Providence (religious movement)
Providence, better known as JMS, is a Christian new religious movement founded by Jung Myung-seok in 1980 and headquartered in Wol Myeong-dong, South Korea. Providence has been widely referred to by international media as a cult.
In April 2009, the leader Jung Myung-seok was convicted of rape by the Supreme Court of Korea and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Jung was released on 18 February 2018. Following Jung's release from prison, the Korea Post reported that the Providence faith movement had reached more than 70 countries. However, Jung would again be indicted on rape in October 2022 and sentenced by the Supreme Court of in January 2025 to 17 years imprisonment.
Providence has also been called Setsuri, International Christian Association, the Morning Star Church, the Bright Moon Church, and Ae-chun Church.
History
In the 1970s, Jung was a member of the Unification Church, whose teaching his resembles. In 1980, Jung founded the Ae-chun Church, which was affiliated with the Methodist Church. In 1983, Jung Myung-seok forged a diploma from the Korea Bible Correspondence School and joined the Jesus Korea Methodist Church, changing its name to Jesus Korea Methodist Aechun Church. In the same year, he launched the World Youth University MS Union and called himself JESUS MORNING STAR.The name was changed to the International Christian Association in the mid-1980s. A rift occurred in the group in 1986, when the vice president of Providence attempted to act on the sex scandals surrounding the group, but he was shut out of the organizational system and Jung consolidated all power around himself.
In October 1999 the organization changed its name to Christian Gospel Mission.
Theology
Jung Myung Seok set up Providence in 1980 as a breakaway sect from the UC. Providence's core teaching are found in a series of unpublished precepts called the 30 Lessons, which bear considerable resemblance to the "Divine Principle" of the Unification movement, which are partly inspired by teachings of, including his book The Fundamental Principles of Christianity. According to Tahk Myeong-hwan, nine of the 30 lessons exhibit a "considerable level of resemblance" with the Divine Principle. The lessons are based on a numerological interpretation which identifies the sect's leader as the Second Coming of Christ.One lesson implies that those who do not "meet" him will not go to Heaven; another that any who betray him are committing a grave crime. During the instruction of the advanced level of the 30 Lessons, it is taught that Jung is the Messiah, proven through the numerological interpretation of prophesied dates and times in the book of Daniel, although more recent statements from a representative seems to contradict this claim.
Like the UC, Providence preaches the advent of the "Complete Testament Era". Providence furthermore allegorize the relationship between God and man to that between the groom and bride, or two lovers. While both UC and Providence teach that original sin was caused by Eve's intercourse with the fallen angel, who turned into Satan. Providence teaches this can be redeemed by having sex with Jung Myung-seok. Jung was found to have forced female followers to have sex with him "as a religious behaviour meant to save their souls" in the Korean Court of Law. Former members have stated or testified that young and attractive women were presented to Jung as "sexual gifts", with whom he coercively engaged in sexual acts, which was explained to them as a purification rite.
Although some of the teachings are a carefully guarded secret within the sect, scholars such as who analyzed and summarized the sect's beliefs relied on documented testimonies as well as interviews with ex-members that included victims. He obtained notes from ex-members which were used in the "bible study", as instructions in the 30 lessons were conventionally called within the sect.
Recruitment
Initiates into the sect are initially approached by being invited into an "activity circle", i.e., sports or music clubs in school. The inductees learn only later when taken to "bible study" that religion constitutes part of the "circle" activity. In this manner, Providence forms non-religious organisations for the purpose of attracting young people without initially revealing the religious nature of the group or their real motives, a practice ruled "fraudulent" under law by the Japanese Supreme Court.Outside of Korea
Christian Gospel Mission is proselytizing under different names in different regions. Providence or Providence Church in Europe and the US, Setsuri in Japan, the Bright Moon Church, the Morning Star Church, and Jesus Morning Star. Each church branch that follows Jung's teaching keeps its own name. While leader Jung Myung Seok was on the run since 1999, due to sexual assault exposes and civil lawsuits filed in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, Providence, then known mostly as JMS, continued publishing Jung's sermons online, providing telephone counseling and holding overseas events for their followers. During his incarceration between 2008 and 2018, Jung's sermons and directives were delivered through visitors to the prison and through his successor Kim Ji Seon.Australia
Providence began operating in Australia during 1997. Members of Providence have reported to been actively recruiting for new members at the Australian National University. In April 2014, the Australian government-funded television network Special Broadcasting Service reported on their activities in Australia, including statements by former members that they sought young attractive women. Providence refused numerous requests for a spokesperson to be interviewed for the program in Australia and Korea. The organization's Chief of External Affairs denied in writing to answer specific questions about the group's Australian activities. He stated that it had charitable status for tax purposes.In May 2016, Australian magazine Crikey revealed that an Australian Taxation Office employee had been whitewashing the Wikipedia article on Providence. Operating from a work computer since August 2015, the lawyer had removed negative press coverage from the article and inserted glowing praise of Jung, while casting doubt on Jung's prison conviction. The woman, who denied it at first, eventually admitted that she had made the edits. The ATO's Fraud Prevention and Internal Investigations Unit declined to take any action.
Seven News Australia reported in 2023 that two Australian women had been recruited and trafficked to South Korea where JMS members allegedly raped them. Maria Naselli, President of the Lord's Hope Church of Providence in Sydney sent a video to Seven News stating "We want you to stop attacking us and to stop taking actions against us. If you do not heed this strong warning, we will hold a press conference against you".
In 2025, Australian former member Liz Cameron published a book about her experiences in Providence entitled Cult Bride: How I Was Brainwashed and How I Broke Free. She also shared her story on the ABC podcast and radio program Conversations.
Hong Kong
Providence has been reported on in Hong Kong, where it is known as The Bright Moon Church or Setsuri. In October 2006 a former member told Oriental Daily News that it has about 100 core members in Hong Kong, including many medical graduates and some assistant professors. Though it has been in Hong Kong for years, its slow development kept it fairly unknown until its media exposure. Providence temporarily created an organization to run various community activities, known as the United Culture and Arts Network.Japan
Providence became active in Japan around 1985 or 1987. In 2006 the national newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported that Providence is "causing serious social problems in Japan", labeling it as a "cult" and "sect". It also reported that the organization was pressuring members to live together, make regular donations, marry within the organization, and follow the strict guidance of its founder.It has been reported that Providence, commonly referred to as Setsuri in Japan, hides their religious affiliation at a Japanese university and solicited students as cultural clubs, specifically targeting students pursuing medical or legal professions and those who are interested in environmental issues, sustainable development goals and international contributions. The movement is also known to recruit tall, fair-skinned and glamorous university students. It uses social media and student/workplace mentorship networking events to draw new members. It was estimated that the movement has increased its membership from about 2,000 to more than 6,000 followers in Japan between 2006 and 2022.
The group's church usually consisted of a single apartment room, where their religious studies occurred. Sometimes the church was where some of the faithful cohabited. There were some 40 such churches across Japanese cities as of 2006. Members as students working part-time jobs were expected to contribute a minimum of at weekly church service, and as full-salaried wage-earners, monthly tithes and bonus-time donations. Believers were instructed to live frugally on cheap food and never indulge in alcohol. They were forbidden from dating, but at a suitable time married within the group in mass ceremonies.
Although the Supreme Court of Japan in 1996 ruled Blessing ceremony of the Unification Church was invalid, more than 300 Japanese members of Providence were wed in six mass ceremonies held between 1996 and 2006 modeled on the UC. While being wanted on rape charges, Jung at a July 2003 mass wedding urged the couples via a big-screen Internet connection to have babies to increase the number of Providence members.
In 2007, Japanese Police raided eight Providence facilities in Chiba on suspicion that a senior member illegally obtained residence status. They also searched a facility in the city's Chuo Ward. The senior member, a Korean, was arrested for overstaying her visa. It was learned that Providence recruited "high class, high income" men and selected women for "style and looks".
As of 2008, it has been said that over 100 women have fallen victim of Jung's sexual transgressions in Japan alone.