Confession of an Ex-CHC Member

[h=2]Ex-CHC member: I donated more than $10,000 to the church in last five years[/h]Posted by temasektimes on June 27, 2012


Singapore’s biggest mega-church City Harvest Church (CHC) has come under intense public scrutiny after its founder Kong Hee was arrested with four other members for alleged misuse of church funds.

Kong was accused of falsifying the church’s accounts and diverting at least $23 million dollars to advance the music career of his wife Ho Yeow San.

According to an email we received from a self-proclaimed former member of CHC ‘Martin’, the church was very aggressive in soliciting donations from the congregation.

“At the end of every sermon, a bag will be passed around for donations and Kong Hee would remind us that he did not want to hear ‘jingles’ (coins). This is on top of the monthly tithe which amounts of 10 percent of our pay.”

‘Martin’ added that he had to give $10 weekly for ‘services’ given out during the cell group sessions as well as seminars. He also pledged $5,000 for the church’s building funds and there were quite a number of them.

“Kong Hee was very charismatic and knew how to woo the congregation to contribute to the growth of the church. That’s why CHC was able to grow so quickly within a short period of time.”

Despite being charged for a criminal offence which may see him spend some time in jail, Kong Hee remains a popular figure among CHC members with many expressing their support for him.

“At the end of every sermon, a bag will be passed around for donations and Kong Hee would remind us that he did not want to hear ‘jingles’ (coins). This is on top of the monthly tithe which amounts of 10 percent of our pay.”

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Some churches pass the offering bag at/near the beginning of the service.

Tithes are a good form of social control. Unlike offerings where you take out money from your wallet and throw it into the bag when it is passed to you, tithes are not anonymous. You have to put your money in an envelope with your name. Some churches also know where you work and how much you earn. Any pay raises/bonuses you have received will not go unnoticed.

In CHC's case (as well as churches that preach the prosperity gospel), little or no coercion is needed to make the churchgoers part with their money. They sincerely believe that give more to church/God, receive much, much, much more in return. They'll give cheerfully, even when they themselves are poor.

If there is a God and a hell that burns for eternity, there is a very special place in hell reserved for these religious charlatans.