Category: Blog Posts

Jung Myung Seok Cases Dismissed Without Charge

Jung Myung Seok Cases Dismissed Without Charge

Jeong Gyeong News Article (Korea’s equivalent of The Economist Magazine): “All Previous Cases Related to JMS Religious Organization’s Founder, Jung Myung Seok, Dismissed Without Charge.”

The following is an article on Jung Myung Seok from a news magazine titled, “Sincerity moves the heart of Heaven; Truth will eventually surface.”

From January of last year, the case involving the religious organization referred to as JMS (Official name: Christian Gospel Mission) attracted a lot of attention through the media and the case finally concluded at the end of October.

Some of the people related to the case were acquitted by the court after investigation. Hereby, the founder, Jung Myung Seok, was cleared from all accusations and Continue reading →

Modern American Mistrials: The Salem Witch Trials

Modern American Mistrials: The Salem Witch Trials

Today I read the play by Arthur Miller titled, “the Crucible.” It retells the story of the Salem witch trials in which many people were prosecuted for witchcraft based on the accusations of a group of young girls. 50 people confessed to witchcraft to escape capital punishment while 19 were hanged refusing to confess to witchcraft before the trials were finally discontinued. The historical event took place in 1692, but the play was written in 1952. The 1950’s were also was a critical time in American history because it was amidst the McCarthy hearings in which countless Americans’ careers and reputations were on the line in fear of being labelled Communists.

It is generally thought that the author was commenting on the injustices of his times by writing such a play and it is for the injustices of my time that I sought out to find and read this American classic. Continue reading →

Despite Tribulations & Persecutions

Despite Tribulations & Persecutions

The Earliest Persecutions of Christianity

2,000 years ago Christianity was considered nothing more than a “sect” of Judaism referred to in Paul’s day as “The Way.” But Jesus’ apostles boldly testified for Jesus despite the many negative rumors that had spread about them. They began in Jerusalem but quickly spread as far as Europe and Asia. St. Andrew carried the gospel as far as Scythia (Ukraine and southern Russia) and was crucified in Achaia (southern Greece). Phillip evangelized as far as modern day Turkey and Asia minor before being martyred there at Hieropolis. Simon (the Zealot) went as far as North Africa and Persia (Assyriean empire which is modern day Iraq) where he was killed along Continue reading →

Help, I think my child might be joining a cult!

Help, I think my child might be joining a cult!

Recently my child has begun attending a new church and they are displaying some unusual behavior. They are waking up extremely early for prayer, attending church often, and is constantly sharing ideas about the bible that seem radically different than traditional orthodox religion.

Should I be worried?
– Concerned Parent Continue reading →

60 Minutes – Eye Witness Testimony

60 Minutes – Eye Witness Testimony

Lesley Stahl, journalist of 60 minutes recently profiled a case out of North Carolina where the eyewitness testimony of a rape victim turned out to be wrong, leading to an innocent man’s conviction and 11 year incarceration before DNA evidence proved his innocence. This is a fascinating story about how flaws in the way police collect (and produce) victims’ visual memories can lead to wrongful convictions.

In America over 200 convicted prisoners have been proven innocent by more recent DNA tests. The most common element in all wrongful convictions later overturned by DNA evidence has been eyewitness testimony. In this segment two psychologists show how fragile human memory is and how easily it can be influenced leading to eyewitnesses who are absolutely convinced they are telling the truth and yet still they are proven wrong.

Read a script of the show in PDF format.

Christians on Trial: Pastor Joshua Jeong Myung Seok

Christians on Trial: Pastor Joshua Jeong Myung Seok

Pastor Joshua Jeong Myung Seok is one of the most publicized Christians in Asia. He founded Providence Church which quickly became one of the fastest growing churches of the 20th century. The church has grown fastest in Korea (known as Sumni Church) and in Japan (known as Setsuri church). The church has grown to 50 nations and continues to spread through the world.

But in May 2007 while in China [where Christianity is illegal] he was arrested and thrown into prison. While he was suffering the inhumane conditions of the Chinese prison, accusations against him spread throughout public broadcasts. The church was labeled a cult in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan and members of the church all over the world began experiencing extreme persecution from friends, family, and each by their own nation.

After a year of imprisonment and interrogations China found him innocent of all charges and released him. Before his release he was asked if he would like to stay in China or face charges in Korea. He chose to go to trial, but his trial was far from fair. To hear first hand accounts of the trial and the final decision read the full article,

Christians on Trial: Pastor Joshua Jeong Myung Seok

Christians on Trial: Pastor Joshua Jeong Myung Seok

30 Lessons: Providence and its Teachings

30 Lessons: Providence and its Teachings

Bible Study: Providence 30 Lessons

Providence conducts a bible study all over the world referred to as the 30 lessons or Principles. The bible study is not like any other bible study you might have experienced. It’s a series of lectures that are progressive, meaning you have to learn the beginner lessons to understand the intermediate lessons, and based upon that foundation of principles we teach a few advanced lessons that help the reader to understand how the prophecies of the Old Testament and New Testament apply to this advanced time period.

Misunderstandings caused by tabloids

There is a common misunderstanding among outsiders who were exposed to media broadcasts about Providence back in 1999-2005. At the time the news portrayed the organization as a cult that Continue reading →

In Defense of Jeong, Myeong-seok (정명석)

In Defense of Jeong, Myeong-seok (정명석)

 Jeong, Myeong-seok (정명석) is the controversial leader of a new religious movement generally known as Providence.  His Korean name is not중뮹석, as the variant Romanization (1) of his name Jung, Myung Seok would suggest, but 정명석.   His Western name is Joshua Jeong, or, using the older Romanization, Joshua Jung.  He is also known as Seon Saeng Nim (선생님), the Korean word for teacher, as R for Rabbi, the Hebrew word for teacher, or as Pastor Joshua. The following testimony was written before Jeong, Myeong-seok faced trial in Korea so if any details seem out date please understand the chronological context.

Defamation Rebuttal

Jeong, Myeong-seok has been accused of sexual abuse in South Korea, China, and Japan.  He has also been referred to as “false Messiah” and “international fugitive.”

First, where the rape charges are concerned, I cannot say it any better than an answer (2) in the faq section of providencetrial.com (3).

“To those who are familiar with the details of the allegations, there appears to be a consistent pattern that has emerged: the gathering of anonymous “victims” together in a public news conference in order to present allegations of Continue reading →

Providence Church Responds to the Question of Cults

Providence Church Responds to the Question of Cults

Persecution takes many forms. Some forms of persecution are new, but in reality we are still walking the same painful path Jesus told us we would have to endure 2,000 years ago. Jesus Christ himself preached the gospel to a believing nation, and was judged as guilty and given capital punishment even though he never broke any laws.

In a day and age where broadcasts dictate the public perception, a person is deemed guilty long before any court ever rules. In this article Providence church addresses the false accusations and reveals what is really taught by laying out all the facts and letting you read the sermons preached from the pulpits for yourself.

This article will address the false impressions that have dominated the public perception. To learn more read the full article…

Providence Church Responds to the Question of Cults

Providence Church Responds to the Question of Cults