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http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_348208.html
Church raises $19m in 24 hrs
New Creation Church raised a whopping $19 million for the construction of its new premises at Buona Vista. -- PHOTO: ROCK PRODUCTIONS, CAPITALAND
NEW Creation Church raised a whopping $19 million for the construction of its new premises at Buona Vista - in less than 24 hours.
In a show of support, a record number of 22,000 people turned up for services at the Rock Auditorium at Suntec City Mall three weeks ago.
The donations were collected over four services on Feb 15.
In comparison, amonth-long charity drive by NTUC Income, Project Love, raised about $375,000.
Following the success of its fund-raiser, the New Creation Church announced the amount it raised to its members on Feb 22. However, when contacted, the church declined to comment.
New Creation Church-goer Angelique Lee, 26, a full-time student, said her donation was a form of thanksgiving and appreciation 'for all that God has blessed me with'.
'Attending church has helped to transform my life and make me a better person over time,' she explained.
Graduate student Huang Wei Hsuan, 26, who is not a member of the church, felt that part of the funds could be used to 'help those who are really in need, instead of being fully used to construct a new building'.
'Is it really a good idea to build a new building now? Should the church members be advised to keep more for rainy days?' he asked.
But many others who are not from the church were heartened by the congregation's generosity.
'I feel it's incredible that such kindness, empathy and generosity can be shown in such bad economic times,' said Mr Shawn Chin, 24, a civil servant. -- MYPAPER
They gave from their hearts
THEY came, they listened and they contributed. The 22,000-strong congregation rallied when their senior pastor, Pastor Joseph Prince, 45, asked them for help in funding the construction of their premises in the Integrated Hub, during a special service held on Feb 15.
Located at Vista Xchange at one-north in Buona Vista, the hub is scheduled for completion by mid-2012.
The nine-storey civic and cultural plaza in the complex, developed by Rock Productions - the commercial-development arm of New Creation Church - will house a 5,000-seat auditorium.
Members of New Creation Church told my paper that there was 'no coercion involved', and it was 'entirely up to individual members' to give.
'The money was collected through an invitation to anyone who wanted to give,' said
Mr Dylan Loh, 24, an undergraduate from National University of Singapore.
'In fact, Pastor Prince mentioned that if we didn't feel the need or desire to give, we shouldn't give, and it would have been perfectly fine,' he added.
Explaining how the church managed to raise $19 million in one day, civil servant Goh Ying Ying, 26, said: 'People...gave out of the abundance of their hearts because they believed they will get something back.'
Mr Loh agreed, saying: 'It was based purely on the generosity of the congregation and their own willingness to give.'
Marketing manager Flora Lim, 23, who was not from the church, said: 'Considering we're in the midst of a recession, they are still willing to give so much. (But) it's their church and the people are willing to give their own money, so I don't see any problems with it.'
Church raises $19m in 24 hrs
New Creation Church raised a whopping $19 million for the construction of its new premises at Buona Vista. -- PHOTO: ROCK PRODUCTIONS, CAPITALAND
NEW Creation Church raised a whopping $19 million for the construction of its new premises at Buona Vista - in less than 24 hours.
In a show of support, a record number of 22,000 people turned up for services at the Rock Auditorium at Suntec City Mall three weeks ago.
The donations were collected over four services on Feb 15.
In comparison, amonth-long charity drive by NTUC Income, Project Love, raised about $375,000.
Following the success of its fund-raiser, the New Creation Church announced the amount it raised to its members on Feb 22. However, when contacted, the church declined to comment.
New Creation Church-goer Angelique Lee, 26, a full-time student, said her donation was a form of thanksgiving and appreciation 'for all that God has blessed me with'.
'Attending church has helped to transform my life and make me a better person over time,' she explained.
Graduate student Huang Wei Hsuan, 26, who is not a member of the church, felt that part of the funds could be used to 'help those who are really in need, instead of being fully used to construct a new building'.
'Is it really a good idea to build a new building now? Should the church members be advised to keep more for rainy days?' he asked.
But many others who are not from the church were heartened by the congregation's generosity.
'I feel it's incredible that such kindness, empathy and generosity can be shown in such bad economic times,' said Mr Shawn Chin, 24, a civil servant. -- MYPAPER
They gave from their hearts
THEY came, they listened and they contributed. The 22,000-strong congregation rallied when their senior pastor, Pastor Joseph Prince, 45, asked them for help in funding the construction of their premises in the Integrated Hub, during a special service held on Feb 15.
Located at Vista Xchange at one-north in Buona Vista, the hub is scheduled for completion by mid-2012.
The nine-storey civic and cultural plaza in the complex, developed by Rock Productions - the commercial-development arm of New Creation Church - will house a 5,000-seat auditorium.
Members of New Creation Church told my paper that there was 'no coercion involved', and it was 'entirely up to individual members' to give.
'The money was collected through an invitation to anyone who wanted to give,' said
Mr Dylan Loh, 24, an undergraduate from National University of Singapore.
'In fact, Pastor Prince mentioned that if we didn't feel the need or desire to give, we shouldn't give, and it would have been perfectly fine,' he added.
Explaining how the church managed to raise $19 million in one day, civil servant Goh Ying Ying, 26, said: 'People...gave out of the abundance of their hearts because they believed they will get something back.'
Mr Loh agreed, saying: 'It was based purely on the generosity of the congregation and their own willingness to give.'
Marketing manager Flora Lim, 23, who was not from the church, said: 'Considering we're in the midst of a recession, they are still willing to give so much. (But) it's their church and the people are willing to give their own money, so I don't see any problems with it.'
