World Mission Society Church of God
A Korean cult accused of brainwashing and human trafficking
1964 - present
The World Mission Society Church of God is a South Korean cult founded in 1964, which believes the leaders are divine. They have been accused of brainwashing and human trafficking, which has prompted several investigations. However, these investigations have generally failed to find any wrongdoing.
Religion: Christianity
Denomination: Other
Founder: Ahn Sahng-hong
Founded: 1964 in South Korea
Location: International; headquartered in Bundang, South Korea
Size: 100,000 (2013) (the church claims to have 2 million members)
Also called: WMSCOG
One former member, Michele Colon, sued WMSCOG for being a “profit-making” cult that “uses a number of psychological control tactics…to prevent its members from exposing its criminal and tortious behavior” (source, source)
Authorities in Vietnam have seized church property after determining the church to be psychologically harmful (source)
Investigated for human trafficking at several college campuses but has never been convicted or prosecuted (source)
Believes Ahn Sahng-hong is the second coming of Christ (source)
Predicted the world would end in 2012, according to former members (source)
Former members have reported that the church discourages procreation and encourages members to get abortions because it is "pointless and selfish" to bring a child into the world when it is about to end (source, source)
Believes founder Ahn Sahng-hong is Christ and co-founder Jang Gil-ja is God the Mother (source)
Reportedly does not reveal all their beliefs to a person until they are already an established member (source)
Books:
Thousands each day are being approached by missionaries who teach that Jesus Christ has returned, and that the Bible teaches there is a Mother God. Many Christians are caught off guard at this newer teaching, and are not prepared to respond and share the truth. The purpose of this book is to provide a Biblical response to the false teachings of the World Mission Society Church of God, and to equip Christians to “give answers” when approached by this group.
“The World Mission Society Church of God believes in God the Mother,” their website proclaims. In fact, Mother God lives today in South Korea. According to the World Mission Society Church of God’s website, by 2008 they had one million registered members worldwide.
With churches established in New York and Los Angeles, their presence in the U.S. is growing. They teach “salvation will never be given to those who are stuck on the name of Jesus” and all must accept “Christ Ahnsahnghong,” their founder, and Mother God for salvation. All of these teachings, they claim, are supported by biblical evidence.
So, how do we test all things, especially teachings claiming to be from God? We test them against God’s own written words: “But test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16) Is the World Mission Society Church of God the one, true church? Is Mother God our only hope for salvation?
In the tradition of Walter Martin’s classic The Kingdom of the Cults, Searching the Bible for Mother God scrutinizes the biblical claims of the World Mission Society Church of God and sees if they pass the test. This book will benefit those interested in biblical Christian theology, apologetics, and evangelism. Composed by God From the Machine, an online blog dedicated to promoting and defending biblical Christianity.