The Shincheonji Church of Jesus continues to expand its community cooperation in Malawi through steady, hands-on volunteer work. In early August 2026, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus – Malawi Region carried out its 22nd “Light and Salt Day” environmental cleanup campaign in central Blantyre, in collaboration with the Blantyre City Council.

This latest activity reflects Shincheonji Malawi’s long-term commitment to environmental care and aligns with the Malawian government’s national “Keep Malawi Clean” policy.

During the 22nd cleanup alone, volunteers collected 1000 kilograms of waste from high-traffic commercial areas in central Blantyre. Since June 2025, Shincheonji Malawi has conducted monthly clean-up campaigns, bringing the total accumulated waste collected to 18,000 kg.

Since January 2026, the organisation has increased the frequency of cleanup activities to twice per month, reinforcing its role as a consistent community partner rather than a one-time participant.

Arguably, the most prominent change this year is the installation of waste cans and waste collection bins. With collection infrastructure established centred around the activity areas, household waste that used to pile up on the streets has started to be managed more systematically than before.

While campaigns pre-2026 focused on road cleanup in the Mbayani community, subsequent rounds have typically expanded into Blantyre’s urban centre—an area with dense commercial activity and higher waste output.

By moving into the city’s busiest zones, Shincheonji Malawi aims to make a visible impact while actively supporting local government sanitation efforts.

For many participants, the cleanup was more than a civic duty—it was a practical expression of faith.

“I wanted to practice what I learned in daily life,” said Hanreck Benford (22) from Mbayani. “Seeing the city become cleaner with our own hands was deeply rewarding. I want to keep taking part in activities that help our community.”

Such testimonies highlight how volunteer service has become an avenue for personal growth as well as social contribution.

A Shincheonji Malawi representative shared future plans, stating that the group intends to:

- Continue regular environmental cleanup activities

- More proactively assess locations for public waste bin installation and implement them in phases

- Expand cooperation into peace education programmes for youth and teenagers

“These efforts are about building a healthier, cleaner, and more harmonious community,” the representative explained.

Through eight consecutive clean-up campaigns and increasing collaboration with municipal authorities, Shincheonji Malawi is demonstrating how faith-based organisations can contribute meaningfully to public welfare.

By combining environmental action, government cooperation, and community participation, the initiative continues to bring tangible change to Blantyre—one cleanup at a time.

Source: vo.la/TnZbKj3

In recent years, a cultural trend known as “Text Hip” has emerged among younger generations, turning the reading and sharing of meaningful, thought-provoking texts into a fashionable and rewarding lifestyle. According to the 2025 National Reading Survey conducted by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, reading rates among people in their 20s have shown a noticeable recovery.

Yet, as young people increasingly seek opportunities for quiet reflection and shared reading, many traditional churches are experiencing the opposite trend: declining engagement with the Bible among younger members. This growing disconnect has raised concerns about the future of faith transmission to the next generation.

Against this backdrop, the Gwangju Church of the Peter Tribe of Shincheonji Church of Jesus is attracting attention for fostering a distinctive, youth-led culture centred on “Reading Together,” creating a space where young people can explore Scripture, exchange ideas, and grow in faith together.

A survey on young adults’ perceptions of the church, published by the Cultural Mission Institute, found that many young people are seeking churches that provide “faithful scriptural guidance that offers genuine comfort and direction in life.”

Responding to these spiritual needs, Shincheonji Gwangju Church has developed a diverse range of structured Bible programmes, including full-text Scripture reading, daily devotionals (QT), verse transcription, and Scripture memorisation.

One of its flagship initiatives is “Revelation Morning Meditation and Memorisation.” Originally launched online in December 2021, the programme is now held every Thursday in both online and offline formats, attracting an average of 4500 young adults each week. Rather than approaching Scripture as abstract doctrine, participants are encouraged to memorise the Book of Revelation and apply its teachings to their everyday lives.

For more than two and a half years, the church has also provided all members with curated meditation guides every Monday. These resources aim to bridge the gap between biblical context and contemporary life, helping participants reflect on how Scripture can inform and respond to the challenges they encounter in their daily lives.

Beyond encouraging Bible reading, the initiative’s deeper impact lies in its ability to foster genuine human connection among young believers.

Sang-min Kim (35), a regular participant, shared: “Reading the Bible alone was always difficult to sustain. But reading it together made it a natural and enjoyable habit. Hearing how others apply the Word to their everyday struggles also gives me an opportunity to reflect on my own life.”

Another young member, Bo-hyun Park (29), emphasised the emotional support the programme provides: “Through sharing Scripture, I found an authentic community where I can comfortably open up about my life. Reading the text is important, but having people to process and share it with has given me tremendous strength.”

According to representatives of the Gwangju Church, the ultimate purpose of these gatherings goes beyond simply measuring how many pages participants read. Instead, the goal is to cultivate a healthy environment in which faith can grow alongside meaningful fellowship and genuine relationships.

By connecting the younger generation’s growing interest in “Text Hip” with the long-standing tradition of communal Bible study, Shincheonji is presenting a model in which Scripture serves as a shared foundation for connection and reflection. The initiative suggests that when young people are given opportunities to engage with Scripture in a supportive community, they can find not only spiritual direction but also meaningful relationships and a stronger sense of belonging.

When international human rights experts and domestic civil leaders gathered at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on 7th August 2026, their message was unambiguous: defending religious freedom is not about endorsing specific theological doctrines, but about safeguarding universal human rights principles.

Organised by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) alongside CAP-LC, FOREF Germany, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter, the press conference addressed growing concerns over state neutrality, procedural fairness, and the pretrial detention of 95-year-old Chairman ManHee Lee of Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

Following the press conference, the participating international delegates submitted a Statement to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), advocating for the humanitarian treatment of ultra-elderly detainees. What follows is the content of this petition, titled 'Statement to the Government of the Republic of Korea.'

"We, scholars and human rights activists from various European countries, respectfully submit this statement after visiting and meeting with Chairman Lee Man-hee and related officials on August 6, during which three of us met the Chairman at his place of detention. As academics, we have studied Shincheonji for many years: one of us has repeatedly interviewed Chairman Lee and authored what are widely regarded as the standard scholarly accounts of the movement; others have produced monographic studies on its international missionary development in several countries.

We hold the deepest respect for the democratic institutions of the Republic of Korea and have no desire to interfere with the functioning of its justice system. We note, however, that the case against Chairman Lee unfolds in a climate where media representations of Shincheonji as a “cult” often rely on polemical accounts by religious opponents who denounce it as “heresy,” while disregarding the findings of academic research.

We also observe that Korean legislation concerning the political participation of clergy is among the most restrictive in the world and may be difficult to reconcile with international norms affirming the right of believers to take part in political life. In several democratic countries, political parties inspired by religious organizations exist, and the United States is currently considering the removal of commissions limiting clergy from endorsing candidates.

Chairman Lee is ninety-five years old. In the European Union, from which we come, pre-trial detention for older defendants is considered an exceptional measure, permitted only when violent crimes are alleged—which is not the case here. In comparable situations, defendants are placed under house arrest.

This approach is consistent with the Mandela Rules and other United Nations standards.

For humanitarian reasons, and in accordance with international principles protecting older defendants, we respectfully request the immediate release of Chairman Lee from custody, so that he may stand trial without being held in detention."

Signed

Following the press conference, participating international delegates submitted a formal petition to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), calling for the humanitarian release of 95-year-old ManHee Lee, chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and urging that any legal measures taken against him remain proportionate to the circumstances.

When international human rights experts and South Korean civil leaders gathered at the Korea Press Centre in Seoul on 7th August 2026, they delivered a clear and unified message: protecting religious freedom is not about endorsing any particular theological belief, but about upholding the universal principles of human rights.

Organised by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) in collaboration with CAP-LC, FOREF Germany, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter, the press conference focused on growing concerns regarding state neutrality, due process, and the continued pretrial detention of 95-year-old Chairman ManHee Lee of Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

A central theme raised by the international legal experts was South Korea's obligations under international human rights law. As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention Against Torture, South Korea is required to ensure that pretrial detention is used only when it is necessary, lawful, and proportionate.

Thierry Valle, President of CAP-LC, questioned whether the continued pretrial detention of a 95-year-old defendant is consistent with these international commitments. He argued that, in comparable circumstances, humanitarian alternatives such as bail or house arrest are widely recognised and routinely employed in many legal systems around the world.

To illustrate this principle, Valle pointed to several international precedents:

Dr. Massimo Introvigne of CESNUR also referenced the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), arguing that the detention of a 95-year-old individual facing non-violent charges should be assessed in light of humanitarian considerations. He maintained that alternatives such as house arrest would better reflect the principles of proportionality and respect for human dignity embodied in international standards.

On 1st August 2026, Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony – Brisbane Branch hosted the Declaration of Religious Freedom & World Peace Conference from 2pm to 4pm in Brisbane, Australia.

The conference brought together religious leaders, pastors and human rights advocates to provide a platform for dialogue on religious freedom, human rights and peaceful coexistence.

The primary focus of the event was the recent detention of Chairman Lee and what organisers described as its implications for religious freedom in South Korea.

According to publicly reported information, Chairman Lee was detained on 24th June and indicted on 30th June over alleged breaches of South Korea’s Political Parties Act. Investigators allege that he directed the registration of approximately 50,000 Shincheonji Church members with a political party between July 2021 and January 2024. Shincheonji Church has denied the allegations, maintaining that members participated voluntarily as individual citizens and stating that both the church and Chairman Lee have fully cooperated with investigators throughout the inquiry, including during search and seizure procedures.

Presentations during the Brisbane conference introduced Chairman Lee, the 95-year-old Chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, noting his service as a veteran of the Korean War and his longstanding emphasis on peace, reconciliation and interfaith cooperation. These experiences during the war shaped Chairman Lee’s commitment to preventing future conflict through dialogue and mutual understanding.

The keynote address by a Shincheonji spokesperson outlined the purpose of the conference and emphasised the importance of protecting religious freedom and promoting peace. Further presentations provided an overview of Chairman Lee’s leadership, teachings and peace initiatives, as well as Shincheonji’s humanitarian work and international engagement in fostering interfaith dialogue. An overview of the current legal proceedings was also presented, followed by an invitation for attendees to support the Declaration of Religious Freedom & World Peace and consider signing a joint petition advocating for the protection of religious freedom and peaceful coexistence in South Korea.

Several speakers shared their experiences with Shincheonji Church and Chairman Lee, while others spoke on the importance of religious freedom. Speakers stated that Chairman Lee’s experience as a survivor and veteran of the Korean War has influenced his lifelong commitment to peace and reconciliation. They also stated that Shincheonji Church has cooperated fully with the investigation since search and seizure operations began in January 2026 and noted that no court verdict has yet been delivered.

Several speakers expressed the view that minority religious groups can face prejudice because they are outside traditional denominations and argued that legal processes should remain impartial regardless of a group’s religious affiliation. Reference was also made to Chairman Lee’s previous detention during the COVID-19 pandemic under South Korea’s Infectious Disease Control Act. Speakers noted that he was detained for 104 days before later being found not guilty in those proceedings, arguing that this illustrated the importance of due process and the presumption of innocence.

The conference also featured remarks from guest speakers Dr Arsalan M. Falarti, Reverend Peter Moore and Pastor Desire Ntahiraja.

Dr Arsalan spoke of having met Chairman Lee at several conferences and peace events in South Korea. Drawing on those personal experiences, he described Chairman Lee as a person of kindness who demonstrated a genuine commitment to peacebuilding. He said he believed the detention was unfair and unjust.

Pastor Desire remarked:

Other attendees also expressed surprise at Chairman Lee’s age and his detention. Pastor Akopa Deng encouraged those present to stand together in support of religious freedom, saying that issues of justice affect everyone regardless of religious affiliation. He suggested that people should consider how they would wish to be treated if they found themselves in similar circumstances to Chairman Lee. He endorsed the need for petitions and events such as this to raise awareness of the issue.

Evangelist Chris Ebare expressed support for the purpose of the event and welcomed the gathering. He said he hoped to involve other ministry leaders in future events and emphasised the need to raise awareness internationally and encourage other nations to lend their voices in support.

The conference concluded with religious leaders and attendees signing the Declaration of Religious Freedom & World Peace together with a joint petition calling on South Korean authorities to consider Chairman Lee’s age, health and the non-violent nature of the allegations when determining whether continued detention is necessary.

Several Brisbane and Gold Coast religious leaders expressed concern that the continued detention of a 95-year-old religious leader in a case involving non-violent allegations raises important humanitarian and human rights questions. Speakers concluded by encouraging continued dialogue, respect for due process, protection of religious freedom and peaceful coexistence among all faith communities.

Amid summer heat and holiday seasons that worsened blood shortages, young volunteers in Jeonbuk showed love stronger than blood. The Shincheonji Volunteer Group Jeonbuk Branch has been working tirelessly to save lives through continuous blood donation campaigns.

From 6th - 24th July 2026, a total of 460 volunteers joined the 2026 Blood Donation Campaign, now in its 19th year, helping stabilise the local blood supply and offering hope to patients in need.

Jeonbuk, a region facing population decline and ageing, is proving that compassion has no limits. Young volunteers from Jeonju, Iksan, Gunsan, and Jeongeup partnered with the Korean Red Cross Jeonbuk Blood Center to donate blood through both mobile buses and personal appointments.

Their goal was 400 participants—but they exceeded it with 460 donors. Over the past three years, the Jeonbuk branch has reached a total of 4500 blood donations and contributed donation certificates worth over 45 million KRW (c.£24,000).

This steady participation has not only helped hospitals but also inspired many citizens to see blood donation as a simple act of love that saves lives.

Many participants shared touching reasons for joining.

Jong-su Kim (43, male), who has been participating in blood donation for 20 years and recently completed his 272nd blood donation, said:

“I used to get out of breath even after running just a little, but I started taking care of my health thanks to blood donation,” and added, “It is killing two birds with one stone, as I can take care of my own health while contributing towards life-saving blood donation.”

A representative from the Jeonbuk Blood Centre expressed gratitude, saying,

Yong-woo Lee, head of the Jeonbuk Branch, said,

Since 2023, the group has gathered over 1500 donors every year, and by the end of this year, they plan to hold another mobile blood donation bus campaign to ensure a stable blood supply during the winter season.

Source: vo.la/V2f5H17

A meeting on the human rights and due process of the very elderly was held on 27th July in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul.

The event, themed "Speaking of Human Rights and Human Dignity," was attended by religious leaders from Protestant and Buddhist communities, including Venerable Gokdam, Pastor Bae Geon-hee, and Park Won-jung.

Following the recent arrest of ManHee Lee, chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, on charges of violating the Political Parties Act, participants discussed whether the constitutional principles of freedom of religion and equality before the law are being applied fairly and impartially to all citizens.

Venerable Gokdam said, “While the law must be enforced fairly, the health and life of a suspect must also be fully protected. Seeing the detention of 95-year-old Chairman Lee reminds us, as people of faith, that we must not lose our compassion for human life.”

Park Won-jung emphasised the importance of upholding universal human rights, stating, “Every individual is entitled to fundamental rights and humane treatment through lawful procedures under all circumstances. In particular, special consideration should be given to the health and safety of the very elderly.”

He added, “I hope our society continues to develop into a mature community that upholds the rule of law while respecting compassion and human dignity.”

Participants agreed that freedom of religion and human rights are not privileges reserved for particular groups, but constitutional values that must be guaranteed equally to every citizen.

They also called for a review of Chairman ManHee Lee's detention and urged the creation of a society in which people of different faiths can coexist in harmony.

Source: vo.la/kZZ1eil

Nicolás Arroyo Ramos, a Dominican journalist, lawyer, and representative of Moca visión, has called for the release of ManHee Lee, the detained chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

In an article published by the Dominican news outlets El Nuevo Diario and El Sol de las Américas, Arroyo Ramos argued that, given Chairman Lee's advanced age and health condition, prolonged detention could effectively amount to a death sentence.

Commenting on Chairman Lee's detention, Arroyo Ramos said, “This case goes beyond a simple judicial procedure. Given his advanced age, progressive physical, motor, and cognitive decline, and the various health conditions he suffers from, prolonged detention could result in an outcome that is effectively equivalent to a death sentence.”

He further stressed that the court handling the case should fully take into account Chairman Lee's age and physical and mental condition in accordance with the principles of international public law.

Representative Nicolás Arroyo Ramos said, “I respectfully urge the court to give full consideration to Chairman Lee's physical and mental condition in light of his advanced age, his longstanding religious leadership, and his lifelong dedication to promoting peace both in South Korea and internationally.”

He argued that the trial should proceed under house arrest rather than pretrial detention, asserting that there is no risk of Chairman Lee fleeing.

“As there is no risk of flight, I respectfully request that the judicial proceedings be conducted under house arrest to ensure due process and to fully protect his fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, health, food, and human dignity,” he said.

Arroyo Ramos described Chairman Lee as “one of the world's most prominent peace advocates,” adding, “Through Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), the international peace organisation he founded, he has led a wide range of initiatives to promote peace worldwide and has achieved meaningful and tangible results.”

He also expressed concern that prolonged legal proceedings combined with continued detention could pose a serious threat to Chairman Lee's life. “Many people believe that subjecting him to excessively lengthy legal proceedings while in detention is effectively tantamount to a death sentence,” Arroyo Ramos said.

Source: vo.la/2VcYGbo

Amid summer heat and holiday seasons that worsened blood shortages, young volunteers in Iksan, Jeonbuk showed love stronger than blood. This effort came in response to a request from the Korean Red Cross Jeonbuk Blood Center, addressing the urgent blood supply crisis caused by the recent respiratory illness outbreak and the holiday season.

Jeonbuk, a region facing population decline and ageing, is proving that compassion has no limits. Young volunteers from Iksan partnered with the Korean Red Cross Jeonbuk Blood Centre to donate blood through both mobile buses and personal appointments.

A total of 120 people participated in the group blood donation event, with 60 donors giving blood at the on-site bloodmobile and another 60 at the local blood donation centre. In total, 120 blood donation certificates were submitted to the Jeonbuk Blood Centre.

This steady participation has not only helped hospitals but also inspired many citizens to see blood donation as a simple act of love that saves lives.

Many participants shared touching reasons for joining.

Park Se-yong (34), who participated in the blood donation event, said, “Despite the sweltering heat, I decided to donate blood because I believed it could make a difference to someone in need.” He added, “I plan to take good care of my health so I can continue participating in this life-saving act.”

Kim Dong-gi, Director of the Jeonbuk Blood Centre, confirmed that “The donated blood will be used to help patients in urgent need of treatment.”

Through We Are One’s consistent campaigns, Iksan's youth have shown that love and compassion can overcome any crisis. Their message is simple yet powerful:

By giving their blood, they are also giving hope—proving that the greatest miracle is the love that flows from one heart to another.

This blood donation campaign highlights the value of addressing blood shortages and sharing life through blood donation, leaving a lasting positive impact on the community.