Christian Fringe Cult Reportedly Back on Campus
Words by Zoë Mills (they/she)
Do you come to uni to escape the Cuba St preachers? Sorry to break it to you, but there’s been an influx of fringe religious groups approaching students on campus. Last week, a post on the VUW: Meaningful Confessions page asked about a recent resurgence of on-campus preachers.
“What is up with the amount of bible preachers around campus at the moment? [...] I really don’t like being approached and made uncomfortable when I’m running on 4 hours sleep and an assignment was due yesterday […] This is a diverse campus and no one wants to be harassed”, the post read.
Other students responded with similar stories, detailing experiences about one group in particular. “Is it still the God mother girls? They were super common in 2018 and 2019, but disappeared during covid” one commenter wrote. “I cannot believe that this is still happening”.
‘God the Mother', ‘Elohim Academy’ or the ‘World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG)’ are a fringe Christian movement that emerged in South Korea in the 60’s. The movements core beliefs position co-founder Zahng Gil-jah as God the Mother, or “The Bride” of God, a concept taken from specific biblical verses.
The controversial group has been criticised for alleged ‘cult-like behaviours’ by ex members, such as being expected to separate themselves from non-church friends, and instances of financial and emotional manipulation from church leaders. Allegedly, members were also ranked against other members based on their recruitment rates, and shamed if a particular number was not met.
In 2021, Craccum reported that Elohim Academy were attempting to recruit students at the University of Auckland and at the University of Waikato. During the same year, a post was shared on r/wellington to give a ‘heads up’ that Elohim Academy was recruiting in Kilbirnie via door knocking.
Students have echoed similar stories of attempted recruitment from the group on VUW campus, with accounts of being approached by two young women, claiming they were travelling from South Korea, and being offered a business card with contact information for the church. However, Salient cannot confirm whether all of reported encounters were the from the WMSCOG.
Lucas*, a resident at Weir House in 2019, described a similar incident with an RA that was allegedly involved with the group. “I heard stories [from other residents] saying she had attempted to get others along to join her, and was even successful in getting one or two of them baptised.”
“She eventually started asking residents for money and loans to fund a trip for her to go to Korea. I think that was the last straw, however, as she was fired not long after that”.
Another student, Em, cited a similar experience from a few years ago. She was approached by two women at the entrance of Te Aro campus, who continued to follow her inside after she used her swipe card to enter. “I didn't feel like I could get away," Em told Salient. “[They were] showing me things about God the father and God the mother, and trying to get my phone number and name. I left very swiftly and ran away.”
The University confirmed they had been alerted to concerns in regard to non-university-affiliated religious groups operating on campus in recent years, of which included WMSCOG. There are currently 6 registered faith-based groups that operate on campus.
“Any concerns that are raised with us are taken seriously and groups that are unregistered as clubs are asked to leave”, the university told Salient. “No group with the name ‘World Mission Society Church of God’ or ‘God the Mother’' has applied for registration as a club.”
World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) has been approached for comment.
*Names have been changed.