From our experience in dealing with Shincheonji (SCJ), here are some things we have learnt and consider worth sharing with other churches / groups who may be facing similar challenges.
SCJ members look like normal Kiwis of all ethnicities. They dress normal, claim to have regular jobs, intelligent, well spoken, warm, kind and appear to be great friends. Most we have encountered are single people between the ages of 18 and 35 years old. Don't expect that you will be able to spot them as they walk into your group!
Uncovering SCJ
It took more than a year for any of the churches in Wellington to begin to realise that SCJ was operating within their congregations. Uncovering their activities is very difficult.
Look for people who have visited your church / group a few times and then never returned but have managed in a short time to establish relationships with people in your congregation / group.
Ask people if they have experienced the recruiting tactics
The first stages of SCJ recruiting present as keen, friendly, mature Christians keen to grow in their faith by reading the Bible. Often people only realise this is SCJ when we discuss more detail of the recruiting process (i.e. 'coincidental' meetings of mentors and new friends, spontaneous Bible study groups).
Quick friendship that leads to other introductions, offering to meet a mentor / life coach, invitation to Bible Study / Theology Workshop, new ways of reading the Bible focusing on prophecy and figurative language. If they've experienced anything like this they may not immediately realise it is SCJ but give people time to think and then come forward and share about it.
People who get brought into SCJ begin to withdraw from their regular communities - church, sport, music, friends and even social media. Many people taken into SCJ stop being active on social media within a few months.
Establish a 'no shame' culture of trust when talking about interactions with SCJ. Even those who have left often feel embarrassed and foolish that they have been tricked so will be reluctant to speak up about it initially.
Be aware that the group's main tool is deception. Be prepare to check and double check information that people tell you. If someone says they've genuinely left, it may be appropriate ask to see their phone messages to verify if you can trust them. We have had a significant number of people say 'they've cut all ties' only to later realise that they're still actively involved.
If you uncover SCJ
As quickly as possible establish who are the members of SCJ - the teachers, mentors and recruiters.
As quickly as possible talk (face to face / on the phone) with the people in your church who may have had contact with the group.
Explain why you're calling and that you're keen to care for them.
Outline the methods of SCJ and ask them to think if any of it sounds familiar.
If they don't recognise anything, ask about specific people that you know are involved.
Ask for specific details - names, locations, content of teaching, photos of people, etc.
People who are a long way in the indoctrination process will have been coached in how to handle this conversation. they will usually respond with - ‘I’m feeling embarrassed. I need space to process. Don’t tell anyone about this. I don't think it is a cult. I’ve cut all ties with the group.’ They will be very unwilling to give any more details than what you already know and will not want to meet with a church pastor to talk about it
People who start to realise what is going on and that they have been deceived behave very differently, from our experience. They have expressed a deep sense of betrayal and brokenness. They are very willing to share as much specific information as they can about the group and how they operated.
Make a public statement informing the church / group that you are aware that SCJ had been trying to recruit from your congregation, inform people of their tactics and invite others to come forward if they have had a similar experience. The bigger the announcement the better as this cult operates in the darkness of secrecy and deception. If they know a church / ministry is vigilant they will likely retreat.
Educate your church about the SCJ, their tactics and what to do if someone becomes involved or is approached. Be careful in publicly naming SCJ members as there is the risk of defamation or false accusation.
Begin co-ordinating with other churches about their experience and who you know are recruiters for SCJ. Follow up with people who said they are now going to another church and check that they have actually landed.
Be very careful in the way you handle information about individuals as there is the great danger that innocent people may carelessly be accused of involvement. Ideally all the conversations will be conducted by a pastor / senior leader.
Remember that everyone who has been drawn in was a victim to begin with. They were deceived by someone before they are now deceiving others.
Come up with a plan to care for those who have been affected.
Helping people drawn into SCJ
The indoctrination process is very effective at turning the individual against their existing church leadership so often the best direct help comes from families and close friends.
Patience is key as a swift, knee-jerk, spur of the moment, emotional reactions will only confirm the ideas taught by SCJ that they are being persecuted.
Maintain as normal as possible relationships with the individual.
Talk with them about Bible verses which make SCJ teaching untenable: Galatians 1:8; Acts 1:11; Romans 3:7-8; 1 Timothy 2:5 and Acts 4:12.
Ask them about lying and whether it is every ok to lie even if doing God's will.
Pray! This is a spiritual battle we're drawn into and God will not lose his church or his people to lies and deception that distorts the gospel of truth.
We can share more specific details on how to get people out if you contact us.
For more generic information about SCJ, go here for our published statement.