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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Rev Kong's passport has been impounded!</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>Jun-26 11:12 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 29) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>35251.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Jun 27, 2010
Pastor Kong shows up at City Harvest session
<!-- by line -->By Yen Feng
http://www.straitstimes.com/News/Home/Story/STIStory_546253.html
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Mr Kong Hee, seen here in a photo taken earlier this month. His appearance yesterday afternoon took many by surprise. -- PHOTO: CITY HARVEST
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He came, he spoke, he sang and he even danced a little.
After an absence of four weeks from the pulpit, City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee addressed a 3,000-strong congregation yesterday afternoon at the church's Jurong West premises.
'I've not preached for quite a while so I decided to come back and preach today,' he said, drawing applause.
The 46-year-old is at the centre of ongoing police investigations into the church after allegations of financial misconduct were made last month.
Some 20 people, including his wife, singer Ho Yeow Sun, have been questioned so far.
Mr Kong's unexpected appearance yesterday took many by surprise. Only three days ago, City Harvest had announced that he had been replaced by two senior pastors - Mr Derek Dunn and Mr Aries Zulkarnain - as leader of the church ministry.
Mr Kong, who wore a grey suit over a white shirt, began his 45-minute address by thanking the congregation for their support over the last month.
'I never thought more about you than in the last 30 days. I couldn't be flying, I couldn't be preaching, and so I've been thinking about everybody. I thank God for your love,' he said in a low voice.
He told them he was proud of how the church had grown over the years, since its founding in 1989, when the halls were filled with 'nameless, faceless young people'.
Now, he said, the church has ministries all over Asia, and regularly provides relief for poverty-stricken countries such as Haiti and Honduras.
He spoke about the future, reminding the congregation that they will be moving to Suntec Singapore next year: 'It's going to happen; nothing's changed.'
In March, City Harvest said it would spend $310 million to buy shares and rent space in the downtown venue.
By the end of Mr Kong's speech, the crowd were on their feet, swaying and singing.
It was then that the pastor became pensive.
Looking out into the audience, he said: 'You're gonna come through this. You're gonna be stronger. We're family.'
When a photographer in one of the front rows of the congregation unsettled him, he said: 'I'm so sensitive now to a camera click.'
When a church member on stage cried out 'Pastor, I love you', he paused and said: 'Really? Even in spite of what has been reported?' That drew applause, and with that, he left.
Church members told The Sunday Times that Mr Kong also spoke later at an evening service at the Singapore Expo.
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Pastor Kong shows up at City Harvest session
<!-- by line -->By Yen Feng
http://www.straitstimes.com/News/Home/Story/STIStory_546253.html
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar -->
<!-- story content : start -->
He came, he spoke, he sang and he even danced a little.
After an absence of four weeks from the pulpit, City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee addressed a 3,000-strong congregation yesterday afternoon at the church's Jurong West premises.
'I've not preached for quite a while so I decided to come back and preach today,' he said, drawing applause.
The 46-year-old is at the centre of ongoing police investigations into the church after allegations of financial misconduct were made last month.
Some 20 people, including his wife, singer Ho Yeow Sun, have been questioned so far.
Mr Kong's unexpected appearance yesterday took many by surprise. Only three days ago, City Harvest had announced that he had been replaced by two senior pastors - Mr Derek Dunn and Mr Aries Zulkarnain - as leader of the church ministry.
Mr Kong, who wore a grey suit over a white shirt, began his 45-minute address by thanking the congregation for their support over the last month.
'I never thought more about you than in the last 30 days. I couldn't be flying, I couldn't be preaching, and so I've been thinking about everybody. I thank God for your love,' he said in a low voice.
He told them he was proud of how the church had grown over the years, since its founding in 1989, when the halls were filled with 'nameless, faceless young people'.
Now, he said, the church has ministries all over Asia, and regularly provides relief for poverty-stricken countries such as Haiti and Honduras.
He spoke about the future, reminding the congregation that they will be moving to Suntec Singapore next year: 'It's going to happen; nothing's changed.'
In March, City Harvest said it would spend $310 million to buy shares and rent space in the downtown venue.
By the end of Mr Kong's speech, the crowd were on their feet, swaying and singing.
It was then that the pastor became pensive.
Looking out into the audience, he said: 'You're gonna come through this. You're gonna be stronger. We're family.'
When a photographer in one of the front rows of the congregation unsettled him, he said: 'I'm so sensitive now to a camera click.'
When a church member on stage cried out 'Pastor, I love you', he paused and said: 'Really? Even in spite of what has been reported?' That drew applause, and with that, he left.
Church members told The Sunday Times that Mr Kong also spoke later at an evening service at the Singapore Expo.
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