Jung Myung Seok / Providence

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Jung Myung Seok / Providence
Jung Myung Seok - False Teacher, False Messiah
Jung Myung Seok / Joshua Jung - Abuse Allegations
Jung Myung Seok / Providence / Setsuri - Research Resources

Next: Jung Myung Seok - False Teacher, False Messiah

Jung, Myung Seok

Jung Myung Seok [sometimes written as 'Jong Myong Suk'] is the leader of a religious movement considered to be, theologically, a cult of Christianity. Sociologically the movement has many cult-like elements as well. [Information regarding the differences between theological and sociological definitions of the term 'cult.']

Officially his name is Jung, Myung-Seok (i.e. given name Myung-Seok, family name Jung). He is also known as Joshua Jung, Joshua Lee Jung, Joshua Lee, Pastor Joshua and JMS. News reports point out that the initials JMS...

...coincidentally — or perhaps not — are the same as “Jesus Morning Star,” a reference to Revelations 2:24-29, in which Jesus promises believers, “He shall rule them with a rod of iron . . . and I will give him the morning star.”
- Source: ‘Love’ cult snares students, The Japan Times, Japan, Oct. 27, 2002

Within the movement, followers of Jung are called Morning Stars (MS or MSes).

While many Koreans have English names, Myung Seok does not translate to Joshua. We are told that "[h]is choice of Joshua was probably because he relates himself to Joshua of the OT leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. He claims this history is repeating on a large scale." The same research also states that "[h]is name usually isn't given initially to potential members because they don't want to give them the opportunity to research for themselves."

Providence

Jung's movement, Providence, was founded in South Korea. In Japan, the group is known as 'Setsuri,' the Japanese word for 'providence.'

The movement uses (or has used) various names, including International Christian Association (ICA), Christian Gospel Mission (CGM), and Jesus Morningstar Church (JMS), Morning Star Church, or American Providence.

However, each church that follows Jung's teaching keeps its own name (e.g. Nak-seong-dae Church, Seoul Church, etcetera).

JMS uses the following front groups to attract potential recruits: