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THE KONG HEE AND PHIL PRINGLE CONNECTION
In April 2010, the Commission of Charities investigated Kong Hee and his church’s purchase of SunTec City Convention Center. Later in 2010, new investigations were underway which led to Kong Hee’s arrest in 2012. Alongside Kong, other church officials were arrested in relation to financial misconduct involving sums of up to S$50.6 million, a truly sad state of affairs for a Church to find itself in.
But have people considered the amount of pressure that has been put on by his spiritual mentor, Phil Pringle? Phil Pringle is the founder of the C3 Church Movement located in Oxford Falls Sydney, Australia.
Examine how Kong Hee sees Phil Pringle. Discover how Phil Pringle led Kong Hee under supposed ‘prophecies’ to purchase SunTec City Convention Center and to further his wife’s music career in the CrossOver Project.
We have gathered quotes and audio’s from Kong Hee that reveal just how much pressure he was put under to obey the prophecies of Phil Pringle. As you read and listen to Kong Hee, ask yourself these questions:
- If you were Kong Hee and believed that Phil Pringle was speaking the very words of God, (and that you must do your part to fulfill God’s Word through Pringle), how would you feel if Phil Pringle prophesied that you were to do outrageous things?
- How would you feel if you believed you were told by God to buy SunTec and support your wife’s music career in China?
- Would you not feel that you are to do everything within your power to make sure that you don’t let God down?
Faith, according to the prevalent misunderstanding of so many, is shown in the willingness to do “audacious things”. And as you will see Pringle challenged Kong Hee to do some pretty “audacious”, some would say foolish, “things”.
A “PROPHETIC” FRIENDSHIP?
To understand the nature of Kong Hee and Phil Pringle’s relationship we need to learn how they perceive each other. Towards the beginning of Kong and Pringle’s friendship, did Pringle see that Kong Hee’s City Harvest Church had great potential? Did he see the opportunity of partnering with Kong Hee?
“I came up, and everybody was so on fire, and I thought this church is going to grow like crazy, so I thought I’m going to become a part of what this is, by making myself available.” – Phil Pringle, Faithful Friend, City News, http://www.citynews.sg/2011/04/faithful-friend/, 08/04/2011. (Accessed 06/01/2012).
An unusually close “prophetic” relationship rapidly developed between the two men. It is interesting to see how Pringle views his personal prophetic authority in his relationship with Kong Hee:
“Being prophetic is part of the relationship. I probably might have said five times to Kong—really, from the early days, every time we drive past Suntec City, I would say, “You’re going to be in that building.” Not at any other building. I just sort of felt that. And here we are, moving in, into the fulfillment of a prophecy, which is kind of “Wow!”” – Phil Pringle, Faithful Friend, City News, http://www.citynews.sg/2011/04/faithful-friend/, 08/04/2011. (Accessed 06/01/2012).)
“Being prophetic is part of the relationship?” What precisely did this concept mean for the relationship between Kong and Pringle? Can we know? Does this “prophetic status” on Pringle explain why Kong Hee has such an unhealthy view of his mentor?
KONG HEE’S SPIRITUAL MENTOR
Just how close is Phil Pringle to Kong Hee? From reading his statements, it seems that Kong holds a very high view of Phil Pringle indeed. As friends, it’s nice to know that Kong Hee has a close friendship and high regard for his friend but the language is surely rather over-stated.
“So again- I couldn’t have done it without the man of God. So you have really an amazing, amazing, amazing Pastor. And anything- you know, he knows that I would do anything for him. And he would lay down his life for me as well. And so what a privilege it is to be associated with the Pringle’s.” – Kong Hee, Kuala Lumpur Conference, Session 4, August 23-26/08/2011.
It is clear that he highly admires Phil Pringle, regarding him as a ‘master’ of Christian disciplines; furthermore referring to to him humorously as a “Jedi Master”,
“I learnt bible meditation from the greatest Jedi Master of bible meditation, from Pastor Phil Pringle himself. I learnt that twenty over years ago, right here in KL [Kuala Lumpur]… And I saw the master at work.” – Kong Hee, Kuala Lumpur Conference, Session 4, August 23-26/08/2011.
Kong Hee also praises Phil Pringle as a “great pastor, mentor”. While it is a good thing for a young pastor to have an older, more experienced man as a mentor, in hindsight Kong may be said to have made a rather unwise choice. He said of Pringle:
“Well tonight, we are really blessed. We are so blessed to be under the ministry of a great pastor, mentor, that’s one of the most balanced men that I’ve known for all my life. From day one, when I first met him, Pastor Phil told me that moderation is the key… I learnt the power of spiritual discipline. I have not met another man, apart probably from Dr Cho, that’s more disciplined than Dr Phil Pringle.” – Kong Hee, Kuala Lumpur Conference, Session 4, August 23-26/08/2011.
[Edit 07/06/2012] To get a good idea how influential Phil Pringle is, Kong Hee said the following:
“You know pastor Phil Pringle, Apostle, the Bishop ( J. John calls him the bishop)- to me he is the Apostle, he’s my friend, he’s the friend of God. I’ve known Pastor Phil and Pastor Chris for eighteen years. And yet we talk about City Harvest Church.
You can’t talk about City Harvest Church without talking about C3. Or Christian City Church. You know Pastor Phil has been there for me; praying with me; encouraging me; discipling me; telling me how to do the work of the ministry; taught me how to collect an offering; how to give an altar call; how to build a church; build a team. So Pastor Phil, from the depth of my heart, for Sun and myself, we wouldn’t be where we are today without you and Pastor Chris. Let’s give Pastor Phil and Pastor Chris a big clap.” – Kong Hee, Kong Hee, Session 8: (00:24), Presence Conference 2010. 00:24
(Quick reminder: Phil Pringle never was an Apostle.)
We would go so far to say that Sun Ho and Kong Hee see Phil Pringle as a sort of infallible prophet. We were notified a few months ago something Sun Ho said to Phil Pringle last year at the Presence Conference 2012. Looking straight at Phil Pringle, Sun Ho said:
“Umm Pastor and Pastor Christine, I just want to say thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts and I know that I represent City Harvest Church. We really- words alone can never express how much- you know we’re so grateful for all that you’ve done for us. Last night, when I was sitting here listening to you pastor preaching about ‘Connect- Connecting’. And it just dawned upon me. It’s like Psalms-8. You know, it just dawned upon me: “Who am I that you would consider me? ” You know and I thought about how when the case happened twenty three months ago, you so graciously accepted to be the Advisory Pastor to City Harvest Church.” – Sun Ho, Presence Conference 2012, Night Session, 11/04/2012. [Watch here]
Kong Hee allowed his wife to speak on behalf of himself and CHC. The choice of words was highly unfortunate, to say the least, even making allowances for cultural differences in standards of politeness. The first principle in the use of Bible quotations, especially in the context of Christian meetings, is to respect the context of the quotation. In the light of this, a very simple question should be asked to Sun Ho: Who was King David WORSHIPING when he wrote Psalm 8? King David wrote,
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 8:1-4 (Emphasis in bold)
Even worse in terms of sycophantic remarks is this comment from Kong,
“C’mon! Let’s give it up for the Pope and the Bishop of Australasia: Phil and Chris Pringle!” – Presence Conference 2012, Night Session, 11/04/2012. [Watch here]
Surely such a comment is inappropriate for someone who is supposed to be a Protestant minister? Even if meant in jest, it is a highly unfortunate remark, all the more so as some of Kong’s actions suggest that he regards Pringle as a prophet and at least in practice infallible.
We must ask, in light of this, does his relationship with Pringle affect how Kong Hee sees God? Going by what Kong Hee has said, it would seem that the answer is very much so.
KONG HEE’S FRUSTRATING VIEW OF GOD
In Presence Conference 2012, Kong Hee shared a personal and very frustrating view he had of God.
“And for the first time in eight months, I heard the voice. It is not the voice of a strict angry judge that only want me to perform and build a big church and nothing I do is ever good enough for Him. No. It’s not a voice of angry judge. It’s not the voice of a slave driver. That just wants to take and take and wring me dry. But it was a voice of a tender, loving, broken-hearted Father.” – Kong Hee, http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=FKVSXfjhB14#t=1071s, Presence Conference 2012, Night Service, 11/04/2012.
All in all, that is a very strange thing to say. How did Kong get the idea that God is a “strict angry judge” that wanted him “to perform and build a big church”? There is no Protestant theologian on earth who would ever say such a thing; in fact the language is disturbingly reminiscent of the folk-Catholicism Martin Luther struggled with in his early days.
Why would Kong Hee ever have believed that God thinks that whatever he does is not “ever good enough for Him”? Why would Kong Hee see God as “a slave driver”? How did he gain this false view of Jesus since it is Jesus that says, “I will build my church”?
We think his personal experiences with Phil Pringle can help answer this question.
THE PRINGLE CONNECTION
City News reported how Pringle with other pastors helped birth the CrossOver Project,
“When his respected mentors Ulk Ekman, AR Bernard and Phil Pringle gave the same verse from Mark 4:35, “Let us cross over to the other side,” Kong knew there was no more space for hesitation, and the Crossover Project was born.” – Yong Yung Shin, http://www.citynews.sg/2012/05/city-harvest-church-10-years-of-the-crossover-project/, City Harvest Church: 10 Years Of The Crossover Project, 09/05/2012. (Accessed 27/09/2012.)
To say nothing of the appalling abuse of Scripture there (the fact that Jesus told his disciples that they had to cross the Sea of Galilee is not a prophecy or a pattern for anything we must do today), we see at once how Pringle’s circle regard words from the supposedly prophetically-gifted pastor.
Years later, CityNews also reported that Kong Hee and Sun Ho were thinking of ending the CrossOver Project.
“Sun, along with her family and the church, had reached a crossroad—should they continue with the Crossover Project now that she is a mother? … For six months, the couple prayed and discussed with the pastors and senior staff and consulted with spiritual mentors from around the world.” – Yong Yung Shin, http://www.citynews.sg/2012/05/city-harvest-church-10-years-of-the-crossover-project/, City Harvest Church: 10 Years Of The Crossover Project, 09/05/2012. (Accessed 27/09/2012.)
Why did they continue? Phil Pringle privately prophesied over Sun Ho’s music career and apparently told them “God is going to open a big door for CHC in China to be a blessing to the people”.
“Finally, it was a word given by Phil Pringle to Sun privately in May 2005 that gave them clarity to their path. “He said, ‘Five more years, because God is going to open a big door for CHC in China to be a blessing to the people.’ That word gave us the courage, faith and confirmation to resume the Crossover Project,” said Kong.” – Yong Yung Shin, http://www.citynews.sg/2012/05/city-harvest-church-10-years-of-the-crossover-project/, City Harvest Church: 10 Years Of The Crossover Project, 09/05/2012. (Accessed 27/09/2012.)
Fortunately, we have audio of Kong Hee talking about this event. Listen at how resolved they were after hearing Pringle’s prophecy. Did they pray about it the next few days? Did they discuss it together as a couple? Did they test the spirit or go to God’s Word in prayer or fasting? Listen in…
“Pastor Phil and Pastor Chris, they carry a spirit of prophecy. And five years ago when my little baby was born, Dayan, and my wife and I were thinking about taking a six month break. Go to Europe. Just backpack. Take little Dayan. We’ve been planting. I mean we’ve been running the church for so long.
And then Pastor Phil came to Singapore. And four months after little Dayan was born, in one of those meetings, the Holy Spirit HIT. And how many of you know that- talking about being dangerous, when the Holy Spirit comes upon Pastor Phil, he gets dangerous. Right?
And he starts prophesying, “Sun! It’s not time for you to stop. You got to go to China.”
And at that word, you know we let go of our nets. And then- so Sun’s been on the road right now. She’s living in the LA. And true enough, China opened up. She became the music ambassador for the Olympic games. Sang at the special olympics. Sang the anthem at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And just last week, I mean – she’s a few months away from launching her début album in America. Just let you know, her first single, last month was number one in the US, number one in the UK on the secular charts. Lets praise God for that! Hallelujah! So we got Pastor Phil to thank for that.” – Kong hee, C3 Presence Conference, Session 4, Sydney, 2010.
“Talking about being dangerous” indeed. This is the great danger of the claim to prophetic gifting; it gives a man, in practice, an infallibility far worse than that claimed by the Papacy, for the Pope has only used that supposed infallibility twice, if that, while the modern Charismatic ‘Prophets’ use theirs almost daily, laying their followers under heavy burdens to fulfil these “words from the Lord.”
Doesn’t it sound like that Pringle in the above prophecy is at least by implication presenting God as “a slave driver”, driving Kong to work until he drops? Such words of supposed prophecy might well give reason for Kong Hee to believe that God thinks that whatever he does is not “ever good enough for Him”.
THE SUNTEC SEER
Prior to this, Phil Pringle continually ‘prophesied’ as early as 1995 that over Kong Hee would own SunTec City. Kong Hee continues…
“The reason I shared that was because in 1995 when Pastor Phil Pringle came to Singapore and I was driving him around town- just bringing him back from the hotel and to the hotel. And we passed by this huge complex in the downtown area just in front of our parliament house. And it’s called SunTec City. Now it is the most iconic, monumental, convention center in the whole of South-East Asia. Pastor Phil turned to me and said, “Kong, someday you’re going to own that building”. At that time, my church was only in 1995 less than a thousand people. I said, “Pastor Phil!” I say, “God bless your heart. Thank you so much having faith in me”. I said- you know, I was thinking, “Yeah right! In my dreams!”
And every year. Every year he came back. He’d say, “Kong, you’re gonna get that building”. And he said that. And I think at one time he could see the unbelief in me. He start slapping me. You know how many of you know Pastor Phil likes to slap, right? He starts slapping me and pushing me, shoving me saying, “You gonna get that building. You gonna get…” And I just held that in my heart. I didn’t share that with anybody. My wife and I we prayed and we prayed. And then- I want you to know, two months ago, we signed- oh last month- we signed the lease. We are now co-owners of SunTec City Convention Center.
Hallelujah! Amen! We’re gonna move in. We’re gonna move in twelve months from now.
Ah- I thought I’m gonna show you a video. This is our ‘Rise and Build’ video and- Many people come to City Harvest Church and they look at our church. Look at our pulpit. Our Rise and Build. And they say, “Hey! Why is it that in Australia they kinda copy after you?”
Well actually we came here and copied everything from Christian City Church. So we have our own Rise and Build and I just thought I show you this latest installment where we anounced to our church, SunTec City Convention Center. It’s a twelve thousand seater hall. And ah- it’s amazing. And already, in one month after we signed the lease, we are already starting to earn dividends from all the profits, eh! So lets just watch the video right now.” – Kong hee, C3 Presence Conference, Session 4, Sydney, 2010.
The above audio reveals how much Kong Hee looks up to Pringle, and how this leads him to emulate Pringle; not only did Kong Hee copy Phil Pringle’s Vision Builders campaign, Kong copied his church from Pringle’s church at Oxford Falls, Sydney.
It becomes clear that Pringle seems to be a major factor in Kong Hee’s life and decision making. But was Pringle really hearing from God, or was he seeking to mould Kong Hee in his likeness? We find it hard to believe that the owning of a particular piece of real estate would be so high on God’s list of priorities, for Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, not to own expensive and prestigious convention centers Remember that Phil Pringle is huge on church growth and these prophecies seem to be leading Kong Hee to see God in a bitter light.
KONG HEE PUBLICLY BLAMES PRINGLE FOR HIS MESS?
We hear Kong Hee tell this story again, this time more daringly.
“Let me tell you a scary story. [Audience laughs] This is Scary Movie Part 4- Part 5. [Audience laughs] Nineteen-ninety-five, nineteen-ninety-five, our church was a thousand people. We just moved into a new facility, and I was driving the bishop- uh- Pastor Phil- back to the hotel. And we passed by a brand new convention center called SunTec City. And Phil Pringle turned to me (true story), and you know how he does it. He slapped me while I’m driving. Slapped me- “Hey Kong! [Audience laughs] You’re gonna take over this building! This building yours! Hallelujah!” Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat! [Audience laughs] Reeeeaaar! [Audience laughs]
And- And then fifteen years later, we got the building. And now we’re in all this mess [Pringle laughs with audience ]. So, I told Pastor Phil, “You created this mess! You’ve got to come and help us fix it”. And he’s done such a great job!” – Kong Hee, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eESwC7MEAc0, Presence Conference 2012, Night Session, 11/04/2012.
[Edit 07/06/2012] Kong Hee again blames Pringle for his mess at Presence Conference 2013.
“I’ve learnt one thing about Pastor Phil: he’s a prophet of God. He’s very dangerous when he tells you that this building is created for you or built for you or developed for you. Because in 1995, he said the same thing to me. He said, “The SunTec Convention Center is- developed for you”.
And then, I just checked a video a few years- uh, just recently, Pastor Phil. In the year 2000 I think. Or 2001. You spoke to our entire congregation. And you said, “You know what? You guys are going to SunTec Convention Center”. And so we did. And all the troubles began.
So it’s all your fault, Pastor!” – Kong Hee, C3 Global Presence Conference, Day 1, Session 1, 2013.
Our question: why is Phil Pringle getting away with “influencing” people like this? Whether Kong Hee is right or wrong in his teachings, how can Phil Pringle get away with “influencing” Kong Hee by using God to make Kong Hee and Sun Ho risk their lives merely to do something impressive? We do not doubt their devotion, but devotion to a false prophecy is not admirable, but pitiful. If these ‘pastors’ have put everything on the line to submit to the ‘word of God’ through Pringle, how many people have done likewise in Pringle’s church? It is a truly worrying thought!
No matter how you look at it, Pringle is not merely dishonouring his own name or that of his C3 Movement, he brings absolute shame to the name of Christ. Pringle knows that his ‘prophecy’ has come at a “great cost to Kong, and even to [himself]“. In fact, Pringle has flaunted the ‘fulfillment’ of this ‘prophecy’ around his own movement to make wild claims that he is truly a prophet of God with truly prophetic messages to prophesy financial increase to those committed to his church movement.
To further understand how flippant Pringle is with the idea of the prophetic office, consider this piece of double-speak:
“I get the word of the Lord for different people around the world at different times, and I try not to deliver it in too much of a way that it’s perfect and infallible. I mean, I could get it wrong. But when I feel a word, I definitely say it to people. I don’t think it’s a credit to me—it’s simply a gift that God gives to people. If you can hear it, then it’ll definitely work for you.” – Phil Pringle, Faithful Friend, City News, http://www.citynews.sg/2011/04/faithful-friend/, 08/04/2011. (Accessed 06/01/2012.)
Now this is the great danger of this teaching on private revelations; it leads to people making claims that are treated in effect as infallible, while at the same time saying “I could get it wrong” and therefore having a get-out clause; all the authority of an Old Testament Prophet, but none of the responsibility.
Here is the problem, you see; if the word is really from God, then to disobey is sin. If it is simply some idle idea of Phil Pringle, then it is probably best ignored, but how are we to tell the difference?
The argument that those who teach that such revelations are given today is that they are to be tested by the Word of God. But here is the rub. How can one test the word, “Thus says the Lord, you shall buy the SunTec City convention centre” against the Bible?
Like that old standby, “Thus says the Lord, you shall marry Daisy”, it is so personal, so specific, that it really cannot be tested on the spot. And the very use of the ‘prophetic’ formula, as opposed to, “I think it would be a good idea if…” is manipulative in itself when used to someone who admires Pringle as highly as Kong Hee clearly does. Where a word is represented as coming from God, it comes with the implication of divine authority, whatever may be done in the way of hedging it around with ifs and buts.
Let us take heed what Kong Hee said: “”You created this mess! You’ve gotta come and help us fix it”. It is distressing to see Phil Pringle get away from ruining Kong Hee and Sun Ho. If Pringle says, “I get the word of the Lord for different people around the world at different times,” who will be his next victim?
C3 Church Watch 
Does kong hee know that phil pringle prophecied that in 2005 NZ will have a great revival and that revival happen? Does Kong Hee know that even once failed prophecy means phil pringle is not a true prophet?
There’s a community of CHC members continuing to post their thoughts daily online – worth reading.
Is it a cultural thing that allows CHC to get away with this sort of control? Is this the sort of thing that goes on despite the fact that Phil Pringle continues to go over to CHC as an interim pastor?
No wonder the word “cult” are starting to surface in conversations around the globe.
Post 1:
“Wow… after reading most of the postings, it seems like things never changed after all these years.
CHC was the first church that I called my own in 1996/7 (Hollywood days) . Since that was my first church, I didn’t know what was right or wrong, I followed blindly.
Slowly, I began to feel uncomfortable. Jesus was never really magnified. The teachings were about moral righteousness, do what’s right, a lot of fasting, etc.
When you could not attend cell group / service, they will insist you do a “remedial” during the following week. Offering was collected at every meeting.
Once, I reached church 15 mins before service and was reprimanded by my cell group leader for being “late” and not able to be in front of the queue to get the best seats.
I was fine sitting in the overflow room. I mean, is the Jesus at the front seats different from the one at the overflow room?
Eventually, I felt that the congregation was worshiping KH and Sun (She was a Pastor back then, everyone called her Pastor Sun. She decided to label herself “Music Director” instead after the cross over project and denied being a Pastor). Every Sunday was a concert.
I decide to leave. Over the years, I’ve church-hopped several times. But I’m very glad to find the one church that I finally felt at home and have been learning loads from – New Creation Church.”
Post 2:
“Some years back, I attended a CHC service at Expo. As I walked in using the back entrance, I saw Pastor Kong being chauffeured to the back stage entrance/exit by motorcycle auxiliary police escorts with red siren lights flashing. Fortunately or not, I saw Pastor Kong leaving Expo with Sun in a chauffeured car with the same motorcycle auxiliary police escorts with red siren lights flashing again after the service!
Now, why would a church pastor need police escort? Was there any other church pastor or religious leader who required such dignified escort? I was perplexed.
That encounter left a very deep impression. A very bad impression. Was it an ego trip? Did Pastor Kong need to feel hugely important? I do not know. I stopped attending CHC some time after.”
Post 3:
“There are many postings that advocates unity and let the trial takes its course.
One particular posting quoted 1 Cor 3: 3 -15 (NIV). Another calling others the unforgiving CHC haters. Very noble indeed. But what will you do if you were to be faced with the following situation?
If your dad has just retired and became eligible to withdraw $380,000 CPF money that he needs to stay financially independent as a retiree. He is so moved by the sermons being preached weekly and the outpouring of support from the congregation. Your dad then decided to trust and give all the $380,000 to help with legal fund, believing that he was being faithful and obedience, fighting for a just cause. Your dad is adamant on that action and you have one chance to talk him around that big decision. And if you know that the charges faced by the six are just the tip of an iceberg of many questionable practices, what will you do? Act cool and quote your dad 1 Cor 3: 3-15 (NIV), and do nothing else?
To those who think that this platform has many critics that should have just kept quiet and trust, please give this scenario a thought before advocating your noble advices. Thank you.”
Post 4:
“Seems like the people who posted here are being called out for their comments. I don’t speak for everyone but I think there’s definitely a group of critics here who are not necessary unforgiving CHC haters.
Yes we do have our opinions and we use this as a platform to voice our thoughts just like you do. If taken constructively, I think it helps CHC to re-think what they have done, are doing and will do in the future. It helps current members to think also how to better the organization, what attitudes must change, etc. Some times we need a variety of opinions instead of just 1-sided politicking which often breeds shady practices and a grievous lack of transparency.
Hey, don’t put the blame on others when all the dirty laundry surfaces. Leaders within CHC chose to go down this “crossover” path. And when you got yourself dirty don’t blame others. You knew what you did, you wanted to play the game, you chose to be a celebrity. Come on get real. Oh yes you can sing all about the good this path has achieved and its cool but unfortunately NOW you are also facing the consequences how you end up with your dirty laundry. If it did good, it justifies anything shady should be papered over. Get real real.
I know this is hard to swallow. The thought that God Himself is dealing with us. CHC must feel vulnerable. Naked. But often we need to go through this process. You see God loves His people a lot, He gave His life for us. I’m sure He will not allow His sheep to be fleeced. The chief shepherd is the defender of His sheep. And the truth we will all soon find out in court. If so proven not guilty, this is a big lesson for all and a misunderstanding of mammoth proportions including the judicial system.
Even critics would want to see a better CHC, an improved CHC. The saddest is still this dirty laundry should not even have been there in the first place. This is His Church. Hello. Anyone listening???”
Post 5:
“I still don’t understand many member’s insistence to wait for the trial before the rest of us pass judgement. Does every critical decision that you make require the secular court’s opinion? Perhaps the members’ discernment has bee dulled to such a point where they cannot judge what is right and wrong anymore. Hasn’t God given you common sense?
My guess is that these members are those who are deferring from confronting with their own stupidity. They cannot bring themselves to realize that they’ve been suckered into a sham organization. First when hearsay came out, they said wait for an official report. When the CAD investigation was announced, they said to wait for the results. When the results came out, wait till they are formally charged. Now that they are charged, wait for the trial to be over. As you can see there is no end to this pattern. What do you want to wait for next? Wait for them to finish their jail term??”
Post 6:
“There is another confession I want to make and some things I’m disturbed with… It might just be my personal opinion, but I don’t know, wonder if anyone could agree with me…. I don’t find chc cell groups as friendly compared to other churches. Especially those who are new in your cell group… Most of the time, to me, I feel stranger-zoned. It’s the “connect group leaders” and the cell group leaders that initiates to speak to me, but the rest of them… if you are not their clique (I got this) I would only say hi, how’s school/work and awkwardly silenced. They’d automatically find their own cliques and be very happy. I would just keep quiet the rest of the fellowship and wait for someone to talk to or I have to force myself to speak to someone (when it’s not my personality). While in the other church I went to… Despite being strangers, the members themselves came to say hi, asked about your name, what you do for a living etc. Conversations flew naturally without having to scratch head. It was pretty easy to make friends despite the age gap. Also, I am very affected and disturbed by this comment – “Ermm… I think the moment you never attend CG and SVC, we start to ‘mark’ you… more often its attendance issue over genuine concerns.” Somehow… it feels to be true for me… because nobody else in the cell group in CHC cared about me except for 1 member? Not even a single SMS to ask how I was, except to collect cell group fund. Oh did I mention… CHC’s cell group meetings also collects offerings – and, if the group is relatively small enough… some “mature believers” can dare to speak out and ask “who never give offering ah!” and sometimes I’d guiltily bowed my head… On the other hand, the other church’s cell group DO NOT collect offerings. That’s like saving me much as I don’t need to give much more when I don’t have enough myself. Actually I feel a relief to have left church to the other.”
It’s just the tip of the “iceberg” …….
I am doubtful of the accounts as narrated above. In the first place, note that all these stories were told over the pulpit after the Commercial Affairs Department raids in 2010. In other words they try to maintain and justify their deeds by putting Pringle as a prophet.
You really have too much time on your hands to be picking details apart so carefully. I am a pastor and while some people are totally happy with what I do, others pick it apart as well. Why? Because everyone has different viewpoints. The only point that truly matters, however, is our walk with God and having fellowship with other people and not being hung up that they are different from us. When you are finally on your deathbed at some point well into the future, what did you live life for? What was your purpose for being here? Phil Pringle is a man and so were Jesus’ disciples who differed vastly from one another and even had conflict amoungst one another, but they were chosen. God needs people who are obedient to his word as God does speak to us. Unfortunately, the more one follows God and his word, the more the world will be against it because they don’t understand it. I have no idea about Kong Hee’s guilt, but I think it is very wrong for me to pre judge when I know I do not have all of the facts. Turn the facts away from Kong Hee and think about the possibility that the Singaporean government might not one someone of such power in the community who has influence over his many thousand church members. The Singapore government may fear what it does not understand very well and may feel threatened that too much influence of God over people in Singapore may mean their loss of power over people. Anyway, use your brilliant talents to enhance God’s kingdom and you will lose this chip on your shoulder that you have……this hardened heart. I sense a heart that is hardened and it need not be that way. Rey….
“You really have too much time on your hands to be picking details […]”
So it’s a “detail” that Pringle prophesied falsely over Kong?
It’s a “detail” that Kong and seven of his cronies have been forced to step aside by the CoC?
It’s a “detail” that Kong and five others are up on criminal charges, and that Kong could spend a long time in gaol if he is convicted?
It’s a “detail” that Pringle has done his level best to conceal from his own congregation the unvarnished truth of what is transpiring with regards to Kong’s forced removal from office and impending trial?
It’s a “detail” that CHC bully and browbeat their own members into a cultic conformity, and that they force them to buy Sun Ho’s CDs?
These are all just “details”? Really? Tell us, do you think that God considers these things to be “details”?
“I am a pastor […]”.
Oh yes, I could spot that right away. You are obviously a man of the utmost integrity, one who is zealous for God – an upright man who contends for the Gospel and opposes those preach lies for personal gain and who steal from God’s people. I can clearly see that you are a man after God’s own heart; if only we could all be more like you.
Some people really have too much time on their hands!!
Not you Rey, previous people who posted. I wonder if all the debating going on here, I that much effort is going to win souls??!!
“””Phil Pringle is a man and so were Jesus’ disciples who differed vastly from one another and even had conflict amoungst one another, but they were chosen.”””
But they (the disciples) were chosen.
And that by Christ.
When someone say ‘i am a pastor’ i only see red flag.Even Apostles Paul didnt say that n he lived a crucify lives of Christ.Do you?”i am a pastor”?
So what if you are a pastor? Holy than thou? Holy than me?. Stop strutting around like a peacock. Be you a peacock, a duck or a hen you can just land yourself in a cooking pot as well. Be humble. Don’t act like a man of God. Anointed and handpicked by Him? Stop that kind of bullshitting with me. Or, let me tell you I m a Buddha, an enlightened One, yeah? And, dear ‘pastor’ learn to see how the pastors and their Cahoots are fighting to save their skins in a court of law thru lies, deception and shedding their morality. Their days are reckoning……God Bless You