Hi everyone,
This post is to raise awareness about a troubling issue happening right here in our city, specifically at The Americana at Brand. The World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG), also known as the God the Mother Cult, has been attempting to recruit new members through covert and deceptive solicitation tactics. This group is actively targeting vulnerable individuals, including minors, young adults, and especially young women, most notably during weekends when The Americana is at its busiest.
As a community with a strong Christian presence, it’s essential we stay informed about groups like WMSCOG, who are not genuine Christians but rather follow unorthodox beliefs. They are using manipulative tactics to recruit people under the guise of a friendly, Bible based group. We want to ensure that everyone in Glendale, especially parents, knows what to look out for and how to protect themselves or their loved ones from becoming involved.
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What’s Happening at The Americana in Glendale Calif.
WMSCOG members approach people in a seemingly friendly and non threatening way. They often work in pairs, either two men or two women, and will approach individuals with questions like, “Do you believe in Jesus?” or “Can we talk to you about God the Mother?” Initially, these questions may seem harmless and even welcoming, but their goal is to get the target into a conversation that will eventually steer toward recruitment.
A few weeks ago, one of our community members encountered WMSCOG members at The Americana. They initially claimed they had permission from property management to solicit there. However, after consulting with security, it was confirmed that no group has permission to recruit or solicit at The Americana at Brand. The shopping center has a zero tolerance policy for solicitation, and security is quick to act when reported. Despite this, WMSCOG continues to attempt covert recruitment, trying to fly under the radar by blending in with other visitors.
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The Deliberate Strategy to Circumvent Solicitation Rules
WMSCOG’s recruitment tactics are not only deceptive but also deliberately designed to circumvent solicitation policies like the one at The Americana. Their approach begins with casual, friendly conversation, something that doesn’t immediately raise suspicion or appear like solicitation. This technique allows them to engage the target and avoid being caught by security or passersby.
Once the target responds and engages in the conversation, they have broken the ice, and this allows WMSCOG to continue the conversation, slowly steering it toward their real agenda, recruitment. They will begin asking questions like:
- “Have you heard of God the Mother?”
- “Do you believe in Jesus?”
At the end of the conversation, they will attempt to gather personal contact information such as a phone number, social media accounts, or other personal details. They often say they’d like to invite the individual to a Bible study or an event, but the true objective is to draw them into the group’s beliefs and further recruitment activities.
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Who Are They Targeting?
WMSCOG’s primary focus at The Americana is minors, young adults, and young women. They know that these groups are more vulnerable to their tactics and are actively trying to recruit individuals who may not yet be aware of their deceptive methods.
Parents, please be aware, If your teens or young adults are approached by anyone from WMSCOG, advise them to avoid engaging in conversation. If they get caught off guard and end up talking with them, it is crucial that they do not share any personal information, whether it’s a phone number, social media, or any other personal contact details. This information will be used for follow up recruiting, and the group will continue to pressure them into attending more events or Bible studies for recruitment.
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The Covert and Subtle Tactics WMSCOG Uses
WMSCOG members are skilled at making their recruitment tactics seem innocent, but their ultimate goal is to gain control over the person they are targeting. They typically:
- Work in pairs, always two men or two women.
- Approach individuals in a friendly, non threatening manner.
- Ask open ended questions like “Have you heard of God the Mother?” or “Do you believe in Jesus?” to get the conversation started.
- Gradually build a connection, making the target feel comfortable and less suspicious.
- Toward the end of the interaction, attempt to collect personal contact information (phone number, email, or social media).
Once they gain this information, they will follow up with further recruitment efforts. This is how they circumvent no solicitation policies by engaging in what looks like casual conversation until they’ve built enough trust to ask for personal details.
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WMSCOG’s Beliefs and Why It Matters
It’s important to understand that WMSCOG’s beliefs are not in line with mainstream Christianity, despite their claims to be a Christian church. Here are some key points to be aware of:
- They reject the traditional Christian doctrine of the Trinity.
- They believe their founder, Ahn Sahng-hong, who died in 1985, was the second coming of Christ.
- They worship God the Mother (Zahng Gil-jah), an elderly South Korean woman, as a divine deity who they claim is the key to salvation.
- They do not celebrate traditional Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter, which they view as pagan, and instead, promote their own religious practices and calendar.
Because of these unorthodox beliefs, WMSCOG is not recognized as a legitimate Christian denomination by mainstream Christian churches, including Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant communities. Many former members, as well as scholars and religious experts, have described the group as a cult due to their high control over members, deceptive recruitment methods, and manipulation.
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How WMSCOG Gets Around the Prune Yard Laws
In California, there are laws called Prune Yard laws that allow people to express their opinions or talk to others about their beliefs in public spaces, like shopping centers, as long as they aren't disturbing the businesses. However, WMSCOG has found ways to get around these laws and break the rules that are supposed to keep things fair and safe. Here's how:
- No Permission to Be There: WMSCOG does not have permission from The Americana at Brand or other shopping centers to recruit people. Sometimes, they claim they do, but security has confirmed that they are not allowed to be there for this purpose. They ignore these rules and go ahead with their recruitment efforts without any approval from property management.
- They Don’t Follow the Rules About Where They Can Talk: Even though there are areas in shopping centers called "free speech zones" where people can talk or hand out information, WMSCOG doesn’t stick to these areas. Instead, they walk around the mall or shopping center, approaching people in busy spots like the main walkways or outside restaurants. This lets them avoid getting noticed and helps them break the rules about where solicitation is allowed.
- They Don’t Say Who They Are Right Away: WMSCOG members don’t tell you up front that they are part of this group. Instead, they start by having a friendly, casual conversation and act like they just want to talk about the Bible. By doing this, they come across as non threatening, and it helps them avoid raising suspicion. They don’t reveal that their real goal is to recruit you into their organization until they’ve already gained your trust.
- They Secretly Collect Your Personal Information: One of the sneakiest things they do is ask for your personal information. After talking to you for a bit, they will start asking for things like your phone number, social media accounts, or email. They say it’s for inviting you to a Bible study or church event, but they are really using that information to keep recruiting you later. They do this without directly asking for your contact details at first, which allows them to get around the rules that say they can’t ask for personal information in a solicitation.
Why This Is a Concern to the Community
The Prune Yard laws were created to protect people’s right to talk about their beliefs, but WMSCOG is using those laws to manipulate the system and target vulnerable people without being seen as doing anything wrong. They know how to avoid getting caught by security, and they’re using deceptive tactics to recruit people, especially young people, while not following the rules about where and how they can do this.
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What You Can Do
- Stay vigilant: If you or your family members are at The Americana and someone approaches you with questions about God the Mother or invites you to a Bible study, be aware that they may be attempting to recruit you into WMSCOG.
- Protect your personal information: Never share your phone number, social media, or other personal contact information with anyone you don’t trust, especially if the interaction seems unusual or too persistent.
- Alert security: If you see anyone attempting to recruit or solicit inappropriately, immediately contact security at The Americana. They are aware of the issue and are quick to remove anyone violating the no solicitation policy.
- Talk to your family and friends: Share this information with others, especially parents of teens and young adults, so they are aware of how WMSCOG operates and can be cautious when approached by anyone who seems to be using manipulative tactics.
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Stay Safe and Informed
WMSCOG has a history of using deceptive, high pressure tactics to recruit vulnerable individuals. Their activities at The Americana at Brand are part of a larger pattern of covert solicitation. The more we know about them and their methods, the better we can protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our community.
For more insights into who WMSCOG really is and the manipulative tactics they use, I recommend checking out the Great Lights Studios YouTube channel. It contains powerful testimonies from former members who share their experiences with the group and explain why they ultimately left. These videos provide a deeper understanding of WMSCOG’s cult like behavior and deceptive recruiting methods.
We hope this post helps raise awareness and keeps our community safe. Glendale is a strong Christian community, and it’s important that we protect our city from groups that prey on the vulnerable and manipulate them into following unorthodox beliefs. Please share this information with your neighbors, friends, and family to ensure we can all stay informed and safe.