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| Head lecturer Eun-guk Cho greets citizens at the 'Come Spring, Enjoy Spring, Spring Again' cultural performance held at Shincheonji Gwangyang Church on 29th March |
Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, Gwangyang Church of the Peter Tribe, hosted its first Spring Seminar of the year under the theme “Come Spring, Enjoy Spring, Spring Again.” The event, held on 29th March 2026, was designed to provide local residents with an inside look at church life, community service, and cultural activities.
Welcoming the Community In
More than 450 citizens, ranging in age from their 20s to their 80s, attended the seminar, eager to experience the church firsthand. Many expressed that they wanted to see for themselves what Shincheonji was really like, beyond what they had heard online or through media.
One visitor explained:
“Seeing and hearing firsthand about the things I had always been curious about made me feel much closer than before,” adding, “I feel much lighter than before I came. I would like to come back for the next event.”
Showcasing Service and Education
On the first floor of the church's exhibition hall, guided tours highlighted Shincheonji's extensive community contributions. Displays included:
- Shincheonji Volunteer Group initiates such as caring for marginalised neighbours, environmental clean-ups, and donation campaigns.
- We Are One Youth Volunteer Group projects like We Are Run marathon events and the nationwide We Are Red blood donation campaign.
- Multimedia exhibits featuring the history and current status of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and the Zion Christian Mission Centre's 100,000 graduation ceremony, which left visitors impressed by the scale and organisation.
Visitor, Yu-ri Park (30s, Suncheon, South Jeolla Province), commented with surprise:
“The performance was impressive, but what I remember most is that the church is doing various volunteer activities for the local community.”
A Festival Atmosphere with Music and Games
On the second floor, the mood shifted to entertainment. Attendees enjoyed live performances, recreational games, and a vocal ensemble of the seniors group resonated with the audience through deep harmonies. The performance concluded with lively dance and sign language performances by the youth.
Building Bridges Through Openness
The seminar concluded with a talk by head lecturer Eun-guk Cho, who emphasised the church's vision of transparency and community connection:
“This seminar was prepared so local residents could directly see and experience Shincheonji for themselves, and clear up any questions. We will continue to hold open seminars and operate our promotion hall so that everyone feels welcome to visit.”
Meanwhile, the Open Seminar at Shincheonji Gwangyang Church showcased not only the church's faith-based activities but also its cultural warmth and dedication to community service. By welcoming local residents into its space, the church hopes to build greater understanding and stronger ties with the people of Gwangyang.
Source: vo.la/MYCQ5aa
