2012 24-7 Year of Prayer for Malaysia - December

To read the previous months' Prayer Emphasis click : 2012 Year of Prayer for Malaysia 

2012 24-7 Year of Prayer for Malaysia - November

To read the previous months' Prayer Emphasis click : 2012 Year of Prayer for Malaysia 

2012 24-7 Year of Prayer for Malaysia - October

To read the previous months' Prayer Emphasis click : 2012 Year of Prayer for Malaysia 

Hope of Jubilee Celebration Service

Please visit the NECF website for a more detailed report.
CLICK : INTO THE JUBILEE YEAR - THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY OPENS

To follow the latest updates on the Jubilee Celebrations throughout Malaysia via Facebook Page
CLICK : NECF Malaysia 40-Day Fast & Prayer

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Last Sunday evening, the Full Gospel Tabernacle (FGT USJ) was packed with about 2,000 faithful Christians gathering to celebrate the beginning of the Year of Jubilee for Malaysia.

Promptly at 7pm, the service started with the blowing of the shofars by about 50 people.

This event was indeed a historic event for the Church in Malaysia as Churches in the whole of Malaysia, from the north to the south of Semenanjung and all the way to East Malaysia, shofars were sounded at the same time, 7 pm sharp, to declare the Year of Jubilee for Malaysia together as One Body in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then, the theme song for the Hope of Jubilee was sung by the worship team accompanied by the worship dancers. It was really a beautiful sight to behold.

The Hope of Jubilee Theme song

This is the recording of the introduction to a time of corporate prayer for the Nation.

The flags of the various States in Malaysia were brought out and the National Anthem, Negara Ku, was sung with high spirits by the congregation. Then people were told to touch the State flag nearest to them and pray for that State.

The service ended with the following four Declarations over Malaysia.

Listen to a compilation of Pastor Julius Suubi's exhortation for the Church in Malaysia

2012 - Year of Jubilee for Malaysia

This Sunday, 16 September 2012, is a turning point for our nation. It's MALAYSIA DAY!

It is again no coincidence that this year, the Malaysia Day falls on a Sunday, which will see Christians in the whole nation gather in different Churches to worship God and also to usher in the beginning of the Year of Jubilee for Malaysia.

While it is joyous to enter into the Year of Jubilee with a hope for a new and fresh beginning for us, we are also entering into the year of the 13th General Election which will be held very soon.

We need to pray for God's wisdom and guidance to help us make the right decision at this coming 13th General Election.

The following are events that have been organized for all Christians to heed the urgent call to gather and pray for our country.

Link to the list of all the VENUES  

2012 24-7 Year of Prayer for Malaysia - September

We have just celebrated our 55th Merdeka Day with a great display of our country's unity, peace and prosperity at the National Day Parade in Dataran Merdeka. While most of us who are reading this enjoy and share a certain amount of our Nation's prosperity, there are many of our fellow Malaysian who do not enjoy this privilege.

This month's call is to pray for the POOR in our land. Let us remember the poor by praying for them according the the items listed below.

However, let us not only remember the poor in our prayers but also let us be willing to go the second mile by being the hand extended to help them too. Let us pray that God will let us hear His heartbeat for the poor and respond generously to the call to provide help and assistance to them.

To read the previous months' Prayer Emphasis click : 2012 Year of Prayer for Malaysia 

2012 Hope of Jubilee

NECF 40-Day Fast & Prayer 2012

Hope of Jubilee

7th August to 15th September, 2012
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40-Day Fast & Prayer book (PDF)

 

English (1.1MB)

Bahasa Malaysia (1.2MB)

Day 1 (Tuesday 7 August) - Jubilee

by NECF Malaysia 40-Day Fast & Prayer

on Monday, August 6, 2012 at 9:22am ·

Jubilee

The Lord commanded Israel to observe the Jubilee every 50th year of their nationhood. On 16 September, Malaysia celebrates her 49th anniversary as a nation but also begins her 50th year. While we are not bound to such observance, Jubilee is a reflection of all that God desires for all people and nation and of what He will eventually establish for eternity. When Jesus died and was resurrected, He made the way for mankind to enter into Jubilee, a rest for all people. Many are still bound by sin and to the evil one in our nation. Corruption, evil and crime are still prevalent in our land. But Jesus liberates and provides for our Jubilee! As God commanded Israel to declare every 50th year as the Year of Jubilee, we believe that it is also what God desires for all Malaysians. So let’s pray and believe for all to experience the blessings of Jubilee as Malaysia enters into her 50th year.

Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you. (Lev 25:10)

Prayer Suggestions:

• Thank God for the last 49 years of His faithfulness.
• Consecrate the coming 50th year as holy unto the Lord.
• Pray that God will release liberty upon all Malaysians.

For the subsequent days, please visit and Like their
40-Days Fast & Prayer Facebook page.

PRAYER UNITED ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL CHURCHES

PRAYER UNITED

ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL CHURCHES                                                    

30 July 2012

Dear Church Leaders, Pastors and Friends,

            Warmest greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

We are happy to respectfully inform you that on 5 July 2012, in a historic moment for the Protestant churches in Malaysia, nineteen (19) church and prayer leaders met at the office of the Methodist Church in Malaysia, Petaling Jaya.  They came from all over the country, representing most of the major prayer networks in the country, including those of NECF and CCM, and also denominational and regional Pastors’/Ministers’ Fellowships. All came at short notice but with prepared hearts and minds, as each had been burdened with an urgent sense of the Lord’s call for united prayer for the church and nation.

During the dialogue, various participants shared their concerns. There was general agreement that the country is facing many critical issues and the Malaysian Church needs to come together in prayer. And it was noted that, if the Church is to play a significant role in national transformation, we must take seriously the call to live as a holy people, to strive for genuine unity, and to pour our hearts out in prayer for our nation!

The meeting was marked by a great sense of unity and hope, as well as much joy in every heart over the common desire for a united prayer initiative to bring the whole church together to seek God’s blessing for our country. We believe that through such an expression of unity and love for one another (Ephesians 4:1-6) Christ would be truly glorified. We praise and thank God for giving us this unity of the Spirit in the first place!

We therefore would like humbly to invite all the churches and Christians in this country to join with us in a common prayer platform for the nation. We do this in response to God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NIV):

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

This united platform will be called PRAYER UNITED and its terms of reference are:

THE VISION

·               All Christians, churches and prayer networks in Malaysia coming together to pray for the church and our nation.

THE PURPOSE

·               The first purpose is to set up a united prayer movement for the whole church to coordinate prayer and to enhance unity among Christians.

·               The second purpose is to challenge the whole church to pray together for the transformation of society and nation. In particular, the focus will be on the two up-coming key national events, namely, the National Jubilee Celebration, beginning on 16 Sept, 2012, the upcoming General Elections, GE13.

THE OBJECTIVES

The following are the objectives of PRAYER UNITED:

·            To identify key strategic issues for prayer, and to communicate these clearly and quickly to all prayer networks and churches.

·                   To serve as a link for all those involved in prayer in our churches, including both those in NECF and CCM, and to coordinate our efforts to ensure that our prayers are united in purpose and focus.

·               To challenge the church to pray for God’s special blessings upon our nation in the Jubilee Year (Lev 25: 10-12), the 50^th Year of the formation of our nation, so that it will usher in a new season of peace, prosperity, freedom and justice for our land.

·               To call on the church to pray that the up-coming General Election, GE13, will be carried out peacefully and with integrity, and that those elected will be honest and able men and women, who sincerely have the country’s true and long-term interest in their hearts.

THE WAY FORWARD

1.              The work of PRAYER UNITED will be coordinated for the moment by an Interim Committee, with representations from all major prayer networks present at the meeting on 5 July, 2012. This committee will function until after the Jubilee Celebrations and GE13, when the present set up will then be reviewed.

2.              All communications from PRAYER UNITED will be coordinated by the two Joint-Secretaries, Ms Chrisanne Chin and Rev Andy Chi, who are respectively in charge of the prayer ministries of CCM and NECF.

3.              All communication released would be made available in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese and Tamil for dissemination to churches.

We look to you to join us in this spiritual venture of prayer so that all of us will see the Lord’s blessings poured out upon our nation, bringing about a powerful transformation for the good and well-being of all citizens in our land. May our prayers and our lives serve to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, even as we pray: ‘Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!’  Let us humbly seek God together to ask Him to reveal His glory in Malaysia in our day. Let us also ask Him for grace that we may fulfil His purpose for His church and nation in our generation. May His name be praised and glorified exceedingly in every way!

Blessings in Christ,

The Interim Committee, PRAYER UNITED,

1.     Bishop Hwa Yung (Chairman; Methodist)

2.     Rev Andy Chi (Joint-Secretary; NECF)

3.     Chrisanne Chin (Joint-Secretary; CCM & 24-7 Prayer)

4.     Ps Steven Choon (Kota Kinabalu Pastors’ Fellowship)

5.     Rev Ann Low (MNPN)

6.     Rev Teo Kwee Keng (Assemblies of God)

7.     Dr Wong Tik Wah (Methodist)

8.     Nelson Kee (Sarawak Ministers’ Fellowship)

9.     Ps Ng Teng Huat (Temporary Rep., Penang Ministers’ Fellowship)

2012 24-7 Year of Prayer for Malaysia - August

Praise the Lord! The momentum to pray for our nation has picked up tremendously even though we have crossed the half year mark.

All the more and now, as the nation prepare to celebrate the Independence Day or Hari Merdeka, we must remember to pray for the indigenous people of our land of Malaysia.

We found a video which gives a better understanding of the process by which Malaysia was formed. Click on the title below to watch this MUST SEE VIDEO PRESENTATION:

  Year of JUBILEE - Malaysia's Birthday!

To read the previous months' Prayer Emphasis click : 2012 Year of Prayer for Malaysia 

Another church in Singapore under wrong leadership?

This is a testimony written by a broken-hearted parent who has seemingly
"lost" the son to the Church in Singapore,  which was taken from the Facebook 

page.

Let this parent's testimony be an eye-opener to all parents. 

Pastor owns a church and temple

by Marcelli Mario 

                 Since 2002/3 I attended chc and have
always questioned why the church needed to plaster Sun Ho's posters
ALL AROUND THE CHURCH - from-wall-to-wall. I was there for service to
fellowship and to worship our almighty God but each and everytime I
went during those early days, I was greeted by our celebrity wannabe
pastor Ho in the name of a certain crossover. After many many many
weekends, I decided that I shall crossover too because our paths
surely did not cross with one another. One have crossed to the dark
side. It’s either me or the leaders of chc. I left.

                 I left not because of posters plastering or blasting
of Sun Ho music before the service began or the non-stop, constant
promotion and pushing of Sun Ho ho album sales by pastor Kong in
church. But the fundamental calling to fellowship in church has been
completely turned around by the church to pursue fame and wealth that
resulted in every service is about GIVING AND MORE WEALTH, money and
more money. It can go on for weeks and it become very scary especially
during building ! fund season. Everyone just wants to give more and
more money so they can have more and more money. If you are there to
seek refuge for other emotional needs, you will probably ended up dead
because this is not a church for a broken soul. It is the church for
the money hungry souls.

                 And I know Pastor Kong Hee has to live up to his
preaching hence he needs to show he is rich, through the years. How
can a man preach about richess and wealth when he is a church poor
mouse? He needs to get rich and get rich fast, if not its not
convincible that every weekend he is talking about getting wealth.

                 The crossover in my opinion from a close member of
chc, is so the chc leaders acquire the worldly rich and fame because
they want to, they aspire and are called to. They are a bunch of
show-offs. If you have meetings with them you will understand what
Christ-show-offs are - It's all in the clothes, in the tone of voice,
in the attitude, in the eyes. The richer you are, the more time
pastors have with you because you are valuable assets.

                 Chc has leaders tracking members 10% tithes, and
also their building funds commitment. They have cards and notes with
your commitment in writing how much you are offering whether paid
installment or lump sum and you must follow through. I was on many
occasions asked to pen down my commitment in giving because it is for
the big picture for chc accounts to know what to expect a month in
receiving. To help them account for it. It helps chc accounts
department to trace and track too, who committed but never pay up so
that they can follow up with you...

                 I have seen with my own eyes, hear with my own ears
that chc leaders holding their “accountable” book asking members why
their building fund sum for the month was not in. Have they paid up?
By what means, cheque, cash, giro. And if not done yet, well there is
machine to withdraw money from or better there is credit card mode of
payment which can earn points!!! The feeling is just so terribly a!
wful looking at the leader and the young man who is “reminded” to pay
up. Shouldn’t we all be happy giver. Cheerful giver. Why the need to
haunt and remind people to give. This method liken a debt collector
within the premise of a church. If god visited chc at that instant
moment or see all the money collection department coming down on their
people to pay pay and pay up, what would he say? I really wish god can
provide me with wisdom – tell me god that perhaps I am the blind one
who didn’t see and didn’t know. What has become of our church. Is
money all that matter? I left really disillusioned. I know what the
people said of me from chc. I have gone to the dark side.

                 2.Marcelli Mario Part II-

                 Then after chc, I went on
to another church that my son goes to for fellowship. This time I got
really close to the pastors because they seem really caring for the
youth. Although the problem now is not money but time. My son spent
all weekdays in church and all weekends in church. The name is Heart
of god church. But I have not known the couple pastor Seow How and
pastor Cecilia Chan running HOGC are so close to chc pastor kong hee
and pastor sun ho that one day even the same building fund message
from chc gets repeated in hogc. Exactly the same give until you cry
message. When I heard it eventually I really cry. Chc is everywhere
now.

                 Things were fine until the sun ho cd album saga
again. Heart of god church sent their trusted youths (they only have
youths anyway which are so innocent) out to the music stores to buy up
all the CDs in the local music stores to boost rankings. We have
hundreds and hundreds of Sun Ho CDs in hogc church. Every single
member was given one CD each. If your family of 4, father, mother and
2 children, you get 4 CDs. I really don't know what this is for. All I
know after we gave away hundreds of CDs, we still have hundreds left
in church. That was then I knew chc power in ensuring even “sister”
church members are not spare! d of crossover project. And the pastor
Seow How and pastor Cecilia chan, like two obedient followers building
their mini church who themselves are still struggling, sent their
young people to buy up hundreds and hundreds of cd in the name to help
chc crossover project. To push sun ho CD to top ranking so those from
"another world" get to know who sun ho is and hopefully in turn can
hear the gospel. Because of my giving to church, I was separately
given a lot of sun ho CD to give away personally, the pastors see this
as a love gifts. I took them on obligation and all still sitting in my
house in box with price tags of different music stores... I don't even
know how to tell others or give away to who. Tell them to listen to my
non gospel pastor music and be saved?

                 But I am thankful that at least heart of god church
pastors didn’t and couldn’t force us to buy sun ho cd. They, pastor
seow how and pastor cecilia chan, in return are the one buying up
using hogc funds definitely, so that in their heart they know they too
have helped the crossover project. We did it again and again everytime
sun ho album is released. Until I really believe there is no way we
can avoid the powerhouse chc pressing on obedient young affiliated
churches to buy and buy and buy. All the different price tags on the
CD covers are like war badges to show why Sun Ho ranking can topped. I
am 100% confident it is the act of man that her music topped all music
charts. The pushing of CD album sales is full scale project and it was
massive sales pitch with big agenda. Until now whenever I talked about
the effort on ensuring Sun Ho CDs and music charts are topped make my
hair stand! It was like the church is going out for war and the man is
chanting!

2.Marcelli Mario
                I reckon the hogc pastors are
doing good stuff for the youths. But they still need money since the
church is young, so I really don’t understand why throw the money into
buying cd? If crossover is chc project why hogc also need to give and
give until you cry and blo! od shed. The pastors shared the same
sermons like kong hee. Pastor Cecilia Chan also preached the same to
give and give until your heart ache in her building fund message.
Exactly the same... It's most unfortunate that she has contacted cancer now.

Pastor owns a church and temple

                 The thing that really woke me up for I was a stupid,
slow and really slow and stupid believer, is where pastor Seow How
said he owns a Chinese temple left by his late dad. As a pastor you
must lead and guide in the right way. How could you still publicly
said you are the one and probably the only one in the world who has
both a chinese medium temple and a christian church. It is not funny
at all, pastor Seow How! You are not a kid. Don’t make a fool of
yourself and bring the youth into wrong believing. When he preached
about this "blessing", he proudly declare the property of the temple
is so worthy. It's near orchard road and look how he is blessed...
What fool he is. As a pastor and leader, you should cut off this sin
from your fore-fathers and not continue this sin. Yet you take it on
and proudly declare you are now the owner of a temple AND a church. Do
you not know your duty. God will provide for his people. You took the
temple because the land is worth some money, some good money. But I
really don't get it how you can missed this point that you are a
pastor. Not a property agent! Have you also become a businessman like
Kong? Becoming a property investor overnight?


                 The last of it all was when I see youths and young
people from heart of god church giving beyond their means, and having
to borrow money to fulfil their commitment to the building fund, all
in the name of GIVING. Already time is taken away from these young
people's family, they are always spending time in church, Monday to
Sunday. Now money is next. Pastor Seow How always taken the route to
preach about giving and more giving. It's either to Give Time, work in
church for free, cleaning, sound, video, serving, EVERYTHING! ! Then
with those who cannot give time, it's MONEY - The same type of message
chc shares. I see people in hogc publicly declaring they are giving
$100k , $1m, in hogc especially during building fund season. Its a
line up of stories after stories with powerpoints and charts! It’s a
standard now. And if you can give, it means you have been blessed to
receive, because imagine if you gave $1m, that means you will have
received $10m. Wow! Now everyone wants to give $1m so that they can
have $10m. Simple maths, it's 10%!

                 But in the real world. I see the kids struggling to
give. Some borrowed to give. Some don’t give their parents. Some dont
even have basic savings for themselves for rainy days. Their financial
is so terrible that the only body benefitting is clearly the church
and the men of church. Many do not give to their family because they
now have the second family - our home Heart of God Church. Their new
parents are pastor Seow How and pastor Cecilia Chan.

                 I know because I have lost my son to them. Whatever
I said is nothing compared to the darling Pastor Lia @Lia_Chan and
Pastor How @Seowhow. They are family. Our home is now as good as
hotel. My son comes home to sleep, dinner is never possible now.
Weekends are hogc only. The closest family is Lia and How. Everything
I said or I dare bring up about the church made me a devil, demonised
to speak ill about the church. I am clearly the one who don't get it
for there is a bigger cause to die for and I just am not the chosen
one to see it.

                 For years I fight so hard and I pray and ask God why
have I failed as parent? I provide the best education and provided
roof, food and cloth my son and we have a very good family
relationship until he attended this church and given all his time,
effort, energy to build hogc as the next mega church and now his
money. I go to hogc listening to Pastor How and Lia to know what he is
up to. Breaking up family and taking away kids at their tender age
where they are all trying to u! nderstand the world and when they are
innocent while searching for an answer for everything. Pastor How and
Lia mesmerize with their love, care and gives them a goal to achieve
when they have no goal. I clearly lost the battle for the children all
want the attention of How and Lia. They are one big family where the
mother and father at home are nothing but nagging old folks. Read
their twitters and you shall see blind faith worshipping man.

                 If you listen to Pastor How story of his family, his
father beating his mom, his father's objection to his work. You will
know it's a brainwashing message to get the youths, the children to
rebel against the family, to fight the family so they get to do what
they are called to do - build hogc family. This story is told again
and again and even made it to the basic training material for ALL
newcomer new member of hogc. It stir up a rebel in the children to go
against the family. Listen if you can get it, and you will know what I
mean.

                 There is no different from chc and hogc. Hogc is the
next of chc. Chc can go down but there will be another chc that will
come up. The same type. The same breed. It never stop here. It will
continue to grow with roots deeper than earth...

CFM Letter to the Malaysian Churches & Christians on the Forthcoming 13th General Elections

CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA 

(PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA) 

18th July 2012 

CFM LETTER TO THE MALAYSIAN CHURCHES & CHRISTIANS 

ON THE FORTHCOMING 13th GENERAL ELECTIONS 

VOTE WISELY, VOTE FOR A BETTER MALAYSIA 

In the first two chapters of Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament, we read 

of two separate accounts of God giving to Adam rule and authority over the 

earth and all that live in it.  In the first book of the New Testament, the Gospel 

according to St. Matthew, chapter 5 and verses 13 to 15, Christians are told that 

they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  

These two passages and the collective message of our Holy Scripture point to 

the inescapable conclusion that Christians have a duty to protect and safeguard 

the earth, and all that live in it.  Christians have not only been granted rights of 

leadership, but also the responsibility of stewardship.  

In the context of the nation state, Christians, like other citizens, have been 

granted certain rights, including the right to participate in the democratic 

process of a country. This right to participate must be balanced with the 

responsibility of exercising that right, and doing so wisely.  

The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) therefore invites and encourages 

all Christians to be conscious of their political rights – to vote, and to use the 

power of the vote to elect a government that will ensure justice with equity and 

the well-being of our nation.  The CFM is not politically motivated nor is it 

endorsing any one political party.  

It is of fundamental importance in a democracy, that citizens actually exercise 

their right to vote. Having the right to vote without utilising it is of little use.   

Voting ensures that every Malaysian citizen participates in bringing about a 

more just and equitable Malaysia for succeeding generations to come.   

Therefore, it is important that as Christians, we undertake our duty as citizens 

and exercise our right to vote and express our preference for a political coalition 

that will best achieve our vision of a better Malaysia. 

In terms of our vision for a better Malaysia, CFM encourages Malaysian 

Christians to think about the following priorities: 

●  A nation guided by the ethics of respect for human dignity. This means a 

nation where its citizens are engaged fairly as equals, and their rights 

respected in accordance with the provisions as guaranteed under the 

Federal Constitution. Such a nation treats its citizens with understanding, 

honesty and mutual respect. 

●   A nation where extremism of all kinds is rejected and quickly curtailed. 

Racial and religious bigotry, manipulation and lies that have now come to 

define the social sphere, the print media and political posturing must end 

immediately. 

●  A nation free of corruption, putting in place strengthened state and public 

institutions whose members conduct themselves with integrity, 

transparency and accountability.  

●   A nation that works towards the fair and equitable distribution of wealth 

and ensuring well-being for all, regardless of citizenship status, ethnicity 

or creed. Every citizen and every community should be empowered and 

enabled to pursue economic activity and achieve advancement duly and 

fairly supported by the government where needed and necessary without 

favour or discrimination and without being overly or unfairly supported 

by the state. 

●   A nation where care for the environment is privileged over self-seeking 

capitalism and where its political leaders weigh all decisions with 

ecological interest and sustainability as an essential aspect of 

development. 

● A nation where language and education are de-linked from political  

expedience. 

●   A nation where elitism and inequality is not rampant and people are 

recognised and respected as human beings and not discriminated against 

due to social position, educational attainment, political beliefs, gender, 

race or religion. 

●  A nation where religious freedom to profess, practice and propagate one’s 

religion is allowed to flourish without undue curtailment from the law, 

restrictions or even prohibition.  

The CFM encourages Christians to pray that good leaders will emerge from 

the 13th general elections who will not only fulfil the above criteria, but who 

have the interest of our beloved nation and its people as their first and only 

priority.  

Malaysians today are better educated, politically and socially more aware, 

and geographically more mobile than at any time in our history, and these 

have led to a citizenry that is more knowledgeable and experienced.   

Churches have a responsibility to help guide their congregations to use their 

wisdom in the exercise of their right to vote in order to bring about a nation 

where all Malaysians, and those who choose to make their living in this 

country,  can live in harmony and prosperity,  peace and justice.  

May the grace and the peace of God be with you.  

Bishop Datuk Ng Moon Hing 

Chairman and the Executive Committee  

The Christian Federation of Malaysia

2012 24-7 Year of Prayer for Malaysia - July

A few weeks ago, we have been enlightened with the actual facts about where and how the leadership in Calvary Church, Kuala Lumpur have used the money collected through the Faith Promise Pledge. The Faith Promise Fund was supposed to be used to support Missions work but instead was used to fund Calvary Church's own internal Church ministries.

To read more about the above, click : Is Calvary’s Faith Promise Giving a Sham? 

Then we were shocked by the arrest of Pastor Kong Hee and 4 others from Singapore over the abuse and misuse of Church funds.

When the Church fail to fulfill it's responsibility to utilize the hard earned money that the people give to help the poor and to fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, what should the Christians do?

This month's PRAYER EMPHASIS gives us A GUIDE.

However, we should not only pray for the Migrants and Refugees but we should also attempt to be God's hand extended to them by supporting the Churches with special ministries to these groups of needy people.

From this month on, let us put our money in the hands of Church leaders who truly care and are really reaching out to people in need of our support.

To read the previous months' Prayer Emphasis click : 2012 Year of Prayer for Malaysia 

RBC Resource Centre Bhd

Peti Surat 86

Taman Sri Tebrau

80057 Johor Bahru

Malaysia

Tel : (60-7) 353 1718

Fax : (60-7) 353 4439

Email : malaysia@rbc.org

Website : www.rbcintl.org

ABUSE of church funds not new in M'sia either

This is an article taken from the online news portal Malaysia Chronicle. (Click for original source) 

What we have seen happening to the Singapore Church, will it also happen here in Malaysia?

ABUSE of church funds not new in M'sia either: RM59mil to support wife's singing career!

Written by  Christopher Fernandez, Malaysia Chronicle

Recent reports from across the Causeway that the founder of one of Singapore’s richest fundamental Christian churches has been charged in court for allegedly siphoning off nearly RM59 million of the congregation’s money to support his wife’s singing career are abuses of church finances that are not new.

Even in Malaysia there have been cases of abuses of church funds from time to time that have most of the time been swept under the carpet as Christian groups do not wish the involvement of the governing authorities in their churches especially among fundamental Christian churches.

Fundamental Christians are new entrants in the world of Christendom. Unlike the Roman Catholic and multiple number of Protestant denominations that have existed for centuries, fundamental Christians or evangelical Christians (as they like to be referred to) evolved out of the “Azusa Street” revivals of post-Great Depression America and have managed to propagate their beliefs throughout the world.

Fundamental Christians in Malaysia

In the past, several fundamental Christian groups have been highlighted to the public over their “troubled” status as churches such as Gereja Hujan Akhir or the Latter Rain Church (Petaling Jaya), the New Testament Church (Tapah) and Calvary Church (Damansara Heights).

Calvary Church, most notably under the leadership of their senior pastor, Tan Sri Dr Prince Gunaretnam, was several years ago embroiled in a financial scandal.

The alleged misappropriation of funds by the senior pastor was hushed up though the church was splintered into two factions in an acrimonious spat that witnessed a certain number of members losing faith and confidence in the management of the church.

Within fundamental churches there have also existed instances of incest, sexual misconduct, unaccountability or misuse of sourced funds and other abuses over the years.

While the wrongdoers are not above disciplinary measures, most offences are usually swept under the carpet in a “keep it within the family” spirit.

As a result, there are a growing number of complaints not only by mainstream churches such as the Catholics, the Anglicans, the Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans and others, but also by Islamic groups, Hindu and Sikh organisations and the Buddhists over the activities of fundamental Christian church groups as they focus on pinching followers from other faiths.

Checks-and-Balances

Up to now, there have been no real checks-and-balances conducted or imposed upon fundamental Christian groups. They also seem to be keen proponents of the free enterprise spirit with some of them raising millions of ringgit in building and missionary projects.

These are usually churches with humble start-ups in houses, shop-houses, former cinema theatres, who sometimes transform into “community centers” as a way to escape the scrutiny of the authorities.

Their proselytizing activity is not just a “conversion of souls” measure but also an attempt to boost the coffers of the church.

Fundamental churches have large “treasure chests” because church members are asked to part with 10 per cent of their salary every month.

Besides this, there are financial pledges to fulfill and donations and offerings in cash or kind made to the churches making the whole set-up reek of a fabulously-run corporate structure eventually.

The general comment by mainstream church members is that fundamental churches are nothing more than “business enterprises.”

The systematic indoctrination of members include behaviour modification to the extent members owe a life-long allegiance to their churches with the promise of eternal life upon death for their submission and obedience to leaders of the church who profess to act on behalf of God.

The success of brainwashing weak-willed individuals who fall prey to their proselytizing usually enables leaders of these churches to live off the commercial efforts of their adherents and to fund a jet-setting and lavish lifestyle on the pretext of “taking care of the business of God.”

Will it happen here?

Prevention is always better than cure. It is timely to recall how Pastor David Koresh destroyed a community of fundamental Christians or how Reverend Jim Jones, an ex-pastor of the Assemblies of God, drove the members of his church to commit suicide en masse in what has come to be known as “The Jonestown Tragedy,” in Guyana.

This is another noticeable failing of fundamental Christians. They are also doomsday cults – with a preoccupation with the afterlife - which distinguishes them markedly from the remarkably health activity of the mainstream or traditional churches.

Usually, persons who fall for their proselytizing are persons who have difficulty in the areas of health, finances, relationships, or with study, work or business problems. These individuals are easy prey.

Unhealthy and extremist religious groups

Owing to the evolvement of this situation, where liberty is given to religious organisations, there has emerged a significant number of groups with teachings that are counter-productive to the health and well-being of a secular state like Malaysia.

One has only to go through the list of religious organisations in this country at the Religious Affairs Department and witness the number of “independent” churches that exist each with their own version of Christianity unlike that espoused by mainstream and traditional churches.

Unhealthy and extreme religious groups must be dealt with firmly and the government must exercise their clout to nip the problems in the bud caused by organisations of this nature before they begin to fester and inflame the ever-so-delicate fabric of our multi-religious, multi-racial environment.

In doing so, the government has to been seen not only as acting fairly, and in a secular manner, but in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the land. There has to be a more open and transparent approach by the government to ensure, for the safety and security of the populace, that all religious communities toe the line.

Validity and relevance of fundamental Christians

Unlike a growing number of countries in the world today, Malaysia has, thankfully, been spared the wrath of any untoward religious flare-ups. This augurs well for us. Since we are a fairly young nation, if we appear to be doing well in the practice of our individual beliefs, it is largely because government mechanisms in place to check religious tensions have so far been effective.

So far mainstream and traditional Christian groups have really no bone to pick with the government or any other quarter, however critical the criticisms leveled at them. This is a sign of the growing tolerance and accommodative nature of mainstream and traditional churches.

The exception perhaps is that of the role of fundamental Christian groups with their own commercial kind of branding of Christianity. What is being propagated by them should come not only under the scrutiny of the government but also by the various Christian denominations as to their validity and relevance in a country such as Malaysia.

Malaysia Chronicle

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