Providence Cult Watch

A Biblical Examination Of The Teachings Of Joshua Jung & Providence

What is a cult?

Introduction to Providence

Providence Teachings

Providence Links

Contact us

Founder: Joshua Jung, also known as Jung Myung Seok (born February 17, 1945) is the founder of the movement known as Providence. He was born in South Korea. He is also known by the names of Joshua Lee Jung, Joshua Lee, and JMS. Members of his religion refer to him as President, sung-sang-nihm (Korean for teacher), or R (for rabbi).

Names used by the organization include: Providence or Providence Church, Jesus Morning Star (JMS), Setsuri, Christian Gospel Mission and International Christian Association

Methods of recruitment: Providence members will often use front groups such as the Global Association of Culture and Peace (GACP),  which they use to hold sports, arts, cultural and modeling events to attract people. They use or have used similar front groups under the names of International Cultural Exchange (ICE), Bright Smile Movement, Sky Soccer, World Peace Model, Peace Model USA (PMUSA), and IOCA modeling. The association with the religious group Providence is generally kept hidden, while the Providence members attempt to recruit the members of the secular front group into the religious organisation.  The most common form of religious recruitment is simply to invite someone to a Bible Study where Jung's 30 lessons are taught..  Providence is most active on university and college campuses.

Cult Reach:  Although the cult is based in Korea it is seeking to grow internationally and has members actively recruiting in the United States, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, The Philippines, Singapore, Italy, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. The cult has been in existence in one form or another since about 1980.

Summary of Cult Teachings: 

(For an in-depth examination of these teachings and a biblical response please see our "Providence Teachings" section) 

The foundation of Providence teachings are laid out in a series of 30 lessons by it's founder Joshua Jung.

The 30 lessons are built around a model based on the seven day week. The first four days, corresponding to the approximately four thousand years between Moses and Jesus, describe the period of time referred to as "the Old Testament". The next two days, corresponding to two thousand years, describe the time period labeled "the New Testament". Finally, the last day, corresponds to a thousand years starting roughly now, and said to be "the Complete Testament". It is taught that each time period has a major "Central Figure", or Messiah, and that heaven cannot be reached without this man. He teaches that the new Messiah is Jesus' second coming, however, he will not come again as himself but "spiritually", that is, by influencing and talking through a physical person alive at that time. He will come with new teachings, different to those of the "New Testament" and "Old Testament" time periods. Providence teaches that God is now ready to fully reveal the mysteries of salvation and resurrection that were not completed through the ministry of Jesus Christ during His ministry on earth.. The 30 lessons reaches its climax when Jung interprets certain Biblical verses that the Messiah will come from Korea, is currently alive and will come with new truth that will answer questions people have about the Bible. 

The 30 lessons also put emphasis on not reading the Bible literally, not accepting revelations unless they are confirmed by the "Central Figure of this time period" and reading the Bible figuratively to resolve problems relating it to common life.  These 3 time periods are also described as the time of slaves, the time of sons, and the time of lovers, in that in the current time the Providence members should consider themselves brides of God. 

Providence is described as a denomination of Christianity by it's members even though Jung speaks of the necessity of coming out of Christianity.  Members look to their leaders interpretation of the Bible as the final authority and are taught not to question Jung's teachings - which is seen as an act of rebellion.. Members see themselves as those that were fortunate enough to be shown the truth, and believe it is their responsibility to share this truth with others.  

Members of Providence do not deny Jesus, however they clearly view Jung Myung Seok as equal to Jesus -  asserting the central belief of Providence that Jung is the Messiah, the Lord of the Second Coming, and the new "Jesus" of this new time period.