I may be a little late in doing this… but we’re still in January, and Chinese New Year is coming! So here goes…

It has been a great 2010 and even as we enter the New Year, that are so many things to be appreciate about!

Besides having all you readers out there, another important group of people is my spiritual family!

Just wanted to take this time to tell all my friends and family that the last 10 years has really been a really great adventure and I have been loving every minute of it! Many Thanks to everyone for sharing your life with me and for allowing me to be part of yours! It’s truly been an awesome privilege and a great honour!

I am really looking forward to the next chapter, and facing new challenges together with you!

Many thanks to Kim for helping us with the Video, and she has been a real “gem” in the creative department for us!

Hope you guys like the video!

As a serious Soccer Fan, I can’t wait for the World Cup to Start!

I have even paid the $70 over dollars to Starhub, so that I can watch the World Cup Games on my TV.

Which team am I supporting?

My brain tells me Spain, but my heart goes to England! (In fact, I am still keeping my fingers crossed that they will win!)

I also support Manchester United, and even though they came in 2nd this year, I am still supporting them in the new season. Have things changed because they are facing a troubled season with no new emerging talent?

No…Once a England or Man Utd Supporter….Always a Supporter!

In the same way, as City Harvest Church is in the news, things are NO different. I am still a Supporter.

As everyone is awaiting the results of the investigation, let’s get some facts straight:

1) This slide below was shown to the church congregation on the 1st day of the Asia Conference on the 26 May 2010.  (Kindly supplied by www.sanses.com)

The Investigation started on the 31 May 2010. Hence, the office is not closed due to the investigation as insinuated by the press.

2) When the News First appeared online, this is what it read:

A “breaking news” report by Straits Times said that 
"Seven individuals were detained in a raid at 6.30am on Monday by the CAD. During the raid at their offices, the CAD secured records and accounts as part of the investigation.”

We all know now that CAD did a visit not a raid at the office. But notice in this original Breaking News report, the word DETAINED? hmm… all that changed in three hours. It became ‘assisting police in investigations’.

Well, one can argue that using words like ‘detained’ and ‘raid’ certainly makes it more breaking news than ever. Sadly, plagiarism is on the rise. The original report made its rounds in several news engines. Journalism has lost its integrity. period.

3) The newspapers seemed to imply that there is a veil of secrecy around City Harvest and that is why, there are no further details about the probe.

But let’s put things into perspective.

The CAD and the police started the probe and they are the higher authority on this issue.

If they have no further comments and the police say that “it is inappropriate to comment further at this point because of the ongoing investigation”, clearly, it is not us who holds the veil of secrecy. The only people who can shed light on this matter would be those in higher authorities.

99% of us, members, are happy to just patiently waiting by the sidelines awaiting for the authorities to speak up.

I think for the remaining 1% (which includes the Press), please join us to sit and wait as well…. Speculations won’t get you anywhere.

This week is going to be an exciting week at City Harvest Church.

The church has been in negotiations for a new building, and this week the location will be announced!

Pastor Kong Hee has been talking about a Church in the Marketplace and in the CBD for a long time, and finally it is coming to past. He has also updated his blog and given the reasons for the New $310 Million facility.

(Check out his  blog and the reasons here)

Personally, we are really excited, and our 6 weeks of speculation is coming to an end.

The Speculative Locations  are:

1) Marina Bay Golf Course – I hear that a lot of golfers are praying very hard against it, as they don’t want to lose a decent golf course.

2) Marina Bay Sands Casino

Btw, Sands got this piece of land at 1.2 billion dollars from the government. Will they let us have a part of it for $310 million?

3) National Stadium

The stadium is slated to be redeveloped into a new Sports Hub, but due to the financial crisis, the developers have sort of given up on the project, due to the high construction cost.

Will City Harvest be given a National Project to redevelop?

4) Padang

This iconic field has been the host of National Day Parades, Numerous Sports Events, and this is also where the British accepted the Japanese Surrender in 1945.

The Rumour is that we will develop the field, and have a auditorium was a glass ceiling, so that when the congregation looks up, they can see the stars!

Where do u guys feel the building will be at? Anything stories that are really mind-boggling?!? Do Share…

Well, for the rest of us, we are waiting for twitter to give us the location, when the 1st service kicks off in Jurong West in 24 hours time…

It’s coming soon….(excited anticipation!)

This has been in the News all day and it has been reported in The Straits Times:

"City Harvest Church has announced a $310 million expansion plan to buy land, and to erect a building that will house shops, restaurants and a 12,000-seat auditorium.

Founder Kong Hee, 45, said during church services yesterday and last Saturday that the land sale would be completed later this month. He did not specify the location, but said the site would be in the ‘central south’ district.

He described the site as ‘super large’. It is believed the site covers an area as large as three football fields – six times the size of the Protestant church’s current home in Jurong West Street 91, which it owns."

I think it’s great that City Harvest Church has finally got its land. Last year, New Creation Church also obtained a piece of land in One North at Buona Vista.

With the changing of times, we see once again Church buildings and Church congregations being an integral part of society, and being a "Gathering Point" for the local population.

In America, churches like Lakewood Church pastored by Joel Osteen, worships in a 16,000 seater hall, which used to house the Houston Rockets. The Largest Church in the World: Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, Korea,  has a 11,000 seater hall which it built decades ago. Looks like Singapore is just "Catching up with the times".

Many people have been asking for more details about the City Harvest Church Building, but unfortunately no details are available at the moment. The church has an agreement of non-disclosure with its developers till first week of March. So if u heard anything else more than what’s mentioned in the newspapers, they are pure RUMORS!

Stay tuned for the REAL STUFF in 7 weeks’ time!

It is my favourite time of the year again, and tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Yipee!!!

We have been busy shopping for relatives and friends, and the shops are getting really crowded as everybody is doing their last minute shopping.

The kids have also been getting into the mood, as we have been playing Xmas Carols in the car. Have you ever realized that this is the only time of the year, where you need to check your CD cabinet, and pull out those old dusty Xmas CDs.

The older kids have also been enjoying this A Capella Group called “Straight No Chaser”. They were made popular due to Youtube, and they have been entertaining us since their first Xmas album. Check out their famous YouTube Hit here. (It has more than 10 million hits!

They just launched another Holiday album for 2009, and the songs are proving to be really catchy as well! Check out one of their holiday selections here:

The song is really fun and catchy!!!

This other video gives a good background of the History of Straight No Chaser

If u like their songs, you can also find their albums at HMV!

But most importantly, you got to make this holiday season extra special for yourself and your family.

Join us at the Singapore Expo or at Jurong West St 91, to experience the magic of Christmas.

In my honest opinion, I think City Harvest Church puts up great dramas and I believe that you will definitely enjoy this one! Do come down and join us this Xmas!