Editing Jung Myung-seok (section)

=== Growing the Providence movement from jail (2008–2018) ===
In April 2009, Jung Myung-seok was convicted of 4 counts of rape by the [[Supreme Court of Korea]] and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. During his incarceration between 2008 and 2018, Jung's sermons and directives were delivered through visitors to the prison and through his successor Jung Jo-eun (real name Kim Ji-seon).<ref name=":7" />

Members of the Providence Church, now mostly known as the Christian Gospel Movement (CGM), tried to downplay their religious ties when proselytizing. They often recruit members from shopping malls and university campuses in Taiwan, Japan and Australia. Other new members are recruited from student clubs in universities (e.g. modeling, cheerleading, groups focused on [[Sustainable Development Goals|sustainable development goals]] issues),<ref>{{Cite web |last=國府田英之 |date=15 September 2021 |title=社会問題化した宗教団体「摂理」がコロナ禍で有名大学で勧誘を活発化 SNSを駆使した巧妙な手口〈dot.〉 |url=https://dot.asahi.com/dot/2021091300043.html |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=AERA dot. (アエラドット) |archive-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308064352/https://dot.asahi.com/dot/2021091300043.html |url-status=live }}</ref> before they are introduced to the Providence doctrine and CGM church services with Jung's sermons. According to former members, some female followers are then introduced as spiritual brides for the leader and coerced or forced into sexual relationships with their perceived messiah.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" />

In 2014, Australian public broadcaster [[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS]] aired a feature ''Inside Providence: The Korean church cult led by a convicted rapist'', in which former Australian members described how they were encouraged to write letters, send photos of themselves in bikinis and visit Jung in jail.<ref>{{Citation |title=Inside Providence: The Korean church cult led by a convicted rapist {{!}} Investigation {{!}} SBS The Feed | date=9 April 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11K8R8kmwtM |access-date=12 March 2023 |language=en |archive-date=11 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311165355/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11K8R8kmwtM |url-status=live }}</ref> Members are encouraged to ignore news on Jung's imprisonment and alleged crimes, claiming he is a messiah suffering for them.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=高一就被老師找入「攝理教」！ 口譯網紅揭「洗腦SOP」 |trans-title=Introduced to Providence in first year of high school by teacher. Internet personality describes 'Brainwashing SOP' |url=https://www.ctwant.com/article/243662 |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=Want Weekly |date=11 March 2023 |language=zh-Hant-TW |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312085834/https://www.ctwant.com/article/243662 |url-status=live }}</ref> In a 2023 interview, a source confirmed that members were indoctrinated to believe Jung was wrongfully accused.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 March 2023 |title="더이상, JMS는 없다"…'DKZ' 경윤, 모태신앙의 탈출 |trans-title=No more, no more JMS. DKZ's Kyoungyoon escapes from mother's faith |url=https://www.dispatch.co.kr/2242011 |access-date=13 March 2023 |website=Dispatch (Korea) |language=ko-KR |quote=Since I was young, I learned that Jung Myung-seok was falsely accused of his crimes. They teach a lot of reasons why he is actually innocent. It was almost like an indoctrination. With that, it's like we were all brainwashed into thinking, "Oh, well Jung Myung-seok was persecuted just like Jesus was." |archive-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313035623/https://www.dispatch.co.kr/2242011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Jung was released from jail on 18 February 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=The cult that's infiltrated NZ schools, campuses and churches |work=NOTED |url=https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/social-issues/cults-nz-providence-infiltrate-nz/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007183612/https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/social-issues/cults-nz-providence-infiltrate-nz/ |archive-date=7 October 2018 }}</ref>