Freedom of Mind-Shinchonji (Shincheonji) Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (SCJ)
Members meet almost daily for recruiting and indoctrination sessions.
-There are many late-night meetings, and members are chronically sleep-deprived.
-Members practiced flag-waving maneuvers for months on end for a special Shinchonji "Olympiad" at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in September.
-South Korean observers characterize these rallies as eerily "North Korean" in their spirit of conformity and adulation.
-Educational and career goals are discouraged or abandoned.
-Man Hee Lee is supposedly the only one who has ever understood the Bible.
-Everyone else has been wrong, and all other churches and pastors are of the devil.
-Use deception and secrecy; they trick people into becoming involved, the name of the group is never mentioned
-Followers are not allowed to read Bible commentaries, and are not allowed to research information about the group.
-Verses are taken out of context in dizzying ways.
-Various front organizations, e.g. Mannam, supposedly a community volunteer group, deny their connection with Shinchonji (SCJ).
-Members are encouraged to lie to their families in various ways, e.g. claim they are backing off from the group when they are actually becoming more involved.
-More experienced members practice infiltration and disruption of established Korean churches.
-Korean Presbyterian churches are especially wary of SCJ.
Churches on alert of "dangerous cult" Shincheonji on takeover mission - NZ Herald
Churches in New Zealand are being warned of a South Korean-linked group accused of being a religious cult that infiltrates churches and uses "real deceit" to recruit members.
A Herald investigation has found that the group, Shincheonji, or the "New Heaven and New Earth" church, has set up a base in Auckland.
Members of the group, also known as Shincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, or SCJ, believe its founder Lee Man-hee is the appointed successor of Jesus Christ.
A University of Auckland law student and former Shincheonji church attendee claimed members of the group helped his mate "escape his family" in Auckland and paid for his airfare to live with believers in Korea.
Another student also allegedly donated his entire year's university fees to the group after he was convinced that earthly education was of no use to him.
Police here said they were "gathering intel" about the group, and assessing threat and response.
Last November, the Church of England in the United Kingdom issued a formal alert to 500 parishes in London about its activities and called for vigilance.
The New Zealand Korean Churches Association, representing Korean Protestant churches, has been rolling out similar warnings to its member churches.
Spokesman Edward Moon said the association was planning to extend the alert to all other Christian denominations here.
A Shincheonji representative in Auckland did not respond to the Herald's request for comments.
Moon described Shincheonji as a "dangerous cult".
"They are extreme people...they can harm families, and cause serious problems in society and churches as well," Moon said.
"They send their people into the church, some try to get into positions of pastors, with the final aim of taking over the church."
Overseas reports claimed some who got involved with the group gradually withdrew from family and friends, and lied about their real lives.
"The cult has also helped many believers run away from home, cut ties with their families and (they have been) asked to give all their money to Shincheonji," Moon said.
"They're not only targeting Koreans but non-Koreans, including Europeans, Asians and Africans."
The Herald uncovered the secretive group's Auckland headquarters, which is based on the fourth floor of a commercial building in Grafton.
It had two rooms, one a classroom for Bible studies and the other a worship room where only the "purified" could enter, we were told.
The double door entrance, with a large Shincheonji emblem, marks the entrance to the worship room.
Inside, an altar stands against a backdrop of a blue sky with clouds, rainbow and sun.
A member who gave his name as Jack Yoon confirmed the property was used for Shincheonji activities, but declined to be interviewed.
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I stand alone with Him.
I know as a faithful husband-man of the vine, you'll always have my back, right? PUT DOWN THAT KNIFE, Darling. 
Peace
