Prayer Turnout Prompts Chicago Cheon Shim Won Expansion

Photos courtesy of Jack Sharp

Across the Midwest, some 130 Unificationists gather daily for Cheon Shim Won prayer online and in person — and in the Chicago community, where a Cheon Shim Won opened in late April, the turnout has led to a prayer room expansion.

“Six state leaders gathered [on April 29] and we had a beautiful opening ceremony,” recalled Rev. Kazuo Takami, FFWPU USA Midwest director, during a leaders’ meeting July 25. He said for more than a week following the opening, about a hundred people offered prayers at the Cheon Shim Won every day. But to better accommodate the community, he said a bigger prayer room at the Chicago Family Church became necessary.

“The daily attendance in Chicago [averages] like 36 [people],” Rev. Takami said. However, the expansion project, which began July 15, has tripled the size of the prayer room to now hold as many as 60 people at a time. Rev. Takami said with the help of Rev. David Rendel and a few volunteers, the quick renovation merged three rooms — including Cheon Shim Won USA President Dr. Ki Hoon Kim’s former office — to increase the space from 200 square feet to nearly 600 square feet.

“I want to see more people come [to the Cheon Shim Won] in person before Sunday service, and even after the worship service, people can come and pray there,” said Rev. Takami.

“I really [feel] America is a leading country for the sake of God’s providence,” added Dr. Kim. “This is a new era with True Mother.”

The new Cheon Shim Won — which True Mother referred to as “the best and last gift for the USA” — has already touched people nationwide who have felt personally uplifted by the prayer rooms of each community. Rev. Joy Sigur Ramza-Sedehi, ACLC WIM Chicago chair, said she felt “anointed” and “transported” closer to True Mother while in the sacred space.

“For the first time in my life, I am able to embrace the anointing of the Lord that is upon me through Mother Moon, [her] heart, and direct alignment to Heavenly Mother,” Rev. Joy shared in a testimony

“This is an amazing testimony,” said Rev. Takami, who reported Rev. Joy comes to the Cheon Shim Won every day and hosts a reading of True Mother’s memoir once a week. “Her reading is always spirit-led,” Rev. Takami said, calling the prayers and memoir reading “the strongest combination” for this age. “We are so grateful for the Cheon Shim Won,” he said, “and True Mother’s vision for America.”

You can learn more about Cheon Shim Won USA here.