Cult infiltrating Hong Kong churches, warn religious leaders
Religious leaders say some people luring worshippers to follow ‘second Christ’
A Christian sect which believes a peasant woman from Hunan province is the second coming of Christ is infiltrating Hong Kong's mainstream Christian churches since being banned on the mainland, religious leaders warn.
One veteran pastor has already been sacked by the Hong Kong Evangelical Church after she was alleged to have adopted the beliefs of the Church of Almighty God.
Ng Yin-fan succeeded in getting some of her congregation from the Yan Ying Church in Yau Tong to join the sect after taking churchgoers to a bible study session run by the cult in early December, according to church executive secretary Kato Chow.
Ng could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Religious leaders say recruitment efforts by the sect - branded an "evil cult" by Beijing - appear to have intensified amid publicity for Mayan doomsday cultists who believe the world will end on Friday.
"Quite a number of churches are seeking help from us due to the infiltration of the cult group," said pastor Wu Chi-wai, general secretary of Hong Kong Church Renewal Movement, adding that the cult was targeting experienced pastors who could attract more followers.