If You Suspect Shincheonji in Your Congregation

Shincheonji is known for intensive Bible studies and an emphasis on parables and Revelation. Shincheonji teaches that Lee Man-hee is the promised pastor who can correctly explain Revelation.

Sources: Christianity Today (13 December 2023); Charisma (8 February 2023).

Shincheonji also teaches that Bible verses carry a “secret meaning” and that Revelation is written in parables that only Lee understands.

Source: Christianity Today (13 December 2023).

Some recruitment begins with familiar Christian teaching before introducing the group’s distinctive claims. One former member describes teachers who said, “We’re part of something more, but we’ll reveal the truth when you’re ready.”

Source: Christianity Today (13 December 2023).

Christianity Today reported that recruits were told to keep the classes secret from family, and that the name Shincheonji was revealed only later.

Source: Christianity Today (13 December 2023).

Pay attention if a congregant describes a Bible study that:

• Focuses heavily on parables, the “secrets of the kingdom of heaven,” or Revelation.
• Claims that Scripture contains hidden meanings that only the group can unlock.
• Teaches that the established churches have fallen away and that one organization has the truth.
• Does not disclose the teacher’s church or organization.
• Tells participants not to discuss the lessons with their pastor or family.
• Encourages members to invite others without clearly explaining the study’s affiliation.

Source: Christianity Today (13 December 2023).

Shincheonji’s teaching that the established churches have fallen away appears in its own books.

Primary source: Lee Man-hee, Creation of Heaven and Earth (Shincheonji Press, 2009), p. 157.

Primary source: Lee Man-hee, The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation (Shincheonji Press, 2015), p. 408, which refers to “pastors of the denominations that belong to Satan.”

None of these clues by itself proves that a person is involved with Shincheonji. They are reasons to ask questions and check the facts.

Avoid confronting the person in front of the congregation or beginning with a label such as “cult member.” Speak privately, calmly, and directly. You might say:

“I heard you’ve been attending a Bible study outside the church. I’d like to understand what you’re learning and who is leading it. Did they tell you what church or organization they represent?”

Then listen. Ask whether the person has been told to keep the study secret, whether they have been encouraged to recruit others, and what they have learned about Shincheonji and Lee Man-hee. If they are willing, ask them to show you the study materials or provide the organization’s name.

A respectful conversation does not mean avoiding hard questions. It means asking them without humiliating the person or assuming in advance what they will say.

Check the study’s name, teachers, organization, and stated beliefs. Search the exact name alongside “Shincheonji” and “New Heaven New Earth.” Look for the group’s statement of faith and whether its representatives answer direct questions about their affiliation.

A search result is a starting point, not proof. Shincheonji may use other ministry names, such as Cornerstone and Pathways Ministries, and outside studies may have similar themes without being connected to the group. Base any action on information you can verify.

Source: Christianity Today (13 December 2023).

If there is a credible concern, inform the congregation in measured terms. Explain that Shincheonji members may invite people to Bible studies without initially disclosing the group’s identity.

Source: Christianity Today (13 December 2023).

Encourage members to ask who is leading an outside study, check the organization’s beliefs, and speak with church leadership before committing to a private or secretive program.

Teach the congregation basic checks:

• Search the exact name of the Bible study, ministry, or organization together with “Shincheonji” and “New Heaven New Earth.”
• Look for the group’s statement of faith, leadership, and history.
• Ask directly whether the study is affiliated with Shincheonji.
• Bring questions or unfamiliar teaching to a pastor or trusted leader.

Make your church’s own statement of faith easy to find and explain it regularly. Members who understand what their church teaches about Jesus, salvation, Scripture, and the gospel are better equipped to evaluate conflicting claims.

If you confirm that a person is recruiting for Shincheonji or concealing the study’s affiliation, address that behavior clearly. A pastor might say:

“I understand that you are connected with Shincheonji. You may attend worship here, but you may not recruit our members through undisclosed Bible studies or misrepresent your organization. If you want to discuss your beliefs, you need to identify your affiliation openly.”

Set and consistently apply church policies about outside Bible studies, recruiting, and the use of church property. If the person continues recruiting after being asked to stop, church leadership should agree on the next steps and explain them plainly.

Former members have described efforts to approach pastors and reach entire congregations through them. In an ABC News investigation, a former member, given the changed name “Matthew,” said he worked on a Pastor Evangelism Team. He described its goal: “Our goal was to evangelise pastors and through them bring the whole church to Shincheonji.”

Source: ABC News (2 February 2026).

Scripture warns Christians to be alert to false teachers:

“Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15, NET)

Pastors can use that warning to explain why the church examines teaching and asks for transparency. But avoid calling an individual a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” before establishing what they believe, what they have done, and whether they knowingly concealed their affiliation.

Some people involved with Shincheonji may be sincerely convinced that they are learning the truth. Focus criticism on verifiable teachings and conduct: concealed identity, pressure to keep lessons secret, recruitment of other congregants, or claims that conflict with Christian doctrine.

Source: Matthew 7:15, NET Bible.

If the congregant is involved, keep the door open. Invite them to compare the study’s claims with Scripture, bring questions to a pastor, and speak with people who have left Shincheonji. Do not mock or shame them for attending. A person who feels safe enough to speak honestly is more likely to keep asking questions and consider another perspective.

For members who are distressed or uncertain, prioritize steady pastoral care. Make time for them, include trusted support where appropriate, and avoid demanding that they resolve every question in one meeting.

When a pastor suspects Shincheonji involvement, the response should be clear and fair: notice concerning patterns, verify privately, speak directly with the congregant, set boundaries around recruitment, and equip the congregation with accurate information. Protecting the church does not require treating every person with suspicion. It requires transparency, sound teaching, and a congregation that knows where to turn when something does not seem right.

• 1. Christianity Today (13 December 2023): A Korean Sect Targeted New Zealand Christians. Did Churches Respond Effectively? (https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/12/shincheonji-new-zealand-korea-christian-church/). Shincheonji’s teaching that Lee Man-hee is the promised pastor, intensive Bible studies, a former member’s testimony about teachers who would “reveal the truth when you’re ready,” alternative names such as Cornerstone and Pathways Ministries, its teaching on the “secret meaning” of verses and on Revelation in parables that only Lee Man-hee understands, secrecy of classes from family, and the group’s name revealed later.
• 2. Primary source: Lee Man-hee, Creation of Heaven and Earth (Shincheonji Press, 2009), p. 157. Shincheonji’s own teaching that the established churches have fallen away.
• 3. Primary source: Lee Man-hee, The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation (Shincheonji Press, 2015), p. 408. Refers to “pastors of the denominations that belong to Satan.”
• 4. ABC News (2 February 2026): Ex-Shincheonji member says he was part of special team focused on recruiting pastors (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/ex-shincheonji-member-says-religion-cult-recruiting-pastors/106257352). A former member, “Matthew” (a changed name), on the Pastor Evangelism Team and its goal of reaching whole churches through their pastors.
• 5. Matthew 7:15, NET Bible (https://netbible.org/bible/Matthew+7). The warning about false prophets in sheep’s clothing.
• 6. Charisma (8 February 2023): New cult infiltrates American churches (https://mycharisma.com/spiritled-living/new-cult-infiltrates-american-churches/). Second source for Shincheonji’s teaching that Lee Man-hee is the promised pastor.