Straits Times Online (http://www.straitstimes.com)
Church member responds: 'We are different in our management of funds from most other faiths.' , n.d.
by Wendy Lam (Ms)
THE coverage of New Creation Church's building activities has drawn many people to scrutinise the finances of the organisation as $500 million worth of investments is no small sum. As a Christian and a member of New Creation Church, I wish to share my view.
Churches are not buildings. We are a body of worshippers, whose first and primary objective of gathering, is to worship our god. We build communities and social and support networks around our faith.
We gather at least twice weekly: Adults into care groups and main worship, babies and toddlers into childcare, Sunday school for the children, as well as separate programmes for teenagers, singles and the under-30s.
It is a logistical nightmare for us because we gather to a size of 17,000 to 20,000 people, and we are growing at the rate of some 15 per cent to 20 per cent annually.
Unfortunately in Singapore, there are no pastures or land for us to pitch a tent legally for all these activities regularly and consistently. The Singapore Expo or the Indoor Stadium costs $150,000 to $200,000 to rent and equip per session. And this is just for the main service. We have to keep the children at home and suspend all other activities.
Many Christians grew up in Sunday school and Christian schools. Our morality and social networks have been framed since we were young in the hallowed halls of these organisations.
I dare say that Singapore, since it was a British Colony, has benefited from Christian organisations like the Methodists and the Catholics, which have shaped the fabric of our island.
Some of our best leaders, social and charitable infrastructure, and our schools came from Christians. Now, independent churches like New Creation, City Harvest and others are adding to the work and continuing the tradition.
So this is why we need to build.
Our Bible tells us that we should develop and multiply our resources: monies as well as capabilities. It is our god-given command. In this respect, the Jews are a prime analogy. Why do so many of Wall Street's greatest banks have origins from this race. And why do Jews have the largest share, comparatively, of Nobel Prize winners? Is it a product of such a command or tradition?
Hence, in this respect, we are different in our management of funds from most other faiths.
The aim of New Creation is to create a church that, outside our schedules, allows us to set up a concert and meeting venue whose size falls in between that of the Singapore Indoor Stadium and the Esplanade. The statistics tell us that this is an ideal size because it fills a niche and is in line with the Government's aim to grow tourist numbers.
Instead of expending our funds on rent and makeshift tents, we are putting our church savings to good use. We can reap venue rentals. Instead of just expensing, we are investing.
Does this mean we do less charity? Not so, for a Christian will tithe and gift to charity separately. It is our tradition.
There will always be the poor and the needy. Giving $500 million may cure hunger quickly, but it will not end it. In the meantime, people of faith will still have no place to gather and set up home for their families and future generations.
If we can keep our churches growing, we can continue cultivating generations of people well fed on morals and Christian virtues. Then, there will be hope for the needy yet as we put our god-given skills to work to break them free from their poverty traps, to give them schooling and tools of trade, to bring them into our schools and social network.
World Vision and the Salvation Army have shown what we can do and have been doing a magnificent job globally. Perhaps in time, you will hear of New Creation Church organisations as well. But for now, we have been supporting various organisations who need help: Yellow Ribbon, the National Kidney Foundation, The Straits Times School Pocket Money fund, schools and boats for people in tsunami-stricken areas and many others.
So don't mix up our faith practices with that of other faiths. We must build our church with a vision for posterity and we must practise charity. We have been blessed mightily in every way and we are glad we can afford it.
（End）
