Pringle insists on Kong Hee’s innocence: “When people are unjustly accused or unfairly treated, it’s not a time to depart.”

23 Friday Oct 2015

Posted by Nailed Truth in C3 & Pringles Associations

Tags

CityNews, interview, Kong Hee, Phil Pringle, Sun Ho, trial

CItyNews did a fantastic job after the trial, in their interview with Phil Pringle. They gave him enough rope to continue to be misleading but also exposed him as a liar.

ON TOP OF THE FACTS OR NOT?

The video at the end of the CityNews article has Phil Pringle stating:

“It seemed to me that the judge – uh, ruled that- uh, seemed to say the summation- although I couldn’t say I fully understand all of the facts to do with this case [fake smile] against Kong Hee and the other five…”

Thank you CityNews for exposing Phil Pringle as a liar. In past CityNews publications, Phil Pringle asserted that he was “abreast” of what was happening in court and still insisting on Kong Hee’s innocence a few hours before the verdict.

AT THE TIME, IT OBVIOUSLY SEEMED RIGHT?

Think this statement through. How would Phil Pringle know?

“It’s easy on hindsight to pass criticism, but at the time, it obviously seemed right to them, as they had sought professional advice on their plans.”

This begs the question. Was Phil Pringle somehow involved in all this? Thanks to our C3 insiders, we would like Phil Pringle to explain his dialogue with Kong Hee that he reiterated with his church here:

PP: Don’t do anything illegal.
KH: That’s alright. We can do that in Singapore.
PP: You couldn’t do [any of?] that in Sydney. You couldn’t take money out of the building fund. [Source]

“At the time”, it obviously appeared “right” to Phil Pringle since he prophesied over Kong Hee and Sun Ho to buy the SunTec convention center and to take the Crossover Project further into Asia. Wouldn’t it have been handy for “Prophet for Profit” Pringle to prophetically warn Kong Hee and the other five to get themselves into order? Did he offer prophetic advice to CHCs financial governance?

Furthermore, it was Kong Hee who copied Phil Pringle’s financial giving models, practices and philosophies! So was it “right” for Phil Pringle to allow Kong Hee to do this? Remember, Kong Hee blamed Phil Pringle for all the mess he was in:

“You created this mess! You’ve got to come and help us fix it!” [Source]

Another time Kong Hee retold his circumstances of Phil Pringle leading him and said to Pringle “So it’s all your fault, Pastor!”

As long as City Harvest Church keeps Phil Pringle as advisory pastor, you can probably expect another disaster because of his lies and ongoing false prophecies.

PRINGLE REVILING COURT’S VERDICT?

CityNews also asked Pringle how members should react to “revilers”. Pringle’s response?

“The Bible says, don’t revile people who revile us, but bless those who curse us. And leave any negative response in the hands of God. Our calling is to love, to love those who hate us.”

Sounds very hypocritical considering Pringle’s history maligning people in the pulpit and press. We still find this dialogue very entertaining:

“It’s a criminal act to assassinate someone’s character and not be accountable, to be anonymous. So we’re living with a nameless, faceless, spineless group of people who don’t even have the courage or conviction to identity themselves, while we’re up here—you see my face, you know my name, you have all the numbers to use. The idea these Internet haters have that “I’m protecting myself and my family”—what from? If you’re doing the right thing you have nothing to fear. I know we’re [sic] doing the right thing.” [Source]

That quote was taken from a CityNews article in 2014. What’s changed? In the latest interview Phil Pringle is STILL portraying the Singaporean authorities as falsely condemning Kong Hee:

“Jesus was accused of breaking the law and breaching the Sabbath and the law of blasphemy. Paul was accused of treason. Peter was imprisoned for preaching, which was deemed against the law.

We sometimes have sanitized Christian history. But when Jesus was treated like a criminal and executed, his disciples fled. We must learn from these moments that though people make mistakes, it’s not a reason to leave them. When people are unjustly accused or unfairly treated, it’s not a time to depart.“

By using this analogy, Phil Pringle is conveying the idea that either Jesus was rightly condemned for his sins or that Kong Hee was falsely tried and convicted. Now that ~~Jesus~~ Kong Hee and co-accused have been found guilty of all charges, Pringle’s advice to CHC was that “when people are unjustly accused or unfairly treated, it’s not a time to depart.”

How does Phil Pringle convince CHC that Kong Hee is innocent? By appealing fallaciously to piety (“It’s never been popular to be a Christian, especially when you’re standing for somebody or something”), misdirected faith and guidance, experience (“You simply need to trust in the Lord, and trust what you know about Pastor Kong from your years in church”), and mob appeal (“He is endorsed by many ministers around the world and the faithful members of the congregation who’ve been with him since the start”).

It might be time for Phil Pringle to read CHC Confessions.

CHC STANDING STRONG?

Pringle insisted that “The church will stay together.” That is false, the church can stand through anything. But a cult WILL try to stand together. The sad truth is that City Harvest Church IS “built on Kong Hee” and not Jesus Christ.

In answer to a question, Pringle says, “The church is not built on Kong Hee.” In an answer to another, Pringle says, “If you could appeal, you should. [Kong Hee] has a responsibility to CHC to do that—the church needs him.”

So if the church is built on Jesus Christ, then a cult is built on its leader.

The facts are, CHC has suffered terribly through the ongoing trial with many people leaving and its global reputaiton in ruins thanks to Sun Ho’s smutty music productions and Kong Hee’s unbiblical sermon productions. It’s been these false teachers who have persecuted Christ’s church, and Pringle is still standing quite comfortably with them in their defense.

What is absolutely clear now, is how badly Phil Pringle is trying to keep his “sheepskin” on, trying to give the impression that Kong Hee is still qualified to be seen as a minister of God, despite the fact that the bible clearly disqualies him. Ministers have every right to condemn Kong Hee and Phil Prngle for their deceptive behaviour.

It’s Kong Hee, Sun Ho, Phil Pringle and A.R. Bernard who have caused the world to blaspheme the name of Jesus Christ. They have not repented. They have no shame. CHC has clearly departed from the faith “through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared” (2 Timothy 4:2).

It is absolutely unacceptable for Phil Pringle continuing to insist on Kong Hee’s integrity and innocence, and insist that he has the right to remain a minister despite the fact of the bible clearly disqualifying Kong Hee from holding that office. This is why City Harvest Church and the C3 movement are like cults – they are STILL accountable to no one.

CityNews writes,

Phil Pringle, City Harvest Church’s advisory pastor, was in court yesterday morning to support CHC’s senior pastor Kong Hee. We spoke to him after the verdict.

How did you feel when the verdict was delivered?

Obviously, the verdict is very serious. I was initially shocked, and then deeply concerned for the families—I’m praying for comfort for them. I know Kong is more concerned about others, especially about Sun and his family.

I feel that even though the judge commended them for intending to do the right thing, he [found] that the investment strategy of CHC was not acceptable to the law. I think the situation was that he said, “You meant well, but you did wrong.”

It’s easy on hindsight to pass criticism, but at the time, it obviously seemed right to them, as they had sought professional advice on their plans.

I also think that the judge felt that Pastor Kong was the only one making decisions and that everyone was simply doing what he was directing. I think it’s true Pastor Kong presided over the larger vision; however, the activating was certainly in the hands of many people in the team.

The judge noted the facts that Pastor Kong has not wrongfully gained, nor church wrongfully lost money. However, that fact that the funds had been, in his words, misappropriated, attracted the judgment he delivered.

So, in the light of all these events, we remain filled with faith, that the promises of God are not deactivated by negative circumstances. All of us have made mistakes. We can be thankful to God that He continues to work with us through grace despite our shortcomings.

Let’s continue to stand together believing in the sovereign hand of Almighty God.

We’ve prepared for this as best as we could but the shock of the verdict and the flood of attacks from the public—and even friends and family—may be hard for some of our members to take. Remind us again what we should do.

The Bible says, don’t revile people who revile us, but bless those who curse us. And leave any negative response in the hands of God. Our calling is to love, to love those who hate us. We shouldn’t try to engage those who have only negative things to say—if we can’t say anything constructive, we should be silent.

Jesus was accused of breaking the law and breaching the Sabbath and the law of blasphemy. Paul was accused of treason. Peter was imprisoned for preaching, which was deemed against the law.

We sometimes have sanitized Christian history. But when Jesus was treated like a criminal and executed, his disciples fled. We must learn from these moments that though people make mistakes, it’s not a reason to leave them. When people are unjustly accused or unfairly treated, it’s not a time to depart.

How should members deal with public humiliation?

It’s never been popular to be a Christian, especially when you’re standing for somebody or something. Don’t get into that strange thing when you’re persecuted and you think, “They appear so good, yet the verdict from court has declared them wrong.” You simply need to trust in the Lord, and trust what you know about Pastor Kong from your years in church. He is endorsed by many ministers around the world and the faithful members of the congregation who’ve been with him since the start.

Do you, as our advisory pastor, think we are prepared for this?

More than anybody! The church will stay together. You’ll be strong. You’ll only get stronger. The church is not built on Kong Hee. It’s built on Jesus Christ. The church is more together and more resilient than you think it is. It survives any kind of persecution. The worst kind is when Christians fight against each other, when ministers criticize each other. It’s the worst kind because it’s confusing for the younger believers.

At this moment Pastor Kong is still discussing with his lawyers about an appeal. Do you think he should? Would it be prideful if he did?

To not appeal is to say “Okay, I guess I’m a criminal.” It’s not an arrogant pride. It’s a pride that says “I know who I am. I am not a criminal.” If you could appeal, you should. He has a responsibility to CHC to do that—the church needs him.

It’s a tough time for us all. What do you want us to fill our minds with?

This is the God of Jesus Christ, of David, of Moses—all who seemed like they were in impossible circumstances, but God delivered them. God’s glory is manifested in the darkest hour. We can trust God: His love for CHC will shine through.

Phil Pringle will be preaching, together with CHC’s advisory chairman AR Bernard at CHC the weekend 31 Oct and 1 Nov, 2015.

Source: City News Team, Phil Pringle: “CHC Will Only Get Stronger”, CityNews, http://www.citynews.sg/2015/10/phil-pringle-chc-will-only-get-stronger/, Updated on October 22, 2015 at 4:56 pm. (Accessed 22/10/2015.)

If you’re a C3 member, read Pringle’s endorsed CityNews coverage of CHC court case

18 Monday Aug 2014

Posted by Nailed Truth in C3 & Pringles Associations

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C3 members, CHC, City Harvest Church, CityNews, court, endorsement, endorses, Kong Hee, news, newspapers, Phil Pringle, Pringle, Sun Ho, tabloids

“I think it’s great you’ve got City News […] — they still do a pretty good job.”

Phil Pringle will often tell you as C3 members to not read news that is making CHC look bad. According to your pastor, any news critical of C3 or CHC are bad and purposely spreading things that are not true of C3 or CHC.

However when asked about the media in relation to Kong Hee’s court case, Phil Pringle encourages church members that, “it’s worth knowing what the mainstream press is saying”.

“I think it’s worth knowing what the mainstream press is saying—I certainly stay abreast of it (CHC case).” – Phil Pringle, An Interview With Phil Pringle: On Goals, Victory, Truth & The Ultimate Breakfast Partner, CityNews, 07/03/2014. (Accessed 26/03/2014.)

To C3 readers visiting our site, have you been reading what Singapore media are reporting on?

In fact, Pringle thinks Kong Hee’s CityNews group does a “pretty good job” covering the events on Kong Hee’s court case.

So to all our C3 readers, with Pringle’s endorsement of CityNews, we would encourage you to not only read these “pretty good” CityNews articles but pass them on to your C3 friends. You may as well be informed as much as your pastor.

To read the original articles on City News, click the links below and scroll down to the bottom of the articles to access the URLs.

= = = = = = = = = = = =

COURT 04/08/2014

CityNews:

CHC Trial: John Lam Explains Building Fund Refunds To Court

CHC Trial: Prosecution Questions Existence of Personal Guarantee

COURT 05/08/2014

CityNews:

John Lam: “False” Entries Not What Prosecution Makes It Out To Be

COURT 06/08/2014

CHC Trial: Personal Guarantees Are Meant As A Last Resort, Says Defendant Lam.

CHC Trial: Prosecution Questions “Scenario Planning” Efforts By Accused

CHC Trial: DPP Questions Ex-Board Member’s Interest In Protecting The Church

COURT 07/08/2014

CHC Trial: Defense Objects To “Unfounded” Insinuation Of Fresh Exhibit

COURT 08/08/2014

Rubber Stamps, Unsold Albums And Phantom Guarantees Explained

COURT 11/08/2014

Kong Hee Takes The Stand; Reasons For And Sequence Of Crossover Project Established

CityNews reports CHC dropped church funds but used Hanafis funds for Crossover

COURT 12/08/2014

CHC Trial: Kong Hee: The Budget Of The US Album Had To Be Sound And Reasonable

Kong Hee Said No to 50-50 Profit Share With US Execs; Church Must Not Lose “A Single Dollar”

COURT 13/08/2014

Defendants Worked Out Budget To Ensure Xtron Recouped Its Investment

Why Sun Ho Was Managed By Xtron Instead Of Another Company

COURT 14/08/2014

Kong says Sun would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn’t been for those meddling CADS

CHC Trial: Kong Hee: Spiritual Mentors’ Endorsement Of Crossover Project A “Big Factor”

COURT 15/08/2014

City Harvest Trial: Church Not To Directly Fund Crossover

Chew Eng Han grills Kong…

COURT 16/08/2014

What did Sun Ho get up to in the Beijing Olympics?

What did you say Pringle? (Part 1) Isn’t this what Kong did at CHC?

15 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by Nailed Truth in C3 & Pringles Associations

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Tags

case, CHC, CityNews, court, mansion, Phil Pringle, Sun Ho

This piece is a follow up from our previous article:

Another CityNews interview with CHC Advisory “Pastor” Phil Pringle

Phil Pringle said:

‘That’s one of the greats [sic] difficulties in church life, because you have unscrupulous people who say, “Trust me, I’m a Christian, gimme $100,000, I’ll invest it for you.” So the person gives him $100,000 and he doesn’t [sic] invest the money but does something else with it, and then he comes back and says, “I’m sorry, I’ve lost it.” And those people get very hurt and leave the church. As pastors, we say to people, “Whenever you’re doing business together, make sure you’ve got contracts signed.” Don’t just say “He’s a Christian, I’ll trust him.” Some people have no shame. How can you take so much money and lose it, and say you’ll fight the person you owe?’

Has anyone else spotted what Phil Pringle has done here? Has Phil Pringle described to City News what Kong Hee has done?

1. “Trust me, I’m a Christian, gimme $100,000, I’ll invest it for you.”

Kong established a building fund with the understanding, naturally enough, that money contributed to that fund would be used to purchase a building for CHC. Then he importuned his congregation to give him money “until the tears [ran] down [their] face[s]”.

Kong Hee Is Not About “Building Buildings” But “Building People”? Really?

It’s sad if you think about it.

2. “So the person gives him $100,000 and he doesn’t invest the money but does something else with it […]”

Kong’s followers gave him buckets of money, and it appears he took SG$24,000,000 and spent it on “something else”, namely his wife’s pop-star fantasies.

And those fantasies where indulged to the very utmost, and in the most obscenely profligate manner. For example, Sun Ho lived the high life in Hollywood, staying in a mansion that cost $28,000 per *month* to rent – and this while Kong’s faithful sheep were downsizing their own housing in order to give him more money!

The House Of The Rising Sun

Of course, Kong missed his wife, so he just had to fly over to the U.S. to see her on a regular basis – and he clocked up airfares to the tune of $700,000, all paid for with hard-earned money that was given to him by the trusting and sincere members of CHC.

An Insightful Analysis To The CHC System (Part 5)

(Apparently Kong even took money from children: he wanted the contents of their angpows – red packets containing money that are given as gifts on special occasions in Chinese and other Asian societies. Obviously, when a jet-setting “pastor” has big bills coming in, no gift is too small – could a so-called “man of God” possibly stoop any lower than to do such a thing?)

3. “[…] and then he comes back and says, “I’m sorry, I’ve lost it.”’

Kong hasn’t got around to admitting his guilt yet, much less apologising to his thousands of victims; however he may well crack as the trial continues and the pressure on him builds. Nonetheless, Kong has certainly lost all the money – there is nothing to show for it other than a handful of tacky and tasteless “music” videos by his talentless partner, Sun Ho.

4. “And those people get very hurt and leave the church.”

A lot of people have left CHC, and many are extremely angry that they have been duped by Kong Hee, and understandably so.

5. ‘As pastors, we say to people, “Whenever you’re doing business together, make sure you’ve got contracts signed.” Don’t just say “He’s a Christian, I’ll trust him.”

So, according to Phil Pringle, we should be thinking along the lines of “Don’t just say ‘Kong’s a Christian, I’ll trust him'”. That’s excellent advice, “pastor” Phil – it’s just too bad that you didn’t give the good people of CHC that warning *before* Kong Hee and his accomplices took that money from them.

6. ‘”Some people have no shame. How can you take so much money and lose it, and say you’ll fight the person you owe?’

It’s true: Kong has no shame. Firstly he has the hide to stand in front of his followers and tell them that he “maintains [his] integrity” (as though he has ever shown any). Then he attempts to deflect the blame for his conduct onto his associates and underlings in a cowardly and pathetic attempt to save his own skin.

How indeed could Kong misappropriate such a huge amount and then turn around and swear blind that he is innocent? How could he be so shameless as to throw his fellow staff under the bus when it is plain as day that he and his wife were the principal beneficiaries of this outrageous scam?

Phil’s words raise an interesting question: was his oblique enumeration of events at CHC deliberate, or was it something unconscious?

Maybe the scriptures can help us answer this question.

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

“For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Philippians 3:18-21

Another CityNews interview with CHC Advisory “Pastor” Phil Pringle

14 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by Nailed Truth in C3 & Pringles Associations

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Tags

c3, c3 church, Christian City Church, CityNews, kong, Kong Hee, Phil Pringle, Pringle

The CHC propaganda machine CityNews has published another revealing interview with our beloved “Dr” Phil Pringle.

Some of our observations:

“I certainly congratulate every member on being faithful to bring the church to this point where its legacy, even at this stage, far exceeds what anybody could expect of a local church.”

Please note that Pringle is congratulating people in being “faithful” to the church. Of course he can’t congratulate them on being “faithful” to their God.

“I think moment by moment the Holy Spirit will be available to Pastor Kong and will guide him with wisdom. [Immorally narcigetes.] Pastor Kong is a very diligent, faithful man and he has prepared himself the best he can. Between that and the Holy Spirit, he will find himself navigating this moment. The Lord will be in that courtroom, guiding everything that happens.”

You can tell the Holy Spirit is with Kong Hee in the stand. Read more here.

There are many gems in this article which we are sure our readers may want to explore further in our comment section. His comments on depression, “trusting”, too much preaching on visions, etc. are all worth discussing.

CityNews writes,

An Interview With Phil Pringle: A Prayer For CHC

Phil Pringle, City Harvest Church’s advisory pastor shares his wishes for the church in its 25th year and his prayer in this time of trial.

You’ve been a friend of CHC for such a long time, do you have a message for the congregation in its 25th year?

I certainly congratulate every member on being faithful to bring the church to this point where its legacy, even at this stage, far exceeds what anybody could expect of a local church. I think you’ve had thousands of School of Theology graduates and 300 recently returned to celebrate. So, literally there are thousands and thousands of men and women who have gone from this place, serving God all around the world and doing magnificent things for God. So it’s not just Singapore that has been affected, but all around the world, CHC is having such a powerful impact. So, literally there are hundreds of thousands of people who have been saved, brought out of darkness. It’s because of a faithful congregation. Not all churches can keep going, especially under pressure, like this congregation. I love CHC and I love what they do for God—and the fact that they have had such success in China too, it’s amazing.

Sometimes we forget there is impact around the world.

Yes. Totally.

Pastor Kong takes the stand the next few weeks—from what we have seen, there will be many tough questions asked of him.

I think moment by moment the Holy Spirit will be available to Pastor Kong and will guide him with wisdom. Throughout Scripture, anybody who under the pressure of examination found themselves with answers from the Holy Spirit, able to bring great answers that delivered them from all sorts of problems. Whether it was Daniel with the kings, Belteshazzar and others, whether it was Joseph with his jailors, whether it was Paul with kings or judges or high priests—all these people found in their moment of need, the Holy Spirit was there. Pastor Kong is a very diligent, faithful man and he has prepared himself the best he can. Between that and the Holy Spirit, he will find himself navigating this moment. The Lord will be in that courtroom, guiding everything that happens.

Honestly, there are moments during the case when things look not pretty. Or someone says something on the stand that makes you sit up…

It’s very different being in the armchair than out in the field playing the game. It’s easy when you’re watching a tennis game or football game— “Aw, you shoulda done that!”—but when you’re on the field, doing what you’re doing, it’s not always easy to guard your action. You’ve got to give grace to everybody and allow them breadth of expression. And you know, sometimes we may think the person hasn’t done the right thing but you know you might be surprised: it might be to your advantage as things go on. Plenty of times things look bad, but actually, it’s the best thing that could have happened.

You taught us in your sermon that anger is a barrier to happiness. But, realistically, how do we not be angry when people set out to harm us or our family?

It’s a fair enough question. I’m not sure we’re not meant to be. “Be angry and sin not”, the Bible says (Ephesians 4:26) There is an anger you can hold and still be happy. I think a selfish anger is a wrong anger, but maybe not an anger that is on behalf of others or on behalf of justice. I mean, I’m angry at some people but doesn’t stop me being a happy person. And I don’t nurse that anger and rehearse that anger and constantly have it on my mind.

There are different varieties of anger, but the one that is selfish—you’re angry because you’ve been slighted—is the one that will bring depression. But the anger that is on behalf of justice, as long as it doesn’t fester into bitterness. When I have that sort of anger, I am in control of my spirit, it’s not in control of me. That’s one of the worst conversations I’ve had with people, especially when I’m in control of my emotions. And I’ve done that plenty of times, sit a person down and tell them “What you’ve done here is really, really upsetting. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in your behavior.” How they react to that—they may break down and cry or they may harden up and say “I think I’m right.” But I think it is right to have an opinion about a person who betrays you. It’s when anger turns to hatred that’s when it becomes wrong. There is a wrong and a right in life and both attract emotions.

But forgiveness is not an option?

Everyday I forgive people. But forgiveness does not mean you trust the person. Jesus never said “Trust everybody.” The Bible says “Prove all things.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) Jesus committed himself to no man—not that He didn’t trust anybody, but He wasn’t prepared to rest His life on humans who He knew were too frail to entrust one’s life to. So He entrusted it to God. So, I can forgive people if they harm me, but I need to learn. My wisdom will tell me in the future, don’t trust them. Get some evidence or proof of their trustworthiness.

That’s one of the greats difficulties in church life, because you have unscrupulous people who say, “Trust me, I’m a Christian, gimme $100,000, I’ll invest it for you.” So the person gives him $100,000 and he doesn’t invest the money but does something else with it, and then he comes back and says, “I’m sorry, I’ve lost it.” And those people get very hurt and leave the church. As pastors, we say to people, “Whenever you’re doing business together, make sure you’ve got contracts signed.” Don’t just say “He’s a Christian, I’ll trust him.” Some people have no shame. How can you take so much money and lose it, and say you’ll fight the person you owe?

You taught us on the weekend as well about Elijah gaining strength by “eating and drinking”—essentially, going to a quiet place to be with the Lord and read the Word and listen to God. But sometimes, it’s hard to pray. What then?

I think there are times just to get isolated and let solitude and silence be your friend. Sometimes getting more intense doesn’t help the situation. Actually relaxing with friends does. But there are definitely seasons you travel through that are painful and depressing. There’s no quick way out of them. Elijah went through that, I’d say it was about a seven-week process. So many people go through so many difficult things that are actually dark times, but in those dark times, Isaiah says you’ll discover the treasures of darkness (Isaiah 45:3). And it would be trite to say we should always be happy, laughing and joking—life isn’t always going to be like that. But there’s a basic happiness where you’re not what’s called “a miserable person”, “a joyless person”.

How do we balance want with being content?

Being content with what you have—that’s a two-sided message. I usually only give one side coz if you keep qualifying yourself, you’ll never say anything! (laughs) So there is another side. But because there’s so much preaching about “dream the dream, live the life, have a goal, have a vision, you’re going get the new house, new car”, that we’re in danger of creating frustration in people. They didn’t get the house, they didn’t get the car, they didn’t get married, they lost their marriage, their job. And things didn’t work out for them. Then they’re unhappy with God and with their life. We need to be taught to be happy all the time, in whatever state we find ourselves. Whether we’re going up or whether we’re going down; whether we’re winning or losing, that we are okay with that. There’s a contentment in our lives.

Definitely, we should have visions and goals, but we should also be content with what we have. So that tension, even though it may seem hard to synchronize, I’ve always found spiritual truth synchronized between two opposites. To synchronize humility and confidence—that’s challenging. On the one hand we don’t become arrogant, on the other we don’t become servile. But to synthesize confidence and humility in our hearts, to synthesize wisdom and faith. Because wisdom will tell you not to get out of the boat, to get insurance. But faith says, “Get out of the boat, walk on water.”

So to synthesize opposites is a challenging, life-long process; exercising contentment and desire is one of those areas. But it can be done and it should be done. I’d like to think I never want anything. I think there’s a big difference between wanting—the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want—and desiring. The Bible talks about wantonness. But I think there’s a difference between that and “delight yourself in the Lord and He’ll give you the desires of your heart”. Not the wants, but the desires. They’re a cleaner, purer, less selfish area.

What is your prayer for Pastor Kong and the leaders and the church in this period?

My prayer is the same as what Paul asked people to pray for him and for how the early church prayed: always for deliverance and redemption, and that the Gospel and Jesus Christ will be testified of and the witness would remain solid. My prayer is for God’s great vindication, God’s blessing, God’s truth that everybody will learn through the experience. I also pray for the will of God and the purpose of God to come to pass in the life of the church. That Pastor Kong will find himself refreshed and blessed as trial draws to a close. I pray for fearlessness in the church, wisdom and boldness to fill the team, to believe God for a great victory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Source: Phil Pringle, An Interview With Phil Pringle: A Prayer For CHC, CityNews, http://www.citynews.sg/2014/08/an-interview-with-phil-pringle-a-prayer-for-chc/, Updated August 14, 2014 at 1:38 pm. (Accessed 14/08/2014.)

The lyin’ and the Lam

21 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by Nailed Truth in C3 & Pringles Associations

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CHC, Chew Eng Han, CityNews, court, dishonest, John Lam, Kong Hee, Lam, Phil Pringle, propaganda

Read our article here how the secular news reported the recent CHC case:

Chew Eng Han on Lam’s “Stew”……

Look how CHC’s propaganda agency reports the case. Do you notice what’s missing?

John Lam: Crossover Was CHC’s Call To Fulfill The Great Commission.

‎Former City Harvest Church board member John Lam took the stand this morning as the CHC trial resumed. Explaining how the Crossover Project was part of the church’s purpose to fulfill the Great Commission, Lam told the court that in 1995, CHC launched a movement called Church Without Walls, which sent members outside the four walls of the church to reach non-believers. Church Without Walls led to the start of City Harvest Community Services Association, the church’s non-religious social arm that helps the underprivileged and meets community needs.

Church Without Walls is based on the Great Commission, which is, as stated in Matthew 28:18-20 of the Bible, to “go therefore and make disciples of all the nation’s, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”

Lam explained that in the early 2000s, CHC’s senior pastor, Kong Hee, also caught a vision to reach youth in Asia with the Gospel, particularly in cities like Taiwan and Hong Kong, where youth and young adults found pop culture and entertainment more relevant than the church.

The condition set in the Great Commission is to go preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth, but Lam pointed out, these young people had not heard the Good News. In order to reach these youth, the church had to be relevant; hence the birth of Crossover Project. Sun Ho was sent out to become a commercial success in the entertainment industry, ‎and in the process, influence the young and fulfill the Great Commission.

Lam took the court through the different bodies that managed Ho, beginning with City Harvest Pte Ltd, which was set up to keep the Crossover Project separate from the church. The name “City Harvest” became an issue and so management came under Attributes Pte Ltd, and after that, Xtron.

Lam explained why Xtron was not mentioned in the Jun 30, 2003 board meeting minutes as Ho’s new artiste management. Lam told the court this took place just after the “Roland Poon incident” and that he, among others in the board and the church, had been “traumatized” by it. In January 2003, CHC church member Roland Poon went to the press to accuse the church of financially supporting Ho’s music career. Lam told the court it had never occurred to him that the public and other Christians would object to such a project to reach the secular world through pop music.

The City Harvest Church trial resumed this morning with Senior Counsel Kenneth Tan presenting key points of his argument to support his client Lam’s case.

Lam is a chartered financial analyst and also a fellow certified public accountant. He was the treasurer in the CHC board and was involved in the financial and audit committee—all positions he held were as volunteer. He is a pioneer member of the church and is also a cell group leader.

Court resumed at 2.15pm.

Source: The CityNews Team, John Lam: Crossover Was CHC’s Call To Fulfill The Great Commission., CityNews, http://www.citynews.sg/2014/07/john-lam-crossover-was-chcs-call-to-fulfill-the-great-commission/, Updated on July 14, 2014 at 3:07 pm. (Accessed 17/07/2014.)

“Prophet for Profit” Phil Pringle Enticing the CHC “Foolish Virgins”?

27 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by Nailed Truth in C3 & Pringles Associations

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advisory pastor, Advisory Pastor Phil Pringle, c3, CHC, City Harvest Church, CityNews, CN, foolish virgins, fresh oil, lamps, oil, Phil Pringle, Pringle, virgins, wise virgins

The scriptures teach us Jesus giving this parable (emphasis ours):

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The point of Jesus’ parable of the Kingdom is very simple: Be ready! Keep the faith. “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Phil Pringle thinks likewise. This article will be examining how CHC fails to discern Phil Pringle’s dubious teaching. The title of the below article ‘Give us oil in our lamps’ is fortunately named, capturing the absolute foolishness of the reporter and CHC members that were duped by Phil Pringle’s teaching.

CityNews boldly reported that CHC knows Phil Pringle, “for wearing many hats, and wearing them well”, being “a talented artist and painter”, “inspiring preacher and teacher“, “a powerful prophet“, “a good friend to CHC” and for “being a conduit of God’s anointing“.

A true prophet cannot teach false doctrine. A true preacher and teacher cannot teach false teaching, especially if they are claiming they are a “conduit of God’s anointing”. That would be dangerous.

CityNews states that Phil Pringle shared a “revelatory offering message about how God requires from each giver a specific offering, and nothing else will atone for it” and then got “to the main purpose of his visit to CHC that weekend, to impart a fresh touch of God, the fresh oil of the anointing of the Holy Spirit”. CityNews further reports Phil Pringle saying, “I have been burdened for these meetings over the past week […] The fact is, God wants to empower every one of us. I am believing God, that He will touch you, empower you, fill you with the fresh oil of the Holy Spirit!”

No, Phil. We have already been given the oil of the anointing and the faith once and for all delivered to the saints. What are you selling CHC?

“Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.” 1 John 2:18-27

“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” Jude 1:3

John stresses that “it is the last hour”. Therefore, because we have been anointed by the Holy One “from the beginning”, we must abide in the faith that God has once for all delivered to the saints. As Jesus explained in his endtime parables that included the virgin parable,

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.“

CityNews reports, “The five foolish virgins did not prepare enough oil in their lamps in case the bridegroom was delayed, and when he was delayed, they had no oil to light their lamps.” So why is Pringle encouraging people to come to him to get the oil for their lives? The parable said that the wise already had enough oil. It was the foolish that asked and then were told to go to the “dealers” to get more oil. They had to buy the oil.

Who is the dealer in this parable? It appears that Phil Pringle is the one trying to “make merchandise” out of the foolish virgins in the name of God. It was the foolish virgins that went on the journey back and forth from the dealer. Phil Pringle even said the fresh oil he gave, “is something to take back with you, to nurture for the journey ahead”. Is he the one John and Jude were warning the wise virgins (his disciples) against? What does anyone gain from buying oil from a false anointing “conduit” to find that the doors are closed?

CityNews published this article back in November 2010 and informed their readers that Phil Pringle, “in his second weekend with CHC” operated from his new role “as advisory pastor”. Any Christian should be able to stand faithful and ready on God’s Word so when Christ returns, they will be allowed entry. So why did CHC parade their new Advisory Pastor Phil Pringle and his message? At best Phil Pringle distracted CHC members from standing steadfast on the faith once and for all delivered to the saints.

Give Us Oil In Our Lamps

The first anointing service by advisory pastor Phil Pringle ushers in a refreshing touch from God.

City Harvest Church’s advisory pastor, Phil Pringle, is known in CHC for wearing many hats, and wearing them well. Many know him as a talented artist and painter, a consummate and entertaining storyteller, an inspiring preacher and teacher, a powerful prophet, and a good friend to CHC. But during the services over the weekend of Nov. 6 to 7, he revealed another aspect of his ministry: being a conduit of God’s anointing.

EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

Well aware that the services that weekend was going to be different from what the church was used to from Pringle, the congregation was abuzz with anticipation and expectation right from the first service of the weekend at the Jurong West Street 91 premises. Pringle opened his time at the first service with an exuberant proclamation. “You are excited! God is excited, the Holy Spirit is excited, and Jesus is excited! The only person I know who is not excited today is the devil!” Pringle declared amidst a thunderous clap offering to God, setting the stage for the things to come.

In his second weekend with CHC in his new capacity as advisory pastor, Pringle said, “This service is going to be slightly different.” After sharing a revelatory offering message about how God requires from each giver a specific offering, and nothing else will atone for it, and how the church must learn to chase away the “vultures” that gather around the offerings out of Genesis 15, Pringle wasted no time in getting to the main purpose of his visit to CHC that weekend, to impart a fresh touch of God, the fresh oil of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

“I have been burdened for these meetings over the past week,” Pringle shared with the Sunday morning crowd. “The fact is, God wants to empower every one of us. I am believing God, that He will touch you, empower you, fill you with the fresh oil of the Holy Spirit!”

Speaking out of Matthew 25, Pringle shared a sobering message about the parable of the 10 virgins. The five foolish virgins failed in their duty to the bridegroom, in honoring him and lighting up his way, and were closed off from his house. “The Bible says that out of the 10 virgins, five were foolish, and five were wise. The five foolish virgins did not prepare enough oil in their lamps in case the bridegroom was delayed, and when he was delayed, they had no oil to light their lamps.”

Pringle declared, “The Christian life is not hard—it is impossible! We cannot do the things that Jesus has asked us to do, unless we have the oil of the Holy Spirit!” He taught that, too often, we tend to substitute information for impartation, and miss out on the wave of God’s revival. Just like how a phone works, things such as contacts and applications in the phone are worthless unless there is power, and it is plugged into a source of power. Similarly, “the things in the kingdom of God need replenishing and recharging,” Pringle declared.

Pringle then exhorted the church, in this time of trial and testing, to face the future with the power of the Holy Spirit. Just as in the Word of God to Zerubbabel spoken through Zechariah, it is not by might or by power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, Pringle shared, that “we can speak to the mountains in our lives.”

It was time, then, for the church to receive the new oil of the Holy Spirit, to make it through difficulties in life. Drawing a parallel with the 10 virgins’ lamps and the lives of the believers, Pringle said, “We need to have enough oil to go the distance. When the oil dries up, we start burning our wicks, which is relying on our own strength. That is why people get ‘burned out’.”

He then used King David in the Bible as an example, of how with greater responsibility came the need for the constant refilling of the oil of the Holy Spirit. David had three immense steps to take before reaching a different level in his life—going before Saul who wanted to kill him, becoming the king of Judah, then finally becoming the king of Israel. “He had to be equipped and equal to each level of challenge to overcome it, through the anointing of God.” Give Us Oil In Our Lamps

As a reminder to the church, Pringle said, “People tend to not notice, that waiting takes up as much oil as working. The five foolish virgins ran out of oil while they were waiting for the bridegroom, and did not have enough left to do their jobs.” Pointing out how the door was shut to the five foolish virgins, Pringle noted, “The oil of God in our lives keeps us ready for the opportunities that God has for us.”

PREPARING FOR GREATER OPPORTUNITIES

Finally, he shared why the other five virgins did not share the oil with their peers. “There are some things that you can’t get from someone else; you have to get it from God yourself, by reaching out and seeking God.” On that note, Pringle moved into a powerful time of ministry, which saw words of prophecy being spoken over various people, and the laying of hands on the congregation. People cleared out of their seats, and streamed to the altar area. A mighty move of God swept through the services as wave after wave of people were ministered to.

Toward the end of the service, Pringle emphasized, “This is not just an experience in the front, but this is something to take back with you, to nurture for the journey ahead.” With such an evident working and presence of God, Pringle issued a salvation and re-dedication altar call which saw people streaming to the front of the stage, giving their lives to Jesus, giving a fitting end to an awesome time of being in the presence of God.

“When Pastor Phil prayed for us, I felt a very strong presence of God, reminiscent of an Asia Conference session!” Alexander Liu, 29, a property executive, shared enthusiastically. Josiah Ang, 19, who had just returned from his National Service stint in Australia, said, “I feel that it is a fresh touch from God for me, especially after being away for over a month. We should continue to seek the filling of the Holy Spirit to keep us burning.”

Vera Li Zeng Ying, a 16-year-old student from Chong Boon Secondary School echoed Ang’s sentiments. “This is my first time experiencing an anointing service, but it was more than just a mere experience. I felt that this is a new start in my life. The moment Pastor Phil prayed for me, I felt God release all my fears and struggles. It is His Spirit that makes me believe I can overcome every obstacle!”

Source: By Jeremy Chua, CityNews, Give Us Oil In Our Lamps, http://www.citynews.sg/2010/11/give-us-oil-in-our-lamps/, 27/06/2014. (Accessed 27/06/2014.)

CHC insinuation under fire

12 Thursday Jun 2014

Posted by Nailed Truth in C3 & Pringles Associations

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CHC, City Harvest Church, CityNews, crossover project, fair, fairest, Hock, Kim Hock, Kong Hee, Phil Pringle, Rolad Poon, straits times

This article will be promoting some articles and present some of our older articles that expose how CHC leaders (and some C3 Leaders like Phil Pringle and Joe Pringle), are constantly tarnishing the reputation of the Singaporean government and elevating the innocence of Kong Hee. It is worth stressing that the Christian is to submit to their scriptures that make it clear we are submit to our governments. To malign them in any way is a bad witness against Christ and His people.

We publish the below articles with the latest news of CHC “Pastor” Kim Hock in mind.

ARTICLE 1

Who Is The “Fairest” One of All?

I hope this will not end up being the talk of CNY visitation – which paper is more fair – Our mainstream media Straits Times or City Harvest Church’s in-house paper City News Singapore? But it just might help some get away difficult questions during Chinese New Year visitation (i.e. “why don’t you find a boyfriend?”)

How Did It Even Matter?

Well, it all started when Sun Ho embarked on the “Crossover Project” to Taiwan in 2002/2003. During that time, we seen the famous Roland Poon saga where he alleges that the church support her career using church funds, but was later threatened with lawsuit and had to issue a public apology (now we know he can maintain his integrity while Kong Hee and the entire management board is one down – the church had supported Sun Ho’s secular music career using church funds while blatantly lying to the entire church that “not a single cent was used” from the church).

Then we see the face-of between Sun Ho and the now-defunct Mando-pop group 5566, who boycotted the 933 music awards in 2004 – because church members were ferociously buying up her Chinese albums in quantities 5s/10s/30s just to make her #1 in album sale. Then we see the “she’s a pastor, she’s not a pastor, she’s actually a reverend, she’s never been one” fiasco.

There was never a lack of news when it comes to Singapore’s Hollywood Star with a series of Billboard Dance Chart Singles spun from church funds (yes – apparently it was one of the latest revelations in Court as a result of the CBT case involving the 6 CHC leaders).

Since many moons ago, CHC leadership had been accusing ST’s style of reporting as being “biased”, “one-sided”, “sensationalists”, among other names. And with this on-going trial involving the 6 leaders, the accusations have become even more cutting, coming from pastors and leaders themselves.

There’s differing view, obviously – there’s always someone who appreciates ST – especially when they make you look good:

Apparently, City News SG has got what it takes to be the “only source you could trust” (wonder if it’s an accolade only foreigners knew – where did that come from??), when it comes to receiving news from what is now unfortunately called the “CHC trial”

Well who can blame them? It’s a well known fact that our MSM need more than a slap from some co-driver somewhere, and we know Bertha Henson is not going to make it since MDA has did some ninja work on her Breakfast Network, as well as other popular news sites like Yahoo.

So Maybe ST is Thrash… How About CN?

We know for sure it’s a force to be reckoned with – when it comes to the misappropriation of funds case, it reports the “other side of truth” (perhaps I’m just gonna add “according to what one deems it”). Looking at what their worship leader and one of the Executive Member claims (that the authorities is scared of them), I think harmless Bertha should have a reason to ask MDA why her site got into their list but not CN’s:

Perhaps Bertha will also find encouragement from one of the pastors suspended by COC – sometimes bad things just happen to “good” people who did nothing – yes you can do it, Bertha:

I generally enjoy reading CN, especially when it comes to the lighter side and a “inside perspective”. But there are certain misleading elements as well, such as the way it selects headlines and frames its contents and leaving out certain elements – often stirs up the emotions of it’s readership. Not too nice if it results in anti-government sentiments accusing the government of being bias, don’t you think? (refer to the previous blog article: http://notunderthetable.blogspot.sg/2014/01/are-members-of-chc-unconsciously.html)

If it comes from ST, I can understand because they want and have no choice but to sell news. But for an in-house paper with international reach aimed at reporting truth, I think Bertha can offer some advice on how to be cordial yet factual and objective, and concurrently ask MDA why is her site is being “persecuted” in such an unfair world, when an in-house international paper enjoys such freedom.

Does the authorities fear them so much as their leader claim? Who is the fairest one of all would be another CNY discussion topic at visitations to spice up the usual “how are you” and “you are still not married???” type of small talk.

What do you think?

Source: Not Under The Table, Who Is The “Fairest” One of All?, http://notunderthetable.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/who-is-fairest-one-of-all.html, Published 30/01/2014. (Accessed 12/06/2014.)

Here is another article on the same subject:

ARTICLE 2

Who is the Fairest One of All Part II – The Insinuations of Pastor Tan Kim Hock’s

In two earlier articles written on 29 and 30 Jan 2014, “Are Members of CHC Unconsciously Manipulated or Influenced to Toy with the Sedition Act?” and “Who is the Fairest One of All?“, we saw how City Harvest Church leaders and pastors openly insinuating that the government and media had been “biased”, “scared of CHC” and “unfair” in its judiciary process.

It got so bad that the church leadership even changed their statement of beliefs to remove clause 17 (recognizing that the government is ordained by God) and replacing it with another belief about marriage. They have since re-instated clause 17 and removed “about marriage”. Somehow one cannot help but observe the wavering of their “statements of belief”.

Insinuations of a Church Pastor
Recently, after the judge ruled that the 6 accused have a case to answer, a City Harvest church pastor, Mr Tan Kim Hock, in 2 tweets, insinuated again that the judicial system is biased in giving the Straits Times “preferential and privileged access to information” regarding the outcome of the “no case to answer” trial. The Attorney General Chabers (AGC) further took issue with his first tweet which insinuates that the State Court is “biased and unfair” (source:
AGC warns City Harvest pastor for ‘contemptuous’ tweets)

The AGC further states in their statement: “AGC takes the view that the insinuations set out in the two tweets are insinuations which scandalise the Judiciary of the Republic of Singapore. These insinuations are scurrilous, false, and made without any objective basis”.

After his tweet was picked up by a local blog, TR Emeritus (source), Pastor Tan was quick to make an abrupt u-turn of his 2 tweets, with the following:

Obviously, the AGC did not share his opinion. The actions of the Pastor, who is also the Dean of the School of Theology, seems to be his undoing. He probably forgot his own wise words:

Pastor Tan was required to make a public apology which he has duly complied (source) on 6 June. It was not clear however, if this was acceptable since it was not displayed publicly but as a downloadable pdf file.

Implications of Such Insinuations

The effects of such insinuations by the leadership is a cause for concern, since leaders command an implicit form of trust and credibility among their followers. Perhaps the top-down effect of such leadership can be seen filtering down the ranks, resulting in the occurrences of members challenging the authorities – such as challenging COC’s decision to suspend the 9, citing Operation Spectrum, and other occurrences.

Parents of young members should be aware of what was told to children and teens, and adult members should seriously check the facts from third-party sources before buying into a leader’s opinion. For every official response so far related to the case, the court has proven that there’s another story behind it. So it does weigh in to be extra cautious.

There Is a Case To Answer

At the end of the day, the facts revealed and evidences produced in court do speak for themselves. As much as City Harvest diehards (a.k.a. “Jihadists”) have confessed, prayed and fasted for “no case to answer”, there is a case which the 6 has to answer in regards to the CBT and falsifying of accounts charges. It should not be construed that the Christian God is powerless and cannot answer prayers of a sincere and faith-fill congregation. However, it should be seen that a righteous God cannot simply let such wrong unpunished, and that crime demands a price to pay. The facts itself proved that the courts and media has not been biased (at least compared with CityNews’ selective omissions). Rather, on the contrary, it shows that the accused and those suspended by COC have something to hide.

There is more than meets the eye. Meanwhile, our most diehard fan should perhaps directing his tweet to our PM instead, for suing Roy Ngerng just because he was compared against Pastor Kong Hee in one of his blog post.

Source: Who is the Fairest One of All Part II – The Insinuations of Pastor Tan Kim Hock’s, Not Under The Table, http://notunderthetable.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/who-is-fairest-one-of-all-part-ii.html?spref=fb, 08/06/2014. (Accessed 12/06/2014.)

David Yonggi Cho Scandal Paralleled To The Kong Hee Scandal

24 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by Nailed Truth in C3 & Pringles Associations

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A. R. Bernard, AR Bernard, Bernard, blame, c3 church, ccc, charged, CHC, Cho, CityNews, convicted, cult, David Yonggi Cho, Dr Cho, kong, Kong Hee, munsey, Phil Pringle, Pringle, steve munsey, WoF, word of faith, word of faith cult

It is of our opinion that one can probably parallel these scandals to some of the scandals in the C3 movement.

The blog ‘Not Under The Table’ writes,

UPDATED 23/2/14: Lessons From the Sentencing of 2 Cho’s – How Christian Leaders Justify Responsibilities

The news broke today in a shocking manner with the following headlines:

1) “David Yonggi Cho, Founder of World’s Largest Church, Found Guilty of Breach of Trust, Corruption” (The Gospel Herald) and

2) “Yoido Full Gospel church leaders found guilty of tax evasion” (The Hankyoreh)

3) “Pastor gets suspended prison term for massive embezzlement” (The Yonhap News Agency)

Dr Yonggi Cho, whom Pastor Kong Hee address to be his “Spiritual Father” and “Senior Pastor” is sentenced to 3-years in jail with 5-year suspension. This means that the jail term is deferred by 5-years and he will go to jail to serve sentence if is found to further misbehave during this 5-year term. It is still a jail sentence.

The court ruled that Dr Cho is guility of the following charges: (1) Tax evasion and (2) causing approximately 13 billion won (US$12 million) worth of losses to Yoido Full Gospel Church by instructing his church officials to buy stocks privately owned by his eldest son priced at 4x higher than market value in 2002.

“The criminal activity would have been impossible without the approval of Pastor Cho, who had ultimate decision-making authority,” the court ruled. “By condoning the documents that were being written while he was the head of the church, he was largely responsible for these crimes.” – The Hankyoreh

Earlier, in a Straits Times coverage of the news when investigations first began into the Korean Mega-pastor, Dr Cho had denied any wrong-doing, and dismissed the allegations as “a smear campaign by a very small group of people in his church” and that “those who filed the complaint will have to take responsibility accordingly” (ST, 22 Sep 2011)

When this article was first published, City Harvest Church also issued a statement regarding this matter (http://www.chc.org.sg/_eng/church/church_statementReYonggiCho.php):

It is not the intention of this blog to judge a great man like Dr Yonggi Cho, who over the past decades had contributed greatly to the growth of Christianity and helped many people. We have our imperfections and do make mistakes, and do eventually pay the price for it.

However, the patterns of denial adopted up to the point of conviction finds close resemblances to what was seen in the “CHC Trial”:

1) Blame Shifting

“While delivering the three-year prison term for the former newspaper chairman, the judge rebuked the younger Cho for attempting to shift the responsibility for his unethical business practices onto his father and other senior church members.” (source)

Church Growth International Korea, the ministry founded by Dr Cho (independent and separate entity from Yoido Full Gospel Church) issued a statement to their Board Members claiming that the Korean judge, Hon. Yongtun Cho said that:

“The court considered that even though Pastor Cho had the final say in the church, he never took the lead in any of the crimes including tax evasion committed on the suggestion of the accounting firm.” (source)

“During the investigation, prosecutors also acquired evidence of tax evasion by David Cho. In 2004, when the Seoul regional tax office judged that this stock sale was a gift and ordered that 10.3 billion won (US$9.48 million) of taxes be paid, David Cho enlisted the aid of an accountant and submitted falsified documents to the tax office to disguise the transaction as a normal stock trade, not as a gift, prosecutors confirmed. He is suspected of using this means to only pay 4 billion won (US$3.68 million) in taxes, evading 6 billion won.” (source)

While he may not be the mastermind, he was unfortunately convicted because he allowed it to happen anyway – apparently rubber stamped whatever his son handed him. The key here is that as a leader, you cannot just claim ignorance and hope to get away. Tax evasion charges aside, he unfortunately gave instruction to siphon the money and ordered the stock purchase – resulting in the inevitable CBT charge which is even more damning and inexcusable – impossible to blame shift this.

Is it true that as long as the fault can be pushed away to another party, it would be “all clear” for the accused? Will it change the mindset of logical thinking adults? Or is it done in an attempt to continue to mislead the unknowing members? Throughout the CHC Trial, we have seen the blame pushed to the auditors, the CAD Investigating Officer and other parties including the media (accused to be bias) – me thinks it’s definitely not true, considering the coverage they gave Serina Wee. News is a business to sell more after all.

The CityNews Article (http://www.citynews.sg/2014/02/chc-trial-defense-establishes-that-evidence-cad-failed-to-seize-was-clearly-relevant-to-case/) was plastered on top of the City Harvest Church website (above the “Special Notices” tab). For the blame on the other parties, just refer to the CityNewsSG articles on their website, and my earlier blog articles. We need to be mindful that such articles coming from a church whose leaders are embroiled in a criminal charge do stir emotions and sentiments among the membership as well as members of the public, depending on where you look at it.

2) Threat and Warning

Such uses were probably aimed to threaten people who speak up with defamation lawsuits? Will this work? Considering the first line of defense against any form of defamation is the reporting of verifiable facts/truth, the threat would also fall on deaf grounds, no?

“those who filed the complaint will have to take responsibility accordingly” (ST, 22 Sep 2011)

Didn’t work for you this time Dr Cho. Your 29 elders have the evidence and spoke boldly without fear of your threat.

CHC have used this to their full advantage over a decade ago in silencing businessman Roland Poon who asserted that church funds were used to fund Sun Ho’s Crossover Project. Roland Poon had to issue a public apology. Glad that he is now vindicated for the court has heard that church funds were indeed used to fund Sun Ho’s singing career from as early as 2001, and definitely in 2003.

Similarly, according to online media, Bobby Chaw, a pastor of CHC, also issued a warning about the media “pre-judging” in relation to the suspension of 9 key CHC staff. This was done through the official statement made by the church on 28 June 2012. It should be noted that as a leader, anything said in public has an influence on its followers. The result of such statements (personally, I view it as a threat, so do some other online media), made in a highly sensitive and emotional context resulted in a witch-hunt and name-calling for the COC by members of CHC. Not too nice to plaster more screenshots, but some are found in earlier posts. Me thinks that COC had been too nice; they should just make public it’s findings there and then – and once and for all put an end to all the name calling on the COC.

3) “Did not make any personal gain”

In an updated statement issued on 22 Feb 2014 regarding the sentencing of Dr Cho, the Management Board of CHC cited “very reliable sources that Dr Cho had no personal gain from any of the investments” (source)

One need not look far to find contradicting reports from the 29 elders who lodged the commission’s against Dr Cho. In fact, they have out forward some very serious allegations in their writing, besides those already charged:

“Ha Sang-ok , who was part of the group for nearly two decades, admits to being involved in some fraud : ” In the last 14 years I have seen and done bad things. I tried to convince the pastor to stop, but he paid no attention. His behavior is not that of a Christian, but like that of a guru of a sect“. (source)

“First, they claim that Cho returned only 64.3 billion won (US$60.2 million) of the 163.3 billion won (US$152.9 million) he borrowed from the church while building the CCMM Building between 1992 and 1998, when he was chairman of the church‘s Mission Society. The remaining 99 billion won (US$92.7 million), they say, was never returned.

It is also being claimed that Cho’s third son Seung-jae’s International Club Management Group bought three floors of the building from the church for 29.5 billion won (US$27.6 million) and sold them back three years later for 37.2 billion won (US$34.8 million) – pocketing the difference of 7.7 billion won (US$7.2 million).

They also claimed that David Cho’s wife Kim Sung-hae, president of Hansei University, has yet to account for 10.5 billion won (US$9.8 million) paid by the church as support for Bethesda Christian University, an institution she runs in the US. The elders also view US real estate purchased by the university for around US$15 million as having been bought with church money.” (Source)

In the corporate statement dated 28 June 2012, Pastor Aries Zulkarnain also states that “no profit was gained by the individuals concerned” (source)

Just highlighting the similarities and at the same time wonder how this has got anything to do with the deeds already done. After all, how would these “reliable sources” know, and can we believe a statement based on unnamed “reliable sources”?

4) Complain is only made by the minority

According to the statement made by the CHC Management Board in 2011, the complain was made by 29 of over 800 elders, hence the implied treatment is that to ignore the minority’s view. If this is not a leading symptom of groupthink, I really don’t know what to call it.

Me thinks that when the minority’s alternate opinion is faced with the majority’s, in a highly charged environment with a charismatic leader, there’s no guessing whose opinion – no matter how truthful or factual will be dismissed. Just think Roland Poon.

Monkey See, Monkey Try to Outdo? Or Flocking Together Birds of Same Feather?

If we examine the associations Pastor Kong Hee has with his group of “spiritual fathers” and good friends (let’s not talk about the advisory pastor pair of Phil Pringle and AR Bernard now – will examine them in due time), it is surprising what we can find:

1) Steve Munsey: Regular weekend service and conference speaker in CHC from 2008 to 2011

– Over-indulgence in personal benefits, while failing to make mortgage repayments, resulting in foreclosure order

List of sources:

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/munster/local-megachurch-navigates-precarious-path/article_2f3b628a-0f42-5355-a8a0-230b1cb1aab8.html

http://www.salon.com/2013/03/05/indiana_mega_church_faces_foreclosure_partner/

http://www.christianpost.com/news/indianas-largest-megachurch-faces-new-foreclosure-proceedings-90769/

2) Abraham Alex Taneseputra: Considered to be another “Spiritual Father” to Pastor Kong

– accused of embezzling approximately USD500million (4.7T INR)

Sources (google-translated from Bahasa Indonesia, so the language syntax might be off – best read from original source language):

http://www.indoboom.com/2013/stories/church-pastor-embezzles-4-7-trillion-from-church-offerings.html

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=126527234050583&story_fbid=340150022763459 (contains separate articles)

Kong Hee – The Successor to Abraham Alex and Yonggi Cho

In the May 2010 Asia Conference, Dr Cho have laid hands on Pastor Kong and handed the baton to him. It seems that he is the designated successor to Dr Cho, who prophesied that he will outdo his accomplishments.

In another meeting in Indonesia, Alex Abraham also named Pastor Kong to be his successor and prophesied over him that he will have “full vindication” from the Lord. (video recording of service available upon request – link private after being removed)

What is the outcome of such laying on of hands is still to be seen in the coming months, but if there’s any potential of impartation, then whatever is on the hands of the imparter will certainly go to the impartee – might not be a good thing after all.

Bottom line in the Dr Cho case, is that, in the own words of the Management Board, he is “innocent until proven guilty” and all have waited until “due process of the law is complete”. And sorry to note, their “reliable sources” who claimed that this was a “civil suit” have failed them again – it’s a criminal proceeding.

If past history is a good gauge of future occurrences, then everything that was ever said by them just fell to the ground. This is certainly not a happy day for Christianity in Singapore and the world. They can always blame their sources for misleading them, anyway.

Source: UPDATED 23/2/14: Lessons From the Sentencing of 2 Cho’s – How Christian Leaders Justify Responsibilities, Not Under The Table, http://notunderthetable.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/lessons-from-sentencing-of-2-chos-how.html, Friday, 21 February 2014. (Accessed 24/02/2014.)

CityNews Recalls Pringle’s Prophecy: “The Church Would Double Its Size, But Only After A Trying Time”

14 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by Nailed Truth in Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

c3 scandal, CHC, CHC propaganda, chc scandal, CityNews, CityNews propaganda, courts, false prophecy, false prophet, Kong Hee, Phil Pringle, Pringle, propaganda, prophecy, scandal, sermon, trial

Only CityNews could have exposed another false prophecy of Phil Pringle. They write,

“Building on the previous week’s message of believing and confessing, the theme of spiritual warfare sought to rouse the congregation to consecrate themselves through prayer, fasting and reading the Word as the church enters one of the most challenging periods of its history, bringing to mind a prophesy that Phil Pringle, CHC’s advisory pastor, had uttered four years ago.

On March 16, 2008, Pringle had declared that the church would double its size, but only after a trying time; its people would have emerged from the wilderness, from a trial, a fight with the devil, and opposition from all sides. Indeed, the trial came five years later in June 2012 as charges were brought against the church’s leaders.”

This raises a few concerns.

1. We alerted readers to the fact that that Kong Hee and Phil Pringle aren’t even honest with church attendance figures.[Read Here] If Pringle is unafraid to often exaggerate church figures, why should we trust this prophecy?

2. By the way it is reported, Pringle speaks on behalf of God, demonising “opposition from all sides” that come against CHC. (Typical Phil.) The fact that Kong alerts this audience to the Pringle’s ‘prophecy’ allows him to again demonise Kong and CHC whether their opposition’s criticisms are valid or not.

However this next point is the most concerning aspect of the so-called ‘prophecy’.

3. We have exposed again and again that Phil Pringle is a false prophet and as a result can not be used by God to speak honestly on the Holy Spirit’s behalf. His false prophecies over a church often conclude that church will either experience revival, grow prosperously or increase greatly in attendance. [Read Here]

Knowing that it is impossible for God to speak through false prophets such as Pringle, our question is this:

What did Phil Pringle know about Kong Hee and CHC in 2008 that made him ‘prophesy’ CHC would face “opposition from all sides” but come out of “a trial” (or “emerge from the wilderness”) that would result in their church growing?

CHCs propaganda rag reports,

Arise & Build: A House Of Consecration

…

Consecrating oneself through prayer, praise, profession and prophecy is the weapon the believer uses to bring revival to the nations.

By Michelle Heng

Mark 4 is not a passage usually quoted in the context of spiritual warfare, but in his sermon over the weekend of Oct. 6 and 7, the second of seven weeks before City Harvest Church begins its Arise & Build season, senior pastor Kong Hee shared that Jesus was not rebuking the natural elements of wind and water when He silenced the storm.

Instead, He was silencing a demonic entity in the storm that had wanted to stop Jesus and His disciples from reaching Gadara, a part of the Decapolis, a group of 10 cities that eventually played a vital role in early church history.

Demonic principalities rule over geographical territories, and these forces have to be resisted and dethroned before the kingdom of God can be established and revival can come to a nation.

The significance of the figure “10” is not lost on CHC—the church’s outreach efforts during its Crossover Project impacted 10 nations in Asia; additionally, Singapore is part of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), which comprises 10 nations: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.

Building on the previous week’s message of believing and confessing, the theme of spiritual warfare sought to rouse the congregation to consecrate themselves through prayer, fasting and reading the Word as the church enters one of the most challenging periods of its history, bringing to mind a prophesy that Phil Pringle, CHC’s advisory pastor, had uttered four years ago.

Kong also shared a documented account of a missionary who ministered at the Brazil-Uruguay border. When this minister approached people to give out tracts at the Uruguayan side of the border, people immediately rejected him and refused to hear him speak. On the other side, however, the Brazilians were extremely open to hear the gospel.

One day, this missionary approached a woman with a tract on the Uruguayan side; twice he was rejected by her. When she crossed over to Brazil, he was prompted to approach her one more time. To his surprise, she had a total change of attitude and opened up her heart to hear him. Later, he learned that a group of intercessors had been praying years for an open heaven over Brazil.

“Revival begins and ends with geographical boundaries, and we need to pull down strongholds over each country.” Kong said.

THE DUTY OF RESISTING IS OURS TO CARRY OUT

Kong cited a 1952 incident that happened to American preacher Kenneth E. Hagin, in which he had a vision of Jesus, and He was giving him important instructions. A demon then appeared, attempting to distract him by making noise and throwing dark smoke up such that it blocked his vision of Jesus.

Wondering why Jesus was not doing anything about the demonic nuisance in front of him, Hagin, finally exasperated, commanded the demon to stop talking and leave. Immediately, it did. Jesus said to him, “Kenny, if you hadn’t done anything about that, I couldn’t have.”

It was a revelation to Hagin, who learned that the duty to resist the devil (James 4:7) was the believer’s and not God’s.

ANGELS RIDE ON THE WINGS OF PRAYERS

Underscoring the importance of persisting in prayer in spiritual warfare, Kong shared that angels ride on the wings of the prayers of believers, just as an archangel responded to Daniel’s fasting and praying in Daniel 10:12-13—but not before he overcame the “king of Persia”—the demonic strongman of the region. “Imagine if Daniel had stopped praying and fasting because nothing happened during these 21 days; his breakthrough would not have come!”

Satan is a deceiver, tempter and accuser, but Christians have three powerful weapons against him.

1) The Word Of God
Jesus is the living Word, and the Bible, as the written Word are equally powerful, but only when it is being used.

2) The Name Of Jesus
Believers have the legal authority (power of attorney) to use the name of Jesus to defeat the devices of satan. The name of Jesus is akin to a spiritual “blank check” that believers cash in when they wage spiritual warfare.

3) The Blood Of Jesus
Satan’s favorite role is to be an accuser of the brethren, but as Revelation 12:10-11 states, the blood of Jesus is a reminder of what happened at the cross—the defeat of satan. Through the blood, Christians are now forgiven, righteous, sanctified and made the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, believers need to “apply” the blood of Jesus through their testimonies.

Kong then shared a powerful account of how revival came to the Philippines through an American minister, Lester Sumrall. Back in 1953, a 17-year-old street prostitute named Clarita Villanueva was caught soliciting business from a plainclothes policeman.

Thrown into prison, Villanueva, whose mother was a fortune-teller involved in the occult, began to experience demonic attacks at night. When morning came, she would be found with puzzling, horrifying bruises and vicious bite marks all over her body.

Many doctors and psychiatrists were brought in to help her, but to no avail. As this point, God spoke to Sumrall to minister to her. Twice he resisted but on the third time, the instruction came with the warning that no revival would come to the Philippines if he did not do so.

Sumrall finally visited Villanueva in prison and performed a spectacular deliverance in front of national and international media by pleading the blood of Jesus over her. The result of this public display of God’s power was not just a free building permit for Sumrall’s future meetings—a total of 150,000 salvation decisions were made within six weeks at these meetings, and revival came to the nation.

Just as Jesus rebuked Satan in the wilderness by quoting Scripture, “It is written…”. Believers activate their weapons by speaking them. “Never get impressed by demons and their ‘powers’. Be impressed by God!” Kong proclaimed.

Quoting 1 Timothy 6:12, he also stated that spiritual warfare is a fight of faith, fought with the spiritual weapons of prayer, praise, profession and prophecy. Kong talked about Moshe Dayan, the famed Israeli military leader who demonstrated the power of profession when he proclaimed that Israel’s biggest weapon was Scripture from Psalms 121:1-2—“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth,” and subsequently led his greatly out-numbered troops to victory during the Six-Day War in 1967.

Human resource executive Jenna Ching, 32, said, “This year’s Arise & Build definitely feels different—during such a trying time, we are actually strengthening our resolve to keeping on building God’s house, to keep believing and speaking out our faith!”

Echoed 27-year-old consultant Edwin Ong, “Unlike the previous Arise & Build sessions I experienced since Hollywood days, this year’s different. I feel we are at the junction of something bigger to come. I’m looking forward to what God is going to do in City Harvest Church; history is in the making!” Andy Chia, 22, an undergraduate, added, “I am inspired to rise up to intercede and stand in the gap for the church. Money will come, revival will come!”

Do join City Harvest Church in its churchwide day of fasting on Oct. 10, from 6 a.m to 6 p.m.

Source: Michelle Heng, Arise & Build: A House Of Consecration, City News, http://www.citynews.sg/2012/10/arise-build-house-of-consecration/, (Accessed 15/01/2014.)

City News Propaganda: Pringle Associates Poisonous Critics To Early Church Persecutors & Murderous Radical Extremists?

24 Friday May 2013

Posted by Nailed Truth in C3 & Pringles Associations, Pringle's Behaviour, Pringle's Beliefs, Pringle's Doctrine/Gospel

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

advisory pastor, Advisory Pastor Phil Pringle, Advisory Ps Phil Pringle, Advisory Ps Pringle, Al Jazeera, AlJazeera, c3, City Harvest Church, city news, City News propaganda, CityNews, CityNews propaganda, court, court case, court hearing, critic, kong, Kong Hee, Phil Pringle, Pringle, propaganda, radical extremists, scandal

COMMENTARY OF CITY NEWS INTERVIEW WITH PRINGLE

City News has published an interesting interview with Phil Pringle. We would like viewers to compare the below interview with Pringle with an older article they wrote on Phil Pringle titled ‘Close Friend’ back in 2011.

In this article:

It appears Phil Pringle is attempting to distance himself from being Kong Hee’s oversight. We know for a fact that what Phil Pringle is saying below is not true. If you read the above article, Phil Pringle stated in 2011 that his prophetic office is part of the relationship he has with Kong Hee. It is clear that Pringle prides himself of being Kong Hee’s prophetic oversight.

“In the early years, I would have guided [Kong] and been something like a mentor to him, and I would still be that now, but only by his initiative, not mine.”

However, Phil Pringle may be wanting to distance himself now that the case is underway.

While promoting sex, money, power and murder in her music video clips, Sun Ho is seen by Phil Pringle as “essential to the core, the fabric and the culture of” of CHC. He also says Sun is “key to the future of City Harvest Church”. May we remind readers of Sun Ho’s legacy of raunchy entertainment. While Pringle says that Sun Ho is the “fabric” and the “culture” of City Harvest Church, she seems to lose her fabric and core Christian values to her secular music career.

Asking how Phil Pringle deals with his online critics, Phil Pringle stated that he doesn’t “even bother reading it”. Obviously, critics only give Pringle credibility in his own eyes since he says he’s “not sure [he’s] really being effective if [he hasn’t] got critics”. And how his response biblical in any way, shape or form? Isn’t Pringle demonstrating he lives in both denial and delusion?
On the same subject, Pringle associates critics to radical Arabic communities that murder Christians. Phil Pringle or Kong Hee’s critics could be either Christian or non-Christian. They could be local authority figures like parents, teachers, lawyers, judges or the average person who don’t want friends or family members to go to CHC. To associate these people with murderous, radical Muslim extremists is slanderous, unloving and divisive.

Ask yourself this question: What is doing more damage to Christianity in the City Harvest Church scandal? Who is adding persecution to the church? False teachers like Phil Pringle and Kong Hee or ‘critics’?

Think about the news group Al Jazeera that spread the news about the Kong Hee scandal through the Arab World. Did ‘critics’ get a mention? Were ‘critics’ reported in the CHC scandal and linked to spreading corruption, persecution and murders in Sinapore? Or was Al Jazeera linking the CHC scandal to false teachers like Kong Hee or Phil Pringle?

CHC Scandal Reported To Arabic Communities Through Al Jazeera

If anything, wouldn’t Phil Pringle and Kong Hee be furthering the hatred, persecution and murder of Christians in Arabic countries due to Al Jazeera reporting the CHC scandal both ‘Pastors’ are involved in? We are stunned Phil Pringle would stoop so low to associate his critics with murderous radical extremists. Doesn’t this sound like cult-like propaganda to encourage City Harvest Church members to shun critics?

CITY NEWS PROPAGANDA

Here is the article from City News,

An Interview With Phil Pringle: CHC Has A Future Of Incredible Blessing

Updated on 22 May 2013 at 8:13 am
By Theresa Tan

City Harvest Church’s advisory pastor Phil Pringle talks about the secret power of giving thanks, his deep friendship with Kong Hee and the future of CHC.

CN PHOTOS: Michael Chan.

Phil Pringle, senior minister of C3 Church in Sydney, Australia and the president of the C3 Church International, a global movement of over 240 churches, is in Singapore to conduct two weekend services back to back at CHC. He is here to support and encourage the church while CHC’s senior pastor Kong Hee and five other church leaders go through the first week of the trial against them for allegedly misusing church funds.

In this interview Pringle shares withCity News how his friendship with Kong Hee began, how giving thanks is a secret weapon, and he exhorts the congregation to see beyond the trials of the present as a purchase for a future that would be a blessing to the nations.

You taught us about giving thanks yesterday. But how do you give thanks when things are really hard, when you feel betrayed or when you feel someone’s done you a great wrong?

I think the sacrifice of praise—which the Bible calls thanksgiving, giving thanks under difficult circumstances—is the best antidote to a bad attitude, because you’re grateful to God not just in the circumstance but for the circumstance. And that’s a big difference.

Sometimes we like to say, we thank God in the circumstance even though I hate the circumstance, but the Bible is actually saying, thank God for the circumstance as well. The funny thing is as soon as you’re thankful for something or someone, you see them positively. So instead of hating or criticizing them, you now see the positive in them.

That’s why Paul thanked God for the people he was writing to, because it gave him a platform for every following comment. One of the best things a pastor can do is to thank God—for his congregation, his board, his wife and children. Even though some of those people might be frustrating him, if he thanks God for them, he’s gonna change his views and see things differently.

And once you see things differently, you actually see a strategy, a way forward. If I thank God for a problem, then I’ll find a way to deal with it because the positive mind always sees a way through. The negative mind accepts defeat and can’t find a way.

You’ve been a friend of CHC since 1992. That’s 21 years till now. What was your first meeting with Pastor Kong like?

The first time I remember meeting Pastor Kong was in a very large warehouse that he had rented, but he only had maybe 120 people. So he’s always had huge faith, stepping out in enormous ways.

The very next meeting I had with him was at our annual conference, now known as the Presence Conference. And he was on his honeymoon. He came to our conference on his honeymoon. So I was very impressed with that, and I gave him a gift so he was able to go out and buy some clothes for his wife as a present.

I think that was the beginning of the relationship, because I saw in him such a great faith, such a wonderful attitude, and I just felt that he was just going to do something incredible for God.

How would you say the relationship has developed over the years?

I think our relationship is a combination of several factors. In the early years, I would have guided him and been something like a mentor to him, and I would still be that now, but only by his initiative, not mine. But I would also treat him as a peer, a colleague, and someone that I would stand with in the faith.

There are not many people in the world I would feel that I am called to lay down my life for—and I’m not trying to be dramatic—but he would be one of them. I generally feel that over the years, my Christianity is expressed in helping people I can help, who may not necessarily be those whom others have access to, such as pastors. There are many pastors who are facing difficult times whom I feel I can be of a little help to.

But I would put Pastor Kong in a totally different category than just that because he’s a close friend. I think that we should lay down our lives for our friends. That’s what the Kingdom is. It’s a privilege for me too. It’s an honor. I’m blessed to being involved with City Harvest Church.

At Presence Conference last month, you had Pastor Kong come onstage. You really showed a lot of support for him, and after that there was a lot of negative talk on the Internet. How do you deal with that?

I don’t—I don’t even bother reading it. You know, I’ll be worried if every comment about me was positive.

Why do you say that?

Well, I’m not sure you’re really being effective if you haven’t got critics. There’s not a person who’s achieving anything in the world today who hasn’t got critics. But we’ve taken criticism all our lives for following Christ, for taking steps of faith. I don’t really bother with it. Sometimes it comes across my path and I try to toughen up and not let it affect me.

You spoke about it during your sermon (last Sunday), about the “poison” that some emails or articles carry. What if a new member in church sees something that offends them? How would you advise them to step away from it?

For a young, new person, that’s such a hard thing. I think you’ve got to be upfront and tell people how you’re feeling. In the early church there was a lot of persecution, a lot more than there is now. There are churches in the Middle East where if people know they became Christians, they could be killed.

I know of a church which last year buried 150 of its members who were killed [for being Christians]. There’s a C3 church in that same country which can’t hold meetings on a regular basis because if the locals know when they’re having a meeting they will attack, so they have to constantly change the timings, and they can’t all gather at once; it’s very underground.

So the reality of Christ coming in to a person’s life has to be very real, [not] just going to church, being religious. Because when people discover Jesus, they will pay any price. I think that’s the surest way (to stay away from the poison). But I also think if they received Christ with eyes wide open, they will see that there is a price to following Christ.

What do you see in the future of City Harvest Church?

The price it’s paying today will be the purchase of a future of incredible blessing, of great abundance. I think it will affect the world in a lot of ways, especially in terms of cell groups, culture and reaching a lost world. I think CHC will have a huge impact in China; it’ll possibly be its most major calling, but it may also affect the whole of Asia.

CHC will be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year. What should the members look towards, what should they focus on?

The next 25 years. If you extrapolate the last 25 years of growth, you’ll probably come out to half a million people, if we keep growing at the rate we’ve been growing at. So once you see an end result, you can develop a pathway to it, a strategy. That’s why God sees the end from the beginning. Every leader or person in management needs to see the end from the beginning.

You would have heard that Sun’s suspension has been lifted and that she is back as our executive director. What are your thoughts on this?

I think Sun is essential to the core, the fabric and the culture of the church, and her input should not be underestimated. Her concepts, her design, her input into the worship, the leadership and the people should not be undervalued in any way at all. I think she’s very key to the future of City Harvest Church.

Source: By Theresa Tan, City News, An Interview With Phil Pringle: CHC Has A Future Of Incredible Blessing, http://www.citynews.sg/2013/05/an-interview-with-phil-pringle-chc-has-a-future-of-incredible-blessing/, Updated on 22 May 2013. (Accessed 23/05/2013.)

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C3 Church Watch

Tag Archives: CityNews

Pringle insists on Kong Hee’s innocence: “When people are unjustly accused or unfairly treated, it’s not a time to depart.”

If you’re a C3 member, read Pringle’s endorsed CityNews coverage of CHC court case

What did you say Pringle? (Part 1) Isn’t this what Kong did at CHC?

Another CityNews interview with CHC Advisory “Pastor” Phil Pringle

The lyin’ and the Lam

“Prophet for Profit” Phil Pringle Enticing the CHC “Foolish Virgins”?

CHC insinuation under fire

David Yonggi Cho Scandal Paralleled To The Kong Hee Scandal

CityNews Recalls Pringle’s Prophecy: “The Church Would Double Its Size, But Only After A Trying Time”

City News Propaganda: Pringle Associates Poisonous Critics To Early Church Persecutors & Murderous Radical Extremists?

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