Shincheonji Church Graduates Nearly 60,000 Students in Global Biblical Education Milestone
Shincheonji Church of Jesus celebrated the graduation of 59,192 students from its Zion Christian Mission Center, highlighting a growing movement of Christians and pastors seeking deeper biblical understanding through structured scriptural education.
The Shincheonji Church of Jesus marked a significant milestone in religious education as 59,192 students graduated from the Zion Christian Mission Center's 116th class during a ceremony at the Cheongju Church. The church emphasizes that these graduates have achieved mastery of the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, through a rigorous educational program that focuses exclusively on scriptural interpretation.
Chairman Lee Man-hee addressed the gathering with a powerful challenge to conventional religious authority, stating that the church has mastered the Book of Revelation. He urged Christians to return to the Bible itself rather than relying on church hierarchy, emphasizing that genuine faith must be grounded in scriptural understanding. The graduation ceremony served as both a celebration of academic achievement and a declaration of spiritual transformation for participants.
Among this year's graduating class, 2,248 were ordained pastors, bringing the total number of pastor graduates over the last four years to more than 13,500. This substantial participation from religious leaders indicates a growing trend of clergy seeking deeper biblical knowledge beyond traditional seminary education. The church reports continued growth in enrollment despite what it describes as intensified persecution and misunderstanding from external religious communities.
Testimonies from graduates highlighted the transformative impact of the Mission Center's approach. Oh Sun-kyung, a former pastor who led three churches, shared how years of struggling to understand Revelation led to stepping away from ministry before finding clarity through Shincheonji's teachings. The educational program requires students to complete three levels—elementary, intermediate, and advanced—and achieve at least 90 out of 100 on the final comprehensive exam, ensuring thorough biblical comprehension.
International participation underscored the global reach of Shincheonji's educational mission. Students from around the world, including Lígia Monteiro who traveled 16 hours from the Netherlands, emphasized the distinctive approach of using Scripture to interpret Scripture rather than relying on personal opinion or traditional interpretations. The graduation theme Love and Blessing—The Light That Shines on the World reflected the church's vision of global spiritual enlightenment through biblical education.
Tan Young-jin, Director-General of the Zion Christian Mission Center, noted that the growing number of graduates demonstrates increasing interest in direct biblical study despite prejudice and misunderstanding. The ceremony combined both in-person and online participation, with more than 20,000 graduates attending physically at Cheongju Church while tens of thousands joined virtually from Shincheonji churches worldwide, creating a unified global celebration of scriptural mastery and spiritual renewal.