conducted separately for five sector groups – lawmakers and non-government organizations, academe and youth, religious and ethnic groups, women, and media. Each session drafted a resolution which contained their solidarity with the organizers’ peace-building efforts.

The five resolutions were consolidated during the second Plenary Session to call for President Bongbong Marcos to proclaim January 24th as ‘National Peace Day’ or “Truce Day”.

The date January 24th was proposed in commemoration of a civilian-led peace agreement signed at General Santos City in 2014 to boost reconciliation among the local communities. It was proposed by Chairman Lee to mediate between the existing conflict in Mindanao at the time. The date was later declared as ‘HWPL Peace Day’ by then Maguindanao governor Toto Mangudadatu in 2015 and BARMM Chief Minister and MILF Chairman Ahod Ebrahim in 2016.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Download images for use with this press release HERE and HERE

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Pastors who established MOUs with Shincheonji Church from countries across the world were invited to a press conference on April 2^nd

“We can learn the revealed word because God dwells in Shincheonji Church,” says the pastors.

CaribPR Wire, WASHINGTON, D.C., Mon. April 4, 2022:

Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji Church of Jesus, under the leadership of Chairman Lee Man-hee), recently hosted a press conference with pastors who had established MOUs with Shincheonji from countries across the world at 5:00PM (KST), on April 2nd. It was well attended by 1,500 pastors from all over the world, along with reporters and journalists via Zoom.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus hosted this event to share the progress made by the online seminars that began last year, the MOUs established thus far, and some case examples. Kim Shin-chang, the Head of the Department of International Missions shared, “Many participants from Africa that were in the Bible Seminar from August of last year reached out to establish MOUs with us. This led to the first MOU with the Worship in the Presence of God Church in Uganda in September” as he was explaining how Shincheonji first started to establish MOUs with other churches.

Some other case examples and testimonials from pastors who established MOUs with Shincheonji were shared during the press conference.

Dongsu Kim, the head pastor of Peace Church confessed, “In the past all I preached was that everyone must believe in Jesus and by sharing grace in this way would lead to salvation. Without fulfillment, I thought heaven was somewhere one went to after death. I thought there was resurrection after death,” expressing his incorrect beliefs about salvation.

Pastor Kim is presently teaching Shincheonji’s Revealed Word to his own congregation. He also stated, “The time has come for all the pastors to come and learn so that they may live a life of faith in the correct truth. I want to share Shincheonji’s Revealed Word to my fellow pastors. I want them to learn the Word and realize that their ideas of salvation are incorrect.”

Pastor Willifred Endohu, a pastor who has been leading his church for 11 years in Cote d’Ivoire, introduced himself stating, “I studied theology in a seminary and was trained to be a pastor through prayer meetings and began ministering a church in a very small room. Thankfully enough, 11 years later my congregation has grown to be about 500 members. I am also a lecturer at a seminary institute as well.”

Pastor Wilifred Endohu is currently learning Lesson 16 of the Introductory Level in Shincheonji’s Zion Mission Center. Pastor Wilifred Endohu stated, “My thoughts and knowledge about the Bible have been broken and is changing through the lessons I’ve been learning in Shincheonji. Jesus and the Word that has become flesh has struck a chord in my heart. I also want to preach the Revealed Word after I’m done studying. I want to share this Word to the people in my congregation that have been following me for the last 8 years,” as he shared his aspirations upon completing the courses in Shincheonji.

He also added, “I want to express how thankful I am for the Chairman because that’s how I could receive the Revealed Word from God. He could not have taught such a profound Word if he had not met God and Jesus. I want to tell my fellow pastors that what I have seen and verified is that all the answers are in the Bible and Shincheonji is testifying those answers according to the Bible. Please come and check for yourselves.”

Chairman Lee spoke about how he has come to share the Word and the role of pastors today.

“Revelation is about re-creation. If you look at Revelation 21, the first heaven and the first earth pass away and a new heaven and a new earth are created. It is about creating people and all creation again,” Chairman Lee stated, explaining that those who are born of God’s seed are harvested and sealed to create God’s new kingdom and new people at the time of Revelation.

He also added, “Writing the word of all the chapters of Revelation in people’s hearts is harvesting, sealing, and nurturing those who have been born of God’s seed and making them into the citizens of God’s kingdom. [This is why] Jesus showed me the events of all the chapters of Revelation and commanded me to testify to all the churches,” as he explained the role of the promised pastor today.

In his concluding remarks, Chairman Lee stated, “We must become freedom fighters of God’s kingdom that restore what God lost. Let’s fight and overcome the devil with the blood of Jesus and the word of testimony and create the people of God’s kingdom so that God may finally come and reign over the world after 6000 years. This is what [God] has made known to us through the Bible. I hope that everyone engraves the words of all the chapters of Revelation—which is the law of heaven—in their hearts. There is only one God, one Bible and one hope. We, as those who believe in God, are also one. We are one!”

Some case examples of what happens after establishing MOUs were also shared. A church named The Early Church of the New Era in the USA invited an instructor from Shincheonji to teach their congregation, and now approximately 100 members of the church are learning the teachings of Shincheonji Church of Jesus. A pastor in the Philippines is teaching his congregation after completing the Bible courses from Shincheonji Church of Jesus. A seminary school in Pakistan has opened up courses on the Revealed Word in their institution after its dean established an MOU with Shincheonji.

According to Shincheonji Church of Jesus, 2155 pastors, 22 seminary schools, and 958 churches in 67 countries have established MOUs with Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Through mutual agreement, Shincheonji Church of Jesus is providing theology materials and instructors for the churches and seminary schools that have made MOUs with them to educate people on the Bible.

This event is available for viewing on Shincheonji’s official YouTube Channel (https://bit.ly/SCJyoutube).

Shincheonji Church of Jesus has been teaching Revelation and the secrets of the kingdom of heaven through online seminars since October of 2021. The 12 tribe leaders followed suit in Chairman Manhee Lee’s first lecture on Revelation and they are all available in 24 different languages on YouTube, with over 1.5 million views to date.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus has been broadcasting the Intermediate Level lessons on YouTube from the 31^st of March, and it is set to end on the 27^th of June. These lessons are shared at 10AM every Monday and Thursday on their official YouTube channel.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A photo of  Chairman Lee Man-Hee Of the Shincheonji Church is available for use with this story HERE

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CaribPR Wire, WASHINGTON D.C., Fri. Jan. 28, 2022: On January 24, 2022, over 22,000 people from 51 countries attended a virtual Peace Conference in honor of the annual Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) Peace Day celebration. The event commemorated a civilian-led peace agreement made between the Islamic and Catholic communities in Mindanao, Philippines 8 years ago.

This year’s gathering was titled the “Law of Peace in Heaven and on Earth” and aimed to: (1) promote interfaith harmony between religions and, (2) raise public support to establish an international law for peace.

Back in 2014 HWPL, an international NGO, mediated the conflict in Mindanao by proposing a peace agreement by local representatives. Witnessed by Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL, the peace agreement was signed by local leadership: Hon. Esmael G. Mangudadatu, the then Governor of Maguindanao, and Archbishop-Emeritus Fernando Capalla of the Archdiocese of Davao. Since then, the province of Maguindanao and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has declared January 24th as “HWPL Peace Day.”  In addition, leaders have built Peace Monuments throughout the Philippines to honor the peace agreement, with the newest monument planned to be unveiled in February.

Monday’s event reaffirmed the region’s and HWPL’s continued dedication to international cooperation and the importance of local partnerships when building peace in Mindanao.  Key figures from the Philippines gave congratulatory messages including Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senator Cynthia Villar, Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, and TV News Anchor Mariz Umali. Keynote speakers from various fields also presented commitment messages declaring their plans to promote peace in their respective sectors including law, education, youth, women, private business and media.

For instance, Prabhu Mahendra Das, Temple President of Sri Sri Radha Madhava Mandir, said that he decided to participate in the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace Office organized by HWPL because it is “a global platform for religious leaders to talk, share, discuss, learn, and grow together harmoniously and peacefully.” For the contribution to peace in the field of religion, he added, “I firmly believe that all religions should enter into a partnership [with HWPL] through the form of a Memorandum of Understanding.”

Justice Raoul Victorino (ret), Chairman of Philippine National Prayer Breakfast and Dean of the College of Law of Philippine Christian University, shared how he was inspired by the “revolutionary movement” that HWPL initiated to endorse global peacebuilding by drafting the “Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). ” The DPCW was written by global experts in international law to advocate peace as a global culture and norm. He declared, “I will strive to get the support of the President of the Philippines for the DPCW. At the same time, I will integrate the DPCW [education] in the college of law by collaborating with the Philippine Association of Law Schools.”

Also, representing the Philippines education sector, Commissioner Ronald Adamat of the Commissioner on Higher Education (CHED), shared, “The CHED Commission en Banc has issued an endorsement to President Duterte, urging him to declare January 24th as ‘National Peace Day’, that will provide for simultaneous celebration and observance of peace through peace activities, events, and ceremonies by all instrumentalities and agencies of government, including the private sector. This shall also be celebrated and observed in the education sector.”

Chairman Lee, during the closing remarks, said: “Our purpose is to bring all people in the world together to create a world of peace and leave it as a lasting legacy for future generations. To make this world a peaceful place without wars, let us become messengers of peace. Let us remind people around the world of that emotion – a longing for peace – and the Peace Day so they can remember all of this forever.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: See images for use with this press release HERE and HERE

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