Shincheonji's Zion Christian Mission Center Graduates Nearly 60,000 Students Including Over 2,200 Pastors

The Zion Christian Mission Center hosted its 116th graduation ceremony on November 2 at the Shincheonji Cheongju Church in South Korea, producing 59,192 graduates including 2,248 pastors despite what the organization describes as intense persecution and slander. This year's graduation continues a remarkable growth trajectory for the mission center, which has seen pastor graduations increase significantly over recent years, with more than 13,500 pastors graduating within the past four years alone.

The mission center operated by Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, provides systematic Bible education focusing on prophecy and fulfillment, God's will, and scriptural flow from Genesis to Revelation. Students must complete all three levels of the free, year-long course—introductory, intermediate, and advanced—while achieving scores of 90 points or higher on comprehensive examinations to graduate. The program's emphasis on Revelation mastery has become a central feature of its curriculum and appeal.

During the graduation ceremony, Shincheonji Church Chairman Lee Man-hee challenged believers to pursue authentic faith lives grounded strictly in scripture rather than church authority. "There are far too many people who claim to believe in Jesus but do not follow the Bible completely," Chairman Lee stated. "Do not rely on church authority—check for yourself through Scripture whether your faith is truly grounded in the Word." This emphasis on personal scriptural verification reflects the organization's teaching methodology and theological approach.

A particularly impactful moment came from graduate Oh Sun-kyung, a former pastor who shared her personal journey of scriptural struggle and resolution. "I planted three churches and proudly considered myself a true believer who devoted her life to the Lord's kingdom and glory," Oh recounted. "Yet deep down, I carried a heavy burden—I could not understand Revelation. Even after reading the Bible over 30 times, I found no answers, and in shame before my congregation, I eventually gave up my ministry." Her testimony highlighted the program's focus on Revelation comprehension as a transformative element for religious leaders.

Oh Sun-kyung directly addressed fellow pastors, urging them to seek Revelation mastery through Shincheonji's educational program to better guide their congregations. "Now that the secrets of Revelation have been revealed, the role of a pastor—a shepherd of God's flock—is to lead the believers to heaven," she declared. "Let us first master this promised Word without adding or subtracting from it. Pastors, let us humble ourselves before the Word, join hands with our congregations, and score a perfect 100 on the Bible test—becoming those who are sealed by God."

The graduation ceremony, themed "Love and Blessing, Light to the World," accommodated approximately 20,000 graduates at the physical venue while remaining graduates participated online from Shincheonji Churches worldwide due to space limitations. This year's 59,192 graduates follow substantial graduation numbers in previous years, with 108,084 graduates in 2023 and 111,628 in 2024, demonstrating consistent growth in the mission center's educational outreach and influence within global religious communities.