Did you know that when an organization applies for tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), those forms become available to the public? All you have to do is request them from the IRS (and wait for them to come in the mail).That's what "Hailey" has done and recently posted about on the Rick Ross Cult Education Forum, and I've been able to examine the forms as well. What I find shocking is that the statements made by the World Mission Society Church of God on these official forms do not line up with the doctrine they preach!
In the forum, Hailey points this out. I'm going to write about some inconsistencies here, but you should definitely read her posts too. I'll include pictures for your convenience, but remember--copies of these documents are freely available for the asking from the IRS.
This set of forms was filed with a California address in 1999.
I won't change any spelling, punctuation or capitalization, but I will bold the words that stand out to me.
Here's an excerpt of what the WMSCOG said on page 2 about their church activities:
"1. (a) Prayer services to strengthen the faith of the members in the works of the saviour Jesus Christ."
"2. (a) Baptismal Services, to set the devoted members into holy communion with their LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ."
"3. (a) Funeral Services, to escort those members of the church who have been called upon by the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to join him on high."
"4. (a) Bible readings, to enhance commitment of the spirit to ways of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
On Schedule A, page 11, in regards to other religious services, besides worship services, the WMSCOG stated:
"The church will perform BAPTISM in the name of Jesus christ, baptism, and a host holy feasts for the lord."And concerning requirements and qualifications needed to be a minister, they said on page 12:
I've searched the entire form and there is NO mention of Ahn Sahng-Hong or Zahng Gil-Jah ("Mother Jerusalem")--not even in their statement of the history of their organization!
Here's their brief history from page 11:
Knowing how very important the new name of Ahnsahnghong is to the WMSCOG, and how they believe Ahnsahnghong is the savior of this new age and the age of Jesus Christ has passed away, and how they insist that those who cling to the name of Jesus will not be able to be saved...
Why do they continually use only the name of Jesus in this document?! Why NO mention of the "saviors" they preach about--"The Spirit and the Bride," "Father Ahnsahnghong and Mother Jerusalem"? Why not write the true story about their founding?
Why?! That's my question.
Here's a possible answer... Secrecy is one characteristic of a cult.
(A big thank you goes to Hailey for all her work in tracking down these forms!)
UPDATE!
Another website has written about these forms with more details. Check it out:
World Mission Society Church of God IRS Tax Exempt Application Los Angeles, CA
Wow, Jenny, this is Aroon here. One of the best posts ever. No way but to agree on this.Your sister should really see that one :). I have not been gong to the church since one month and they have been calling me and saying that if you do nto keep Sabbath, you wll fail in other things since your 'spiritual life' is getting affected. What do you think? My brother who is a leader is almost in a trance, talks only to his Church brothers on phone. Earlier on Christmas, we had jubiliation, celebration, fun, mirth but today every Christmas period (24th to December 27) resembles a funeral. My bro is busy in WMCOG and is not at home and my mother is clueless about why suddenly things changed. Others in my neighborhood are busy celebrating Christmas, wondering why our family is so indifferent in these four years.
ReplyDeleteHi. I was just recently approached by a Korean girl inside of a bookstore asking if I wanted to do bible study. I had nothing else to do so I said sure. We started off meeting everyday Monday and I was really intrigued. I have a fairly black and white personality and its easy for me to believe based on facts, which she seemed to be providing. She started off about the Sabbath and I was impressed, she then went on about baptism, which I told her I had already had, but she pestered me into thinking that it wasn't a true baptism because it wasn't in the name of the holy spirit. So after a couple weeks she fianlly got me into another baptism. By now I'm starting to feel weird about it but whatever, I thought a new baptism couldn't hurt and then what REALLY alarmed me was that their pastor wrote my name in the "book of life" and I thought to myself, how can you know if I will go to heaven just because I was baptised, that's not your call its God's. But whatever, I knew they were affiliated with new believers and I thought that maybe it was something to boost the new comers morale. I had been RAISED up in church so I had fairley more knowledge of the Bible than most. So, this girl tells me, when I get baptised I will hear Holy Spirits name.....didn't hear anything but water, and I noticed the pastor saying I baptise this woman in the name of the father, the son, and the spirit ahngsahnghong....which again raised a question in me. What could that mean, maybe it was Korean for amen. Now she starts pestering me to come to church on the Sabbath saying we MUST keep the sabbbath holy. I told her I worked and I was sorry I couldn't just quit my job. finally we come to her telling me about the "2nd coming" I'm like Huh? She's telling me that it has already happened, and I just remained quiet and let her explain..of course again she goes to all these different scriptures saying that Jesus said he will come with a new name and I keep asking her if it's in the bible. She replies no and goes on to say that in the old Testament they didn't know Jesus' name. So I listened more, she finally goes on to finally telling me this New name and says I'm blessed to know it. She then tells me not to go on the internet and search it because i will find lies and the people of the world can't be trusted. I left and of course I researched it but all I could find where websites that promoted him. and I found it strange that I couldn't ever find a biography on him. I felt hurt and decieved and like this girl insulted my intelligence. She provided me with little pieces of information but never the whole picture because she KNEW if she would have started off by saying Christ ahngsahnghong i would have refused her. Thank you for this website and unmasking the lies in a very forward approach. I told her I would NEVER meet with her again and that she will be in my prayers. Jesus himself said that many will come in my name and will decieve many. I pray that all these people find their way back.
ReplyDeleteHi again, Aroon. Nice to see you back. :) I'm glad to hear that you've been away from the church for a month.
ReplyDeleteNormally, I would tell friends that neglecting weekly church services is often the first small step to falling away from a good relationship with God. Not because church attendance is required for salvation (as the WMSCOG says), but because church is where you find support and teaching to help you in your walk of faith.
However, when the church in question is the WMSCOG, it's a good thing to get away from! I hope distancing yourself a bit will help you see things with a better perspective.
I pray your brother will see clearly soon too. Thanks for your encouragement. :)
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Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for taking the time to share your story. I'm so glad you were able to find the resources you needed to make an informed decision. That's one of the hallmarks of a cult--withholding important information. It doesn't surprise me that they didn't tell you about Ahnsahnghong before your baptism. I've heard that a lot!
blessings,
genny :)
Hi,
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous - That happened to me too. They only taught me only about Jesus, what he have done for us, why he died for us, why I should get baptism and more, but Christ ahngsahnghong. After I join, I notice something odd, but I let it pass. Then I finally did some research about this man. After I found out, I was heart broking.
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Something’s are really annoying and scary on certain things that WMSCOG do:
1. That they baptizing people under that name Ahngsahnghong, without any knowledge of that guy.
- This concept of just taking the person & baptizing him with a new name of which he has never heard or aware of, is very wrong… we flatly thought that the church would just baptized us in a regular way.
2. They keep saying Jesus Christ have done everything for us (which is true), he came, he promises, he saves many, he died for our sins, he won over death, then ascended to heaven, he fulfill. Then just which the name and say Christ ahngsahnghong is the only way to heaven, he fulfills everything.
3. An extra God. So, they say Heavenly father AND mother. (I thought there was only one God)
I just wanted to thank you for this page. I came here after doing some research after some young Korean kids came knocking on my door today.
ReplyDeleteThey started by asking me if I knew of "God the Mother." Well I hadn't heard of this at all, so I was sort of intrigued. Of course, they picked out a few Bible verses referencing the bride and some other things. I was a little leery because not once did these people mention what church they belonged to, but constantly asked what church I belonged to, what I believed in, what I KNEW about the Bible. Mind you, it's 11AM and I'm holding a puppy who can't sit still this whole time, like I'm able to even think at the moment. After reading some verses, they asked to meet with me next week. Feeling a little put off, I Googled "God the Mother" and found a bunch of resources on this "religion."
What concerns me is that they claim to live by the Bible and only the Bible, but a lot of the things they do and say are very contradictory. Anybody can pick and choose verses and apply them to prove their own agenda. I could say the "bride" references my own mother if I wanted to.
The girls at my door tried to explain that "there is only one God, but he has two images: the father and the mother" and that seems a little different than what I've been reading here and elsewhere. Maybe they are just new to the faith? All I know is, I'm uncomfortable.
We have many "Anonymouses" here to keep track of, but that's ok. :)
ReplyDeleteTo the Anonymous of July 12, thank you for sharing your story. It's important for others to know they are not alone in what has happened to them.
To the Anonymous of July 15, thank you for reading my blog and sharing your story too! The two girls at your door were either uninformed about what their church really teaches, or they did not want to reveal what their church really teaches in fear that you would be scared away.
I have verified it with several members and with their official church website. They do truly believe in two gods. For them to say "there is only one God with two images" would deny one of their basic teachings--that the word "Elohim" is plural, so there are 2 gods not one.
However, a basic knowledge of Hebrew would tell you that is incorrect. You can read about the problems with their teaching of "Elohim" here:
http://encountering-ahnsahnghong.blogspot.com/2010/09/elohim-part-1.html
The truth is the truth and falsehood is falsehood. Either way, the world will ultimately find out the genuine ONE which is most certainly NOT Ahnsahnghong.
ReplyDeleteAnd W.M.S.C.O.G will have to go and fly kites !
I was approached by two young men and they began the same way as many have said here by asking if I had ever heard of Mother God. I was approached before so I said that to them and they tried explaining their view of salvation, the Sabbath,
ReplyDelete"Mother Jerusalem" and how salvation needed to be brought back because of Constantine's stopping of the Passover. Quite frankly, I was raised in the ways of the Lord and have studied enough Scripture to know that only through Christ can one reach salvation.
Acts 4: 8-12 states: "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
This passage speaking on behalf of the crippled man from birth being healed by Peter and John at the gate of the temple named Beautiful.Here they testify that in the name of JESUS NOT AHSAHNGHONG, did they heal this man and that ONLY THROUGH HIM can one reach salvation.
MANY VERSES TESTIFY AGAINST THE FALSEHOOD OF THIS TEACHING LIKE:
1ST OF JOHN 5:8- VERSE AGAINST THE "MOTHER GOD"
ROMANS 10:4- VERSE AGAINST THE TEACHING THAT NOT KEEPING THE SABBATH CAN CONDEMN YOU.
HEBREWS 10:14- VERSE THAT PROVES THAT SALVATION CONTINUES PERFECTING BY THE PRICE PAID BY JESUS CHRIST!
AND MANY MORE..DON'T LET YOURSELF BE CONFUSED! GOD BLESS YOU ALL
Im currently still a member, and I've encountered many issues and concerns. The past year and a half, my Zion has been under leadership of a Korean elder. To say the least, what many other members have said about the Korean Leaders and members is true; they are rude, yell, disrespect members and joke about other members with utter disrespect. At one dinner we had with him after a Preaching Assembly, he made a statement asking African American members, "Do you have the ittis?". He then began to tell members that "ittis" is short for, "Nigger-ittis". Our previous over-seer was a very caring, compassionate man who was asked to move to another zion. Our Elder on many occassions, yelled at members calling it a "rebuke". From my study of the bible, Apostle Paul (who "Elder" often referenced to justify these yelling sessions) would rebuke for serious spiritual matters; Adultery, incest etc. Our "Elder", does this for anything from leaving an area unclean, to not properly handling church business, claiming, "Can you really love heavenly mother if you do like this?!?" As I write this, my wife and I are considering leaving.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for my delay in responding. How are you and your wife doing now? I do know friendly Koreans personally, but maybe the rudeness you speak of associated with the Korean leaders in the wmscog it part of the high pressure to conform to expectations? Like you, I would expect reprimands for serious spiritual matters to look much different than those from not cleaning up properly. Please feel free to email me if you need help with any of your issues and concerns.
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