"World Mission Society Church of God Faces Urgent Calls for Countermeasures Amid Targeted Proselytizing of Women"

The World Mission Society Church of God (formerly the Ahnsahnghong Witness Society Church of God) has been accused of engaging in intensive proselytizing activities targeting women, particularly those from traditional Christian churches. This has led to calls for urgent preventive measures.

On October 9, the Victims’ Countermeasure Group for the Church of God (Hapimo) and the Zionism Association, a group of former Church members, held a press conference at a restaurant in Seocho District, Seoul. They stated, “The Church of God advocates a doomsday theology and specifically targets women aged 20 to 40, particularly those with children who are members of traditional churches.” They warned, “Since over 95% of the Church's members were previously affiliated with traditional churches, individuals approached with claims about observing the ‘seven feasts,’ including the Sabbath, Passover, and Feast of Tabernacles, should immediately report this to their pastors and sever ties.”

Kang Geun-byeong, the head of Zionism, pointed out, “The Church of God is even more dangerous than Shincheonji due to its highly addictive doomsday theology. This leads to frequent cases of women running away, divorcing, committing child abuse, or abandoning childcare responsibilities. The Church operates an extremely closed structure, requiring fingerprint recognition for entry, and it maintains a highly centralized organization, which results in significantly greater harm compared to other sects.”

Woo Jong-hyun, a former pastor in charge of a Church of God congregation in Daegu, stated, “The Church of God has continuously expanded its influence through its doomsday predictions in 1988, 1999, and 2012, now boasting 400 churches and 200,000 members. The wealth amassed through these efforts amounts to approximately 3 to 4 trillion won.”

The two organizations also offered advice to avoid becoming targets. “The Church of God often focuses its recruitment efforts on homes displaying church plaques or hanging children’s laundry. Removing church plaques and avoiding interactions with individuals who approach in pairs, introducing themselves as ‘a neighbor’s baby’s mother,’ is recommended.”

The World Mission Society Church of God, which worships the late Ahnsahnghong as "Father God" and Jang Gil-ja as "Mother God," has been officially classified as a heretical group by major Presbyterian denominations, including Tonghap, Hapdong, and Hapshin. On the same day, Zionism filed a complaint with the Seongnam District Prosecutor’s Office against the Church’s affiliated organization, the International WeLoveU Foundation (chaired by Jang Gil-ja, represented by Lee Kang-min), alleging violations of the Act on Collection and Use of Donations.