The 78-year-old pastor of the world’s largest Pentecostal church convicted of embezzling $12 million told ...his congregation on Sunday that through “this suffering” he had learned that ”an individual shouldn’t possess anything.”
“Besides health, status, fame, authority, money… these are all matters that are outside the body and unworthy of any pursuit,” Pastor David Yonggi Cho told Yoido Full Gospel Church, in Seoul, South Korea.
Cho added that he hopes that God forgives him for his actions.
“God forbid, if God calls me back today, I will still be able to go to the Kingdom of God,” he said.
Cho was sentenced to three years in prison last week after he was convicted of directing officials to buy stocks from his son at four times the market price. The church subsequently lost US $12 million, according toThe Gospel Herald.
Cho was also convicted of tax evasion.
The pastor, who founded his church in 1958, now must pay back $4.6 million. Cho’s son, Hee-jun, the former CEO of the media company Kookmin Ilbo, was also sentenced to three years in prison for participating in his father’s embezzlement scheme.
Cho’s contrition comes several months after former elder, Ha Sang-ok, said in November that he had attempted unsuccessfully to convince the pastor to end his unethical ways.
“A sect leader might violate the commandments and do as he wishes, but a pastor cannot do that,” Ha said, as reported in The Hanyoreah. “Over the past 14 years, I have met with Rev. Cho many times to try to persuade him to repent and return to being a great pastor, but the corruption has continued. That’s why I had no choice but to disclose it to the outside world.”
In the past, the Yoido Full Gospel Church has been criticized by some for what they allege are prosperity gospel messages. According to Kingsway Global Ministries, Cho has taught, “We must rethink our misguided thoughts considering material wealth as being equated with sin. We must drive out our subconsciously rooted thoughts of poverty, condemnation and despair. God acts in concordance with our conscience; If our thoughts are filled with poverty and despair, God cannot bless us with material blessing.”
A biography of Cho on the English version of the Yoido Full Gospel Church website says that the pastor, who came to faith after attending a crusade led by American missionary Ken Tines, met Jesus in a vision one night while he was fasting and was baptized in the Holy Spirit.
“Pastor Cho gives thanks to the Lord for his 47 years of ministry, and has been sincerely serving 750,000 church members,” the biography states. “In the early 21st century, the church’s goals for next 10 years are to build 500 prayer houses and 5,000 satellite churches in Korea, and to expand global mission through internet broadcasting, and to enlarge overseas mission to the third world countries, including North Korea.”
Approximately one million people claim membership at the South Korea church, which is affiliated with the Assemblies of God denomination. The AG is the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination and boasts 66 million members.
Can this be true? If so then it should now be clear to us that we as the flocks under the shepherd like Rev Cho should devote our times praying to God for them to allow the spirit of God in them to have absolute control of their emotions and the flesh that always fight against the spirit. God will surely deliver our revered Rev. Cho and his son form the hands of the wicked in Jesus Name Amen
ReplyDeleteDavid Yonggi Cho, pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, has been a personal friend of our family for more than 40 years. He has stayed in our home, and my father and I have served on his church growth board for a combined 38 years. Presently, I serve as president of Church Growth International of the Americas.
ReplyDeleteBecause of the slant of some of the media reports, it is important certain details of the situation be made known. Not only was I present in Seoul during much of the trial, but there was also information disclosed during closed-door meetings which has not yet been made public. I want to share some of this as follows.
First, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Cho, 78, to a three-year prison term suspended for five years. He had been indicted for allegedly causing financial losses worth more than $12 million. He was also fined $5 million. He will not have to serve prison time, but he is on probation.
Second, Cho’s son, Cho Hee-Jun, 49, was indicted for the same charges. Because he was considered a flight risk, he was immediately taken into custody following a court order after being sentenced to three years in prison.
Cho has three sons. The second and third sons are very productive and work in church-related ministries. His eldest son has been the prodigal. He has been married four times and has been involved in sexual scandals with national personalities. In addition, he has served prison time for investment scams and embezzlement. His scandalized life has been an embarrassment to his family and the church.
Twelve years ago, this son purposely defrauded the church in excess of $12 million in a stock-related scheme. Cho testified that he trusted his elders and son and didn’t check and read the thousands of pages of paperwork, which was prepared for him to sign. Because Cho relied upon the direction of his choice elders and son, he signed the papers. He never received any monies from the transaction.
Third, the presiding judge said, “The court considered that even though Pastor Cho had the final say in the church, he never took the lead in any of the crimes, including tax evasion, committed on the suggestion of the accounting firm.”
The court also considered Cho’s life journey as a religious leader and his long-term contribution to social welfare as mitigating circumstances on his behalf. The court ruled that his son, Cho Hee-Jun, was the instigator of the crime related to the purchase of the shares of 1-Service stock.
Even though Cho established the world’s largest church, with more than 1 million members, he lives a simple life in a 1,000-square-foot church apartment. Neither does he own a car. Cho has raised and given personally to the church more than $170 million.
Dr. Bob Rodgers Sr. is pastor of Evangel World Prayer Center in Louisville, Kentucky, USA