If it’s too long a read, here’s the compressed version :p

I first got saved in Primary 2 through a simple prayer my tutor taught me, “Jesus, I believe in you. Forgive my sins”. Well, I did it in secret. Too bad – no children’s church then, no follow up. I knew nothing and continued my parent’s religion. This is the first backsliding of my life haha… God did not forgive my prayer (the principle is when one is saved, the entire household is saved)

Come Secondary 2. A rebellious teen with hormones raging. My parents, surprisingly, through a life crisis got saved in an Anglican church – Chapel of the Holy Spirit pastored by Pastor Tan Piah. Because of my parents, I was forced to go to church. The rule set by my parents was – “if you do not go to church, you cannot go home”. Talk about parental objection. This is parental oppression!!! I was honestly, angry! I have never had a good relationship with my parents up till my mid 20s. I was angry with them because I feel that they had taken away too many of my “childhood”. They did not celebrate my birthdays and festivities like CNY and Christmas since I was in P2 – no presents, no red packets, no cakes and parties while other had. I resented the fact that they neglected me n my younger sister to go overseas to do business. I would often shout at them, slam the door, and you know, do stupid things rebelliou teens do? haha… those were the days

But deep inside, I had wanted to know Jesus. But somehow, the rebellious nature in me made me not want to respond outwardly. I would stand in the service like a piece of log, when people clapped n lifted hands, I folded my arms and always sat at the last row. Issue of pride. Outwardly rebellious, inwardly I very much want to be free. Wanted to clap and lift up hands but I feel embarassed and “pai sei”. Took me a year before I would slowly free myself up, attend bible study and tambourine classes led by “Bro Joseph”. I got baptized on my birthday – 22 Dec in 1991 at Chapel of the Holy Spirit. I was now in Sec 3.

Over time, my parents, due to having to travel to Batam to do business, stopped attending church. I gradually backslided during my N levels and stopped attending church until Poly, when I occasionally would follow my cousins to attend a church in Pasir Panjang. No God during this period. It was “wilderness”.

It was not until 1995 during my 2nd year of Poly that I was introduced to CHC by a classmate, Danny. “Why should I go to CHC with you? Because there are pretty girls there” was the answer. Well I went (obviously) hoping to find a “stead” (I failed). The service was still at Westin Stamford that time, and they were preparing to move to Hollywood Theatre. Anyway, I was not serious that time and Danny and I kindof drifted in and out of CHC for 3 years. I was literally bumming around. In fact, I had thoughts of quitting school to go and sell pirated VCD. I tell you, I never knew I had the spirit of enterprise in me!!! Thank God for Pastor Kong and CHC, for if not today my life would be written very differently!

In 1998, something drastic changed in my life. Someone invited me to CHC again. His name was Joseph, the son of Pastor Moses Chew from Church of Singapore (Harvest) under Pastor George Ong. He brought me to this CGL named “Irene Ho”. That week, Pastor Kong was preaching and he spoke about the floating axe head. The message was clear – I may have lost hope in life, but Jesus will give me a second chance. That Sunday afternoon I made a decision to give my heart once again to Jesus Christ. I walked from the balcony of Hollywood to the altar areas downstairs. That was the clearest decision I ever made in my life. That decision changed me. I began to be hungry for God. I took bible study seriously, I attended CG and service seriously and it was the first time I actually made friends (besides Danny) and stayed in a CG. I even learnt to play the guitar. Today, I think I play ok.

Over the years, in CHC through pastor kong, Sun, Irene and other pastors/leaders I followed, I learned many things about Christianity as well as skills that would help me excel in life. Pastor kong often taught us about manhood and taking responsibility. And he would often invite the late Dr Ed Cole to teach about how manhood and Christ likeness are synonymous. That was the defining moment that taught me to be a real man, as I learnt to to take ownership and responsibility in life. Pastor Kong often taught us to be excellent. I remember he taught “Pukka”(best quality) – because i applied this in my first full time job as a workshop I/C in RSAF. I put that word clearly on top of my equipment status board to remind myself the best quality I gotta always produce. I got an opportunity to represent my unit in the NQCC award and my team won 1 gold and 2 silver awards in 2 years. As a christian, I shone in the “marketplace” for the first time. I was the first person to be ever appointed a workshop I/C as a Corporal (junior rank holding a senior portfolio). And I got to represent my unit in a major military exercise in Arizona in 1999. The F16 squadron there literally depended on me to program the CFDS s/w when they pit their dog fighting skills against the americans. It was a great moment to behold haha..

Pastor Kong also often taught about faith – the 7 steps of faith. How to live by faith, walk by faith, law of expectancy. He often invites the best speaker to talk about faith. I remember faith conference with Pastor Phil Pringle!!! Those were the days! And it taught me to have faith in God and have the faith of God. Pastor Kong often led by example. His life is an example of living by faith – even through failure, we live by faith. He taught us to pray, taught us to worship, taught us to love, taught us to give, taught us to believe in people, taught us to pursue excellence, etc.

Pastor Kong will invite many speakers who came and brought the word to strengthen our foundation – he had great foresight! Gave us the BEST. I remembered Dr Ed Cole – taught manhood. Pst Marilyn Hickey taught us the names of God that until this day I will remember to call upon. Pst Phil Pringle – faith. Dr John Avanzini – the laws of manifestation and biblical economics. together with CG, power house, bible study and fellowship, these laid a strong biblical foundation on my life. Pastor Kong even taught us how to manage our money! It was he who taught us to earn our first $100k through property investment (by buying a brand new HDB flat). I applied his teaching and made a quarter million! And I’m now looking to invest in commercial and residential properties. Thank God for him.

One of the most significant speakers he invited was Dr AR Bernard. In August 1998, in CG we watched a video of him preaching about “increasing our value in life”. That was the message that motivated me to want to increase my value in life – through education. As a result, I’m still studying up till this day – after leaving RSAF in 2003 I went on to the insurance industry, obtained my Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chartered Wealth Manager (CWM) designations, got a degree and now going for an my MBA. As a regular in RSAF, I used to earn $3k a month, about $150 a day. today my training and consulting fees are almost twice the rate, charged by the hour. Thank God for him!

In between, I also started and now running many businesses such as my own insurance firm, a training and consulting firm, an online music school, and a food stall selling BBQ chicken wings. Pastor Kong invited Dr Bernard who taught us and laid the foundation for the cultural mandate. Without him, there’ll only be the Ronald who may now be in jail for selling pirated VCDs.

Pastor Kong also taught us to connect and reconcile with our parents. He taught us in church to honor and love them regardless of what they have done to us. As a result, I eventually reconciled with my parents through the easy to follow steps he taught – take them out for meals, help them with housework (the church will give Jiff and sponge to us during Chinese new year periods to walk the talk), provide for them, etc. As a result, today my parents are no longer backslidden, but in church attending my CG.

He taught us the principles of giving according to the bible, that we can give without loving but we cannot love without giving. Jesus is a giver. He gave his life. Our giving changes life. Changes even our own lives. We give until we “cry” because it is something that touch our hearts. And through our giving, the less fortunate gets blessed.

In Feb 2002 I became a cell group leader until this day. I personally seen how God worked in my life, changing me from the inside out. I met my wife in 2003 and we married in 2005. My in-laws saw how my wife and my brother-in-law’s life changed after they went to church in CHC since 1998, and they too gave their lives to Jesus in 2006. Today, my family worships in CHC together with us. When one is saved, the entire household is saved. But it takes someone bold enough to walk the talk. CHC, Pastor Kong and the leaders are people who walk the talk.

Sun is like a role model to us in engaging culture. Leaders lead the way while others talk about it. She showed us that if we dare to dream and be committed to work for it, we can achieve anything. She gave me the inspiration to dare to go on video and share with others how to play simple guitar songs on youTube to praise n worship. I became bold to write songs even though I had no formal education on songwriting. In the past I would avoid these because I’m camera shy and felt I’m not good enough. today, I kindof “heck what people think” because she said you only have a life to live, so why not live with passion? So if you see my balding head on Youtube, she inspired me. But I think it’s good because through this I managed to reach many people and know many friends.

Then came Pastor Tan. I got to hear him in person in 2004 when I first joined the insurance industry. He took time off to come and share the word. If not for his perspective about the parallels of my job scope and soul winning, I would not have continued being a financial planner up till this day. Many years passed! Today I stood in front of crowds educating them about the importance of financial planning and how they can increase their net worth and manage their wealth. And he is still sharing the word with us when he got the time! And whenever he comes, he brings fresh new insights to us that helped me to expand the reach of my business. I thank God for him.

Then we have Pastor DD and Susan, my zone pastor since 2008. He never fails to bring a word in season whenever we meet every Tuesday, and always teach us how to move strong in the spirit. Thank God for his understanding, I’m able to continue to serve as a CGL in the midst of a packed training schedule. You see, in CHC we really we base relationship above results. There are so many people I can mention who have touched my life in some way, but what I’m really trying to say is that, in CHC, this is not a cult or business. This is a family which Jesus is the Head. A family understands and gives grace and forgiveness to every member i spite of their wrongs. Many people got it all wrong.

It is easy to talk about the negative things about CHC, Pastor Kong and the leadership without really experiencing and knowing them, without having an objective look at the bible in context of the meaning of the great commission. Pastor Kong and Sun as a couple, you never see them share about their private battles and private tears. Who knows what they went through when Sun lost her baby? Who understood what they went through when the public and other Christians criticized them for living out the cultural mandate – by Sun entering the secular music industry? Who understood the purpose? Who would want to be separated with their family to do the work of God to open a door to get more people saved in places in need of revival? Yet Singapore does not understand them. Taiwan does, Hong Kong and China does – they see her fruits. We judged too fast, too ruthlessly. Singaporeans, will you do that to your family member? Have we looked at their fruit? You don’t understand – because they are not part of your family. But they are mine. And also many of the CHC members.

When my family went through a crisis last year, my wife emailed Pastor Kong. He replied within 2 hours and help came within the next morning. This is a busy man we are talking about, who took time to write an email to show concern. He treat us like a family.

I can almost say I owe them my life. I will tell him that and he would always humbly reply that it is God who changed our lives. And I won’t be wrong in saying that because I will not be who I am if not for what God did through this church. I’m not saying that they are God. I do not worship them or the church. I only worship God. But I love them for how they lived out Christianity, for being transparent with his life.

Regardless what the media and the public say, I thank God for CHC, Pastor Kong and Sun and the leadership. We’re a family. And we’ll hold one another’s hand as we walk through the fire.

Pastors and leaders, everyone in CHC, I thank God for you.

Throughout my testimony, I like to highlight 3 things that I learnt:

1) Jer 29:11 – God has a great plan for you and I. I believe that from the day I said the first sinners prayer in P2, He remembered me although I may not understand my decision then. He took me through different stages of life to finally come to know God and be part of this great family. We are all in God’s mind.

2) Psalm 1:1-3, Heb 10:25 – Your life will flourish if you are planted in a church family. A church is part of the body of Christ. We need to go back to the source or head of the family which is Jesus Christ. In Christ, a family finds unity, peace and joy. CHC is family. My 2nd home.

3) Rom 8:28-30 – Sometimes we go through seasons of struggles in our life, but understand this – that God has a great outcome for us, that in all we go through, we will emerge with victory. Experiences do not determine our future – our choices do, but experiences shape our faith and character. Never give up. Keep walking the walk.

Why is our testimony about how God changed our lives through City Harvest and the leadership important? It is not to idolize the church or pastor kong. Rather, we show that God is real and he works through people whose hearts are given totally to Him. Pastor Kong surely will not want us to idolize him. What is in the heart of the leaders of this great church is that we learn to build our own altar and stand strong for our faith. Regardless of what happens to the leaders, we as members of CHC, are the church. We stand as a church, regardless whether the existing leaders are around. We worship Jesus, are called to fulfill the Great Commission, Great Commandment and for CHC, the Cultural Mandate as well.

Let’s get our focus right. Stay united as a church and progress as a church for the glory of God.

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