In his proclamation of the Word, Chairman ManHee Lee urged the congregation towards true faith, stating: “Just as John 1:1 declares that the Word itself is God, there can be no faith apart from the Word. Today, as we mark our 42nd founding anniversary, let us gather our hearts once more and strive to have a faith that is recognised even before God and the angels.”

Chairman Lee also emphasised the importance of the Book of Revelation, saying: “Revelation 22 states that anyone who adds to or takes away from this book will not enter heaven and will receive a curse. If one truly believes in the Word of God, one must examine whether they have added to or taken away from Revelation.”

Shincheonji Church of Jesus, now a globally recognised denomination, did not begin in a building - it began on mountains and in open fields. In an era when there was no proper place of worship, Chairman ManHee Lee gathered with those who had followed the Word and held mountain worship services, before proclaiming the founding of Shincheonji on 14th March 1984.

The first-generation believers who laid the groundwork for Shincheonji's growth carried a particularly deep sense of reflection as they welcomed the 42nd anniversary service. Bok-yeong Bak (70, female), a member who had been with Shincheonji Church of Jesus even before its founding, recalled: “It was such an immense joy to finally have my thirst for the Word quenched - I believed with gratitude and gladness. Thanks to the fullness that the revealed Word brought, the difficult conditions were no obstacle at all.” She added: “Now, seeing tens of thousands of believers flock here every year, I realise it is ultimately the power of the Word that has moved people's hearts. All of this is the power of the Word, and the grace of God.”

Myeong-suk Jo (73, female), who joined in 1992, likewise shared: “While praying for the assurance of salvation and a desire to understand the true meaning of the Bible, I came across Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The depth I encountered was on an entirely different level, and that conviction led me to join.” She emphasised the secret behind Shincheonji's growth across generations, adding: “Then as now, it seems that believers who hunger for the Word find their way here.”

Indeed, since its founding on 14th March 1984, Shincheonji Church of Jesus has dedicated itself to proclaiming the fulfilled realities of the Book of Revelation throughout the world. This spread of the Word is clearly reflected in the work of the Zion Christian Mission Centre, Shincheonji's Bible education centre. Beginning with the Graduation for Class 1 of Zion Christian Mission Centre in 1991, the Centre produced over 100,000 graduates in a single year in 2019 - a milestone unprecedented in religious history. Last year, 59,192 graduates of Zion Christian Mission Centre's Class 116 gathered at Cheongju Church, Shincheonji Church of Jesus. A significant number among them were international graduates, demonstrating that the gospel of Revelation is spreading across the world.

Now in its middle years of faith, Shincheonji Church of Jesus is expanding its engagement with the wider world. The church has been actively building relationships through Word exchange MOUs and sign change MOAs with pastoral communities at home and abroad. As of last year, cumulative Word exchange MOUs have reached 969 churches in South Korea and 14,347 churches across 89 countries overseas. Through sign change MOAs, 129 churches in South Korea and 1729 churches across 48 countries have changed their church signs to Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus has also fulfilled its social responsibilities by taking the lead in practical relief efforts during national crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 3741 members donated plasma to support the development of treatments. In 2022, amid a nationwide blood shortage, more than 70,000 members completed blood donations within just two weeks, playing a pivotal role in resolving the crisis. The church has also dispatched large-scale volunteer teams to major disaster sites - including the Taean oil spill, the 2017 Pohang earthquake, and the Andong-Uiseong wildfires - to assist in recovery efforts. In addition, the church continues to carry out everyday care activities for marginalised members of local communities, including medical services for foreign workers and meal-sharing programmes for the senior citizens living alone, practising the value of "love" as taught by Jesus.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus stated: “The past 42 years have been a remarkable journey brought about by the dedication of our members alongside the unchanging essence of the Word of God. Going forward, we will do our utmost to spread the value of unwavering truth, rooted in the faith with which we began.”

Since the first graduation in 1991, many students have completed Bible education.

In 2019, more than 100,000 graduates were recorded, which marked a phenomenon in the religious world.

Moreover, 59,192 graduates gathered for the Class 116 graduation ceremony, and a large proportion of them were international students, demonstrating how the gospel of Revelation is spreading around the world.

The growth of the Busan James Tribe also reflects the dedication of earlier members who helped build the church community.

Long-time member Gwang-oh Lee, who has practised his faith in Shincheonji for over 30 years, described the church as a place where members feel like family.

Another member, Min-ho Lee, recalled volunteering during the renovation of the church building in Hadan neighbourhood, Saha District, where members worked together to remove heavy stone flooring from a former sauna space during remodelling.

As the church has grown, the Busan James Tribe has expanded its outreach activities.

One of the most representative programmes is the quarterly Open House event, where local residents are invited to visit the church. The programme includes:

Visitors are also welcomed with small gifts such as carnations or flower bouquets.