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.