Besides the current issue, my reasons of leaving is because the church is no longer the same when I first attended.I attended CHC since 1999 during my Poly days. CHC was still a small church, about 1200 members during back then.Those was the days I could still remember up till today. My first CGL was passionate, inspiring and care about me. That encouraged me to serve in children church, JAMS …church, and dialect services. Those were the days I visited hospice and elderly who stayed in 1-room flat. I typically sepnd 3-4 days a week, despite of my school work. Sometimes, we could be so busy of church work till 12-1am after midnight.After serving in church faithfully and inspired by my first CGL, eventually I become a CGL after transfer to DD zone. However, that was where the nightmare started.I started to lead from 1 to 2 CG, together with my wife. Sometimes need to lead “make up” CG in weekend, as CG meeting was compulsory back then. That was the time when church experienced tremendous growth from 1000 to 10000, and then to 30000.

Things started to change when I started to see some stuff when were not revealed as an ordinary member.

You will be treated differently if you have status in society, or wealthy, or know how to say right things at right time. Some CGL never need to attend meeting regular, if the CG have growth, or you have status. You have priviledge free carpark as well.

Zone secretary conctantly haunt you for target attendance EACH WEEK, from Tue to Fri. If you cannot meet target, there will be counselling session. You will feel like you are working as finacial advisor. In fact, your team leader is a financial advisor.

You can’t imagine how a typical and ordinally CGL go thru the stress every week; and always been labelled as not competent. You will be humillated in front of people.

When CG member has financial difficulty, we have find our own way to help them. In DD zone, you were not expected to bring this “problem” to them. My CG had a member constantly in financial difficulty, because she was a single mother. I always bought her some grocery, even I was just earning $2000 and had my own family as well. That was a time I was “encouraged” by my team leader to buy Ed Hardy shirt which cost me $200. That was a huge amount for me. I was thinking perhaps I could get more food to someone who need it desperately indeed.

Members were asked to buy the workbook for bible class. I had members who in financial difficulty, must also buy all those books. Even though it was $12, but for some family, it was a lot. it is enough for thier whole day meal back then. Most of the time, I was the one who bought for them. They were not allowed to use old copy (They workbook has some sentences which require you to fill in the blank).

You were not allowed to oppose pastors’ opinion. You be categorized as “difficult” CGL. I had seen many CGL “dissappear” suddenly; or asked to step down.

But one of the most dissapointing experiences was that during 2010, just before the saga broke out, I was having marriage issue with my wife then. I decided to step down as CGL becuase I found I need to work on the relationship with my wife. Instead of having blessing from the team leader, I had a scolding and “counselling session” from them. All the CGLs in the same team, since the day I had decided to step down, no one even bother.

DD never even call to find out what happen to me. All the fellowship we had build up in prayer meeting, fasting and sacrificing, at the end when you are “not doing well”, no one seems to call. Not even a SMS to ask how are you doing.

I was transferred to another group, lead by another ZS. By then, I had closed up my heart cause I know no matter how much I had done, no one really bother.

I had finally decided to leave when my son, about 3 years old that time, was bullied by the ZS’s daugther. When I was attending the adult CG, that was also another room to let the children play together. For a few weeks, my son was isolated by this ZS’ daughter, and she asked the rest of the children not to play with my son. I thought my 3 years old son must have offended her but I found out there was no reason and this was going on for months. I finally realised why my son cried in the room whenever I was having CG in living room.

Perhaps, this was how the ZS character, and the daughter picked up from the parent somehow. I realised the church no longer the same where I used to be. Everyone was putting up a mask up front.

Finally, I left the church one week before KH was caught. I should had done so earlier.

Till today, attedning church is just another routine for me. I will probably never trust any leader or pastor anymore, as the scar is already formed.

Source: CHC Confessions, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/CHCConfessions/posts/666579310028116, Published 12/09/2013. Accessed 12/09/2013.

Stories of people being abused are also quite common within C3 Church. Do you have stories from C3 Church? What is your story?