CHC bases its values on Charismatic and Pentecostal teachings, with doctrinal emphasis on the Great Commandment, the Great Commission and the Cultural Mandate.
It is the largest independent church in Singapore, with 27,086 regular members and a record monthly average of 33,812 attendees in April 2009.
The church first started off with only 20 people with Pastor Kong Hee, today CHC has at least 27,000 members strong after 20 years.
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When it comes to City Harvest Church, these words has become a taboo to many people. Many people all around Singapore has their own views of the Church. Some are good, some are bad.
But most of the time, people from the public are often very critical about the church and its teachings of the word of God.
The religious and legalistic believers think that CHC is way too worldly. Why? Because we bring in many things that are so-called "wordly" to them. From pop songs to dancing to a church that has no cross but with bright lightings.
The non-believers thinks that CHC is trying too hard. People think that CHC is too much. Why is there so much commitments? Why does members have to reach early? Why is there such thing as booking seats in the church? The list can go on and on forever.
But what we believe is that we are just right in the middle.
On one side, we are bringing in pop culture into the church. To become a contemporary church, to be relavant to the world outside, becoming relavant to non believers. And not becoming a world of its own.
We aim to be relavant and also to be spiritual as well.
How can the religious question the spiritual level of the church when we often pray and fast and even have bible study during the week? Personally, I think we even might be doing more than what the religious and legalistic christians are doing.
I believe that our commitment for the church is far beyond almost any churches in Singapore.
I may be wrong but I do believe our commitment to the church has already shown how hungry we are for God.
On the other side, the non-believers think that we are trying too hard. Often, critical and negative comments are being made to the church about the commitment level.
All I can say is that, if you never step into one's shoes, you can never understand them.
Yes, I do agree that our church needs to be very highly commited but on the other hand, I do believe most of us do set a great example as a Christian.
One man.. Just one man, Pastor Kong. He sparked off so many so many changes in this generation, at least to 27,000 people.
This really shows that how God can use just a man and a woman to do things for him. From 20, we grew to 27,000 members strong and 32,000 weekly attendance.
So many people's lives were being touched. So many people's lives had literally turned 180 degrees around. People that were poor then and now are rich. People that were not believers but today, they are on fire for God. Many families united because of this congregation. Many lives were changed because of this congregation. Many marriages saved because of this congregation.
Today's 20th anniversary service was really touching. The pioneers of the church were sharing their life testimonies on how much the church had changed them and also how much Pastor Kong himself has been a mentor, a brother and also like a father to them.
Each has their own stories of the church to tell.
To think that one man, that has touched so many lives in his lifetime, how can someone like that be a bad person? How can someone like that mislead his congregation? He himself is already a living testimony and an example for all of us. Pastor Kong and his team had been flying all around the world almost every week. They had been doing humanitarian works, preaching, helping to build churches, etc. The list could go on and on.
Rich? Yes, the church is so-called rich if you were to calculate how much money was being collected every week. This factor has always been critisized by almost anyone.
Why should a church member give tithes and offerings every time they go to church?
Where would the money go?
Does the pastors and staff take the money for their own benefits?
Are they earning money off the members of the church?
Are they trying to cheat money?
Let me ask, if someone were to know that their money is being cheated and are being misused or doesn't know why are they giving for, would they continue to give every time? NO!
It is said in the bible that we should give tithes and offerings and many people don't understand it! The money collected is being used to run the church. If not, where do you think and how do you think the church is going to get the money to pay for the bills?
The money is being used for mission trips, donations, building churches, building organizations such as the JAMS church (google it if you don't know), etc. As I said, the list could go on forever.
Many people don't see it. Many people tend to judge quickly of the church. Many people don't see how much the church has been doing for the past 20 years. How much Pastor Kong and his staff had been sacrificing, how much they had been praying and fasting, how much sweat and blood had been put into the church.
At the end of the day, the church is not perfect. We are not perfect people. Pastor Kong is not perfect. Why do people tend to critisize when a trivial cockup happens? But we have to say, we do not bother about anything that is being said towards the church. We do believe in what we had always believed in and always will.
Fufiling the cultural mandate, taking up the great commandment and the great commision. Loving God wholeheartedly and loving people fervently. We believe in church without walls. We believe that we as believers should not be religious and legalistic. We believe that we should be relavant to the world and not becoming a world of our own. We believe in discipleship. We believe in the caring system. We believe in God.
The church has survived 20 years. Many lives were touched, changed and whatnot.
For the next 20 years, we believe for a greater move of God, greater breakthroughs.
In my 3 years in CHC, it has been really awesome. How much more awesome can it get!
I love my church. I am very glad that I am rooted in this church. I have my commitments, I have my believes. City Harvest is my spiritual family. Like it or not, I will be like this forever.
City Harvest Church, 20th Anniversary.
Dreams are realised. Success is celebrated.
Happy Birthday City Harvest Church!
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