187 Malawian Students Graduate in Global Bible Course Despite Venue Crisis
Malawian graduates from Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu participated via livestream with students from 153 countries.
LILONGWE, Malawi— The Shincheonji Church of Jesus, also known as New Heaven New Earth Church, celebrated the graduation of 111,628 students globally from its Bible education course on Sunday, the 3rd of November, including 187 Malawians, despite a last-minute venue cancellation in South Korea, writes Winston Mwale.
The ceremony, originally planned for Imjingak Pyeonghwanuri Park in Paju, South Korea, was abruptly relocated when the Gyeonggi Tourism Organisation cancelled the reservation on Oct. 29, citing North Korean security concerns.
Church officials called the cancellation "an act of administrative tyranny," noting it affected 30,000 international participants and religious leaders from 78 countries.
The organization quickly pivoted to hosting the event across multiple church buildings in South Korea, with the main ceremony held in Cheongju.
Malawian graduates from Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu participated via livestream with students from 153 countries.
"This last-minute change could have dampened the occasion, but seeing our graduates overcome this challenge with unity and hope speaks volumes," said Andre van der Westhuizen, a church representative.
Chairman Man-Hee Lee urged graduates to share their knowledge: "To many people we have to proclaim this Word. It doesn't matter whether I'm in Protestantism or Shincheonji, what I know I want to share with others."
The incident has sparked renewed discussion about religious freedom in South Korea, with the church and the Association for Buddhist National Unification calling for government intervention to prevent similar restrictions on religious gatherings.