2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: News
Korean church seeks recruits on campus
Group, which some recognize as a cult, invites students to learn more
Inna Lifshin
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.
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.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 8
Andrew J. Rennekamp
posted 2/01/08 @ 9:43 PM EST
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. (Continued…)
Peter Daley
posted 2/02/08 @ 8:05 AM EST
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. (Continued…)
JJ
posted 2/03/08 @ 8:30 PM EST
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. (Continued…)
???
posted 3/07/08 @ 3:57 AM EST
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. (Continued…)
Cultmember
posted 5/27/08 @ 6:53 PM EST
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. (Continued…)
Linda
posted 6/17/08 @ 10:43 PM EST
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. (Continued…)
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