Here appear occasional jottings of my random musings. Profound or jejune, they reveal the contours of my mental universe, with world history, intellectual history, civilizations, philosophy, religion, society, knowledge, and books as some major themes.
Since May 2011, this blog has been exclusively focused on Singapore. All my other reflections are now posted in "Notes from Noosphere" (see link under "Miscellany" on the right margin).
At “Miracle-Seed Sunday” in Singapore’s New Creation Church last month, the pastor’s sermon was preceded by PowerPoint and video presentations, and donations were overseen by auditors.
Centuries after Catholics established missions in Asia, Singaporeans are flocking to a new species of churches making appeals more in common with “Material Girl” pop-singer Madonna than the Jesuits. Wearing a white leather jacket and jeans, Senior Pastor Joseph Prince asked God to reward a crowd of about 1,200 with houses, cars, jobs, pay raises and holidays if they contributed to New Creation’s multimillion-dollar funding drive.
Prince’s 24,000-strong flock belongs to a flourishing breed of churches from Houston to Sydney winning followers with a focus on personal well-being. As the rise of so-called mega churches helps make Christians the fastest-growing religious group in majority-Buddhist Singapore, their fundraising prowess is also making its mark, allowing groups including New Creation and City Harvest Church to invest in some of the island’s biggest commercial properties.
“Mega churches have been able to articulate Christianity in a very contemporary manner,” said Terence Chong, a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies who has researched such groups. “Being able to adopt the language of pop culture, mass consumption -- we think this appeals to the new middle class, people who are aspiring middle class.”
In a city state of 5.2 million people occupying a quarter of the area of Rhode Island, the mega churches stand out with their gatherings of thousands, near-celebrity leaders and outreach methods that range from magic shows and concerts to musical worship backed by electric guitars.
Pocketless Aprons
At the New Creation service, PowerPoint slides showed attendees how to write checks to the church, while armed security guards watched the cash. RSM Chio Lim LLP provided the auditors overseeing the donations, according to E-Sah Woo, an audit partner at the Singapore-based accounting company and Kelly Lim, a New Creation spokeswoman. Staff in the counting room, including the auditors, wore specially designed pocketless aprons, according to the church’s website.
Worship and Holy Communion were followed by a video about a woman who donated on Miracle Seed Sundays even when her husband’s cancer treatments saddled the couple with debt. Images of a Volkswagen and a condominium showed the rewards that came to them for giving.
“As they come forth Lord to sow, release upon them Father the power to get, to create, to receive wealth in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,” Prince said in the rented Rock Auditorium at the Suntec City Mall. “Prosperity is right. Amen. We prosper to prosper others. We prosper to prosper God’s kingdom, so come believing.”
Chaka Khan
The special session sought to raise funds for the church’s half of a S$976 million ($783 million) retail and entertainment complex, which includes a 5,000-seat auditorium. The venue, which will double as New Creation’s meeting place, is set to open in November with concerts by musician and producer David Foster and friends including Chaka Khan and Babyface, according to a statement from the theater.
The joint venture with CapitaLand Ltd. (CAPL), Southeast Asia’s biggest developer, would be among the 10 largest commercial properties by value and the biggest investment by any religious organization in Singapore, according to Nicholas Mak, executive director at SLP International Property Consultants.
The Miracle Seed event in 2010 raised S$21 million in a single day from 22,272 attendees, according to New Creation’s website, and the church planned three such sessions this year. It had raised S$348 million for the property project as of July 2012, the website said.
Suntec Investment
It’s not alone. City Harvest Church, a non-denominational church founded by senior pastor Kong Hee, 48, has attracted a reported 20,619 members as of last year. It proposed in 2010 to spend S$310 million for a stake in the Suntec International Convention & Exhibition Centre as well as related rents and renovation costs. The building was the venue for the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2009.
At a July 21 church service, Executive Pastor Aries Zulkarnain told followers the group raised a record S$22 million for its building fund last year, and had doubled its stake in the property to 39.2 percent for an additional S$54 million. He used PowerPoint slides to instruct churchgoers how to give offerings via cash, check and credit card, and highlighted the online donation system.
These churches are “beyond any doubt” the fastest fundraising bloc among religious organizations in the city state, said Gerard Ee, former President of the National Council of Social Service who was previously a partner with Ernst & Young. “The message here is: The more you give, the more you get back from God. It’s like an investment.”
Sunday Tickets
New Creation, whose website reports 24,000 church members, convenes at several locations in the city every week because it’s outgrown the Rock Auditorium. At the Suntec City Mall, which houses retailers including Carrefour SA (CA), restaurants and a “Fountain of Wealth,” tickets are given out starting at 6:45 a.m. on Sundays for those wishing to see Prince speak in person.
Those who don’t have tickets watch him remotely via video feeds from other venues, such as the Marina Bay Sands casino resort and convention center or a nearby movie theater.
Prince, who sports a black leather jacket and bronze highlights in his hair on the church’s website, speaks at four sessions throughout the day, and recordings of his sermons reach millions across North America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Israel, according to his podcast’s iTunes page. Websites unaffiliated to the church put his age at 49, though New Creation declined to confirm the information.
Singapore’s 2010 census showed that Christians make up the largest share of university graduates, and the proportion of citizens who defined themselves as Christians increased the most in 10 years compared to all other religions.
Embracing Prosperity
By making their services enjoyable and embracing prosperity, groups such as New Creation, City Harvest and Hillsong in Australia are able to attract followers, said Jeaney Yip, a lecturer at the University of Sydney Business School who has studied the marketing practices of mega churches.
“Market-friendly ideologies associated with individualism and self-empowerment are often blended with selective Christian theologies to emphasize positive living and blessings, while deflecting overtly negative Christian doctrines such as suffering, judgment, sacrifice, hell or death from sin,” Yip said. “Their church services are scripted and ‘produced’ with deliberate use of contemporary music, sound and lighting.”
Army Recruit
Axel Ng, 20, a recruit serving his mandatory National Service with the Singapore Army, attends Prince’s 8:30 a.m. Sunday services, after waking up before 6 a.m. to get in line for tickets. At New Creation’s Miracle Seed service on Aug. 19, he gave $50 to the building fund from his $510 monthly pay.
“Pastor Prince is one of the reasons why I come to church, but we believe he is just a messenger,” said Ng, who was introduced to New Creation by his mother in 2005. “The music is liberating, it speaks to me.”
Lawrence Khong
Faith Community Baptist Church, founded in 1986 by Senior Pastor Apostle Lawrence Khong, provides “celebration services” for its 10,000 members, according to its website. Khong, born in 1952, is pictured on the site with gelled hair and a black leather jacket and matching bracelet. He also fronts the group’s entertainment arm, staging shows that “combine magic, music, drama and dance to establish God’s Kingdom in the marketplace.”
Faith Community’s attendance compares with a weekly congregation of more than 38,000 at the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, according to the U.S. church’s website.
The communications divisions of City Harvest, New Creation and Faith Community all rejected interview requests from Bloomberg News with their leaders.
Mass Networking
Mega churches thrive in urban, newly-developed countries where they create networking opportunities and a sense of identity, according to Hoon Chang Yau, an Assistant Professor of Asian Studies at Singapore Management University who researches Christianity in Indonesia.
City Harvest, which says the average age of its congregation in 2010 was 29, has affiliate churches in Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Taiwan and Brunei. It lists business awards won by its members as well as statistics measuring their academic performance against the national average on its website.
At the July 21 City Harvest service, singers led the congregation in song during the worship session, featuring contemporary-styled music backed by a band with drums, electric guitar and bass. The founder, Kong, read Bible verses from an iPad and then invited the crowd to talk to God “in tongues,” leading almost a minute of unrecognizable spoken sounds.
Conspiracy Charges
The boom in fundraising has been accompanied by concern over how the money is used. Kong and five other City Harvest officers were charged this year with conspiracy to misuse S$50.6 million of the church’s funds, including using a portion of the money to finance the music career of Ho Yeow Sun, Kong’s wife. Kong denied the charges. The church has said it stands by the accused leaders.
In contrast to the U.S., where churches often champion political and sometimes anti-government views, religious groups in Singapore refrain from criticizing those in power. The laws “provide a broad framework to ensure that these pastors stay clear from discussing the politics of the day,” said Mathew Mathews, a research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies in Singapore who has written about mega churches.
The Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act allows authorities to stop religious leaders from addressing or advising groups, to prevent them from inciting hostility between different religions and disaffection against the government, among other offenses.
Services Continue
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said in a June statement the City Harvest case involved charges against the individuals, not the church or Christians, adding that the group was free to continue its services and activities.
Irene Hii, a former atheist, became a believer after hearing Prince speak at a conference organized by Hillsong, a mega church in Sydney, and has been a New Creation follower since she was a university student in 2000. She gives 10 percent of her income to the church every month, known as a tithe.
“It’s my way of telling my God: You’ve given me my blessings, so this is the portion that I’m giving back to you, but I’m keeping the 90 percent,” Hii, a 34-year-old doctor, said after one of New Creation’s services.
Derek Dunn (born 1972), the former executive pastor (CEO) of City Harvest Church (CHC), left for Atlanta, Georgia after 16 years (Dec 1995-Dec 2011) working at CHC. He is now an itinerant minister, with an online presence, Derek Dunn Ministries, USA, here.
The reason given for Dunn's departure is that he needs to care for his sick mother [see below].
Online speculation concerning the possible hidden reason for Dunn's departure, and whether Dunn is using CHC money for his US ministry, prompted me to find out more about Dunn.
According to Dunn's LinkedIn profile (below), he is a Pastor at Large of CHC. Is he therefore still on CHC's payroll? _____________________
In 1994, Derek Dunn (aged 22) graduated from the now defunct Spirit Life Bible College (SLBC) in Irvine, California. Dunn enrolled at SLBC at its foundation in 1992.
SLBC in 1994 was unaccredited, completely dominated by its founder Roberts Liardon (born 1966, a Charismatic/Pentecostal faith healer/preacher, 26 years old when he founded SLBC in 1992), nothing but a branch of Liardon's church, with the pastors of the church forming the entire teaching staff.
In 2001 Liardon was involved in a scandal (a homosexual relationship) that greatly damaged SLBC, which became defunct by 2007. The man fell, and the college fell with him. (see "On SLBC" below)
_____________________
According to Dunn's Facebook and LinkedIn profiles (see below), Dunn graduated from SLBC in June 1994, and served as an itinerant missionary (or simply a sight-seeing traveller, who knows?) in Southeast Asia in June 1994 - Dec 1995 (1 year 7 months).
According to City Harvest School of Theology (CHSOT), "Pastor Derek Dunn has been in full time ministry since 1993. ... Pastor Derek (Dunn) served as a full-time missionary, traveling extensively throughout Southeast Asia for two years, before joining City Harvest Church Singapore in December 1995." (see below)
It would appear that Dunn has falsified the starting date (1993) of his ministry, in order to show two years of missionary experience.
______________________
Having examined SLBC and New Life Bible College (NLBC), the two almae matres (alma maters) of Dunn's, my conclusion is that the quality of Dunn's theological education failed to meet the extremely low expectation that I had before my investigation.
I would grant, though, that the said quality might be higher than that of Kong Hee's theological education.
(See here on Kong Hee's bogus theological degrees from a diploma mill.)
Rev. Derek Dunn is originally from the USA and has been in full time ministry since 1993 (ed. false; should beJune 1994. A clear attempt to lengthen his missionary service to two years) . He holds a a Diploma in Biblical Studies (U.S.A.)* and a Licentiate in Theology (U.S.A)*. Pastor Derek served as a full-time missionary, traveling extensively throughout Southeast Asia for two years, before joining City Harvest Church Singapore in December 1995.He is the Executive Pastor (CEO) of CHC and overseas (sic) the pastoral office and conducts leadership training regularly for the cell group leaders in Church.
*It is not clear whether Dunn's diploma and licentiate are from SLBC, NLBC, CHSOT, or some other outfit.
After 15 years of service at City Harvest Church Singapore, Executive Pastor Derek Dunn will be returning to the United States to care for his mother, who is currently in poor health.
It has been a very difficult decision, both for Dunn and his Singaporean wife Susan, who will be relocating to the US with him and their three children, and for the church leadership. But after months of attempting and considering every other solution, both sides agree that the imperative issue is Dunn’s mother gets the best care right now, and he needs to be there to ensure that.
There are plans for the Dunns to plant a City Harvest church in the US once Dunn’s mother is well on the road to recovery. Kong Hee says, “That won’t happen for a while yet — Derek has to focus on getting his mom well—but we have discussed it, and when it happens, it will be a City Harvest Church in the US, and we will support it to the hilt.” There are over 50 CHC affiliate churches and Bible schools across the globe.
Derek Dunn’s mission is to see churches grow spiritually, numerically, and in impact in their cities. Derek has extensive experience training pastors and ministry leaders on the importance of discipleship, leadership development, and small group ministry that leads to principle centered church growth.
For 20 years, Derek Dunn has been helping pastors and church leaders maximize and grow their ministries to their fullest potential. As Executive Pastor and strategist of one of the largest churches in Asia, Derek was instrumental in implementing structure and leadership training that saw City Harvest Church (CHC) in Singapore grow from 1,400 members to their highest average attendance of 32,000. Derek Dunn served under the leadership of Dr. (ed. doctorate is probably from a diploma mill) Kong Hee, the Founder and Honorary Senior Pastor of CHC for 16 years. As the Executive Pastor in Singapore, Derek Dunn provided oversight for the Pastoral Office and 30+ Ministry Heads of Departments of the church, conducted regular leadership training in CHC and throughout Asia and was a regular speaker at CHC’s School of Theology (CHSOT) (sot.chc.org.sg), the largest Bible College in Southeast Asia*. CHC’s worship and ministry style is among the most contemporary and biblically sound** among churches in the world. At a rate of planting one new church every 3 months, CHC is a mission-minded church. CHC’s motto of kristos kai kosmos is to bring Christ into the marketplace and contemporary culture of society in a relevant way.
Derek Dunn is originally from the United States and under the direction of the Holy Spirit and the backing of Pastor Kong Hee and City Harvest Church, he returned back to the USA in December 2011 and travels as an itinerant minister internationally. As an ordained minister Derek has had the opportunity to travel to 25 nations of the world as a missionary, conference speaker, Bible teacher and church consultant. He carries a strong conviction and tangible presence of God as he preaches, teaches and ministers.
________________
* This is misleading, giving the impression that CHSOT is the most established and prestigious Bible college in Southeast Asia.
In fact CHSOT is a glorified Sunday school of CHC with a faculty of six (excluding Dunn), offering a six-month Advanced Certificate program each year, and no degree program. At least five of the six faculty members are part timers, as they are either pastors of CHC, or conduct other ministries in the church.
** By claiming that prosperity gospel as taught by Kong Hee in CHC is biblically sound, Dunn shows his utter ignorance and willful distortion of the Bible. For an understanding of how prosperity gospel deviates from historic Christianity, and was devised to enrich swindlers and scoundrels, see here.
June 1995 – Present (17 years 2 months)Virginia Beach, Virginia. USA
DDM's mission is to see churches grow spiritually, numerically, and in impact in their cities. Derek has extensive experience training pastors and ministry leaders on the importance of discipleship, leadership develop, and small group ministry that leads to principle centered church growth.
Executive Pastor
City Harvest Church, Singapore
December 1995 – December 2011 (16 years 1 month)Singapore
As the Executive Pastor, Derek provided oversight for the Pastoral Office and 30+ Ministry Heads of Departments of the church and was responsible for matters pertaining to strategy and implementation of the overall church vision.
Regular Speaker
City Harvest School of Theology
January 1996 – November 2011 (15 years 11 months)Singapore
Serves as an honorary regular speaker in City Harvest Church's School of Theology (SOT) since January 1996. The SOT is the largest Bible college in Southeast Asia.
Itinerant Minister in Southeast Asia
Missionary
June 1994 – December 1995 (1 year 7 months)Southeast Asia
Upon graduating from Bible College, Derek served as an itinerant missionary traveling extensively throughout Southeast Asia.
SLBC in 1994 was unaccredited, completely dominated by Liardon, nothing but a branch of Liardon's church, with the pastors of the church forming the entire teaching staff. In 1993-94, SLBC had 87 seniors and 88 juniors.
In December 2001, Liardon took leave as pastor of his congregation after admitting to a moral failure involving a short term homosexual relationship with his church youth minister, John Carette. Liardon took a three month leave of absence from Roberts Liardon Ministries to seek counselling and undergo a process of restoration. The scandal devastated many of Liardon's followers, students and missionaries who left the church, bible college and ministry.
SLBC became defunct by 2007 (source), possbly in 2005 (source: reader's comment here). The man fell, and the college fell with him.
Roberts Liardon Leaves Ministry Over 'Moral Failure'
Pastor and writer Roberts Liardon is stepping down from ministry after admitting to "moral failure." He is taking a three-month leave of absence to seek "professional and church counseling related to a recent short-term homosexual relationship," according to a statement issued on behalf of his Embassy Christian Center in Irvine, California.
Liardon, 34, announced his decision this week citing "several situations, both personal and health related," the statement said. He had been advised by doctors to take time off to deal with an ongoing heart condition and further recuperate from recent surgery, it added.
Liardon said: "As a minister of the gospel, I realize my moral failure has been inappropriate and wrong. I have asked God's forgiveness, and for the past month have sought professional counseling and other help. I ask anyone affected by my actions to forgive me and to pray for both my spiritual and physical recovery."
The statement said that Liardon will re-evaluate his situation in three months' time, together with those offering "accountability, counseling and authority...and determine the appropriate time for his return." Liardon is the author of "God's Generals," a history of Pentecostal pioneers. He founded Spirit Life Bible College, and his Roberts Liardon Ministries has offices in England, South Africa and the Philippines.
The 2001 scandal triggered an exodus from Liardon's church and his school, Spirit Life Bible College. Some leaders who left complained that Liardon did not accept initial pastoral counsel from a leader who advised him to step away from the pulpit for one year.
Both organizations closed in 2007, when Liardon relocated his itinerant preaching ministry to Florida.
Similar to SLBC, New Life Bible College (NLBC, founded in 1977) of Cleveland, Tennessee is an unaccredited church school dominated by a Charismatic/Pentecostal preacher Norvel Hayes (born April 20, 1927), and simply a branch of his New Life Bible Church.
NLBC shows no curriculum, faculty, or degree program of any kind online. It is perhaps a glorified Sunday School or Bible retreat.
"Dr" Norvel Hayes (right) was awarded a bogus PhD in Theology by Life Christian University, a diploma mill, based in Lutz, Florida, a suburb of Tempa (source)
Kong Hee, the founding senior pastor of City Harvest Church (CHC), showed his spiritual wisdom and discernment by regularly inviting Benny Hinn, the fraudulent "renowned" faith healer and "miracle" worker, to hold mass "healing miracle crusades" in the Singapore Indoor Stadium and Singapore Expo, attracting tens of thousands, deceiving trusting and sick people with false promises and fake miracles, and enriching the unscrupulous and despicable con man.
"Pay me $1500, all who are mired in debt and in despair. I promise you a miracle of debt freedom for $1500," said Benny Hinn, unscrupulous swindler and scoundrel, in a November 2008 crusade in Singapore organized by CHC. (details below)
The charlatan ruthlessly exploited the most vulnerable, the poorest of the poor, and the sickest of the sick, for their last cent.
In the following video 1, Benny Hinn "anointed", by touching and remotely smiting, Kong Hee. "That's the glory of God here", Hinn pointed to Kong Hee (0:23, 0:28, 0:37). "The Lord says, Four times what you have! God is going to give you four times what you have, my mighty brother!" (1:00) Hinn said to Kong Hee.
Kong Hee seems to have been a man after the scoundrel's own heart, and a faithful disciple of the crook.
Video 1: Benny Hinn smites (anoints) Kong Hee. "That's the glory of God" (youtube)
Video 2: Benny Hinn exposed: Grace (at Calgary crusade) with muscular dystrophy
Video 7: Is this how God heals? Are you serious? (youtube)
Video 8: Benny Hinn performing "miracles" in Jakarta, Indonesia* (youtube)
* In video 8, Benny Hinn masterfully and cynically manipulated the innocent faith and fervent hope for miraculous cure of a crowd in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia. The stadium has 88,000 seats. Hinn claimed that the crowd was nearly half a million (15:00). This is typical of Hinn, who would confidently assert lies (in this case to impress his TV audience), even when they are obviously lies.
A controversial aspect of Benny Hinn's ministry is his teaching on, and demonstration of, a phenomenon he dubs "The Anointing"—the power purportedly given by God and transmitted through Hinn to carry out supernatural acts. At Hinn's Miracle Crusades, he has allegedly healed attendees of blindness, deafness, cancer, AIDS,and severe physical injuries. However, investigative reports by the Los Angeles Times, NBC's Dateline, the CBC's The Fifth Estate, and the Nine Network's 60 Minutes have called these claims into question.
Hinn has also caused controversy for theological remarks and claims he has made during TV appearances. In 1999, Hinn appeared on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), claiming that God had given him a vision predicting the resurrection of thousands of dead people after watching the network—laying out a scenario of people placing their dead loved ones' hands on TV screens tuned into the station—and suggesting that TBN would be "an extension of Heaven to Earth".
False Prophecies
Hinn is notable for his mistaken prophecies relating to the end times, including the destruction of homosexuals in the USA, the death of Fidel Castro in the 1990s, and the end of the world in 1992 and 1999.
[Audios of Benny Hinn's crazy prophesies and teachings: here]
A Question of Miracles
In April 2001, HBO aired a documentary entitled A Question of Miracles(Part 1,Part 2, final part not available) that focused on Hinn and a well-documented fellow Word-of-Faith German minister based in Africa, Reinhard Bonnke. Both Hinn and Bonnke offered full access to their events to the documentary crew, and the documentary team followed seven cases of "miracle healings" from Hinn's crusade over the next year. The film's director, Antony Thomas, claimed to CNN's Kyra Phillips that they did not find any cases where people were actually healed by Hinn. Thomas said in a New York Times interview that "If I had seen miracles [from Hinn's ministry], I would have been happy to trumpet it...but in retrospect, I think they do more damage to Christianity than the most committed atheist."
"Do You Believe in Miracles"
In November 2004, the CBC Television show The Fifth Estate did a special titled "Do You Believe in Miracles" (video 4 above) on the apparent transgressions committed by Benny Hinn's ministry. With the aid of hidden cameras and crusade witnesses, the producers of the show demonstrated Benny's apparent misappropriation of funds, his fabrication of the truth, and the way in which his staff chose crusade audience members to come on stage to proclaim their miracle healings. In particular, the investigation highlighted the fact that the most desperate miracle seekers who attend a Hinn crusade—the quadriplegics, the brain-damaged, virtually anyone with a visibly obvious physical condition—are never allowed up on stage; those who attempt to get in the line of possible healings are intercepted and directed to return to their seats.
At one Canadian service, hidden cameras showed a mother who was carrying her Muscular Dystrophy-afflicted daughter, Grace, being stopped by two screeners when they attempted to get into the line for a possible blessing from Benny. The screeners asked the mother if Grace had been healed, and when the mother replied in the negative, they were told to return to their seats; the pair got out of line, but Grace, wanting "Pastor Benny to pray for [her]", asked her mother to support her as she tried to walk as a show of "her faith in action", according to the mother. After several unsuccessful attempts at walking, the pair left the arena in tears, both mother and daughter visibly upset at being turned aside and crying as they explained to the undercover reporters that all Grace had wanted was for Benny to pray for her, but the staffers rushed them out of the line when they found out Grace had not been healed.
A week later at a service in Toronto, Baptist evangelist Justin Peters, who wrote his Masters in Divinity thesis on Benny Hinn and has attended numerous Hinn crusades since 2000 as part of his research for his thesis and for a seminar he developed about the Word of Faith movement entitled A Call for Discernment, also demonstrated to the hidden cameras that "people who look like me"—Peters has cerebral palsy, walks with arm-crutches, and is obviously and visibly disabled—"are never allowed on stage[...]it's always somebody who has some disability or disease that cannot be readily seen." Like Grace and her mother, Peters was quickly intercepted as he came out of the wheelchair section (there is one at every crusade, situated at the back of the audience, far away from the stage, and never filmed for Hinn's TV show) in an attempt to join the line of those waiting to go onstage, and was told to take a seat.
This segment was later edited with new footage and shown on Dateline: NBC in November 2005 (video above).
Ministry Watch issues "Donor Alert"
In March 2005, Ministry Watch, issued a Donor Alert against the ministry. Benny Hinn Ministries (BHM) is not a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
BHM raises funds for a Gulfstream jet
In December 2006, Beeny Hinn Ministries (BHM) sent out a mailing asking for donations towards a new Gulfstream G4SP jet valued at an estimated US$36 million and costing over US$600,000/year to maintain and operate. The 22-seat craft was purchased in 2007 and christened "Dove One".
Senate investigation
On November 6, 2007, United States Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa announced an investigation of Hinn's ministry by the United States Senate Committee on Finance. In a letter to BHM, Grassley asked for the ministry to divulge financial information to the Senate Committee on Finance to determine if Hinn made any personal profit from financial donations, and requested that Hinn's ministry make the information available by December 6, 2007. The investigation also scrutinized five other televangelists: Paula White, Kenneth Copeland, Eddie L. Long, Joyce Meyer, and Creflo Dollar. On December 6, 2007, Hinn told the Associated Press that he would not respond to the inquiry until 2008. Hinn's ministry has since responded to the inquiry, and Senator Grassley commented that, "... Benny Hinn [has] engaged in open and honest dialogue with committee staff. They have not only provided responses to every question but, in the spirit of true cooperation, also have provided information over and above what was requested."
Note: The following CHC/Benny Hinn crusades were held after the 2001 broadcast of the HBO documentary "A Question of Miracles" (Part 1, Part 2, final part not available) and the November 2004 broadcast of the CBC The Fifth Estatedocumentary "Do You Believe in Miracles"" (video 4above) exposing the fraudulent claims by Benny Hinn of miraculous cures.
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Benny Hinn at Singapore Expo, Inaugural Asia Conference (organized and hosted by CHC), November 2008, claiming 20,356 delegates from 68 countries (source).
"Pay me $1500, all who are mired in debt and in despair. I promise you a miracle of debt freedom for $1500," said Benny Hinn, unscrupulous swindler and scoundrel, in a crusade in Singapore organized by CHC.
The charlatan ruthlessly exploited the most vulnerable, the poorest of the poor, and the sickest of the sick, for their last cent.
Kong Hee (leftmost) and Benny Hinn, star attraction of Asia Conference 2008 in Singapore
SINGAPORE, 22 NOVEMBER 2008 — NOW IS THE time for the church to rise up, said Benny Hinn, and in the months ahead, the world will see some of the greatest miracles ever.
And the church is empowered to bring the light of God in the world as His anointing is rained down on His church. But, he said, there is a price to pay for the anointing of God.
Before the miracle filled meeting started, the 9,000-seat hall gathered for a prayer meeting. Fifteen minutes was all it took for Singapore Expo Hall 8 to get filled up, with some attendees queuing as early as 7am this morning.
The crowd did not seem to deter some.
“I feel great, and I hope I can bring something back for the church in Indonesia,” said Johan Supit, from the GPDI movement in Sumatra.
“Although we queued for a long time, it was worth it to get a seat here, and to be part of what’s going on,” said Soon Sze Yin, 23, pointing to her seat in the hall.
Palpable anticipation hung in the air as churchgoers wheeled their friends and relatives in, who came expecting a miracle of healing.
Debts Canceled, Miracles Revealed
Throughout the four-and-a-half hour service, the congregation sat riveted, listening intently to Hinn as he shared his revelations. Hundreds also filled the aisles to respond to his altar call for those believing for debt cancellation.
One of the highlights of the session was when Hinn challenged the congregation to give S$1,500 as an offering amount to get a return harvest in a week, something that he has experienced every single time he gives a breakthrough offering amount of US$1,000.
As the givers wrote the phrase “debt cancellation” on the offering envelopes, Hinn also encouraged the congregation to believe for a debt-free life in 12 months.
“It’s not the amount that God responds to,” Hinn emphasized, “God responds to faith.”
Truly, without faith, it is impossible to please God, and healing testimonies soon ensued after Hinn called out for healings. Deaf ears were opened, fractured ankles and knees were completely healed. These were some of the miracles that changed the lives of many.
Signs and wonders would be commonplace in the months ahead, said Hinn. He also encouraged the congregation, especially the pastors, to be willing to pay the price(ed.donate) for the anointing of God to carry out these miracles.
“There are times God will test our faith,” he said.
This eighth session of Asia Conference ended on a high. Angela Teo, 18, shared: “I was really encouraged by the sermon by Benny. I really believe God is raising up a new generation of believers and I am just so honoured to be involved in the end time harvest.”
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Benny Hinn's healing crusade in Singapore
by Harvest Times online (City Harvest Church), June 2007 (source)
If you visit his ministry Web site, you will see the words emblazoned right across the top —“Winning The Lost At Any Cost.” That is Pastor Benny Hinn’s mandate as the servant of God.
The popular preacher, widely received as the “healing evangelist,” ministered in a three-night “Benny Hinn Ministries Holy Spirit Miracle Crusade” to capacity crowds from 13 to 15 April, 2007 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
True to his calling, the anointed minister in his iconic white suit opened the first night with a salvation call for all the lost before devoting the rest of the meeting for ministry to the sick. Comprised of not just Singaporeans but also many visitors from Malaysia and Indonesia, the capacity crowd responded with great eagerness and expectancy.
Pastor Benny preached passionately on Jesus’ willingness to heal. As he preached the Word, the faith of many were strengthened. Throughout the service, the congregation was led into deep worship. Supported by a 1,000-strong (CHC) choir seated directly behind Pastor Benny, the stadium was filled with familiar strains from old Christian choruses such as “He Touched Me,” “Majesty” and “I Surrender All.” The presence of God permeated the whole stadium tangibly.
Before long, several empty wheelchairs started appearing at the front as the crusade helpers rolled them up, testifying to the healing power of God at work that night.
An elderly lady who had been deaf in her right ear for more than 60 years found that she could hear again. Apparently, a disease had eaten away her right ear drum down to the bone when she was a little girl, but the Lord’s healing power had restored her. She came onto the stage with a wide smile and the crowd burst out with applause to the Lord when she could repeat word for word after Pastor Benny when he whispered into her healed ear to test it.
Another young lady who had a rare form of cancer experienced God strongly when her whole body shook uncontrollably as His power came upon her.
A man who had needed the use of two hearing aids came to the stage, carrying them with him. He found his miracle in the service that night and no longer needed them.
People with all kinds of infirmities found hope that night, including a lady who when pregnant would fall so ill and weak that she could not eat and would have to be confined to a wheelchair. She too encountered the power of God that night. She came into the service in a wheelchair but in her own words, she said that she felt God’s breath come into her lungs in such a significant manner that she could pull herself out of her wheelchair and started walking.
The healing miracles were numerous and clearly evident. However, in Pastor Benny’s own words, the greatest miracle is not just physical but spiritual.
A married couple who were present that night experienced both kinds of miracles. In the midst of the service that night, someone shared Christ with the husband and while he was receiving Christ into his life and experiencing his spiritual miracle, his wife who had suffered from a stroke suddenly found that she could move her limbs normally again as God’s power provided her with a physical miracle.
This was but just the first night of Pastor Benny’s crusade. There was an air of expectancy of what God would do in the following two evenings.
GOD CONTINUED TO MOVE MIGHTILY
The meeting was scheduled for 7.30 p.m. on the second night, but by six in the evening, there was already a sizable crowd gathered at all the entrances of the auditorium. The moment the doors were open, the stadium was quickly packed with expectant souls, right up to the balcony. The meeting commenced earlier than scheduled with a praise song about God being good “all the time.” And that lyric set the tone for the entire meeting as people were about to witness the power of God moving across the stadium once again.
As the choir climaxed with their final rendition of “Then sings my soul,” Pastor Benny came onstage and led the congregation in a time of deep worship. In the midst of it, he quoted from Psalm 91: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust ...” The congregation was deeply moved as they waited on the Lord.
Pastor Benny then preached a short
THE SECRET TO MIRACLES
Following that, Pastor Benny then shared his message on “The Secret to Miracles.” True to what he proclaimed, whenever the Cross is revealed, healing will always take place. Indeed, many of the sick were healed that very night! Once again, those on wheelchairs got out of their wheelchairs and started walking. One by one, men and women went upstage to testify of how God had miraculously healed them. A person who had lung cancer and was wheelchair-bound after chemotherapy got out of the wheelchair that night and walked. Many others who had cancer were also healed of their disease!
In the midst of the testimonies, another wave of the Holy Spirit took over the meeting as Pastor Benny called up the city’s church pastors and leaders forward so that he could lay hands on them. The presence of God flooded the entire hall, sweeping from the front to the back, touching even the choir as hundreds fell under the power of God.
That night, Pastor Benny spoke a powerful word of prophecy over Singapore, affirming her unique position in South East Asia as the “center for healing” in the region. He also prophesied over City Harvest Church’s senior pastor, Rev. Kong Hee, and his strategic role in bringing Singapore’s transformation into a healing center.
MIRACLES ABOUND
On the last day of the conference, Pastor Benny set aside time to pray specifically for believers in China. A sizable groups of Chinese Christians had flown in specially to attend the conference and several ones shared praise reports on God's work among the churches there. Moved by their testimonies, Pastor Benny laid hands on them and prayed for revival to come to their homeland.
The meeting continued as Pastor Benny ministered in salvation and healing. More people received their miracles and all over the stadium, people were seen stepping out of their wheelchairs to walk and celebrating their healings. Possibly the most unforgettable moment was when a non-believer was supernaturally healed of her ailment and right there on stage in front of thousands of people, she gave her heart to Jesus.
By the end of the service, the tangible presence of God was strongly felt throughout the stadium and a great sense of faith and joy was evident in the faces of the people. To conclude, Pastor Benny prayed a prayer of blessing over the entire congregation who were gathered that day. It was truly a fitting and glorious end to an amazing weekend of witnessing God's power at work!
Jesus Heals, Harvest Times online, June 2005 (here)
abstract:
On March 11 and 12, 2005, City Harvest Church (CHC) had
the privilege of having world renowned healing evangelist Rev. Benny Hinn
minister at a massive healing crusade. Tens of thousands of attendees packed the
Singapore Indoor Stadium that weekend and experienced an unprecedented move of
God.
The first of three services was to start at 7.30 p.m. on Friday, but queues had
begun to form as early as 1 p.m. By 6 p.m., they had grown thick and long with
many hundreds amassed at each entrance, waiting patiently for the doors to open.
These consisted of CHC members, their family and friends, as well as thousands
of Indonesians, Malaysians, Koreans and others who traveled to Singapore from
all around the region just for the event.
Despite limited external
publicity, these overseas visitors had heard about CHC's healing crusade with
Rev. Benny, and flooded the church with requests for seats; they were truly
hungry for an encounter with God and would spare no effort or expense!
_______________________________
Occupying the entire section behind the stage was the 1,000-strong CHC choir,
smartly clad in blue and white. Most of them were volunteers without substantial
singing experience or training, but had undergone a week of intense
practice.
The service began with the CHC music team leading the
congregation in a time of energetic praise. Rev. Benny's own team of musicians
then took over, and the praise and worship continued with a unique blend of
contemporary worship songs, majestic hymns and even a lively Jewish number.
Making an unexpected appearance was famed Christian artiste Ron Kenoly, who led
his lively brand of gospel tunes with much heart and panache.
_______________________________
The second service on Saturday afternoon was special because it was included to
meet the overwhelming response of the first night's meeting. Originally, only
two services were planned for the crusade, but when organizer Kong Hee of City
Harvest Church saw the many who had to be turned away from the stadium on Friday
evening, he immediately arranged a Saturday afternoon service
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The charlatan "Dr" Benny Hinn was awarded a bogus PhD in Theology (no joke) by Life Christian University, a diploma mill, based in
Lutz, Florida, a suburb of Tampa (source)
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A Benny Hinn Bibliography
Here is a comprehensive collection of in-depth articles, letters to government officials, news releases, etc, on the con artist Benny Hinn dating from 1989 to the present.
God has 9 parts (tri-theistic).
A. God has a body, soul and spirit.
B. Jesus has a body, soul and spirit.
C. Holy Spirit has a body, soul and spirit. (Benny Hinn, Benny Hinn broadcast, recorded 10/13/90)
Christians are little messiahs. Christians are little gods. (Benny Hinn, Praise-a-thon (TBN), recorded November 1990)
Jesus at His death became one with Satan. (Benny Hinn, Benny Hinn broadcast, recorded 12/15/90)
Poverty comes from Hell. Prosperity comes from Heaven. Adam had complete dominion over the earth and all it contains.
A. Adam could fly like a bird.
B. Adam could swim underwater and breathe like a fish.
Adam went to the moon. Adam walked on water. Adam was a super being, He was the first superman that lived. Adam had dominion over the sun, moon & stars.
Christians do not have Christ in their hearts. Sow a big seed, when you confess it, you are activating the supernatural forces of God. (Benny Hinn, Praise-a-thon (TBN), recorded November 1990)
When you don't give money, it shows that you have the devil's nature. (Benny Hinn, Praise-a-thon (TBN), recorded 4/21/91)
Wants to use Holy Ghost machine gun to kill Heresy Hunters. (Benny Hinn, Praise-a-thon (TBN), 11/8/90)
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For the full list of Hinn's lunatic ravings, see here.
$$$************$$$*************$$$
Todd Coontz, Benny Hinn's fellow con artist
"Dr" Todd Coontz : con artist with bogus doctorate (youtube)
Become a millionaire or billionaire for $1000, but hurry up and pay up: Todd Coontz
Many so-called ‘Christian’ preachers go to great lengths to separate their followers from their money.
The latest reported ‘prosperity’ scam was reportedly committed by Todd Coontz, a guest speaker at the recent Benny Hinn “Miracle Crusade” in South Africa.
Apparently, in exchange for a gift of $1,000, 500 believers would receive an “exceptional blessing”. According to Coontz the blessing would be “poured out for only two minutes.”
God’s blessing would last only two minutes and it would create 500 churchgoing millionaires or even billionaires - all they had to do was use their credit cards to pay $1 000 in offerings to televangelist Benny Hinn.
Pastor Tommie Ferreira of the AGS Church in Johannesburg was so upset about the “blessing” that, after a week, he wanted to know who of the donors actually had become millionaires.
Ferreira told Rapport he did not mean to bring about Hinn’s downfall.
He merely wanted to know if any of the hundreds of churchgoers who donated amounts of up to $1 000 (about R7 500) to Hinn’s Miracle Crusade last week Saturday had now become millionaires.
About 18 000 people streamed to the Coca-Cola Dome in Randburg to hear Hinn’s message of healing and miracles.
Ferreira, who is a keen choir singer, voluntarily sang in the Miracle Crusade’s choir. He said one of Hinn’s American guest speakers, Pastor Todd Coontz, spoke about financial burdens and said 500 audience members would receive “an exceptional blessing”.
“He said the service would yield millionaires and billionaires within 24 hours.
“Everyone had to donate $1 000 because an exceptional blessing rested on $1 000.”
Coontz apparently really had the congregation scrambling when he said, “This blessing will be poured out for only two minutes.”
Ferreira said: “People stormed to the front - poor people, rich people, people from all sections of our society.”
Hinn’s co-pastors apparently had credit-card machines ready with which they could take donations.
“He (Coontz) said God would bless the people’s credit cards and they would be able to rule over South Africa with their money. Eventually there were no fewer than 1 000 people who made such donations.”
According to Ferreira’s calculations, Hinn must have collected millions of rands with these donations - perhaps more than R7m if each of the 1 000 church-goers donated $1 000 in the hope of becoming millionaires.
Furthermore, after Coontz’s collection of the $1 000 donations, Hinn collected general donations.
Dr Sarel Smit of the AGS church Lofstad in Hursthill, Johannesburg, who supported Ferreira as he spoke to Rapport, was equally worried about the method by which Hinn collected donations.
“Especially at a time like this when there is dire need, people run the risk of losing their faith in the Lord in this way. God will provide for your needs, but not your greed.”
Rapport spoke to an employee in Hinn’s South African office in Durban who said that they were still busy collecting money.
