by Alessandro Amicarelli — Earlier this year, during a visit to South Korea, I had the pleasure of visiting the headquarters of New Heaven New Earth – Shincheonji Church of Jesus, where I also had the honour of meeting Chairman Lee.
It was likewise a genuine pleasure to attend in London The Greatest Gift, a beautifully staged musical organised by Shincheonji UK. The production brought together members of the community who offered their time, talent, and dedication to create this impressive and uplifting event greatly appreciate by the community and the numerous guests.
The musical portrayed the story of the birth and life of Jesus, and from the very first carols and opening scene it was clear that every performer had embraced their role with professionalism and dedication.
The choir’s performance was especially remarkable and their carols earned the attention of and enthusiastic applauses from the audience.
Several hundred attendees joined the event from across the UK and beyond, creating a diverse and vibrant atmosphere. The environment was unique and welcoming, inspiring a sense of peace and harmony, so reflecting the values that Shincheonji consistently promotes: love for humanity, unity among people, and a shared hope for a more harmonious world.
Every aspect of the evening was meticulously thought of and every duty of the event was carried out by members of Shincheonji UK — from the ushers and security volunteers to the performers and registration clerks — serving the community with dedication and sincere hospitality.
By hosting the musical in a local university hall and offering free access to the general public, Shincheonji UK demonstrated its ongoing commitment to making cultural and spiritual experiences accessible to all. As shown many times in the UK and worldwide, this event was a meaningful example of how faith communities can enrich and support the wider society.
As the European Federation for Freedom of Belief (FOB), together with other organisations that value genuine freedom and equality, we will continue to support Shincheonji both in the UK and abroad. In fact, our action is rooted in human rights and fundamental freedoms, not in the noise created by biased commentators or groups that misrepresent religious communities.
What follows below is the official event report produced by Shincheonji UK, accompanied by photos from the evening.
Event report provided:
At Christmas, the world remembers the birth of Jesus. Through the musical The Greatest Gift, the members of Shincheonji UK had a hope of reminding audiences of the greatest gift that Jesus gave us, His promise that he left in the word for the future and what is to come. In other words, the New Covenant. The musical told the story of Jesus' birth and life across three acts, which was performed in a hall that was filled with 800 guests. The actors, choir, ushers, security, and all volunteers who made this show possible are all members of Shincheonji UK that were eager to participate in the event as a way to share their faith with friends, family and acquaintances. After the musical there were sign up desks through which attendees could sign up for Bible studies or mentoring with the Shincheonji UK team for anyone interested to study further. This is an example of how members evangelise by sharing their faith through their passions and talents, and proudly represent Shincheonji UK. This event also served as an example of the work that Shincheonji UK does to collaborate with and serve the local community. By hosting the event in a local university hall and providing access to a free festive production open to the general public was a way to make cultural experiences accessible and open to all.
