Once again, David Yonggi Cho is under investigation for financial mismanagement.
David Yonggi Cho under investigation, suspected of embezzling US$67 million of funds
David Yonngi Cho is recognised in the New Apostolic Reformation cult as an International “Apostle”. He is Phil Pringle and Kong Hee’s personal mentor and recently spoke last month at Phil Pringle’s C3 Church in Sydney, Australia.
The National Tax Service (NTS) is set to audit the Yoido Full Gospel Church, targeting pastor David Yonggi Cho who is suspected of embezzling 80 billion won ($67 million) of funds, said officials of the church on Monday.
They said that the church’s pastor Lee Young-hoon told elders Sunday to prepare a room on the 11th floor of the Kookmin Ilbo’s main office in Yeouido, Seoul because the NTS will soon begin a tax audit against the world’s largest church. Kookmin is a daily newspaper run by the church.
“We will face the tax audit soon. That is the fact,” said an official of the church, asking not to be named.
The official admitted that the problem in the church is well-known to the public.
The NTS refused to comment on the issue, referring to privacy concerns for taxpayers. This is the first time that the tax authorities will have conducted an audit of the megachurch.
The announcement came while the prosecutors’ office is investigating Cho’s aides over allegedly embezzling church funds. He allegedly took 60 billion won of funds intended for overseas mission projects as well as an additional 20 billion won as severance pay without approval from the church.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced the 80-year-old pastor to two and half years in jail with four years of suspension for inflicting 13.1 billion won of losses to the church and tax evasion worth 3.5 billion won by ordering church officials to buy stocks in his son’s company with church funds at a rate more expensive than the market price. His son Hee-joon was arrested after being sentenced to three years in prison.
Critics say that the collapse of Pastor Cho illustrates how deeply corrupt Korea’s megachurches are, after a rapid growth during the last few decades. A few years ago, SaRang Community Church, a Presbyterian church, drew criticism for establishing a luxury 14-story church building in the lucrative southern Seoul district of Seocho, spending 300 billion won.
The church’s pastor Oh Jung-hyun was also suspended from his job for six months in 2012 for plagiarizing his Ph.D thesis from the Potchefstroom University in South Africa. He was also accused of embezzling church funds during the construction of the new building. The church’s congregation has been split since then by those supporting Oh and those opposing him.
In his introduction to this particular Fighting For The Faith program, Chris Rosebrough gives a serious warning to those who twist God’s Word.
Chris begins:
“In my lecture I delivered in Norway on “sola scriptura”, my primary text was the Great Commission. Let me read what the Great Commission says …”
Matthew 28:18-20: “And Jesus came and said to them, all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.“
That’s an important statement right there, and a lot of people, when they look at the Great Commission, they often ignore that. Ok, Jesus isn’t speaking his opinion, he’s speaking what he’s giving us to do now that all authority, yes all, there’s no authority in heaven or on earth that hasn’t been given to Christ. He is the head not the tail, if you know what I mean and He has willed for His church to do something very specific. Here’s what it says,
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
What is a disciple? A disciple is a learner. What are they to be learning? Well, Jesus answers, he says:
“…make disciples of all nations, baptising the in the name of the Father, Son and. Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you.”
Yes, in other words, in the Great Commission, you actually hear the doctrine of Sola Scriptura writ large by Jesus himself because in His church, according to the authority that has been given to Him, Christ has said to go and make disciples. And what is it we’re supposed to be teaching them? All that Christ has commanded.
Now you’re thinking “well, where do I find that?” Yes, that’s a great question, I’m glad you asked. The only place I know of that you can go with any certainty and know that you are actually teaching the words of Christ, is all of the written word of God. And you’re thinking, “Woah, wait a second there Chris. You know Jesus is a New Testament guy, you know. He doesn’t even show up until, you know, the beginning of the Book of Matthew!”
And I would say, “if you think that, then you don’t know your bible.” Because Jesus is all over the Old Testament, all over it. He’s right there in Genesis chapter 1, verse 1. He was the one who said: “Let there be light”. He was the one who said: “Let the earth produce vegetation and plant and seed bearing trees according to their kinds.” He is the one who spoke the universe into existence, that’s right, Jesus is the one. And so, he makes appearances all throughout the Old Testament. He’s all over the place and really the whole Old Testament is about him.
And so I know with certainty because Jesus says, Jesus himself. When he was doing his earthly ministry here, when he was incarnate in his humbled state, to come and to die on the cross for our sins and to obey God’s Law perfectly. Jesus himself makes it clear that the Old Testament as we have it, that would be the Pentateuch, you know, the first five books of the bible, the writings of the prophets. That this is the Word of God. He always refers to it as that and quotes it authoritatively. So I know the Old Testament, that the Word of God, those are words of Christ. And I also know that the writings of the Apostles we find in the New Testament, those are also authoritative . And they are the words that Christ would have us learn because Jesus Himself, He personally didn’t write any books. We don’t have a single book that Jesus wrote Himself during his earthly ministry. In fact, He left that up to the Apostles and He tasked them with the job of making disciples of all nations. And the disciples are discipling the nations even to this day, through the Apostolic records.
So yes, I’m sorry but if you believe that we’ve been commissioned to go make disciples, learners, of all nations, baptising, teaching all that Christ has commanded, well then that demands Sola Scriptura. Not only does it demand Sola Scriptura, it also demands that the one who gets up and speaks in Christ’s church, remember all authority has been given to Him, the one who gets up and dares to speak in Christ’s church had better only speak what Christ would have us speak.
And that is what He has revealed in His written Word, rightly understood and correctly taught. Otherwise that person, who is speaking his own words, his own doctrines, his own ideas and supplanting what Christ has commanded us, with their own ideas, oh, that it a wicked servant, that is the type of servant that is discussed well in John chapter 10, the hireling who jumps the fence and doesn’t come in by the gate. Yes those are the ones you need to beware of and over and again we show here at “Fighting For The Faith”, day in, day out, week in, week out, month in, month out, and now year and year and year – you know we’ve been on the air for almost ten years, I cannot believe we’re coming up on ten years but still have a little ways to go.
We’re not quite there yet but we demonstrate that so much of what passes for preaching today in Christ’s church, the one to whom all authority has been given in Heaven and on earth, it doesn’t actually square with what Jesus has told us to teach. It isn’t an historical biblical Christian orthodoxy, it’s not sound doctrine at all, it’s something completely different and that is dangerous and not only that, that is flat out rebellious.
You call yourself a Christian? You call yourself a Christian and you twist and mangle God’s Word without any pangs of conscious? Beware, that is sin of the highest order, it’s treason in Christ’s church and it is a sin for which many will find themselves in the lake of fire. So repent. Don’t listen to the bible twisters. Christ doesn’t want you to listen to them. He only wants you to listen to those faithful shepherds who rightly handling His Word and proclaiming the Truth and proclaiming Christ and truly making disciples of Jesus by only teaching what He has commanded….something to think about.”
The particular sermon delivered and reviewed in this program is from Caley Korocz, a young woman who attends C3 Oxford Falls in Sydney, the same C3 led by Phil Pringle.
Chris asks us to,
“note the pattern of how God’s Word is twisted, very similar in each of our segments. [see program below] Not exactly sure how to describe what we are hearing but it’s a far from a correct handling of God’s Word. It’s like the exact opposite of what that would supposedly sound like. But then again, the C3 folks, you know, they’re not really into that “God’s Word” much thingy at all. No they twist it and and disobey it and ignore parts of it and all this kind of stuff including the part that actually forbids who it is you’re going to be hearing, from doing what it is that’s she doing.
Yes, Gods Word certainly forbids what it is we’re going to hear Caley do but apparently that has not stopped the folks over there at C3 church to give her the stage, the podium and let her preach a sermon and twist God’s Word, (which of course she will not be disciplined for, but I will be called a “hater” for pointing out that what’s she done is sinful and wrong).”
We here at ChurchWatch are saddened to see this young woman, (who is obviously a talented communicator), believe she is called of God to preach a false message that brings no hope. A false message that burdens its hearers with Law, Law, Law and no gospel. All this happening under the watch of Phil Pringle (and yes, he has told the church he watches online whenever possible). A hireling who, rather than take up the task of preaching faithfully through the sound text of scripture week by week as a faithful shepherd would do, allows the “summer Session” attendees be exposed to a message that brings “death”, not LIFE as found in Christ and His Word faithfully preached.
A hireling who draws disciples after himself.
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore be alert.” Acts 20:28-31
Dr. Paul Kretzmann in his Popular Commentary noted:
[Paul] knew that after his departure from them, in a future which was not greatly distant, there would enter into the flock from without grievous, ravening, ferocious wolves, false teachers that would have no mercy on the flock, but would use every means to disrupt the congregation, to murder the souls by trying to persuade them to accept false doctrine. And in addition there would be factionists from within, out of their own membership, men that would arise…with a doctrine full of perverse and antichristian matter, with the intention of drawing away those that were already Christians, the latter thereby becoming guilty of apostasy from the truth and from the true Church of Christ. These two dangers looming up before them, the elders of Ephesus should watch, be on their guard, exert constant vigilance.” [Source]
Click on the link below to listen to the FFTF Podcast, “What Noise Will you Make in 2016?”
What Noise Will You Make in 2016?
PROGRAM SEGMENTS:
00:12:14 – Lou Engle The Call Azusa Now
00:34:15 – Tammy Southerland Fire House Prayer and Revival Hub Launch
00:39:37 – Tim Philip Believing is Seeing
00:57:34 – Bobby Schuller Interviews Brian Houston
01:16:39 – Sermon Review: What Noise Will You Make in 2016? by Caley Korocz of C3 Sydney
People have started asking the question: “Is Pat Mesiti is still a pastor at either Hillsong or C3?” (Due to his recent arrest after beating his wife.) Even though Pat Mesiti was exposed in a scandal that expelled him from his position at Hillsong, evidence shows he is STILL considered a pastor in the Hillsong and C3 movements.
The proof of this is the fact he is still able to travel between Hillsong & C3 churches AND apparently speak in a pastoral context from their pulpits, (remember, the official role of a church pastor is to teach/preach from the pulpit). AND we are yet to hear an official statement denying that Pat Mesiti is a Hillsong or C3 pastor.
We also know that Senior Pastor Joel A’Bell from Hillsong , as early as 2010, defended “Pastor” Pat Mesiti from critics.
On the 13th of October 2010, Joel A’Bell posted this tweet, which came through on his FaceBook wall,
A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. Matt 7:16 MSG.
In reality, the Message is NOT a valid translation of the bible. It’s a paraphrase that is filled with pagan and new age references. Nevertheless, Eugene Peterson did capture the nature of today’s false teachers rather well – they DO “exploit the wallet”. This particular scripture attracted Hillsong critic Steve West and others to protest the fact that Hillsong pastor Pat Mesiti DOES exploit Hillsong member’s emotions and their “pocketbook”.
Steve West was the first to respond,
And thus will likely not have offerings at every meeting, conference, cell group and college chapel service.
This led into questions as to why Hillsong’s disgraced pastor Pat Mesiti was acknowledged as a pastor at Hillsong London on Joel A’Bell’s wall. Many people, including Hillsong attendees, were surprised he was reinstated at all and protested other sins of Mesiti to Joel. By this stage, Mesiti was rapidly earning the reputation, world-wide, as an international con-artist from 2009 onwards, with his ongoing endorsement of men renowned for their dubious integrity.
The fact that Mesiti endorsed notorious con-artist “AussieRob” did not help strengthen his reputation as a con-artist. Read more here:
This did not stop Joel A’Bell from defending AND endorsing the apparently restored Hillsong “Pastor” Pat Mesiti from speaking at Hillsong London.
So why was Hillsong allowing Pat Mesiti to speak at Hillsong London – in spite of critics pointing out how Mesiti fulfilled the scripture that Joel A’Bell put up on his FaceBook wall? In fact, this snippet of Pat Mesiti in 2009 was put up in the conversation on Joel Abell’s wall back in 2010:
Source: By speakercoach, Pat Mesiti Millionaire Mindset reveals the best tips on public speaking and presentation skills, YouTube, https://youtu.be/fldjYzfLUxw, Uploaded 16/04/2009. (Accessed 18/01/2016.)
In spite of the evidence put up by these critics, Senior Hillsong pastor, Joel A’Bell, defended Pat Mesiti speaking at Hillsong London in 2010 in his comment section:
“I knew Pat before, during and after his moral failure. Those who don’t know him should keep their comments in closer circles or to themselves. I find these public comments about Pat to be unloving. He is well on track in his restoration…”
“I said to keep it close (or) to your self. They could put their unrelated issues on their own wall. I wouldn’t use your wall to push my pet topics. Would make more sense if I had of posted something about Pat but this just screems of immaturity…”
Throughout this entire conversation, Joel A’Bell did NOT refute the assumption that Pat Mesiti was a Hillsong pastor. His continual defense of Pat Mesiti speaking at Hillsong London only confirmed the fact that Pat Mesiti was still a Hillsong Pastor (or affiliated with Hillsong’s leadership). Furthermore, he defended Pat Mesiti as one of their own.
It is clear that Hillsong, as an organization, was NOT acting in ignorance but validating and treating Pat Mesiti as a RESTORED pastor in their movement. Otherwise, why have him speak as a pastor at Hillsong London?
We note in 2014, Mesiti’s “loyal friend,” Brian Houston said:
“Literally, it didn’t only cost him his ministry, it cost him his marriage, it cost him his home, he lost his home, it cost him everything. The only thing he had was loyal friends and perhaps that’s the greatest thing we can have anyway, is loyal friends.
And there were people who stuck with him, people who I know here in our congregation who stuck with him. I was talking with him yesterday on the phone, actually text messages, same thing these days, and ahhh he was telling me that after years of rebuilding his life, just constantly rebuilding his life that the house he lost that his sin, his shame had cost him, he is on the edge of perhaps buying back.” [Source]
Brian has made it clear. Mesiti is still alive and well as a “restored” Hillsong pastor, he still has close relations with Brian Houston. In fact, Brian Houston used Pat Mesiti an example in this sermon of how one can be restored. Restored into what?
C3 “PASTOR” PAT MESITI:
We’ve also covered how C3 “Pastor” Mesiti spoke at C3 RealMen’s Conference and had no problem speaking on C3’s Positive Hits:
But our main focus is to draw your attention to Pat Mesiti preaching at C3 Church in 2013:
Source: By c3churchtv, C3 Online – 20/10/2013 | Pat Mesiti – The Joseph Generation, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdgdrEMoAK0, Uploaded 21/10/2013. (Accessed 11/08/2014.)
In this specific sermon, not only is what Pat Mesiti saying blasphemous, he also refers to his involvement with Hillsong.
In the sermon above, Mesiti says,
“I said that at Hillsong London at the Freddie Mercury theatre.”
So something tells us Mesiti has not been broadcasting his other Hillsong “pastoral” engagements. Furthermore he states (present tense),
“I have a preacher on every single day… This year I’ve invited Bob Harrison and Pastor Phil Pringle to be our chaplains. This is where we raise the million dollars for missions… On here is Brian Houston. On here are my spiritual and business mentors.”
What is interesting about the sermon above, as Chris Rosebrough reviews it on his program ‘Fighting for the Faith‘, he clearly exposes the prosperity cult theology (and predatory nature) that Mesiti appears to have fine-tuned from his association with long term “pastoral” friends and mentors, Phil Pringle and Brian Houston.
It’s well worth listening to the sermon review to prove that this man is STILL used as an example to follow by Brian Houston. And because his life is a “success story”, one can assume that’s what qualifies people like Pat Mesiti to be pastors in the C3 and Hillsong prosperity cults.
• Ed Young’s Hee Haw Sermon
• Bishop Tudor Bismark’s The Big Fish Anointing
• Jim Bakker’s Prophecy Fear Mongering For Dollars
• Sermon Review: The Joseph Generation by Pat Mesiti
Source: Chris Rosebrough, Hee Haw, Fighting for the Faith, http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2015/5/hee-haw, Published 01/05/2015. (Accessed 06/01/2015.)
Clearly there is NOTHING regenerate or “restored” in Pat Mesiti’s life. The signs were there even before he was charged with assaulting his wife. So why on earth would Hillsong/C3 hold onto him? Why would Hillsong and C3 have him (unbiblically) re-instated as a pastor when there are so many others who could easily replace him?
Despite C3 Church being involved in various scandals and cover-ups over the years, the Premier of New South Wales, Mike Baird and the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force, Andrew Scipione continue to share a platform with Phil Pringle.
To this day, Phil Pringle still:
likes to be endorsed by his convicted mentor David Yonggi Cho,
continues to endorse his convicted protege, Kong Hee,
continues to lie about the Singaporean authorities to his church as to why Kong Hee actually went to jail,
continues to cover up a pedophile scandal he was personally involved in,
while taking advantage of the credibility of Andrew Scipione and Mike Baird.
Source: Phil Pringle, Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/p/-hlBZFNP8D/, Accessed 26/11/2015.
Since its inception, the C3 movement has been heavily involved in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) cult and has heavily pushed its agenda around Australian churches. Very similar to a Masonic society, a trait of the NAR is their “organic” networks, one aspect being the Seven Mountain Mandate (7MM). (Kong Hee calls this the seven pillars of society and the cultural mandate.)
The 7MM is all about infiltrating what they call the “market place.” To infiltrate society (to take the city for God), the NAR and C3 teaches that Christians need to conquer the seven mountains of society: Art/Entertainment, Business, Church/Religion, Dissemination/News, Education, Family/Health, Government/Law.
This explains Elise Boggs comment below on Phil Pringle’s instagram:
We speculate that the reason why Phil Pringle had both Baird and Scipione speaking was to demonstrate to his movement that C3 are making “Christian” inroads into the Government/Law mountain in their “marketplace ministry.”
While PathFinders will not specifically teach the 7MM to those who attend, C3 appears to be moulding its members to conform to the philosophies and pagan teachings of the NAR, specifically through its Bible (The Church mountain) and Arts colleges (Arts/Entertainment mountain).
The Seven Mountain Mandate cannot be supported by scripture as it’s an unbiblical system developed by Bill Bright and Loren Cunningham back in 1975. They both claim that God spoke to them.
There is a good chance that Andrew Scipione and Mike Baird may have been accidentally indoctrinated by Hillsong or C3 who have been pushing this anti-Christian, totalitarian doctrine for decades.
It is our hope and prayer that Scipione and Baird are not hoodwinked by these cults and instead start investigating them.
Chris Rosebrough from Fighting for the Faith recently interviewed Kerri Ferguson on his radio program. If you are not familiar with who Kerri Ferguson is we encourage viewers to read what we have covered on the C3 Penrith scandal so far:
This is footage we have had for a number of years, exposing the cover up of pedophilia in the Australian Christian City Church movement. To this day, NONE of the “pastors” Kerri Ferguson went to for help have EVER bothered checking up on her or apologized for how they refused to help her in her time of need. These “pastors” are Phil Pringle, Brian Houston, Ian Treacy, and Gary Dench.
In Australia, some people consider paedophilia to be worse than murder. Don’t forget these “Pastors” faces that allowed these crimes to continue in the name of “Jesus.”
If they can get away with covering up paedophilia… then nothing can stop them. These men are before the Royal Commission. Yet Brian Houston and Phil Pringle are influencing our political leaders.
“For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” – Luke 8:17
This scripture is very applicable to the charges against Kong Hee and cohorts.
Targeted: Phil Pringle and his immoral involvement with the Kong Hee scandal. To this date, he has not told his congregation why Kong Hee was in trial and to this day, parades Kong Hee’s innocence.
Before the “Sermon review”, Chris Rosebrough decided to play audio segments of Phil Pringle. He has this to say about Phil Pringle before reviewing him, in light of the verdict.
“Now what we’re going to be listening to are two bits of audio from videos put out by, well Phil Pringle, who I think has a LOT to do- a LOT to do behind the scenes regarding Kong Hee and Sun Ho’s Crossover project- and was one of the men who was directly coaching and, um – leading, (you know, casting vision for Kong Hee).
And that is Phil Pringle of C3. And so these two have a tight friendship. And like I said, a few years back at the Presence Conference, one of the things that Kong Hee said was that it was Phil Pringle who got him into this mess. And I don’t think that was a slip. I think that was absolutely the truth.” 24:25
Last year we published a two part series from a C3 Church insider on Phil Pringle’s involvement with Kong Hee, Luke 8:17 being the scripture reference for the heading.
You might want to read those articles before listening to Chris Rosebrough’s review. His [Good] “Sermon Review” is by Dr. Paul Choo, who has proven to be a faithful shepherd in Singapore, exposing the prosperity wolf pack consisting of David Yonngi Cho, Kong Hee, Joseph Prince and so on.
This is another very important episode to tune into:
00:00:00 The Verdict on Kong Hee
00:44:47 Sermon Review: Prosperity Gospel by Dr. Paul Choo
Source: Chris Rosebrough, The Verdict On Kong Hee, Fighting for the Faith, http://www.fightingforthefaith.com/2015/10/the-verdict-on-kong-hee.html, Published 23/10/2015. (Accessed 24/10/2015.)
“Today, after 5 long, drawn-out years, the longest criminal trial in Singaporean history, the executive leadership of City Harvest Church, including pastor Kong Hee, were found guilty of misappropriating $50 Million worth of church funds.
Sentencing has been postponed to a later date, but already I have witnessed a flurry of Christians online all resolved to stand by Kong Hee throughout this process. And I just need to ask, for the sake of clarity, what exactly do you all mean by “stand by”?
Do you mean “pray for” Kong Hee? “Help support the distraught family of” Kong Hee? “Encourage and pray for the disappointed, also distraught church family of” Kong Hee? If that’s what you mean then that’s all fine, highly commendable, and I’ll happily join you in that, feel free to read no further.
But if you mean “Protest the Court’s ruling and insist upon the exoneration of” Kong Hee, I just need to ask, on what basis? I’ve seen a persistent narrative at play here, promoted by many Christians and even Christian leaders, in which this entire 5-year trial has essentially been dismissed as a complete smokescreen, an entirely groundless, deceitful attempt by an unbelieving nation’s Courts to act as tools of Satan and oppose Christ’s church, because of the great work Pastor Kong has been doing.
Brothers and sisters, I know this is a far more comforting way of looking at the situation, but… what if Kong Hee actually IS guilty? What if the same charming, smiling man who you’ve seen preaching at conferences, the same man who is so close and friendly with and vouched for by… certain OTHER pastors you respect, actually DID commit this awful, awful crime and awful, awful sin, of which he is still yet to repent?
Should secular courts not be allowed to convict Christians of crimes as long as those Christians maintain that they were doing the Lord’s work? Should Christians continue to voice unqualified public approval of men who, by their actions, demonstrate themselves to be THOROUGHLY disqualified for leadership in Christ’s church, as long as we like their preaching? No, we must be honest, and live our lives with integrity as good citizens as well as good Christians.
The Courts have spoken, and those who wish to oppose their ruling must first demonstrate a fault in their reasoning or provide evidence of corruption serious enough to support the idea that they seriously just spent 5 years of their time building a thoroughly false case on non-existent evidence.
Christ’s name has been dragged through the mud of Asia for long enough because of this trial. If you want to express an opinion on the verdict, get off the bandwagons and do some research for yourselves.”
Pastrix “Can-we-shut-the-mouths-of-all-these-haters?” Sun Ho writes,
Trial Verdict: A Statement From The Church Leaders
Dear Church Family,
The judge has rendered his decision and, naturally, we are disappointed by the outcome. Nonetheless, I know that Pastor Kong and the rest are studying the judgment intently and will take legal advice from their respective lawyers in the days to come.
As was the case throughout these past three years of court trial, and the earlier two years of investigation, we have placed our faith in God and trust that whatever the outcome, He will use it for our good (Romans 8:28). This protracted season has been extremely difficult, not just for the six, but also for all their families and friends, as well as for our congregation.
In spite of these challenges, City Harvest Church has an unshakeable calling from God. Recently, Pastor Kong has exhorted us to focus on our core values, and serve the purpose of God with greater effectiveness and sustainability. Since 2012, we have had a new management and a new Church Board running the operations of the church. Therefore, let’s stay the course with CHC 2.0. God is making us stronger, purer and more mature as a congregation.
Thank you for your unwavering faithfulness in loving God and loving one another. More than ever before, let’s have a unity that is unbreakable. We are not alone as many of our friends and churches around the world are also interceding fervently for us. God knows the way that we take; when He has tested us, we shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10).
Pastor Kong and I are humbled by the tremendous outpouring of love and support shown to us during this time. We thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for Pastor Kong, Pastor Tan, John Lam, Sharon, Serina and Eng Han.
In Christ’s love, for His glory,
Sun Ho
Co-Founder/Executive Director
On behalf of CHC Management Board
Source: Sun Ho, Trial Verdict: A Statement From The Church Leaders, http://www.chc.org.sg/, Accessed 22/10/2015.
Phil Pringle and his cohorts continue to refuse to deal with issues that occured in the C3 Parramatta scandal 25 years ago. We are talking about two men that covered up pedophilia in the C3 Church movement.
The two pastors put into C3 leadership that showed lack of pastoral care, wisdom and responsibility in the C3 Penrith scandal are STILL in leadership positions today.
These pastors are Gary Dench and Ian Treacy.
Before reading on, we encourage viewers to read what we have covered on the C3 Penrith scandal so far. In this article we wish to publish an open letter that alleges that Pringle was informed of this sexual misconduct and did nothing about it. Nor did he deal with the C3 pastors in relation to the trials.
Part 6 of this series of articles is an important read. It is important to understand the spiritual binding nature of C3 through their prophetic manipulation. It appeared that God wanted Mrs Ferguson to not “over analyse” her situations and just “let loose” so God could bless her.
Just like most loving and undiscerning Christians at C3, she would have done so willingly. However, when you see pastors at C3 preaching that Jesus died to make you rich and watch them live extravagant lifestyles, their is a false hope kindled in it’s members that they can rise above their difficult circumstances.
So when Kerri Ferguson was prophesied over in 1985, you can imagine what she was feeling when she lost her family, lost her home and lost her church through the collateral damage of the cowardly behaviour of C3 “pastors” Gary Dench, Ian Treacy and C3 Founder, Phil Pringle. Just like other victims caught in the C3 Prosperity and Word of Faith cult, Kerri Ferguson would have felt God had completely deserted her. However, unlike other victims, she decided to deal with the issues head on.
Background to the letter
The sexual abuse of Mrs Ferguson’s son had been disclosed one night after a church service to both C3 “Pastors” Gary Dench and Ian Treacy. These two pastors were then primary witnesses to the crime. Not only did the Pastors fail to report the crime to the police but when they were later approached by the Police to give evidence in the case, “Pastor” Gary Dench refused to co-operate and stated that he would not give evidence on behalf of the Prosecution. Dismayed when the Police informed her that Dench refused to cooperate with the investigation, Mrs Kerri Ferguson then decided to approach the leader of the entire church operation, the Head Pastor and founder of C3 (then operating as Christian City Church) in an attempt to have him direct his Pastors to cooperate in the police investigation.
What you are about to read in this below letter was how they first tried to ignore her and then attempt to discredit her. Their pompous and sanctimonious meanderings would have hurt her deeply. Sadly, this is the typical repeated behaviour we continually see at C3 church when members get abused either financially, sexually or emotionally or spiritually by their church leaders.
This letter from Kerri Ferguson was written to Phil Pringle in 1992. You can tell that this woman was writing in such a way to try and convict Pringle’s conscience to get involved in dealing with this unresolved issue. And just like when Pringle was mailed all the evidence exposing Tom Papania as a fraud (a fraud who Pringle allowed to speak at C3 Church anyway), Pringle did not respond to Mrs Ferguson.
You can read the original letter at the bottom of this article.
THE LETTER
Dear Mr. Pringle,
As I discussed with you and Simon McIntyre in 1988, it was then and is still, my fervent belief that the “deacons” of the Church should deal with misbehavior on the part of any of the ministers or other leaders in their number. At that time (after an incredible amount of effort to get to talk to you – I am sure Christ himself was more accessible, despite his schedule) I notified you that you were being given an option – “Either deal with the matter yourself or I would have to go outside the Church to have the matter dealt with “. The latter became necessary.
I refer to the matter of [son’s name] a subject subsequently dealt with by “60 Minutes” and showing Gary Dench and C.C.C. in a most unfavourable light. I hasten to assure you that that opinion was passed in thousands of letters received after the show. Those letters were written in the main, by “Christians” and many from Christian church people of all denominations, including several from your own church applauded our stand.
As you did not have the courtesy to get back to me or to [sons’ name] after talking with Gary Dench in 1988 and since it was necessary for me, once again, to “chase” you to get the result of your investigation into the matter, I was not altogether surprised at your ineptitude in dealing with the matter. You told me that you were powerless to control Gary Dench and that he was a “law unto himself”. It would appear Mr. Pringle, that following the “60 Minutes” story that you had a change of heart about just what power you did or did not have! It’s a sorry day when God has to use the secular media to do what his own people are too lacking in courage and principle to take care of.
It may interest you to know that [son’s name] left your office with the comment “he’ll turn out to be just like all the others” to which I urged him “to give you a chance”. [His] cynicism at so called Christian leaders was vindicated. Despite the “college-boy” smiles and the practiced looks of “concern”, the boy never heard from you again. Under the circumstances, don’t you think some show of Christ’s love would have been appropriate?
Despite admissions by Ian Treacy that he and Gary had indeed behaved as we claimed and despite Dench’s subsequent behaviour (which should have been of concern to the country’s psychiatrists, if not to you) to this day neither [son’s name] nor I have EVER received a request by you to forgive any damage caused or any attempt to reconcile what happened.
By the way, whilst Stephen Dent sat in the “accused”s box whilst on trial. Dench sat at the back of the Court reading TRAVEL BROCHURES!!! The praying was left to others!
AS the months went by in 1988 to now I carefully diarised EVERY incident. In my search for more information for a subsequent project I received some startling information. During a phone call from yourself to Gary Dench (after my visit to your office) I was referred to as “A NUTTER”. Well, Mr. Pringle that is not the opinion of doctors, journalists, counselors or MINISTERS of religion with whom I have worked on my project over the last few years.
What a gallant and courteous way for men of the church to speak about “the widows and orphans”!! May I respectfully suggest to you, Mr. Pringle, that Christ himself would have hardly been pleased at such a label being used to one of his children under the circumstances (or, indeed, any circumstances!)
Other revelations have been passed on to me regarding Mr. Dench’s activities which I, and I’m sure even you must find disturbing. To go on, however, expecting any decent stand from you at this point would, as experience has shown, be a lost cause.
I did do the correct thing in going to you first, Mr. Pringle. You left me no choice but to have the media expose that very dangerous man. Sometimes it requires a great deal of courage to stand by the underdog – “THE NUTTER”! You did not show that courage.
Mr McKeon (another of your colleagues) was first approached by me prior to 1988 with my concerns over Dench. I contacted him again much later in my attempt to have you “heroic” men put the pressure on Gary to support [my son] in court. He accused me of being on a “witch hunt” (a most unusual term, I feel for a Christian pastor!) and refused to criticize “God’s ordained”! (Good grief!!)
He was later to say some most ungentlemanly things to me on the phone and hand up (loudly) in my ear. Mind you, when my husband (a committed Christian) phoned him back to ask him to explain such behaviour he was given a hearing. Yet another example, I assume, of the esteem in which your fine C.C.C. Pastors hold women!!
It seems peculiar to me that in my conversations with several C.C.C. pastors they have claimed to have had God speak to them about issues such as real estate purchases, money ventures, parking spots etc. but none seems to have conversed with God about an issue as important as the peace of mind and trust of His children. It has caused me to wonder, Mr. Pringle, whose voice it is they have heard when God “called” them. You would have a difficult time convincing me that the Christ of the Gospels “chats” to his pastors all day about their real estate, other financial undertakings etc and becomes suddenly silent when one of their number steps out of line. No, Mr. Pringle, not the Jesus in my Bible – in fact He publicly castigated his disciples for putting anything in the way of his “little children coming to Him”.
Thankfully, I was most careful about all my dealings with you and your fellow Churchmen, not trusting any conversation (which may be referred to in the future) to their memory. I now feel vindicated in taking the particular steps I did.
It was shameful that a woman and child showed more courage than you and your colleagues. Perhaps, the weakness of some males in leadership positions in Christendom is the cause of many of the Church’s ills.
I am disappointed (yes, and angry) that my approach to you to seek your assistance was treated with such contempt.
Since you have not asked for forgiveness, I assume you do not need mine. May I most humbly suggest, that in the final judgment you and I will have to give account.
Phil Pringle and his cohorts continue to refuse to deal with issues that occured in the C3 Parramatta scandal 25 years ago. We are talking about two men that covered up pedophilia in the C3 Church movement.
The two pastors put into C3 leadership that showed lack of pastoral care, wisdom and responsibility in the C3 Penrith scandal are STILL in leadership positions today.
These pastors are Gary Dench and Ian Treacy.
Before reading on, we encourage viewers to read what we have covered on the C3 Penrith scandal so far. In this article we wish to publish an open letter that alleges that Pringle was informed of this sexual misconduct and did nothing about it. Nor did he deal with the C3 pastors in relation to the trials.
It happened in 1985, during a time when abusive husband (Steve Dent ) was abusing Kerri Ferguson and her children. C3 Pastors Gary Dench and Ian Treacy were sanctioning Dent’s behaviour by telling Ferguson that she must be a “rebellious wife” or her husband would have no need to bash her.
Now keep in mind, this was the time that C3 Ps Dench and C3 Ps Treacy also had knowledge of Steve’s physical abuse.
Kerri Ferguson was exhausted looking after 5 children, working two full-time jobs, and being constantly beaten by her husband. Her husband had left her temporarily as he did for days at a time, or even weeks, while he sulked.
One morning in C3 Church, C3 Pastor Gary Dench anounced that there was to be a church Camp coming up. He subsequently approached Kerri and told her that she was to attend. Kerri tried to plead her way out of it. However, Dench was furious and COMMANDED that she attend. She insisted her way over the matter and finally told him that she couldn’t possibly afford it. Dench told Mrs Ferguson that the church would foot the bill for my family.
On the Saturday night the congregation gathered for a session in the camp hall. Dench had kept telling Ferguson that she must attend, so she did.
The guest speaker was PASTOR FERGUS MCINTYRE (Christian City Church, Maroubra branch).She did not know about this guest speaker until the night Dench announced it and “Fergie” appeared on stage.
McIntyre began by giving a sort of “testimony” regarding the fact that he had always had trouble stringing two words together. But since he was “saved” and called by God to become a Pastor, he experienced a miracle whereby when he spoke now and gave messages as a public speaker, he was able to speak coherently and fluently. He put it all down to God. He began to preach his message. After a few minutes he stopped in his tracks and pointed to Mrs Ferguson.
“I see this lady here!”
He identified her as he pointed out the things she was wearing so that everyone would look at her.
And claiming to get a direct revelation from God, Fergus McIntyre “prophesied” over Mrs Ferguson. We have managed to obtain audio of the prophecy and have transcribed it accordingly.
I see – yah, with- uh- I see God coming along and-and blowing on a lot of things that you’ve been thinking. And- and uh, you’ve- I can see- the type of person- uh- and Gods honours you and God blesses you and God- God loves you.
Uh, but God’s saying to you, “I want you to hold loosely to some of the things that you’ve held tightly to, and you’re gonna see the- some of the promises of God that you’ve asked God for. They’re going to come to pass, not according to how your mind would see it come to pass. I see you’re a person that, uh, would analytically work things out and-and have a hold, uhhhhh, you’d just weigh things up and you’d hold things in your mind in how it might happen.
God’s saying, “I’m gonna do some things for you, but a- don’t be surprised if it comes- if he comes in the back door to do them- comes in another way. He’s like- it’s like you like to have- it’s like in your mind you’ve always been used to things happening to how your mind would think.
But God’s saying, “I’m working on a lot of the areas of your life, a lot of these things that, uh, that you’ve been concerned about”and He’s been concerned about and God’s saying, “I’m not going to come and do it the way that you want- that you would think me do it, I’m gonna come in another doorway and do it. I’ll come and- because I can’t be held by any fixed concept- I can’t be held by-” God’s bigger than all that, you see.
But God’s coming to say- to say that He’s- He’s- He’s doing things now. And He’s setting in order and He’s arranging things and He’s- and He’s healing and He’s wanting you to- and I can see Him doing a tremendous deep healing work in your own spirit. But He wants you to let go of all the things that have hurt you, all the things, all the people that have hurt you- all the situations that have been built up against you.
God’s saying, “Let it all go and I’ll come in and I’ll start and I’ll-” He already is!
But He’ll go a lot faster because He’s having to work on you and work on the situation at the same time. But if you just let everything go and hold loosely to the issues, the Spirit of God’s saying, “I can fix all those things up – Bam! Yes. [CROWD APPLAUDS] Yes. Hold loosely! Hold loosely! Hold loosely! Hold loosely to things.” The Spirit of God would say, “Hold loosely! Don’t, don’t hang on to things too tight. Don’t hold on to things too tight. Let it go. The Spirit of God’s gonna do those things. Hallelujah… yes…yes… hallelujah!”
Source: Fergus McIntyre.
REVIEW OF THE PROPHECY
“Let loose” of reason?
Our personal opinion on the matter was that the entire show that involved Mrs Kerri Ferguson was to prophetically manipulate her into silence, a technique we have seen at C3 Church Oxford Falls used numerous times and a technique that Singaporeans have observed Phil Pringle use on it’s members at Kong Hee’s City Harvest Church.
This continual type of false prophetic manipulation runs rampant in C3. Prophecy that tells people to not use their brains when dealing with difficult circumstances. And this is a form of mind control and behavioural control used on C3 members.
Notice how Fergus McIntyre made observed Mrs Ferguson’s ability to “analytically work things”, “weigh things up” and “hold things in [her] mind in how it might happen”. McIntyre said that both he and God wants her to “hold loosely to some of the things that you’ve held tightly to.”
Is this scriptural?
When God speaks through his prophets, he doesn’t tell his people to abandon their minds to God but to REASON with God:
“Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18
Don’t forget that God also teaches that the most important command is to “love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”
Knowing right from wrong is practice discernment, which is what God teaches Christians to do. So why would God in this prophecy tell Mrs Ferguson that she needs to “let loose” of her gift of discernment? God even said to Israel that he would send false prophets among them to point out those who were his and held to his commandments. Paul said something similar in the New Testament.
Does this sound like God or Satan?
Fergie said,
“… God’s saying, “I’m not going to come and do it the way that you want- that you would think me do it, I’m gonna come in another doorway and do it. I’ll come and- because I can’t be held by any fixed concept- I can’t be held by-” God’s bigger than all that, you see.”
God does not do things in secret. He gives his people plenty of warning and time before he accomplishes the things he wants done. In fact, in the New Testament, Jesus instituted biblical repentance and church institutional response to certain sins. (See Matthew 18:15-20.) However, the scriptures teach us that Satan’s nature is subtle (Genesis 3:1) who operates illegally outside of the legal boundaries established by God. Consider how Jesus portrays the false leaders in his day in John 10:
“”Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” John 10:1-2 (NIV)
If men of authority did “not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but [climbed] in by some other way,” and Jesus condemned them for it, is not Fergus McIntyre turning God into a hypocrite by claiming God said, “God’s saying, “I’m gonna do some things for you, but… don’t be surprised … if he comes in the back door to do them- comes in another way?”
God is a God of order and justice. He has made his church and those in it to live orderly and just lives that glorify Him. So why is McIntyre saying that God is “not going to come and do it the way that you want” to Kerri Ferguson?
All this woman wanted was justice. Why would God suggest otherwise?
A false spirit speaking through a false prophet
Another thing that proves that this is a false prophecy is when Fergus claimed God said, “… I can’t be held by any fixed concept- I can’t be held by-“. The Hindu deity is limitless. However, Christianity and Judaeism have always known that God is limited and bound. For instance, scriptures teach us that “God cannot lie” (Titus 1:2).
God is not held by our fixed concepts. This is because he has GIVEN us His Word. He tells us who He is and how He does things when we read His Word. No wonder McIntyre trailed off speaking on behalf of God and ended with “God’s bigger than all that you see”.
This is mysticism. He is shrowding his victim in doubt through mystical means to throw her off the biblical compass. When one becomes a Christian, they will often sing they were “once blind but now I see”. McIntyre is suggesting to Ferguson that she cannot see even though she in Christ. He is causing her to not believe in God by saying this and is hoodwinking her into believing his false words.
Prophetic incostinstency…
Furthermore, McItntyre says,
“But He wants you to let go of all the things that have hurt you, all the things, all the people that have hurt you- all the situations that have been built up against you.
God’s saying, “Let it all go and I’ll come in and I’ll start and I’ll-” He already is!”
This god is idle. It cannot do anything UNLESS you do something first. When you compare this to the God of scripture, Christ acted first before we ever did. This god of McIntyre was calling Ferguson to do something first before it could do something. It was asking her to do the impossible. It would have left her in despair unless she moves first.
This ‘god’ is not loving nor gracious. If you followed it, it would keep you bound and despairing in your hurt and pain.
This god is also a liar (or otherwise McIntyre is).
Fergus said,
“But God’s coming to say- to say that He’s- He’s- He’s doing things now. And He’s setting in order and He’s arranging things and He’s- and He’s healing and He’s wanting you to- and I can see Him doing a tremendous deep healing work in your own spirit.”
So God is “doing things now” even though it couldn’t because Kerri Ferguson had to take the first step?
But wait!
McIntyre said he saw God doing a “tremendous deep healing work in [her] own spirit”. How? Aren’t God hands tied until Kerri did something?
Whenever the word “but” is used in or after a sentence, it is usually said to counter that which was said before. Go read the prophecy and observe how many times this ‘god’ cannot figure itself out. It’s somewhat amusing! Not to mention that this “God” is unable to make Fergus McIntyre speak properly says it all really.
Was this prophecy to Mrs Ferguson a set up?
The clue in the transcript that indicates to us that Fergus received knowledge from C3 Pastor Gary Dench about Mrs Ferguson’s affairs is in his ‘uhs’. Whenever he says something that articulates Mrs Ferguson well, he seems to say ‘uh’.
A prophet of God wouldn’t hesitate would he? To us that indicates he doesn’t know how to deal with this conflict of interest within himself. McIntyre appeared nervous and hesitant in his prophecy, thus all the “uh” commentary.
This statement also needs to be examined:
“But He wants you to let go of all the things that have hurt you, all the things, all the people that have hurt you- all the situations that have been built up against you.”
This could have been a vague stab in the dark but McIntyre did summarise in this one sentence on behalf of ‘God’, Fersuson’s circumstances. This is proof to us that Dench informed McIntyre of Mrs Ferguson’s circumstance. It really sounds as though it came out at this point of the “prophecy”. Of course Dench and Fergie would want God to say to Kerri “let it all go”!
What he articulated for Mrs Ferguson to let go of at this instance is the very thing that should undermine this prophecy. Did Jesus say “let it all go” when a ‘brother’ sinned against us? NO! We “let it all go” when they repent. If not, take witnesses. If that doesn’t work, take it before the church. If Jesus didn’t teach us to “let it go”, why should we believe this prophecy? Especially when it was a C3 pastor that abused his pastoral office?
So to summarise what the ‘Spirit of God’ was saying to Mrs Ferguson, “Hold loosely to things”, is that biblical? It sounds like the C3 Church “prophecy” would want her to “hold loosely to” the bible so that she doesn’t question C3 church, her pastor, Fergus McIntyre and anyone else entangled in their web of lies.