Beware of the enticing activities of the Church of God the Mother

Detect and process multiple cluster points

Although not among the Vietnamese Protestant denominations recognized by the State, the Church of God (also known as the Church of God the Mother) still takes advantage of freedom of belief to carry out illegal proselytizing.

Typically, on April 17, 2021, the authorities raided apartment 2610, Muong Thanh Cua Dong apartment building and discovered 16 people (including 11 adults and 5 children) gathering to participate in the illegal activities of the Mother of God Church. The organizers of the group came from many localities such as Nghe An (Dien Chau, Anh Son, Vinh City, Thai Hoa Town), Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Quang Ngai.

The subjects gathered to practice the illegal activities of the Mother of God Church at an apartment in Muong Thanh apartment building, Vinh City. Photo: Quynh Trang

At the scene, they seized 3 purple 1.5 liter bottles of water and 1 small 330ml bottle of grape syrup (water used for ceremonies), 2 white cloths, 5 white head scarves, many notebooks and leaflets with content related to the Church of God the Mother.

Through investigation, the subjects confessed that they were organizing Sabbath activities of the Church of God the Mother led and organized by Hoang Van Thuc (born in 1980), residing in Dien Bich commune, Dien Chau district.

Some evidence seized at the scene. Photo: Quynh Trang

The police force has drawn up a record of the incident, temporarily seized relevant documents, forced the subjects to pledge not to carry out illegal religious activities in the area, and at the same time notified the local authorities where the subjects reside for management and education.

Subject Hoang Van Thuc is the leader of the illegal organization of the Mother of God Church. Photo: Quynh Trang

Previously, on the afternoon of April 4, Anh Son District Police coordinated with Phuc Son Border Guard Station to inspect and discover at the house of Le Van Thanh (36 years old, Tra Lan village, Phuc Son commune) there were 12 people (including 6 adults and 6 children) participating in the "Church of God the Mother".

The working group made a record of the incident, confiscated 2 Old and New Testament Bibles; 1 laptop (a computer used to propagate the “Church of God the Mother”); 6 white headscarves; 47 envelopes containing offerings from believers... and brought the related subjects to headquarters to fight and clarify the incident.

Subjects participating in the Church of God the Mother. Photo: Quynh Trang

At the police station, this group confessed that they were conducting ritual activities of the Church of God of the Mother Church led by Dang Sy Nham (29 years old, residing in Da Son, Do Luong), organized and propagandized, attracting citizens in the area to participate.

According to the authorities, the Church of God the Mother currently has about 85 followers, divided into 8 groups mainly concentrated in Vinh City and the districts of Yen Thanh, Hung Nguyen, and Quynh Luu. In addition to activities at private homes, these groups often operate secretly and subtly to deceive the authorities, such as gathering at crowded cafes but creating a distance between each person and each table, or exchanging information via social networks.

Dang Sy Nham is the leader, luring and attracting people into the Mother of God Church group. Photo: Quynh Trang

In 2020, the authorities also continuously discovered many cases. Typically, on March 10 and March 24, 2020, Vinh City authorities promptly discovered and handled administrative violations at 2 illegal gatherings of the Church of God the Mother at a house on Doan Nhu Hai Street in Le Loi Ward and an apartment building in Hamlet 3, Nghi Phu Commune. Then, on August 25, 2020, at a coffee shop on Nguyen Quoc Tri Street, Hung Binh Ward, Vinh City, the authorities discovered 3 subjects, 2 women and 1 man, gathering to illegally gather for the Church of God the Mother. On September 29, 2020, they continued to discover a group of 6 people gathering to illegally gather for the Church of God the Mother at a coffee shop on Le Hoan Street, Hung Phuc Ward, Vinh City.

These illegal activities go against the good customs and traditions of the Vietnamese people, affecting public order and the normal life of a part of the population.

Unlicensed, illegal operation

According to the Provincial Religious Committee, Nghe An province currently has two legal religious organizations: Catholicism, Buddhism and followers of eight other religious organizations. The Church of God the Mother is a self-proclaimed organization, not licensed, operating illegally.

The Church of God the Mother was founded by a Korean named Ashang Hong and was introduced to Vietnam in 2001 by a number of Vietnamese people who returned from studying and working in Korea to spread the message. This group believes that God incarnated in Ashang Hong, and that God the Mother incarnated as Ms. Jang Gil-ja (still alive and currently the head of the Korean General Assembly), where the religious activities take place is called Si-On.

Activities of the Church of God the Mother. Photo: Internet

The content of the doctrine and canon law has many points different from traditional Protestant organizations such as propaganda that Mr. Ashang Hong is a prophet; propaganda that only the Church of God is truly genuine, believers must not doubt that the words of the "prophet" are effective; propaganda that "Doomsday" will destroy humanity, followers of this religion will be saved...

In Nghe An, the Church of God the Mother appeared in early 2016 with about 28 members (led by Hoang Van Thang, born in 1989, from Thanh Chuong) mainly concentrated in Vinh City and some districts of Hung Nguyen, Thanh Chuong, Con Cuong, Nghi Loc, Tan Ky and Cua Lo town. The subjects of special interest and attraction were students. However, the activities of this organization until 2016 - 2017 were still small and fragmented, and the leaders, after being handled by local authorities, temporarily stopped their activities. By 2018, this organization had many illegal activities openly. The subjects actively propagated, enticed, and attracted followers. At this time, 7 groups of about 40 participants were formed, most of whom were students studying at colleges and universities in Vinh City.

To deal with the authorities, the subjects divided into many small groups living in the families of believers, frequently changing locations, methods, and tricks. The number of leaders and key subjects often moved between districts, cities, and towns in the province, making it difficult to detect, fight, and handle. At the end of 2018, the activities of this organization temporarily subsided, and some followers became aware of it. However, the number of followers has now increased to about 85 followers, divided into 8 group points.

Although the authorities have called, warned, and educated, some leaders are very stubborn, threatening and forcing followers not to give up, especially students with economic conditions, such as organizing activities to be monitored, secretly or publicly recording to create pressure and confusion for those who intend to give up.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hoai Sang - an official of the Provincial Religious Committee, one of the reasons why the leaders are still stubborn in their activities is related to economic interests. Because followers of the Church of God the Mother must "donate" 10% of their income to Zion, not to mention other offerings.

Taking advantage of religious activities for personal gain violates Article 5 (prohibited acts) of the Law on Belief and Religion. On the other hand, organizing religious activities without registration and approval from competent authorities also violates the Law on Belief and Religion. However, the current sanctions are not enough to deter. They only stop at making records, confiscating documents, handling administrative cases, warnings, signing commitments to stop activities, etc.

Based on the above situation, the Provincial Religious Committee has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue documents directing urban districts, schools, and functional agencies to do a good job of disseminating and popularizing laws on beliefs and religions for the masses to understand and comply with. The 2013 Constitution stipulates: "Everyone has the right to freedom of belief and religion, to follow or not to follow any religion. Religions are equal before the law". The State ensures the freedom of belief and religion of everyone, however, organizations and individuals participating in belief and religious activities must comply with the Constitution, the Law on Belief and Religion and other relevant regulations.

Activities of the illegal Mother of God Church in Nghe An. Photo: Quynh Trang

The State strictly prohibits acts such as: Taking advantage of freedom of belief and religion to propagate against the law and policies of the State, dividing ethnic groups and religions, disturbing public order, infringing upon the life, health, dignity, honor and property of others, obstructing the exercise of citizens' rights and obligations, forcing, bribing or preventing others from following or not following a belief or religion; engaging in superstitious activities and committing other acts that violate the law.

Evangelization activities must be conducted by legal dignitaries and may only take place at religious establishments or locations approved by local authorities; any organization or individual who intentionally violates will be strictly handled according to the provisions of the law./.