On Tuesday morning, Cheongju, the capital of North Chungcheong Province in South Korea, was filled with excitement as 80,000 people—roughly one-tenth of the city’s population of 850,000—gathered for a Sunday service.
The congregation gathered at the Matthias Tribe Cheongju Church, part of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. A welcoming procession over four kilometres long, including 100 pastors from various established churches, was formed to greet Lee Man-hee, the Chairman of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Lee, who has visited over 40 churches this year as part of a national tour, was celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Cheongju Church.
Members of the Matthias tribe, who oversee the Chungcheong region, were joined by members of the John tribe, who manage Seoul and southern Gyeonggi Province, along with other church workers from across the country. Many members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus arrived in the early hours of the morning to welcome Chairman Lee.
Chairman Lee is known for his ability to clearly explain the Book of Revelation, a text that even pastors and theological professors find difficult to interpret, along with the secrets of 6,000 years of biblical history. Over 100 Protestant pastors from across the country attended the event to hear Chairman Lee’s sermon.
One member of the congregation, who had arrived the day before, shared: “I can’t tell you how I had faith all my life, but I couldn’t hear it anywhere else. I really wanted to see him in person and express my gratitude for letting me know about Revelation.”
During his sermon, Chairman Lee stressed the importance of a faith rooted in the Word, stating: “How grateful is God for telling us the words of the Book of Revelation that no one has known for 6,000 years, as the saints wished.” He continued, “This word is life. You have to have a faith that is 100% based on this word, which is to become one with God.”
Chairman Lee further elaborated, saying, “This is the biggest difference because we can testify the reality (of the prophecy). However, we were in the same position as people we did not know in the past. So now we have to be humble in front of everyone and explain what is right and help them understand.”
Since the founding of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Chairman Lee has consistently emphasised the importance of Revelation and the need for a Bible-based faith. In 2023 alone, he has visited over 40 churches, both domestic and international, focusing on spreading the message of Revelation through the 5W1H approach (who, what, where, when, why, and how).
As a result, many worshippers in South Korea and beyond, who previously felt spiritually unfulfilled, are now turning to Shincheonji Church of Jesus.
A former Presbyterian Church member of more than 30 years remarked: “I’ve been following many churches, preaching and attending early morning services, and even participating in cell meetings, but I couldn’t get the clear teaching that I wanted. I was shocked by Chairman Lee’s lecture, which clearly delivered all of Revelation for nearly two hours at the conference.
“When I put down my prejudice and listened to the word itself, I felt that the frustrating questions were solved one by one. Perhaps more than 100,000 people were able to complete it every year because there are quite a lot of people who have experienced the same as me nationwide and around the world.”
These sentiments are echoed in broader data. According to a survey conducted by the Korea Research Institute of Pastoral Data in September last year, 65% of the 1,000 Protestant respondents aged 19 or older said they felt spiritually unsatisfied.
Furthermore, 55% of the respondents expressed a desire for structured Bible education from their pastors. Analysts believe this survey reflects the current state of Bible education within Korean Protestantism.
Meanwhile, the steady decline in the faith of younger people in their 20s and 30s is a growing concern for Protestant circles both within Korea and abroad. In contrast, Shincheonji Church of Jesus continues to attract young worshippers, with over 100,000 church members completing its regular courses, lasting approximately eight months, every year. Shincheonji attributes this success to its “Bible-based faith” and the “excellence of the revealed word.”
A representative of Shincheonji Church of Jesus noted: “The core of Revelation is that the prophecy of the Book of Revelation, which was only thought to be a story in an old book, is actually being fulfilled, and there is even reality. In this regard, Shincheonji Church of Jesus has an undisputed basis and a systematic curriculum, so it is recognised by many people regardless of gender, age, and belief. This is due to the pastor who saw and heard the reality of the prophecy, so I hope that any believer will check and judge this with their own eyes and with an open heart.”
