Why would the General of the Korean Army, fellow comrades in the Korean War, hundreds of thousands of followers from different walks of life and various countries, put their reputation on the line to speak up for Pastor Jeong Myeong Seok? This would not be the case if he was truly a beast, a criminal, a brain-washer, a cult, and all the other inhumane labels given by the media, stoked by a small group of naysayers. (see video at the end of this article)
Why would there be zero concrete evidence, but only verbal accusations or questionable audio recordings, if what the naysayers said were true? Why do the naysayers need to stoop so low as to utilise a sensationalistic platform like Netflix to stoke negative public opinion against Pastor Jeong in the midst of the trial, instead of giving the court a fair and unbiased setting to make its decisions?
Pastor Jeong was convicted in South Korea based on a downright biased and unfair setting. When people speak up for him, they are labeled as “brain washed” and so regarded as unreliable sources by the court and media. Isn’t the court and media brain-washed (by their own prejudices) as well, and hence unfit to preform its duty of ensuring justice?
People are speaking up for Pastor Jeong because they have genuinely experienced his life and teachings, and are motivated to put their reputations on the line to speak up for the injustice. A 23-year jail sentence means little about whether Pastor Jeong is guilty, if the sentencing is faced with numerous problems highlighted earlier. South Korea, please wake up and sort out your problematic courts and social problems. Cases like Pastor Jeong’s and the suicide of a teacher over unjustified accusations are symptoms of a wider societal fracture that will only lead to a national decline.
Every individual, regardless of their position in society or religious affiliation, should be considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The right to a fair trial is a fundamental human right, enshrined in both domestic and international law.
Unfortunately, ever since the sensationalized program, “In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal,” was aired in March, the trial of Pastor Jung Myung Seok became negatively influenced by countless unethical broadcasts and publications of fake news, which has instigated a modern-day witch hunt of Pastor Jung and Christian Gospel Mission members.
Please sign this petition if you are an advocate of basic human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the eradication of fake news.
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the religious organization “S,” that caused the second wave of spread of COVID in South Korea, became an issue. As a result, national resistance to heretical religious groups exploded along with resistance to Christianity. On the internet, I Am Jesus, a parody of I Am a Singer, which was a composite of religious leaders calling themselves “the Second Coming Jesus,” was circulating.
Among them was Pastor Jung Myeong-seok (founder of Christian Gospel Mission, so-called JMS). Why is President Jung Myung-seok, who has lived the life of a “religious/faithful bride of Jesus,” being treated as a “self-proclaiming Second Coming Jesus”? Is it because human nature seeks stimulation? Instead of the Word of God that resolves life’s problems, or wholesome and touching stories, the propagating power of stimulating rumors and criticizing content is much more overpowering.
This time on Netflix, a documentary called In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal was aired and spread secondary and tertiary content, once again infringing on President Jung Myung-seok and CGM members. Hold on. Here you can just press the “Back” button, saying “Oh, this article was written by a JMS believer” or “You are a cult, so you shouldn’t speak,” but I hope you can read this until the end.
That “perspective” is repeated again
Actually, as a result of checking the main content of the program, I found out that the logic, flow, and information used to attack CGM are the same as before. Mr. K, the key figure of the opposing force who appears directly in the program, has continued to slander CGM with the same narrative since 1999 through SBS’ I Want to Know, MBC’s True Story Expedition in 2020, and JTBC in 2022. In President Jung Myung-seok’s sermon video, he distorted the audio and subtitles from “evangelize one out of ten [yeol-ai-ha-na jeon-do]” to “evangelize one woman [yeo-ja-ha-na joen-do],” and he did not hesitate to use only a portion of an audio recording of President Jeong Myung-seok to make a religious consultation with a [church] member in need sound like a sex crime.
And in 2023, through Netflix’s In the Name of God, using OTT (over-the-top) platform characteristics that are not restricted by broadcasting law, without hesitation, President Myung-seok Jeong and the CGM are portrayed in a sexual and provocative way.
This program is promoted by various media outlets as being objectively and credibly produced. However, it meticulously interprets the path that President Jung Myung-seok walked through one person’s one-sided logic and narrative, which is Mr. K’s. This path, which started with the Word of God that saves lives, is a history that Mr. K has never been a part of. Based on the malicious claims of those who left CGM and the one-sided allegations of the opposition, the broadcast only tarnishes this history as a “history that sexually seduces female believers.” It was done to the extent that I thought it was childish. There was no mention of how God’s words had resolved people’s life issues or how it solved Biblical questions. Instead, Mr. K himself is portrayed as an “apostle of justice who seeks to rescue those who had been harmed by President Jung Myung-seok.”
Video claims and contents: is all of it true?
On February 17th, CGM filed an application for an injunction to ban the broadcast, but the Court rejected it. “For past cases, they have cross-checked various materials such as videos and photos, and the part related to the ongoing criminal trial is in line with the plaintiffs’ statements since they have met and conducted interviews with the plaintiffs, so it is difficult to see them as false,” the Court described.
In the film, Mr. K’s argument, the tearful statements of the accusers, and the presented video and audio recordings of the female believers make people speculate, “President Jung Myung-seok really committed these crimes.” The reenactments also emotionally trigger the general public and induce them to believe that “this really happened.”
But are these allegations and contents true? It is unclear from where these materials were gathered, and whether they were really produced at the site where President Jung Myung-seok had allegedly violated the female believers. In particular, the full version and context should be clearly given for recordings that are offensive and shocking for viewers. Among the statements of the accusers in the actual film, there were many things that could be proven to be absolute lies.
In the Name of God may end up as a source of stimulation and entertainment (or discomfort) for the public. However, CGM, which has been quietly preaching the gospel and spreading a sound view of faith, will be undermined, and the damage to its image and members will be severe.
Currently, President Jung Myung-seok is undergoing the first trial, and no decision has been made yet. The process from the prosecution of Ms. M in 2022 to the arrest and trial of President Myung-Seok Jeong was not easy from the standpoint of CGM’s opposition. Although I cannot reveal the specific trial process and the circumstances of the accusers here, there were sufficient grounds to prove that Ms. M’s claims were false. Meanwhile, the accumulated negative public opinion led to the arrest of President Jung Myung-seok. In the Name of God is the culmination of that. The accusers, including Mr. K, appear to be trying to agitate public opinion on a global scale through In the Name of God in order to lead the trial in their favor.
It is often argued that broadcasting should be fair. However, it is difficult to come up with such good broadcasts. This is because the broadcaster’s circumstances, characteristics, and financial logic have no choice but to come into play. In particular, fair broadcasts are no fun. In a reality where few people seek the Word of God, to have content encompassing CGM’s wholesome nature and image that differ from its opposition’s claims would be meaningless from the standpoint of OTT, which pursues profit. In order to make content that sells well to the public, there is no choice but to compose content that is stimulating and R-rated.
In the Name of God is a concoction of CGM opposers who cause trouble for CGM and try to justify themselves by any means beyond logic, Netflix’s pursuit of profit, broadcast producers’ desire to succeed through an OTT platform, and the general attack of Christianity which condemns CGM as heretical. Anyone who consumes content should keep in mind that there will be a certain number of hidden agendas.
[Writing | G. jams ]
* This blog collects organized material on the main issues appearing in Netflix’s In the Name of God.
Some of them can be fully explained, but some have not been made into content due to the safety of CGM members.
2021 has been an amazing and challenging year. While many had thought COVID-19 would be a thing of the past, new variants (Delta and Omicron) amongst other reasons caused COVID-19 to persist and even emerge more strongly in many parts of the world.
In spite of these challenges, the question the Trinity pose to us is – have you made yourself anew in body and spirit this year? This was the theme and direction from the Trinity this year, and Pastor Jung had also delivered many sermons – and led by example – on how we should change ourselves anew. Making Wolmyeongdong in new ways, giving thanks in new ways, praying at even higher levels, holding services in refreshing new hybrid ways…. these are just some examples of how Providence has changed in new ways.
Just as important is how each one of us has changed in new ways. It is easy to blame COVID-19 for not being able to do things better, but this is an opportunity for us to do things in new ways. Every crisis is an opportunity, and the bigger the crisis, the bigger the opportunity. Let’s change our perspectives towards the challenges of COVID-19 and find those opportunities to do things in new ways!
This Christmas, God’s creation continues to give Glory to God through their magnificence and beauty. God also shows himself through nature to all of us. Nature continues to make itself anew daily, in an amazing cycle of life. May we celebrate Christmas with Jesus who came to this world to save us, so that we may live renewing ourselves in a Godly manner everyday, just as nature does.
Enjoy these breathtaking pictures taken by our members, reflecting God through nature.
With the spirit of peace, heartwarming soccer games took place.
<PineNews 14 May 2019> More than 300 local churches from the Youth Union of Korean Churches, part of Christian Gospel Mission (CGM), were gathered at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on 12 May to hold the 2019 International Peace Soccer Tournament. With the cheering from more than 40,000 CGM members, the atmosphere at Daejeon World Cup Stadium became even more vibrant than the 2002 World Cup.
Around 200 international players from 14 countries, including Korea, Canada, Hongkong, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Vietnam, and more than 2,000 cheering supporters were present. The matches of the 2019 International Peace Soccer Tournament were played with ‘Peace’ as the motto and with a sincere hope of the complete termination of all wars in the world. A continuous presence of a thick cloud cover over the stadium provided radiative cooling throughout the day.
The event began with a joint Sunday Service. It was followed by the opening ceremony, the semifinals, the finals, and the closing ceremony. During the Sunday Service, President Jung Myung Seok said, “The greatest blessing in human life is loving and serving God, brothers and sisters.”
During the opening ceremony of the 2019 International Peace Soccer Tournament, the Peace Cheering Group presented a performance that involved a large soccer ball with the words ‘Peace Soccer’ engraved. Leading on from that performance, large banners with drawings of an eagle and a cheetah each holding a soccer ball unfolded over the 2,000 performers.
President Jung said, “Peace soccer isn’t all about winning. It aims to promote the spirit of peace. Regardless whether you are in a team that has won or lost, let’s play peaceful matches with excitement.” He further mentioned, “Soccer isn’t just a sport. It is an artwork created by 11 players through harmonizing. I hope that today can be the day when you can show your skills to your fullest.”
After the preliminary rounds, the teams that qualified for the semi-finals were: Focus, Tiger, Cheetah, and Lion (Overseas Alliance Team). The teams performed thrilling matches. The final match was between Focus and Cheetah. Focus became the final victors from the breathtaking finals. A professional athlete from the Focus team who had been interviewed said, “With the spirit of faith in God, my team and I encouraged each other when playing the matches. I had a good time, having more fun than playing in a regular league game.” President Jung led and encouraged the tournament by playing with all the teams.
Without a doubt, the International Peace Soccer Tournament displayed the spirit of peace. During the matches, players lent their hands to the fallen opponents to help them get back on their feet. It was heartwarming to see how players encouraged other players who missed opportunities to score a goal by patting on their shoulders. The crowds also cheered for every single team. Whenever a goal was scored, everyone at the tournament became ecstatic and joyous.
A university student, Kim Heechan, mentioned, “It was awe-inspiring to see how people were in harmony through soccer regardless of their race, gender and culture.” Yang Jeesoo, who attended the tournament as a member of the cheering squad, said, “it was very charming to see the cheering squad cheering for all of the teams and players contrary to the usual cheering squads, who cheer for their team, their country and their favourite players only. Also, it was very fascinating to see how the players played the matches with delight and enthusiasm.
One of the staff mentioned, “We hope the spirit of peace shown through the International Peace Soccer Tournament will spread to all over the world, so that there will be no more wars, fighting and hatred. Young people will work harder to fulfil the true peace on this earth. Please look forward to the International Peace Soccer Tournament, which will be held annually.”
“2019 Rock Gemstone Festival” picture of brass band performing as part of the opening ceremony
[PINENEWS, reported by Hong Hwayeon] The Rock Gemstone Festival was held during the autumn season. It aimed to provide healing and solace for people who are tired of their busy daily lives, and attracted visitors.
Christian Gospel Mission (CGM, led by President Jung Myung Seok) held the 5th Rock Gemstone festival on 28 September 2019 at Wolmyeongdong Retreat Centre (aka. Wolmyeongdong). The festival lasted for 9 days, commencing with an opening ceremony, and ended on 6 October.
Wolmyeongdong is an attractive destination for both domestic and international tourists, due to its world-class stone landscape, ponds, giant waterfalls, grass lawns, dense pine forests and the top notch Korean mineral natural water. This place has been made known by people through word of mouth and the ‘Gemstone Rock Festival’ has become a global festival after its continuous development.
Since 1990, President Jung Myung Seok and CGM members have been making the beautiful, majestic and amazing world-class rock landscape in Wolmyeongdong. As part of the Rock Gemstone Festival, a 360 degrees rock landscape, formed by around 2,000 beautiful and amazing rock masterpieces, was presented to the audience.
Contrary to the weather forecast, the 28th of September, when the opening ceremony was held, had a deep clear autumn sky. Even though it was only the first day of the festival, more than 3,000 international tourists from Asia, including Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hongkong and 5,000 visitors from Korea came. A line of small but charming stone towers, made up of two piled rocks each, greeted the visitors as they walked along both sides of the 100m long path from the entrance of Wolmyeongdong to the pond.
The opening ceremony began with a friendly soccer match between Taiwan, Hongkong, Malaysia and Singapore. Later at 10am, the Sunrise Art troupe performed on the beautiful celebratory stage to the bright and humorous tunes of a 200-member brass band, receiving a big round of applause from the audience.
Visitors viewing the ornamental rock works at the Rock Gemstone Festival.
Jung Myung Seok, president of CGM, delivered the congratulatory speech and said, “There are masterpiece landscapes that are made by God’s design. Just like the inscription on the headstone (which reads), ‘designed by God, inspired by Holy Spirit, protected by Jesus Christ, and actions were taken by my disciples and I’, All the rock art works here in Wolmyeongdong are made and put up by God’s design. I hope all of you will enjoy your time here, and make unforgettable memories as you listen to the stories each rock gemstone has with God”.
At this year’s festival, President Jung had put in efforts to plant 11 pine trees and adorn the rocks. One can see hundreds of giant pine trees and even a 350 years old ‘pine tree masterpiece’ bonsai.
Visitors viewing the ornamental rock works at the Rock Gemstone festival.
The ‘1000 year Ornamental Rock Group’, consisting of domestic ornamental rock experts, is also having another exhibit. More than 100 pieces of rocks were exhibited, including 50 ornamental rocks that President Jung Myung Seok had found along the riversides through spiritual inspiration, and other rocks owned by the ‘1000 year Ornamental Rock Group’. Shapes and pictures that are carved on the stone by nature made the visitors speechless. The images of a human face, a woman, a smiling face, a bride, a mother, an eagle, a cheetah, a lion, a crane, and a palm tree immerse the viewers in nature’s amazing artistic touch.
The poem exhibition that was held during Gemstone Rock Festival.
The ‘poem exhibition’ that was held around the ambitious masterpiece rock landscape was also very popular among visitors.
Park (alias) from Seoul who visited the festival stated, “It was delightful to observe the stonewall walkway on the way to Wolmyeongdong. I was amazed to see how small rocks were carefully balanced and piled up, as if they were all stuck together permanently. I had thought they were bonded together using glue.”
Visitors from Asia who attended Rock Gemstone Festival purchasing ginseng products from Geumsan Ginseng Festival.
Visitors who attended the Gemstone Rock Festival also attended the Geumsan Ginseng Festival that was being held nearby.
The place where the Geumsan Ginseng Festival was held was bathed in yellow from shirts worn by visitors from Asia. International visitors and domestic visitors showed great interest towards ginseng, and crowded across the ginseng market and ginseng medicinal herb market streets.
The Governor of the Geumsan region, Mr Moon Jeongsoo, expressed his thankfulness towards the visitors by stating, “Geumsan is the home of Goryeo ginseng. Your interest towards Geumsan ginseng, which is one of the greatest foods for well-being with more than 1,500 years of history, is greatly appreciated”.
Every year, more than 1.18 million people visit Wolmeongdong to see its beautiful scenery.
Pastor Jung’s long-awaited memoir of the Vietnam War has finally been translated into english! With glowing testimonials from the Commander-in-Chief of the Korean Armed Forces in Vietnam General Chae Myung Shin, Pastor Jung’s Battalion Commander Colonel Lee Yeong Woo, Pastor Jung’s Platoon Leader Colonel Choi Hee-nam, the memoir is rooted in factual struggles of life and death on the battlefields of the Vietnam War that only those who have experienced it personally will understand fully. Pastor Jung’s personal experience reconciles the irreconciliable : a sincere faith in God that behooves believers to “love thy enemy” vs a cardinal need to kill the enemy to win the war and stay alive.
This is a compelling story of a young man from rural Korea who was conscripted to fight the Communists in Vietnam. Even amidst the suffering and cruelty, there must be a way to turn this war into a battle for love and peace. This story also shows why many people – young and old – follow Pastor Jung as a role model of faith in Providence.
Ambition Masterpiece. The central landscaping feature in Wolmyeongdong.
Date: 20 Feb 2020
Popular scenic locations include places of outstanding beauty, places where famous people were born, and places of historical significance. This place, Wolmyeongdong (in Seomak-ri, Jinsanmyeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungnam province) used to be nothing more than a desolate valley surrounded by mountains: it was full of weeds and thistles, and visited by no one. Then in 1989, after hearing the voice of God, President Jeong Myeong-Seok began developing it with his followers. With whole-hearted devotion, they developed and beautified the valley, and so it was reborn as ‘The Natural Temple.’
A popular scenic location should have rocks, trees, and water, and people should visit it in all seasons. Wolmyeongdong is not lacking in any of these criteria. The topography and the shape of the surrounding mountains are both exceptional. It has a wide, green lawn, a large sports field that is larger than international standard sized soccer field, majestic rock landscaping, beautiful waterfalls, a lake, gazebos located at every vista point, medicinal spring water that has healed countless incurable diseases, hiking trails through pine forests that create the purest oxygen, huge boulders in intriguing shapes, and much more. All of these masterpieces of nature come together in harmony to create scenery of extreme beauty.
The monument atop the main rock landscape in Wolmyeongdong reads, ‘All of this was designed by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, protected by Jesus Christ, and my disciples and I provided the skills and action.’
Neither the Great Wall of China nor the temples of Greece were built with majestic and mysterious boulders like Wolmyeongdong’s rock landscapes. Every year, more than a million people visit this valley from all parts of Korea and the world in order to enjoy the breathtaking landscape of Wolmyeongdong, unrivaled throughout the world.
Many regions became famous in the course of history because truly remarkable people were born there: Wolmyeongdong valley has also become known because of the great man who was born there. It has become an important place full of profound stories.
From the beginning of Wolmyeongdong’s development until it became what it is today, President Jeong worked harder than anyone else on the front line, receiving the detailed design directly from God through prayer each day.
Wolmyeongdong construction begins
Thus the place that only echoed with the lonely cry of cuckoo birds 30 years ago has now become a worldclass destination. It is a place Korea can boast of proudly to the world; a place regularly visited by people from more than 70 nations.
Church architecture is one of the most outstanding cultural features of Europe from the middle ages. Similarly, Wolmyeongdong has now become a temple, God’s palace, that will represent the religion of today.
On first seeing Wolmyengdong, visitors exclaim, “It is surely a masterpiece through which we can see the Omniscient and Omnipotent God! It’s like paradise on earth!” Astonished topographers say, “This is the greatest location; it is Jamiwon*!’
(*Jamiwon: a place with star-shaped topography regarded as a place of good fortune)
Panoramic view of Wolmyeongdong
If you have not yet visited Wolmyeongdong, try to make your way to these legendary hills. If you see it in person, you will naturally utter sounds of wonder and astonishment.
President Jeong shares deep teachings about life using the miraculous transformation of this place as a backdrop. He says, “Just as Wolmyeongdong became a different world when we developed it, a person’s destiny also changes according to how they make themselves. Make yourself with God’s Word. If you do, you will gain many things to enjoy throughout the life of your body and for eternity in spirit.”
Gazebos beautifully harmonize with natural surroundings
He was born in Wolmyeongdong, Seomak-ri, Jinsan-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungnam province. Starting in his early teens, Jeong prayed in the mountains for 21 years, read the Bible more than 2,000 times, and has studied God’s Word and put it into action for the past 60 years.
President Jeong preaching a sermon
He founded Christian Gospel Mission based on his philosophy of ‘Only God.’ He has delivered the Word God and Jesus taught him to people from more than 70 countries around the world. With that Word, he has guided more than a million people from Korea and abroad to live the life of a true believer.
Jeong graduated from The Methodist Wesley Theological Seminary in 1983. In 1998, he completed an executive management program at the graduate school of Administration, Chungnam University. In 2001, he received an honorary doctorate of philosophy from the Open International University under UNESCO in Sri Lanka.
His literary career as a poet was launched in 1995 when his poems were published in a monthly literary magazine, Munyehsajo, and since then, he has published six volumes of poetry called ‘Poems of Inspiration.’ In 2011, ten of his poems were printed in the Korean Poetry Encyclopedia, which spans 100 years of Korean poetry. His poems are loved by many, with volumes 2, 3, and 4 of his ‘Poems of Inspiration’ featuring on Kyobo’s best-seller list for poetry for several months. In addition to literature, President Jeong has a profound understanding of fine art, music, landscaping, sport, and other artistic endeavors. He founded a global movement of culture, art, and peace, and through holistic education he has raised talented and creative artists to promote peace and culture throughout the world.
Artworks and pine trees compliment the rock landscape
He constructed The Natural Temple according to the design God gave him and it is a masterpiece of landscaping that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. In just one year, he composed lyrics and melodies for more than 700 songs, published three albums, and held a gala concert. Thirteen solo art exhibitions testify to his prolific work as a painter and calligrapher. In 2011, his painting was selected as exemplary among all the artworks at the Argentina International Art Biennale. His artistic talent has been acknowledged in Korea and overseas.
In addition to six volumes of poetry, President Jeong has written about 150 religious books, such as The Word of Salvation, Predawn Pulpit, Conversations with the Holy Son, and The Record of History: the Spiritual World. He has also published collections of sermons (The Word of Life and The New Word of the Complete Testament) and collections of proverbs (Heaven’s Word and My Words, Proverbs of Wisdom, Proverbs from Sermons, Drawings and Proverbs of the New Time Period, and Proverbs of Resurrection in the New Time Period). He served in the Vietnam War not once but twice, between 1966 and 1969, and in 2018 he published a four-volume memoir based on his experiences, The War Was Cruel: Love and Peace. These books contain vivid testimonies about his extraordinary effort to actualize the philosophy, ‘love life’ and ‘make peace,’ and testify about the amazing deeds of God who was with him.
President Jeong at the front line of construction
The following discussion is about the history and the vision of Christian Gospel Mission (CGM), based on an interview with CGM’s Director of External Affairs.
1. Churches in Korea
Currently, CGM has about 100,000 members in Korea, including new and existing members and their families. In the past, we had around 400 churches in both large and small cities throughout Korea, but many were combined to form about 200 larger churches. Ten of the larger churches in metropolitan areas like Seoul and Busan have over 1500 members.
2. Oversea Churches
We have spread the gospel to people from more than 70 countries, including Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of South Africa. There are currently about 20,000 members overseas.
CGM members from across the world gather for an assembly
3. Which countries have the largest membership outside Korea? How do you spread the gospel?
Aside from Korea, membership in Japan and Taiwan has grown the fastest, and we also expect thatthe 70 other countries that have received the gospel will grow strongly in the future. The driver of this rapid expansion is the Word we teach. The Word is CGM’s greatest strength, and we base our faith on the Word. Rather than making evangelistic efforts through cultural events or volunteer service, which tend to produce short-term results, we have focused purely on spreading the gospel. More recently, however, we have extended our activities to other social contributions, working in connection with national and international NGOs that seek to provide lasting solutions to the various problems people face around the world.
Tens of thousands of members fill Wolmyeongdong at an event
4. The positive influence that CGM has brought to Korean religion and its future vision
As you know, South Korea is a nation of the mind and spirit. It even earned the label, ‘religious department store,’ for its array of religions and depth of spiritual discourse. Among these religions, Christianity has achieved notable growth and prosperity. At one point, Korean churches held significant influence over leading Christian countries in North America and Europe, foreshadowing a Christian awakening and the coming of the Messiah, but that influence has been in decline since the end of the 20th century. We are reminded of the Old Testament prophecy of Amos: ‘“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. In that day the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst.”’ (Amos 8:1113) In this time of spiritual famine at the turn of the century, our church has been a beacon of hope among Korean churches, with teenagers and college students comprising 80% of the congregation. These teachings, which are able to quench the spiritual thirst of this generation, were received by President Jeong directly from Heaven. His message emphasizes day-to-day faith expressed in action, and encourages believers to always serve the Holy Trinity and live out their faith in the midst of daily life. Many young people have found answers to their fundamental life problems in the teachings he demonstrates through his words and actions, and their lives show what an ideal life can look like. This is how our church is now seeing strong growth, despite ongoing opposition from more established churches. The members of Christian Gospel Mission strive to live as the salt and light of the earth in a society that has lost its sense of what is truly valuable, and strive to make a meaningful history of actualizing God’s sincere love and truth on the earth.
President Jeong promotes a culture of peace through sports
5. Prospects for overseas ministry
Languages and cultures differ, but truth is universal. God’s truth in the Bible is now being revealed, and this gospel will reach beyond the present 70 nations to the whole world in the next 10 years. We expect the gospel to impact both Christians and non-Christians.
6. What is the current direction of overseas ministry?
Asian countries like Japan and Taiwan are expected to continue growing strongly on the foundation of their impressive growth to date. Even in Europe, where the roots of Protestant and Catholic history go deep, our teachings are having an impact. Churches have also been established in major cities in America and Canada, and we are actively evangelizing in many parts of Oceania, Africa, and Latin America
Representative members of 22 European countries gather
7. What is the most notable difference between CGM and other churches?
CGM does not limit God’s power and His will by interpreting the scriptures literally or confining faith to the sphere of church. Rather, we help people realize that God governs society, culture, art, science, and everything else, not just religion. This is what separates us the most from the established Christian churches, which interpret the things of faith only literally and thus struggle to provide direction for members, and also separates us from other new religions that gradually center more on their leaders than on God. Another significant distinction is our determination to reclaim the arts and culture that have been corrupted by the world, through the Word of God.
8. What in Korea would you most like to show national ambassadors?
Wolmyeongdong is a beautiful, mysterious, and majestic temple built in nature, without equal in the world. Many artists and experts of various fields have praised its extraordinary features. The founder, President Jeong, always testifies that God designed it and the Holy Spirit and Holy Son protected us as we built it. The founder and the members put God’s design into action to make Wolmyeongdong a place full of stories with the Trinity. So it is most definitely the first place we would like to introduce to national ambassadors.
A picturesque view of the expansive grass lawnThe medicinal water of Wolmyeongdong, famous for healing thousands of people of various diseases.
9. What is your plan for external expansion?
Our measure of success is not the number of members. A large congregation is meaningless if we do not express the love and truth of God in our lives. However, in the course of living out this faith, our churches will continue to grow in size and number throughout the nation and the world. CGM is called the ‘Providence’ of God, and we believe that the world of Providence will see monumental growth with time.
Peace Soccer Event at Daejeon World Cup Stadium
10. What is it about Christian Gospel Mission that excites the hearts of young people?
CGM solves the fundamental problem of spiritual thirst for truth through God’s deep Word, and instills in young people a faith that is not delusional or conceptual but becomes life itself. This is our greatest power to motivate people.
A rollercoaster journey revisiting the Sunday Message titles preached by Pastor Jung Myung Seok in 2017, Christian Gospel Mission (Providence). Happy Reflecting!
Shaun McMillan, a professional animator and game designer from the United States of America, shares a testimony of Pastor Jung Myung Seok, whom he calls teacher or “son saeng nim” in Korean.
Despite tribulations, why did Shaun believe in Pastor Jung’s teachings about the Trinity and why does Shaun continue to preach the word of Providence in his daily life?
Providence Hub 