Korean church seeks recruits on campus

Do you know of the Heavenly Mother?

Many students do now, after recent encounters with teams of missionaries on campus.

Members of the World Mission Society Church of God have been proselytizing on campus over the past few weeks, approaching students on various street corners and outside University buildings.

The Korea-based organization is one of a number of groups that have broken off from the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its principal belief is the second coming of Jesus Christ in the body of Korean man Ahnsahnghong, the group's founder.

Religious Studies professor Stephen Dunning said many conservative Christians would consider the group a cult, given its deviations from traditional interpretations of the Bible.

It is not unusual for such groups to try to recruit college students because they believe they are more open to new ideas than adults, he added.

Many students at Penn said they have encountered representatives from the group, which is not associated with the University, on multiple occasions.

College sophomore Sarah Martin said she was approached by two young women from the organization as she was about to cross the 38th Street bridge one day last week. One walked with her to Logan Hall and then invited her to a Bible study session.

Martin said she found the incident more humorous than anything else. "I didn't want to interrupt her because she seemed so intense," she said.

College junior Eliora Porter said two recruiters stopped her last Friday to ask whether she had heard of the Heavenly Mother, a central figure in the group's belief system. When she said she was in a hurry, the missionaries expressed their disappointment.

"It's kind of annoying that they're harassing me when I'm in a rush," she said. "I don't like the idea of missionary work in general, of having to convince people that your beliefs are right."

The group did, however, manage to engage some Penn students in conversation.

College junior Kathleen Sieffert, an officer of Penn's Campus Crusade for Christ, said she talked to two representatives from the World Mission Society for 10 minutes on Locust Walk, discussing their differing interpretations of certain Bible verses.

"It was a totally peaceful conversation and we ended it agreeing to disagree," Sieffert said.

Penn has no policy regarding such groups proselytizing on campus, as long as they do not pose any danger or impediment to the community, University spokesman Ron Ozio said.

Still, religious leaders on campus warn students to be wary of any deceptive information or messages such groups may offer.

Interim University Chaplain Charles Howard said that, while rare at Penn, visiting religious groups have been known to put pressure on vulnerable college students.

According to Dunning, proselytizing was more common in the early years of his career at Penn but has died down since the late 1990s. For example, he said, the Unification Church, whose members are sometimes called Moonies, has a building on 41st Street and used to have a more noticeable presence on campus.

Despite repeated attempts, members of the World Mission Society could not be found for comment on this article.

Comments (15)

How did you get them to tell you which religious group they were with? I talked to one guy for an hour and he refused to tell me who he was proselytizing for. Every time I asked him "What group do you represent?" or "What is the name of the religion that you are part of" he would pretend that he didn't understand the question and would say "I'm from Korea." He also misused several bible verses to "support" the idea of a female deity, but each one was taken out of context or twisted to support his view. And he completely ignored and refused to comment on the fact that all throughout the bible God refers to himself in the masculine.

hmm, No wonder why Christ Ahnsahnghong didnt perform miracles, because its the false Christs that will be doing that... Ahnsahnghong only testified to himself through using the scriptures just as Jesus did 2000 years ago.. but at the time that he was alive most members didnt realize he was testifying to himself. but when he completed the 37 years and passed away after completing his mission to reveal Mother, then they realized that he was the one who fullfilled the prophecies he was revealing and from that point on they called him Father instead of Teacher as they did before his physical death.. thats why if anyone tells you that the christ is here, then its impossible because he planned to reveal he was the christ after he already left the earth so of course he wont be here, hence the lightning reference your using. We just barely caught a glimps of his back realizing he was the Christ when he left.. maybe you should learn how to read the bible. just cause your a teacher doesnt mean you know anything, your a false teacher and will receive a great reward in the last day for it.. good job.. and get your history right before you assume things other people make up..

Im a Bible Teacher and scholar. The Old Testament prophets condemed the worshiping of a "Queen of Heaven" in the book of Issiah. You have to be an idiot to believe that some Korean guy who's dead and has done no miracles to be God. The most dangerous cults in history claimed that thier leaders were "God". In Mark 13:23 24:Even Jesus himself said there will be false Christs. 23�?At that time, if anyone says to you, �?Look! Here is the Messiah!�? or �?There he is!�?, don't believe it, 24because false messiahs and false prophets will appear and display great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25Remember, I have told you this beforehand. 26So if they say to you, �?Look! He's in the wilderness,�? don't go out looking for him.[h] And if they say, �?Look! He's in the storeroom,�? don't believe it, 27because just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there's a corpse, there the vultures[i] will gather.�? If your from the church of God and you claim that Ahn Sunhn hong is God the your just an idot who doenst know how to read the Bible.

I ran into them in Korea. Indoictrinated followers intent on making loyal obediant robots out of others. Nice kids, but seriously indoctrinated and seeking to indoctrinate others, and I've heard from a couple of former members that breaking up families is something this cult is quite fond of. Here are a couple of bloggers and their experiences with this cult: http://brendoman.com/wardwords/2005/11/21/cult#comments http://wmscog.wordpress.com/ http://cog-ash.blogspot.com/ Nice article, good work. Peter

Believe in yourself, family, and friends. Do not be brainwashed to believe in a nonsense so fictitious and contradicting. Go tell these proselytizing idiots to do something anatomically impossible to themselves.

I am Korean student. I am really upset with them. Actually, in Korea, most people hate them. I really don't understand why they are doing that here. In a word, they are sort of crazy.

[QUOTE id="ca0ceda9-bb89-4fcb-9645-9f1066177edf"]I am Korean student. I am really upset with them. Actually, in Korea, most people hate them. I really don't understand why they are doing that here. In a word, they are sort of crazy.[/QUOTE] Ok, I am one of that "crazy" people. It is interesting that just You who can call me crazy. In the Bank I am working as Fraud Detection Manager nobody thinks so. I protect people like you. Please, do no judge someone just because he/she is not like you...

The word "Elohim" directly translates to "Gods." The Bible testifies that God exists in the female image, God the Mother, as well as the male image, God the Father. World Mission Society Church of God has received Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong, God the Father, and the heavenly Jerusalem, God the Mother. When people hear the word "God," most immediately think of "God the Father," holding to the fixed idea that only God the Father exists; however, the Bible clearly testifies that there is a God the Mother in addition to a God the Father. We sincerely hope that you can break your fixed, man-made ideas so that you can receive the true Saviors: Christ Ahnsahnghong and Jerusalem Mother. Then, let us discover why the members of the Church of God accept Christ Ahnsahnghong and Jerusalem Mother as their Elohim God.

I was in this cult, it's all bogus. After 10 months my husband and I left and they got pretty angry and rude with us. They basically only wanted our money. Thank goodness I managed to break free, many get stuck in the group forever.

My sister is members of this church! But She changed very beautifuly .Now she is very happy with her husband. Why are you tellig like that?? I am not understand....

Hi~ I go to Church of God. Church of God believes in second coming Jesus Ahnsahnghong and heavenly mother! The Church of God, established by God, does not follow man-made rules, only God's laws. They recognize that no one is able to give salvation except God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Jesus already revealed that those who follow the laws of men cannot be saved. Mark 7:6-9 ?He [Jesus] replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!"? The Church of God was established on the foundation of the apostles who followed the teachings of Jesus Christ, and it has not changed since its inception. The true Church follows the laws which Jesus and the apostles observed. No matter how many members a church has, if the church has different doctrines than those of Jesus Christ, it could not have originated from Jesus. We keep the Sabbath day�?the memorial day of the Creator�?not observing the law of the Old Testament, but following the law of the new covenant which Jesus and the apostles obeyed. The saints, who will be saved on the last day, the day of God's judgment, are those who follow in Jesus' footsteps. The Sabbath day, one of Christ's footmarks, is a very precious commandment of God. Please follow only God`will.

Actually Church of God teaches of the free gift of water of life coming from the Spirit and Bride. (REV 22:17) The Spirit and the bride say "come" and ....receive the FREE gift of water of life. By the way did they ever bill you for all the 10 months you stay studying with them? I think we all know the answer! Try to have a beautiful day....QUOTE id="fa570eb8-1625-4a6c-8608-4d86bf53d9de"]I was in this cult, it's all bogus. After 10 months my husband and I left and they got pretty angry and rude with us. They basically only wanted our money. Thank goodness I managed to break free, many get stuck in the group forever.[/QUOTE]

Well this is the whole conclusion of the matter to the whole world. Wether you agree or disagree, like it or hate it, approve or disapprove, HEAVENLY FATHER CHRIST AHNSAHNGHONG AND MOTHER are still and will continue to be revealed and glorified in the whole world. Church of God is increasing even under persecution from false prophets, just like 2000 years ago, when ever the diciples received persecution then the more the True Church Of God grew and spread rapidly like the fragrance of the cedar tree. So you can talk and talk but no matter what OUR GOD ALMIGHTY FATHER AND MOTHER WILL WIN. Yes a great reward is waiting for you.

these groups of guys are bunch of idiots. i am sooo sorry for them. they are lied. and are trapped by satan... what can we do? we can pray for them. but it is last days and so many stupid cults are all over us. feel shame and sorry for those who believe in HEAVENLY MOTHER! idiots!!! sorry, i am too rude.

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