New Creation Church: We’re not out to make money

• hasene

  7 Jun 10, 16:02

  FTP

  New Creation Church: We’re not out to make money

  By Angela Lim – June 7th, 2010

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  Another mega-church in Singapore, New Creation Church has moved quickly to re-assure its followers and the public that the business ventures it has formed are purely to raise money to house its  growing 20,000-strong congregation.

  The move follows the extensive media coverage and rampant online discussions of the investigations into the alleged misuse of church funds in City Harvest Church.

  New Creation attracts the second largest weekend attendance after City Harvest, which draws 33,000 churchgoers.

  The Straits Times reports that during an address during the church’s four Sunday services held at Suntec City mall, deacon Jack Ho elaborated on the rationale for the church’s business ventures.

  Its first entity, Daystar Child Development Centre, opened at Holland Avenue 15 years ago and was followed by a second centre in Jurong West five years ago. Both are childcare centres set up as a voluntary welfare organisation.

  Marine Cove and Rock Productions are another two of the church’s highly-visible business ventures.

  New Creation bought Marine Cove, a popular food and lifestyle cluster in East Coast Park, for S$10 million in 2001 and has since seen a positive return on investment.

  Rock Productions is the business arm of the mega-church. It was set up in 1998 to manage the church’s Suntec City venue for Sunday worship services, and secular weekend uses. It is now partnering property giant Capitaland to develop a S$1 billion civic, cultural, retail and entertainment complex in Buona Vista.

  Shares in Rock Productions are held in trust for the church by four shareholders, who are church leaders. They do not receive directors’ fees, bonuses, dividends or remunerations. Two of its subsidiaries are Rock Gifts and Book Centre and Omega Tours and Travel, which grew out of Mr Prince’s “heart” for Israel, Mr Ho said. It offers church tours to the Bible lands.

  Mr Ho said the church can grow its congregation further when it moves to its $1 billion complex in Buona Vista next year.

  “It is an investment in a venue,” he stressed, emphasising that the church is not trying to make money or go commercial.

  He also revealed that Senior Pastor Joseph Prince has stopped drawing a salary from the church since late last year. He relies instead on book royalties and other sources of income, including sermon CDs which are sold globally. In addition, he has penned books like Destined To Reign.

  The 47-year-old pastor also took to the stage in the church’s Sunday service and indirectly defended the income he earns by selling books by saying no one is forced to buy them.

  “I don’t put a gun to your head,” he quipped.

  He also made an indirect reference to the furore surrounding City Harvest when he said, “Be kind, especially if you’re blogging.”

  After all, New Creation preaches a “gospel of grace”, he added.

• hasene

  7 Jun 10, 16:03

  I have heard both of them preached.   Joseph Prince preached more on quality on Christianity.  Kong Hee being greed driven preached forcifully on giving money to the church.   

   

• TTFU

  7 Jun 10, 16:12

  Not surprised NCC came out and Luo jing xia shi. Means that their relationship with CHC is not so good either, hinting that CHC is making money.

• hasene

  7 Jun 10, 17:36

  Originally posted by TTFU:

  Not surprised NCC came out and Luo jing xia shi. Means that their relationship with CHC is not so good either, hinting that CHC is making money.

  
  May be.

  I see it more of Joseph Prince assuring the public and christians.  I have ex churchmates attending NCC, they were keen to get me join them.     To them the NCC is doing fine.

   

• -StarDust-

  7 Jun 10, 19:35

  I got some frenz in this church too.

• TTFU

  7 Jun 10, 19:37

  Looking at how the church handles its billions, i have my reservations

• Asromanista2001

  7 Jun 10, 20:29

  we're not into making money ?.............LOL !!!!!

   

  it's just like Michael Jackson saying '' i didn't wish i was WHITE ! ''

   

  LOL..........

• charlize

  7 Jun 10, 22:04

  Originally posted by Asromanista2001:

  we're not into making money ?.............LOL !!!!!

   

  it's just like Michael Jackson saying '' i didn't wish i was WHITE ! ''

   

  LOL..........

  You run a business not to make money.

   

  I see the logic. 

   

  Really.

   

• Rooney9

  8 Jun 10, 03:12

  the business arm of NCC, rock production (created in 1998)  is partnering Capitaland to develop a $1 billion civic, cultural, retail and entertainment complex in Buona Vista.

  wow I am gobsmacked, even bigger than CHC Suntec acquisition of $300 million dollars.

• Arapahoe

  8 Jun 10, 08:19

  Look at this way NCC is expected to gain market share from the fall out from CH  ......he he he....

• Xcert

  8 Jun 10, 09:14

  Originally posted by charlize:

  You run a business not to make money.

   

  I see the logic. 

   

  Really.

   

  so do I...just that I dont want to have anything to do with it...

• Cck689461

  8 Jun 10, 21:21

  New Creation is also in the business of making money.

  By speaking up, New Creation is already making moves to distance itself from city harvest.

  New Creation  will certainly benefit from the destruction of city harvest.

  Joseph prince will certainly gain from the destruction of kong hee.

  This is the reality of life that kong hee must understand.

  Kong Hee's loss will be joseph prince's gain.

  Joseph prince will not help kong hee but will distance himself from kong hee and in doing so, throw boulders into the well while kong hee is drowning in the well.

  There is no such thing as christian brotherhood. There is such a thing called personal interest.

  There is no honour among thieves. Well said. So much for the character of the 2 pastors.

   

   

• Honeybunz

  8 Jun 10, 21:27

  sekali they unknowingly open a can of worms. lol

• charlize

  8 Jun 10, 21:56

  Originally posted by Honeybunz:

  sekali they unknowingly open a can of worms. lol

  I think they should have kept a low profile pending the CHC case.

   

  By going public, people will start scrutinising all the megachurches and start asking more questions and become even more curious about their business operations.

   

  I don't think that is what they want.

• ditzy

  8 Jun 10, 21:58

  I hope someone can open their books.

• ditzy

  8 Jun 10, 21:59

  I hope someone can open their books.

• Fcukpap

  8 Jun 10, 22:26

  transparency is necessary if the organization were to sustain its continuation and trust from the members. but this could only happen when it is built on principles (which has to be legally accepted in accordance to the country's common laws)...

  it bears public responsibility...but on the issue of public scrutiny....there should be some form of legal protection to the extent that the establishment is not affected by unfounded slanders or disturbances.....this would also entail the necessary intervention of the authorities...

• Rooney9

  8 Jun 10, 22:29

  Originally posted by charlize:

  I think they should have kept a low profile pending the CHC case.

   

  By going public, people will start scrutinising all the megachurches and start asking more questions and become even more curious about their business operations.

   

  I don't think that is what they want.

  its a matter of time before some members of NCC complain to COC and CAD for their usage of funds.

• Fcukpap

  8 Jun 10, 22:31

  this leads to the good exemplary set by Islamic Banking and its Shariah laws...so far...

  business is still possible and in fact there is global evidence of its adoption....

  the difference here is strict compliance to its principles.... 

   

• Arapahoe

  9 Jun 10, 08:13

  Originally posted by charlize:

  I think they should have kept a low profile pending the CHC case.

   

  By going public, people will start scrutinising all the megachurches and start asking more questions and become even more curious about their business operations.

   

  I don't think that is what they want.

  
  they know they will be next.....ha ha ha

• charlize

  9 Jun 10, 21:47

  Originally posted by Arapahoe:

  
  they know they will be next.....ha ha ha

  Maybe.

• Joolead

  10 Jun 10, 23:01

  actually they are . have you hear of a thief admitting he is a thief. all this church bullshit alot and prey on or shall i say con $$$ out of the stupid people who believe an invisible man up there...sigh only facker will ...lol

• Joolead

  10 Jun 10, 23:03

  singapore shall implement these rules 

  Under the new further mandatory law and act of Singapore (been submitted to parliament):

  1) No Christianity are allow for possess any building for Christian’s preaching purpose except

   for commercial and residential purpose in Singapore.

  2) Christianity must engrave or tattoo across on their right cheek indictor that they Christian.

  3) Christianity must engrave or tattoo across on their left cheek to indictor the sect they are from.

  4) No eveanlism shall be allowed except on the 29th of Feb.

  5) Christian need to pay tax of 30 percent of their annual income for sharing of gospel and eveanlism

  6) a tax of 20 percent is payable to the whole of Singapore’s community for begin Christian.

  8) 15 percent of GST will be charge for Christian when they buy any purchase.

  9) Preaching and learning of Christianity activity or service shall be done on 11am - 4pm on the Sunday’s afternoon with around 600 follower at Hong Lim, Hort park and botanic garden.

  Or at mid-night from 3am at St.john or sister’s island.

  10) Any charity collection have to be censure or submit to the government before given back to the Christianity‘s organization.

  11) Wage of all pastor shall not exceed more than SG$1.5k even they own the church.

  12) Any Christian’s media are not allowed to be on sales during the preaching service or Sunday’s service.

  13)  A payable of 20 percent tax of all tithing, service offering and donation.

  14)  Christianity is not allowed to hold any manager’s role in any work place in any organization.

  15) No Christianity’s organization are allowed to own or co-own or run any business in Singapore.

  16) A payable of 20 percent tax for any cell group meeting held in any residential area.

  17) Cell group meeting are only allow to be held at Hong Lim park , Hort park and botanic garden on Saturday’s afternoon around 11am-4 pm or at mid-night to 3am at off shore such sister island or st.john Island.

• Arapahoe

  11 Jun 10, 08:14

  Originally posted by Joolead:

  actually they are . have you hear of a thief admitting he is a thief. all this church bullshit alot and prey on or shall i say con $$$ out of the stupid people who believe an invisible man up there...sigh only facker will ...lol

  
  you will be surprised people that goes into these churches are well educated folks.

  I think it reflect the facts that the main stream religions leaders are less educated and unable to communicate inteligently to these groups of people and so they end up with CH and NCC.

   

• the Bear

  11 Jun 10, 08:16

  Originally posted by Arapahoe:

  
  you will be surprised people that goes into these churches are well educated folks.

  I think it reflect the facts that the main stream religions leaders are less educated and unable to communicate inteligently to these groups of people and so they end up with CH and NCC.

   

  
  do not mistake education for intelligence