Singapore Pastor Kong Hee Seeks God's Strength After Fraud Charges
Since being charged last month for allegedly misusing millions of dollars to support his wife's pop music career, Singapore megachurch pastor Kong Hee has been tweeting Bible verses, seeking strength and comfort from above.
"Show me Ur ways, O Lord, teach me Ur paths; guide me in Ur truth ... for U r my God & my hope is in U all day long ~ Ps 25:4-5," he tweeted last week.
"Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed,for I am your God ~ Is. 41:10."
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On the day he and four other executives at City Harvest Church – one of Singapore's largest churches – were charged for criminal breach of trust, the popular pastor recalled the hymn "trust and obey" and also cited Psalm, "But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; You are my glory, the One who holds my head high."
Kong and the other executives were arrested last month after a two-year investigation by Singapore's Commissioner of Charities (COC) and the Commercial Affairs Department of the Singapore police. The COC said it received complaints in early 2010 alleging the misuse of funds.
COC's inquiry revealed that "funds were used with the purported intention to finance Ho Yeow Sun's secular music career to connect with people. There was a concerted effort to conceal this movement of funds from its stakeholders."
City Harvest Church has defended its pastor, saying Kong did not cheat the church of S$50 million. It also defended the music career of his wife, also known as Sun Ho, saying she was using her status to spread the Gospel.
Faith Community Baptist Church Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong has asked his congregation in Singapore to pray for Kong and also urged them not to "prejudge or make baseless assumptions."
He reminded his congregation that City Harvest has had a "phenomenal" impact on the youth of Singapore and the wider community.
"The case is before the courts and we must trust God that His justice will prevail. Remain objective and entrust the matter first and foremost, to our Sovereign Lord," the FCBC pastor said in a message last month to his church. "Above all, we must never use the occasion to cast stones or air differences of any sort, be it theology or ministry philosophy, or between charismatic and non-charismatic churches."
Out on bail, Kong, 47, told his congregation that there are two sides to every story and though he can't comment on the details as it is an ongoing case, he said he was looking forward to the day when he could reveal his side of the story in court.
He has expressed how difficult it has been for him and his family.
"Feeling drained today ... pray for me," he said in a tweet days after being charged.
"Give me strength for today, Lord ..."
He also tweeted an image with the following statement: "Dear God ... I don't ask You to make my life easier..but I ask You to give me strength to face all my trouble. Amen."
