CCC: God’s Vision or PG’s Vision?

The latest issue of Calvary Connect carried an interview with Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG). On the challenges faced by the Calvary Convention Centre (CCC) project he said:


“Our building project is a faith project. It is for the advancement of the Kingdom of
God. It is a huge project. It is not surprising nor is it unique that we should face
many challenges.


In my knowledge, all building projects encounter challenges, especially church
building projects because we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against
the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). There are some
churches that have gone through much more serious problems than what we are
facing.


Plans can change but vision does not change.”


What a sweeping and completely untrue statement! He is blaming the difficulties the project is facing on the devil. He is also insinuating that the failure of the CCC project is somehow related to the crisis in the church which was caused by the devil. This thought has been so implanted in his staff’s minds that some of them have, in fact, been telling the members that the TTG are evil. 


To set the record straight, the CCC project was not one of the TTG issues. TTG was concerned about the lack of truth, transparency and governance in Calvary Church. Without doubt, these shortcomings are also in the CCC project but the TTG did not fight against the project. None of the resolutions put in by the concerned members at the previous AGM and EGM relate to the CCC project.


Today, the lack of transparency and accountability had gone from bad to worse. The members are not told anything intelligent but are given mere snippets of information which require piecing together like a jig-saw puzzle which remains incomplete and still a puzzle to all.


Coming to PG’s statement…..


“Our building project is a faith project…”


If indeed, the CCC is a faith project :


Why does PG need to resort to constantly preach the prosperity gospel and reminding the members that they must give in order to receive blessings? 


Why does he need to persistently persuade the members to fulfill their building and faith promise pledges? 


Why does he need to mortgage the church properties to the bank to raise some money to fund the project? 


Why does he need to tell the members that he is prepared to sell some prime church properties if the project runs short of funds? 


Why does he need to cajole and almost literally forced the leaders and members to sell paper bricks, dinner tables, funfair tickets and golf games to the outside world to raise money?


In so doing what he has done is, he has given the world the impression that our God is a poor God and He is unable to raise the funds from within the Christian community to build His own church building.


But our God is a rich God! If the CCC is His vision, surely He will open the windows of heaven and pour out His blessings and the CCC will be completed, without a single cent of borrowing. And no devil or powers of this dark world or the spiritual forces of evil can stop it! And certainly, not the TTG….


“In my knowledge, all building projects encounter challenges…”


PG’s knowledge is obviously very limited. Not all churches face such challenges like the ones faced by Calvary Church. There may be differences of opinion and a few may even leave the church but many big church projects were completed without such crisis, if it is of the Lord. Notable examples are the Metro Tabernacle, Glad Tidings PJ, PJ EFC, SIB KL, DUMC and Grace PJ. In fact, one of the churches even told the members not to give anymore to the building fund because they have collected enough and were encouraged to help out other churches. This is what happens when a church walks in the will of God and carries out His vision according to His ways.


It is so convenient for PG to blame the devil. He is giving the devil too much credit. If the failure of the CCC is the work of the devil, then the devil must have made PG appoint a freemason as the architect and an almost bankrupt company as the main contractor. These are the two main causes for the difficulties and challenges besetting the CCC. However, the fundamental reason could likely be that CCC was not God’s vision but PG’s vision.


"Plans can change but vision does not change.”


It is surprising that PG could make such a statement when the CCC is, in fact, his third edition of his vision. Maybe his age has affected his memory, after all, he has gone way past his retirement age.


Vision No. 1 was the Sri Hartamas land (near the new Agong palace) back in the late 80s. Those old enough would have remembered being shown a video clip with PG walking the length and breath of that piece of land and claiming it because God had given him a vision of the new church on that land. However, just before the signing of the Sale and Purchase agreement, the land was sold to someone else. The vision he so proudly proclaimed vaporised into thin air just as quickly as it came and it was quietly forgotten. Then arose a fresh vision for the present Damansara Heights site.


Vision No. 2 was to buy up the surrounding bungalows, tear down the existing sanctuary and build a new church on the Damansara Heights site. He claimed this was a new vision from God. The church bought up 7 or 8 bungalows but failed to buy up all the units in the island. Still, he felt the church could go ahead with what they had. Some preliminary planning approvals were given by the authorities and things looked really good. A lot of time, effort and money were spent. His vision of a 5,000 seat church was incorporated into the preliminary design and drawings presented to the congregation. Again he could not clear the final hurdle and the project was abandoned.


Vision No. 3 is the current CCC project. He originally wanted a piece of land in KL and not Selangor. Finding none, he settled on Bukit Jalil. The CCC project has been shrouded in lies and deception from the start. For the full story, check out the nine previous postings under “Calvary Convention Centre”.


He would not be able to finish the grand CCC monument that he initially planned. The cost has escalated to more than RM250 million from the original quote of RM50 million despite scaling down on the original specifications.


With what the church has in the coffers and a secured bank loan of RM35 million, he can only put up the main structure and the roof to stop the site from further deterioration and corrosion. He would need to sell church properties worth RM40 million or borrow another RM40 million and collect more building offerings to make part of the main auditorium usable.


Today, he hopes to complete enough of the structure to have Sunday services in the CCC. He has deferred the construction of the rest of the planned development like the classrooms, offices, recreational halls, subsidiary chapels etc.


To him, this would be proof that it is God’s vision. This is not necessarily the case. Man’s pride and self-will can accomplish much but “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”


Can it be ready for his grand show at the Pentecostal World Conference in 2013 planned to be held at the CCC? Possibly, if undiscerning church members and visitors continue to be ignorant and make sacrificial giving to the church.


Assuming the partial completion of the auditorium is achieved and is useable, what looms ahead is even more daunting and frightening. How will the church be able to service and pay off the RM35 to 75 million loan? The offerings alone will hardly be sufficient to maintain the facility. The danger of the bank foreclosing on the property eventually is real. But by then, PG will probably be enjoying his retirement and his successor (God bless him whoever he is) will need a giant Panadol. This could possibly be the closing chapter in Calvary Church’s history.


PG has misunderstood Dick Eastman’s word of prophecy that Calvary Church is a fountain-head church. A fountain head church is not necessarily an expensive and extravagant church building. Jesus is not interested in buildings. He is interested in people. The obscene amount of money being spent on the building cannot flow out of the church to touch the lives of people. A fountain head church is one from which the love of Jesus flows to touch and bless an ever widening spread of people. Instead of being locked up in brick and mortar, the money could have flowed out of the church to bless the needy, the widows and the orphans and of course to spread the Gospel. 


Compared to other churches, how has Calvary Church let the love of Jesus flow to others? All the church can boast of is an under-funded street ministry, the Sunshine Home providing only day care for a few elderly and one supported full-time missionary. The white elephant Calvaryland project which cost the church some RM8 to 10 million was just another ego trip which could never be financially justified. Another failed vision feather in his cap.


Look at the good works of other churches much smaller than Calvary Church; drug rehabilitation centres, dialysis centres, orphanages, properly funded street feeding programs, other social projects and regular mission trips to the poor and underdeveloped communities in the surrounding countries like Cambodia, Vietnam etc.


A big portion of Calvary Church’s missions giving are directed internally to the “extended ministries” and also used to pay many of the church staff salaries and are not really given away. Whatever little is given away, much publicity is provided so that the congregation will feel good.


Perhaps, it is fair to say that PG started well and that Calvary Church was once a fountain-head church. But sadly, today, the fountain head is now clogged up with dirt and has stopped flowing. Unless, serious efforts are made by the new Board of Deacons to clear the dirt without fear of man, Calvary Church will shriveled up in no time.


A God-given vision shall be fulfilled. It cannot fail. If it fails to be fulfilled, it is because of man, not God. God’s vision can only be accomplished if it is carried out according to His will.


So is the CCC a vision from God or PG’s own personal vision?


Let the Spirit give you the discernment!

Christmas Greetings for 2010

PG bulldozes through AGM

Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) once again displayed his autocratic style as he bulldozed his way through another AGM last Friday. After having unconstitutionally and unethically removed 400 members, PG had it comparatively easy with only a handful of concerned members including the Plaintiffs to contend with.

The 5 Plaintiffs present put up a brave front, voicing their concerns on various church issues and questioning the irregularities in the previous AGM and EGM minutes, amidst the occasional jeering from the Church staff and die-hard fans of PG. 

Similar to previous AGM/EGM, PG continued his infamous style of switching off the microphones whenever he wished to stop anyone from speaking further, rudely instructing members to sit down before they could finish their questions or statements and constantly threatening to remove anyone who refuses to sit when instructed.

The meeting began with a motion from the Board of Deacons to ratify the convening of the current AGM session without the issuance of a fresh preliminary notice calling for the AGM. At this point, Bro Joseph stood up to raise the issue of the termination or reclassification of some 400 Voting and Associate members in March this year. He questioned the unconstitutional removal of the 400 members, using rules from an old outdated Church Constitution which has long been repealed and superseded. He contented that the holding of the AGM without the presence of the 400 terminated members is gross injustice and unconstitutional. (The 400 members who had been removed comprised mostly those who had voiced out their concerns on the lack of transparency in the Church and those who had questioned PG's mismanagement of Church funds and his abuse of power.)

Bro Joseph was threatened with removal from the meeting when he persisted in demanding an explanation from PG on the matter. PG had his way and the members then voted to ratify the convening of the AGM. The motion was passed with a handful of objections from the floor.

Clip 1 : Listen to the exchange of words between PG and Bro Joseph in the audio clip below.

Having gotten the approval of the members present to proceed with the AGM,  PG then proceeded with the Agenda for the meeting. At this point, Bro KC stood to inform that he had submitted a Motion of No Confidence in the Senior Pastor but it had been rejected by the Board of Deacons for reasons which are disputable. He requested PG to allow the members present to decide if the motion should be tabled as the members at a General Meeting has full authority under the Constitution to make such a decision. However, PG rejected the request and got Deacon David Peters to explain that the motion was rejected because it was submitted by Bro KC past the prescribed period of 7 days from the date of the original Preliminary Notice of AGM issued in March this year. Apparently Bro KC stood up wanting to clarify the matter but PG suddenly has vision problems and did not see Bro KC standing with his hand raised despite Bro KC standing a mere 20 feet away in front of him. PG quickly proceeded to put the agenda to the vote and it was passed.

Soon after,  the members got to witness the cold-heartedness of  PG when Sis Liza stood to state a point of order but she was asked by PG to clarify her point of order to the usher controlling the microphone, who will then conveyed her statement to PG before he decides if she could speak. Sis Liza questioned the logic of having to talk to a third party when PG is the Chairman and insisted on stating her point of order directly to the Chair. PG then invited her to go onto the stage to talk to him personally. What transpired on stage only Sis Liza and PG knows. An argument ensued and PG ordered a few “bouncers’ to escort her from the stage. Such is the high-handedness of PG.

Clip 2 : Listen to Bro KC’s question and the “personal” conversation on stage between Sis Liza and PG.

The next item concerned the passing of the previous 2009 AGM minutes. During this motion, Bro Teng spoke and questioned the non-inclusion of material amendments to the 2008 EGM minutes which were highlighted at the last 2009 AGM. The amendments had then been agreed to by both PG and the Secretary but conveniently left out again. The material amendments left out related to the eventual utilization of the Indonesian Earthquake Fund for a different purpose which the Board of Deacons deemed as “good business sense” after the rightful return of the funds from PG’s personal Calvary International Ministry (CIM) back to Missions Dept. 

Both Sis Liza and Bro Teng continued to maintain that minutes must always reflect what is actually said but however, PG continued his display of high-handedness and decided to bulldoze his way through and proposed that the minutes be accepted as it is without any amendments. 

This is a dangerous precedent but sadly, the members present voted and passed the minutes without changes. They either voted out of fear or out of blind loyalty or perhaps, they just couldn’t care less. Whatever the reasons, it was certainly a black day for Calvary Church. It is a license for PG to minute what he wants in future and then get the members to endorse it. This is the early signs of a cult when members are no longer able to think rationally but just listen and follow blindly what their leader says.

Clip 3 : Listen to Bro Teng and Sis Liza’s coments on the minutes

Clip 4 : Liza continues to highlight the inaccuracies of the Minutes.

The next item on the agenda was the Treasurer’s Report and the Extended Ministries’ Reports, which were tabled and passed.. During question time, Bro Teng highlighted the fact that the Missions Manual which has been in use all the while, has never been approved by the members at any AGM or EGM. He raised the concern that the Board of Deacons has no jurisdiction over the usage of the Missions Funds and that PG, under the Missions Manual, has full authority over the usage of the funds. PG merely responded that he had always sought the approval of his Deacons on all decisions concerning the utilization of missions funds. If members recall, it is in this weakness in the Missions Fund administration,  is precisely how PG was able to transfer RM1.9 million of Missions Fund into his personal ministry, CIM without the approval or knowledge of the members.

Clip 5  : Listen to Bro Teng’s questions on the Missions Manual

Sis Liza then highlighted that the reporting by the Missions Director also wrongly identified and mixed up the two different entities of CARE and CARED. Sis Liza clarified that CARE (a humanitarian fund) is a ministry set up under the Missions Dept many years ago while CARED is subsidiary of CIM which was formed much later. Pas Steven, however, clarified the opposite but later, admitted that he spoke from his own knowledge and that he will check out the matter. Sis Liza offered to meet and show him the evidence. It was the close semblance of name of these two entities which caused much confusion when it was first discovered that funds from CARE (started by the church missions department) had been moved to CARED (started by PG under his personal ministry CIM). This was part of the RM1.9 million transferred from the Missions Fund to CIM.

Clip 5 : Listen to Sis Liza's explanation on CARE and CARED

The election of Deacons was carried out smoothly with Bro Stephen Liu and Bro Edward Rajasingam being re-elected and Bro Chow Sang Hoe (past church auditor) being elected. The meeting was also informed of Bro Philip Tan’s resignation from the Board.

The resolutions for the appointment of external auditors to audit the main Church accounts and the Extended Ministries’ accounts were passed without objection.

The last item on the agenda was the report on the Calvary Convention Centre (CCC).

The members were informed that new contractors have been appointed to complete Phase 1A which comprises the Reinforced Foundation, Roof and Steel Structure and Fascade and Wall Cladding. Phase 1B will consists of Mechanical and Electrical Works, Architectural Works and Interior Design Works. The estimated date of completion of both phases is sometime in 2013. 

Phase 1A will cost RM75.3 million while Phase 1B will cost RM79.8 million. The new expenditure of  Phase 1A and Phase 1B totalling RM155.1 million together with the costs incurred todate of RM35.8 million, committed fees of RM7.7 million and land costs of RM35 million will result in a total costs of RM233.6 million. For this total costs, we will ONLY SEE  the completion of the 5,000 seat auditorium WITHOUT the education block, office, recreational facilities and all the ancillary facilities. 

Due to the receipt of only RM6 million in advances from members as opposed to PG’s target of RM35 million, the Church has to now borrow RM35 million from a bank and borrow a further RM47 million or sell an equivalent amount of Church assets to just complete Phase 1A and 1B, i.e just the Auditorium. Is the Church heading for financial disaster?

The meeting ended at about 10.30pm.

A NOTE OF THANKS: 

CT appreciates the help of several members who attended the AGM last Friday in 

coming out with this article. This is because the Administrators, were among  the 400 sacked members, therefore were unable to attend the meeting. CT also wishes to thank the members who sent in recordings of the meeting. It is comforting to know that among the existing members and leaders, there is still a remnant of concerned Christians with a Godly conscience. May God bless them richly!

2010 AGM - Report in progress

Any AGM News said...

Calvary Today,

Please let us know what happened at AGM last night. We have been reclassified to inactive members list so not allowed to attend AGM.
We have been praying for God's intervention to happen... and trusting that God is working something beyond our imagination!

October 2, 2010 11:06 AM

CT's Reply.

We are in the midst of collecting information from various people who attended the AGM last night and will put out a report as soon as possible, as the Administrators of CT were also among the 400 members who were reclassified and therefore were unable to attend last night's AGM.

We would most likely be able to put out a report sometime next week. 

Meanwhile, tomorrow being the Lord's Day, let us be found in the Lord's house to give Him due praise, honor and worship with all of our hearts.

God Bless

Bamboo Conspiracy said...

ADULLAM'S CAVE: A PLACE OF ISOLATION FOR A REVELATION.

Dear TTG, - ‘rejected but not forgotten’

To David, the cave of Adullam was a symbol of rejection. He had been rejected by his family and he was in constant danger in the royal court. The only save place for him and his followers was a dark, lonely cave.

Moses too was rejected by his people and had to hide in the ‘backside of the desert’. Read church history and know that the path of rejection is the high road to untold blessings.

TTG too now has been ‘rejected’ by the present leadership ……………. But we too like you KNOW that “God is working something beyond our imagination!”

It is beyond my comprehension how leadership can be so cruel and remove members from the Church registry but it has happened MANY TIMES! My wife and I could not imagine the church we had once served so faithfully many years ago could throw us out. But it happened and YOU MUST BELIEVE THAT IT WAS THE LORD WHO HAD HARDENED THE HEARTS OF THE LEADERSHIP TO REMOVE YOU FROM THE MEMBERSHIP. What HE does now you will not understand BUT later you will.

WE THANK THE LORD DAILY THAT HE CAUSED THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR PREVIOUS CHURCH TO REJECT US. WE NEVER COULD HAVE IMAGINED THE UNTOLD BLESSINGS THAT THE LORD HAS PREPARED FOR US WHEN WE WERE REMOVED.

LIKEWISE – TTG – LIKE DAVID, MOSES, PAUL ETC. YOU HAVE BEEN REJECTED BY MEN BUT NOT BY GOD. THE CHURCH IS NOT THE BUILDING - YOU ARE THE CHURCH AND LIKE DAVID, MOSES, PAUL ETC. HE WILL RESTORE THE CHURCH TO THE RIGHTFUL PLACE.

DAVID, MOSES, PAUL ALL WERE RETURNED TO THE VERY PLACE THEY WERE REJECTED. YOU ARE NOT CALLED TO START ANOTHER CALVARY CHURCH. YOU ARE TO TRUST THE LORD TO RETURN YOU TO THE VERY CHURCH THAT HAS NOW REMOVED YOU. DAVID DID NOT START ANOTHER KINGDOM. GOD REJECTED SAUL AND DAVID BECAME KING. GOD REMOVED PHAROAH AND MOSES BECAME THEIR LEADER.

DO NOT LOOSE HEART BUT REJOICE FOR THE LORD HAS UNTOLD BLESSINGS FOR YOU. YOU WILL ONE DAY LOOK BACK AND THANK THE LORD FOR THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU WILL WALK ONE DAY WITH YOUR HEADS HELD UP HIGH AND SEE THE SPOILS OF YOUR LABOUR. YOUR WORK IS NOT IN VAIN. THEY WHO REJECTED YOU WILL ONE DAY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GOD WAS ON YOUR SIDE BUT THEY DID NOT SEE IT. MANY OF YOUR ENEMIES WILL REPEANT AND ASK YOUR FORGIVENESS BUT OTHERS WILL BE LOST FOREVER.

God always will allow certain situations to knock us out of your comfort zones in order for Him to reposition us for the Prophetic place of DESTINY.

REJOICE BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHOSE NAMES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM CALVARY CHURCH. YOU ARE ALL DESTINED FOR GREATER WORKS. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED BUT REJOICE AND SING PRAISES TO THE LORD. MY WIFE AND I SHARE THIS FROM EXPERIENCE. EVERY DARK DAYS OF OUR LIVES, EVERY DISAPPOINTMENT, EVERY FRIEND WHO HAD BETRAYED US – ALL WE THANK THE LORD BECAUSE OUT OF THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL –GOD HAD PREPARED A TABLE OF UNTOLD BLESSINGS IN THE WILDERNESS IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR ENEMIES!

THE SECRET IS NOT YOUR FAITH BUT THE FAITH OF GOD. IT IS HIS FAITH THAT WILL DELIVER YOU. TO THE PRESENT LEADERSHIP, THEY THINK YOUR FOOTPRINTS IN THE SANDS OF CALVARY CHURCH ARE GONE FOREVER. BUT THEY FORGET IT IS ONLY BECAUSE GOD IS NOW CARRYING YOU. IT IS HIS FAITH THAT WILL SUSTAIN YOU PROVIDED YOU BELIEVE IN GOD AND NOT YOURSELF. ONE DAY YOUR FOOTPRINTS WILL RETURN!

PS. I HAVE NO FAITH IN MY FAITH. I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF GOD.

Vijay

October 3, 2010 7:44 AM