After months of investigating the Korean church Shincheonji, New Zealand journalist Indira Stewart of the 1News team on TVNZ+ finally meets Shincheonji’s mysterious leader. Shincheonji has been accused of cult-like practices, and Stewart’s in-depth investigation delves into allegations of manipulation and control within the organization. During her meeting, the church leader remains evasive and unwilling to address these serious claims. Former members corroborate Stewart’s findings, describing experiences of isolation, secrecy, and intense pressure to recruit new members. The investigation also scrutinizes the church’s financial practices and its relationships with other organizations. Despite Shincheonji’s attempts to deflect criticism, Stewart presents compelling evidence that supports the concerns raised by ex-members, highlighting the troubling aspects of the church’s operations.
[00:00] The video focuses on the challenges of interviewing the leader of Shincheonji in New Zealand, exploring the cult’s influence in the Pacific and the difficulties in obtaining information about its leadership.
– Introduction to the cult’s popularity among Pacific communities and the perception of the interviewee as a potential bad influence.}
– The host discusses the struggle to secure an interview, highlighting the leader’s unavailability and lack of information available online.}
– Details about the leader’s background, including her replacement in 2021 and the challenges faced in gathering information about her and the church.}
– The interviewee addresses why she has not publicly represented the church, citing misunderstandings and the need for discretion.}
[03:17] The discussion revolves around the practices and beliefs of Shinchonji, particularly regarding membership, church attendance, and the importance of biblical education before joining.
– The speaker emphasizes the need to communicate the truth about Shinchonji’s practices.
– A distinction is made between forming friendships and partnerships with other churches, suggesting a preference for personal relationships.
– It is explained that attending Shinchonji services is restricted to members, highlighting the organization’s unique approach to faith.
– The necessity of completing a specific Bible course to become a member of Shinchonji is outlined, indicating a structured path to membership.
– The concept of a Passover service is introduced, indicating a significant ritual within Shinchonji that may require further explanation.
[06:32] The discussion revolves around the experiences and perceptions of church members and ex-members, highlighting issues of family concern, accountability, and the pressure to report activities within the church.
– Family members of church attendees are often unaware of their participation, leading to concerns about public perception.
– Ex-members allege that they experienced manipulation and control within the church, raising questions about leadership practices.
– A current member expresses feeling of autonomy and choice in their involvement, contrasting with the negative experiences reported by ex-members.
– There are expectations for church members to report their outreach efforts to leaders, which some perceive as a form of pressure.
– The reporting system is framed as a means of accountability, although there is a suggestion that it emphasizes numbers over personal faith.
[10:00] The discussion revolves around the challenges faced by individuals involved with Shinchonji, particularly the fear of persecution from their families and society, as well as the manipulation and secrecy within the organization.
– Individuals fear being ostracized or bullied by their families if they are discovered to be part of Shinchonji.}
– Ex-members express how Shinchonji instills a fear of outsiders, promoting an ‘us-versus-them’ mentality that isolates members.
– There is a culture of secrecy among members, who are advised to hide their involvement and not disclose their activities to family or friends.
– Church leaders influence members to conceal certain truths about Shinchonji, leading to a lack of transparency.
– Despite concerns, some community members engage positively with Shinchonji members through volunteer work, indicating a complex relationship.
[13:03] The discussion revolves around the classification of Shincheonji as a cult, financial support for volunteers, and transparency regarding church expenditures.
– The speaker openly labels Shincheonji as a cult, expressing a need for honesty about their beliefs.
– Questions arise about financial support for full-time volunteers, indicating some church assistance is available.
– Financial reports reveal significant spending on volunteer payments and goods/services, with a lack of clarity on specific details.
– The speaker feels pressured to answer financial questions, highlighting concerns over accountability within the church.
[16:19] The video features a discussion about the experiences and perspectives regarding Shincheonji, a religious group, emphasizing personal relationships, community dynamics, and the importance of understanding differing viewpoints.
– The interview begins with a question about the responsibilities towards protecting members.
– The speaker reflects on their background as a Christian and their initial curiosity about Shincheonji, noting changes in friends who joined the group.
– The challenges of public perception and the importance of standing firm in beliefs are discussed, highlighting the shared concerns about the group.
– The speaker expresses a commitment to their beliefs and the impact of their experiences on their current life.
This video analyzes “Face to face with the head of Shincheonji New Zealand | Part 2,” highlighting key themes and important facts. The video is a journalistic piece exploring the secretive practices of the Korean church, Shincheonji, within New Zealand, particularly focusing on its impact on the Pacific Islander community.
Key Themes:
- Secrecy and Evasion: The report highlights a consistent pattern of secrecy and avoidance by Shincheonji leadership. Despite repeated attempts to secure an interview with the church leader, Christe, the journalists faced cancellations, redirection to other members, and ultimately a refusal to participate in a filmed interview. This secrecy extends to their core beliefs and practices, with no mention of their distinctive doctrines in publicly available materials.
- “chasing an interview with her for the past 3 months has felt like a game with cat and mouse”
- “we have sent written questions to the church several times and we never received a response”
- Controversial Evangelism Tactics: Shincheonji members reportedly attend services at other churches, engaging with members and attempting to establish partnerships or friendships, all without disclosing their Shincheonji affiliation. This tactic raises ethical concerns, as it relies on a degree of deception to gain access and trust.
- “members of shin chonji attended their services uh and approached some of their members um but also approached them at the end of the service to create a partnership”
- Control and Manipulation: Former members allege that Shincheonji leaders exert significant control over their lives, encouraging them to prioritize the church above all else, including family and personal relationships. This control includes requirements to report on their evangelism efforts, fostering a culture of fear and paranoia about the outside world.
- “ex-members say the secrecy around Shin chonji is encouraged by leaders and it means new members are deeply embedded in the church before their families find out”
- “ex-members say they were often influenced to fear persecution by Outsiders for joining Shin Chong G”
- Financial Opacity: While Shincheonji claims financial transparency, the report raises questions about the allocation of their funds. Large sums are spent on “volunteer and related payments” and “goods and services” without clear explanations provided by the leadership.
- “the church spent $61,000 on volunteer and related payments what would that normally cover”
- “the church also spent more than half a million dollars in that year on expenses related to providing goods and services what are those goods and services are you aware”
Important Facts:
- Leadership: Christe, the current leader of Shincheonji New Zealand, assumed her position in 2021, replacing the previous leader. Despite her leadership role, she has maintained a low profile and actively avoids public engagement.
- Membership Growth: The report suggests a significant presence of Pacific Islanders within Shincheonji, raising concerns about targeted recruitment efforts within this community.
- Ex-Member Testimonies: The accounts of former members provide valuable insights into the inner workings of Shincheonji, highlighting the manipulative techniques, emotional pressure, and lasting impact the group can have on individuals.
Conclusion:
The report paints a concerning picture of Shincheonji New Zealand, revealing an organization shrouded in secrecy, employing questionable recruitment tactics, and potentially wielding significant control over its members. Further investigation into the financial practices and potential harm inflicted on individuals associated with the church is warranted. The consistent testimonies of former members, coupled with the evasive behavior of the leadership, raise serious questions about the ethical practices and potential dangers posed by Shincheonji.
This timeline is based on the video and focuses on the interaction between journalists and the Shincheonji church in New Zealand.
Before 2021:
- Alicia Stanton joins Shincheonji.
2021:
- Gong Hok (also known as Christe) is sent by the Shincheonji headquarters in Korea to replace the previous leader of the New Zealand branch.
Several months before the interview:
- Journalists begin investigating Shincheonji and its activities in New Zealand, focusing on their evangelism practices and secrecy.
- Journalists send written questions to the church multiple times but receive no response.
- Journalists attempt to contact Christe for an interview; she initially agrees but cancels twice and then becomes unavailable.
A few weeks before the interview:
- Shincheonji puts forward Alicia Stanton as the spokesperson for the church instead of Christe.
- Journalists interview Alicia, with a senior leader (AA) present, about Shincheonji members attending other churches’ services, the secrecy surrounding their own services, and the requirement for members to complete a Bible course before attending.
- Journalists request to attend a Sunday service but are told their request has been forwarded to the headquarters in Korea. By November (presumably of the same year), they still haven’t received a response.
- The interview with Alicia is interrupted by members arriving, and she expresses concern about them being filmed due to their families not knowing they attend Shincheonji.
Days before the interview:
- Shincheonji puts forward Nick Naidu, who runs the Farno Community Hub where many Shincheonji members volunteer, to be interviewed.
- Journalists interview Nick about the MOU agreement between the Hub and the church, his knowledge of Shincheonji’s beliefs, and the financial support provided to volunteers.
The day of the interview:
- Journalists finally meet Christe at a cafe.
- They question her about her reluctance to be interviewed, the allegations of manipulation and control from ex-members, and the church’s finances.
- Christe confirms that members are expected to report their evangelism efforts to leaders but avoids answering questions about finances.
- Journalists offer to make time for a filmed interview that day, but Christe does not commit.
Days before the story is published:
- Shincheonji moves out of its Central Oakland building and is believed to have found a new lease in South Oakland.
- The church does not respond to requests for confirmation about the new location.
After leaving Shincheonji:
- Ex-members interviewed for the story describe experiencing a sense of freedom and being able to rebuild their lives.
Cast of Characters
Shincheonji Church Leaders:
- Gong Hok (Christe): The leader of the Shincheonji church in New Zealand. She is 47 years old and was sent from the headquarters in Korea in 2021. Christe is reluctant to give interviews and prioritizes protecting the church’s image and members.
- Alicia Stanton: A full-time volunteer for Shincheonji who joined eight years prior. She acts as a spokesperson for the church in Christe’s absence.
- Senior Leader AA: An unnamed senior leader who is present during the interview with Alicia.
- Lee Man-hee: The founder and leader of Shincheonji, based in Korea. He is believed by the church to be the only person who can interpret the Bible.
Other Individuals:
- Nick Naidu: The director of the Farno Community Hub, an organization that has an MOU with Shincheonji for volunteer support. He has positive experiences with the volunteers but acknowledges the “cult” label associated with the church.
- Ex-members: Unnamed former members of Shincheonji who allege experiencing manipulation, pressure, and control within the church. They also speak about the secrecy surrounding the church and the fear instilled in members about the outside world.
- Journalists: The unnamed journalists investigating Shincheonji’s activities in New Zealand. They face challenges in getting information from the church and are confronted with defensive responses from its leaders.
This cast of characters represents the key players in the narrative presented within the video. Their interactions and perspectives contribute to the overall understanding of Shincheonji’s presence and practices in New Zealand.