Renaissance of Christianity: Paris Hosts Global Pastor Conference 2024
On June 15, 2024, Paris became the gathering point for over 7,000 believers and more than 1,000 pastors from all over Europe for the Global Pastor Conference, initiated by the Shincheonji Church of Jesus under the leadership of Assembly Leader Man-Hee Lee. The conference delved deeply into biblical prophecies, particularly the Book of Revelation, with the aim of revitalizing Christianity in Europe.
Man-Hee Lee, leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, emphasized, “It is essential that the Book of Revelation is understood in its accuracy and conveyed to believers without alteration.”
Reactions and Feedback from Pastors
Pastor Delphine Matondo from the Full Gospel Church of God commented, “The teachings on Revelation were profound and awakening. I am determined to travel to Korea to further expand my knowledge.” Many European pastors shared similarly positive feedback and expressed great interest in studying the teachings of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus more intensively.
The conference took place at a time when many European churches stand empty or are used for secular purposes. The event was part of a global series of pastor conferences, which began on April 20 in the Philippines and focused on the expressed desire for spiritual renewal in Europe.
Over 7,000 members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus participated in the thorough discussions, emphasizing the crucial role of pastors in the spiritual renewal of Europe. Assembly Leader Man-Hee Lee, who delivered a landmark speech from Korea, stated, “God’s plan unfolds according to Revelation, which remains unchanging. It is my wish that you grasp this truth and convey it to believers without alteration. Your congregants should learn Revelation in its pure form.”
Lee Seung-joo, head of the Simon Tribe of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, explained the significance and fulfillment of biblical prophecies and urged the pastors: “The fulfilled words of Revelation are life-giving. When more people return to faith and are newly created in the image and likeness of God, the European church will blossom again.” He encouraged the pastors to study and spread the Book of Revelation through the Zion Christian Mission Center of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus (New Heaven and New Earth).
A pastor from Austria remarked, “I am impressed by the significance the Shincheonji Church of Jesus places on the prophetic words of the Bible. I want to collaborate with this committed community and deepen my knowledge of the Book of Revelation.” A Polish pastor added, “It was inspiring to see how European pastors and believers united. This has motivated me to carry this message to my home.”
Context and Significance of the Conference
According to the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, the Christian population in Europe reached 560 million at the beginning of the 2000s. However, due to increasing secularization and modernization, it is stagnating and expected to decline to 490 million by 2050. This development, coupled with challenges such as atheism, religious pluralism, and church scandals, has weakened trust in the Christian faith. The Global Pastor Conference 2024 in Paris marks a significant milestone on the path to the spiritual renewal of Christianity in Europe.
Future Initiatives and Perspectives
“After the conference, many European pastors expressed a desire to learn more about the Book of Revelation from the Shincheonji Church,” stated a representative of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. “We plan to continue developing event venues and programs and expand the offerings of the Zion Christian Mission Center in various European countries.”
Additionally, further global seminars are planned to invite pastors from around the world to Korea and create platforms for international exchange.
By June 5, 2024, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus had signed memoranda of understanding with 12,538 congregations in 83 countries. Furthermore, 1,341 congregations in 41 countries have changed their affiliation to the Shincheonji Church and updated their signboards accordingly. By the end of May 2024, 5,614 pastors worldwide had successfully completed the Bible courses of the Zion Christian Mission Center.
