Darren's experience with CHC in 1998
Darren Au Yeung Dear CHC Members,
After reading Mr Christopher Pangs letter, it prompt me to write this in reply, and hope to get a some answers for some incidents I have with CHC many years ago which amuses me even now.
I was with CHC for a very short time in 1998, and here is my personal experience,
Back in 1998, due to a close friends request to accompany him to the church, i attended the services for over a month or so.
It was never my intention to join CHC, which I told the CHC members and cell group leader I met on the first day I attended the service. I request that they leave me alone and not push me out when the pastors call out for newcomers to come to the front, which they also acknowledged and agreed.
Would you care to explain to me reasons behind what happened next:
(1) Why I was still forcefully pushed out when the pastor called out for newcomers.
(Didn’t I requested to be left alone, didn’t everyone acknowledge my request.)
After being pulled up front, each newcomer has a cell group leader with him/her, and the pastor started to pray for the newcomer and the each cell group leader would place one hand on their charge. The next action really got me upset.
(2) Why was the cell group leader using all his strength to push my head down, when I resisted, he continue to forcefully push my head down to bow not giving a single thought if he was hurting the person.
After the service was over, I was further grouped into a cell group and was introduce to the cell group leader in charge of the group.
(3) As I previously mentioned I made it known that I was not there to join the church, just accompanying my good friend. Why did the cell group leader have to keep calling me every week to tell me to go to church for the following month or so.
I am sure everyone is familiar to the donation bag being passed around during service. Someone please kindly explain to me why I was treated this way:
(4) CHC member keeping passing back the donation bag back to me when I either donate anything under 50 cents or donate nothing, one of them even tell me in the face that I donate too little, must be over 50 cents or more.
(Isn’t this donation base on free will. I wasn’t even earning any money, all I have was suffice pocket money for my meals and transport)
Darren Au Yeung The next following 3 incident in the following month gave me a lasting impression of CHC till this day.
Please kindly justified the action behind the following incidents.
Incident 1:
As usual after service the cell group would gather at the KFC next door. On this particular day, it happens that there was 2 young female members of CHC in their early twenties seating at the table beside mine talking very loudly. Their conversation evolves just on one topic, which was how great and powerful Pastor Kong Hee was. Feeling that this was not right, I asked them who are they here to worship, Our Lord Jesus Christ, or Our dear Pastor Kong Hee, whom in my opinion is just a messenger of God, so why are they not praising God?. Unable to response, they given me a very dark and angry look, packed up and walk away.
(Have i said something wrong? Actually I am fine with them praising Pastor Kong Hee, but the term “powerful” did not sit well with me. Isn’t God the only almighty one?)
Incident 2.
On my second last week with CHC, I held a BBQ party at my house for only my close circle of friends.
During the mid of the party, the cell group leader called and learned that I was having a BBQ party. His immediate reaction was telling me his is coming down to the party straight away. In a bit of a shock, I told him nicely, that the party was only intended for my small group of close buddies whom mostly don’t even know him, and I don’t think they are comfortable with it. The cell group leader flew into a rage, and after saying some unpleasant remarks he hanged the call immediately. He never calls or spoke to me ever again, even when I saw him in church, and he will just treat me as invisible.
(I seriously don’t see why he needed to try to force his way into my private party and be furious about it when I didn’t invite him or allow him to join in. Firstly, it was only intended for my close friends, and secondly I am not close to him or know him very well.
Does CHC have rules that everyone must invite the cell group leader or anyone from church if he/she holds a party?
Incident 3.
This happened on my last service I attended at CHC, and a week after the 2nd incident
After the service, the cell group was gathering at a location near the old theater where the services was held. By this time I was aware that everyone was keeping their distance away from me. It was too obvious as all sit in a group at a table but let me sit by myself at another table. A sweet young female CHC member of the group, came over to my table after seeing that I was alone, and asked me a curious question.