City Harvest Church’s Ordinary Members and Ministry Members come together for a night of sharing and prayer with founder Kong Hee.
By Zan Wong Zeng An and GJ Gonzales
CN PHOTOS: Daniel Poh and Michael Chan.
There are events that remain deeply etched in one’s mind for a long time. The Ordinary Members and Ministry Members’ Meeting with City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee on Mar. 13 was one such meeting.
Being the second of its kind in recent years, it was held as a result of the leadership’s desire to prepare the OMs and MMs for what lay ahead. “I believe this meeting will help us make fruitful preparations for the upcoming challenges and also give me time to share what is in my heart,” explained Kong.
Taking a trip down memory lane, Kong gave a summary and insight into the spiritual growth and progress of CHC since 2010. Between 2010 and 2012, Kong revealed how messages that were preached often revolved around the theme of love. However, Sep. 17, 2012 marked a transition into a new season of increased faith, Rev. Dr. Yonggi Cho, founder of Yoido Full Gospel Church, reminded Kong of the importance of exercising his gift of faith.
“It was faith and prayer that got Daniel into the lions’ den, but it was also faith and prayer that got him out,” Kong said, reminding the congregation of the importance of catching the spirit of faith and prayer, as well as the constant confessing God’s promises, as Mark 11:23 states.
Faith is not wishful thinking. Kong highlighted how faith in God’s promises, in our authority and righteousness in Christ were imperative to face impending challenges. Members are to “fight the good fight of faith,” Kong exhorted. All believers must confess the promises with confidence, conviction and boldness, being united in spirit.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12),” Kong reminded the members. Beyond loving and supporting the leadership, the hearts of CHC members must be united in one faith and one prayer.
Student Joelle Chong, 20, shared, “The meeting was a timely reminder on how we should have continual faith in God’s promises and know that there is power when we confess God’s promises.” Another student Erica Low, 22, added, “Beyond having faith in God’s promises, we must also pray, which is an active exercise of faith!”
During service last weekend (Mar. 23 and 24), CHC also observed the promotion of 175 regular attendees to Ordinary Members. Another 34 were promoted to Ministry Members and 7 to Executive Members.
The memberships are a public declaration of one’s commitment to loving God wholeheartedly and loving people as Jesus does.
By becoming a member, a person commits to the best of his ability to develop the spiritual habits of a Christian such as prayer, meditation of God’s Word, tithing, discipleship, regular attendance in church services and cell group meetings and active service in ministry. He is also fully supportive of the Church’s mission statement and the vision of the leadership, diligently seeking to fulfill them together with the rest of the body of Christ by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
One of the recently promoted OMs was site engineer Edwin Aquinde, 45, who had been attending service by himself for a few years until he met Ben Polon, 41, also an engineer and a fellow Filipino who encouraged him to join his cell group.
The introverted Aquinde was not used to approaching people but things took a significant turn when he was integrated into a cell group, discipled through Bible study and started serving in ministry. Even as they juggle their careers and fatherhood, both Polon and Aquinde are now actively encouraging others to rise up in their walk with God. Indeed, Christianity is never a solo journey, but one meant to be lived out in the context of relationship—with God and one another.
