SINGAPORE: As Singapore's City Harvest Church faces a string of controversies and court dates over embezzling worshipers money for personal use, the mega-church announced on Saturday that it had doubled its stake in a convention center in the city last year to 39.2 percent. According to the Straits Times report, the church doled out some S$54 million for the deal. The report, citing Executive Pastor Aries Zulkarnain as saying the church purchased 19.2 percent of Suntec Singapore last year, it was is likely to add to the growing controversy surrounding the church's funds. City Harvest had initially invested some $44 million for 20 percent stake in the convention center in 2010. Controversy for the past month has surrounded the mega-church in Singapore, its worshipers and its leaders. “I am not going to go back until the church apologizes for what it has caused," said local Christian woman and former City Harvest attendee Regina Chou. She told Bikyamasr.com on Friday that “this controversy has left me really questioning if they were in the business of Jesus Christ or making money and selling sex." She was referring to pastor Kong Hee's wife, who reportedly took church funds to help boost her singing career internationally. The church had launched “The Crossover Project" in 2002, with the idea that Kong Hee's wife Sun Ho's secular music would reach out to non-Christians and bring them to the church. After news of the arrests emerged, attention was geared towards Ho's music and her YouTube videos gained thousands of new hits. But activists and Christians in Singapore denounced the video, saying it was “inappropriate." “A church should be in the business of God, not creating a music star," worshiper Cynthia Chen told Bikyamasr.com last week, as the online debate widened, with many calling the videos “a culturally insensitive endeavor." Over the past month, the scandal has left many Christians divided over the future of the church and their desire to attend services. “I am definitely worried over which way this will go. I really believe that Christ will help all of us through this tough time," said Cindy Yu on Sunday evening as she left services. For her, the battle is about faith and should not be about money. Fear of backlash “It's almost everyday and someone asks me about the case because they know I am Christian," said convert Yussif Anwar, who originally from Georgetown in Malaysia, adding that “this is just not good for Christians in the country." He, and other worshipers at this small First Presbyterian Church in Singapore, are fearful of the growing tension in the country over the City Harvest scandal. “It is there, in public and Christians are the ones who suffer, which makes it even that more disappointing," he added. Controversy continues In late June, as the church was charged with misusing some $50 million of church money, they appointed New Zealand's Reverend Phil Pringle and Reverend A.R. Bernard to function as advisory pastors in order to maintain services for worshipers without break. Pringle is the founder and senior minister of Christian City Church in Sydney, Australia. But now that he is in Singapore, working for a church embattled with corruption charges, he has become targeted by the Christian watchdog organization C3 Church Watch, which tasks itself with overseeing good practices at Christian organizations globally. The group's blog said that it was “designed to watch and monitor C3 Church and its pastors, specifically Phil Pringle." It has raised questions about the New Zealand-born pastor's religious credentials and teachings. It is the latest in a weeklong battle over embezzlement charges and fears that the situation could potentially see the end of City Harvest, which hosted some 14,000 over the weekend in services. Controversy The church's founder Kong Hee was quick to acknowledge why some 8,000 people had packed into the church a week ago Saturday for his sermon. “I also know that you are all here tonight to hear something from me. “As you know, the past few days have been very challenging for me, my family and my team, and many allegations have been made in the media. “Obviously, as this is an ongoing case, I cannot comment on the details, but please know that there are always two sides to every story. I look forward to the day when I can tell you my side of the story in court," he said. Seven minutes into his sermon about a woman who had worshiped Jesus humbly, Kong stopped and told his congregation, “Yes, I do maintain my integrity." But it comes on the back of much controversy and uncertainty regarding the church's future. Singapore's City Harvest Church Executive Pastor Aries Zulkarnain said last Thursday evening that he and his Church stand by members accused of embezzling and misusing funds. He said the Church will maintain support for the accused throughout the court proceedings. Another pastor from the Church, Bobby Chaw, added that City Harvest has “actively worked to ensure good governance and have complied with codes set by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports." Five members of City Harvest Church were charged by a court on Wednesday of corruption, misuse of funds and embezzlement, Channel NewsAsia reported. The report said the court charged City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee with three charges, while senior pastor Tan Ye Peng faces 10 charges. Finance manager Tan Shao Yuen faces seven charges. Senior member Chew Eng Han also faces 10 charges and former secretary of the church's management board Lam Leng Hung faces three charges. The five allegedly diverted some S$23 million (RM57 million) of the church's money to fund Ho Yeow Sun's music career in the United States. Ho is Kong Hee's wife. CNA said they were charged for another S$26.6 million (RM66 million) of misappropriated funds, used to redeem “sham bonds" to cover their tracks. The case was adjourned and the next session will take place in July.
