Pastor: Mega-Church Leader Impetus in Contemporary Asian Church Movement

Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 Posted: 2:46:42PM HKT

Rev Dr Kong Hee preaching during his plenary session at Asia Conference 2008 held last week at the Singapore Expo. (Photo: CHC)

A well-known pastor has called the leader of a local mega-church a driving force for the transition of the Asian Church from a traditional model to a contemporary one.

Rev Dr Kong Hee, Honourary Senior Pastor of City Harvest Church, was lauded by Rev Dr Phil Pringle of Christian City Church, an Australia-based church network, during an on-stage interview for being a key figure behind the contemporary Asian Church movement, reported CHC.

Both were speaking at the Charismatic mega-church’s recently concluded inaugural Asia Conference 2008, a large-scale event targeted at the equipping of Christians in Singapore and the region beyond, which was held over last week at the Singapore Expo.

When the pastor asked Pringle about how the Asian Church can transit from a traditional church to a contemporary one, the latter replied, “Two words: Kong Hee.”

Kong, who founded the mega-church 19 years ago, is known for his emphasis on fulfilling the Cultural Mandate – a movement by which the Church attempts to penetrate society and transform it.

The success of the church can be seen in it being the numerically largest congregation in the nation and with more than 70 percent of its membership comprising first-time converts. Moreover, the church has attracted some high-profile figures including acclaimed local film-maker and actor Jack Neo, who shared during the conference that it was through the church’s generosity to him, allowing him to use their office during the filming of Just Follow Law that he came to know about and subsequently attend CHC.

The pastor, who leads his church with his personality and gift of preaching, believes that the key to church growth lies in the importance of the leadership of the pastor. A pastor, according to him, needs to be effective in communicating the vision of the church to its members, and in motivating members through his or her messages.

Evangelism is also high on the agenda of the 44-year old church leader, who believes in mobilising his masses to spread the Gospel where they are based in the workplace and even in closed groups normally inaccessible to ordinary people. He adapted this concept of “3rd Space” from author Erwin McManus, which explains Christianity in terms of space and how we need to connect with people in their space and help them to experience God.

During his plenary session last week in which he prophesied, Pringle encouraged the attendants to support Kong as God raised him up to walk in the “corridors of power” in the governments and business of Asia, advising decision-makers and leaders in the “3rd Space” of society.

Edmond Chua
edmond@christianpost.com