新加坡最大规模的城市丰收教会（City Harvest Church）被人举报滥用公款，而遭到新国慈善总监和商业事务局联手介入调查，这新闻让许多人大为吃惊！据悉，不只是教会本身被调查，也包括与教会有商业来往的直接或间接公司。这到底是一场误会，抑或教会当局的有行政偏差，还是刻意滥用公款，这还有赖执法机构去调查。无论如何，身为普世教会的一份子，我们仍旧为这样的事情而感到悲伤。这件事，也让我有一些联想（联想，就未必是与这件事情有直接关联的）：
- 罪的影响是很大的，上帝的教会不会自动幸免；
- 不要对任何试探（包括金钱、权利、性等）掉以轻心，要记住主耶稣教导我们的祷告文：不要叫我们陷入试探，救我们脱离凶恶（或恶者）
- 教会领袖要更加谨慎，成为上帝教会的好管家；
- 教会财务需要透明化，行政要经得起批判；
- 任何重要决定都必须是群体（执事会）决定，并群体承担（没有马后炮或事后孔明）
- 多为教会的圣洁祷告，并操练圣洁生活。
愿上帝怜悯我们，并帮助我们活得更有基督的样式，而上帝的名，将从我们身上得着荣耀！
Dear all bro & sis from Sungai Rambai Methodist Church and Pastor Teng, I got your link from a forum this morning, please allow me to share something about my thoughts on City Harvest Church. Thank you.
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What is City Harvest Church all about? Who is Pastor Kong Hee to me? Why do I defend him so vigorously? Greek Philosopher, Ovid declares “Happy is he who dare courageously defend what he loves”. I love God, my family and City Harvest Church (in the right order that Pastor Kong has taught us) 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 have made a profound difference in my life.
I came to City Harvest Church 12 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 12 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 12 years, I probably would have attended more than 750 services, 700 cell group meetings, 450 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 4 years ago. We have a good-looking boy who just turned 20 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 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 to do my PhD.
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 46 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. No matter what the critics say. No matter what the verdict says. Thank you Pastor Kong, Sun and Pastor Tan. If asked if you have made any difference? If asked if who benefited from your actions? Please mention me. You have changed my life. And my wife, and my son.