On Saturday, November 12, 2023, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, renowned for its global theological courses, held a second photo exhibition in Cape Town to showcase a remarkable graduation ceremony. Over 108,000 students from around the world successfully completed the church’s international Bible course, marking the third occasion of such monumental graduations.
The stunning images captured moments from the graduation ceremony at the Daegu Stadium in South Korea on Sunday, November 12, 2023. The event was broadcast live to hundreds of locations worldwide, with thousands more graduates participating remotely.
In Southern Africa, nearly 3,000 students graduated, including 2,322 from South Africa, 228 from Namibia, 67 from Zimbabwe, and numerous others from Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Eswatini. Local ceremonies echoed the global celebration, taking place in Cape Town, Gqeberha, Durban, Johannesburg, Windhoek, Harare, and other Southern African metros.
Among the graduates were 6,274 former and current Christian pastors and leaders from various denominational backgrounds. Pastor Philip Mathebula from Gqeberha shared his experience, stating, “My experience was so marvelous because before I thought I knew the whole Bible, but now I came to know the revealed Word of God (Bible), which is the one that gives salvation.”
Pastor Tjaheja Meroro emphasized the importance of peace, saying,
It was a great honor to be among 108,084 students graduating today. It was well organized and well planned. I will invite lots of people to come and join this because it’s a great event. But most importantly, we study the book of God (Bible) – to have peace in the world.
In his congratulatory speech, Man-Hee Lee, the chairman of Shincheonji Church, said, “God will witness our gathering. Let us strive to make a better world according to the will of God.”
The director of Shincheonji’s theological center, Tan Young-Jin, urged graduates to apply their learning for positive community impact. “Now, let us take the lead in healing the nations and achieving global peace.”
Jessica De Leuw, a graduate from Cape Town, expressed hope, stating,
Shincheonji is the only church where more than 100,000 saints gather annually to celebrate such a glorious occasion. This is truly a beacon of hope, especially in a world faced with so much turmoil, conflicts, wars, and disasters.
The graduation ceremony featured a 15-minute card section performance titled “The New Testament Revelation testified by Shincheonji: The Events of Betrayal, Destruction, and Salvation.” This unique portrayal condensed the entire chapters of Revelation in the Bible, engaging 10,000 participants who received enthusiastic cheers and applause.
Due to the large-scale nature of the event, the Shincheonji Church prioritized safety, security, and order. In a statement, the church emphasized the significant emphasis placed on emergency response training, the deployment of medical personnel, and the establishment of a medical system to prepare for cold weather and unforeseen circumstances.
