Youth center helps secondary one students adapt to school life.

On Feb. 3, youth center People of Destiny piloted a new initiative aimed at helping secondary one students with the transition from primary school to secondary school. The project, called “Chapter One”, spans over 10 months, with one workshop conducted every month at the POD Centre in Tampines Street 33.

POD is a center for youth set up by CHCSA in collaboration with Tampines Changkat Citizens’ Consultative Committee and Ministry of Community Development Youth & Sports, to provide holistic youth services for the residents of the Tampines GRC. Since January 2007, POD has been engaging youth through activities tackling common issues youth face today.

One POD highlight is the LOUD party, an annual affair that celebrates the notion of “Living Out ‘Ur Dream”. POD’s Program manager, Jonathan Goh, 30s, explains, “We want to provide an environment where youth can enrich their lives through wholesome, enjoyable activities.”

Students from Ngee Ann Secondary School, Dunman Secondary School and East Spring Secondary School attended the first “Chapter One” workshop of the year. They were thoroughly engaged by program director, Alvin Low, as he shared with them his own experiences in secondary school. Low adopted an interactive approach, using questions and answers, and rewarded the students with candy as they participated enthusiastically.

CN PHOTOS: Gay Sen Min

“We want to offer these students something different from what they are used to in school,” says Low of the methods in which the workshops areconducted. Low also explains that every workshop is customized thematically, touching on different issues, such as having a healthy self-esteem, handling relationships, achieving excellence and success, managing allowances and so on.

Two sessions from the workshops will be dedicated to community work, allowing youth to appreciate the importance of giving back to society. In time, Low hopes that the curriculum used in “Chapter One” will be disseminated in print form for secondary one students in Singapore. For now, collaboration with primary schools is in the pipeline to bring “Chapter One” into school assembly periods.

After the workshop, students, POD staff and volunteers gathered to enjoy snacks provided by the center’s cafe. Adam, 13, a student from Ngee Ann Secondary School, said, “I enjoyed today’s program very much!”

It looks like the first few “pages” of “Chapter One” have opened to a promising start.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BIG FISH SEAFOOD GRILL

Our pick of the best “toss ups” in town.

In Chinese, the word “yu sheng” is a homonym, which refers to raw fish as well as abundant life. The Chinese practice of eating yu sheng thus stems from the belief of abundance throughout the year. Other ingredients are mixed in to make it into a dish, with each ingredient holding an auspicious meaning.

INGREDIENTS
Fish: Abundance, Excess
Pomelo Fruit: Luck, Abundance
Pepper: Attraction of Money and Valuables
Oil: Increase of Profits 10,000 Times, Money Flowing In
Carrots: Blessings of Good Luck
Green Radish: Eternal Youth
White Radish: Business Prosperity, Promotion at Work

CONDIMENTS:
Peanut Crumbs: Gold and Silver, EternalYouth
Sesame Seeds: Flourishing Business
Flour Crisps: Floor Covered With Gold

DRESSING:
Plum Sauce: Halls Flowing With Gold

The act of tossing this Chinese salad together is called “lo hei”, which sounds like the Cantonese saying “toss up”. Chinese believe it’s representative of a prosperous turnover in business and life. The tossing is usually done seven times, with its participants shouting various sayings relating to prosperity and success.

Why: This is a refreshing Western take, which not only includes Canadian surf clams and tender seared tuna, but tosses in a healthy mix of fruits as well. But it is the “secret sauce” that makes you want to lick the plate when you’re done.

What: Western-styled Yusheng: $21.80 (small) or $38.80 (large)

Where: 85 Upper East Coast
Goodwill Court
Tel: 6441-6920

LAI WAH RESTAURANT
Why: It’s hard to give this restaurant a miss when it comes to yu sheng. After all, the first modern yu sheng was invented by its master chef Than Mui Kai in 1964, together with three other “culinary kings”. The restaurant has a marvelous retro feel, so you almost feel that you are eating traditional yu sheng, just the way it was meant to be.

What: Lucky Raw Fish Delicacy with Ikan Parang: $23 (4-6 persons) or $45 (8-10 persons)
Lucky Raw Fish Delicacy with Salmon:
$28 (4-6 persons) or $48 (8-10 persons)

Where: Block 44, Bendemeer Road
#01-1436
Tel: 6294-9922

ROLAND RESTAURANT
Why: Having taken over the location of the former Sin Leong Restaurant, Roland Restaurant is popular for its chili crabs and other high-quality seafood.

In recent years, it has also developed a following for its salmon yu sheng—it offers this traditional version at a reasonable price. Although a little sweeter than others, the crushed fried wanton skin (instead of the usual fried crackers) gives it a nice oomph.

What: Salmon Yu Sheng: $36 (6 persons) or $48 (12 persons)

Where: Block 89, Marine Parade Central #06-750
Tel: 6440-8205

SAKAE SUSHI
Why: This is a popular choice as it is good value for the price, and can be easily found islandwide, thanks to their many outlets. And of course, a sushi restaurant would have the best sashimi. It is also one of the healthier picks as the kind folks at Sakae Sushi do not add oil to their yu sheng.

What: Rong Yusheng: $18.88 (1-2 persons), $29.88 (3-5 persons) or $46.88 (6-10 persons)

Where: For locations, visit www.sakaesushi.com.sg

SHANG PALACE
Why: If, for you, Chinese New Year is a time to splurge, Shang Palace offers up yu sheng of a commendable standard every year, with deluxe options like Lobster Yu Sheng. And of course, the beautiful décor and feel of the Shangri-La hotel is always a great setting to enjoy it in with your family and friends.

What: Salmon Yu Sheng: $68 (4-6 persons) or $128 (10 persons)
Tuna Yu Sheng : $78 (small) or $148 (large)
Lobster Yu Sheng: $128 (small) or $248 (large)
Abalone Yu Sheng: $158 (small) or $298 (large)

Where: 22 Orange Grove Road
Shangri-La Hotel
Tel: 6213-4473

* All prices are not inclusive of taxes and service charges.

A project to strengthen bonds between teachers and students.

Imagine building a towering structure made entirely of plastic straws to hold half a liter of water. Sounds impossible? Well, a total of 140 students and 20 teachers from Mayflower Secondary School did just that.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHCSA

They were participants of “Project Winning Formula,” an activity organized by City Harvest Community Service Association. The event, held on Jan. 11, was a new initiative of the school to help teachers and students build rapport. The target groups for the project were classes from the Normal Academic and Normal Technical stream. Holding the event at the beginning of a school year was so that teachers and students could kick off to a great start after getting to know one another better through the activities.

The values of “C.A.R.E.” which stands for Care and Commitment, Attitude, Respect and Excellence were incorporated in the activities. The teachers who participated had to go through a preparation course before the day of the event.

The straw tower challenge was a timed competition between four classes to build a tower, using straws, to hold a 500ml bottle of water. Students and teachers triumphed over the mental impossibility of building a seemingly weak structure to support a heavy item.

“I learned that one should never judge a book by its cover. We thought that it was impossible for our structure to withstand the weight of the bottle, but it passed the test!” exclaimed one delighted student.

Another game required the students— blindfolded—to form shapes with rope entwined around their legs. They had to do this by listening to the instructions of their classmates amidst the instructions being shouted out by other teams. Through this activity, the students were motivated to expand their imagination and come up with creative ideas to get the task done. They had to find a way to get the attention of their members in a unique way. Despite failing several times, the students eventually succeeded in completing the task.

Cara Kwok, 21, an NUS undergraduate and a volunteer with CHCSA, was especially encouraged by the positive attitude that the participants showed in spite of the challenging tasks.

“The way the students and teachers bonded through the games was interesting. They displayed a ‘can-do’ attitude throughout the activities,” said Kwok.

The three-and-a-half hour event left many students motivated and happy about what they had accomplished. “I thoroughly enjoyed the day and hope that there will be more of such sessions with my friends and teachers,” quipped 16-year-old Perlin Ng.

What customs can a Christian partake of during this season?

It’s Chinese New Year and you may find yourself in a “dilemma”—you are expected to observe traditions but you feel you are pandering to superstitions and that’s not Christian.

The good news is, like Christmas and many other major festivals, family, fun and food are the main themes of Chinese New Year. In fact, many of the customs practiced are in line with the teachings of Christianity itself. Filial piety and respect for the elders is strictly observed, and bonds between loved ones and friends are strengthened by visiting each other’s homes.

Many of the do’s and don’ts observed during the 15 days of celebration stem from the belief that whatever one does during this auspicious period will echo throughout the year. While Christians do not subscribe to this, there’s definitely no harm in keeping the positive practices—debts to be cleared before the beginning of the festival, the house to be springcleaned, and quarreling as well as mouthing bad words prohibited. Going to Chinatown for a stroll to enjoy the festive spirit presents no religious meaning or otherwise.

CN PHOTOS: Chiang Pak Shane

The prosperity greeting of “gong xi fa cai” during Chinese New Year, sometimes a point of contention among more conservative Christians, is akin to us wishing well for our neighbors. Children presenting tea or oranges to their parents on their knees is another gesture that not all Christians embrace, but is for most a sign of respect for their elders.

According to some scholars, the custom of hanging red banners above the main entrance of a residence may just be a throwback to the biblical event of the Passover, where ancient Hebrews painted their doors with lamb’s blood before the Exodus. While unconfirmed, the similarities are present. Additionally, the giving of angpows (red packets) bestows blessings upon both the giver and recipient.

“Through these things, we see how God tries to bless us through so many different ways, and we keep it in the essence of our culture, and celebrate this happy festival every year,” says Lulu Fu, a translator who hails from Taiwan.

The observance of certain customs, on the other hand, has less prominence nowadays. Observes Tan Kim Hock, Academic Dean of the School of Theology at CHC, “The superstition of not sweeping the floor on the first day of New Year in case the ‘luck’ for the coming year is swept away is easily circumvented as people nowadays use vacuum cleaners—so you have a clean floor yet keep the dust (‘luck’) in the bag!”

No-go zones?

There are things that Christians should exercise caution and wisdom before participating in, such as gambling, drinking, and bowing down before ancestors.

“While we don’t advocate gambling as it is motivated by greed and monetary gains, drinking is fine so long as we don’t get drunk,” is Tan’s view.

He adds, “In our culture today bowing is an acceptable gesture of respect but Christians need to be careful about holding joss sticks because in Chinese culture, it’s a symbol of worship.” Tan’s checklist before participating in any activity, not just during Chinese New Year but every day, in fact, is whether it will be a good testimony for Christ, whether our faith will condemn us (if we are doing it out of unbelief) and whether what we do can glorify God.

Says Fu, “Many things are amoral—neither right nor wrong, so it is hard to define what Christians can or cannot do. Incense, for example, is not a bad thing. In the Old Testament it is used by the priests to worship God. What we have to ask ourselves before doing something is, ‘Who are we worshiping? Is it God or something else?’”

She illustrates with an example, “If we take a bow in front of our ancestors’ altar, it is alright as a form of respect, but it becomes wrong when we say things like ‘Please bless us and keep us safe’, because it goes against the teaching that God is our only source of protection and blessings. The bottom line is that we have to know what we are doing.

“We need to remember that while we are not of the world, we are in the world, and there is no reason not to mingle and celebrate with family, relatives and human society in general. There’s no point in keeping a whole list of do’s and don’ts if they draw us further and further away from society.”

It’s Valentine’s Day and love is in the air. Derek Dunn, executive pastor of CHC shares his personal tips for a successful marriage.

PHOTO COURTESY: Derek Dunn

How did you meet your wife? What, and how long did it take for you to pursue her and finally win her hand in marriage?

DD:During that time, I was very focused in my ministry and wasn’t pursuing a relationship in any way. However, Kong and Sun had a talk with me and felt it was time for me to consider getting attached and settling down. Back then, Susan was a member in my cell group who had grown into a cell group leader in my zone. When Kong asked me who I thought could be a potential candidate, I immediately answered, “Susan.” By then, we had known each other for five years. She was always passionate for the Lord, and was strong, independent and yet feminine. Sun then encouraged me to date her out to take things forward. We dated seriously for six months and were married one year later.

Were there any significant ups and downs in the course of your relationship? How did you overcome the down times?

As I was not able to converse in Mandarin and Susan’s mom was not apt in English, it posed a hurdle initially to bond with her family. She constantly needed to interpret for both of us and felt strained in the process. Eventually, through my limited knowledge of Malay and Mandarin as well as her simple knowledge of English, we were able to communicate better, and her mother and her family grew to accept me.

For Susan, it was also an adjustment as she was introduced to a different lifestyle and inner circle of people that I worked with amongst the senior staff in the church. As she was not staff, she did not really know the people that I worked with so she had to start getting to know them and learn to build relationships with them.

In our second year of marriage, we experienced a significant up when Ethan was born. We were exhilarated but at the same time it brought a significant down in our marriage, as Susan suffered from post-natal depression during that time. Some unexpected family issues had come up on both sides of the family while she was still coping with the newborn. It was probably the most difficult time of our lives. However, we continued to stand together in agreement as husband and wife. As we supported each other spiritually, this brought us closer together. We worked together to take care of Ethan and proactively do what we could to resolve the issues. It was our strong relationship with God and with each other that helped us to overcome the crisis.

In a world where divorce is constantly on the rise, how do you stay and grow in love?

I think there are three key ingredients that have helped us to have a great marriage. The first is communication— it is the basis of life and the lifeline of every relationship. I think the key to keeping a relationship strong and love alive is not taking each other for granted. Always take time to talk and to appreciate each other. I think the more things you go through together and work through, the closer you get.

The second thing is sharing quality time. In the midst of the busy-ness of ministry, family and work, we have to make time to still “date” each other and to go out alone. I am always thinking of new restaurants or places that we can go to so that we can keep the freshness in “dating” each other. This helps to keep the spark in marriage and romance alive. It doesn’t need to be an expensive place but do something new that you can enjoy together.

The third key is appreciation. Find out what your partner’s love language (words of affirmation, receiving of gifts, acts of service, physical touch and quality time) is and appreciate them by doing the things that make them happy. Their love language may be different than yours and hence may not come naturally to you. Appreciate them and express your love to them by speaking their love language.

Do you have any mottos that you share, or golden words of wisdom that both of you  choose to abide by to guard your relationship?

One: Tell each other everyday, “I love you.” Remember to tell your spouse you love them and appreciate them. Don’t take it for granted that they know. Make it a point to verbalized your affections because your spouse would love to hear it.

Two: Never use the “D(ivorce)” word. Disagreements will come at times in a relationship. When emotions are flaring, some couples say hurtful words in a fit of anger, such as, “I want a divorce” or “If you’re not happy, why don’t you just divorce me?” This can undermine the security in a marriage and bring distrust to the relationship. Determine in your marriage once and for all that divorce is not an option and agree never to bring this up in a disagreement or conflict.

Three: Always Fight Fair. Susan and I hardly quarrel. In the early years of our marriage, we agreed that any problem we face is not “her problem” or “his problem,” but “our problem.” We agreed that we would “always fight fair,” meaning that we would not attack each other’s weaknesses or be verbally abusive to each other. Words can be hurtful and some couples attack each other’s shortcomings (we all have them) in a fit of anger. This is unhealthy and can cause couples to withdraw and put up walls so they don’t get hurt again. It is okay to disagree or to express your feelings when you are unhappy, but always fight fair!

CN PHOTO: Bernard Yeo

How did you come to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? I was raised in a Christian family and was born again in Secondary Two. Due to peer pressure, I was not a committed Christian. It was only much later on, when I was 36 years old, that I became a fervent Christian and finally responded to the call of God to enter into the full-time ministry.

How do you maintain a close relationship with the churches under your oversight? Every month I will meet the pastors and key leaders for a time of prayer and fasting. The monthly meeting is very important because this helps all the churches under me to move forward together as I share with them the vision and the mission of the church and where God is leading us next.

As an accomplished composer, share with us the process of your song writing. I was a musician when God called me into full-time ministry, He gave me the vision to restore the Tabernacle of David, which also meant I needed to place great emphasis on prayer, praise and worship. God continuously gave me new melodies and that was how I wrote songs. I am convinced that it is extremely crucial that the praise and worship team walk intimately with God and live a life that is holy before the Lord. The purpose of praise and worship is to lead the congregation into the presence of God and this will not materialize unless the team has an intimate walk with God.

How do you ensure a balance between ministry and the time spent with your family? I don’t think it’s hard. My family is very understanding. They know that I need to spend a lot of time in prayer and they release me to serve the Lord and seek after God’s face.

Do you have any message for the youth of CHC who aspire to serve God for the long haul? I think to serve God you need to be reliable. It is important that you can be counted on in ministry. It is also importantto be faithful in what is entrusted to you and to walk closely with the Lord. Never be satisfied with your walk with God because there is always a higher level that you can advance to and there is always a realm that you have not been to before.

I am touched to see many youth so fervent for the Lord in your church. When I saw so many youth lifting up their hands and crying out to the Holy Spirit, I felt exactly at home, with the strong spiritual atmosphere. If the youth remain hungry for the Lord, this church is going to continue to experience revival!

CN PHOTO: Danielle Ho

Dr. Niko Njotorahardjo’s obedience to God leads him to raise up one of the largest congregations in the world.

Contributed by Laksamana Tirtadji Jr.

Dr. Niko Njotorahardjo is senior pastor of GBI Gatot Subroto in Jakarta, Indonesia, which has become one of the largest Church of God congregations in the world. Through his anointing of raising up pastors and leaders for Christ, in the past 20 years the church he has led has grown to include 800 churches, spread across Asia, Europe, and North America, more than 8,000 cell groups and 250,000 members. Apart from being a dynamic and captivating preacher, he has also written many anointed songs that have impacted the lives of thousands.

Thirty months ago, Njotorahardjo was given a two-fold vision: First, to raise up the next generation of leaders, whom he regards as the “Joshua Generation,” to make an impact in culture so they will be placed in positions of authority previously unprecedented in history. Secondly, he began the Healing Movement Ministry with a mission to move in the gifts of healings and miracles. As such, he conducted 130 crusades around Asia and North America and through his ministry; thousands were miraculously healed of their ailments and diseases.

Njotorahardjo began his ministry going around to construction workers and traveled to small villages in east Java. With his guitar, he would worship with them and through this anointing, brought many to Christ. He eventually became the senior pastor of the GBI Gatot Subroto.

Recently, Njotorahardjo’s church completed development of the Sentul International Convention Centre in Sentul City, which is one and a half hours outside Jakarta. It has a pillarless convention hall with a seating capacity of approximately 14,000 people. The spacious auditorium is the venue for church services, and there is also a 12-level prayer tower building. This prayer tower was built with the vision of inter-denominational unity, and may be used by any church to pray. The city is being developed on 110,000 acres of land.

Njotorahardjo is married to Hermien Irawati. Their son Billy is also a pastor of a thriving congregation that is considered one of the fastest-growing in Indonesia today. In two years alone, that congregation grew to 5,000 people.

Even with his many years of successful ministry, Njotorahardjo remains humble and focused on his call. He always says, “I am incapable of anything, but always available, loyal, and obedient to our God.”

CN PHOTO: Poh Yang Zheng

Why Bible education is important for every believer.

As a genuine believer, one cannot deny the desire to want to know God more, to have a deeper understanding of His Word. This stirring in the heart, when met with the call to attend Bible school, should constitute a “perfect match.” Yet many resist it, some for the reason that they have known the Lord for a year or less. Others think Bible school is only for those intending to serve God full-time, so they dismiss it. Still others hesitate due to the busy-ness of life, with demands from work and family.

Whatever the reason, having a better understanding of why Bible school is important will bring a revelation that will prompt you into action and change your life.

There are God-given tasks assigned to each one of us, the purpose of which is to prepare us for our lives in eternity. We cannot be so busy about daily chores that we neglect the preparation process God is orchestrating in our lives to make everything
beautiful in His time. We should be occupying ourselves with “the Father’s business” (Luke 2:49) and we are best able to do so after being trained in Bible school.

Hosea 4:6 relates the sad plight of God’s people whose lives were destroyed and the society (then) in chaos, solely because they did not know God’s will or promises. His will for each one of us, and His promises to all of us can be found in the Bible. Scriptures also reveal that the only way Christians should live is “by faith” (Hab. 2:4, Rom. 1:17, Gal. 3:11, Heb. 10:38), and our source of faith is derived from the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). So if we lack an understanding of God’s Word, we will suffer a crisis of faith, we won’t know His promises to us, and won’t have a clear idea how to walk in the specific will and calling of God.

For this lack of knowledge, many Christians live a sub-standard life of mediocrity, settling for an uneventful life waiting to enter eternity, instead of the abundant life that Jesus had given to us in John 10:10. An abundant life is more than physical possessions, emotional satisfaction, earthly achievements, or even our heavenly destination. It is about knowing God, dwelling and serving in His presence. As we step out of our comfort zone to be trained and equipped to do His work here on earth, we will face challenges and life-changing experiences, and be able to make a difference to the people around us (Matt 6:32-33). This is the abundant life.

Hence, we need a good Bible school that will provide the right environment for the necessary spiritual education. School of Theology was birthed in 1994 as part of God’s call to train and equip Christians with the Word of God and practical ministry skills, so that they can serve effectively as ministers of Christ in the marketplace. World missions, church work, signs and wonders are all part of what one will experience in SOT, along with the development of a strong prayer life and increased faith.

Healing And Restoration
Lam Gin Chia, 24, dance choreographer and instructor

“I attended SOT in 2008 and it was a season where I encountered God in a tangible way in my life. During these five months, one of the main things I learned was to rely on the Holy Spirit for strength when I was tired, as I had to work after school. At the same time, my knowledge of the Word increased and I developed a closer relationship with God.

“However, the highlight of my time in SOT was definitely the miraculous healing that took place during one of the sessions
in class. There was a call for healing and my classmates laid hands on me. During one of my dance concerts, I had fractured my last vertebra. That affected my legs and I became very demoralized since my career was at stake. But that day, I had a life-changing experience. While we were praying, I felt a sensation in my limbs as the healing power of God flowed through my body. After the prayer, the pastor asked me to try a dance move that I couldn’t do before, and I was able to do it without any pain. I was healed!

“Today, I can dance like never before with a confidence that God has given me this gift which no one can take away. Since then, God has used me as a testimony in the dance industry and I’ve had opportunities to testify of God’s goodness in my life. Till today, I cannot forget the healing touch of God that came upon me that morning in SOT. Whatever I have learned does not only apply within the four walls of our church, but is very relevant for us in the world outside. More than this, God has given me a greater purpose in life. I now have a vision for my future and I dare to dream bigger dreams!”

Obedience Begets Blessing
Cheng Chiang Heng, 52, director of an interior design and renovation business

“Over the past years, many of my church leaders encouraged me to attend Bible school and I always procrastinated because I didn’t feel I was ‘ready’. Going back to attend lessons was a major challenge for me—the last time I attended classes was more than 30 years ago! But in 2009, I finally decided to take that step and attend SOT in the middle of the global financial crisis and recession as I was expecting a quiet year for my business. I felt that I would have more time on my hands and could concentrate at school.

“The five months of school included reading the entire Bible once, doing book reviews, preparing sermons for preaching tests, studying for exams, and going for one mission trip. The experience helped me to increase my confidence and capacity as a person. God is faithful and He will not shortchange us. When I sacrificed my time, God blessed me in other areas of my life. What I thought to be a quiet year turned out to be one of the best years for my business, with my company’s turnover doubling from S$1 million in 2008 to S$2 million in 2009. At the same time, the cell group I was leading also multiplied as God brought in many souls into the kingdom.

As I look back the past year, I can see how much God has blessed me in my personal life, ministry life and in my business. Bible school has also deepened my understanding of the Word and my relationship with Him is stronger than ever.”

CN PHOTO: Poh Yang Zheng

When God gives us a vision, He can always be counted on to help bring it into fruition, as law student-turned-owner of Malaysian home furnishing store Macy, Choong Kar Weng attests.

Choong Kar Weng had it all planned out. Having completed his law studies, he was doing his Bar in London and well on his way to fulfill his ambition of becoming a judge—when he felt God calling him to be a businessman. Even though he had no prior business knowledge at all, Choong made an about-turn on life and pursued an MBA, and went to Bible school along the way.

It turned out that the best plans are made by God, not man. Today, Choong is the director of Macy Home Furnishings, one of Malaysia’s best-known home furnishing stores, with a retail space of about 130,000 sq ft and a staff force of 120, as well as a multi-million dollar turnover.

A flyer he picked up led him to visit City Harvest Church Singapore in 1995. Fueled by a desire to be grounded in the Word of God, Choong enrolled himself into the School of Theology. He attributes his success to the time he spent there. “It is through applying the principles I learned in Bible school, church and from [senior pastor] Kong Hee that I’ve built my life and the company to what it is presently.”

Choong says God helped him grow the business He birthed in his mind. “During my quiet time, I will receive solutions to problems. During praise and worship in church, I often get new visions and directions. The principles in the Bible also taught me how to lead and manage my staff.” He learned also to trust God when things did not go well. “Many years back, one of my biggest suppliers suddenly told me that he would not supply to me anymore. Immediately, I felt God assuring me that this was part of His plan and it was something I had to go through. Within two weeks, I managed to find another supplier, and at a price that was 20 percent lower.”

But it was not at all smooth-sailing. In 2006 through 2007, the family went through a rough patch. Choong’s wife Sharon suffered two miscarriages in two years, and the business did not do well. Furthermore, a member of the staff who was struggling with personal problems committed suicide by jumping off from the company building.

“But God is good. Throughout those difficult times, we felt the assurance that He was with us and that encouraged us to soldier on.” Looking back, Choong felt that God had used those difficult years to build up his faith and maturity.

Over the years, the business has flourished, not only in size and revenue but recognition as well. In three consecutive  years starting 2005, the company garnered the Superbrand Award, and in both 2007 and 2008 it nabbed the Brand Laureate Award. No wonder it counts state royalties like the King and Queen of the state of Perlis (the former King and Queen of Malaysia) among its clientele. Last year, Choong was named one of Malaysia’s Most Influential Persons by Tatler magazine, and was featured on Astro TV for a series titled History Maker.

Considering that he started out with without knowledge about running a business, or the necessary finance and marketing skills, Choong’s success story bears witness to the promise of God, a promise Choong was given during difficult times: “He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me” (Psalms 18:19).

Kevin Loo attended the School Of Theology, caught the vision, and went home to start City Harvest Church Kuala Lumpur, now thriving with a congregation of 1,400.

Since it was founded with a mere 20 people on Jul. 7, 2001, CHCKL has skyrocketed to an average weekly attendance of 1,400 in 2009. That is an impressive 70 percent increase, year-on-year.

When quizzed on his church’s secret to growth, Kevin Loo, the church’s senior pastor, attributed its development to the anointing for growth that was imparted from his mentor, Kong Hee.

Loo said, “Honestly, the secret is to be submissive to God and to the leader over my life. When we first started, I didn’t know anything. I didn’t even know what spiritual covering was. But I decided to obey and to be submissive to Kong even though I did not understand why he wanted me to do certain things. Since then, I have closely followed whatever he tells me to do.”

Loo became a Christian in 1987 at the age of 12 and entered into full-time ministry in 1992. His relationship with CHC started in 1997 when he enrolled into the School of Theology. It was there that Loo received his theological education and developed a heart for the lost.

This heart for the unsaved was quickly translated into a passion for revival in Malaysia, and Loo decided to answer the call of God to start the church in 2001. Under Kong’s mentorship, Loo learned how to overcome the various challenges of pioneering a young church.

Their mission was to build a strong Bible-believing, Spirit-filled city church where the cultural mandate is realized.Every member is trained to love God with passion according to the Great Commandment and equipped to love people with compassion to fulfill the Great Commission. Its vision for 2010 is to reach 2,000 in average weekly attendance.

In order to realize the vision, the church employs different strategies, from cell group level to church level. For instance, just this year, the church introduced a new ministry called “6 Degrees” to connect all the new friends and enrich them at the same time. “6 Degrees” organizes various life workshops for friends where they will learn how to bake cupcakes, style their hair and put on make-up. They even get to participate in a mini football league. This way, the church can have an avenue to build strong bonds with all their new friends and properly integrate them.

In 2004 the then 180-strong church spent RM1 million (S$412,000) to move into their current venue. Having outgrown that place, the church bought a piece of land totaling 10,200sqm in 2007. Construction is underway for a commercial tower that will include a hair salon, a café and even an old-fashioned chapel for weddings on the rooftop.

Beside this tower, there will be a contemporary auditorium and an area dedicated for recreation, with a gym, swimming pool, futsal pitch and children’s playground. Loo’s vision is for the church to be an attractive place where people would want to be seven days a week. The entire project will cost around RM25 million (S$10.3 million) and the new premises is slated to be ready by August 2010. Kong is scheduled to dedicate the new building during the church’s Emerge Youth Conference in September.

Far from being reclusive, the members do their part to engage the Malaysian community at large. The church has partnerships with companies like Toni & Guy to organize hair shows and fashion shows.

In order to promote volunteerism and serve the needs of the community better, CHCKL started Community Care in 2009. At the moment, the church has close to 300 volunteers serving different homes on a monthly basis. This year, the church is also planning to organize holiday trips of a different nature: volunteers will do their part for the overseas community, like refurbishing an orphanage.

In recognition for his achievements, Loo was also named as one of the Outstanding Young Persons of Sabah in 2009, in the Moral and Religious Leadership category.

CN PHOTOS: Andrew Teoh and Bernard Yeo

Being a church in a predominantly non-Christian country has its challenges. It is still not officially recognized as a religious institution. Thus, certain things like owning of properties can get a little complicated.

With regards to the recent spat between several religious factions, Loo said, “The recent incident was an isolated case. We do not know who instigated it and for what purpose. However, as believers, we know we have the right to profess our faith. We have confidence in our government that they will make the right decision.”

He added, “My stand is always to pray for our government and our leaders. They need wisdom from God to run this nation well.”

Loo is married to Esther Ku who is the church’s creative director. They have a two year-old son, Eitan.