FIRST READ:
When the prosperity Gospel makes believers look like Zombies : Singapore City Harvest Church Pastor facing ‘allegations’ of Using Church Funds to Finance Wife’s Pop Music Career
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2012/06/when-prosperity-gospel-makes-believers.html
Singapore Pastor Kong Hee Charged With Fraud, Facing Life in Prison
http://www.christianpost.com/news/singapore-pastor-kong-hee-charged-with-fraud-facing-life-in-prison-77396/
Investigators Accuse Megachurch Leader of Funneling $18M Toward Wife's Music Career
By Katherine Weber
, Christian Post Reporter
June 28, 2012|4:34 pm
Megachurch pastor Kong Hee of City Harvest Church in Singapore was officially charged Wednesday for allegedly misusing $18 million in church funds to support his wife's pop music singing career.
As Kong, 47, somberly listened to his charges on Wednesday, several of his supporters gathered inside and outside of the courtroom.
The megachurch pastor left the courthouse with his wife by his side, ignoring the media as he exited.
City Harvest Church is reportedly of one of Singapore's largest churches, with a membership of 30,000. It is listed as a charity, according to The Associated Press, similar to churches in the U.S.
As Al Jazeera reports, the court accused Kong of "dishonestly misappropriating monies" from the church's building fund to promote and support the pop music career of wife Ho Yeow Sun, who is in her early 40s.
Sun has not been arrested, but has been dismissed from her status as an executive member of the church board.
After a two-year investigation, the Commercial Affairs Department, which investigates financial crime, found that Kong had allegedly been making "sham transactions" by allocating massive amounts of money to "purported bond investments," which were then being funneled into Sun's accounts.
Previous reports in Singaporean media indicate that Sun is claiming that she was going to use her international rock star status to spread the Word of God, according to Al Jazeera.
Associate Professor Mak Yuen Teen from the National University of Singapore
Business School told Channel News Asia that one reason the alleged scam
became so exorbitantly expensive was because the church gave too much power to
Kong and his wife.
"If you look at this organization, you can see that the board was
dominated by people who were essentially employees of the church. So, the
question therefore is where is the check and balances in place," he told
Channel News Asia.
"The board was not really independent of the management of the organization. This case is also complex because you do have a number of individuals who are implicated in this case. So, if you have a number of individuals involved, it can make it a bit more difficult to detect and the risk becomes much higher in terms of governance," he added.
Kong and his wife have gained minor celebrity status in the country since they started their church in 2001, and many of members of the public continue to support him amid the allegations.
"Kong is known throughout Asia as a dynamic speaker, communicating the message of faith in a very relevant and contemporary way. He has a strong vision to train 21st century leaders who would plant strong local churches everywhere in Asia," the City Harvest Church's official website states.
Kong could face life in prison if found guilty. He, along with the other four ministry members, is currently out on bail with their passports impounded.
According to the church's website, the church itself has not been accused of misconduct and is freely allowed to continue its worship services.
Kong Hee of Singapore's City Harvest Megachurch Arrested for Allegedly Misusing $18M
http://www.christianpost.com/news/kong-hee-of-singapores-city-harvest-megachurch-arrested-for-allegedly-misusing-18m-77255/
Pastor, Ministers Accused of Using Church Funds to Help Launch Music Career for Kong's Wife
By Stoyan Zaimov ,
Christian Post Reporter
June 26, 2012|12:27 pm
Megachurch pastor Kong Hee of City Harvest Church (CHC) in Singapore has been arrested along with his deputy and three other ministry members for allegedly misusing $18 million in church funds, which authorities claim Pastor Kong used to help launch his wife's music career.
Since the arrest, the church leaders have been released on bail but will have to return to court on Wednesday, ChannelNewsAsia shared, when authorities reportedly plan to officially charge Pastor Kong with conspiracy to commit criminal breach of trust.
The Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) commenced an investigation into financial activities at City Harvest Church back in May 2010, around the same time the Commissioner of Charities (COC) launched its own probe into the alleged misconduct and mismanagement of the building fund. The investigations found that at least $18 million in funds had been misused and had helped finance the music career of Hee's wife and co-founder of the church, Ho Yeow Sun.
"If you look at this organization, you can see that the board was dominated by people who were essentially employees of the church. So, the question therefore is where is the check and balances in place," offered Mak Yuen Teen, associate professor from the National University of Singapore Business School.
"The board was not really independent of the management of the organization. This case is also complex because you do have a number of individuals who are implicated in this case. So, if you have a number of individuals involved, it can make it a bit more difficult to detect and the risk becomes much higher in terms of governance."
The COC has also shared that as a possible consequence of their actions, the accused individuals could be removed from their positions as trustees, governing board members, officers, agents or employees of the church.
Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, clarified and backed up the church's statement that City Harvest itself has not been charged with any misconduct, and it is free to continue services and events.
Pastor Kong helped build the church in 2001, and reportedly currently averages over 23,000 attendees weekly.
"Kong is known throughout Asia as a dynamic speaker, communicating the message of faith in a very relevant and contemporary way. He has a strong vision to train 21st century leaders who would plant strong local churches everywhere in Asia," the church's official website states.
"Each week, his half-hour television program 'Harvest Time' is (broadcast) many times in 107 countries through 6 television networks," it adds.
Singapore Megachurch: Pastor Kong Hee Did Not Misuse Funds for Wife
http://www.christianpost.com/news/singapore-megachurch-defends-pastor-kong-hee-against-charges-of-misusing-funds-77414/
By Audrey Barrick ,
Christian Post Reporter
June 28, 2012|6:49 pm
City Harvest Church, one of Singapore's largest churches, responded on Thursday to allegations that its pastor and other leaders misused $18 million in church funds. The church insisted that it was not cheated of millions of dollars and said it is standing by its leaders.
Pastor Kong Hee and four other executives were charged on Wednesday for funneling more than $18 million to his wife's music career. His wife, Ho Yeow Sun or Sun Ho, is an international pop artist.
Kong, Pastor Tan Ye Peng, John Lam, Chew Eng Han and Sharon Tan have been charged with committing criminal breach of trust.
Their arrest earlier this week came after a two-year investigation by Singapore's Commissioner of Charities (COC) and the Commercial Affairs Department of the Singapore police. The COC said it received complaints in early 2010 alleging the misuse of funds.
COC's inquiry revealed that "funds were used with the purported intention to finance 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."
The COC suspended eight officers, including Kong and board members, from their church duties.
Zulkarnain denied allegations that the church executives cheated the church of S$50 million.
"This is not accurate," he stated. "The [S]$24 million, which went to investment bonds, was returned to the church in full, with interest. We didn't lose the [S]$24 million, nor did we lose 'another [S]$26.6m' as alleged. The church did not lose any funds in the relevant transactions, and no personal profit was gained by the individuals concerned."
The church also defended its outreach program called the Crossover Project.
"[T]he Crossover Project is not about one person's singing career; it
is a mission that is fundamental to the congregation of CHC. The Crossover
Project is an outreach that uses Sun Ho's singing and music to engage people
and places that would never otherwise hear the Gospel. As a result of the
Crossover Project, many churches have grown worldwide and the faith of many has
been strengthened," it asserted.
Unhappy with the media's coverage on the case, Bobby Chaw, the pastor in charge of missions at City Harvest Church, commented, "In some instances, they seem to have pre-judged us. We will be dealing with this in due course."
Chaw noted that they have been cooperating with the COC since the case opened two years ago.
He also stated that the church has replaced half of its board with new members and that a "full internal audit" was done.
"[W]e have been putting their recommendations into action, and will continue to do so," he said regarding the audit.
City Harvest Church was founded in 1989 and claims to draw an average of over 23,000 attendees. It reportedly has 49 affiliated churches and six Bible schools all across Asia.
Kong is, meanwhile, a highly sought after speaker around the world. According to the church, he personally withdrew himself from CHC's staff payroll in November 2005 and started his own business.
The executives are out on bail and are due back in court on July 25.
The COC confirmed with City Harvest that Kong will continue to preach at the church.
CITY HARVEST CHURCH RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS
Mr Aries Zulkarnain, the executive pastor and a founding member of the church since its start 23 years ago, says that the church stands with the members involved.
"The people currently in the news are our pastors and trusted staff and leaders who have always put God and CHC first. As a church we stand with them and I believe fully in their integrity. Pastor Kong is still our Senior Pastor."
Mr Zulkarnain says that COC has confirmed that Mr Kong Hee, the senior pastor, and Mr Tan Ye Peng, the deputy senior pastor will continue to preach at the church.
He emphasizes that church activities are not affected by the case. "City Harvest Church will continue to do its work. Our services and cell group meetings will carry on as usual. As a church we will continue to take care of our members and our community. We will not stop doing God's work."
With regard to the allegations, Mr Zulkarnain says, "It has been suggested that the church has been cheated of $50 million. This is not accurate. The $24 million, which went to investment bonds, was returned to the church in full, with interest. We didn't lose the $24 million, nor did we lose 'another $26.6m' as alleged. The church did not lose any funds in the relevant transactions, and no personal profit was gained by the individuals concerned."
Speaking on behalf of the Board, Bobby Chaw, the pastor in charge of missions at CHC, says that actions had been taken the past two years in accordance with the MCYS' code of governance.
"We replaced 50 per cent of our Board with new members. We engaged RSM Chio Lim to do a full internal audit and we have been putting their recommendations into action, and will continue to do so," says Mr Chaw. "We appreciate the need to maintain good corporate governance, and we are continuously working with MCYS to do so."
However, Mr Chaw expresses his disappointment with some of the media's coverage so far, particularly in relation to the COC inquiry.
"In some instances, they seem to have pre-judged us. We will be dealing with this in due course," he says.
He adds that the church was also surprised that COC chose to implement the suspensions of the members involved without prior notice. "We have been co-operating with COC for two years since the start of the case, so these sudden suspensions came as a surprise to us."
The church's Advisory Pastor, Rev Dr Phil Pringle is in Singapore to stand with CHC. He is the senior pastor of C3 Church, Sydney, and the C3 Global Network of Churches. Dr Pringle expresses his support for the leadership.
"I have known City Harvest Church, Kong, Sun and Ye Peng for a long time. CHC is not just a local church in Singapore. It has 49 affiliated churches and 6 Bible schools all across Asia. It has impact on international ground, and it has proven through many years that it serves the global community, both spiritually and practically through humanitarian works."
Dr Pringle says he, along with CHC's Advisory Chairman Dr A R Bernard, who is the senior pastor of Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York, fully believe in and endorse the church's Crossover Project as a mission to reach the world.
The church states that the Crossover Project is not about one person's singing
career; it is a mission that is fundamental to the congregation of CHC. The
Crossover Project is an outreach that uses Sun Ho's singing and music to engage
people and places that would never otherwise hear the Gospel. As a result of
the Crossover Project, many churches have grown worldwide and the faith of many
has been strengthened. Impact has been made on the needy in Haiti, disaster victims in China, the depressed and suicidal in Taiwan, and the sick children in Honduras,
among others.
Dr Pringle says, "The Gospel is the Good News and Christians are meant
to share it. CHC has done this through the Crossover Project, which lies at the
very heart of our religious beliefs."
For media enquiries, please contact corpcomms@chc.org.sg