Hi all. Understand from many parents and students that the changes to the format of the chinese oral exam have been a bit confusing. If you want to check out the new oral video formats, you can click on http://myflyingcolours.com/. They have samples for tamil and malay oral videos as well.


Thanks and hope it helps.

Hi. I think there is a lack of materials out there to show how the new oral exam video format looks like. I saw some samples on this website. You can check out the http://myflyingcolours.com samples.


Hope this helps. Cheers.

This is a letter that a CHC member has written to the press. It just makes me realize how deluded the members are actually, how brainwashed they truly are. My comments below in blue.



Dear Editors,

I am deeply saddened by the reactions of netizens to the arrest of my dearest pastor Kong Hee. As a long time member of City Harvest Church, the public clearly does not understand the sacrifices he had to make in the name of God.

When I first received Sun Ho’s Chinese pop CD in 2003, I thought to myself: “what kind of devil’s music is this?” But as I listened more, it began to dawn on me that I was being overly prudish and she was actually spreading the word of God in the form of Satan-worshipping music to beat the devil at his own game.

REALLY? How in the world does one beat the devil at his own game by indulging in sin? So does one need to become a prostitute to save prostitutes? Does one need to be a murderer to save murderers?

Sammi Cheng is a good example of a singer who has become a Christian. She released an album titled 'Faith' which she never thought would sell well because it is about her faith to God. Amazingly, it sold extremely well and many non christians became christians after listening to her testimonial and listening to her songs.

This is a superb example of how being a famous pop singer can help to spread the word of the Lord. Not by 'trying to beat the devil at his game' by wearing skimpy clothes and acting as a Geisha.


Indeed, the more involved I became at the Church, the more I began to understand that I could not even begin to comprehend God’s plan and the plans pastor Kong had for me, and the church. You see, I am but mortal. Pastor Kong was the chosen one.

How did one come to this conclusion??? Is he Jose Mourinho?? By calling Kong Hee the 'chosen one', it is a glaring example of how this church member has come to idolize a person instead of God. Is it not possible that this guy is a sinner as well? Is it not possible that he could be blinded by greed? Is it not possible that 23 million dollars is too extravagent an expense for outreach?

Kelly Clarkson, the grammy winner only makes about 10 million dollars a year. Yet 23 million is spent just to make Sun Ho 'make it' in Hollywood?

Without his light shining like a beacon of conscience, the gays, prostitutes, and the opposition would start to take over Singapore. Satan would then have a hub to take over the world.

Seriously dude???

So it was with deep love that I decided to dedicate 30% of my husband’s salary each month to help fund Sun Ho’s music career as part of the Crossover project.

As a good christian, I have an obligation to The Lord to spread his message: from Singapore to Malaysia, to Taiwan, China and even the town of sin, Hollywood.

It must have been extremely difficult for pastor Kong to see his wife in such disgusting states of undress in public, and for her to live in the heart of the most unholy places on earth, Beverly Hills.

Wow. It's so painful for them? No wonder they have to make up for the pain and sacrifice by buying a pent house in Sentosa Cove to recuperate. 9.8 million well spent. Amen.

I’ve watched the TV series 90210 when I was younger. These people have no morals but like lepers, the Man and Woman of God must go to the sick to heal the sick.

People outside the church don’t understand us and are so quick to condemn when they haven’t experienced God through His music, sung to thumping beats and a negro man saying something intelligible at the beginning.

I do not understand how “China wine” or being a Geisha is related to God’s work, but as I said, I’m only mortal. God has a plan, even when I don’t understand. Even when it involves S$23 million. If pastor Kong was using that money, it must be God’s will.

It's ok if you don't know God's plan. Most of us don't. But hey, at least read the bible and understand it if you truly believe that the Bible is the word of God. Don't mistake ignorance as not knowing God's plan. If you read and understand the bible, it will be crystal clear that many teachings from your dearest pastor is not in line with the teachings of Jesus. The Bible says that there will be many false prophets and teachers during the end times. They are wolf's in sheep's clothings. We need to have a discerning attitude so we do not fall prey to them.

Jesus preaches forgiveness, and therefore we must forgive even if we don’t want to.

So I forgive the government, and the public for misunderstanding and maligning the Church.

There’s a special place in hell for people who say nasty things about Kong Hee and an even worse one for those that framed God’s chosen workers.

In the same vein, I forgive you for being ignorant and gullible. It's really not your fault. You've just been sufficiently brainwashed.

I pray that it will be like Sodom and Gonorrhea.

You seriously have no idea don't you?

Yours truly,

Faithful Christian of CHC

Well said and totally agreed. Thanks!

tutormum:

I don't see how the videos made by Sun will in any way reach out to the secular world. We are in the world but don't have to be of the world. She doesn't have to conform to their ways to connect with them. KH, by preaching the prosperity gospel, is actually not preaching Christianity but greed. There is only one gospel and that is Christ came to save the lost by dying on the cross. Galatians 1 v 6 \"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.\" How do we tell a true Christian from a fraud? By the fruits that he bears. Culture mandate? It's true that we must flow with the time but that doesn't mean that we don't draw a line in how we conduct ourselves. We don't have to behave like a rebellious teenager to connect with one. Jesus dined with sinners but He didn't sin. KH must have great confidence in his project and vision but obviously has missed the mark. There are many well-known singers and artistes in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan who have converted to Christianity in recent years. They shared their stories on t.v. and in churches. Sammi Cheng cut an album entitled \"Faith\" as soon as she professed her faith. She was shocked when her album was sold out in Hong Kong as soon as it was released. She was apprehensive at first cos she was worried that it might not be accepted by her fans as it was something very different from what she has done before. The songs in the album don't hard sell Christianity but the lyrics project love and trust in God. The music was catchy and lively, something very contemporary actually. Many of her fans became Christians and continued to support her. Many other Hong Kong artistes including Jacqueline Law who has just passed on shared their testimonies on how they converted to Christianity and every story speaks of how they overcome their depression, sickness etc to find hope in Christ. In fact, some of them shared that they become very selective in accepting jobs and will rather earn less than do something without depth. Why can't Sun reach out to non-Christians in the same way? Sharing how she overcome the stigma of being a victim of child abuse and how Jesus changed her life will be a much better testimony than appearing in China Wine. In fact, from some of the posts, her conduct and videos clearly point people away from Christianity. If a Christian got pissed off seeing her posters pasted all over the church premises, what could have crossed a new believer's mind? Isn't this a stumbling block? Hopefully, some good will come out of this saga. We joked, we criticised, we shared, we gossiped and when it's water under the bridge, let us move on and make this world a better place. We Christians should live our lives to profess Christ. Pastors and teachers of the gospel should reflect on their conduct to ensure that they are beyond reproof. All religions teach us to be good. Whether one is a Christian or Buddhist, we know that we are of a sinful nature and are not perfect beings but we can contribute positively to our society. Do we have to quarrel and fight in public transport over a seat, for example? Let's be gracious towards one another regardless of race and religion. Let he who has no sin cast the first stone.

Kong Hee's degree and doctorate real??


It seems that even KH's theology doctorate might have been bought ... does he even have the necessary credentials and education in theology?

KH has obtained his masters and doctorate from a university known as New Covenant International University and Theological Seminary (NCIU). It seems that this school has no campus, no curriculum, no facilities, no office.

It does seem that NCIU is a diploma mill, with doctorates and master's degrees for sale, where any incoherent, fatuous, and plagiarized essay qualifies as a doctoral thesis or dissertation.

If NCIU is indeed a bogus school, then Kong Hee has never taken any courses (not even by mail) normally expected of a pastor in a mainline Christian denomination.

Did Kong Hee's probably bogus master's degree help him in getting ordained in 1991?

What does it say about the honesty and integrity of Kong Hee and Pringle that they would seek to impress their flocks with probably bogus \"doctorates\" from an outfit such as NCIU?

Source from:
http://exchersonesusaurea.blogspot.sg/2012/07/city-harvest-churchs-senior-pastor-phil.html

Kong Hee plagiarism case

Does he still maintain his INTEGRITY?

The Straits Times reports that two American authors of a Christian study book have accused him of using their work without proper credit or permission.

Although Professor Sid Buzzell and Dr Kenneth Boa say they will take no legal action on Kong Hee, both have asked the Pastor to stop using their material immediately. Otherwise, Professor Buzzell would “threaten him with exposure to his church”.

Kong Hee had copied the authors’ work without due credit in two books he published entitled ‘Renewing Your Spiritual Enegery in 90 Days’ Volumes I and II. Both books are still available at major Christian bookstores from $15 to $18.90.

Source from:
http://goeagles2u.blogspot.sg/2010/11/pastor-kong-hee-accused-of-plagiarism.html

Here is something I have read ... in fact City Harvest and Kong Hee seems to have relatively strong ties with a tele-evangelist called Benny Hinn. Apparently Benny Hinn was invited to City Harvest to preach in 2008.


For those who don't know who Benny Hinn is, he is in fact one of the greatest con artist masquerading as a pastor. He even owns a private jet and claims he can heal all sicknesses using 'faith healing' which is never proven.

Here is an excerpt of Benny Hinn and what his church does.

‘God bless your credit card’
Johannesburg - God’s blessing would last only two minutes and it would create 500 churchgoing millionaires or even billionaires - all they had to do was use their credit cards to pay $1 000 in offerings to televangelist Benny Hinn.

Pastor Tommie Ferreira of the AGS Church in Johannesburg was so upset about the “blessing” that, after a week, he wanted to know who of the donors actually had become millionaires.

Ferreira told Rapport he did not mean to bring about Hinn’s downfall.

He merely wanted to know if any of the hundreds of churchgoers who donated amounts of up to $1 000 (about R7 500) to Hinn’s Miracle Crusade last week Saturday had now become millionaires.

About 18 000 people streamed to the Coca-Cola Dome in Randburg to hear Hinn’s message of healing and miracles.

Ferreira, who is a keen choir singer, voluntarily sang in the Miracle Crusade’s choir. He said one of Hinn’s American guest speakers, Pastor Todd Koontz, spoke about financial burdens and said 500 audience members would receive “an exceptional blessing”.

“He said the service would yield millionaires and billionaires within 24 hours.

“Everyone had to donate $1 000 because an exceptional blessing rested on $1 000.”

Koontz apparently really had the congregation scrambling when he said, “This blessing will be poured out for only two minutes.”

Ferreira said: “People stormed to the front - poor people, rich people, people from all sections of our society.”

Hinn’s co-pastors apparently had credit-card machines ready with which they could take donations.

“He (Koontz) said God would bless the people’s credit cards and they would be able to rule over South Africa with their money. Eventually there were no fewer than 1 000 people who made such donations.”

According to Ferreira’s calculations, Hinn must have collected millions of rands with these donations - perhaps more than R7m if each of the 1 000 church-goers donated $1 000 in the hope of becoming millionaires.

Furthermore, after Koontz’s collection of the $1 000 donations, Hinn collected general donations.

Dr Sarel Smit of the AGS church Lofstad in Hursthill, Johannesburg, who supported Ferreira as he spoke to Rapport, was equally worried about the method by which Hinn collected donations.

“Especially at a time like this when there is dire need, people run the risk of losing their faith in the Lord in this way. God will provide for your needs, but not your greed.”

Rapport spoke to an employee in Hinn’s South African office in Durban who said on Friday morning that they were still busy collecting money. \"

This guy has been exposed as a fraud and the amazing thing is he can still be so successful sucking money from unsuspecting, helpless people.

For people who are interested to know about him, you can check out this link and all evidences against Benny Hinn.

http://www.blog.joelx.com/pastor-benny-hinn-fraud-scam-divorce/4863/

I really hope people can do their own research about their church leaders and their teachings before blindly following and handing over hard earned money that can be put to greater use.

And for CHC members, is it not strange that your church associates with someone like that? Does it not reflect on the views of your church leaders?

my two cents,
kc

I don’t have a problem with KH being rich or owning a property in Sentosa Cove … BUT the question is HOW?


Did he make the money on his own businesses and his own projects? Or was money from the church somehow connected to his businesses?

Was his earning and profits transparent and ethical? Was there any misappropriation of funds?

These answers can only be found out after the court hopefully gives a fair trial.

On a side note, I hear sudden ‘testimonials’ from CHC members on how the crossover project has impacted lives … and although I don’t doubt that it has impacted lives for sure … so has many missionaries all over the world …

There are doctors, charity workers working their socks off in poor countries and I am sure they impacted lives too … How much funding do you think they need?

28 million dollars??? Really?

Secondly, it’s a matter of transparency and accountability both towards the country’s law and to their church members. Was there an act to hide or conceal the church funds to fund Sun Ho’s singing career?

CHC members, I think the issue is a little bit more than a matter of whether the ‘crossover’ project impacted lives or not. It’s a matter of accountability as a charity organization, a matter of integrity in making sure all the accounts were transparent and ultimately, a question of intent.

Was the project solely done to ‘reach out’ or was it really a vanity project for Sun Ho? Are there not more talented and younger people who might be better ‘ambassadors’ for the project? Was Sun Ho chosen on merit?

What if a finance manager from an office, takes 28 million dollars from the office without telling anyone, takes it to invest in some shares.

This finance manager knows his stuff well. Within a month, he makes a twenty percent profit of the 28 million. That is a cool 5 million dollars. He returns the 28 million dollars and even uses 1 million dollars from his profit to give to various charities and the poor.

Has he done good? For sure he has! A million dollars worth of money to donate to charity is a lot! BUT was what he did right in the eyes of the law? And was what he did ethically, morally, and religiously right?

These are answers we must seek in the case of the KH and CHC case. It is not just a matter of whether they have done good for people.

I absolutely agree that there will always be new alternatives. In fact, I am so sure that there will be many more churches, charities and temples that have the same issues as CHC.


Power corrupts. Absolute Power corrupts absolutely.
- Animal Farm.

kc.

empressplace:

I agree with what KC Tan said about the soundness of teachings. Without commenting on the criminal case or the character of KH, one can easily look up KH's teachings and critique them as the fighting for the faith website has done.

I particularly disagree with the exhortation to give regardless of one's financial condition. This is absolute nonsense.

What this recent scandal highlighted is the need for parents to guard their kids against incorrect teachings/ influences. When kids are experiencing teenage angst and start to distance themselves from parents, it's hard to control what they think or do. Obviously parents don't look as cool and friendly/loving as people who dress like them or \"understand\" their needs. Perhaps it's necessary to arm them with knowledge from a younger age as a defence mechanism. Here's an interesting article that could be shared with kids:
http://www.cultwatch.com/HowPastorsGetRich.html

This matter may eventually blow over and be forgotten but then, who's to say that no new alternatives would rise up eventually?

it's very enlightening to hear the many views about City Harvest case here.


I think that Kong Hee and gang should get a chance to defend against the allegations against them, from a purely legal perspective.

I do hear many members of CHC defending KH passionately. I have no doubt that they do good for some people. But the questions remains ... is what they are doing in line with what the bible says?

Most would agree that CHC's sermons are based on a type of 'prosperity teachings'. Is prosperity preaching really in line with the teachings of the bible? The only way we can know is to examine the scriptures in the bible.

First I think we need to know what exactly is a prosperity preacher ....

The following text are taken from http://www.heprayed.com/PracticalDevotions/41

\" A prosperity preacher is one who claims to be a Christian, but whose teaching focuses on man’s happiness and prosperity in this life. He is a humanist. It’s amazing… the only time in scripture where Jesus got furious was when men used God’s temple to make money (Luke 19:45-46). These were money-grubbers setting up shop in the Lord’s house of prayer. \"

It happened in Jesus’ day and it’s happening in our day. This is exactly what hundreds and thousands of prosperity preachers are doing today. These men and women that stand up in their golden pulpits in designer clothing begging for money and making promises of healing and monetary return in the name of Christ should cause a holy anger in God’s children!

The immature believer will often find it hard to distinguish these false teachers. We must warn against these mammon worshippers that call themselves Christians as a doctor warns against a deadly poison advertised as a medicine. This false gospel is spreading like wildfire.\"

I find it absolutely incredulous that KH actually had a sermon which talked about Jesus being rich which is a direct contradict to the bible.

\" Prosperity preachers tend to live lavish lifestyles with fancy cars, large houses, expensive clothes. Jesus did not do this. He did not even carry a penny on him (Matt 22:19). He had no place to live. “Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’” (Luke 9:58). \"

Some of the other behavior from the church which contradicts the bible are:

Prosperity preachers rarely preach against sin.
This is because they are concerned less about the soul than they are the body. They are concerned about this life more than they are eternity. Jesus preached against sin harder than anybody I’ve ever heard. When a man tells you to rather cut out your eye than sin, you can be sure that He’s serious about it (Matt 18:9). Listen very carefully and take note of how often a pastor talks about sin and speaks against it. This will tell you much about his own walk with the Lord.

There is ZERO fear of God in their preaching.
For all the gentle things that Jesus said to one person, He had a rebuke for another. He once called a Roman a man of great faith, and then called the Pharisees brood of vipers! The first is a picture of the Lord’s love, meekness and gentleness. How about the latter? Would you call Him “gentle Jesus” when He spoke to the Pharisees, calling them hypocrites, sons of Satan?! Our Lord was doing as the scripture commands : “And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (Jude 1:22-23). Prosperity preachers only follow the \"compassion\" part of that passage, for they are too fearful to rebuke. They believe in the love of God, but not the fear of God.

I think in the case of CHC and KH, there are two things involved. One- whether they have broken any laws of the country. Two- if what KH is preaching is truly what is from the bible or it's only being twisted to the church's own gain?

For question 1, we are yet to know the answer even though evidences so far are heavily stacked against KH and gang. For question 2, we will all have our opinions because it's something religious. BUT it is important to understand the BIBLE because if we truly trust that it is the word of GOD, then isn't it important to know the bible well enough to know if the pastor is preaching something against the word?

The members of CHC who are vehemently defending their leader has to ask this question ultimately ... is what KH and other pastors from CHC really preaching the WORD from the bible or are they, like most prosperity preachers merely using parts of the bible to further their gain?

Just my two cents worth,
KC