Testimony of a Former Pastor of the World Mission Society Church of God

I was a pastor in the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG). I joined the church in my twenties, an age many consider the prime of life, without knowing much about it. Through sheer effort, I rose to the position of senior pastor and dedicated nearly ten years of my life to the church. As a regular member, I firmly believed WMSCOG was the true church. However, after becoming a pastor and witnessing the inner workings of the General Assembly, I discovered a stark contrast between my beliefs and reality, which ultimately led me to leave.

2011: A Revelation of Deception

In 2011, The Dong-A Ilbo reported WMSCOG as a doomsday cult. The General Assembly responded by summoning senior pastors daily to strategize and organized silent protests in front of the newspaper's headquarters, involving evangelists from Seoul and other regions. The General Assembly instructed us to make the protests appear as though they were initiated by members, not the church leadership.

During this time, I frequently encountered “Mother God” Jang Gil-ja and General Assembly Chairman Kim Joo-cheol. Once, I witnessed Kim, frustrated with the senior pastors, erupt in anger, shouting loudly in the presence of “Mother.” Jang appeared visibly flustered, unsure how to respond.

This scene shook me. How could the Chairman, who preached daily about the importance of believing in and respecting “Mother God,” behave so rudely and domineeringly toward her? And why did none of the senior pastors or elders react? They simply sat in silence, nodding. Jang herself, trembling like a leaf, seemed utterly powerless.

The dissonance was undeniable: the “Mother God” they preached about was not treated as divine within their inner circle.

The Pattern of Lies

The duality of the General Assembly became more apparent as I witnessed their orchestration of protests and their insistence on labeling them as spontaneous acts of faith by members. This hypocrisy made me question everything.

For example, when KBS aired a program in 2006 labeling WMSCOG a doomsday cult, the General Assembly mobilized members to flood the broadcaster’s website with complaints. A similar incident occurred when SBS's Cultwo Show referred to WMSCOG as a cult, and the church’s orchestrated campaign crashed the station’s message boards.

I began to see a pattern. The leadership would initiate these actions while publicly denying involvement, claiming they were the members’ own initiatives. This realization peeled away the layers of blind faith I had clung to for years.

2012: A Turning Point

When the movie 2012 was released, the church used it as an evangelism tool, claiming “the stones are crying out.” Members were encouraged to watch the movie and use it to spread the gospel. Yet later, when nothing happened in 2012, the church backtracked, denying they had ever proclaimed a doomsday.

This blatant dishonesty was a turning point for me. I realized the General Assembly, the so-called “holy body of God,” was the source of these lies.

During the Yeonpyeong Island shelling in 2010, the church declared an “appointed day,” instructing members to gather and prepare emergency supplies. Yet, nothing happened. The same had occurred in 2006 during North Korea’s nuclear test, when we were told the end was near.

By 2012, the church leadership had explicitly told pastors in internal meetings that the Father would return before the year ended. When the prophecy failed, I finally concluded that this was not the truth.

Deciding to Leave

By mid-2012, I had made my decision. I realized they would continue to lie and find excuses to maintain their control. I left the church without hesitation, convinced it was not the truth.

“Mother” Jang personally urged me to stay, pleading with me not to leave. The thought of the members, who were being deceived, tormented me. These were hardworking, sincere people, sacrificing so much while living in poverty, only to be exploited by the church.

I could no longer stand before them, preaching and collecting offerings, knowing the truth. I felt overwhelming guilt, and my conscience would not allow me to stay. After praying tearfully, I decided to leave quietly.

Moving On

When I left, I had no savings. As a pastor, I earned just 970,000 KRW a month, from which I had to pay tithes, Zion offerings, meal expenses, and thanksgiving offerings. Even when I managed to save a little, it was often taken for “special thanksgiving offerings.” Leaving the church penniless, I struggled immensely but found solace in knowing I had escaped.

I burned every record I had of the church’s teachings and cut ties completely. Unsurprisingly, 2012 passed without incident, confirming what I already knew.

A Warning to Others

Looking back, I am deeply ashamed to have been a senior pastor in such an organization. I misled many innocent people, and for that, I am profoundly sorry. Blind faith is dangerous; once someone’s beliefs are cemented, they reject reason and dismiss opposing views.

The WMSCOG bears striking similarities to North Korea. The manipulation, secrecy, and control are eerily alike. The General Assembly’s directives, which often defied logic and morality, revealed the true nature of the organization.

To those still in the church: I urge you to reconsider. Don’t waste your life in a hollow faith built on lies. Free yourself from this deceptive group and reclaim your time and life.