Testimony: Observations of Declining Faith Among Members of the World Mission Society Church of God

1. A Decline in Faith Since 2013

A female member I know has continued attending the church but confessed that her devotion waned after high school. While she was once deeply involved in worship, meetings, and presentations, she revealed that by her 20s, she found it difficult to believe in "God" at all. She said it wasn’t just the church leader she doubted but the very concept of God itself. During her college years, she began drinking, socializing, and dating. Yet, she still attends worship services, describing it as a calming, meditative experience—more like seeking healing in a quiet space.

2. A Devoted Member’s Sudden Loss of Faith

I once knew a female member who, during her youth, was extremely active in the church. She was two years older than me and even participated in overseas evangelism, earning a degree of fame in our small congregation. However, she abruptly stopped attending church and later admitted she wasn’t sure God even existed anymore. Her faith had vanished suddenly, almost mysteriously.

Today, she works as an English activity teacher, a skill she likely honed during her time in overseas evangelism, though she omits any mention of the church on her social media. I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw her fabricating details about her past. It’s clear she finds it embarrassing to admit she was once a member of the church.

3. The Same Happened to My Younger Sister

My younger sister also participated in overseas evangelism. Upon her return, she enthusiastically encouraged me to strive for heaven, even writing me heartfelt letters. However, she suddenly stopped attending church and lost her faith entirely. She now barely manages to attend the Passover services, only when other members insist on it.

4. Even Passionate Evangelists Are Not Immune

In my small local congregation, the female evangelist leader was highly visible and ranked among the top three leaders. She often led prayers from the podium. However, she suddenly stopped attending services, abandoned the formal attire of her role, and began dressing like any other woman in the community. Clearly, her faith had also dwindled.

5. A Decline in Membership

I left the church in 2019, and even then, the decline in attendance was stark. My congregation used to fill both the first floor and a mezzanine level, with the first floor accommodating adults, women, youth, and students, while the mezzanine was reserved for children. By the time I left, empty seats on the first floor had become embarrassingly noticeable, and children from the mezzanine had to move to the main floor to fill the gaps. The mezzanine lights were even turned off entirely.

The women’s ministry had shrunk so much that the youth and student ministries were asked to help support them. The leader of the youth group, who made the request, likely felt embarrassed by the situation.

6. A Formerly Devout Young Woman

There was a young woman known for her unwavering faith during her time in the student ministry. Her mother was an evangelist, and she herself played piano for years, even earning awards as a representative of the church in her region. However, her faith seemed to falter after failing the national medical records exam.

Her Instagram now shows her enjoying wine, wearing luxury handbags, and going on dates with her boyfriend. It’s unclear why, but there has been a general exodus of members, and the church’s image has worsened since the Shincheonji COVID-19 scandal. Even handing out flyers has become difficult, as people rudely reject the members’ attempts.

7. The Changing Atmosphere

When I used to evangelize with a tablet PC, people were often receptive. Now, church members are treated like nuisances. Seeing members trying to evangelize at the market recently, I felt they must be hurt by the harsh rejections. Such emotional blows can weaken their resolve, leading to even more members leaving.

Faith doesn’t seem to fade gradually in this church—it vanishes all at once, which I find peculiar. While I don’t know if this is happening in other regions, during a national youth meeting, the host reprimanded attendees, asking why everyone seemed so "withered." This suggests that the decline in faith is a widespread phenomenon across the church.