84 Ethiopian churches switch signboards to Shincheonji amid religious shift
Addis Ababa — In a development drawing attention within Ethiopia’s Christian community, 84 churches across ten cities have replaced their signboards to bear the name Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony.
The change follows a ceremony organized on September 10 by Shincheonji’s Peter Tribe, where local pastors publicly declared their affiliation with the church. Leaders at the event said they were committing themselves to teaching what they described as the “revealed Word” of the New Covenant Revelation.
This movement has been linked to the influence of Pastor Asefa Angeto, President of the Misgana Denomination Association, who attended a Shincheonji seminar in South Korea last year. On his return to Ethiopia, Pastor Asefa held local seminars in more than 100 churches across ten cities, introducing Shincheonji teachings to fellow pastors.
The church signboard changes are being described by some as more than symbolic, representing a shift in teaching emphasis among certain congregations. At the ceremony, 84 pastors affirmed their decision to adopt Shincheonji’s interpretation of the New Testament book of Revelation and vowed to spread the message across Ethiopia.
Shincheonji officials also noted that 181 Ethiopian pastors are currently participating in educational programs led by the church. A representative of the Peter Tribe said the group intends to “make known the fact that the prophecies of Revelation have been fulfilled today” and to promote unity through what they call the Word.
Observers say the expansion of Shincheonji in Ethiopia highlights how global religious movements are intersecting with local church networks. However, the development is likely to generate debate within Ethiopia’s diverse Christian community, where questions about doctrine, denominational identity, and outside influence remain sensitive issues.
