“What’s More Important, Your Mother or God?” – A Former Member’s Story

This true story from one of our friends who is now an ex-member of the World Mission Society Church of God has been posted here with their permission.  Here is our friend’s story in her own words:

I was a member of the World Mission Society Church of God for about 5 months. I wasn’t recruited on the streets like most people. I was invited by a good friend of mine. She had been a member for less than a year at the time. So after several invitations from her Ifinally said to myself, what the heck let me go check this out. I was really interested because my friend kept telling me about how this church was different because they did not deny evolution and dinosaurs. In the past I had trouble with religion not being able to reconcile with scientific evidence that the world existed for a lot longer than six thousand years old. The WMSCOG seemed to have an answer for everything.

My first study was about the Sabbath. It seemed to make sense at the time. And not being all that familiar with the Bible and not having belonged to a specific church, this made me an easy target. I was baptized the very same day. Right after that study, it was impressed upon me that if I believed everything in the study then what would be the point of waiting to be baptized. I felt pressured, but then again because it was my friend who invited me, and I knew her to be smart and anything but gullible, I felt that she wouldn’t steer me in the wrong direction.

I began going to the church to study every day so that I could finish the “basic studies”. Being the skeptic that I am, I began to think that it was weird that everyone there was always smiling and happy all of the time. I was told by some members that “once you are in the truth you are happy all of the time”. (Kinda reminds me of the cult called shiny happy people in the movie “Bubble Boy” lol). One day when I was there, I was waiting for the person who I was going to study with, and heard a member commenting to another about her appearance. She stated “if I knew we were going preaching I would have dressed better”. So I turned to her and asked what difference it made what she was wearing if she was going to “preach the Word”. She answered, “well it’s for father and mother and you always want to look your best for father and mother”. It was at that point that I realized that appearance was very important to members in this organization. I asked the person that I was studying with about the question I asked the other member and she responded that “if you are doing something for God then you should be at your best”. I thought this was weird because to my knowledge Jesus was never worried about what He wore when he preached right?

I noticed that I saw less and less of my friend as the weeks went by. I attributed this to her just being busy with other stuff. I also was really tired because I went from going to church sporadically to going everyday. I justified my going so often due to the fact that I was new and I had a lot of studies to get through before I could understand everything that was going on in the church. Fortunately for me, I joined at a time when there were a lot of these “feasts” going on. During these feasts that I didn’t fully understand, I was expected to be in the church by 4:30 am for prayer services. I would then go to work and have to come back for the 7:30 pm services. I was exhausted! Due to the increasing demands for my time from the organization, things were tense between me and my family. Of course when I told the girl assigned to study with me and watch over me (this is typical of the way they work) about the issues with my family’s concern with my involvement, she advised “this is persecution, satan will try to use the people closest to you to try to keep you from coming to the church and learning the truth”. This was disturbing. It made for a frustrating time because I had to defend why I was going to the church so often to my family. I would say that I was just going to church and there shouldn’t be anything wrong with that, or so I thought. I said that it wasn’t like I was going to be in the church 24/7, or so I thought. I was under the silly impression that once I was done with the basic studies, I wouldn’t be spending as much time there. Ha Ha Ha

Slowly but surely they tried to nudge me into changing the way that I dressed. I mean I don’t dress provocatively, I just favor darker colors (the non-shiny happy people colors :)). I didn’t exactly adhere because I really didn’t have the expected wardrobe of skirt suits or pant suits like everyone else was wearing. I still made an effort to go appropriately dressed and sort of blend in.

I also began asking “who is this Korean lady in this picture” and “who is this lady on this calendar”?  The member next to me said “don’t worry about that, you will learn about that later”.  This was so weird.  I also noticed that people obsessively cleaned the church on their hands and knees.  I was told that it was a great honor to be chosen to beautify the temple.  I just thought to myself, why don’t they just use a mop…

I once noticed one of the women complaining about her weight.  So I suggested that she join a gym.  I mean 30 minutes a day a few times a week should do the trick.  She answered, “oh no I don’t have time because I’m too busy doing things for father and mother”.  I still didn’t know who this “mother” person was but I thought this was very suspect.  

During one of the breaks between feasts, I decided to just attend Tuesday and Saturday services. On that Sabbath I was approached by one of the missionaries questioned why I hadn’t been there since Tuesday, and I bluntly said that I attended on Tuesday and Saturday, had finished my basic studies and didn’t see a reason to come any more often. She then said that I didn’t really need to go just to study and I should want to go everyday. I thought to myself, why would I do that? I mean I have other obligations. I came to realize that the expectation was that I be there everyday and that the only activities I should be involved in outside of the church were sleep and work. Forget about family obligations. It seemed that the only obligations were to the “church family”. At this point I still hadn’t kept a full Sabbath.

So after being there for about three months I started tithing. There was a lesson dedicated to this topic during which I asked, “who pays the pastor?”. They claimed that the pastor doesn’t get paid and that the mortgage for the church was really high (about $20,000 per month or something crazy like that). I was informed that the money was used for food, church activities, donating to the UN, etc.  It seemed that a lot of pressure was put on everyone to tithe and failing to do so was like stealing from God.  Then I was shown different envelopes for other types of offerings.  In my head I was like I don’t make that much money!  But I guessed that they assumed that I wouldn’t have a need to pay my cable bill because I wouldn’t have time to watch TV.  I also hadn’t seen my friends in a long time.  My involvement in the church caused conflict because I would have to choose between family functions and attending services at the church.  So when I had to leave on a Sabbath to go and do something for my Mom, one of the deaconesses said, “what’s more important, your mother or God”.  I said to myself, God would not make me choose.   It was at that point that I became really suspicious and uncomfortable about their motives.   

During one of the feasts, I was discussing the tension with my mom again.  I said that I don’t lie to my mom, even if I know she isn’t going to like what I’m going to say or do.  The deaconess then said, “well you know that there is such a thing as a righteous lie“.  As I walked away I thought, no there isn’t a lie is a lie.

So I had just about had enough when I noticed that my friend that had invited me in the first place had been MIA for several services.  Every time I questioned one of the members in the group that I was assigned to about my friend, I was told that she wasn’t feeling well.  So I said to one of the girls in my group that I was going to have to take the time to go and see my friend because I was concerned.  It was at this point that she became somewhat evasive and changed the subject.  

Not too long after, my friend actually called me as I was on my way to one of the last feast services and told me that she wanted to speak to me and not to let the church members know that I had spoken to her.  I wanted to turn the car around right away but instead I went ahead and attended the short service.  Throughout the service, every time that they said the name Ahnsahnghong, I said Jesus Christ in my head.  I thought to myself, they have been really evasive lately so I really need to pray for a sign to let me know if this was the place for me or not.  I didn’t want to quit just because I was challenged, but all of the little things that didn’t add up suddenly snowballed.  

When I saw my friend later that evening, she told me that she found a lot of contradictions about the church and that she was lied to by one of the high ranking members of the church.  So that was enough for me.  I had had enough of this charade.  I was done!  Needless to say, members would not stop calling.  After not answering numerous phone calls and text messages, eventually they showed up unannounced at my doorstep.  They of course tried to convince me to return to the church and do the basic studies over again from the beginning.  I told them that I had all of my notes and I also had come across 1 John 2:27 that says “you do not need anyone to teach you”.  One of the members basically told me that I could not understand the Bible on my own.  I felt so disgusted with myself for not being able to see through their “shiny happy people” facade.  At the same time I felt sorry for them because I knew that not all of them were in on what I would call this scheme to take people’s money.  Having just woken up, I realized that these people who had become my friends were still stuck there.  I realized that I could not be their friend because they would not have any time for me outside of the church and that was the only thing we had in common.  I really didn’t want to hurt their feelings or insult anyone.  I just wanted to be left alone to go on with my life.  At this point I told them twice that no one will come between me and my family.  They advised me that I could return whenever I was ready.  But I told them that I could not be a hypocrite and go to their church and pray to someone that I did not believe in.  I told them that they did have some truth in their church but it was of no use because it was mixed with lies.  They gave up and left shortly after.

I hope my story helps people to avoid this organization.  Jesus Christ our only Lord and Savior!

Are you a former member who would you like to share your story with us?  Contact us, and let us know why you too left the WMSCOG.

You might also like
9 Comments
  1. Devlin says

    Dear ex-member,

    Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s comforting and encouraging to know that there is hope for all. It’s great that you realized their teachings were all wrong.

  2. MayMay says

    Thank you so much for your story. It took me a while to find information about this church. I mainly found websites that only refuted the claim that Ahnsanghong and the WMSCOG was a cult, especially on ask.yahoo.com and “prove ahnsanghong”websites, which weren’t enough to convince me that prophecies I was learning were misconstrued. Thus, I continued to stay in the church.  Now, just as Paul was sharing the gospel and the listeners were commended for their efforts to check the scriptures, I knew I needed to check the scriptures myself as I was learning. It really makes it hard when the preachers from this church refer to several  verses which are considered to be “mates” to one another. By the time you read every verse in context, you may have read 1/4 of the bible! I was in college with a busy schedule, so checking the scriptures proved to be lengthy process. Also, I was in the church for nearly 8 months, so it took a while to get through all of the lessons. When I found this site a few weeks ago, I referenced the contradictions myself, only to find out that the lessons I learned were indeed lies and misrepresentations of the bible. I was ultimately left with a spiritual scar and a lingering cloud of guilt. Reading experiences like yours has surely been a catalyst for the healing process. It is sad that we have to spend a considerable amount of time to “learn” these things in the bible, only to befriend those in the church and devote our savings towards tithing.I just mustered enough courage and evidence to tell the sisters I would not like to return to their church. Of course they said the same: you cannot learn on your own.  Now, from your experience and others, I now know the meaning of being “armed with the word of God”:1st John 2:17, and whoever seeks Him will find Him. Despite a relentless argument, I have made my point to them. Thank you and God bless!!!

    1. admin says

      Hi MayMay,

      Thank you so much for your comment here.  It is true what you say, that the WMSCOG jumps around all over the Bible when trying to make a point.  When you take a step back and think about it, you can make the Bible say anything you want using that method!

      Thank God, you were able to see for yourself the Scripture-twisting that occurs. Many do not take the time to look at the verses in their proper context, and spend years devoting time and money to this group before they realize what has happened.

      I would recommend that you (and any) former member join the Former Members World Mission Society Church of God Facebook Group Many have found healing and support through the ever-growing network of former members.

  3. jessa27 says

    thank you friend for sharing yours. I think where in the same situation that I have right now. So I think God answer my questions by your testimony 🙂

  4. Looking4Sunlight says

    Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
    I left WMSCOG more than 7 months ago, but still they would show up at my doorstep sometimes, call me, message me and say they would like to have the Passover with me at the end of this month (I remember them telling me last year that it was going to be the last Passover – does this mean “Mother” lied or is she a bad prophet?). I told them the same things that you told them in the end, but I am not that fortunate to be let alone.
    I already contacted the city’s help center for cult questions and will have a consultation there soon.
    Still I am fortunate to see the truth through your words and the truth about God through the Bible. May God bless you all.

    1. Inga Goudentyte says

      Welcome out of there. Thank the real God. (Seriously) Do it.

  5. Truely seeking God says

    I was a member of WMSCOG for the past 6yrs..I was so into it with my lil kids all these years..I ve lost my husband few years back in an accident and i ve been through a very rough phase in my life but i still stuck to this organisation so badly coz my family members all belong to RC..i never took part in any of my family get together..I was never told abt the church’s history in depth but recently a month back i came to know from other members that Mother and Father have been married and had kids..i was thrown out hearing when asked the deaconess she said we were worried how bad u will feel when we told u but she forgot that there many out there who knew of this..after this i did my research on net and i couldnt go to sleep for few weeks now..I am left out..My life has gone haywire..dont know where to start with..I feel so stupid..I cannot go back to my family and say that i left the church, coz i was preaching all my family members very deligently. They will laugh at my face now..few calls from them i never bothered to return them or ans them..they showed at my door step without informing asking me to comeback but i ve lost faith on them..I pray to God that people like me should check and research before getting into any group like this..theres too much to say but i ll stop now.

  6. Truth says

    Truely seeking God, Please please tell your family and then enjoy the real love of God from them. They will welcome you with open arms. when I told my family all they said to me was “I know” and that was that. They always listen. Blood is thicker than water and your blood family loves you so much and will be so excited to have you back!!! Enjoy your family!!

  7. yogesh says

    Thank you for sharing, I had been to church many times with my girlfriend who now left me due to church. I am from India and my name is yogesh, I am Hindu brahmin. The way in which they preach affects especially to Christians others can not relate to it and can really point that they are aggressively marketing.

    I got that Saturday should be Sabbath that must be correct, one should not wear cross that is also true. Passover and other things which Jesus followed no other church follows they told that also sounded ok to me but i couldn’t relate myself to Passover, as i believe if you are good person you will go heaven any formality like Passover is just foolishness

    They demand so much time and separate you from your loved ones, they don’t even give you time to think or listen what you are doing is right or wrong it is gobbels theory that a lie told again again seems to be truth, and you can not go away from that.

    beware of and self made false gods and godesses

  8. Anthony John says

    Thank God the Almighty,he cares for you, and brought you out of this dangerous and evil church. Seek the truth and the truth will set you free. , yes my dear brothers and sisters you are free from the wolves in white clothes, they are very cunning, do not be deceived nor fooled by the wmscog.Help otheright who are badly stuck in this evil church, help them to come out of this church. Thank you. Pray in name of our Lord Jesus Christ, not Anghsunghong.

Leave A Reply

Please be aware that the WMSCOG reads this website. Unless necessary, please refrain from adding any information that they can use to identify you or your family in the comments.

Your email address will not be published.