A Pentecostal megachurch in Singapore embroiled in financial and leadership controversies.
City Harvest Church (CHC) is a prominent Pentecostal megachurch in Singapore, known for its charismatic worship services, extensive outreach programs, and a significant financial scandal involving its leadership. Founded in 1989 by Kong Hee, the church initially started with a small group of 20 youths meeting at Peace Centre and has grown dramatically, boasting a congregation of 32,000 members by 2009. CHC has been particularly recognized for its focus on cultural engagement through initiatives like its “Crossover Project,” which uses secular music as a medium for evangelism.
CHC’s early development was marked by a commitment to building a strong spiritual atmosphere with a focus on releasing every member into ministry, obeying the Great Commission, and engaging in community services. The City Harvest Community Services Association, for example, has helped more than 14,000 poor and needy people annually. The church’s global influence expanded through its affiliate churches and missionary teams engaged in church planting and disaster relief work.
A key initiative, the Crossover Project launched in 2003 and led by Kong’s wife, Sun Ho, aimed to use pop music to engage and evangelize unchurched populations worldwide, reportedly leading to hundreds of thousands of conversions. However, the project became central to a financial scandal when in 2015, Kong Hee and five other church leaders were convicted of misappropriating S$50.6 million of church funds to finance Sun Ho’s music career through sham bond investments in two companies, Xtron Productions and Firna (PT The First National Glassware). This case, known as the City Harvest Church Criminal Breach of Trust Case, was one of Singapore’s longest criminal trials, lasting 140 days.
Additionally, in 2010, CHC made a controversial S$310 million investment in Suntec Convention Centre, which raised concerns about the use of charitable funds for commercial investments. The church defended this decision, explaining that the investment was made through a wholly-owned subsidiary, intended to provide a more sustainable financial model for the church’s expanding needs.
Despite these controversies, CHC has continued its religious activities and community outreach. As of 2024, the church remains active, with a strong emphasis on youth ministry through its Emerge youth movement, which aims to guide young people in their spiritual journeys. The church also continues its commitment to helping the underprivileged through various initiatives, including City Outlook, which assists low-income families with home renovations.
In terms of doctrine, CHC aligns with Pentecostal beliefs, emphasizing the baptism in the Holy Spirit, divine healing, and the expectation of Jesus Christ’s Second Coming. Music plays a significant role in their worship, considered as vital as theological study for its unifying and truth-transmitting qualities. The church’s global missions and evangelistic efforts persist, focusing on spreading the gospel and collaborating with local churches in different regions.
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