| This is the 20-minute message I shared on August 2, 2009, at the second 20th Anniversary service held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. |
| What an awesome thing it is for us to be celebrating our 20th Anniversary as a church. Let’s face it, to have come through all these years, against incredible odds, is nothing short of a miracle. |
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| On May 7, 1989, when we started our church, I was only 24 years old, going on to 25. With a handful of teenagers, we had our first gathering in an office space at Peace Center. We had no money, no assets, no financial supporters. All we had was a simple faith in God, and in the dream that He had given to us—that we will raise up a new generation of believers who will take Asia by storm. |
| When I was a kid, I used to hear sermons on revival. Elderly missionaries, who had witnessed revivals, would reminisce of how when the move of God comes, there will be signs, wonders and miracles. But more than that, people will receive Jesus Christ by the hundreds and thousands. Those elderly preachers would give prophecy after prophecy that a huge revival was coming to Singapore, making us the Antioch of the East—a great mission base for the gospel in the region. |
| We were admonished to get ourselves equipped in the Word and spiritual things, because when revival hits, we are going to be so busy winning the lost, healing the sick, casting out demons, and making disciples of the new converts. To only start preparing then would be too late. We had to start now. As a kid, those sermons fascinated and consumed me. |
| As I dreamed of revival, the Lord told me four simple things I have to build my life around. First of all, I must make prayer a way of life. Coupled with prayer, I must learn to fast to weaken my fleshly nature and become more alive in the spirit. Thirdly, I must give, especially my tithes and offerings, and enter into the rhythm of sowing and reaping. Most of all, my whole life must be laid down as a living sacrifice unto the Lord. |
| Unbeknown to me, the Lord was also speaking to a young teenage girl by the name of Sun. As she grew in her passion for God, one day Sun prayed, “Lord Jesus, I give You all of me, in exchange for all of You.” |
| A common dream was born in the two of us. We shared a faith in the possibility of a new kind of church. A church with a strong, tangible presence and power of the Holy Spirit, with members of passionate spiritual convictions, but tolerant, accepting and loving of people—even if they were radically different from us. And no one was going to despise our youth (1 Tim. 4:12), even though we were often looked down upon for our youthful zeal and enthusiasm. |
| But as I stand here today, I know that the story of my wife and I is just part of a larger City Harvest story. I owe a debt to all the pioneers who have made tremendous sacrifices—their tears, sweat and blood—they have given their lives to make this story possible. |
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| Today, we gather to affirm the greatness of our God. Not because of the size of our congregation, or the assets we have accumulated, or the number of ministries and affiliate churches we now have. We thank God for entrusting us with an awesome vision: “To build a church with a strong spiritual atmosphere of faith and purity, where every member is released into ministry, discipled in the Great Commandment, to fulfill the Great Commission.” |
| This is the DNA of City Harvest—loving God wholeheartedly, and loving people fervently. A love for God’s Word. A love for prayer, praise and worship. A love for the spiritual gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit. We have faith that God is a good God, that as we seek His kingdom and righteousness first, He will add all things back to us (Matt. 6:33). He will provide for our families. Our careers and businesses will prosper and be successful. Our children will grow up to be happy, godly and excellent. Most of all, the destiny of our lives will come to pass. We shall be the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, blessed in our coming in and blessed in our going out (Deut. 28:6, 13). |
| As with all things great, we face challenges as we seek to live out our dream. These challenges often come in two fronts: legalism from the ultraconservatives, and antinomianism (which is the rejection of morality) among the ultra-liberals. The ultraconservatives feel that we are too worldly; the ultra-liberals feel that we are too driven by our vision, that we work too hard. |
| Now, this is nothing new. Jesus Christ Himself had to resist the narrow-mindedness of ultraconservative Pharisees. But at the same time, He also warns against ultra-liberals who seek to destroy and reject the law of God. Jesus says that the abounding of lawlessness will cause the love of many to grow cold (Matt. 24:12). |
| Paul himself cautions us of both extremes. He writes the book of Galatians to loose the church from all the do’s and don’ts of manmade rules and regulations. Paul says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). Then turning to those who embrace “cheap grace,” Paul teaches in the book of Romans, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom. 6:1-2). |
| If we shouldn’t veer to the far right of legalism and the far left of antinomianism, how then shall we live? Well, balance is always the key of life. In Ecclesiastes, the Bible tells us that being “overly righteous” and “overly wicked” will lead to self-destruction (Eccl. 7:16-17), that “anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes” (Eccl. 7:18 NLT). |
| Now, this is easier said than done. As I minister around the world, I see so many good Christians who have come out of the bondage of sin, and they sincerely believe that to protect the next generation, they should now monitor the behavior of their followers with strict, enforced codes of morality. At the same time, I see others who have come out of churches that are rigid and driven. Today, they are tired, burned out and dry. As a reaction to their demanding, legalistic upbringing, they are casting away the moral law of the Ten Commandments and basic discipleship, throwing away the ancient landmarks that have grounded their faith. |
| Yet, most believers I have met just want to live a good, normal Christian life. They have not enrolled into a theological seminary to debate on doctrines. Instead, they join churches hoping to have their needs met and at the same time, that will help them grow spiritually in God. The Church should be a family where they can trust their pastors and leadership to lead them into God’s purposes for their lives. |
| It is tough enough facing the challenges of daily living. People don’t want to come to services each week only to hear sermons that are negative and condemning, or to be constantly reminded that they don’t measure up to the standards of God, or that of the Church. Neither do they want to continue living an immoral life. They know they are sinners saved by grace. And having received that divine grace, they want to overcome their sinful habits and character flaws, be better people, and live lives that are pleasing to God. |
| In City Harvest, we offer that choice. We seek to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. We want to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-39). We believe that “all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives … God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16 NLT). And because we love Jesus, we keep His commandments (John 14:15)—especially the Ten Commandments. |
| We love the presence and power of the Holy Spirit—that as we walk in the Spirit, we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). Through the Holy Spirit, we now lean on that grace of God to win the lost, grow the church, and do missions all over the world. |
| So yes, we are conservative but not ultraconservative. At the same time, we are liberal but not ultra-liberal. Sure, in absolutes, we want to be absolute. But in non-absolutes, we allow for the freedom of personal convictions and give space to the Holy Spirit to lead every Christian individually. |
| We believe that Jesus has come, not only to give us a new birth in our spirit, or to heal our physical body, He has come to redeem our soul. And this is what separates us from the birds, the fish, and the beasts of the field. The moment God breathed into Adam, man became a living soul (Gen. 2:7 KJV). Our soul is who we really are. Jesus has come to liberate our soul and fill it with love, esteem, knowledge, beauty and freedom. Without those things, we may be religious, but still live a very empty and meaningless life—a soulless existence. |
| And because God is a very creative God, we glorify Him as we seek to be innovative, colorful, contemporary and progressive in the way we live and do ministry. In that quest for creativity, we seek to provide loving answers to the many questions society is asking. |
| Take Kenny Low for example. As a teenager, Kenny was touched by the Lord. He was thinking of serving God in a full-time capacity as a pastor, a preacher or a missionary. But Kenny is more gifted in education and street dancing. As a dancer, Kenny has performed with pop-stars like M.C. Hammer. So he set up O School as a means to train and befriend other street dancers. Today, O School has become the premier dance school in Singapore that trains 800 student-dancers per week. |
| Kenny then enrolled into a postgraduate program and completed his Master of Education. He opened CHEC as a private school that offers early school-leavers a second chance at their GCE O Level Exams. Many of these school-leavers come from lower income families. Kenny uses the profits generated from his dance school to finance the tuition of the poorer students. Over the years, his innovative efforts have bore fruits that gained him national recognition. Two years ago, Kenny Low was given the 2007 Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award for using his creativity to solve social problems among young people. |
| Like Kenny, we recognize that our secular vocation in the marketplace is a calling from God. For too long, the Church worldwide has been preaching separation, but practicing isolation. There is such a disconnect between the Church and the world Jesus wants us to reach. We have been looked upon as prudish and alarmist, constantly spreading unnecessary fear and warnings of danger, capable of only reaching out to the simple and naive. |
| I believe God has raised up City Harvest Church to change that perception. While we live in a broken-down world, I don’t believe in keeping Christians naive and ignorant of the harsh realities of society. I don’t ever want City Harvest to be so isolated and sanitized that we become out of touch with the world. We want to be a tolerant, accepting and gracious people. We want to identify with their pains, brokenness and struggles. We want to give hope to the hopeless, and peace to the restless, believing that value can be added to those whom are considered worthless. We are not antagonistic to society, or its popular culture. On the contrary, we seek to engage pop culture fully as salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16). |
| Every one, two hundred years, God raises up ministries to remind the body of Christ of its responsibility to the Cultural Mandate. In these early days of the 21st century, the lot has fallen upon us. Not only must we focus on our faith and families, we must engage the marketplace of business, education, government, arts and entertainment, and the mass media. And this is our destiny, not just to preach the message but to be that message. |
| In a sense, we are an enigma to many. To the conservatives who label us as “worldly”, they can’t fault the spiritual disciplines they see in our members. We diligently study the Word, pray and fast, move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, win the lost, and plant churches all around the world―often more than those conservatives themselves. To the ultra-liberals who label us as “narrow-minded”, our members are colorful, artistic, fashionable, ultra-current and sophisticated―often more than those liberals themselves. |
| The Bible says, “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Cor. 16:9). Jesus tells us to pray and bless our enemies (Matt. 5:44). That means that there will be enemies as we forge ahead. Opposition may come through principalities and powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness—forces that are demonic in nature (Eph. 6:12). Opposition may come through those who are anti-Christians or anti-Church. But most of the time, opposition will come from religious believers who are against our way of life and the freedom we enjoy in Christ. They want to keep us locked up in the little box of religious correctness. |
| I am never worried of the enemies without. They may inflict some pain but they can’t stop us. In the last 20 years we have gone through many trials, testings and tribulation―for me, for my wife, and for all of us. Yet, in Christ Jesus, we have overcome them all. We have grown bigger and stronger. |
| What I am more worried of is the enemy within. Can we continue to keep our unity and focus as one people? The place of agreement is the place of power. We never have a church split because we have never allowed internal strife and disagreement to fester. Can we stay totally united in carrying out the Great Commandment, the Great Commission and the Cultural Mandate for years and years to come? I believe we can. |
| To fulfill the purposes of God for our lives and the church, we must become even more loving, more giving, and spiritually bigger on the inside. But for us to grow larger, we must care even more for others. |
| If there is a child that is abused and neglected, who can’t read or write, whether in Singapore, Indonesia, India or China, that matters to me, even if it is not my child. |
| If there is a senior citizen somewhere who is abandoned, that makes my life poorer, even if it is not my grandparent. |
| If there is a person somewhere facing pain and brokenness, because of a natural disaster, a civil war, or simply because that person is marginalized by society, we have to do something. |
| I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sister’s keeper. And that is what makes City Harvest Church special and unique. Yes, we want to pursue our individual dreams, but yet we come together as one spiritual family to meet the dreams of others. Ultimately, we want to proclaim the gospel of truth that people need the Lord. Whether you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, able or disabled, gay or straight, young or old, we proclaim that Jesus Christ loves you and He is still the answer for our world today. |
| In the end, that is what City Harvest is all about―a place where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. This is our place and moment in history: to demonstrate a growing church that is passionate for Jesus, yet relevant to society, caring for the broken and marginalized. A church with a “holy worldliness.” That means holy disciplines that make us the people of God, but a worldly sophistication that makes us relatable to the world. |
| Today, we have a chance not just to represent Christ but to re-present Him in the 21st century. This is our calling. This is our destiny. This is our dream. A new brighter day has dawned for the body of Christ, and we are all part of it. |
| Finally, today we gather to affirm the goodness of God. For Sun and I, it is a great privilege to serve the Lord Jesus. But beyond all that we have done and can ever do, my prayer as your pastor, is that we will love God more each day. 20 years ago when we had nothing, He has already loved us and called us His own―long before we have church growth, or big buildings, or fame or influence. And He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). His love for us never changes. |
| As I stand here in this awesome crowd, I am fully convinced of one thing: even if all these didn’t happen, God still loves me for who I am. Even if all these didn’t happen, God still loves you for who you are. |
| In 20 years, we have all grown a little older, and hopefully a little wiser. I’m sure we have made mistakes and tasted failures, yet God is still faithful. And He is still as excited about us as the first time we met Him. Whether it is at 41A Amber Road, or at Duke Hotel, Bible House, Hephzibah, Wold Trade Center, Westin Hotel, Hollywood Theater, Jesus is still very much in love with you—passionately, deeply in love with you. |
| On this 20th Anniversary, why don’t we make a decision to love Him back even more every single day? Shall we do that? Shall we, once again, live to love Him more each day? |
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love you sir!
Thank you Pastor Kong for such a wonderful message!
City Harvest was the church where I got saved. Though I am no longer part of City Harvest and went to serve God in another place full time, I know one thing for sure. That wherever I go, I brought the “City Harvest” spirit with me! :)
Because of your obedience towards God, City Harvest was built. Because of God, I was saved in City Harvest. And because in City Harvest, I was inspired to love God, I am who I am today.
Thank you Pastor Kong and Sun! Thank you City Harvest Church! And many more blessed years to come! :)
When you dream… You dream BIG! Thank you for being the source of inspiration to all of us… Your insightful declaration of scripture is accurate as it captures the inherent liberation that Jesus himself desired for us to capture. Want to love God more and even more in the years to come. :)
Dear Pst,
Thank you for leading us through these 20 years, and it has been your constant leadership, that has shone so brightly through the years.
One of the things I love about this church, is that even though we are different externally, but internally we are rooted in the spiritual disciplines that the Bible teaches!
I am always inspired when i see working adults & youths attending Overnight Prayer Meetings and our daily prayer meetings. Your constant exposition of the bible has also armed us with the necessary food to grow in the kingdom of God.
On behalf of the net-citizens, we will also like to thank you for always willing to address “issues” that normal pastors will shirk from. From Masturbation, Tattoos to Postmodernism, you have covered a gamut of topics, and we have been enlightened with your views on these topics.
Thank you once again for your leadership
ED
Thank you, Pastor for your vision and sacrifices for the last 20 years. It’s a privilege for me and my family to be part of this great house. My prayer is for all of us, City Harvesters to catch the vision and run wholeheartedly with God for years to come!
dear pastor kong,
really want to say a big thank you for what you have done all these years! i really really really love pastor alot!! *V*
so im proud to have a pastor like you ;]
Yes, we shall!
Thank you so much, Pastor! Reading what you wrote simply
enlarged me.
Yes, we shall!
Thank you so much, Pastor! Reading what you wrote simply
enlarged me. Thank you so much City Harvest!
Can one man make a difference?
Through your life, you have shown us that it is possible.
What an awesome 20th Anniversary Celebration, and such a visionary and lucid manifesto presented in this message, to bring us into the greater things in store for the next 20 years.
Though there might always be critics and naysayers that will deride and dismiss what City Harvest Church and what you have done, or may even pour scorn and derision at what Sun is doing through the Cultural Mandate, the fact is the sacrifices and price that Sun and you paid for the ministry of City Harvest Church has made a profound difference in my life.
I came to City Harvest Church 11 years ago when I was just a teenager.
Growing up in a very poor single-parent family, the world did not have very high expectations from me; nor I of the world.
But all these changed when I encountered God through your ministry.
Your teachings on dreams and visions, on excellence, on attitude, on the balance between law and grace, on Spiritual disciplines, on the Cultural mandate, on loving God and loving people, on building a church without walls, on having a heart for missions, became, in time, my Spiritual DNA.
In these 11 years of growing up in City Harvest Church, I also had the opportunity to be mentored by great men and women of God, the leaders in the Church, many of them personally mentored by you.
And in City Harvest Church, I learnt commitment, sacrifice and trust in God.
In these 11 years, I probably would have attended more than 550 services, 500 cell group meetings, 400 leaders meetings, countless bible studies, a 6-month long full-time School of Theology, and probably gave tens of thousands to God through tithes, offerings and building funds.
I also served actively in ministry.
A year in the Children’s Church and more than 8 years as a Cell Group Leader.
In the eyes of the world, they may feel that it is silly to invest so much time and money.
But yet City Harvest Church has made the world of a difference in my life.
Here in City Harvest, I found God.
I found meaning, purpose and a sense of destiny.
Here in City Harvest, I found my family.
I found a spiritual family who loves and accepts me.
I found friends who I know I will grow old with.
I found a beautiful girl, and convinced her to marry me 3 years ago.
We have a good-looking boy who just turned 10 months.
Here in City Harvest, I found that your teachings are real.
Real because they work when I apply them.
I gave my first building fund.
And I got a Scholarship worth $30,000 to do my Masters.
I sought first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness.
And I was promoted every single year, since I started work.
I kept serving, kept giving and kept trusting.
And I received a Scholarship worth $300,000 to do my doctorate.
How did I change
From a person who the future holds no hope
To a person who has hope for the future.
To me is clear.
City Harvest Church
Your ministry
The fruit of your vision, sacrifice and commitment
Changed my life.
But I believe I am not the only one.
Thousands upon thousands of lives in City Harvest Church and in our 45 affiliated churches have been transformed by your ministry.
So yes, the critics might continue their onslaught
The naysayers could continue their insinuations
Perhaps
It does not matter.
We are not here to impress our critics, but to do what God has called us to do.
Regardless
Despite
To love God wholeheartedly; to love people fervently
For this is what City Harvest Church
Has taught us and shown us.
Thank you Pastor Kong & Sun.
Pst, your message is awesome!
Thanks for being our spiritual father and always protecting us. Your hard work inspires me to work even harder.. I want to shine for God in the marketplace! You’re my role model in life.
Thank God for CHC!
I love you pastor! =)
Hi Pastor!
Thanks for all that you have done and sow in the House of God [City Harvest] all these years.
Ever since I first came to Church at a mere age of 16, you would always tell us [through Emerge conference] to never despise our youth. You would show us through Biblical examples such as David and others that, as long as we are willing, God can use us regardless of our youth.
Apart from that, you would also challenge all of us to enlarge our vision and capacity to not just do more for the House of God, but at the same time influencing our area of Influence in the marketplace.
Because of that, many of us with no hope nor ambition for the future began to think big, dream big, have bigger visions for our future.
Though most of the later generations of CHC [including myself] did not have the opportunity to talk to you personally, be discipled by you personally, commune with you personally, you would do things no pastor in this world ever did – communicating to us all through popular social networking websites such as facebook and twitter!
You would also show us the meaning of Loving God wholeheartedly and Loving people fervently by acting both out at all times. You would inspire us to be better husbands/wives [or future husbands/wives] by the way you love Sun and Dayan by frequently flying to LA or any parts of the world just to be with them.
You would always encourage us that we might be ‘poor’ today, but in God we will never be poor all our lives, that we will eat the good of the lamb and prosper so much that our storehouses cannot contain.
Indeed, you are one extraordinary pastor. Because of your faithfulness, all 27,000 of us have a chance to come that much closer to Jesus and to know the true counsel of His Word.
And for that, all of us are forever in your gratitude.
Other than being the good shepherd, you would bite the bullet for us [City Harvest] by shielding us from the paparazzi, ultimately going off the Church payroll when it wasn’t required you to do so.
Personally, Pastor you’re my favourite pastor though you would always invite all the great pastors like Dr A.R. Bernard, Dr Ulf Ekman, Pastor Phil Pringle and so many more who are all great in their own rights. I love your style of preaching [how you work the stage! haha!], how you would entertain us through funny illustrations and how you wouldn’t just talk the talk, but also walk the walk [of living the zoe life].
Indeed in CHC, Dreams are achieved and Success is celebrated.
The first 20 years was great. But the next 20 will be even better! And we will get our building!
Thanks Pastor for everything. We love you and Sun. =)
Dear Pastor,
Thank you for being such a visionary! You have never ceased to inspire me by your life example.
I’m proud to have Sun and you as our spiritual parents.
Thank you for a wonderful, amazing journey for the past 20 years, and I am looking forward to the greater things God has prepared and will do for CHC.
What can I say? I love Jesus, CHC, Sun and you, and everyone that is part of this CHC dream!
TKH
Pastor you are a earthly to one boy, but a spiritual father to almost 28,000 people
I think all of us have our stories to share, but I think it is enough already. :p
Thanks for building one of the greatest church the world has ever seen!
Thanks Pastor!
Hi Pastor! What can I say to show how grateful i’m to God for u and sun, and for CityHarvestChurch! It’s really great to be able to attend such an awesome church, it’s so wonderful tt i feel people should even pay to listen to your sermons:) Haha!
thanks for showing and teaching us by being an great example in the marketplace, in the family, church, all areas of society so as we can be motivated to be as disciplined as you. I love yr teachings on cultural mandate,it really speaks to me a lot.
Before I’ve been to church, i really don’t know what i want in life. Until 4years ago, it was in CHC tt i received God and have a purpose in life. I always enjoy God’s presence freely during svc and cg and we have great leaders whom love us,willing to sacrifice so much for us. CHC indeed is God’s family for me and i will not choose to go anywhere else. Thanks for making our dreams and success yours too, i’ll learn to be as big and giving as pastor on the inside.
May God bless u and CHC forever!:)
Wow.. This is like a State of the Nation Address (SONA of country presidents).. Awesome words there, Pst! I fell in love with God more thru CHC.. 10+ yrs as a Christian meant nothing when I came here. What I knew in my head sunk deep into my heart as I met the Holy Spirit whom you lovingly proclaim.
I fell in love with this spiritual family and it’s with CHC I see myself growing old. This is the best reason I’ve got for staying here in Singapore. I’m with you all the way, Pastor!
Dear Pastor,
if only more leaders of churches can have that passion burning in their hearts…that to be radical for Jesus but firmly faithful to His Word, how much more will Asia come to the knowledge of His grace and mercy. I do not attend your church but my brother has tasted the goodness of your ministries when he was in jail. He is now transformed and reformed by His grace and power. The commitment and love that the people of CHC has shown can only be fueled by the Holy Spirit. I praise God and I thank God for all of you.
Dear Pastor Kong,
Wow! Choice words indeed!
Thank you for leading us always ^^
With Much Admiration,
Marklin
hey pastor! thanks for being the “spearhead”, leading by example always and never failing to exact the highest discipline of yourself. you have truly been an inspiration! you’ve been the “giant” upon whose shoulders have been lifting up a ministry that has blessed and touched countless lives. keep on keeping on pastor!
Dear Pastor,
Thanks for always loving us and treating us as the best. Indeed you are the best Pastor around.
It is a honor to run along with your vision together with everyone in CHC.
The next 20 years will be even better. Thanks a lot Pastor!
Pastor Kong,
I am truly blessed to be in CHC throughout this years and am looking forward for another 20 great years ahead! Walking and supporting with you always!
Jasmine
Can the Church split?
Dear Pastor Kong!
Indeed, we ain’t seen nothing yet! I believe that the next 20 years will be even more glorious! What a great privilege and blessing to be serving God in this awesome church.
I am so proud to have you and Sun as my spiritual parents and leaders. Your passion for God and compassion for people never fail in motivating me to serve more, dream more and love more.
Indeed, like what you have always shared and emphasized: “There is nothing God cannot do with a church that is of ONE vision.” We will continue to protect the unity of the church; loving one another, just like how Christ loves His church. We are with you all the way in running the vision and answering the call that God has given to you!
Loving God wholeheartedly and loving people fervently,
LYL
Thank you, Pastor, for sharing your precious message with us. We are really proud of you and CHC. It’s hard to believe that I’ve involved in the history of CHC for over than 12 years. CHC is truly the model of church in 21th century.
Dear Pastor,
Thank you for your faith & faithfulness! Together with Sun, we as a church will definitely not be where we are and who we are today! :)
I am so proud of this church & of you & Sun!
it was a fun and spritual filled ambience at the 20th anni praise lord!!!
Pastor Kong,
Thank You for all your sacrifice, love and energy to lead the Church. I am very grateful to have you as my Pastor. You indeed lead by example and go before us before you teach us anything. Looking forward to have greater adventures with you and the church. Love you!
I salute you pastor Kong. You and Sun are an inspiration. I love you both with all my heart! :)
Dear Pastor,
Thank you for ALL the sacrifices you, Sun and Dayan has made for all 27,000 of us. Although you could have stopped and enjoy the fruits of your labor, you did not, but continue to press in for more of God. It is because of your hard work that we can continue to grow and never find our church become boring or routine. There is always something new to look forward to.
City Harvest is the reason why I chose to continue to stay in Singapore after completing my education here. Looking forward to another even more glorious 20 years ahead!
Dreams are realized, and success is celebrated!
Dear Pst. Kong,
Congratulations on celebrating your 20 years of leadership and amazing journey of City Harvest Church, the greatest church i have ever known…. keep crossing over the other side of the world, and keep making a different….
( my best regards to pst. Ken, pst. Aries and pst. Tan)
Jkt/Katarina/SOT 2002
One thing I do notice is the church leaders genuine love for the Lord and their desire to praise, serve and honour Him. I can totally relate to that and would like to say thank you….. for teaching and showing me how… It is always about Jesus… always has been and always will be… and CHC is a testimony to this….
Indeed, God wants us to love Him, and we can only prove that we do, by loving our fellow men, through service and ministry.
Loving God wholeheartedly, and loving people fervently, and sharing His love with all who need Him!
Thank you Pastor!
I am okay with negative comments, its the Father Who honors me. Rest assured i have interceded for mercy, and God has shown me there will be mercy shown towards my opposer (You or you guys know who you are) and the fate will changed. I had the usual dose of signs from Him. Don’t bother to reply, i don’t fancy your replies, and i won’t be around becuase i don’t want to share in your plagues. Bye!
Hi Pastor,
I’m from BBG13. Awesome celebration. I’m saved in CHC last year.
Tony
Pastor Kong
Thank you for all that you’ve sacrificed for CHC. Though it’s only been close to 5 years in church, I’ve enjoyed every sermon that you’ve preached, the people and how God has changed my life through CHC.
I used to be against CHC but thankfully someone brought me to CHC on Easter 2005. I agreed not because I felt God’s call, though it was definitely God’s appointed time, but because the person lived out what you believed in and constantly remind us in – loving God wholeheartedly, loving people fervently.
Many more great and glorious years to come = )
Regards
Joshua
Thank You For Leading Us, And Told Us How do Break Through For Our Prayer. And We Learn A Lot Of Things From You.
Like I say I do not receive the witness of man, but you believe in a man who has a beast nature not subdued. Wasn’t David a type of Bride who subdues the lion and the bear? So too at the end there will be beast-man who emerged among the flock, man who do not subdue the beast within, like on the sixth day, the sixth transformation towards the “Man” image in God’s eyes. The fullness of maturity will produce two kinds of Man. The Beast-man and Man. God said subdue the beast of the fields, the birds, the creeping things. This is Man. The beast nature is the carnal side of man. Saul was first written as one who followed the beast when he sought the donkeys. Sadly Eve believed the most cunning beast and fell from glory; the snake when it had legs, it was a beast. We need to have victory over the beast, his image and his mark. But now I see the maturation of one to be a type of beast like Judas matured alongside the apostles, one group became like Christ, he became a type of antichrist. Ultimately Jesus died on a cross, I think it has prophetic significance that the church that doesn’t subdue the beast within, who does not NOW have victory over the beast, his image and his mark will also “die on a cross”; it is virtual reality by technology you have not known, the others are spared the hour of judgment. This is how you will die by “bearing the sin of the world”, remember you are baptized into Christ, it means just as the hour of darkness overpowered Him, it shall you too for you are baptized into Him, you too will “die on a cross”. As He progressed in Scriptures in the gospels so will you. You are in Him! Unless you overcome the beast, with all honesty I can tell you I have been misunderstood by you to be in control. But this is nothing, one day you will taste this technology and “die on the cross”. It will be just as real. Be prepared to overcome the beast, his image and his mark! This “bearing the cross death” is my personal opinion though since i read of a technology so horrifying. Anyway for God’s glory, I have not been in control, I don’t know the full scope of anything to be in control, in fact I can just sit back and let the Lord work. Believe me.
The reason why i felt the need to address the situation is because i want you to know the Lord is the One Who has been speaking. It is very important. Sadly so, from your responses, He may not count you worthy to know the truth so He gave you over to deception, but He did got the message across to me! If that’s the case, then let it be. No one knows the truth except he whom God shows mercy. He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. Even so, all things are not without purpose.
It’s an awesome message, Pastor. We are privilege to have you our Pastor and pioneer of CHC. Can CHC be the Antioch of Asia? I believe we are; Asia Conference was one great demonstration of how God could empower you and CHC to do great exploits for HIM!
After reading your message, I printed 4 copies for each of my family members to read
May the Lord give you the special anointing to propel CHC to our next 21st Anniversary.Amen
pastor, just read your blog, you have inspired me to do more in my church, i started june this year ,just finished schiool…..so glad you answer the call. Abrahams from nigeria
Dear Pastor Kong Hee, first of all i thank God because he save my life in 1992. I heard about you and many good news from the word God through TV channels. I want to request you to pray for me, i am having a right chest problems i don’t know what kind of disease so kindly pray for me, i believe God will heal me, so that we can complete God’s will.
thanks you,
May God be all the time with you & your ministry.
From the East to The West
The Philippines. It was discovered by Ferdinand Magellan on March 16, 1521, and was named in honor of King Philip II of Spain, sometime in 1543. So it was called “Las Islas Filipinas” or The Philippine Islands.
There are great nations in the world today that exists whose name is not in the Bible. There is a hint of the nation of Cyprus, even though the word “Cyprus” is not mentioned, The Bible mentions it as Chittim; but the word Cyprus is not in the Bible. America, Great Britain or the United Kingdom are also nowhere to be found in the Bible. There are prophecies in the Bible that do not mention the name; therefore, it is logical that we cannot find those names in the Bible.
The last book of the Bible was written in the concluding part of the 1st century of our era . The Old Testament books and the prophets were written from as far back as 1300 years before Christ. So a name which was given to a particular nation only in the 1500’s of our era cannot be found in the Bible and it is logical. But it doesn’t mean that because the name of a particular nation or a country cannot be read in the Bible, that nation is not included in the Biblical prophecy – just like the case of my country, the Philippines.
Whatever truth that happens which is in accordance to the will of God is in the Bible. I believe the advent of the preaching of the true church in the Philippines is in the Bible. Let us read from the prophecies of the scriptures. There is a prophecy in the book of Malachi 1:11, which says –
“For the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.”
This is clear in this prophecy among the heathen or the Gentiles. The word “Gentile” means “outside Israel”. For reference, we may read Ephesians 2:11-12:
“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”
All nations outside Israel, which is the first nation under God, are called Gentiles. And according to the Bible, in the prophecy of the Book of Malachi, the name of the Lord God of Israel will be great among the heathen or the Gentiles. And that starts from the rising of the sun.
I want to invite the meticulous attentions of those Bible reading scholars. The east mentioned here is not the east of Jerusalem but it is the east where the rising of the sun commences. We know that the sun rises in the direction of the Far East and that is where my country lies. The Philippines is in the Far East and not in the near east. If we are to consider the wordings of the prophecy in Malachi, it is among the Gentiles. So, it is not in the Middle East or in the near east where Christianity was first established but it is in another east which is different from the near east where Christianity was first preached, the near east. Therefore, it is another east and this east is very clearly defined in the Bible as the east from where the sun rises. According to the prophecy “…from the rising of the sun and to the going down thereof, the name of God of Israel shall be great among the Gentiles…” Why? It is because incense will be offered unto the name of the Lord God of Israel. Incense in the verse tells us not of literal incense. It is in the book of Revelation 5:8 (REVISED STANDARD VERSION) -
“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints;”
Incense signifies the prayers of the saints. So there will people in the east offering prayers to God and God acknowledges their prayers. These are people of God in the east. In relation to that, there is another prophecy in the book of Zechariah 8:7 –
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;”
So, there will be people of God in the east. Let us not discount, however, the possibility that when we say the word “east”, it may mean Japan because it is also in the east. In fact, it is called the Land of the Rising Sun. It may also mean Indonesia. It may also mean the Philippines and other countries in the Far East but what is striking in the prophecy is that it speaks of people praying unto the God of Israel. Never was in the history of Japan or other countries in the Far East that the name of the Lord God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was praised among the Gentiles or the heathen in Japan.
(paragraph split into two)
Most oriental countries have their own religion. For example, Buddhism is very prevalent in Japan and other oriental religions. They do not believe in the Lord God of Israel. But in the Philippines, it is the only country in Asia that believes in the Bible and that takes the Bible as the authority of their faith. And in the Philippines, I believe, is the fulfillment of this prophecy that there will be a people of God and these people will be offering incense or prayers to the Lord God of Israel. But how do we know they are the people of God and how will they become the people of God? He said, “I will save my people from the east country…”
Before there can be people of God, somebody must be used by God in preaching the truth. In the book of Acts 15:14 –
“Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.”
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his name. So God will visit the Gentiles, to take out of the Gentiles a people for his name. And how can this be? How will this happen? The Bible again in the book of Acts 9:15 has this to say –
“But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:”
The verse speaks of the person of the Apostle Paul. For there to be a people of God, there will be a chosen vessel like the Apostle Paul. Paul was commissioned by God, firstly, in the Christian dispensation, to be the front runner of Christianity among the Gentiles. “He’s a chosen vessel unto me to bring my name before the Gentiles…” he said in the prophecy. And this was accomplished by the Apostle Paul. When he was preaching, he said in the book of Acts 13:46-47 that–
“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.”
It is clear in the verse that Paul said to the Israelites, who rejected his preaching that he was going to the gentiles “…the word of God must be preached first unto you, but seeing you put it from you, you do not want to accept it, you judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, then we turn to the Gentiles…” Why? For this is the essence of the prophecy (in verse 47) “For so hath the Lord commanded us (in the prophecy)…” it is in the prophecy of Isaiah saying “I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.”
So when the name of the Lord God of Israel was first preached unto the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul was the chosen vessel. But let us remember that the Gentiles being spoken of by the Apostle Paul are not the Gentiles in the Far East since he did not preach in the Far East. The Gentiles, to whom God sent the Apostle Paul, are the Gentiles in the surrounding areas of the Holy Land and extends as far as Greece, the Gentiles in the domain of the Roman Empire. But the prophecy in Malachi specifically speaks of Gentiles in the east. So, in that particular prophecy, it is not Apostle Paul who will be the instrument of God in gathering his people in this particular part of the globe. There will be another vessel like Paul who will preach the greatness of the name of the Lord God of Israel in the east; and that east, the rising of the sun, the is different from Jerusalem or from the Holy Land which is in the Middle East. .
Now, is there such a person like the Apostle Paul in the east who will preach the name of the Lord God of Israel? Is there a prophecy that tells about his being and is there a prophecy that tells us the time when this vessel of God or instrument of God like the Apostle Paul will preach the name of the Lord God of Israel in the east? Of course there must be in the Bible because as I have said earlier, there’s always a fulfillment of the truth of God written in the scriptures, especially in the prophecies.
There are so many preachers in the east that claim to be the vessel or the instrument of God in preaching the truth. One of them very much known in the Far East is a Korean by the name of Sun Myung Moon. Another is a Filipino by the name of Felix Manalo who teaches that he is the angel ascending in the east in the book of Revelation Chapter 7. Another still is a Filipino by the name of Salvador Payawal, who preached that the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth will be on January 1, 2001, 12:01 in the morning. And of course, in the Philippines, there is also Bro. Soriano. Who among these that claim that they are the instruments of God in establishing God’s people in the Far East is the true messenger of God? Let us again focus our eyes on the prophecy in the east. It is undoubtedly Biblical that, according to the prophecy, there will be people of God in the east country; that the east mentioned is not the Near East. It logically speaks of another east. And we have seen that before, it can be in the Far East. But let us see who will be the instrument to be used by God in preaching the glory of his name among the Gentiles or the people of God in the east or in the Far East. In the book of Isaiah 24:15 (REVISED STANDARD VERSION) it says –
“Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; in the coastlands of the sea, to the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.”
I want you to notice what the verse says. The prophecy speaks of people giving glory to the name of the Lord God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea in the east. Did you notice the term used “coastlands or the islands of the sea in the east?” In the King James Version, it is translated as “isles of the sea” while in the Revised Standard Version, it is referred to as “the coastlands of the sea”. So, the country being mentioned is made up of many islands and they are islands of the sea. The characteristics of the country called Las Islas Filipinas or later The Philippines is very much fitting. There will be people (from where? in those islands??) giving glory to the name of God of Israel. This is a collateral prophecy very much related to the Malachi 1:11 that we have used earlier.
Now, how will these people give glory? What will lead them to give glory to the name of the Lord God of Israel in the east? There is still another prophecy in the book of Jeremiah. But before we read such prophecy, let us discover what kind of a prophet is Jeremiah. In the book of Jeremiah 1:5 the Lord said –
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
He was ordained a prophet unto the nations. Meaning, the prophecy of Jeremiah does not only mention the nation of Israel but also other nations. And it is very much possible that the Philippines is a part of the prophecy of the book of Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 30:19-22, 24 –
“And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as formerly, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD. And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.”
The prophecy states that there will be people of God in the last days. You should remember that fact in the prophecy – that they are people of God at the time of the end or in the latter days. Out of these people will come out with praises and thanksgiving unto the Lord God of Israel. But you have to notice also that in the verses mentioned, they are few. Nevertheless, the power of God will not see them few for all time because He said that “I will multiply them…,” meaning, they will start from few; “I will glorify them and they shall not be small…,” meaning, at their advent they will be few and they will be small. Out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry for the glory of the name of the Lord God of Israel. How will this start? In the prophecy also, it says that out of them will proceed their governor or their leader and their nobles will come from themselves. A leader or a governor, from among them, shall come. So there will be an instrument like the Apostle Paul who will lead them to be the people of God. Their leader will come from them. Surprisingly true, Brother Eli Soriano did not come from any other religious group. He was born, with his parents already members of the Church of God and they are few. Upon the death of Brother Nicolas Perez, Brother Eli Soriano took the administration in the Church of God which during those times, were but very few.
Maybe critics will say, “So, therefore, it was not Soriano who started the preaching, it was Nicolas Perez.” That is true, and we will not refute that, but the prophecy is clear – it will not be Perez that will be acknowledged by God as the leader. He is just like John the Baptist who has preached the inception of Christianity. He did not become the leader but he is the introducer. Nicolas Perez was used as an instrument of God to start the preaching but he is not the supposed leader who will lead the people because he came from another religious organization. Very much like Manalo, who also claims to be the fulfillment of this prophecy. In this case, Manalo, he cannot be the fulfillment, because he was born a Catholic and he became a member of so many religious groups before he finally founded the Iglesia Ni Cristo (of Manalo) in the Philippines. It is much like also with the Korean who was born in an oriental religion. Brother Soriano, on the other hand, was born in the Church of God. His parents were already members before he was born. This satisfies the fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah that says “and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.” And when that happens, “And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” And this will happen in the latter days or in the time of the end.
Aside from the prophecy of Jeremiah, is there another prophecy that can be used in the Bible to mention the person of Brother Eli Soriano? In the book of Revelation 1:3 it says –
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
In the time of the end, when the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is at hand, there is another prophecy in the prophetic book of Revelation that there will be someone who will be reading the Bible. There are those who will hear the words of the prophecy of the Bible when he reads them, people will hear and they will fulfill the things that were written in the prophecy. I believe with all my heart that this was fulfilled in this organization that started from the east which is now called popularly as the Church of God International. It was the person of Brother Soriano who was used by God in making his truth be heard from the isles of the sea in the orient or in the east. In fact, Brother Soriano is known from the tip to the bottom of the Philippine Islands because of his preaching that he has been doing for four decades of his life.
Now, Brother Soriano is in the west. Still, if he be allowed by God, he is willing to be used as an instrument for the westerners because the prophecy states, if we are going to go back to
Malachi 1:11 -
“For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.”
It says that “from the rising the sun and unto the going thereof”, meaning in the west, it is fate and faith that brought Brother Soriano from the east to the west. For your information he is now preaching in the west to make the prophecy be seen among the nations that the Lord God said that from the rising of the sun to its setting, or from the east to the west, “I will save my people in the east country and in the west country.” I believe in the potent work of the words of God. I believe in the powers of the word of God. All of these shall come true. And I’m willing to be a little instrument of this prophecy!
So help me, God. AMEN!
Copied from:
http://esoriano.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/from-the-east-to-the-west/
Ever wonder why CHC pastors are always asking for money during offering time in services? They often give a “long” sermon to ask you to give. The main reason is if you look at CHC audited financial statements at their church website, you will see lots of DEFICITS. Amazing isn’t it? This only shows the congregation at CHC is not supporting this cultural mandate and not giving to the church. So much so for the “largest” church in Singapore!
Kong was referring to Pastor Joseph Prince in this blog. Sad to see Kong defaming Pastor Prince like that…:
Do We Need The Ten Commandments?
June 28, 2009
■In a recent May 11, 2009 blog entry, a prominent megachurch pastor says, “When you come under the law by trying to keep God’s commandments in order to be blessed, it will lead to death. There will be deadness in your marriage, ministry, health, career.”
The quotes were taken from Pastor Joseph Prince’s daily devotionals book , Destined to Reign Devotional, and guess which day was it? May 11! Coincidental?
Let me give you the full devotional for May 11:
Continue In God’s Grace
2 Corinthians 3:6
“…for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
To the Jews, the feast of Pentecost is a celebration of the giving of God’s law. It takes place 50 days after the Passover feast. When God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, it was 50 days after they had celebrated their first Passover and come out of slavery in Egypt.
But what happened after God gave them the law on the first Pentecost? Three thousand people died! (Exodus 32:28) Contrast this with another Pentecost in the New Testament. In the book of Acts, it says when Pentecost had fully come, God gave not the law but the Holy Spirit, and what happened? Three thousand people god saved (Acts 2:41), which goes to show that “the letter [the law] kills, but the Spirit gives life”!
The law, which was “written and engraved on stones”, ministered death. It killed 3,000 people. That is why the apostle Paul calls it “the ministry of death” and “the ministry of condemnation”. (2 Corinthians 3:7-9) On the other hand, the Spirit ministered life – 3,000 people got saved.
My friend, when you come under the law by trying to keep God’s commandments on order to be blessed, it will lead to death. There will be deadness in your marriage, ministry, health, career… in your life. But when you depend on the Spirit of grace, it will lead to life. You will see breakthroughs and miracles (Galatians 3:5), and manifest the fruit of the Spirit.
So if you want to be blessed, make sure that you are on the right mountain. You see, the law was given on Mount Sinai, but the Spirit on Mount Zion. That is why the Bible says that “you have not come to the mountain [Sinai] that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest… But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of angels”. (Hebrews 12:18,22) The Lord blesses you out of Zion (Psalm 128:5), and not Sinai!
Beloved, by grace you have been saved through faith. (Ephesians 2:8) Now, continue in the Spirit of grace. Remain on the right mountain and He will continue to supply miracles in your life!
Thought For The Day
When you depend on the Spirit of grace, you will see breakthroughs, miracles and life.
Allow me to share some observations based on an analysis of CHC’s latest set of statistics.
In the year 2000, when the church was about 9,000 strong, the average age of the congregation was 24 years. Over the next 10 years, as the church’s membership number grew to reach more than 28,000, the average age continued to hover between 24 and 26, and only hit 28 (surprisingly, perhaps) in the year 2009.
In contrast, the median age of the residents in Singapore is 37 years old.
Now, if we take a deeper look at the profile of CHC’s congregation, we would notice that almost half (47%) of the church is made up children, teenagers and young adults. More specifically:
- 10% of the church members are children below 13 years of age, – 19% are teenagers aged 13 to 19,
- 18% are young adults aged 20 to 24 years
- 41% are aged between 25 to 45
- 8% are aged 46 to 62; and
- 4% are aged 63 and above
Compare CHC’s age distribution with that of the nation as a whole and we will find a big contrast.
Based on the church statistics, members aged 20 years and above form 71% of the church, i.e. they number around 20,000. And out of the 20,000, only 31% (or around 6,200) are married, divorced or widowed. A 28,000 member church and only 6,200 members are married or have ever been married, that is a mere 22%. In other words, 4 out of every 5 members in the entire church are not married or have never been married (and the main reason is because most of them are just too young to do so).
The point I am driving at is this:
CHC has been trying to breakthrough to (or some might argue, have already achieved) the 30,000 mark in the congregation size.
Perhaps it is time for the leadership to aim for the 30-year old mark? Maybe it is time to look at how CHC can attract and RETAIN people who are older and those who are married?
Of course, there is nothing with being young. Young is good. Nonetheless, it would be good for the members who are more mature in age and who have gotten married to continue to fit in, and stay with the church, wouldn’t it?