Religious group that some ex-members describe as a ‘cult’ sees its footprint grow in Chicago area
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While the World Mission Society Church of God has strongly rejected that label, a number of former congregants say the organization appears to be financially driven, has falsely predicted the end of the world and has isolated members from non-believing friends and family, among other disturbing accusations.
A religious organization described by some former members as a “doomsday cult” has been quietly expanding in the Chicago region in recent years, with at least four churches now in the suburbs, a site in the Loop and local charitable events such as blood drives that obscure the controversy dogging the group.
Called the World Mission Society Church of God, the organization was founded in South Korea in the 1960s and teaches that a Korean man who died in 1985 and was known as Christ Ahnsahnghong was the second coming of Jesus. A South Korean woman, Zahng Gil-jah, is also regarded as divine by the faith.
While the group identifies as Christian and publicly preaches love and volunteerism, court records and various ex-members portray it as a money-fueled operation that’s falsely predicted the end of the world, helped isolate members from non-believing friends and relatives, arranged marriages for congregants and at times pressured pregnant members to get abortions.
“I think they try to fulfill every stereotype of a cult,” says Adam Stillman, a resident of Utah who belonged to the group for a decade until 2024, when he and his wife quit after becoming disillusioned with the teachings and practices.
In a 2016 interview with NBC News, World Mission Society missionary John Power rejected similar accusations, which were gaining steam around that time on the East Coast, saying: “The word ‘cult’ to me, that’s very hurtful, this church and what I believe in is my choice.
“I’ve been here for 10 years, nobody is being controlled at all, people can come, they can go… if they label us a cult every religion has to be a cult. Where’s it going to end? If we’re brainwashing you because we show the bible, what about the Protestant church down the street? What about the Lutheran church down the street?”
“It’s almost like a form of racism, of discrimination,” Power said. “To me it’s just very upsetting… by saying our church is a cult, we are taking a step back from the progressive direction we’re heading as a country.”
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