*Original article can be read here.
“National Prayer Rally for National and World Peace” Held in October Last Year
Appealed to “Correct the Distorted Truth About CGM’s Doctrine”
After the broadcast of “In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal” in March last year, the members of the Christian Gospel Mission (CGM) spontaneously took to the streets to protest about the image of CGM and the fact that Pastor Jung Myung-Seok had been subjected to a court of public opinion rather than a fair trial, as more than 10,000 unverified reports were published in the media and broadcast.
Beginning with a rally at the Boshin-Gak Pavilion in Seoul in July last year, members of the CGM Church continued to hold rallies in urban centers across the country to express the injustice they face and call for a fair trial.
In particular, on October 15, more than 200,000 people gathered in Yeouido, Seoul to protest about the injustice of Pastor Jung and call for a fair trial, and at the same time, they held the “National Prayer Rally for National and World Peace” to pray for peace in the nation and the world, leaving a deep impression on the onlookers with their fervent prayers and heartfelt praise.
After the National Prayer Rally, the church members were praised for being a model of rallying because of their cleanliness and orderly dispersal, leaving the area free of litter.
This year, the church members have continued to make their voices heard through busking rather than rallies. “We are here to correct what has been distorted on TV about the doctrine of CGM and to tell the truth,” said one church member who has been busking consistently.
“At first, many people cursed us when they saw us, but now more and more people are listening to our voices and cheering us on,” he said. “The world gives us cold gazes, but the distorted truth is harsher than those gazes. I would like to correct the distorted truth.”
One church member who is busking in Myeong-dong, Seoul said, “We are taking advantage of the characteristic of Myeong-dong, where there are many foreigners, to give testimonies and preach in foreign languages. We have been speaking in English, French, and Japanese, but we are planning to do it in other languages too. Earlier this year, we distributed hot packs, and we are preparing for this winter as well,” he said, introducing his activities.
These missionaries don’t just preach the Word while busking. They also use their talents to do a variety of other activities. Some churches hold singing concerts, while others donate their talents to make keyrings.
“We hope to change the perception of CGM’s doctrine that has been distorted by the media. We also want to provide healing opportunities for people through our talents,” said the CGM Church members.
Hong Sung-pil Hong, Reporter
