by Theresa Tan, Melissa Sim and the mypaper
Photo: New Creation Church
MEMBERS of the New Creation Church and their friends donated an average of $864 each one Sunday last month, netting the church a whopping $19 million for its upcoming multimillion-dollar lifestyle hub in Buona Vista.
The sum is believed to be the largest ever collected in Singapore in one single day and comes at a time when charities say donations are dipping, as the recession worsens and people are keeping their hands firmly in their pockets.
This, however, is not the first time the New Creation Church, an independent church led by Senior Pastor Joseph Prince, has collected such a staggering sum in one day. One Sunday in April last year, the church collected about $18 million during its first ‘Miracle Seed Sunday’.
The church declined to be interviewed, saying its affairs were ‘a personal expression of worship’.
But The Straits Times understands that ‘Miracle Seed Sunday’ is a day when the church’s members ’sow a seed, expecting miracles’.
Mr Prince declared during his sermons early last month that Feb 15 would be a ‘Miracle Seed Sunday’.
A record 22,000 people, including members and their friends, showed up on Feb15 for the church services and pledged $19 million. The proceeds are to go to the church’s new cultural and entertainment complex being developed by its business arm, Rock Productions.
Last September, Rock Productions told The Straits Times it had raised about a third of the $500 million it needed to build the complex. It is partnering property giant CapitaLand to build the close to $1 billion project, envisioned as a ‘futuristic complex with restaurants, shops and a 5,000-seat theatre’.
CapitaLand will own and manage the complex’s retail and entertainment zone. Rock Productions will own and manage the civic and cultural zone, which will house the 5,000-seat theatre to be used for the New Creation Church’s Sunday services.
Church members interviewed said they were happy to donate to the new complex. Bank executive Marcus Wong, 28, said: ‘It’s not compulsory. Whoever has the heart and wants to give can come forward to give. The building is for God, so we see it as an offering.’
When asked whether she thought the money should go to helping the poor instead of constructing a building, another church member, a businesswoman who declined to be named, replied: ‘I believe with the new building, we are giving to the kingdom of God, and God will be able to bless more people.’
The New Creation Church is one of the fastest- growing churches in Singapore. It was founded here in 1984 by a group of young Christians and has grown from 25 believers to more than 18,000 members today. It had an income of $55.4 million during its last financial year.
Also online at: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_348208.html?vgnmr=1
NEW Creation Church raised a whopping $19 million for the construction of its new premises at Buona Vista - in less than 24 hours.
In a show of support, a record number of 22,000 people turned up for services at the Rock Auditorium at Suntec City Mall three weeks ago.
The donations were collected over four services on Feb 15.
In comparison, a month-long charity drive by NTUC Income, Project Love, raised about $375,000.
Following the success of its fund-raiser, the New Creation Church announced the amount it raised to its members on Feb 22. However, when contacted, the church declined to comment.
New Creation Church-goer Angelique Lee, 26, a full-time student, said her donation was a form of thanksgiving and appreciation 'for all that God has blessed me with'.
'Attending church has helped to transform my life and make me a better person over time,' she explained.
Graduate student Huang Wei Hsuan, 26, who is not a member of the church, felt that part of the funds could be used to 'help those who are really in need, instead of being fully used to construct a new building'.
'Is it really a good idea to build a new building now? Should the church members be advised to keep more for rainy days?' he asked.
But many others who are not from the church were heartened by the congregation's generosity.
'I feel it's incredible that such kindness, empathy and generosity can be shown in such bad economic times,' said Mr Shawn Chin, 24, a civil servant.
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They gave from their hearts
Also taken off from mypaper:
THEY came, they listened and they contributed. The 22,000-strong congregation rallied when their senior pastor, Pastor Joseph Prince, 45, asked them for help in funding the construction of their premises in the Integrated Hub, during a special service held on Feb 15.
Located at Vista Xchange at one-north in Buona Vista, the hub is scheduled for completion by mid-2012.
The nine-storey civic and cultural plaza in the complex, developed by Rock Productions - the commercial-development arm of New Creation Church - will house a 5,000-seat auditorium.
Members of New Creation Church told my paper that there was 'no coercion involved', and it was 'entirely up to individual members' to give.'
The money was collected through an invitation to anyone who wanted to give,' said Mr Dylan Loh, 24, an undergraduate from National University of Singapore.
'In fact, Pastor Prince mentioned that if we didn't feel the need or desire to give, we shouldn't give, and it would have been perfectly fine,' he added.
Explaining how the church managed to raise $19 million in one day, civil servant Goh Ying Ying, 26, said: 'People gave out of the abundance of their hearts because they believed they will get something back.'
Mr Loh agreed, saying: 'It was based purely on the generosity of the congregation and their own willingness to give.'
Marketing manager Flora Lim, 23, who was not from the church, said: 'Considering we're in the midst of a recession, they are still willing to give so much. (But) it's their church and the people are willing to give their own money, so I don't see any problems with it.'
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