Welcoming a Former Shincheonji Member Back
Written by Chris Vishoot · Fact checked by Bible Vaccine Center Editorial Team
When someone leaves Shincheonji, they may need more than a place to attend church. They may be trying to rebuild relationships, reconsider what they were taught, and work through fears that remain after leaving. Welcome them with patience and love. Don’t expect them to have everything figured out right away.
Next steps
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Let them know we understandUnderstand the fears they may carryRecognize that recovery takes timeConnect them with people who understandSources and related guides1Let them know we understand
A former member should not have to explain every part of that experience before being met with care.
At Bible Vaccine Center, we know this is more than an argument about doctrine. I was a member of Shincheonji, and members of our team have also experienced high-control groups or supported loved ones through them. We know that leaving can bring fear, grief, confusion, and questions about faith and identity.
Offer ordinary kindness: invite them to a meal, ask how they are doing, or let them know they are welcome at church. Don’t put them on the spot, demand that they share their story, or treat them as a project. You might say:
“I’m glad you’re here. You don’t have to explain everything today. How can I support you?”
Let them decide how much they want to share and how quickly they want to reconnect with church life.
2Understand the fears they may carry
Leaving a high-control group does not necessarily make its warnings disappear.
A former member may still fear that leaving means betraying God, losing salvation, or being deceived by Satan. This is what Steven Hassan calls phobia indoctrination: fear created around questioning or leaving the group, or trusting people outside it.
We know those fears can feel real even after someone has left. Don’t dismiss them or respond with “You should know better.” Listen, reassure them that they do not have to settle every spiritual question immediately, and give them time to rebuild trust in their own judgment.
Read more and sources
Source: Steven Hassan, Combating Cult Mind Control. See also How to Rebuild Your Life After Leaving Shincheonji.
3Recognize that recovery takes time
For now, don’t rush someone to resolve every question or resume every practice on your timeline.
I know from my own experience as a former Shincheonji member that leaving is not an instant return to normal. One challenge can be learning how to read the Bible again outside Shincheonji’s interpretive framework. That process deserves its own article, and we will explore it more fully in the future.
My experience is one reason I care about helping former members find understanding and support as they rebuild. I have written more about that process in How to Rebuild Your Life After Leaving Shincheonji. Everyone’s path will be different.
4Connect them with people who understand
If they want help understanding what happened or working through questions about Shincheonji, invite them to contact the Bible Vaccine Center team.
Invite them to contact the Bible Vaccine Center team. They can speak with people who understand the group and have walked alongside others through leaving and recovery. The team offers peer-led support; it is not a substitute for clinical care.
A former member does not need a perfect testimony or settled answers before being welcomed.
5Sources and related guides
The sources and Bible Vaccine Center pages referred to in this guide.
- 1. Steven Hassan, Combating Cult Mind Control. Where the term is explained “phobia indoctrination.”
- 2. Bible Vaccine Center: How to Rebuild Your Life After Leaving Shincheonji (https://biblevaccinecenter.com/shincheonji/rebuilding-your-life-after-leaving/). Recovery after leaving, including phobia indoctrination.
- 3. Bible Vaccine Center: Volunteer exit support (https://biblevaccinecenter.com/volunteer-exit/). Contacting the team for peer-led support.