Tag Archives: Presence Conference 2012

Kong Hee & Phil Pringle: It Is Not About The Numbers… Right?

07 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Church growth numbers is a common talking point with Kong Hee and Phil Pringle to stress their credibility to audiences. We’ve seen Pringle use figure-boosting tactics to encourage people to give money. We’ve seen Pringle use this scheme to elevate such men as Kong Hee at his Presence Conferences. 

As a result, critics of critics often elevate the success of these men and their churches by spouting church figures to groups or individuals like us. We are seen as wrong by Hillsong, C3 and the CHC cults because C3 Church Watch is not supposedly changing thousands of lives unlike them. But when has church numbers ever been the standard of who’s right or wrong? Is not the only standard the Word of God?

But that’s all right! According to these cults their false teachers also parrot the common phrase, “It’s not about the numbers”… Really?

If Kong Hee and Phil Pringle continually stress “It’s not about the numbers”, why do they both continually mislead the public with highly exaggerated church figures?

In 2010, the investigations into City Harvest Church started. Many heard that their numbers were in decline. However in 2012, C3 advertised Kong Hee on their Presence Conference website:

“I CAN SEE A NEW GENERATION OF CHRISTIANS WITH THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, PRAYING LIKE NEVER BEFORE”

We welcome back Kong Hee, founder and leader of the mighty City Harvest Church in Singapore. Along with his wife Sun, Kong has grown his great congregation to over 28,000 members through passionate prayer and discipleship. His teaching on the cultural mandate fules [sic] his passion for being engaged in all levels of society and has had a great impact on the [sic] throughout the world.

Source: Conference Speakers, http://www.myc3church.net/presence12/speakers.html. (Accessed 15/03/2012.)

So we are told between 2011 and 2012 that Kong Hee has a congregation of 28,000. That same number was still advertised between 2012 to 2013.

The C3 Global Presence Conference 2013 advertised Kong Hee with this profile:

“Kong is the founder and leader of City Harvest Church in Singapore. Along with his wife Sun, Kong has grown his congregation to over 28,000 members through passionate prayer and discipleship…”

Source: presenceconference.com. (Accessed 01/05/2013.)

proof_presenceconference-KHee_

So in 2012 and 2013 Kong Hee has had a congregation of 28,000 people right?

To this day we have continually hear conflicting reports that his church has dropped significantly in numbers since investigations started back in 2010. At different times at various Presence Conference sessions Kong Hee has also confirmed that his church is slowly growing again in numbers. It appears that the church numbers conveniently change to suit either his persecuted status or his infallible Apostle-like status. This seems to be done to charm his naive audiences.

We bring all this to your attention for this reason.

Recently the CHC Confessions Facebook group posted up information from a CHC insider:

CHC was never a 30,000-member church as KH claimed over and over again, even as recently as last weekend during his sermon.

CHC congregation size and attendance reached a peak in the year 2009, and have since been decreasing steadily. The figures are as follows:

YEAR-END average attendance:
– Year 2009: 28,134 *
– Year 2010: 23,256 * (decreased by 4.9k or 17.3%)
– Year 2011: 22,825 ^ (decreased by 0.4k or 1.9%)
– Year 2012: 19,462 ^ (decreased by 3.3k or 14.7%)

Congregation size:
– Year 2009: 23,565 *
– Year 2010: 22,049 * (decreased by 1.5k or 6.4%)
– Year 2011: 20,619 ^ (decreased by 1.4k or 6.5%)
– Year 2012: 19,819 ^ (decreased by 0.8k or 3.9%)

FULL-YEAR average weekly attendance:
– Year 2009: 19,375 *
– Year 2010: 17,960 * (decreased by 1.4k or 7.3%)
– Year 2011: 16,774 # (decreased by 1.2k or 6.6%)
– Year 2012: 15,402 # (decreased by 1.4k or 8.2%)

Notes:
*Reported by KH at a Leaders’ Meeting in March 2011
^Reflected in CHC Progress Report 2011/2012
#Estimated based on previous years’ trend

Source: CHC Confessions, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/CHCConfessions/posts/678643085488405, 05/10/2013. (Accessed 06/10/2013.)

Sun Set On “Reminding Church Staff… To Give To The Legal Fund”?

26 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

News has recently broke that Sun Ho has apparently been caught on video, “reminding church staff this month to give to the legal fund”. Does this behaviour from Sun Ho surprise you?

TR Emeritus reports,

COC looking into Sun Ho soliciting donations for legal fees

Despite the Commissioner of Charities (COC) stopping City Harvest Church’s (CHC) attempts to quietly raise funds for their 6 church leaders including Kong Hee, to fight their legal cases, Sun Ho was still reminding church staff this month to give to the legal fund. Her “act” was apparently caught on video by one of the staff and the video was later forwarded to the authority.

In Aug last year, CHC members received donation forms, asking them to donate to pay for the legal fees of their leaders. Dated 6 Aug 2012, the form stated that the donations would be deposited into the bank accounts of 2 CHC pastors. It also said that it is seeking funds as a “personal gift” to their 6 leaders. The members were told that the legal fees could be well taken care of if 7,500 people could give $2,000 each, which worked out to be $15 million in total, giving the 6 accused $2.5 million each to help fight their cases.

However, when COC got wind of the news, it warned CHC, “The Commissioner of Charities’ (COC) office had earlier issued a Restriction Order to the Board of City Harvest Church (CHC) to restrict CHC from paying the legal fees of the six accused persons and entering into transactions relating to payment of services to the suspended individuals and their related entities, without the approval of the COC.”

“The COC has informed CHC that the church and/or its employees should not be involved in raising funds for the legal expenses or setting up a specific fund for this purpose.”

Later, CHC stopped distributing the donation forms. It then said the pastors involved have relinquished their roles in the effort, and added that “the church was unaware of any new fund-raising efforts that are currently taking place”. However, CHC’s executive pastor, Mr Aries Zulkarnain, did give his consent to members to raise funds for Kong Hee and his cohort in their own personal capacity.

On 22 Aug this month, Sun Ho was accused of soliciting donations for the leadership’s legal fees. COC had lifted her suspension orders earlier so that she could resume her role as Executive Director of the church which she co-founded with her husband, Kong. The accusation appeared on the “CHC Confessions” Facebook page [Link], which was set up to discuss one’s experience with CHC:

“Sun is still asking staff to give to the legal funds openly. She ask the staff not to be ashamed and give as much as they can, even if it is $10. However, little do the the staff and donors know that for the Senior Counsels of these accused to even agree to represent them, they have already paid upfront of $18 million for engagement. So what legal fund are they collecting?

Sun, you shamelessly ask for money during meetings and thankfully we have recorded your speech and handed to the authorities.

Go ahead and do a witch hunt and sack your staff if you dare.

Let’s see if MOM will deal with you for wrongful dismissal.

Well done staff of CHC!!”

The Straits Times confirmed today (26 Aug) that COC is looking into the matter:

“Meanwhile, it has once again been accused of soliciting donations for the leadership’s legal fees. A staff member has supposedly made a recording of Ms Ho reminding church staff to give to the legal fund, and presented it to the authorities. The Commissioner of Charities’ Office said it is looking into the matter.

Last year, it gave the church a warning after a donation form was circulated. It said neither the church nor its staff were allowed to get involved in raising funds for the accused’s legal expenses.”

Last month, Kong was back in the news after a YouTube video [Link] went viral showing a Kong Hee sermon in which he claimed that God had apologised to him for his struggles.

“Father, Father, why, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me and thrown me to the dogs?” he was recorded as saying, after relating the experience of Jesus Christ on the cross at his crucifixion and sharing that he identified with Jesus’ sufferings.

“For the first time in eight months, God, I heard Him cry. And he said ‘My son, Kong, thank you. Thank you for going through this. I need you to go through this alone, so that you and City Harvest Church can be the man and the ministry I call it to be. I’m so sorry, but you need to go through this by yourself, to bring a change to your generation,” Kong said.

“I hear God saying for the first time in eight months, ‘I love you, I love you, I love you’. Waves upon waves of God’s love, the love of the father just saturated me… and I know everything’s going to be all right. Everything is going to be all right.”

CHC later clarified, “The use of ‘I’m so sorry’ here is not in the context of an apology, but a word of comfort. It is in no way an apology or an admission of guilt as has been suggested.”

“He spoke honestly and openly about what he heard God say to him.”

Kong Hee and 5 other CHC leaders were arrested in Jun 2012 and charged with conspiring to cheat the church of millions of dollars. Some $24 million of church’s funds was allegedly transferred to two companies as bond investments. It’s been charged that these were “sham transactions” devised to conceal the diversion of the church’s building fund to finance the pop music career of celebrity Sun Ho, Kong’s wife.

Meanwhile, the trial of the 6 CHC leaders resumed today (26 Aug) with the prosecution seeking to show that the leaders were involved in major decisions such as budgets and staff employment at Xtron Productions, a music production company accused of helping CHC to siphon church funds. There appeared to be fewer CHC members lingered outside the courthouse this time around to show their support.

Source: COC looking into Sun Ho soliciting donations for legal fees, Editorial, TR Emeritus, http://www.tremeritus.com/2013/08/26/coc-looking-into-sun-ho-soliciting-donations-for-legal-fees/, 26/08/2013. (Accessed 27/08/2013.)

CHC Member Interviewed: “I’m Posting The Video… To Expose The Deception…”

06 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 The Breakfast Network recently reported the following:

BN Special: The man who posted the God-Kong Hee video speaks to Breakfast Network
The Youtube video clip that went viral showing City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee “speaking” to God was posted by a church member who said he did it to “expose Kong and his lies”.

In an exclusive interview with Breakfast Network, he said that the 3½-minute clip he uploaded was a recording of a sermon the senior church pastor had delivered during a religious conference in Australia in April last year. He said he had obtained the clip last year from C3 Church Watch, a group that monitors the activities of a Sydney-based church, whose founder Phil Pringle is currently an advisory pastor with City Harvest Church.

According to the member, who posted the clip on Youtube under the id “anointedforworship”, Kong had made the same remarks during a church service last year to City Harvest members as well. He said he decided to make it public only now because he wanted to “show the sublimal messages embedded in the sermon and delivered through the pulpit”.

The church member declined to be named as he is still currently worshiping at City Harvest Church. He told BN: “Just to be clear, I’m posting the video not to ‘destroy the church’ but to expose the deception within carried by certain individuals who go as far as to abuse the trust and authority given to them.

“I believe people need to be warned about deception, especially when it happens in church, to protect them.”

Since the clip was uploaded on Sunday, netizens have roundly condemned Kong’s remarks in which he compared his involvement in the ongoing court case to Jesus’ suffering. Along with five other church leaders, Kong is currently on trial for embezzling millions in church funds which he allegedly used to finance his wife’s singing career. The trial began in May and is expected to resume next month.

In the clip, which was recorded about two years after investigations into the alleged charges began in 2010, Kong also claimed that God spoke to him and apologized for putting him through the trial, and that it was necessary to “bring change to your generation”.

“For the first time in eight months, God, I heard Him cry. And he said ‘My son, Kong, thank you. Thank you for going through this’,” Kong told the unseen congregation.

“‘I need you to go through this alone, so that you and City Harvest Church can be the man and the ministry I call it to be. I’m so sorry, but you need to go through this by yourself, to bring a change to your generation.’”

So far, the clip has been viewed more than 69,000 times, with 54 Likes and nearly 2,000 viewers expressing their disapproval. A parody of the clip featuring pop group ABBA was posted by another Youtube user yesterday.

Netizens have slammed the recording as it was shared on Facebook and Twitter over the last two days. Youtube user “soulsessions” said of the clip: “What a load of bullshit”. Another user, “futurelady2k”, called it “Nonsense.”

In a report posted today, Yahoo! News said it had contacted City Harvest Church for a response but had yet to receive one. Other church members interviewed said the clip may have been misinterpreted or taken out of context.

Source: By Yen Feng, BN Special: The man who posted the God-Kong Hee video speaks to Breakfast Network, http://www.breakfastnetwork.sg/?p=6564, 30/08/2013. (Accessed 06/08/2013.)

Phil Pringle’s Possible Further Negligence Regarding Kong Hee’s Investigation

28 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations, C3 Ministry, C3 Oxford Falls Scandals, Pringle's Business, Pringle's Issues/Events

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

We have already covered that Phil Pringle neglected to inform Christians around the world about Kong Hee’s investigations:

Empty your Bank Account | Phil Pringle’s negligence in allowing Kong Hee to fleece at Presence 2012

How Can Kong Hee Say “I Do Maintain My Integrity”(Part 3)

We now wish to inform you of a group called Pathfinders.

Pathfinders says about itself:

“Pathfinders is the marketplace ministry arm of C3 Church. Equipping our people to thrive in the marketplace is one of the core strands of the C3 Church DNA. This includes people in business, professions, government, education, the arts, sports and entertainment.

Our objectives in Pathfinders are that all of our marketplace people:

1. prosper in their career or business,
2. bring light and life to their work and business environment,
3. bring Godly wisdom and influence to change their corner of the world for God” – http://www.pathfinders.org.au/#/about-us, (Accessed 28/08/2012.)

In C3 Presence Conference this year, it is important to know that C3 targets the rich in their church and financially manipulates them to financially invest in the C3 movement. Strong words? Then you need to watch how cunning Pringle is when he chooses to target people to give money for the building fund here. This link will play this video. (Transcript below.)

Terrence [To audience]: “… But one thing we [C3] are about, (and which I’m sure you know), we’re all about the market place. Now there’s certain people in the House of God which fund the House of God because they do so well and they’re so successful in business that they have the mulah to be able to fund the Kingdom. And one of those kings we have right here is Mr Andrew Tyndale. Come and join us Andrew! How are you today?”

Emma: “We love you Andrew.”

Tyndale: “I’m sure I’m here under false pretences but that’s all right.”

Terrence: “There’s no false pretences here at all. Now Andrew, you look after and head up Pathfinders. Can you tell us a little bit about what Pathfinders is, for those who may not know.”

Tyndale: “Sure! Well Pathfinders is one of the three DNA strands that we have. So we have community partnerships- sorry. Kingdom partnerships, community heroes and the marketplace. So Pathfinders is our marketplace ministry. So that serves people in business skills. It serves them with ah, success skills and empowerment for their job, their career, their- and to make a difference in their world.”

Terrence: “Ooo we like that. So it’s building people up so they can go and make a difference in the community and also in church in their business. Yeah?

Tyndale: “Absolutely! So firstly so that they can thrive. Secondly, so that they can touch people who will never otherwise come to church. And thirdly, so that they can use their influence to change the world for the better.”

Terrence: “Ooh! We like that! So we just had a Pathfinders Conference ah- well you can say meeting just before. Can you tell those who are watching, maybe they’re watching from overseas, and would like to implement a sort of business meeting in their church; how can they get involved with a Pathfinders? Or kick off something like Pathfinders?”

Tyndale: “Well we would encourage everybody in the C3 movement to have a Pathfinders group; a Pathfinders program. And Pastor Phil in fact laid out a program where each pastor who doesn’t yet have a Pathfinders could- should start a business connect group. Start a connect group of business people and really speak into their worlds. Just as a start. And let that kick it off and roll. We have a whole series of programs we’d be very pleased to share. So anybody who’s actually out there in the world watching this, we’d be delighted to share with other churches and really roll the programs out throughout the network.” . . .

Terrence: “Fantastic. Now. I want to inspire people. Cos we normally don’t talk- I mean when we have our business- ah sorry- our building fund, we sort of talk about the numbers that people give to the church. Can you talk about some of the people that come to Pathfinders and how much they contribute to the house of God. Just to inspire people what’s possible?”

Tyndale: “I would but I’d have to kill you.”

Terrence: “Oh Lord! Don’t do that!”

Tyndale: “Look. It’s clear that the largest givers in any building program are the business people, in most cases. And they’re the people who both- both give to begin with and grow in their giving as their career prospers as a result of the giving. So it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. A self-sustaining cycle so that ah- it ultimately- then you get leaders who are drawing other peoples- ah examples for other people to draw them through. And the cycle continues. But ah- for those who are running building programs, you’re business people are the core and the key to it.”

So what’s this got to do with Kong Hee?

Here is a photo of Kong Hee with guest speaker Marcos Witt in Presence Conference 2011. It seems innocent enough.

Until the photographer takes another photo further back. This time Phil Pringle is with the other two.

What was talked about? We don’t know. Going on what Tyndale stated above, there is a good chance Kong Hee would have talked about peoples “success skills and empowerment for their job, their career… and to make a difference in their world.” If this is true then readers need to be concerned that C3 is targeting “people in business, professions, government.” Especially since The Hon. Andrew Stoner MP (Minister for Trade and Investment), is involved with C3 and their Presence Conferences.

Pringle’s behaviour from the beginning of Kong Hee’s investigations to now raises some hairy questions.

If Stoner attended the Pathfinders meeting(s), did Pringle honestly inform Stoner the current status of Kong Hee?

Because we don’t know what was said at the Pathfinders event at Presence, did Pringle state the current circumstances about Kong Hee honestly to those attending? But did Kong Hee speak at Pathfinders in Presence Conference 2010? Did Kong Hee speak at Pathfinders in Presence Conference 2012? Did Pringle honestly give people the facts then at these events if Kong Hee spoke?

Is it possible that people in the Australian government were not aware that Pringle invited a man that was under investigation by Singaporeon authorities for the possible mishandling of about fifty million dollars?

NOTE: ALL SCREEN GRABS WERE TAKEN ON THE 28/08/2012.

How Can Kong Hee Say “I Do Maintain My Integrity”(Part 3)

07 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations

≈ 86 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

In this article, we would like to point out to readers that Kong Hee HAS in the past  pitted God and the church against Singaporean authorities. This is wrong and not Christian.

We would like to remind listeners that Kong Hee is not Jesus even though he paraded that he was a ‘Jesus’ at the Presence Conference 2012. This is blasphemy. Kong Hee is not God. Kong Hee did not die on a cross crying “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me!” Kong Hee – like everyone else, is a sinner.

We will also point out that God also is not a liar as Kong Hee has made God out to be in the below segment we quoted him in.

We are slowly but assuredly demonstrating with evidence that Kong Hee has very little integrity to maintain – and that his congregation should not accept him as a genuine Christian minister but as an “impostor” going “from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).

He has unaccredited credentials but still advertises himself as Dr Kong Hee:

How Can Kong Hee Say “I Do Maintain My Integrity”? (Part 1)

He attacks Christianity, preaching his own made-up message and has a ministry that counters the biblical ministry of Christ and his church:

How Can Kong Hee Say “I Do Maintain My Integrity”? (Part 2)

We’ve already shown that Kong Hee not only attacks Christianity by twisting the scriptures and the integrity of God, he also lies to people AND emotionally manipulates people to empty their bank accounts:

The Pirate, The Presence & The Peddlers

Empty your Bank Account | Phil Pringle’s negligence in allowing Kong Hee to fleece at Presence 2012

When we reported that the Singaporean news informed that Kong Hee and church officials were arrested, Chris Rosebrough reviewed a bit of Kong Hee’s sermon at Phil Pringle’s Presence Conference here:

JUNE 26, 2012

ED YOUNG’S CALVINIST MELT DOWN

Listen

Program Segments

• Kong Hee Arrest
• Kim Kardashian Uses Spirituality to Improve Her Image
• Ed Young’s Calvinist Melt Down
• Two Fantastic Sermons

At the C3 Presence Conference, Kong Hee spoke to audiences all around Australia, all around the world and to many different denominations. In portraying himself as a type of innocent Jesus Christ, Kong Hee is painting those that are persecuting (investigating) him as brutal and unjust.

Here is part of the transcript of Kong Hee on the first official night of Presence Conference (our emphasis in bold):

“And [God the Father] said, ‘My son, I’m so sorry that you need to go through this alone. But you need to die and you need to go through this to be the Saviour of the world!’ And God the Father had broken and He wept as He turned His face, when His son took the sin of the whole world.

I was saying all this and I’m hearing myself behind the pulpit- and I froze. I could not utter another word. And I sobbed and I shook. Because those were my exact sentiments.

“Father, Father! Why?

My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me and thrown me to the dogs?” [Clicks fingers] And for the first time in eight months, I heard the voice. It is not the voice of a strict angry judge that only want me to perform and build a big church and nothing I do is ever good enough for him. No. It’s not a voice of angry judge. It’s not the voice of a slave driver. That just wants to take and take and wring me dry. But it was a voice of a tender, loving, broken-hearted Father.

For the first time in eight months, God – I heard Him crying. And He said, “My son, Kong, thank you! Thank you for going through this. I need you to go through this alone so that you and City Harvest Church can be the man and the ministry I call it to be. I’m so sorry. But you need to go through with this by yourself, to bring a change to your generation”. [Crowds applause]

Oh come on! Give the Lord a big hand tonight!

I hear God saying for the first time in eight months, “I love you! I love you! I love you!” Waves upon waves of God’s love- the love of the Father, just, saturated me. All I could say was, “Abba! Abba!! AABBAAH!!! Daddy! ABBA!!!”
And I knew, everything was going to be, alright. [Crowds applause]

Everything was going to be alright.” – Kong Hee, http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=FKVSXfjhB14, Presence Conference 2012, Night Service, 11/04/2012.

As Chris Rosebrough said, everything now is not all right for Kong Hee.

In regards to Kong Hee saying, “thrown to the dogs” – it could be an expression. However it is possible that Kong Hee was alluding to the ‘authorities’ crucifying him in the Messianic psalm since he is playing himself as a messiah-like figure:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? . . . you lay me in the dust of death for dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.” Psalm 22:1, 15-16

This coded language is language Phil Pringle also uses. Radio host Chris Rosebrough alerts listeners to this deceptive preaching technique Pringle used in his ‘March 17, 2012’ edition of ‘Fighting For the Faith’. While onlookers may not know what Kong Hee or Phil Pringle are saying, Christians would make the connection Kong Hee is talking about in regards to the popular Messianic psalm.

However, even if we are simply reading too much into this ‘expression’, this does not negate the fact Kong Hee (the victim) is still portraying himself as Christ being persecuted by unjust authorities. Christians know that the bible teaches that Jesus was tried unfairly, persecuted and crucified by corrupt leaders. So why is Kong Hee associating his experience to Christ’s experience of persecution?

The unbiblical associations Kong Hee draws between himself and the Singaporean authorities and Christ’s experience is shameful.

(Personal side note: after talking to individuals after the C3 Conference, many said they admired that Kong Hee was being persecuted for the cause of Christ. They seemed hostile to think likewise. They pointed out things he said we missed. After re-watching the footage, the entire talk Kong Hee gave was propaganda at best to pit Christianity against a ‘pagan country’.)

If anyone wants access to the footage, we will present this on C3 Church Watch. Dan Gorter has also critiqued other segments of this footage (read below), exposing Pringle’s negligence in warning people that Hee was being investigated for financial misconduct.

Empty your Bank Account | Phil Pringle’s negligence in allowing Kong Hee to fleece at Presence 2012

What Is Sun Ho’s Position At CHC?

10 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations, Other

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

[Edit 29/08/2015: Broken original images repaired.]

We have recorded Kong Hee stating that “Sun is not a pastor“. But we have recorded Sun Hee say ‘I know that I represent City Harvest Church‘, when expressing her gratitude of Phil Pringle’s involvement with their affairs. She said this at Phil Pringle’s C3 Presence Conference 2012. So is Sun Hee a pastor not? What is her position in all this?

Ian.OnTheRedDot shines a bit of light on Sun’s position in City Harvest Church,

Is She Pastor Ho Yeow Sun?

Is Ho Yeow Sun a pastor? If you are familiar with City Harvest Church, you probably would not have missed the controversy that surrounded her when she entered the secular music industry; a controversy based on arguments that it was inappropriate for a pastor to do so. I’ve read that the church leaders have in recent years sought to distance her from the tag ‘pastor’. Personally, I have encountered this possible policy a few years back when I noticed that the church bulletin started addressing her differently.

That to me was rather disappointing – disappointing because of an article published by the magazine Harvest Times.

Pastor Sun Ho CHC Mag1Pastor Sun Ho CHC Mag2Pastor Sun Ho CHC Mag3

I found this magazine when i was packing for the moving of my house. The last scan shows that when she first started her career, there was the deliberate positioning to associate her as a music/singing pastor.

(From: Is She Pastor Ho Yeow Sun?, Ian On The Red Dot, http://ian.onthereddot.com/2008/10/19/is-she-pastor-ho-yeow-sun/, 19/10/2008. (Accessed: 03/07/2012.))

While a reader commented, “Although yeah her husband is the pastor and she did help out in church, I think the label Pastor Sun was totally media created,” (Spankalot, 20-Oct-08 at 9:23 am), the writer of the article stated:

“the magazine was published by the church. So the pastor tag was definitely not media created… the magazine is an old one… long before the controversy started…  I’m disappointed because I used to support her and what she was doing based on the premise that it was a pastor who was entering the secular music industry to make a difference there and not be part of it. Now that the pastor tag has been dropped, it seems the original reason has been lost.” – iantimothy, 12:31, 21/10/2008.

Looks like the Sun came out!

City Harvest Church Charged On Allegedly Cheating the “church of over $50 million”

28 Thursday Jun 2012

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Leonard Lim from the Straits Times reported the court hearing on Wednesday, the 27th of June:

“City Harvest Church’s Kong Hee and four others were charged on Wednesday with allegedly siphoning church money, amid fresh revelations that they conspired to cheat the church of over $50 million.

It emerged on Wednesday that $26.6 million was allegedly used to cover up an initial $24 million which they had taken from the church’s building fund and put into sham investments.

These investments in turn were actually being used to finance the music career of Kong’s wife Ho Yeow Sun…

On Wednesday, court documents showed that this alleged conspiracy was carried out through bond investments in two companies…

The prosecution revealed on Wednesday – to a courtroom packed with nearly 200 City Harvest members and supporters – that a second series of transactions was allegedly devised to misappropriate a further $26.6 million.

The prosecution said: ‘These further monies were circulated… to create the false appearance that the purported sham bond investments had been redeemed, when in fact the ‘redemption’ had been financed using these further monies misappropriated from church funds.’

This ’round-tripping’ meant that more of City Harvest’s building fund cash was used to repay the sums owed to itself.

The $26.6 million cover-up bid came about after the church’s auditor had raised questions about the purported bond investments…

Like Kong, who is represented by Edwin Tong of Allen & Gledhill, church management board member John Lam Leng Hung, 44, faces three similar charges.

The others charged – Kong’s deputy Tan Ye Peng, 39; church finance manager Sharon Tan Shao Yuen, 36; and investment manager Chew Eng Han, 52 – were slapped with more charges.

Chew and Tan Ye Peng each face 10 charges – six for criminal breach of trust and four for falsifying accounts.

Sharon Tan was charged with four counts of falsifying accounts and three for committing criminal breach of trust as an agent.

The first offence draws a maximum of 10 years’ jail, and or a fine. The second, which Kong’s charges come under, is punishable with a life sentence, or jail of up to 20 years and a fine…

The total sum of $50.6 million that the five conspired to cheat the church of makes the City Harvest case the biggest financial scandal involving a registered charity. It eclipses the $12 million that the National Kidney Foundation sued Mr T. T. Durai and three others for, and the $50,000 unauthorised loan Ren Ci hospital’s Ming Yi was jailed for.” – Leonard Lim, The Straits Times, http://www.straitstimes.com/The-Big-Story/The-Big-Story-1/Story/STIStory_815914.html, City Harvest case: Allegedly total of $50m misused, Published on Jun 28, 2012. (Accessed: 28/06/2012.)

RELATED ARTICLES

CHC Cries ‘Defamation’

Official Statements Surrounding The City Harvest Church Crisis

Official Statements Surrounding The City Harvest Church Crisis

26 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations, Pringle's Influences, Pringle's Issues/Events

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

OFFICIAL STATEMENTS IN REGARDS TO KONG HEE AND CITY HARVEST CHURCH

The Singapore Government, Ministry of Home Affairs have made the following statements online:

Police has earlier sent a press statement on CAD investigations into persons for criminal breach of trust and false accounting.  Below are Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affair’s comments on the case:
  • I would like to stress that the charges filed by CAD are against 5 individuals from the City Harvest Church (CHC) regarding the use of Church funds. They are not filed against CHC itself.  The CHC is free to continue its church services and activities.
  • CAD carries out investigations when it receives information that a criminal offence may have been committed. CAD had previously investigated the National Kidney Foundation and Ren Ci.
  • As the matter is now before the courts, we should let the law take its course and avoid speculation or making pre-judgements that may unnecessarily stir up emotions.

(Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore Government, Press Release, http://www.mha.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=MjUxNA%3D%3D-HksHHlX%2F45U%3D, 26/06/2012. Accessed 27/06/2012.)

The Singapore Government also released a ‘Press Statement By The Singapore Police‘:

Press Statement By The Singapore Police – (From: http://www.spf.gov.sg/mic/2012/120626_chc.htm)

Furthermore, the Singapore Government released a ‘Press statement by Commissioner of Charities’:

Press statement by Commissioner of Charities – (From: http://app1.mcys.gov.sg/PressRoom/InquiryfoundmisconductandmismanagementinCHC.aspx)

Kong Hee’s City Harvest Church issued the following statement,

A STATEMENT FROM CITY HARVEST CHURCH

Dear Church Family,

This morning, Pastor Kong Hee, Pastor Tan Ye Peng, John Lam, Chew Eng Han and Sharon Tan were informed to attend court tomorrow.

There is no case that is being brought against the Church.

The CHC Advisory Committee, comprising Dr Phil Pringle, founder and Senior Minister of Christian City Church in Sydney and Dr A R Bernard, founder and CEO of Christian Cultural Centre in New York, will continue to provide spiritual leadership. Both pastors were appointed advisory senior pastors over CHC.

The Church Management Board continues to provide guidance on the running of the church.

Church operations and cell group meetings will continue as usual, including all weekend services at Singapore Expo and Jurong West.

In the meantime, do keep the church, our pastors, leaders and their families in prayer.

Yours faithfully,
Rev Aries Zulkarnain
Executive Pastor
City Harvest Church

(Source: http://www.chc.org.sg/_eng/church/church_StatementFromCHC-26-June-2012.php. Accessed 26/06/2012.)

(Source: http://www.chc.org.sg/_eng/index.php. Accessed 26/06/2012.)

NOTE: SCREEN GRABS TAKEN BEFORE THE 28/06/2012.

It’s worth noting that that City Harvest Church’s statement is misleading. It is not true that, “Pastor Kong Hee, Pastor Tan Ye Peng, John Lam, Chew Eng Han and Sharon Tan were informed to attend court tomorrow” that morning. They were ARRESTED that morning. That’s quite a convenient thing they left out of their statement, don’t you think?

This statement can also be found on City Harvest Church’s Facebook wall. 

(A STATEMENT FROM CITY HARVEST CHURCH, by City Harvest Church (Official), http://www.facebook.com/notes/city-harvest-church-official/a-statement-from-city-harvest-church/10151029263651220, Tuesday, 26/06/2012. (Accessed 27/06/2012.))

RELATED ARTICLES

More Insight To The Financial Misconduct of City Harvest Church

Kong Hee To Be Charged for “Conspiracy to commit Criminal Breach of Trust as an Agent”

Is Hee To Be Free?

Pringle’s Close Friend, Kong Hee – Arrested

China Boy & China Wine

Interview With Pringle Offers Insight to His Relations With Kong Hee

Is The Presence Conference Inviting Dishonest Men To Take Advantage of People?

The Pirate, The Presence & The Peddlers

A Warning Article Issued By ‘Do Not Be Surprised’ About C3 Presence Conference 2012

C3 College: Misrepresenting The Gospel?

More Insight To The Financial Misconduct Charges of City Harvest Church

26 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations, Pringle's Issues/Events

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Straits Times (ST) also offers insight to Kong Hee and City Harvest Church.

It reports that Kong Hee and “four others from his ministry were arrested by the police in an early dawn raid on Tuesday morning”. The ST states,

“Among other things, the CoC … spokesman said the funds were used with the purported intention to finance the wife of pastor Kong, Ms Ho Yeow Sun’s secular music career to connect with people.

‘There was a concerted effort to conceal this movement of funds from its stakeholders,’ said the CoC spokesman.”2

The ST states the following about the charges,

“A police spokesman said that after a thorough investigation, the five would be charged with being in a conspiracy to commit criminal breach of trust as an agent. If convicted, each of them could be jailed for life and fined.

Mr Tan, Mr Chew and Ms Sharon Tan, will also be charged with conspiracy to falsify accounts. If convicted, each could be jailed up to 10 years and fined. All five will be charged in court on Wednesday.”

ST reports that the “inquiry revealed misconduct and mismanagement in the administration of the church, particularly in relation to the funds that were in the Building Fund which had been raised and earmarked for specific purposes”.

Chong Chee Kin writes, “executive members Ho Yeow Sun, Kelvin Teo Meng How and Tan Su Pheng Jacqueline… will be prohibited from taking part or being involved in managing the church, representing it in any matters, or attending any of its Annual General Meetings, Extraordinary General Meetings and Board meetings”.

(NOTE: Snippets from are from the Straits Times article by Chong Chee Kin: City Harvest’s Kong Hee and 4 others to be charged on Wednesday, http://www.straitstimes.com/The-Big-Story/The-Big-Story-1/Story/STIStory_815169.html, 26/06/2012. (Accessed 26/06/2012.))

RELATED ARTICLES

Kong Hee To Be Charged for “Conspiracy to commit Criminal Breach of Trust as an Agent”

Is Hee To Be Free?

Pringle’s Close Friend, Kong Hee – Arrested

China Boy & China Wine

Interview With Pringle Offers Insight to His Relations With Kong Hee

Is The Presence Conference Inviting Dishonest Men To Take Advantage of People?

The Pirate, The Presence & The Peddlers

A Warning Article Issued By ‘Do Not Be Surprised’ About C3 Presence Conference 2012

C3 College: Misrepresenting The Gospel?

Kong Hee To Be Charged for “Conspiracy to commit Criminal Breach of Trust as an Agent”

26 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

From: http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120626-355491.html

City Harvest church founder Kong Hee and 4 others arrested

Tuesday, Jun 26, 2012

SINGAPORE – Founder of City Harvest Church Kong Hee was arrested together with four others from his ministry on Tuesday morning.

Mr Kong, deputy Pastor Tan Ye Peng, and three other leaders from their church were picked up from their homes early this morning.

They were taken in for questioning over alleged misuse of church funds and alleged breaches under charity laws.

The police said that the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) has conducted a thorough investigation and will be charging Kong Hee, Tan Ye Peng, Lam Leng Hung, Chew Eng Han and Tan Shao Yuen Sharon for Conspiracy to commit Criminal Breach of Trust as an Agent under section 409 read with section 109 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224.

Tan Ye Peng, Chew Eng Han and Tan Shao Yuen Sharon will also be charged for Conspiracy to commit Falsification of Accounts under section 477A of the Penal Code, Chapter 224.

All five will be charged in court for the offences on June 27, 2012.

This afternoon, at around 5.35pm, Kong Hee posted on his Twitter account: “Tough day … I trust in You, Lord Jesus … Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done!”

In a statement today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Teo Chee Hean said: “I would like to stress that the charges filed by CAD are against five individuals from the City Harvest Church (CHC) regarding the use of Church funds. They are not filed against CHC itself. The CHC is free to continue its church services and activities.

“CAD carries out investigations when it receives information that a criminal offence may have been committed. CAD had previously investigated the National Kidney Foundation and Ren Ci.

“As the matter is now before the courts, we should let the law take its course and avoid speculation or making pre-judgements that may unnecessarily stir up emotions.”

(From: City Harvest church founder Kong Hee and 4 others arrested, AsiaOne, http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120626-355491.html, 26/06/2012. (Accessed 26/06/2012.))

RELATED ARTICLES

Is Hee To Be Free?

Pringle’s Close Friend, Kong Hee – Arrested

China Boy & China Wine

Interview With Pringle Offers Insight to His Relations With Kong Hee

Is The Presence Conference Inviting Dishonest Men To Take Advantage of People?

The Pirate, The Presence & The Peddlers

A Warning Article Issued By ‘Do Not Be Surprised’ About C3 Presence Conference 2012

C3 College: Misrepresenting The Gospel?