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15.7 billion won, 3.5 billion won, Cho, Cho Yong-gi, David Yonggi Cho, global post, Hee-jun, Kookmin Ilbo, pastor david yonggi cho, Ps david yonggi cho, Seoul, US$14 million, Yoido Full Gospel, yoido full gospel church, yonggi cho
WHO IS ‘PASTOR’ KONG HEE ACCOUNTABLE TO?
‘Pastor’ David Yonggi Cho is internationally recognised of having the worlds largest church.
We have covered articles how David Yonggi Cho mentors ‘Pastor’ and Founder Phil Pringle of the Christian City Church Movement (Sydney, Australia) and ‘Pastor’ and founder Kong Hee of City Harvest Church (Singapore). We know that Kong Hee is accountable to Phil Pringle. However recently Yonggi Cho sent his love and support to Kong Hee and Sun Ho. Kong Hee wrote,
“A greeting by my pastor.. Dr Yonggi Cho, founder of Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea!” – Kong Hee, Video Greeting by Dr Yonggi Cho, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151320404966895&set=vb.11407771894&type=3&theater, 18 April 2013. (Accessed 09/06/2013.)
Yonggi Cho is Kong Hee’s pastor? Is this who Kong Hee is accountable too? If he is, then CHC members should be concerned.
WHO IS ‘PASTOR’ YONGGI CHO ACCOUNTABLE TO?
It is important you read these previous articles before reading the latest news.
The first article reveals how Yonggi Cho seemed to lack any accountability to his elders. The question has to be asked, who is David Yonggi Cho accountable to in his church? Is this why we are seeing scandals break out in Phil Pringle’s C3 Church Movement and Kong Hee’s CHC leadership? Who are Kong Hee and Phil Pringle accountable to?
David Yonngi Cho Church Fraud Investigation? (Part 1)
David Yonngi Cho Church Fraud Investigation? (Part 2)
David Yonggi Cho Church Fraud Investigation? (Part 3)
The Global Post reports,
Pastor indicted for allegedly causing huge losses to church
SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) — A noted pastor has been indicted on charges of breach of duty and tax evasion, prosecutors said Saturday.
Cho Yong-gi, the founder and pastor emeritus of Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, is suspected of causing 15.7 billion won (US$14 million) worth of losses to the church by instructing church officials to buy stocks privately owned by his eldest son Hee-jun at prices four times higher than market value in 2002, they said.
The pastor is also accused of evading 3.5 billion won in taxes in the process.
Prosecutors indicted the son and former chairman of the daily newspaper Kookmin Ilbo on embezzlement charges in December.
After investigating him, prosecutors said the pastor is an accomplice in the alleged crime.
Source: Yonhap News Agency, Global Post, http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/yonhap-news-agency/130609/pastor-indicted-allegedly-causing-huge-losses-church, 09/06/2013. (Accessed 10/06/2013.)
The foundations of God’s throne is righteousness and justice. Let the guilty be punished and the innocent vindicated.
Oh dear!
Phil Pringle is also supposedly accountable to Cho, and, of course, is also a close friend, confidante and mentor of the now thoroughly-disgraced Hong.
With Cho having been indicted, and with Hong being in the middle of a court case with several of his sticky-fingered cronies on charges of falsification of accounts and criminal betrayal of trust, it appears that the waters both upstream and downstream of Phil have been well and truly polluted by the sin of greed and the lust for money.
Could it be that water upstream is muddied, and then is miraculously made crystal-clear by Dr Apostle Prophet Pringle, and then, just as miraculously, is somehow rendered muddy again downstream? Or are there things about Pringle that we don’t know – things that he has done in secret, where he imagines that no one can see? It certainly appears as though Pringle has something to hide, since in a service at Crazy Cultic Crackpots Oxford Falls’ HQ just last Sunday, Phil the Phraudster warned his disciples that if they were to seek out information regarding C3 on the web, they are likely to come across all sorts of disconcerting information, to which, he said, they should pay no attention (never let the facts get in the way of a good financial scam, eh Phil?)
Pringle continues to insist that he preaches the true Gospel, not a perverted prosperity version based on mangled scriptures and vain imaginings. However, with both Cho and Kong now well and truly under the microscope, it appears that Pringle is under a great deal of pressure. He is doing his best to manage the situation by drip feeding information to his hapless congregants, who remain largely ignorant of the true facts regarding Kong’s case (many believe that Kong is being “persecuted”, and they accordingly view him as a martyr for the cause).
Truth is a wonderful thing – unless, of course, one happens to be on the wrong end of it, as Phil Pringle is.
how have the mighty fallen? let us fear lest we also fall and cry instead of being too harsh
Amen… judgment begins in the house of God. He loves us enough to chastise us but we must maintain a “there but for the grace of God go we”. It is tricky indeed when we confuse who is the head of the church. We malign the Roman Catholics for Papal authority yet we have many popes in the protestant church. When great fortune is involved, God help us.
When Paul had to correct Peter I’m sure it was rather uncomfortable, but it had to be done. The Spirit filled church must repent of this obsession with the almighty doller. True repentence will bring a new move of the Spirit because God draws close to a broken and contrite heart.
That’s right we malign Catholics for papal authority, but the bottom line is that have every organisation or institution or body of people needs a leader. In the protestant church there is elders, which are leaders, but this is plural. Protestantism needs a singular leader…
Jars of clay we are– the temptations don’t and won’t stay away
Sin always crouches at the door– seeking who it may devour in every hour .
Leaders may be tall –maybe be small — but all must remember the Fall
Biblical accountability the success of many–and will humble and
rescue thee from the inability to see–
there are no exceptions for deception’s grip you see
that makes a fallen one– another casualty.
It is in times of intense trial where you find out who your true friends are. It is so easy to judge, but we all know what Jesus said about casting the first stone. Whatever happens, let’s just pray that the purpose why God allowed this to happen will be fulfilled. Nevertheless, accountability is important to avoid incidents like this and to protect one’s self. Let us refrain from acting like Job’s friends, instead, let’s intercede for Pst. David Jonggi Cho, after all, he has accomplished much in his country.
We as the church need to pray for our leaders. Dr. Yonggi Cho has done so much for the LORD. He is human and they could be lots of people with ill motives around. Even the Lord Jesus had one among twelve. Let us pray for the church. The gates of hell shall not prevail! Amen.
“We as the church need to pray for our leaders. Dr. Yonggi Cho has done so much for the LORD.”
Christians are never instructed to pray for wolves, hirelings and false teachers. That is unless we pray for them to repent and be saved.
Jesus calls false teachers “wolves in sheeps clothing” “lawless ones” and condemns their good works. Christians have failed to biblically discern the wolf Yonggi Cho. God has used our civil laws to expose that David Yonggi Cho is a false teacher/ man of lawlessness, just as Jesus said.
We cannot call a man who teaches Christians to practice the occult our brother in Jesus. To do so would be a sin.
you who are without sin, cast the first stone.
Do you believe that Christians should seek to please God before man?
James 5:19 Brethren, if anyone* among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
*no small print, exceptions, or loopholes there….
The church need to Pray for Dr Cho. A man of that kind need everyone’s prayer. I pray that the same encounter Peter had in the prison, Dr. cho will receive the same in Jesus name. The gates of hell shall not prevail against the church, in Jesus precious name.
A friend of mine has done some checking on this sensational case against Dr David Yonggi Cho. He received these documents from a close friend, a leading Pastor in Asia and explained to him what had happened:
“Dr Cho is really innocent. His son Ch Hee-Jun who has multiple convictions previously and been jailed twice, is the real culprit. The son shifted the blame to Dr Cho in court. If Dr. Cho had pointed his finger at his son, the son’s sentence would have been tripled. So Dr Cho accepted the false blame so that the son could have a lighter sentence. He did this in spite of his church elders begging him not to do so; but Dr Cho said that “I will never betray my own son, even if has blamed me for this”.
Most people in Korea know Dr Cho is really innocent in this.
At the sentencing the judge recognized that his son was the real culprit but Dr Cho was given a “Suspended” sentence, which in Korea means a sentence that he would never have to serve.
Thanks my brother
Dear Ray
I understand why a parent will accept the blame and save his son. Parents often favour their children and it is not uncommon to give them leadership jobs in the family business, despite their failings or lack of ability. However, Yonggi Cho’s responsibilities should have been first to God and church matters. He should have been aware of conflict of interest.
You can’t have it both ways. At best, Yonggi Cho showed a lack of wisdom, lack of integrity, lack of discernment and lack of due diligence in performing his duties. No-one has a problem of people failing. Repent, tell the truth, maybe step down and get your life back on track.
You can’t cry I am a victim on one hand (and hence not fit for the job) and yet insist on being the right man for the job as leader (and not listen to his elders who warned him). Cho cannot claim ignorance as he was warned. Since when have leaders not needed to be responsible or accountable? Or is that just in his church?
Being the powerful and influential leader who can disregard elders, have them expelled or suspended, keep his family in key positions and disregard advice, has come at a high price.
1. Yonggi Cho should not have had his son in a key job (criminal, temptation)
Cho’s son, Cho Hee-Jun, has had “multiple convictions and been jailed twice” – so why was he put in such a leadership position where he had control and influence over people and had access to so much money and more importantly, influence over his father (a weakness of Cho’s?). Firstly it was not right for the organization and secondly it was not right for his son as the temptation was there. Cho’s elders warned him.
2. Tax evasion was another conviction for Yonggi Cho
Was it the advice of the accountants to blame for this as well? The court did not think so.
Was Cho fit for the job or a victim?
3. Not everyone thinks Yonggi Cho is innocent (court, elders who warned him)
When you say “most people in Korea know Dr Cho is really innocent”, I have to ask how?
I don’t think the 29 elders who asked him not to sign the papers think he is innocent. They were in a position to know the internal workings of the organization. The court didn’t think Yonggi Cho was innocent. “Most people” would only “know” what they have been told or listened to. So what have people been told? Not the truth nor the whole story.
4. Truth did not prevail and is hidden
Did Cho’s decision to “never betray his own son” stop the truth from coming out? I totally understand why a parent would do that. But is that blind love or true love?
And again truth is the victim. The best people from outside the church have is to put the jigsaw puzzle pieces together while the church goes into damage control mode (nothing is transparent).
29 elders paid a big price for doing their job. Cho dismissed the allegations from elders as “a smear campaign by an opposing faction of an extremely few people” in his church. “The truth will reveal itself during the prosecutors’ investigation. Those who filed the complaint will have to take responsibility accordingly,” he said in a statement.
Well the courts did decide. Does Cho owe the elders an apology? Will they be reinstated? I bet not because the culture of the church is to be behind the leader no matter what. Truth is not important.
Maybe Yonggi Cho needs to take responsibility and have church dealings transparent.
The Book of Proverb says spare the rod and spoil the child!
I visited Dr Cho Yongi church in 1994 July
He shared that he spent quality time with his son playing golf
He has a big car and employ a chauffeur
A church must not be rich otherwise the leaders will think that it is due to their hard work, so it is only right for them to enjoy luxury
If the church is rich, it means that they had neglected the poor members and did not help them
They will quote John 10:10
It is okay if he eat rich nutritious and delicious foods if he work so hard to prosper the church but to squeeze money from the poor sheep and lavish on his son is certainly not righteous
The bible says that if he loves the son more than Jesus, then he is not fit to follow Jesus
It is best for a pastor to be a bachelor or a spinster or married without children so that they will not sin because of their children
But if he is a good prophet, then his son should also be a prophet
Since he is not successful to discipline his prodigal son, then he should have nothing to do with his son instead of helping him
He loses wisdom because he did not put God first and did not heed the advice of the church elders
In the real world, how many church leaders can really live like Mother Teresa or Apostle Paul
Both great saints are single virgin and they are greatly honoured
The political leaders must licence all the preachers and monks otherwise monks can turn out to be mischievous monkeys
I have a neighbour who left the church because the pastor advised her to report her son to the police to send him for rehabilitation camp because his son is a drug addict
She reiterated that which parent will not be in great pains to see their loved ones being controlled and disciplined by the government
Every night, she knee down to pray that Jesus will transform her son’s character
Her eldest son will drink at nearby coffeehouse, get drunk, smashed the glasses, then the poor mother will run to the owner to pay for the damages and to clean the place
One day, the eldest son went to the mother’s room to ask for money, he could not find her but heard a voice calling him evil, then he asked, “Who are you?”
The voice replied, “I am Jesus”
His son repented and go to charismatic seminary
It’s a moment of darkness but later or sooner the truth of light will shine. God be with him.
The charismatic churches always preach about money, and ask for 10% of salary from baptised members!
In 1995, a friend that a widow’s son after university graduation, began to work After one month, he still ask money from his mother
The mother asked him where did his salary gone to He confessed that he had given his first month’s salary as first fruit to City Harvest
His mother was angry and called the church to return the money! She called many times but the reply was Kong Hee was outstation
The mother then threatened to report to police, then finally they return his naive son’s one month salary
Never go to a church whereby the preacher talk about money every Sunday or preach only prosperity gospel but no character building
The charismatic church only collect money, did they provide foods for the senior citizens who have no money to give
I love Bethany Senior Pastor who mentioned that his church will provide delicious and nutritious food for everyone who attend his teachings and he said that this providence is a practice of GRACE
His church collect free will offerings and also give free foods
The charismatic church collect lots of money but never give free food
The money collected are shared among their immediate family
How could Sun Ho be a pastor when she is not theologically trained?
Kong Hee’s sister is also a pastor without licence
When the wolf on sheep’s skin cheated the sheep’s money, the wolf will take care of the wolf families
The charismatic leaders usually pull a verse out of context exactly like Satan told Jesus, it is written, when you jump from the cliff, the angels will save you
How did Jesus reply? Do not tempt the Lord, your God
All the righteous churches must go back to Bible study class and not to dwell on the teachings of any sermon preached as some sermons are out of context or the preachers personal experiences
When we pray, we must pray in spirit and in truth but the charismatic pray in tongues! Paul said that he can pray in tongues but tongues did not edict the church
How could I say amen when I don’t understand what the tongues means?
We are living in an era of 2 Timothy chapter 3
The tycoon senior Pastor live a very luxurious life, play golf, play horse, play shares Their wives go restaurants, go SPA, watch live theatres expensive shows, go tours on the pretext of mission trips using church funds
We are living in the last days, where there are lots of false prophets, antichrist and CEO who glorify themselves as apostles, performing signs and wonders like Toronto Blessing, Holy Laughter, etc
Because is stress and broken family relationships, people are cheated by the false prophets
Since no one go to preach in prison again, GOD has chosen his servant to do that n yet no body understand, wait u’ll hear the testimony later
I grieved when I researched the claims against Mr. Cho, as I have read his book (written some 20 years ago) on prayer and his love for God and God’s ways. He spends more time praying than any man I’ve ever heard of and even testifies to the fact that he is just a man and can fall and would be targeted for a great fall, for no other reason than the work of God that has been done through him by God. He knows he is a great enemy of satan and that he is a man inspired and driven by the Spirit of God. He is also very aware that sin blocks his relationship with God……and so it appears to have.
In my time with the Lord, He has shown me that ‘Justice is Mercy,’ and this is the very characteristic and name of God. Mercy, like all of God’s gifts to fallible man is for the sake of Salvation, the very Son of God. I am convinced God is with Brother Cho, and will continue to be with him in spite of his behavior and the accusations brought against him. God loves this man and seeks and desires for him to be one with Him. God’s will be done.
This man prayed for so many millions over the years. He organized and set up over 80,000 cell groups for the sake of prayer and ministry of the name of Jesus Christ in a place where Satan breaths down their necks. May he turn fully to God and use this occasion for the glory of God and the Salvation of souls.
We as believers must continually be in insistent prayer for the South Korean Church. They are us….the body of Christ……and they are under full attack for the destruction of the Church by satan himself.
“In my time with the Lord, He has shown me that ‘Justice is Mercy.'”
Scripture please. Personal enlightenment is fine, but it must align with scripture. There are a lot of people preaching “mercy” because they like the sound of it, but miss the fact that Jesus spoke more about judgment. We need to obey what Jesus taught. This is fundamental.