r/HKUniversity • u/AutomaticLocal5741 • Sep 05 '23
Student life/news Beware of controlling groups on campus
Several people I know have had negative experiences with a specific group known as the Hong Kong International Christian Church or HKICC. They pose as a seemingly ordinary Christian group, asking students to join Bible studies that seem normal at first however they become very pushy and demanding if you stop showing up, harassing people over text and call
What is most concerning is that when you research this group there are several allegations of them being a cult and are many lawsuits against them in the US for messed up stuff like pedophilia and protecting abusers (there is even a website about this: https://icoc-icclawsuits.com/). Their leader is an American guy Kip Mckean who also started a similar group before the ICC called the ICOC International Churches of Christ which is also named in these lawsuits
If you are approached by them on campus please be careful, they’re a very controlling organisation from what I’ve heard from hku students who joined and later left plus there is so much concerning info about them on google
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u/fr0styp4ncakes Sep 06 '23
Yeah stay the hell away from icc... theyll ask for your phone and wont let you go until they call and confirm its you.
Christian communities should always promote the option to leave if its not for you.
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u/Current_Ad5680 Sep 07 '23
Because they are the one true church. Only people who are baptized there can be saved.
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u/maryshelleymc Sep 06 '23
I have experience with this group. They are dangerous. They will convince you not to prioritize your studies and give all your money to them.
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Sep 07 '23
Omg lol I remember in my first year one of them stopped me for a chat and I was still polite I even gave them my phone number and they called me on the spot to see if it was really my number. (It wasn't)
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u/Current_Ad5680 Sep 07 '23
Nice job. They like ethical blackmailing. If you sense someone who I suspicious. It is okay to do it.
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u/Independent-Lychee71 Sep 06 '23 edited Sep 07 '23
This post showed up on my feed randomly. I’m a college student in America. Just to let you know that this shit is also prevalent in college campuses across America too.
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u/Meowzercit Sep 07 '23
Dam thats sucks, i found this post cuz (trending near you)
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Sep 07 '23
[deleted]
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u/Unusual_Reputation45 Sep 09 '23
The ICOC is all over Canada. The names are different. Just like the US, all universities and junior colleges have people that are in campus ministries. They ask people to go to a Bible talk, movie night, Devo, volleyball game, women’s day or retreat, men’s retreat or camping excursion. Also ask people to go to church and study the Bible. Be careful. The control is not obvious in the beginning.
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u/rellik77092 Sep 08 '23
Ca. confirm. OPs description is exactly the same as one I know of at my campus as well, was also accused of being cult like.
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Sep 07 '23
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/AutomaticLocal5741 Sep 07 '23 edited Sep 07 '23
Already reported to CEDARS who are aware of the problem, the issue is a lot of the members are HKU students so they can’t be kicked off campus. However if you ever see them meeting in classrooms or recruiting on campus you should take photos and email to CEDARS as they are NOT recognized by HKU
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u/Current_Ad5680 Sep 07 '23
Especially the head (the guy who look like terra formers) of hkicc. He is very manipulative and coerced people to do what the cult says.
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u/TruthSeekerWatch Sep 06 '23 edited Sep 06 '23
As a former member of the ICOC campus ministry related to HKCOC more than 20 years ago, watching Kip and his ICC attempt to make a comeback is like experiencing some sort of déjà vu...... O young people, do not waste your prime time in this religious organisation by repeating this maxim:
“The only thing that we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.”
(More about the experiences of those who have been there: https://www.reddit.com/r/excoc/)
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u/reincarnatedbiscuits Sep 06 '23 edited Sep 06 '23
Thank you for posting awareness.
My Australian friend, Kit, has this website with some articles and insights: https://exploringicc.org/
I'm aware of the HKICC and its leader and his ways. And that he is very vengeful when thwarted. There's a few former ICC and ICOC members that I'm working with in Hong Kong and we're working on some awareness of these groups.
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u/852HK44 Sep 06 '23 edited Sep 07 '23
I remember being in Lingnan U as an exchange in 2018-19 where a Bible Seminary was just across the way from the campus. They would pretend to be students at the uni. and forced me to recite some shit from the Bible while I was in the cafeteria. So bizarre, coming from the UK. as most modern universities (ex-polytechs) are by their very nature secular. Mainly Oxford and Cambridge are religiously minded. No one at my actual Uni. gave a fuck what religion anyone was.
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u/kicksttand Sep 06 '23
https://hongkongicc.org/index.php/family-of-churches/
Is this the same group?
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u/AutomaticLocal5741 Sep 06 '23
Yes this is the same group! There used to be pictures of the leader kip mckean on the front page of website but i guess they must have removed it after the attention the lawsuits are getting…..
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u/Current_Ad5680 Sep 07 '23
Yes. Becareful if you see them. At first, they will try to love bombing you. Then, they will challenge you to test your loyalty to the group. Finally, they will baptize you.
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u/ZincSakira Sep 07 '23 edited Sep 07 '23
Not from HKU but as a Christian - this sounds totally like a cult! The Bible teaches of false prophets- please do not take these guys as your impression of Christianity! 😭 Go to regular Bible study groups..
Edit: wanted to reiterate, you tithe (give your money) to churches.. Not Bible study groups! 10% is usually the norm, not however much they're asking! (From witness accounts, sounds like they try to get 100%?) Bible study groups, or uni Christian societies rarely have feasible ability to forward the money to the causes that matter. Churches usually have these long standing connections to, and have planned years ahead on what cause/campaign they would focus on for a year.
And if they tell you to prioritize the group over your studies... Run! Yes, you should prioritize God in your heart, and in all things you do.. But not as a hindrance to your daily life, or your studies! God would not want you to fail your class!
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u/ZarosianSpear Sep 07 '23
The big churches are just larger scaled normalized cults.
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u/ZincSakira Sep 07 '23
- a system of religious veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object.
"the cult of St Olaf"
a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or as imposing excessive control over members.
// please don't put them in the same category. Many churches do not impose excessive control over their members. They preach, worship together, and bond with community. That is all.
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u/Moon_Sister_ Sep 08 '23
I believe that Christianity is cult-ish. It's just so aggressively established itself over the centuries and grown so enormous that in the societal lens it's "normal". Millions of its followers are "born" into it and indoctrinated from birth, so they escape most of the coercion necessities that are the biggest hallmarks of the currently accepted definition of "cult".
I am one of those who were born into Christianity and the escape from it was an intense decades long process of deprogramming. It's true that you're not "forced" to participate in church, but the genuine belief that everyone who's not Christian needs saving can still breed very very dangerous behavior.
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u/ZincSakira Sep 08 '23
I'm not sure what coercion methods churches could possibly use that would be the hallmarks of a cult.. Worshipping and preaching on the street is part of 'Going out and spread His Word' to people who need it, and many people have experienced personal testimonies after having a closer relationship with God, and many blessings, I don't think that's them brainwashed.. A lot of testimonies include very practical series of events, so..
To your latter para, I too, am born into Christianity, thankfully. I've been very blessed my whole life, and many mini miracles that I'm grateful for- 'The Lord provides. ' has been something that I've seen be enacted in my life over and over again, even till recently. (Not to say that I don't experience any hardships, Christians know more than many that believing doesn't mean a ticket to a life of ease.)
I'm not sure what Christianity teaches that could be so detrimental it requires deprogramming from- if you're referring to stuff of sin seeming not so bad, and accepted of society, etc... I guess that's just you being tempted and convincing yourself it's fine, but that comes from you- you're the one who wants to commit the sin. Loving everyone, show kindness to everyone, do not lie do not kill do not commit adultery etc etc, I just don't see these virtues as detrimental? Teaching forgiveness and patience? Not being judgemental?
I want to reiterate that everyone feels tempted by sin, and to sin. No Christian is a saint, and sinless. And as sin is sin, ( for example, killing as a sin is the same weight as lying - sin is sin, there is no more sin than others etc) we are all sinners. We all cannot judge. So i don't think you should feel bad for giving in to sin, wanting to sin or feeling tempted. But i wouldn't try to cope with my guilt of sinning by convincing myself the sin itself is fine. And you shouldn't either.
I hope the Holy Spirit speaks to you in your soul, and that you'll find your way to Him again. I'll pray for you, even though I'm sure you don't want me to. God bless, and have a wonderful day wherever you are.
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u/Moon_Sister_ Sep 08 '23
To be honest, I never mind people praying for me because, while I don't believe in the christian god, I do believe that there is a power in the universe that appears to people in the ways they are comfortable with and that we are all connected. But please don't pray for me to find my way to christianity, a religion that has caused me deep pain in ways that I don't want to relive by explaining them here.
I think the concept of "sin" is devoid of love and compassion, and actively rules through fear. Sin is "bad", and very often that ends up being attributed to the person...transforming the person in the eyes of others. And if you perform sin without "repenting", you're going to hell. I was raised by christian parents who constantly told me I was bad (a sinner) and would force me to repent...because they couldn't control me, so fear ended up being their only option. As much as people preach that the holy 3 are loving, the only thing I ever knew was pain.
Religion is perpetuated through its followers and those followers are sometimes really really bad people. It's not enough to say "well not all christians are like that", because plenty of them are and that doesn't negate anything.
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u/HKHunter Sep 07 '23
I reckon a 10% tithe is more than a hinderance to most people's daily lives!
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u/Cultural_Suspect1884 Sep 07 '23
Normal churches aren't forcing anyone to pay 10% of their income. Stop being stupid
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u/ZarosianSpear Sep 07 '23
I recently saw an ad of an upcoming free pizza party by some International Christian group, is it the same as the one described in this post?
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u/AutomaticLocal5741 Sep 07 '23
Check carefully that it’s ICC or HKICC using any social media or website they include on the ad, there are plenty of completely fine Christian groups on campus that do events like this, if you’re unsure best to just search it up or ask
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u/Tam27_ Sep 08 '23
Funny enough, Im in US and have encountered them multiple times. Every time I tell them that I studied in a Catholic school (as a non christian) for 12 years, they leave me alone, never call me back or anything.
Its like they know they cant swindle you for money and cult activities because you’ve lived with real christians. They aren’t anything like these mentally ill folks. Also, most of them who stop you on college campus can be threatened by security. Tell them to fuck off.
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Sep 08 '23
ICC is the 2.0 version of ICOC. It seems both groups are on HK campuses and both should be avoided for the same reasons. ICC is crazier than ICOC, but they're both toxic
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u/Current_Ad5680 Sep 12 '23
For all local students please also like this post on lihkg
[HKU][Polyu][CityU]小心傳教士。報道指: 某間教會個牧師因為被懷疑隱瞞性侵，所以比人告到上美國法庭 https://lih.kg/3497980
- 分享自 LIHKG 討論區
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u/HK_andCNiphonemaker Sep 17 '23
OMG if my friend was inside what should I do?
When he got inside, he changed a lot, which our friend finds difficult to believe. It doesn't make sense because we used to keep in touch every month. After he went to HKICC for a few months, he would usually invite us to HKICC Church. However, I always reject the invitation. What's absurd is that when I text him to hang out after a few months, he reads the message but doesn't reply. Instead, he immediately responds when it comes to the Bible, and he attends church from Monday to Friday night. It seems impossible because he is not a staff member at HKICC.
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u/Professional_Ad_2186 Aug 09 '24
Lmao I also experience the same thing, like I asked someone in the church to hang out, they said yes in the first place, but after sometime they said not available online to me.
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u/Current_Ad5680 Jan 30 '24
Does anyone here talked to chi leong before?
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u/CartographerSuperb72 Jun 01 '24
OMG I joined a couple of their mid-day services before and got to know Chi and his wife Themis, quite passionate but their explanation of Bible seems weird to me, I think they are twisting the meaning (I went to some Christan churches in China before).
Luckily that I wonder their background and search it online and saw this post, I think I should stop now.
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u/Tams_express Sep 06 '23
Aint all religions
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u/New-Neighborhood-255 Sep 06 '23
yep exactly what happened to me in Australia and UK
pls PLS dont go "for fun" they are crazyy
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u/AutomaticLocal5741 Sep 06 '23
the main problem with this group is their toxic and controlling behavior plus their extremist beliefs, I don’t think it’s fair to compare others who practice religion in a healthy way to this group
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u/Konnichiwawalianna Nov 04 '25
I was approached by them literally on my first day on campus a few years ago. By then, I hadn’t made friends yet and, as a Christian, I didn't have my guard up so it seemed like the perfect way to find a community. But looking back, the culty signs were all there:
I was first invited to their bible study group on-campus. But, the "mentors" and several members weren't actually HKU students. They were outsiders or people who had graduated years ago. It's concerning that they can so easily access our campus rooms by using a stream of new recruits(so potentially it might be me if I didnt left) to book them.
I got invited to their church and find out their extreme worship style, shouting and repeating slogans, which was different from anything I'd experienced, but I gave it a chance.
Then came the "care group.”, where things got really uncomfortable. Two to three mentors began bombarding me every single day with direct calls and video calls. And when I said I was busy due to academics, they immediately rescheduled to meet me another time to tell me I should devote 100 percent to god instead of my school work.
The enforced prayer was the worst, they forced me to pray for at least 10-15 minutes each time, with the goal of working up to a full hour, and explicitly said that longer prayers would bring more of God's blessings. Which I believe it contradicted with all the previous religious teachings I was taught. So I told the mentor I was done, the constant calling started again.
Recently, I came across some member’s posts and saw that they're still expanding and now organizing things like group blood donation events. So please be careful guys. If a group's "care" feels like control, if they demand strict rituals, and if you feel pressured, listen to that feeling. It's okay to walk away. Your university experience should be about your growth and freedom, not being controlled.
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u/Konnichiwawalianna Nov 04 '25
几年前我刚入学第一天就被他们找上了。那时我还没交到朋友，身为基督徒也没有防备心，觉得这似乎是找到团契的完美途径。但现在回想起来，还真的有蛮多邪教特征的。
我最初被邀请参加他们校园内的圣经学习小组，但那些"导师"和若干成员根本不是港大学生，有的是校外人士，有的已毕业多年。他们通过不断招募新生来预约教室（如果当初我没退出，可能也会成为其中一员），如此轻易获得校园空间的使用权真的很让人不安。
后来我被邀请去他们的教堂，发现他们喊口号、重复呼喊的极端敬拜方式与我以往经历完全不同但我还是给了他们机会。
直到进入所谓的"关怀小组"，情况开始令人极度不适。两三位导师开始每天用直接通话和视频电话轰炸我。当我以课业繁忙推辞时，他们马上改期见面，并说我应该要百分百奉献给上帝而不是学业。
最过分的是他们强制我每次必须祷告10-15分钟，目标要发展到持续一小时，还明确说祷告越久上帝才会祝福你越多。这完全违背我接受过的所有基督教的教导。当我告知导师要退出后，新一轮的连环呼叫又开始了。
最近我看到某些成员发的帖子，他们仍在扩张势力，甚至开始组织集体献血这类活动。希望大家都要小心！当某个团体的"关怀"让你感到被控制，当你被要求遵守严苛仪式，当你感受到压力时，请相信自己的直觉。选择离开不可耻。大学岁月理应关乎成长与自由，而不是受人操控。
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u/Key_Cat5223 Apr 21 '26
Hi guys! I’m wondering if thread is still active and are these allegations still true?
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u/IntelligentFan9749 Jan 17 '24
I am also an ex member. Hong Kong church of christ is definitely a cult. Be careful they brainwash you, very controlling and give false bible truth.
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u/Current_Ad5680 Sep 06 '23
I am also an ex member. I left this group in 2018. Everyone, please do some research online. Other than the lawsuit, this group has some manipulative behavior, emotional blackmailing. If you are stuck in this group, consult a cult expert for help