SINGAPORE — City Harvest Church (CHC) founder Kong Hee apologised to church members and thanked them for standing by him on Saturday (Aug 24) in his first public appearance since being released from jail, telling his supporters to “allow me some time to readjust back to a normal life again”.
He was released from Changi Prison on Thursday (Aug 22), where he had been held since he began his jail term on April 21, 2017. He and five others were found guilty of misappropriating about S$50 million of church funds.
On Saturday he took to the stage during the evening church service at the Suntec City Convention and Exhibition Hall, where CHC regularly holds its weekend sermons. Before he came onstage, another church pastor told the crowd to hold their applause.
Said Pastor Bobby Chaw, a founding member of the church: “This week has been special for our church, but can you hold on to your cheers and your claps? Of course, we are so happy that Pastor Kong is back with us. But, Pastor Kong has specially requested that we don’t clap.”
Mr Kong, 55, then told the crowd: “This is the only time you will hear from me for quite a while. Having been away since 2017, it feels really surreal to be here in this hall and to be home, reunited with my family, especially my parents, my siblings, my in-laws and of course with all of you again.”
He then apologised for all that had happened. The allegations of financial irregularities began in 2010, and culminated in a lengthy court case that began in 2012.
Mr Kong was originally sentenced to eight years in jail but his sentence was reduced to three and a half years on appeal. He served the second-longest sentence out of the six CHC leaders, except former fund manager Chew Eng Han, who was given three years and four months in prison and had his term extended by 13 months after he tried to flee the country by boat.
“I have served my sentence and today I find myself humbled. I want all of you to know that I am so sorry, so sorry, for any pain, anxiety, disappointment and grief that you have suffered because of me.
“The last few years have been very difficult and painful for me and everyone involved,” he said, before thanking his church, including those who had remained to rebuild CHC after his conviction.
Mr Kong added that his immediate priority will be to reconnect with his family and relatives, stating that due to the long-drawn court case and the subsequent incarceration, he had “missed out” on a significant part of his son Dayan’s childhood and had brought pain to his parents, who are now in their 90s.
Thousands turned up for the Saturday sermon, which was scheduled for C3 Church Global’s founder Phil and Christine Pringle, founders of the charismatic church movement. Kong described the Pringles as his longest, oldest friends and mentors.
Many churchgoers teared when Kong took the stage, but duly held their applause and cheers until the end of his speech, when Kong returned to his seat beside his singer-wife Ho Yeow Sun, also known as Sun Ho.
While Kong did not give details or timelines about his future involvement with CHC, he told the church that he was looking forward to “renewing my friendship and my fellowship with you soon” and hoped to serve his church “in the many, many years to come”.
Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapo...-says-kong-hee-his-return-city-harvest-church
Abba Abba!
