Focused on consistent Bible education, including the Book of Revelation, every year… Key to the growth of faith for both the church and believers
Education not only for knowledge but also for practical application
According to the 2015 Census by the National Statistical Office, North Jeolla Province, which ranks first in the country for the proportion of Protestant Christians, has 26.9% of its population identifying as Protestant. This means that in the province, it is easy to find churches or theological institutions in nearly every area.
According to the Church Data Research Institute, the proportion of Protestants dropped from 22.5% in 2012 to 16.6% in 2023. As a result, more churches are closing down. Experts in the Christian community attribute this decline to the lack of qualitative growth in Protestantism.
Moreover, the accelerated outflow of young people in their 20s and 30s to the metropolitan areas is expected to continue, leading to a further decrease in the proportion of young Protestants.
Amidst this, the Thomas Tribe of Shincheonji Church of Jesus (Tribe Leader Choi Joong-il), established in 1992, has seen a steady increase in the number of believers. Notably, the proportion of young people in the congregation stands at 22.25%, which is significant for the local Christian community.
The Secret to the Continued Growth of the Thomas Tribe: Education
The rapid growth of the Shincheonji Thomas Tribe over the past 30 years can be attributed to its focus on Bible education.
In the province, there are many churches and theological institutions from various denominations and sects, which leads to a type of Christian who often switches churches to find sermons that suit them.
Among these, the Bible education program of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which takes 6 to 8 months to provide a thorough understanding of the Bible, has consistently garnered interest from many believers. Interest in this program is on the rise, even among non-believers.
Those who have completed the Bible education program have evaluated it as “the key that clearly solves questions that have remained unanswered for a long time.
Yuk Sun-deok (female, 67, Jinbuk-dong, Jeonju) said, “30 years ago, I first heard the teachings of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus after seeing a banner advertising a Book of Revelation seminar on the street.”
She explained, “At the time, I was in charge of five ministries at a traditional church, and I focused on the pastor’s testimonies and revival services, or I mainly practiced speaking in tongues and prayer.” She continued, “I felt that the Bible teachings of Shincheonji Church of Jesus were more systematic, and the fact that it covered practical realities comprehensively was revolutionary.”
She added, “The more I learned the revelation, the deeper my understanding became, and I realized it brought true inner transformation.”
Especially, the church has actively responded to the needs of its members, continuously developing its educational methods, curriculum, and content over the past 30 years. Today, it offers opportunities to understand the Bible from multiple perspectives, covering topics such as Old Testament history, the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation.
Moreover, those who have received education are becoming the driving forces of change, forming study groups or creating their own plans to put their learning into practice. Their efforts to not just accumulate knowledge but also to live by the teachings contribute to the growth of Shincheonji Thomas Tribe. In this way, the Shincheonji Thomas Tribe has achieved a virtuous cycle of growth centered around ‘education.’
The number of believers in the Thomas Tribe started with 78 members in 1994 and has grown to 16,191 as of February 2025.
Shin Eun-young (female, 48, Susong-dong, Gunsan) who joined the Thomas Tribe, shared, “The more education I received, the more I realized that my heart and mind were changing, unlike the simple fellowship-based church life I had before.”
She continued, “As the years passed, 10 or 15 years later, I discovered myself practicing the faith that Jesus spoke about: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Kim Anna (female, 26, Sindong, Iksan), a member of the Thomas Tribe, said, “The more Bible education I receive, the more I feel that in order for the teachings to have value, I must practice them. So, I have been consistently striving to practice the love, blessings, and forgiveness recorded in the Bible in my workplace and at home.”
Shincheonji Thomas Tribe: “May Each Believer Become the Light of Society”
The church emphasizes that through Bible education, members should not only accumulate knowledge but also exert a positive influence, becoming the light of society.
Oh Hyun-min (male, 43, Iksan), a member of the Iksan Church, shared, “‘Becoming a walking Bible’ is my goal in faith. I want to be a believer who can explain the Bible to anyone who asks and also practice the teachings it provides.” He added, “Although I still have a lot of areas where I am lacking, this year, I am determined to attend all the education programs at church.”
A Shincheonji Thomas Tribe representative said, “We feel that the desire of believers to change and practice the Bible is growing stronger. Through surveys and consistent communication, we will continue to prepare fun and systematic education to help fulfill their desires.”
