하나남의교회 세계복음선교협회

Have you ever heard of a church that doesn’t celebrate Christmas? Right here, at the World Mission Society Church of God, or WMSCOG, Christmas is not on the calendar. The WMSCOG was established in South Korea in 1964 by Ahn Sahng-hong. It has grown significantly since then, with millions of members and thousands of churches worldwide. The WMSCOG headquarters, as well as its main church, are near Seoul. The World Mission Society Church of God observes the Sabbath from sunrise on Saturday. This follows the teaching of its founder, Ahn Sahng-hong. This practice differs from some other churches that observe the Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. The WMSCOG believes Ahn Sahng-hong is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. They believe Zahng Gil-jah is God the Mother. This belief in God the Mother is a central tenet of the WMSCOG. They believe God exists as both male and female. Inside the WMSCOG, you won’t find crosses or statues. The church views these as forms of idolatry and does not display them in their places of worship. They also do not have stained-glass windows. This has caused some controversy in the past, particularly when the church acquired historically preserved buildings with such windows. The WMSCOG has faced accusations of being a cult and has been criticized for its evangelism methods. However, investigations by various police departments have found no evidence of criminal activity. The church itself has reported experiencing harassment and discrimination due to false rumors. The WMSCOG has a university volunteer division called ASEZ, which stands for “Save the World from A to Z”. This organization recruits on university campuses, emphasizing volunteer work. The WMSCOG continues to grow and expand globally despite the controversies and criticisms. Their unique beliefs and practices, including the belief in God the Mother and the non-observance of Christmas, set them apart from other Christian denominations.