Cross-cultural Field Experience Paper
I visited World Mission Society Church of God located in Columbus. Before, I get into my experience which was a little crazy I will give you some background on the church. World Mission Society Church of God is a non-denominational Christian Church that was founded in 1964 in Korea by Ahn Sahng-hong. Its headquarters are located in Bundang, Sungnam City, Kyunggi Province. Joo-Cheol Kim is the current head Pastor of the Church. In the 1980’s in expanded to other parts of the world including Ohio. The Church believes that Jesus was to come a second time in the flesh. They believe that Ahn Sahng-hong was the second coming just with a different name. The church also believes that there is someone …show more content…
I decided to attend this church because of a friend who kept asking me to go. I was able to tour the church and see all the rooms where bible study occurs almost every day. There is also a room where they do their baptizing. I had the pleasure of attending a bible study and was given an introduction of the religion. I was told that in order to get into the kingdom of God I had to live in what they deem a traditional family. It had to be 1 man, 1 woman and their children. They believe that the family must have the father and the mother like Ahn Sahng-hong and Jang Gil-Ja. I was told that in order to become a member of the church I was to be baptized in the golden robes they provided and put my name into the book of life. Of course I didn’t do any of this but there was definitely pressure to do so and they kept trying to get me to go into the baptism room. If I was to become a member I was told that I would have to believe that Ahn Sahng-hong was the second coming and believe he was Jesus. They kept saying everything my religion taught me was wrong and that having Sabbath/mass on Sunday was a sin. I read up on the church prior to attending so I knew what to expect but I was still shocked that it was a cult. I left as soon as I could and while I was driving away the entire church was in the parking lot chanting we love