MEDIAwareness
ON 29/7/2020, Agape Grace Methodist Church set up our very first website, with my personal contacts and church email disclosed. I did not have any personal contact disclosed on internet except for this website.
Two days later, our church received an email from a lady called Jessica writing from an organization called HWPL. The content of the email was mainly about an invitation for attending a private interview (Attachment 1). As I missed the email, Jessica called me up through my personal mobile phone number and said the same thing as mentioned in the email.
Due to my personal interest on social justice and rights, I almost agreed to have the said interview. However, there was a little voice within asking me to wait. So, I told her that I will reply after reading her email. As I read through the email and found out more about HWPL on Google, I was shocked.
It is not a simple organization, but an organization run by a heretical church in Korea, Shincheonji. In other words, it is closely related to the heretic group. What was even more shocking to me was that this organization has registered with WHO as a charity organization, as what I received the reply from WHO after I sent an email to confirm (Attachment 2). After that, I replied her and rejected her invitation, but she didn’t give up. She continued to ask for my reasons.
As I ponder upon this incident, I think we shall never undermine the power of social media. Heretical groups are trying to achieve their goals in whatever possible means. With just a 2-day old fresh website, I was targeted. At that same time, I realise how advance are these groups in using the media and influence of international organization to expand their “kingdom”. That leads me to ask myself, “Where are we?” in using the media for the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)