Four months have passed since the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in Wuhan, China. From early April 2020, the number of confirmed cases in Asia, Europe and the US  have increased dramatically with half of the world's population in lockdown and the virus now spreading throughout cities, towns and rural locales throughout Africa. As of 27th April 2020, the virus has registered more than 3,000,000 cases and 200,000+ fatalities. 

In South Korea, the number of daily confirmed cases has significantly declined, but citizens continue to exercise caution to avoid a second outbreak. The government has taken stringent measures to curb the spread of the virus, encouraged social distancing and freely provided hand sanitisers and masks in public places. How are members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus (hereafter Shincheonji Church) in South Korea - who have been worshipping and gathering at one of their 73 branch churches, as well as church members globally - maintaining their life of faith at present?

Many members of Shincheonji Church in South Korea have been infected with COVID-19, centred around “Patient 31”. At a press conference on March 2nd, Shincheonji Church issued a grave apology and expressed its commitment to full cooperation with public health and government authorities, which Shincheonji Church has fulfilled.

But fake news that has made Shincheonji Church scapegoat for the dramatic rise in confirmed domestic cases following "Patient 31" has led to the death of two of its congregants that resulted from severe persecution by family members, with thousands of other congregants made subject to forced absence from work, domestic violence, discrimination and insult. Shincheonji Church was not the cause of the spread of the virus in South Korea, nor did the church bring this virus in from China. In the face of fake news based on rumours, foreign media outlets have jumped on the anti-Shincheonji bandwagon without fact-checking. In response, the U.S Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issued a declaration on February 6th 2020, stating, “USCIRF is concerned by reports that Shincheonji church members are being blamed for the spread of coronavirus. We urge the South Korean government to condemn scapegoating and to respect religious freedom as it responds to the outbreak”. Prominent religious leaders of the Christian and Muslim faiths as well as leading academics are also speaking out against these blatant human rights violations, and democrats in Korea are drafting amendments to existing legislation on journalistic ethics and standards to alter the media's free rein on publishing allegations without factual evidence.

In South Korea, the government's forced lockdown of religious institutions has been lifted and large-sized and megachurches have now begun resuming worship services. Yet Shincheonji Church has willingly and independently decided to restrain from holding any worship service, evangelistic work or gatherings of any kind in person until the COVID-19 pandemic ends. Instead, Shincheonji Church has been conducting worship services online, teaching the absoluteness and importance of the word, which is God and life (John 1:1).

At this time when the promises in the book of Revelation are being fulfilled, every Shincheonji Church member is applying themselves to diligent study in order to record God’s law, which is the promise and fulfilment of Revelation, into their hearts and minds according to Hebrews 8:10. Those who do so are 'sealed’ and God will be with such people. As a congregation member of Shincheonji Church, I am very grateful to God and Jesus that I have perceived the true meaning of the promises and fulfilment of Revelation and can continue to take part in worship service online. Like every other Shincheonji Church member, I will continue to record Revelation's prophecy and fulfilment into my heart and mind. I pray that this pandemic will soon end and the hearts and minds of all people everywhere will turn towards God, who is living and active.