Ponder and Diary

For decades, 77-year-old Kim Nam-sun walked through life with a quiet, heavy burden. Having lost her parents at an early age, she never had the opportunity to learn Hangul (the Korean alphabet). Simple everyday tasks felt like insurmountable walls. Visiting a bank, filling out official documents, reading street signs, or checking bus routes required relying on the kindness of strangers. Even during her years attending traditional churches, carrying a Bible felt bittersweet: whenever the pastor cited a verse, someone sitting next to her had to open the page for her. Yet, at the age of 60, a profound desire awakened inside her: "I want to read and understand the Bible with my own eyes." The Bible as a Primer: Learning Words Through God's Word Kim’s turning point came when she began studying the Bible at the Zion Christian Mission Center through her child, a member of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Gwangju Church . Fascinated by the systematic teachings, she found the Word ...

Across the world, religious institutions are grappling with a steep decline in youth participation. Recent surveys show that 72% of young adults aged 18–29 in South Korea identify as non-religious, while older demographics make up nearly half of traditional congregation sizes. Yet, data indicates that young adults haven't abandoned faith itself. A survey by the Pastoral Data Institute revealed that 59% of Protestant youth (aged 19–34) desire "sermons faithful strictly to the Bible," and 55% seek "life direction grounded in Scripture." In stark contrast to broader trends, Shincheonji Church of Jesus is experiencing a steady rise in young adult members. The proportion of new believers aged 20–39 has grown consistently: rising from 17.51% in 2024 to 19.87% in 2025 , and reaching 21.79% as of April 2026 . 2030 Generation Leading Church Growth This youthful momentum is particularly evident in regional hubs such as the Bartholomew Tribe , which covers western Seoul...

Between September 3 and 22, 2026, 202 Volunteers from 10 Shincheonji Volunteer Group Branches Nationwide Honored 2,498 National Veterans and Fallen Heroes Through Food Deliveries, Headstone Cleaning, and Personalized Care Ahead of Chuseok. In September, ahead of Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), a warm greeting echoed through the home of a national veteran in Wonju. Volunteers arrived bearing gifts of handcrafted holiday food. "You made this yourself?" the elderly veteran asked, a smile spreading across his face as he received the songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes), jeon (fritters), and sikhye (rice punch). "Having young people visit and listen to my old stories brings great joy and gratitude." This small moment was just one instance from a massive nationwide outreach. From September 3 to 22, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group hosted 11 tailored patriotic volunteer events across 10 regions: Seosan, Cheongju, Asan, Dongjak, Daejeon, Tongyeong, East Busan, Sokcho, Won...

Jecheon Branch Delivered Haircut Outreach and Framed Portraits to 50 National Veterans Ahead of Chuseok as Part of the Monthly 'Companion' Project 💬 "They trimmed my hair and even framed a photograph for me—it feels like receiving a truly special gift. I am so glad to have a memory I can keep forever." — Lee Sang-goo, President of the Jecheon Chapter of the Agent Orange Veterans Association On September 23, 2026, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, a warm atmosphere filled the Jecheon Veterans Hall in Chungcheongbuk-do. As part of their regular monthly outreach initiative titled "Companion" (Donghaeng), the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Jecheon Branch organized a special event combining professional grooming with a framed photography session for approximately 50 members of local veterans' organizations . Capturing Honor: Hair Styling and 'Hero Portrait' Photography The day’s activities focused on restoring personal neatness and creating lasting physic...

On October 1, 2026, Jeju Safety Action (Jeju Ansillyeon) hosted a forum titled "2026 Social Safety and Human Dignity" at the Jeju Swine Agricultural Cooperation conference room. The event gathered approximately 100 participants, including representatives from correctional ministry, education, and the media, under the subtitle "Human rights through safety! Safety through action!" The primary aim of the forum was to address the medical treatment and governmental responsibility toward elderly and health-vulnerable detainees. Participants discussed the case of Chairman Man-Hee Lee of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, who is facing health issues including a spinal fracture, emphasizing the necessity of prompt legal and medical safeguards to secure continuous treatment without re-incarceration risks. Core Arguments Presented by Forum Speakers Speakers at the forum highlighted that guaranteeing medical care for vulnerable individuals is a fundamental duty of the state, independ...

Shincheonji Volunteer Group Songha Branch Transformed 350+ Discarded Tires into Mini Gardens Across Gwangju, Hwasun, and Naju—Creating Sustainable Green Spaces with Local Residents 💬 "The alley corner that used to collect trash turned into a beautiful garden. When residents and village leaders saw the flowers, they began requesting mini gardens for their own towns." — Local Resident in Songha-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju In March 2024, a quiet alley corner in Songha-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju, had a persistent problem with illegal dumping and discarded waste. Instead of placing standard warning signs, volunteers from the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Songha Branch chose a creative approach: they cleared away the waste and placed colorful, hand-painted flower planters made from discarded tires. What began as a small project to clean up a single corner soon grew into a regional greening initiative. From Songha-dong to Hwasun and Naju: Community-Driven Expansion Seeing the positive transfor...