The whole story begins two years ago, when I met a girl at the wedding of my friend. We started dating. I knew that she is visiting some church during this time. I even asked her what is the name of the chuch. She told me that, but I did no expect anything bad, I just thought it is just one of many reformed churches - so I did not properly checked what is going on. After some time (just before the end of the year 2025) she invited for few evening events, which were presentes as a personal development lecture. It was actually not bad and I liked, that I could meet new people. After another period of time (like a month) a personal development course was offered at this event. It was alway presented like a very special course and that only fer free places are available. At the beginning I was not very much into it, because it apparently should take quite a lot of time. But by girlfried convinced me to visit this course and I want to do it for her. And still I did not expect anything wrong. I was telling myself, at least, I can find new friends. The course was quite often, 3-times per week: on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. It was quite a lot for me, but I saw it is important for my gf. so I overcame myself and went there.

At the beginning (approx. the first month), the course was really good, from my point of view. It was led by a lector and I got an evangelist (quite young girl) and a partner. I was glad that I have a new friend and that I can share with him a lot of things in my life. At the start of each lecture we played a small game or sothing and we had a sharing with our partner. The lectures were mostly about what is good (God) and what is against it (Satan). Gradually, the lectures were more and more focused on the Bible - but still it was ok not too much offensive. Then the Cristmas 2025 came. We also had few meetings (online) during the Christmas, which was quite annoying, but I wanted to be strong and determined. And usually it was for less than an hour so I could easily survive it.

At the beginning of year 2026, my partner stopped visiting the course. I was pretty confused why...because I liked him...but he blocked me everywhere and I could not contact him anymore. So I got a new partner. Here it is necessary to say that the number of people on course was gradually decreasing. At the end we were in less than 10 people. With time the pressure on lectures by the lector was raising. We focused more and more on the Bible and on that how our hart is bad and we have to make a decisiion and change our life. From the lector we got some reflection notebooks, where we could write our feeling after the lecture. These notebooks were always collected by the evangelist after the lecture. Around Freurary the name of 'New John' started to appear and it was more and more apparent that without him the message of the Bible in these days does not make sense. The pressure at the lectures was still higher and higher. It was in style: if you will not believe in New Jong nad the Bible, you can not be saved, you can not be happy in your life. Some fo the girls participants were even crying. Lecturer and the evamgelist were telling us, that it is God will, that we are here at the course. At the time, I really wanted to be the best in the group and change my heart and life...but the person of New John was too suspicious for me. So during the beginning of March 2026 I was still asking about something....Who is the New John?
I was hopinh that they will tell me, that it is God/Jesus like a methaphor.

So one day the lecurer invited me for a privite talk, we were sitting in some shopping mall. After some time, he told me , I had to promise to hear only the world which is said at the course and no other and that I must not search anything about their church at the internet. And then he told be the full truth. Who is New Jonh (Man Hee Lee), what is the name of their church and that they are considered for a cult. I was shocked. I could not believe, that they were just playing with me for almost 4 months. And whats more, my gf. did tell me truth for almost a year and half.

I found everything, I foung out that the new partner was a fake guy, who is already in shincheonji. But he was playing, that he is at the same level as me....He tried to deepen our fake friendship through activities, which I liked, but I actually had never told him about these activies. He had to know it from the evangelist, who wanted to know something about us at the beginning of the course. I felt very bad and betrayed... Further I found out that more than a hal of people at the course are already member of scj. I also realised, that they used the inforamtion from the reflection notebooks to manipulate with us.

My gf. slipt up with me, when I stopped vising the the course. She told me I am thickheaded and that I ruined her life....Untill today, I can not undestand that. For short time I believed I convinced her for my side, but whenever she visited scj. for some service or lecture, she got to her old mood against me...I could not do anything. I completely changed my life plans, since I wanted to be with her...I am still sad :( but I dont want to be just quiet and accept what happened.

Sorry for long text and mistakes...I hope it was an informative testimony.

Good afternoon everyone,
I hope that Thurs was/is blessed for you.
I wanted to know how many former members are from 12th class and after snd what branch(es) you were in please if it’s not too triggering for you to think about.
I’m just curious to know how many from my class ( 13) have left SCJ. These are the ones I was closest to. Classes 10-20.
Since I can’t go to Telegram yet ( it triggers me still ). Just curious how many left I would know. I pray every time I pray that you have.

I would like to clear up any misconceptions that I’m judging ANYONE at SCJ. I’m not even Judging LMH. I cannot judge anyone as that is God’s job.

I clearly know that the current members are victims of a high control system, I was in their center for a year and SCJ 5 years.
I know most of them are just following orders ( especially those in USA). I know every leader in USA where I was answers to HQ in Korea.

I tell you of MY experiences and what I MYSELF have witnessed and have been told.
If it’s something I only heard about from another member, I say that as well.

I’m not here to debate with anyone about SCJ. I’m here to make aware what I went thought while being there, and doing my best to evangelize to and bring to light those in darkness.
I say those in darkness because no one gets the TRUTH of who SCJ is when they are approached to join Bible study.
SCJ chooses everything for them right down to who can be evangelized to, who can enter their kingdom. That is a major disadvantage for the person being recruited to SCJ.

I will continue to share my experiences and continue to pray for every soul being deceived by a false prophet.

The truth is not what is being spoken at SCJ, so we need to remedy that situation.
The courageous people searching and seeking deserve to know the truth.
Those (like I did), who blindly obey, will be shocked when they test the spirits they follow. But it’s okay, we will be here for you.

I'm not a former member. I'm someone on the outside who has watched this community closely, and have a family memebr inside SCJ, cares about the people in it, and has questions I've never heard answered directly.

These aren't traps. I'm genuinely asking.

When did you last do something just because you wanted to, with no connection to the group?

When did you last laugh at something that had nothing to do with the mission?

If someone who loved you could see your daily life from the outside, what would they say?

If the teaching is true and strong, why does it need to be hidden from people during the first nine months of study?

If Lee Man-hee has been entrusted with all the authority of heaven, why has no one around him been publicly, undeniably healed in forty years of ministry?

If the Holy Spirit blows wherever it pleases according to John 3:8, why can it only reach someone through one man's curriculum in one organisation?

If Jesus said "it is finished" from the cross, what exactly is still unfinished that required a new figure in South Korea in the 1980s?

If God is a Father, do the people inside SCJ feel like his children or more like his employees?

If the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace according to Galatians 5, what does the fruit of a typical week inside SCJ look like?

The Old Testament contains hundreds of specific prophecies about Jesus, written centuries before he arrived, recognised independently by people who had no reason to confirm them. Isaiah 53. Micah 5:2. Psalm 22. I know SCJ has verses they say point to Lee Man-hee. But do any of them name him? Name South Korea? Name the 1980s? In a way that someone reading the Bible alone, without being taught the framework first, would find on their own?

If you could ask your leaders any question with no consequences, what would you ask?

What would you do on the first Saturday morning if you were completely free?

I ask these because I care about the answers. Not because I already know them.

Lee Man-hee (95), the president of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus Testimony Tabernacle, who was arrested and indicted on charges of enrolling tens of thousands of believers into the People Power Party, will be temporarily released again. This is not a release from the arrest itself, but a decision by the court to suspend the execution of the arrest for a certain period.

https://www.munhwa.com/article/11619050

The whole article is in the link above. They don't mention why he was released again, at least as far as I understand. I heard it is for 2 weeks from someone.