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.
“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 them.” Acts 20:28-30
We here at ChurchWatch have followed, and documented the scandal Dr Yonggi Cho was involved in. It was not long ago that this man was found guilty of serious charges. On 20 February 2014, Cho was found guilty of tax evasion, sentenced to three years imprisonment, suspended for five years, and fined the equivalent of almost $5 million. His oldest son Cho Hee-jun was sentenced to three years imprisonment. The charges arose from Cho’s church purchasing shares from his son’s church at above market value and fraudulently claiming tax relief.
To this day, Phil Pringle continues to lie by omission, praising Yonggi Cho but neglecting to tell his church of Cho’s crimes.
“Cho was charged with causing around 13.1 billion won in damages to his church and evading approximately 3.5 billion won in taxes in the process (embezzlement as defined in the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes). In addition, Pastor Cho’s oldest son Cho Hee-jun, 49, former chairman of the Yeongsan Christian Culture Center, was given a three-year prison sentence and taken into custody.”
It comes to our attention that Phil Pringle has invited this false prophet to speak at C3 Church this Thursday February 25. We leave it up to our readers to decide on the appropriateness of this invitation for Yonggi Cho to speak as a church “leader” rather than as a convicted felon, (a person convicted in a court of law of a felony crime).
David Yonggi Cho is not only a false (which disqualifies him from Christianity), he also has disqualified himself as a Christian pastor. These are the requirements of a pastor:
“An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity.” 1 Timothy 3:3 (Emphasis ours.)
The things we highlighted in bold are areas he failed in relation to the financial scandal he was involved in and how he ruthlessly treated his elders. And because Cho is a swindler, why is Pringle inviting David Yonggi Cho to speak as though he is a figure of high integrity? Pringle is directly opposing Christ, His Word and His Church with this clear command in scripture:
“But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler– not even to eat with such a one.” 1 Corinthians 5:11
And yet C3 hypocritically state “we love Jesus and people”?
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?
Recent media reporting on Phil Pringle’s secrecy and culture of insecurity at C3 Church Kong Hee’s secrecy and culture of insecurity at City Harvest Church.
Today Online writes,
CHC slammed for ‘secrecy, culture of insecurity’
SINGAPORE — Criticising what he called the culture of insecurity that six City Harvest Church leaders convicted on Wednesday operated under, Presiding Judge of the State Courts See Kee Oon saved some of his strongest words for church founder Kong Hee in his 270-page written judgment released to the media yesterday.
The six leaders — Kong, his deputy Tan Ye Peng, former church accountant Serina Wee, former church investment manager Chew Eng Han, former finance manager Sharon Tan and former church board member John Lam — were found guilty on all of counts of criminal breach of trust and/or falsification of accounts.
Judge See had delivered his oral judgment, a condensed version of the written grounds, on Wednesday. He found that they had acted dishonestly and in breach of the trust reposed in them to cause wrongful loss of S$50 million to the church and to defraud auditors.
In his judgment grounds, the judge wrote that Kong capitalised on the church climate of paranoia and fear in 2003 to galvanise support for the Crossover Project — using his wife Ho Yeow Sun’s secular pop music to reach out to non-Christians. The collective fear arose after then-church member Roland Poon publicly commented that church funds had been used to promote Ms Ho’s music career.
Kong’s response to the incident revealed “both his personal dominance and deep insecurity”, said JC See. The pastor rallied the church “around the big idea that they (i.e. CHC’s leaders and by extension the entire church) were being maligned and under attack, and hence had to be discreet,” he added.
“He convinced them that if CHC’s leaders believed they had to be discreet in order for the Crossover to succeed, then they ought to simply trust them and not question their motives or reasons.”
The effort to keep the church’s financing of the Crossover discreet led to the set-up of Xtron Productions to manage Ms Ho’s career. The criminal charges in this case relate in part to sham bonds worth millions of dollars that the church bought from Xtron to channel church funds to the Crossover.
All six leaders’ committed zeal for the Crossover vision may have clouded their objectivity and judgment and obscured the need to safeguard money which was not theirs to use as they wished, said judge See. They chose to create cover stories and clever round-trips concealing their unlawful conduct, he added.
“The allure of power that can be exercised in secrecy is difficult to resist. When shrouded under a cloak of invisibility, much like the mythical ring of Gyges, persons in such positions of power have no fear of accountability and tend to become their own worst enemies,” he wrote.
The ring of Gyges is a mythical artefact that grants its owner the power to become invisible at will, mentioned in Greek philosopher Plato’s The Republic.
Judge See wrote: “It has thus been wisely said that the real tragedy is when men are afraid of the light, and if they choose not to come into the light they do so for fear that their deeds will be exposed, as they surely will in time.”
Kong would not have been able to act alone and could not orchestrate every move, and the five other leaders were both trusted and trusting, he added. They wanted to ensure their conduct and choices lived up to Kong’s expectations.
Noting that none of the six was aware of all the details, the judge said it could be because there were far too many moving parts in the plan for the Crossover to the United States, which grew more ambitious over time.
The US foray involved Ms Ho’s debut English album, which had hip-hop star Wyclef Jean roped in at one point. It led to the church’s sham bond investments worth S$24 million in Xtron and another company, and four of the leaders then misused another S$26.6 million of church funds to try to cover up the first amount.
“But this may have also been the inevitable consequence of CHC’s election to carry out its affairs and operations relating to the funding of the Crossover in a discreet fashion. This was merely a euphemism for a culture of insecurity mired in secrecy and opaqueness where asking difficult or awkward questions was taboo,” the judge wrote.
There was no way that Kong – who the judge found to have controlled Xtron – could fail to realise that once CHC had bought Xtron bonds that the bond proceeds would be “entirely within his control”.
Judge See also noted that Kong had sought to mislead a different set of auditors, Ernst & Young (since renamed EY), who were conducting a governance review of CHC on behalf of the Government towards the end of 2007. Kong helped prepare replies to questions that the auditors might ask, and the church would have told auditors that Xtron’s directors were separate and independent of the church board – which he knew was untrue, said judge See.
He also said Kong exploited Chew’s forceful personality and his determination and drive to achieve objectives, although Chew also glossed over the fact that he himself had bought Ms Ho’s Mandarin albums when he blamed Kong for deceiving him about the true measure of her success.
Separately, Kong broke his silence on the verdict yesterday, posting on Facebook his belief that God would use the outcome of the case for good. The pastor also thanked his supporters and said: “The days and steps ahead are challenging, but with God’s grace and love, I have no fear.”
The six will be back in court on Nov 20, where they could be sentenced.
Source: By Neo Chai Chin, CHC slammed for ‘secrecy, culture of insecurity’, Today Online, http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/chc-slammed-secrecy-culture-insecurity?singlepage=true, Published 11:33 PM, 22/10/2015, Updated 10:10 AM, 23/102015. (Accessed 25/10/2015.)
“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.”
In the below article written by Phil Pringle and in his YouTube video, Phil Pringle once again claims Kong Hee’s innocence to his church, once again insinuating that the Singaporean courts are being used by the devil.
Worse still in the video, Phil Pringle is deliberately throwing pictures out to portray Kong Hee as Christ and the Singaporean authorities as the corrupt court of the Sanhedrin, who relied on blood money and false accusation to murder Jesus. This is no different to Kong Hee’s message at Presence Conference 2012 to win blind support for his case in front of hundreds and thousands of Christians around the world.
Why is it acceptable to portray the Singaporean government as slanderous murderous men?
Furthermore, Pringle in his video also portrays Kong Hee as the Apostle Peter before governing authorities. But there is a huge difference between the Apostles and Kong Hee. They were persecuted for preaching the gospel and falsely accused because of their message.
However, Kong Hee is not in court because the government wants him to stop preaching the gospel. He is in court for mishandling church funds of up to $46,000,000 to finance his wife’s musical career. That’s a far cry from the “crimes” of the Apostles.
Phil Pringle writes,
PHIL PRINGLE COMMENT ON KONG HEE COURT CASE
This Wednesday, the CHC court case will end, and a verdict will be read over Kong Hee. Our job as fellow believers is to stand in faith with our brother.
On Wednesday 21st October, Pastor Kong Hee’s court case in Singapore will conclude and a verdict will be read. Below is video footage containing my comments on the matter. This video was recorded during our 6 p.m. service at C3 Church Oxford Falls.
When you’re building the Church, you’re never going to be found without a fight. Our job as fellow believers is to stand with each other when we are facing trouble. At the end of the day, it’s easy to stand for Jesus, but it’s more challenging to stand for one of his servants when they are facing difficulty. In this coming week, our good friend Pastor Kong Hee (Senior Pastor of City Harvest Church, Singapore) is going to be standing in a courtroom and a verdict will be passed on him after a 5 year long trial – the longest trial in Singapore’s history. I know Pastor Kong Hee to be an honest, true and faithful minister of Christ. He has also been extraordinarily effective in raising up one of the truly great churches (CHC) in the world, bringing hundreds of thousands of people to Christ. Jesus has told us this kind of advancement would not go uncontested. We must be prepared to be immovable, strong and faithful to Christ through all the challenges we face in building His Church. Ultimately, it is the Courts job to arrive at a verdict. But we are praying for victory. There is a sentiment against believers, but the devil has always got it wrong. He thinks if he attacks the church it’s going to die, he even tried it with Jesus, but He just came up out of the ground again. I believe we have a victorious Christ ruling over His house, His Church and His Kingdom.
Source: Phil Pringle, PHIL PRINGLE COMMENT ON KONG HEE COURT CASE, http://philpringle.com/blog-/phil-pringle-comment-on-kong-hee-court-case#.VibwGfmqqkr, Published 21/10/2015. (Accessed 21/10/2015.)
TRANSCRIPT
“I want to take a second, for us all just to take a minute to pray for Pastor Kong Hee.
This Wednesday he is going to be standing in a court room in Singapore after five years of trial, the longest running trial in Singapore history. And so I’m going to go up there and stand with him in the court room and ahh you know it’s not my job to judge, rights and wrongs but I do believe it is our job to stand with people who are in struggling situations.
He is one of the most pure hearted, holy men of God I know. One of the most devoted, dedicated, like rugged soldiers for Christ that I’ve ever met. There are some people that are like ‘I’m not so sure I actually want to try to stand but Kong Hee he’s impeccable in integrity in these areas and it’s just that he’s been caught up in it.
This has become a very complicated processes, the prosecution has not been able to provide one piece of evidence of him wrongfully gaining anything or the congregation wrongfully loosing anything, in terms of finances.
But as I say it’s not our part to reach that judgment, that’s in the court’s hands. And do you know Paul and Peter, a lot of these guys found themselves in very difficult situations with the Government authorities and put in predicaments that were scary for the Christians cause they were associated with them and ahh when Jesus got convicted as a criminal and was sent to the cross to die, it was pretty difficult for the disciples to say, ‘we know him, he’s a friend’ they scattered and I don’t want to be that, I want to say I’m standing, I don’t understand everything all the time but I think when we see a good brother, a faithful brother in trouble we should stand with them, in Jesus name.
So let’s pray for one minute here for him right now, Lord we pray for your hand to be upon Pastor Kong and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to be in his life, let the power of Christ rest on him, in Jesus name. Let a miracle come to pass, a miracle of deliverance and victory by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name, let your presence fall now on our brother and those other defendants, let them all know the power of God on their life. In Jesus mighty name we believe God, Your presence, Your power, Your Holy Spirit falling in Jesus mighty name, our God we praise You.”
We have been covering the paedophile scandal cover-up of Phil Pringle of C3 Church. If people tuned in to 2SM radio this morning, they would have learnt that this scandal also found it’s way into the Hillsong movement.
This morning, Grant Goldman from 2SM radio publicly challenged Scott Morrison’s associations with cult leader Brian Houston of Hillsong. Goldman also introduced the serious issues behind Hillsong by introducing cult leader Phil Pringle and his C3 movement into the mix, highlighting the fact that both men have covered up paedophilia in their church’s. Goldman focused on Kerrie Ferguson’s story as well.
You can read Kerrie Ferguson’s ongoing story here in how this was covered up:
Scott Morrison attends ShireLIVE and has close ties with the better-known Hillsong community. Brian Houston is one of Morrison’s mentors and we have a personal email claiming that Scott Morrison has boasted that his mentor is Brian Houston.
If you don’t know how to navigate what surfaced from the Royal Commission regarding Houston covering up his father’s crimes, please read the below link:
TRANSCRIPT: Grant Goldman to Scott Morrison, Monday 21 September 2015.
“On August 24th, less than a month ago, I had something to say about Scott Morrison, I stated that in 2007 Morrison as State Director of the Liberal Party was the beneficiary of a totally unfounded and unjustified smear campaign against a man by the name of Michael Towke, the telecommunications engineer who had been preselected by the Liberal Party for the seat of Cook. The effect of that smear campaign was that Morrison, who in contesting the preselection, had received less than one tenth of the votes won by Towke. But Morrison was able to gain the Liberal endorsement as the Member for Cook.
In recent days supporters of Tony Abbott have suspected the loyalty and sincerity of Scott Morrison who appears to have been rewarded for his failure to defend the then Prime Minister against the Turnbull attack. In his Maiden Speech to the Federal Parliament on 14 February 2008, Scott Morrison made favourable mention of Pastor Brian Houston who operates the Hillsong religious organisation.
So who is Pastor Brian Houston, the mentor to Scott Morrison? Is he?
This is the fellow who told a Royal Commission that he had no legal or moral obligation to the victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by his predecessor in the leadership of Hillsong, his father Frank Houston. In October 2014 the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse was told by a witness known as AHA that when he was seven years only, Pastor Frank Houston would come to his room, lie on him, fondle him and masturbate him. When Brian Houston found out that in 1999 that his father was a pederast taking advantage of a young boy, he failed to tell the Police. Instead, Brian Houston and committee of the Assemblies of God suspended Frank Houston’s preaching credentials, for just two years.
It gets worse. I have in my hand as I write a copy of testimony given to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse by a lady named Kerri. I shall put this document on my website. Kerri told the commission the tragic story of how her son was raped by the man she had married. Her son reported the crime to two Pastors, Gary Dench and Ian Treacy. They did not tell the police. They did not tell the victim’s mother. They admonished the victim, telling him he was partly to blame.
After Kerri learned from her son what had happened, she told the Police and also asked for help from the Head Pastor of the Christian City Church, Phil Pringle who provided no assistance. Pringle had suspended Dench, not because Dench had concealed a crime against a child, but because Dench’s wife had won a prize in the lottery.
Later Kerri asked for help from Pastor Brian Houston of Hillsong Church knowing him to be a close friend of Pastor Phil Pringle. I’ll quote what Kerri told the commission:
“I related our circumstances to Brian Houston who became very irritated, told me he did not believe that such a thing had happened, turned his back on me and walked away.”
That is Brian Houston, who I understand with his wife Bobbie still calls the shots at Hillsong.
I am inviting Scott Morrison to come on my program and repudiate Pastor Brian Houston. I want Scott Morrison to express disgust at a Christian Leader who fails to report the sexual abuse of a child. I want Scott Morrison to express disgust at a Christian Leader who turns his back on member of his own congregation, a mother whose son has been betrayed by other pastors in the network, who refused to report to police that that boy had been raped, and instead told the boy he was partly to blame.
If you agree with me, back me up. If you disagree, prove me wrong.”
“Membership in this fellowship is dependent upon your agreement to observe and carry out the following requirements. You are to understand they are not optional but mandatory. You are to understand that if found by the Board of CCCI to be delinquent in any of these areas and fail to conform to the disciplinary requirements of the Board, you will ultimately forfeit the right to continue to use the name Christian City Church and will cease to be a member of the fellowship.”
Paragraph 16 under the Preliminary states:
“16) – You shall not use or allow the pulpit to be used to:
a) promote commercial ventures
b) promote political beliefs c) do anything of a lewd, corrupt or heretical nature
d) to vent personal needs, injustices, angers or business ventures.”
How does the C3 Consitution define the word ‘heretical’?
“b) Heretical – in paragraph 16, shall be interpreted with reference to the “Apostolic and Nicene Creeds”.”
You can read the “Apostolic and Nicene Creeds” on our website on Our A/B/C/D’spage. One reason why the Nicene Creed was established was to separate and condemn the Modalist, Sabellianist and Adoptionalist heretics in the church in that time period.
“If anyone does not confess that the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are one nature or essence, one power or authority, worshipped as a trinity of the same essence, one deity in three hypostases or persons, let him be anathema. For there is one God and Father, of whom are all things, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and one Holy Spirit, in whom are all things.”
WHY ARE WE BRINGING THIS UP?
We bring the constitution up for this reason: does Phil Pringle think he is exempt of the C3 Constituion? Why?
At this year’s Presence Conference, Phil Pringle announced that next year TD Jakes (well-known modalist) will be speaking at Presence Conference 2016.
Famous Modalist heretic TD Jakes: denier of the Trinity.
To this day, TD Jakes still preaches his modalist view of the Trinity. In fact, TD Jakes promoted this ancient heresy in a sermon Christian apologist and theologian Chris Rosebrough reviewed on his program back in March:
“The Bible says that he sits on the circle pf the Earth. He said that Heaven is his throne and the Earth is his footstool. And whenever he sits something is going to happen. He sat down on the Earth and separated the firmament. He sat down on the Mount of Olives and taught the Beatitudes. He sat down on the colt and entered into Jerusalem. He sat down… He sat down… He sat down on the day of Pentecost when they were in one place with one accord. The Bible said he sat on each of them and they were filled with the Holy Ghost. Throw your hand up and say sit on them.” [59:39-1:00:57]
What made Pringle think that it was wise for him to promote a Modalist heretic? Why does Pringle want to be associated with one by promoting TD Jakes at his Presence Conference as though he is a Christian when the C3 Constitution condemns TD Jakes as a dangerous heretic?
Why isn’t Pringle bound to his own constitution? And who in C3 will hold Phil Pringle accountable, if nothing written officially, holds this man accountable in the C3 Movement?
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.