Church in general – Page 28

Category: Church in general

Give Joseph Prince a fair hearing

5 February 2010 blogpastor 56 Comments

Joseph Prince’s devotional

Last year I received through the post a book gift from a fellow blogger Malcolm Loh of Rootss. It was Joseph Prince’s “Destined to Reign” devotional. Malcolm wrote in the cover, “Dear BLOGPASTOR, Felt led by the Lord to give this to you. 🙂 Continue to blog for His glory.” I tried to read the devotional book day by day, but I did not make much headway. I changed tactic and simply read it like a book, as much as I wanted, whenever I wanted, and I am now at May 8. The devotional contains interesting insights and though I couldn’t agree with everything, I benefited from it. I like that it had more gospel than law (Law as in Luther’s perspective), more indicatives than imperatives. At the end of 2009, I in turn bought four of JP’s devotionals and gave them away, three to my pastor-colleagues, one to a relative. The book is expensive at $34, and I suspect a percentage went to the One North project. 🙂

Put down your guns

Pastors should not just go by hearsay and what they read of others’ comments, but actually go to the source and give Joseph Prince a fair hearing: read his books or listen to his tapes. Put down your guns and set aside the warning label called “antinomian” for the time being, roll the sleeves, and do some honest research.

Pentecostals and charismatics have been on the painful end of labelling in the past. There was a time when the label “Pentecostal” or “Charismatic” were like warning signs akin to “POISON”. Later the people who spread horror stories of tongues, rolling on the floor and swinging from rafter to rafter, are rocking and rolling from holy laughter in dignified pews and grand cathedrals…to the dismay and secret glee of the Pentecostals.

There are few who will agree with everything another pastor/writer says. There are things Billy Graham, RT Kendall, Henri Nouwen, Michael Horton, John Stott have written that I do not agree with but it never stopped me from reading and learning from them. Its the same with Joseph Prince. Or even Richard Dawkins.

Interest stimulated to study Law and Gospel

I have hesitated to comment about what Joseph Prince espouses because I have yet to give sufficient attention to what he has written. I have heard what others have written or said, but I prefer to go to the source (one thing I learned from seminary): hear his CDs (I have heard his old pre-grace cassette tapes but not any of his more recent CDs except the one on Holy Communion); and read his key book, “Destined to Reign”. Until I have read enough of his stuff, and heard enough of his messages(which Stillhaventfound has given me a fortnight back) to get a fair perspective, better to keep quiet. I have been asked to comment on his theology, but what can I comment when I have not gone to the source and done this reasonable homework?

I must say that what I heard from his supporters, and read in blogs, has also perked my interest in understanding more fully the intriguing relationship between the law and the gospel, a study that has occupied many Lutherans and Reformed folk in interesting debates over centuries, and in recent decades about the “new perspective” of St Paul. If brilliant enlightened Lutherans and Reformed folk could not come to agreement on this, what can this Pentecostal pastor add to the debate? Perhaps the missing ingredient: tongues and interpretation. 🙂

I went to Trinity Theological College and borrowed an old book, Five Views of the Law and Gospel, and I aim to study these and if possible post summaries of them in my blog and discuss. What an ambitious project. I am well-intentioned but now what I need is what Singapore pastors have little of: time, space and motivation for studying those long chapters and reflecting on them.

I probably need a year! 🙂

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Gospel, theology and story, Singapore churches Church, Joseph Prince, Law & Gospel

Richest Singapore churches

31 January 2010 blogpastor 27 Comments

The following data of churches with annual income of over $10 million comes from the internet but was first communicated by the Commissioner of Charities (Sep 2008). I have always wondered which were the richest churches in Singapore. Now we can all have a peek and know, in order of funds collected, who they are:

NUMBER 1: NEW CREATION CHURCH

Location: Worships at the Rock Auditorium in Suntec City Mall.

History: Founded in 1984 by a small group of young believers who wanted an independent, non-denominational church. From 25 members, the congregation has grown to 16,000 now.

Led by: Senior Pastor Joseph Prince, a Singaporean in his 40s.

Income: $42.8 million for its financial year ended this March.

Income source: Tithes and offerings, sales of goods, income from interest

Business arm: Rock Productions has invested about $280 million in a tie-up with property giant CapitaLand to develop a $660 million lifestyle hub in Buona Vista. In 2001, Rock Productions bought Marine Cove, a cluster of food and beverage outlets in East Coast Park, for about $10 million.

NUMBER 2: CITY HARVEST CHURCH

Location: Holds worship services at S’pore Expo and Jurong West Street 91.

History: Founded in 1989 by Reverend Kong Hee.

Led by: Reverend Kong, 43, is married to pop singer Ho Yeow Sun.

Congregation size: About 23,000

Income: $30.9 million last year.

Income source: Tithes and offerings from church members.

NUMBER 3: FAITH COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH

Location: Holds its services at the Singapore Expo and Marine Parade Central.

History: Founded in 1986 by Pastor Lawrence Khong.

Led by: Senior Pastor Khong, who was awarded the Public Service medal at the National Day Awards in 1998.

Member strength: Close to 10,000.

Income: $27 million last year.

Income source: Tithes and offerings.

NUMBER 4: TRINITY CHRISTIAN CENTER

Location: Adam Road and Paya Lebar Road.

History: Founded by American missionaries Reverend Glen Stafford and his wife in 1969 with 10 people.

The church now has a congregation of about 5,500.

Led by: Reverend Dominic Yeo, 46, who chairs the centre’s eight-member board.

Income: $14.2 million last year.

Income source: Tithes and offerings by congregation.

Some observations

As I look in a cursory manner at these figures all kinds of observations and questions come to mind. Firstly, where are the Roman Catholic churches? Which is the richest church in Singapore? It has to be the Roman Catholics when it comes to assets. The properties, especially the land they own is estimated to be worth S$18 billion. Just think of the churches you know, and the location of the property and you will believe they are together worth billions.

Secondly, New Creation Church raised more funds than City Harvest Church even though the latter is bigger by 7,000 in attendance. My surmise is that this is probably due to the fact that NCC is now in the midst of a mega building project, and God’s people are willing to give to a specific desirable purpose. They have many businessmen and I think they are tired of queueing up! However, news of an impending fund-raising for a new church facility in the central south of Singapore will mean CHC will be raising the hundfreds of millions, in the next quarter.

Thirdly, what happened to the Methodist Churches -also reputed to be rich? The Wesley Methodist is much vaunted to be the dwelling place of the rich and famous. Their giving should pass the $10 million annual income category but it was not so. Some say Barker Road Methodist Church has overtaken Wesley in this respect, but I think they have more luminaries than treasury.

Fourthly, the image of the “working class” Pentecostal has been broken, by the inclusion into this category, of the highly organized Trinity Christian Centre, an Assemblies of God church, an attractive magnet for the Pentecostal who has surpassed his parent’s roots in the working class. One other reason is also they are still rasing funds for the new church campus in Paya Lebar.

Its been a year and a half since the report was published and I do not think things have changed much.

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Singapore churches Church, church buildings, City Harvest Church, megachurch, Pentecostal

Love Singapore Pastors Prayer Summit 2010

22 January 2010 blogpastor 14 Comments

I went to the Love Singapore movement’s annual Pastors’ Prayer Summit of 2010. I liked hearing the movement’s leaders share their hearts, the burden of the Lord’s word, and the vision and strategy of the movement. Here are my personal impressions:

Most Regrettable Decision: Eating the famous Malacca chicken rice balls from an imitation stall, even though forewarned by a pastor who was patronizing the restaurant. I mean any Malaccan food can’t be that bad right? Wrong! The chicken was as tough as LKY; as juiceless as coconut husks; as tasteless as licking the floor; and as hopeless as asking for lower GST. It was a new definition of kampong, range-bred chicken. The side dishes were unremarkable, and our eyebrows raised when we saw the bill. Adventure turned disaster. We were bombed, and we asked to be bombed! The next day, we sought and ravished the real thing at Jonker Street, after a fifteen minutes walk in what was like a frying pan. The truth must be told: there was a heaven and hell difference in taste and texture.

Most Interesting View: The view from the fifteenth floor of the Renaissance Hotel in Malacca made me curious about the red roofed traditional kampung houses embraced by the slow, lazy but clean Malaccan river. I was dying to find out what that neighbourhood was all about.

Most Sobering Moment: When I saw security guards at the foyer of the main auditorium at every meeting.

Most Medicinal Value: The emcees, Pastors Guna Raman and Lawrence Chua, had such chemistry and finesse, in delivering dry, depreciating humour that tickled tired pastors desperately in need of holy laughter. They introduced each of the speakers with a humourous banter. Instead of raising expectations and building credibility, in clean and funny tease, they chopped at the pedestals we had put these pastors on, and to everyone’s delight, equalized the field and increased the connect.

Most Impactful Message: The message by Lawrence Khong on how God wants to enjoy and take delight in us (Psalms 45). It was a message we pastors needed to be reminded over and over again. My twist on it is that prayer is not about us performing to standard or custom; its about Him enjoying our company.

Most Refreshing Time: I had a good few hours in the hotel room just sitting in His presence in silence and solitude. Its good to know He enjoys my company. Rest in the Lord and be still.

Most Threatening Moments: When we had supper with pastor friends like Kenny Fam to catch up on news and ministry; and cholesterol up with mee goreng, nasi goreng and Ramli burgers.

Most Interesting Walk: Vincent and I took a walk around the Malay village living museum. We crossed a bridge and walked leisurely by the pavements lining the snaking river peering into charming wooden houses with colorful curtains and decorations. A living kampung in the heart of high rise buildings and busy streets.

Most Striking Impression: I have not been to the Pastors Prayer Summit for about seven years. As I surveyed the pastors walking, standing, talking in groups I recognized many of them by their names or faces. It struck me that many now looked older. Grey hair, less hair, no hair; heavier frames, wrinkled, tired looks, hunched postures. I remarked to Vincent, “Everyone looks older. When they look at us, they’re probably seeing us the same way we see them. Haha.” The generation that came to Christ in their teens in the 1970’s and answered the call in the 80’s and 90’s, after many decades of faithful service, are now in their fifties and sixties! It was plain to me that the greatest need of the Singapore church was for us to raise, mentor and release a new generation of sons into glory.

Most Tasty Meal: Hotel food cooked en masse for big crowds always carry a certain sameness that crashes the appetite. It was outside the hotel, at a Yong Peng coffeeshop that I tasted my best meal. Pastor Vincent, my roomate, wanted some Hockchiew food. We discovered that both our fathers were Hockchiew. So we were aiming to go to this restaurant he knew, but it was closed so we tried this other one and we enjoyed the meal as thoroughly as the dish was red in colour and the chicken meat tender.

Most Magical Moment: Lawrence Khong took the old vision of Love Singapore and put it in the hat of the seven gates of influence. He waved the magic wand, and the ‘old rabbit’ disappeared and the new ‘seven coloured rabbit’ appeared. Its actually the old rabbit, but it looked new. And we were inspired! Now, that’s what I call the magic of Lawrence Khong! It has to be a supernatural grace. There is no other explanation.

Most Inspiring Story: The transformational story of how God used a small church in Phuket to have a mega impact on the city. Pastor Burton, a British Assemblies of God missionary told us how the Lord can move to reduce corruption among local government officials and establish God’s justice in the city through leaders being born again.

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Singapore churches Church, Contemplative prayer

Church bombing turn into church blessing

20 January 2010 blogpastor 2 Comments

I received this wonderful testimony of how God can work all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to his purpose. God can turn bombings into blessings and ash into cash! Here are stories from the Metro Tabernacle church:

“Anyway, the reason for writing is to encourage each and everyone of us. My colleague, CT is a member of the Metro Tabernacle church. This morning (my 1st day back at work) she shared with me the wonderful testimonies that has happened since the burning of their church. And I would like to share the same with you all too.

1) The night before the church was burned their Pastor was at the church past 11pm because he wanted to check his emails. He is a very hardworking person and has a habit of wanting to complete his work as much as possible. But he is also very sensitive to the Holy Spirit. When he got to the church premise and was about to swipe the card to open the door, he had a terrible stomachache that he had never had before. He knew that the Lord was telling him to go back home and he obeyed and left the church premise.. It was past midnight that the church was torched. If he had not obeyed he would have been burned alive and would not be able to live to tell this wonderful testimony. God still has work for him to do on earth. His time was not up yet.

2) The MTC had trouble moving to the new premises in Batu Caves. They had been waiting for approval from the Local Authorities and is still pending. Then they were facing financial difficulties as they needed to buy new furniture for the new premise. They had been raising funds on their own to relocate to Batu Caves but had been stuck due to approval permits and raising more $ to buy new furniture and equipment. So when the church was burned it was all the old stuff that they had been wanting to get rid off! And our Govt compensated them RM500K and CIMB and many other donations started to pour in. From an adversity it turned into a blessing! Our God truly provides!

3) CT has been rejoicing in the office and shared with my MD. Today at our Management meeting, the MD said I had never seen anyone so full of joy when the church got burned down but instead she said it was a blessing.

4) CT said the church leaders and members shook hands with Najib and they released forgiveness for whatever that has happened in the past. She said Najib felt very welcomed at the church. Hishamuddin commented that during his visit he has never seen so many smiling faces when their church had just been burned down. To God be the glory!

5) They also requested for the Batu Caves new church premise to be turned into a place of worship and not a commercial zone. The Selangor Govt is looking into it and the MB, Khalid gave his assurance that he will look into it personally.

6) The Metro Tabernacle worship service appeared in the International Herald Tribune (they were on international news) and the photo of the worshippers with their hands raised was taken in the Wisma MCA hall. My MD asked what was happening and CT told him we were praising and worshipping God. MD didnt know that this was how we praised and worshipped God.

7) A few years ago a visiting speaker from overseas prophesied that the MTC would be in international news. At that time the congregation thought that their Pastor would be traveling around the world to preach as he was already doing that but she said now they understood what the speaker said. I told CT if it was the doing of man, God would not be glorified but when it is not of man, then God would be glorified like in this situation.

8) It was good to see many church leaders of other denominations coming together at the MTC worship service over the last few days, united and praying together.

9) Lastly, sometime last year CT approached me and said that she has been praying and she was convicted in her heart to give me an invitation to ask our church/cell to partner with them in prayer with regards to the move to the new church premise in Batu Caves. They were facing a lot of spiritual warfare. I remember sharing with the cell. We didnt know very much about them then. God is moving amongst us and we could choose to obey his call to pray or disregard and miss the excitement and blessing

I hope the above sharing would have encouraged us all to press on and serve our Almighty God. MTC has found favour with God and so has many other churches. We must increase our faith to the next level and stay united. PRAYER is the only powerful weapon God has given to all of us. Lets use it mightily for His Glory!

God bless, JJ”

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Malaysian churches, Society and religion

Church bombings show intention and pattern

10 January 2010 blogpastor 8 Comments

The fire bomb attacks on churches were not spontaneous expressions of outrage and violence of common folk, but deliberate, intentional, strategic acts of violence to damage religious harmony that have largely prevailed since the federation was formed. The avoidance of death seemed to be deliberately calibrated to make all parties open to concessions without triggering a religious war. This was probably masterminded by one who knew what he was doing, and he is educated and not a village folk. It was deliberate because it showed a multi-denominational pattern.

One was a charismatic church: the Metro Tabernacle church in Kuala Lumpur. Another was the Assumption Catholic church in Petaling Jaya, though the explosive that was thrown into the church compound did not explode. The third was an attack on a Brethren church called Life chapel in Petaling Jaya where a Molotov cocktail damaged the porch. The latest was a Lutheran church, the Good Shepherd Lutheran church, in south west Kuala Lumpur. Petrol bombs were thrown into the windows of the first and second floors of the buildings but they narrowly missed.

How many denominations are there in Malaysia? Will the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists or Anglicans be next in line? Watch and pray.

Meanwhile, Rev Ong Sek Leong, the Malaysian pastor of Metro Tabernacle church spoke for all Malaysian Christians and citizens of all races and religions when he responded to what had happened to the church he pastored.

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Malaysian churches, Society and religion Church, Law & Gospel