Calvary Today

Calvary-Exsim deal becomes riskier

2012-01-01T18:58:00.003+08:00

At the recently convened Calvary Church EGM on 16 Dec 2011, the Board of Deacons sought the approval of the members to vary the terms of the Calvary Church-Exsim Development Sdn Bhd joint venture on the commercial plot of land adjoining the Calvary Convention Centre (CCC) project.

The variation sought was to allow the title and ownership of the land to be transferred to Exsim upon the receipt of the amount of RM20 million, out of the total agreed purchase price of RM55 million. The variation was approved by the members.

Under the previously approved terms, the title to the land was to be transferred to Exsim only after the receipt of the full sum of RM55 million. However, this situation is not desirable as it would mean that Calvary Church, as land owner, will be a party to every sale and purchase agreement that will be signed in respect of the apartments sold. This, in turn, will result in severe tax implications as highlighted in our previous article on this issue.

(Read Calvary Enters JV with Property Developer dated 22 October 2011.)

One of CT’s readers had sent the article to all the deacons and pastors of Calvary Church, and having taken note of the concerns raised by CT, the Deacons have now come up with the above variation in the terms.

Whether this new revised Agreement will enable the church to avoid Income Tax on the Church’s share of profits from the Development, is too early to tell. Such a risk remains, so does the questions of ethics. Jesus did say that we ought to “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar” when He was asked if one should pay taxes.

Aside from the issue of tax, the new revised terms, raises a new risk. Previously, the title was to be transferred to Exsim only after the full sum of RM55 million is received. If the Development project is successful, Exsim will have to pay the Church in full in order to secure the title to the land and to enable them to sub-divide and transfer the strata titles to the apartment purchasers.

Now, if the title is transferred to Exsim after they pay only RM20 million, Exsim is no longer under any pressure to pay up the balance RM35 million.

Exsim may have promised to pay the RM35 million in staggered payments over the next 4 years and this may be clearly stated in the agreement but the fact is the church has no collateral or further control over the land. Exsim can very well stretch out the payment over the next 10 years or ask for a discount. In the worse case, the matter may end up in the civil courts for years.

Two Directors of Exsim have agreed to guarantee the RM35 million balance amount but however, their personal net worth is unknown and therefore, it is difficult to ascertain if their guarantee is worth the outstanding debt. Besides, enforcement of guarantees can only be commenced after ALL ATTEMPTS of recovery from Exsim have been executed.

This is the most obvious sign that Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) has become so desperate to get his CCC built that basic common sense and rationale no longer prevailed.

PG’s desperation bodes well for Exsim.

Why was Exsim selected to be so “blessed” by Calvary Church remains a big question mark?

Who is Exsim?

Actually, very little is known about this joint venture partner of Calvary Church. As reported in our earlier article, Exsim Group is a small, industrial and commercial lot developer, which recently undertook a residential condo development called the “The Treez” in Bukit Jalil.

From the Exsim website and “The Treez: brochure, the “the Treez” project was developed by Jalilmax Development Sdn Bhd,.

A search at the Companies Commission revealed that Jalilmax was incorporated on 8-8-2005. The directors of Jalilmax are Lim Aik Hoe, Lim Tau Fong and Lim Aik Kiat. Exsim Development Sdn Bhd is listed as the current owners of Jalilmax.

On the other hand, Exsim Development Sdn Bhd was incorporated only on 14-10-2009 with a paid-up capital of only RM100,000. Its directors are Chong Peck Ee, Loo Yoke Foong, Puang Wan Ching and Wong Siong Lin.

The directors of Exsim and Jalilmax are totally different people. Perhaps, the information
available from the Companies Commission has not been updated but the fact remains that Jalilmax was set up earlier and taken over by Exsim only after 14-10-2009.

With only a paid-up capital of RM100,000, Exsim does not even qualify to apply for a Developer’s Licence. The law requires a Developer to have a minimum paid-up capital of RM250,000 before they can be issued a licence to commence any property development.

It is quite likely that Exsim will incorporate a new subsidiary company to undertake the development of Calvary’s commercial land as is normally the case with property development groups where the holding company remains purely an investment holding company while the subsidiaries are the actual developers. This is to protect the holding company from legal liabilities should any development goes sour or gets entangled legally or financially.

The gross development value (GDV) of Exsim Group’s total projects are a mere fraction compared to the GDV of the big players like Sunway, Glomac, Sime Darby, MK Land, SP Setia, and Sunrise whose GDVs run into tens of billions of ringgit.

So is PG taking a “gamble” with a small company like Exsim? He certainly is!

With the 2013 Pentescostal World Conference in Kuala Lumpur looming near, PG is desperate. He had already announced to the world that he is hosting the conference in CCC and so, it will be a huge loss of face for him, if the CCC is not completed in time.

Blessed Christmas & Happy New Year

2011-12-12T17:19:00.002+08:00

Calvary Enters JV with Property Developer

2011-10-22T09:28:00.007+08:00

Calvary enters JV with property developer

After banks reject loans to CCC

At the recent EGM of Calvary Church held on 23 September 2011, the Board of Deacons announced that all their recent loan applications to various Banks to finance the construction of the Calvary Convention Centre (CCC) have been rejected.

Previously, the Church had only managed to secure a RM35 million loan from Alliance Bank and a RM8 million loan from Public Bank. However, the Church is still short of at least RM75 million to complete the project.

The wasteful RM300 million project (Phase 1 and 2) has been plagued with problems after problems since commencement of works. Despite the recent fanfare of the cornerstone-laying ceremony at the site, the ability of the Church to complete the CCC remains in doubt.

Having failed to secure additional Bank borrowings, the Church is now embarking into a Joint Venture with a small Property Developer to develop the 1.75 acre commercial land adjoining the CCC site to build Serviced Apartments. The Developer, Exsim Development is a relatively new industrial park Developer with 2 on-going industrial developments in Bukit Rimau and Kota Damansara. Recently, they ventured into their first condo development at Bukit Jalil called the Treez.

The Joint Venture between the Church and Exsim has been disguised as a sale of land at a highly inflated price of RM55 million with payments staggered until 2015. Deacon Zoo Gin admitted during the presentation that the market value of the land is only about RM17 million. From this, it can be inferred that the difference of RM38 million represents the profit share from the proposed apartment development.

The obvious reason to camouflage the Joint Venture as a sale is for tax planning purposes (defined as the legal form of tax evasion). The other reason is aptly said by Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) at the EGM that “we do not want to be seen as going into business”.

Zoo Gin claimed that the Board had consulted a Tax Agent on the tax implications of the sale and the Tax Agent has opined that the sale transaction, although at inflated price, falls under the Real Property Gains Tax and therefore, the gain is not taxable as the Church has held the land for more than 5 years. (If the sale proceeds is recorded as profit share from property development, the entire RM55 million less the original cost of land will be taxable.)

Zoo Gin clarified that the land title will be transferred to Exsim only upon full payment of the RM55 million. Should this be the case, then when the Apartments are sold, the individual Sale and Purchase Agreements will surely state Calvary Church as the Landowner and Exsim as the Developer.

In such a scenario, how then, is the Church going to convince the Tax Department that this arrangement is not a Partnership or Joint Venture and should not be taxable? PG and his Deacons may fool the members but can they fool the Tax Department?

This commonly used strategy of hiding profits from property development in marked-up Sale and Purchase Agreements can easily be challenged by the Tax Department. The Church will run the risk of public exposure and a fine but the worst consequence is the embarrassment it will bring to the Christian community.

The Calvary-Exsim Deal

Exsim will buy the land for RM55 million on a staggered payment basis as follows:-

Upon signing the Sale and Purchase agreement, Exsim pays the church 2% of Purchase Price equal to RM1.1 million. This earnest money is refundable should the Development Order (DO) for Apartment Development not be approved by DBKL. In such an event, Zoo Gin said that with the refund to Exsim, the status would be back to square one.

Exsim will pay the church RM13.0 million in February 2012 from a Bank loan which Exsim will obtain by charging the commercial land to the Bank. Exsim will bear the interest cost on this RM13.0 million loan. This will be a Third Party Charge as the land title would still be in the Church’s name. By this time, the Church would have received RM14.1 million but the land would have been charged to a Bank. Deacon Zoo Gin told the members that this is OK because the land was bought for RM7.0 million and the present value is RM17.0 million.

Exsim will pay the Church RM2.0 million a month from July to December 2012 totalling RM12.0 million and the balance of RM28.9 in quarterly instalments from March 2013 to December 2015.

In addition to the RM55.0 million, Exsim will make a donation of RM1.5 million to the CCC building fund. This donation will be paid in 2013.

The reason why Exsim was chosen

Zoo Gin informed the members that they had 3 proposals from 3 parties namely Seal Group Bhd, E & J (the contractor doing the reinforced concrete work for CCC) and Exsim. Seal Group Berhad did not turn up for the interview because they could not meet the Church’s requirements while E & J is merely a Contractor and not a Developer. Zoo Gin claimed that no other Developer was interested although invited. Therefore, Exsim was the only option.

Zoo Jin said that they have checked Exsim’s financials and found their financial strength to be “sufficient and acceptable”. A member asked him to elaborate with figures. He declined saying that it is not appropriate to disclose at the public meeting. Either he had something to hide or he was simply ignorant of the fact that private limited companies’ financials, shareholders and directors’ details are in the public domain and can be easily obtained from the Companies Commission.

Who is going to bear the risk should this JV deal not work?

Exsim has a very good deal. They only pay a refundable deposit of RM1.1 million for the option to develop the land with absolutely no risk. Even if they take up a loan in their own name to pay the Church the second payment of RM13 million, they are not at risk as the collateral is the Church land. The risk is on the Church. In the event of a default in loan repayment by Exsim, the Church will have to come out with the money to repay the bank or stand to lose the land.

Even if the DO is obtained, there is no certainty that the Apartment Development will sell. In order for Exsim to pay the Church RM55 million and still make a development profit, Exsim will have to build about 400 apartments and sell them for at least RM750,000 each to generate a gross development value of RM300 million, based on an average development profit of 30%. That is certainly a tall order for that locality and during a time of anticipated severe economic downturn by the time the apartment project is launched. If Exsim does not make profit, then the Church may not receive the full sum of RM55 million.

With such risks and the uncertainty of getting the full payment of RM55 million, why then is PG and his Deacons pushing for this transaction?

Rumours of a side deal are aplenty especially since it is an open secret that all, if not most, of the final negotiations with contractors and suppliers and probably in this case, Exsim as well, are done by PG and his son alone. That aside, without doubt, it is definitely a case of pure desperation that PG and his Deacons are willing to take this risk. The clock is ticking fast and money is just not coming in as PG had hoped.

On the EGM, it was good to note that there are new faces who are beginning to ask questions but unfortunately these voices are still few in numbers. Without saying, of course, the supporters of PG at the EGM, shouted praises to God and voted yes to the sale.

Clip #1 : Listen to the 3 Options presented by Zoo Gin.

Clip 2 : Listen to the terms of the JV

Has TOTT Worked?

2011-09-19T13:59:00.071+08:00

Many members and ex-members of Calvary Church, KL have been asking this question :-
“Has TOTT (Turn Off The Tap) worked?”.
The answer is a resounding “Yes”.

CT has tabulated the figures below from the Annual Reports of the Church from 2007 to 2010. The total income has dropped since 2007 with the highest drop registered in 2010 of 19% from the previous year. With the expenditure remaining high, the surplus has also dropped since 2007 with the highest drop recorded in 2010 of 30% from the previous year. Similarly, the Faith Promise has also suffered the same fall in income since 2007.

This is clear evidence that when Church members are unhappy, they will “speak out” with their wallets. This should also serve as a warning to all the pastors out there that they ought to conduct themselves and their Church affairs with integrity, transparency and accountability lest they suffer the same consequences as Calvary Church.

TOTT has been giving Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) nightmares and scrambling for Bank loans, which he had hoped, to avoid. Despite his constant dose of prosperity gospel, continuous reminders to the members to bring their Tithes and Offerings to the storehouse (Church) and the oft-repeated remark that they should not eat in McDonalds and pay in KFC, the giving by members continue to dip.

The original plan was to borrow only RM35 million to help fund the construction of the Calvary Convention Centre (CCC), however later, the loan amount became RM43 million instead.

Now, with the cost of CCC escalating to RM200 million for just Phase 1 alone and the drop in Church Income , the Church has to borrow an additional RM75 million, making a total eventual borrowing of a massive RM118 million.

The total estimated cost of the CCC is now at RM300 million, an increase of RM150 million from the original approved budget of RM150 million in 2005.

TO RECAP : Click on the links below to read the following previous articles on the CCC :-

Article # 1 : CCC : The Alarming Facts posted on June 20, 2011

Article #2 : CCC: Calvary Convention Catastrophe? posted on June 21, 2011

Article # 3 : CCC Cost Continues to SOAR posted on June 2, 2011

The latest question on everyone’s lips is:-
“Will PG be able to complete CCC?”
The simple answer is “Yes”.

So long as the Church is able to give sufficient collateral to the Banks, the Banks will lend the necessary funds to the Church. Well, the Church does have sufficient landed properties accumulated over the last 50 years to secure the Bank loans.

However, the more important question to be asked should be:-
“If the CCC is completed with the Bank loans, will the Church be able to repay the loans?”
The obvious answer is “No”.

Based on current interest rate of say, 8% for such Commercial loans, the Interest Payable on a loan of RM118 million amounts to RM786,000 per month while the Principal Installment payable over a 10-year repayment tenure amounts to RM983,000.

The total monthly payment of RM1.769 million is way beyond the means of the Church, considering that their surplus per month for 2010 is only RM508,000.

If the loan is stretched to 15 years, the total interest and principal repayment will still be a massive RM1.44 million per month.

This is even before taking into account the cost of maintaining the CCC which is not likely to be cheap.

Based on the present congregation size and income, Calvary Church is surely headed for financial catastrophe. Calvary Church may lose all the properties charged to the Banks and the CCC itself. If this happens, Calvary Church may even go into bankruptcy.

That was what happened to the Crystal Cathedral mega church in USA when it could not service their US$36 million mortgage.

Click on Title below to read the article from Berita Calvary
US Church files for Bankrupcy

Coming back to our present topic, It is always easy to borrow money but the repayment is seldom as easy. With a world-wide recession looming ahead, times will get tougher. Members’ ability to maintain their giving will, invariably, be affected.

PG may have planned to sell off some or all of the Church properties to reduce the Bank borrowing but with the anticipated slowdown in the property sector, the properties will not likely fetch as much value as he had estimated.

This is actually the time to exercise wisdom and refrain from excessive spending and borrowing. The Bible warns against getting into financial slavery and urges the believer to always prepare for bad times. And bad times will come, that’s for sure.

Here's another article posted in Berita Calvary which is worth taking note of : Borrow to Build

Amendment to Church Constitution

2011-07-18T00:53:00.011+08:00

At the recent AGM of Calvary Church (CC), Deacon David Peter presented a motion to amend the Church Constitution to include “a new dispute resolution” clause.

The proposed clause to be included in the Constitution will be known as Rule XVI and basically sets out the procedures on resolving disputes in the Church. The new rule will “make it mandatory for any unhappy member to abide by the stated procedures, instead of subjecting the Church to a very public court process.”

Although David Peter proudly proclaimed at the AGM that the CC Constitution is the “most advanced Constitution among all the AOG churches in Malaysia”, nevertheless, he admits in the preamble in the motion that the Constitution currently does not have a satisfactory dispute resolution provision. So much for his proclamation of the church having the most advanced Constitution!

Or perhaps what he meant was that the CC Constitution is the most advanced in terms of concentrating total autocratic power in the Senior Pastor whilst paying lip-service to being a congregational church?

Or maybe, the most advanced in making it impossible for members to initiate any change to improve transparency and accountability in the church and by the church leadership?

It is certainly the most advanced in ensuring that the Senior Pastor cannot be removed by any means and the most advanced in denying the fundamentals rights of members to voice their opinions or to question the leadership.

Click on the attachments at the end of the Article to read David’s letter and the motion.

However, by presenting the amendment to the Constitution, indirectly Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) and the Board of Deacons are actually acknowledging that the TTG (Truth, Transparency and Governance) Group’s process in their attempt to resolve the ongoing church crisis was correct and scriptural.

The entire process of negotiation, mediation and arbitration were proposed and attempted by the TTG on many occasions but all efforts failed due to the recalcitrance and defiance of PG.

The proposed dispute resolution process and the TTG’s various attempts to resolve the conflict are set out below:-

Proposed CC Conflict Resolution Process	TTG’s Efforts to Resolve Conflict (6 Separate Attempts at different times identified as 1 to 6 below. These attempts are numbered in chronological order of time)
Negotiation: Parties in conflict to write to each other and meet up to try to resolve the issue in conflict.	1. Members of the TTG individually and/or collectively wrote numerous letters and petitions to the Board of Deacons to review a number of issues in contention including the extended ministries and the severely-flawed constitution. They received either no replies or downright meaningless response to their letters and petitions. A number of the TTG members did individually and corporately meet up with the Deacons and Pastors at various times but nothing was accomplished. All the TTG’s negotiation efforts were simply disregarded and ignored by PG and the Board.
	5. After failure of Steps 3 and 4 by NECF, PG’s lawyer, KK Wong, also tried for out-of-court settlement. PG’s lawyer requested the Plaintiffs (7 TTG members) to submit a proposal for an out of court settlement to PG and the Deacons. The Plaintiffs complied. After sitting on the Plaintiffs’s proposal for almost two months, they rejected the proposal without any willingness to negotiate at all. PG’s slap in the face for KK Wong’s effort probably was the reason why the lawyer withdrew from representing PG and the deacons.
Mediation: If parties fail to resolve the issue through negotiation, then either party can initiate mediation. Mediator will be appointed by either the General Superintendent or Assistant General Superintendent of the AOG Malaysia.	2. TTG members agreed to the mediation attempt by a prominent ex-Calvarite and the AOG General Superintendent as co-chairmen. Two days before the pre-agreed scheduled meeting, PG chickened out and informed the co-chairmen that the date was “not convenient”. The prominent ex-Calvarite gave up in disappointment especially since he had purposely rushed back from an overseas event for the meeting. (This ex-Calvarite who was an ordinary member was then subsequently demoted to an associate member by PG. He has now left CC and moved to another church) To Read CT post click “PG Chickens Out”
	3. NECF picked up from step 2 and tried to restart the mediation process (after waiting many months in vain for AOG to step in). The Plaintiffs agreed and supported NECF’s effort. PG did not respond to NECF’s attempts and the mediation failed.
	6. Plaintiffs made one last attempt at out-of-court settlement and initiated a “court-assisted mediation” with a proposal to drop the entire Originating Summons with only one request which is that the Constitution be reviewed by an independent committee made up of the two sets of lawyers representing the Plaintiffs and PG PG and the Board of Deacons, who had agreed to this court-assisted mediation initiative by the Plaintiffs, however, rejected this one simple request and preferred the matter to be tried in court. To Read CT post click “PG Chickens Out Again”
Arbitration: If mediation fails then either party can initiate arbitration. Each party to appoint an arbitrator. The two appointed arbitrators will then appoint a third arbitrator. If the two arbitrators cannot agree on the third arbitrator, then the GS or AGS of AOG shall appoint the third arbitrator. Decision of arbitrators final and binding.	4. After NECF’s mediation attempts (step 3) failed, Plaintiffs agreed that NECF initiate Christian arbitration. Plaintiffs offered to withdraw the Originating Summons if the issues can be placed before an arbitration panel of Christian senior lawyers and/or ex-judges nominated by NECF acceptable to both parties. PG informed NECF that he was not agreeable to mediation or Christian arbitration. NECF gave up. To Read CT post click “PG says No to Christian Arbitration”

After more than 2 years, the Constitution Review Committee has only managed to come out with this one proposed change in the Constitution. And this proposed change is not even addressing the core issues of the total lack of accountability and transparency and the abuse of power by PG and his Deacons, which were the primary causes of the crisis in Calvary Church.

The joke of it is that the proposed procedures in dispute settlement as highlighted above is something PG and his deacons do not subscribe to, anyway.

The purpose appears to be more of an attempt to muzzle the unhappy members and disallow them to refer Church disputes to external parties rather than a genuine objective of wanting to resolve Church issues amicably.

Anyhow, the members at the AGM approved the adoption of the amendment to the Constitution and it is understood that the Church has submitted the same to the AOG Malaysia for their endorsement.

It should be highlighted here that the approval and adoption of this Proposed Amendment to the Constitution may be invalidated, if challenged in Court due to the breach of the Rules and Procedures set out in the Constitution governing such motions. The breaches are:-

1. Rule IX (6) (c) requires that such motion must bear the full name and address of the proposer and seconder and duly signed by them.

If you look at the letter below from David Peter and the motion, there are no details and no signatures of the Proposer and Seconder. David Peter submitted the motion to the Board of Deacons but he did not specify if he was the Proposer or if he was merely submitting a motion he has received from someone else.

2. Rule IX (6) (d) requires that the Secretary of the Board of Deacons distribute the motion to all members at least 14 days before the AGM.

This was not done. A copy of the motion was slotted into the Annual Report, which was not mailed to the members but was required to be personally collected by the members prior to the AGM. Since not all members collected their Annual Report, many attended the AGM with no knowledge of the proposed motion. The onus is on the Secretary to prove the distribution of the motion to all members at least 14 days before the AGM.

The Proposed Amendment is also not well thought out. It does not spell out what the aggrieved member can do if the Church, Pastor or leader or the AOG General Superintendent or Assistant General Superintendent refuse to cooperate and abide by the rules, that is, if they refuse to negotiate, refuse to mediate or refuse to join the arbitration. It is also not stated what happens if they abide by the procedures but refuses to abide by the decision of the arbitrators.

It is surprising that David Peter, as a lawyer is unable to adequately advise his fellow Deacons on the above rules and draft a better crafted Amendment.

As the Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, he should make it a priority and a matter of urgency to look into the areas of check and balances that any good Constitution must have.

He should look into provisions that will safeguard the interests of the members and prevent the unhealthy situation of a Senior Pastor having absolute power and control.

He should study some of the other Churches’ Constitutions where the spirit of love, justice and respect for the members are embodied, where the need for accountability and transparency is recognized and accepted.

There is no hope for Calvary Church if things do not change. Times have changed, people have changed. The cry for greater transparency, accountability and good governance is getting louder by the day. This is evident in our country and everywhere else. It is indeed “Bersih” time for Calvary Church. If the Board of Deacons do not start the clean-up in God’s House now, God Himself will do it !!

To read click on the images to enlarge

David's letter

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

PG turns nasty as usual at AGM

2011-07-04T22:42:00.008+08:00

Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) had looked forward to a quiet AGM last Monday, 27 June 2011 on the anticipation that none of the 7 Plaintiffs/Concerned Members will show up at the meeting. He almost had his wish come true until Sister Liza appeared at the AGM.

The 7 concerned members were earlier informed by other members that their names were not on the membership rolls put up on the church notice board. None of 7 also received the usual letter from the church to collect the Annual report and that further confirmed the belief that they had been removed as members. In the late afternoon of the AGM day, another member, who happened to drop by the church, alerted one of the 7 concerned members that all their names have re-appeared on the membership rolls. Hence, the attendance of Sister Liza at the eleventh hour.

1. The AGM proceedings

PG started the meeting with his own house rules. This is a clear deviation from the past where he had always quoted Robert’s Rules for the conduct of the meeting. Robert’s Rules in reality, allows much freedom in expression of opinions, questions and comments during debates on resolutions. However, despite proclaiming to use Robert's Rules in previous AGMs and EGMs, PG has never followed the said rules to the book. Members' rights, especially to speak, are often denied.

He then went on to share his message. He admonished the members to live by faith and walk in the ways of the Lord. He warned them not try to “gain the whole world and lose your soul”. It was ironical, listening to this message. PG needs to embrace the truth of this message much more than the members he was preaching to. It was a case of PG telling the members that there’s a speck in their eyes when there’s log in his (PG) own eye.

The items on the agenda including the appointment of Deacons and Auditors were quickly dealt with, with hardly any questions from the members.

2. The drop in income

Deacon Edward presented the Financial Report and admitted that total income from offerings, tithes and faith promise has been declining since 2008. He alluded this to the challenges and struggles the church has been facing in recent years, avoiding the mention of the church crisis, which is the real cause for the decline in income.

3. The drop in attendance

Deacon Ngeow presented on the church attendance and informed the meeting that the attendance for all the Sunday services have dropped by 13% from 2009 to 2,278 as at end 2010. After discounting the toddlers and babies and taking into account the double counting of the pastoral and church staff and helpers who attends all 3 services, the actual number should be just above 2,000.

It is, therefore, an established fact now that Calvary is no longer the second largest church in Malaysia. FGA remains the largest. SIB, DUMC and possibly Glad Tidings have overtaken Calvary in terms of numbers. Click on the audio clip below to listen:-

4. The Special Resolution

Deacon David Peters presented a special Resolution on the provision for dispute settlement which will be an addition to the Church Constitution. The proposed provision sets out the procedures to resolve conflicts and disputes between the church and the members.

The proposed steps in dispute resolution include negotiations, mediation and arbitration which is exactly ALL the steps the TTG brothers and sisters have undertaken in the last 3 years in their efforts to resolve the crisis in Calvary Church.

David Peters turned comedian where he stated proudly that the Calvary Church Constitution is the most advanced constitution among all the AOG churches in Malaysia!

It is sad indeed that this brother, although a lawyer by profession, does not see that the Calvary Church Constitution is actually the most flawed Constitution among the AOG churches in Malaysia. Click on the audio clip below to listen:-

(Full details of the Resolution will be posted in the next article)

5. The mis-treatment of Sister Liza

After the presentation by David Peters, Sister Liza went forward to express her views on the Resolution. She wanted to explain that the Plaintiffs had, as a matter of fact, attempted and exhausted all avenues of negotiation, mediation and arbitration in trying to resolve the conflict in the church. However, before she could finish speaking, she was abruptly stopped by PG. When she persisted to speak, PG quickly instructed that her microphone be switched off. She was then asked to leave the meeting but she stood her ground and stayed on.

Later, she attempted to voice her objection that the special Resolution was passed without PG making a count of the number of votes in support of the Resolution. This was because such a Resolution which pertains to the Constitution, requires a two-thirds majority before it can be adopted.

PG did not allow her to speak and instead instructed his “bouncers” namely Pastor Susan Tan, Pastor Richard and 2 other leaders to escort her out of the meeting. Sister Liza again refused to leave and was finally left alone.

Listen to PG’s high-handed treatment of Sister Liza in the audio clip below:-

CCC: Calvary Convention Catastrophe?

2011-06-21T14:23:00.006+08:00

(EGM Update Part II)

We have tabulated the figures presented to the members at the EGM into the tables below for easy understanding:-

CCC PROJECT COST as reported

	RM’ Millions
Prior to Phase 1A		38.6	Foundation, sub-structure, Nam Fatt’s claims
Phase 1A
- incurred and paid	11.7
- committed and contracted	63.6
Total Phase 1A		73.5	After anticipated savings of 1.8m

Consultants Fees		5.8

Phase 1B
-Preliminary	2.2
-Architectural	11.72
-ID	12.0
-M&E	38.43
-Other Ancillaries	17.7
Total for Phase 1B		82.1

Total for Phase 1A & 1B		200.0

Our Estimated Eventual CCC Project Cost

	RM' mil
Land Cost (plus incidentals):	36.0
Phase 1A & 1B	200.0
Phase 2 (estimate)	50.0
Capitalized Interest during construction (estimate)	15.0

Total Estimated CCC Cost	301	excluding loan interest during the 10-year repayment period

If and when the CCC is fully completed, it would be at a whooping cost of RM301 million.

RM301 million for a 5,000-seating church works out to RM60,200 per seat. All the big churches in the Klang Valley incurred between RM8,000 to RM12,000 per seat. A reasonable cost per seat is RM10,000.

A good example is The Blessed Church in Kuching which is building a 5,000-seating church with a 1,000-seating chapel at a total cost of RM50 million only. Although the land cost is cheaper in Kuching, the construction cost is higher there.

On average, one can easily build a church that sits 200 to 400 persons for RM2 million. Based on this amount, with RM301 million, we can build 150 churches, which would translate to having a total of 58,000 seats!

Spending RM200-300 million for a church of 5,000-seating capacity is a sheer waste of the Lord’s money. This is a classic example of very bad stewardship and the egoistic ambition of a man.

FORECAST FUNDING POSITION as reported

	RM’ Million
Total Building Cost		200.0	Partially completed building only
Less: paid up to end 2010		43.3
Balance Funding required		156.7

Funds Available:
At end 2010 Fixed Deposits	26.5
Projected surpluses 2011/12	12.2		Prior to completion of CCC
Secured Bank Loans	43.0		Alliance 35m and Public 8m
		81.7
Balance to be raised		75.0	Additional bank loan being sought

Although the Deacon expressed confidence in securing an additional bank loan of RM75 million, it is easier said than done. Assuming the bank grants the loan at a margin of finance of 70%, the Church will have to provide collateral of about RM107 million to the Bank.

Since the CCC land and the Damansara Perdana (DP) Church building have already been charged to the Banks for the RM43 million loans, the remaining properties are insufficient to obtain an additional RM75 million loan.

REPAYMENT OF LOANS as reported

	RM’ Million
Existing Bank Loans	43.0
Additional Bank Loan	75.0
Total bank Loans	118.0

Repayment:
Share of Condo Project Profit (JV)	(50.0)
Disposal of 5 bungalows in DH	(35.0)

Balance of Loan not repaid	33.0
Members Advances outstanding	6.0
Estimated Loan interest for 10 years	30.0
Balance to be repaid over 10 years	69.0

The Loan repayment of RM69m over 10 years works out to RM6.9m per year or RM575,000 per month. The church claims that the amount is within their ability to repay as this is the average monthly income surplus in the first quarter of 2011.

The assumptions made by the Church leadership are:-

1) There will be a projected income surplus of RM12.2 million over 2011-2012.

2) The additional bank loan of RM75 million can be secured

3) The Condo project JV will generate a net profit of RM50 million

4) The 5 DH bungalows can be sold for RM35 million

5) The church will continue to generate an income surplus of RM575,000 per month for the next 10 years to repay the loans.

Here are some reasons why we have doubts about the Church leaderships’ assumptions and why the assumptions are misleading and not achievable.

1) The Church’s Income Surplus has been dropping over the last 2-3 years and with TOTT (turn off the tap) stance taken by many members, the surplus can be expected to drop further. Therefore, the projected income surplus of RM12.2 million over 2011-2012 may not be realized. With even more members leaving after the recent conclusion of the court proceedings, we can expect the offering and tithes to dip even further this year and going forward. The continued lack of transparency and accountability will put off some of the remaining congregation from giving.

2) As stated earlier, it will not be easy to secure the additional loan of RM75 million. If they cannot get the additional RM 75million loan, they will not be able to even start Phase 1B. What would have been accomplished then would just be a shell and core of the main building. It may be protected from the elements and deterioration but it will be an unusable building.

3) It was not explained whether the projected RM50 million profit from the JV is an ‘after tax” or “before tax’ profit. Obviously, any income from non-church activities is taxable. If the projected profit is “before tax”, then the net profit will be less than RM50 million.

However, the more pertinent question is how is the RM50 million profit from the JV achievable?

If Calvary Church is entitled to RM50 million profit, then obviously, the JV partner will also get at least RM50 million profit from the development. To achieve a RM100 million profit from a residential development, the gross development value must be at least RM300 million to be viable.

The small land size of 1.75 acres at a road corner, with its triangular shape, does not provide much flexibility in layout planning. At most, it can accommodate a single tower block of serviced apartments. The configuration could range from a high density 400-unit condo tower to a low density 150-unit tower with prices ranging from RM750,000 to RM2 million each.

The question is would anyone buy such expensive apartments in a middle-class neighbourhood and which fronts onto a congested, busy and noisy highway with poor road access.

4) Targeting to sell the 5 DH bungalows for RM35 million or RM7 million per lot is certainly a tall order. All the 5 bungalows have been converted for church use and are no longer suitable for residential dwelling. Therefore, the buyers will only be paying for the land.

At an average of 6,000 sq ft per lot and at say, a discounted price of RM300 per sq ft (assuming buyers are willing to fork out such a price to live next door to a church), the 5 lots will only generate a total proceeds of RM9 million, which is way below the projected amount of RM35 million.

5) Based on the current scenario and the dwindling membership, it does not appear that the monthly Income surplus of RM575,000 as anticipated by the church is maintainable. Therefore, the church’s ability to repay the loan is in question.

6) The church has also not factored in the maintenance cost of the CCC. Time and again, the leaders have skirted this major issue. A simple arithmetic will reveal the scary figures. If the CCC costs RM300 million and using basic accounting principles of depreciation of say, over 50 years, it would require RM6 million a year just to maintain the building in its fair condition.

7) Coupled with the running costs of the massive facility like electricity for the lighting and air-conditioning, this will wipe out all the income surplus, the church is expecting. That means the church will never be able to pay off the bank loans which in turn, means that it is a matter of time, the banks will foreclose and auction off the CCC and possibly whatever properties that are also charged to the banks. CCC can destroy Calvary Church.

The possibility of a financial catastrophe for Calvary Church is real. Borrowing such large amounts to build the CCC monument is akin to subjecting the church to the bondage of financial slavery. Borrowing and pledging all the assets built up by the members over the last 50 years makes the church a slave to the banks.

Rev. Susan Tang in her latest book “Prayers in the End Times” wrote:

“Israel was not related to God, they were related only to their religious system and this provoked God to anger. God felt anger each time they mentioned, not His name, but their temple – that beautiful, gold –laden, majestic and spectacular building. What is this grand artifact without the presence of God? Did you know that God allowed this beautiful building to be crushed, defiled and destroyed?

‘Do not trust in these lying words; saying, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these.’ (Jeremiah 7:4)”

This is the attitude of the pastors of Calvary Church. PG’s wife actually told the leaders that after CCC is completed, all those who left will come back because it would be such a beautiful building. PG is also known to have such unscriptural thinking. He once told a young pastor, “Get the people in, the money will follow.” He has turned the house of God into a den of thieves.

If CCC is completed with bank borrowings, Calvary Church will continue to neglect the poor for another ten years. Rev. Susan Tang wrote, “God had no intention of taking the poor out of the land. He purposely left them for us to take care of them because He wanted to deal with our character of selfishness and greed….Modern-day Christianity today hardly does prayers nor remembers the poor on a consistent basis. We do concerts and rallies and conserve money to build monumental buildings. The concentration is on the rich, not the poor because the poor have no money to contribute to our church building and when they come, they give our beautiful multi-storey buildings a poor image. In order to relieve our conscience, we do remember to give them a little hamper, a ‘shoebox’ of goodies, some shoes and clothes at Christmas and then we forget about them until the next Christmas.”

Rev. Susan Tang continues,

God’s word is clear on this:

wealth acquired with a ‘closed heart’ towards the poor will bring an active curse (Amos 5:11).
that if we neglect our duty towards them His love cannot dwell in us for neglect of the poor is sin against God (1 John 3:17, James 2:5-9, 5:1-4).
where we will be in eternity depends on our attitudes towards them (Matthew 25:31-46)
taking care of them will secure for us blessings from above! We need not pray for blessings, they will come as we bless the poor. So much of our ‘bless me’ prayers is useless if we neglect the poor (Psalm 41)”

CCC : The Alarming Facts

2011-06-20T06:34:00.007+08:00

EGM Update Part I

The recent EGM of Calvary Church on 20 May 2011 was specifically convened to seek the members’ approval for the increase of RM50 million in the Calvary Convention Centre (CCC) project cost, thereby increasing the previously approved budget of RM150 million to RM200 million.

The EGM was attended by 230 voting members. The resolution was approved by the majority of the members present with 2 objections recorded. This was not unexpected, considering that a third of the voting members present were the church staff, pastors, deacons and their families. A notable number of members present neither voted for or against the Resolution.

The main presenters were the CCC Finance Committee chairman, Ding Lai Hong and the CCC Building Committee chairman, Deacon Ngeow Zoo Gin.

Bro Ding explained that the CCC project is now divided into 2 main phases:-

Phase 1 will see the completion of the main 5,000-seat auditorium, classrooms, library, visitors’ lounge, book shop, cafeteria and an open plaza. These facilities will be fully-fit out while the rest of the building will remain shell and core with only the basic electrical installation and certain infrastructure put in.

Phase 2 will be the completion of the rest of the building which is the fit-out, Interior Design (ID) and ancillary works of the remaining facilities namely the 3 languages chapels, multi-purpose hall, meeting rooms, nurseries, entire upper floors of the institutional block, dormitories and apartments. This phase is also referred to as the deferred portion. No timeline was given for this Phase 2.

Phase 1 is further sub-divided into Phase 1A and Phase 1B.

Phase 1A will comprise of the RC Structure, Roof and Steel Structure, Facade, Cladding and other ancillary works and will cost RM73.5 million.

Phase 1B will comprise of Preliminary work, Architectural, ID, M&E and other ancillary works and will cost RM82.1 million. Of this amount, a sum of RM7 million is set aside to complete the infrastructure and M&E works of the deferred portion under Phase 2. Phase 1B will take 15 months to complete and therefore, to meet the targeted date for practical completion of end 2012, Phase 1B work has to start in June/July 2011. Tender prices and firm quotes had been obtained for most of Phase 1B but is valid until end of June 2011

Upon completion of Phase 1A and 1B at end 2012, application for Certificate of Fitness can be submitted and the facilities under Phase 1 will be usable. The targeted timeline will enable Senior Pastor Guneratnam (PG) to host the Pentecostal World Conference in Aug 2013.

Prior to the commencement of Phase 1A, the church had already incurred a total of RM38.6 million for the foundation, sub-structure work and work done by Nam Fatt. This cost plus the cost of Phase 1A and Phase 1B add up to a sum of RM200 million, an increase of RM50 million from the previous approved budget of RM150 million.

The following sequence of events was presented by Bro Ding in his justification for the additional RM50 million costs:-

1. 28-10-05 EGM - Members approved a budget of RM150 million, of which RM100 million was for the building and RM50 million was for soft cost.

2. March 2006 EGM - CCC cost maintained at RM150 million.

3. Feb 2007 - Board awarded sub-structure work to Sunway Piling for RM12 million under Contract 1.

4. March 2007 AGM - Cost remained unchanged at RM150 million but it was mentioned that in view of tenders to be called later that year for the super structure, it was uncertain how the cost would have increased because of increases in material and labor costs.

5. Sept 2007 - Tender called and closed at end of 2008. Nam Fatt was successful as the lowest tender.

6. March 2008 - Contract 2 awarded to Nam Fatt. Total building cost had increased from RM100 million to RM146 million including the RM12 million under Contract 1. Therefore, together with the budget of RM50 million for soft cost, the total cost of CCC would be RM196 million. Board then proposed to do value engineering and deferment exercise to bring cost closer to the approved RM150 million.

7. June 2009 AGM - The church, with consultants and specialist contractors, managed to cap the building cost at RM150 million through further value engineering and deferment.

8. Nov 2009 - Nam Fatt was terminated.

9. 4 June 2010 - In CCC update, it was announced that a fresh tender exercise was carried out. Cost to complete CCC on a deferred basis has risen to RM188 million. But due to legal constraints, Board could not proceed with the award. Therefore, the church opted for Stage Method.

10. Oct 2010 AGM – The church proposed a budget of RM198.6 million based on Stage Method.

11. “Today (20 May 2011), we have confirmed quotations and tenders giving us a firm figure of RM200m to complete Stage 1 of the CCC,” he concluded.

Next Bro Ngeow then presented on the funding of the project.

He informed the meeting that as at the end of 2010, the church has already paid out a total of RM43.3 million towards the CCC building. Therefore, the balance which needs to be raised is RM156.7 million to complete the Phase 1A and 1B.

To finance balance cost of RM156.7 million:

Fixed Deposit as at end 2010 : RM26.5m

Projection of income surplus : RM12.2m for 2011/2012

Available loans : RM43.0m (Alliance Bank 35m, Public Bank 8m)

The shortfall after the above sources of funds, will be RM75 million.

1. The plan is to unlock the value in the 5 Damansara Heights (DH) bungalows. The valuation carried out this year on the said properties was RM35 million. However, this value can only be unlocked after CCC is completed.

2. There are also proposals from developers for joint venture (JV) on the small plot of commercial land next to the CCC on a profit-sharing basis. Calvary Church’s share of the profits is estimated to be RM50 million.

3. As unlocking the value of all the properties will take time, therefore, in the meantime, there is a need to raise a further loan of RM75 million. The finance committee is confident of raising the additional RM75 million loan.

4. The total loans will be RM118 million while the advances due to members is RM6 million, making a total debt of RM124 million. The estimated bank interest over 10 years is RM30 million, thereby making a grand total debt of RM154million.

This will be repaid from the sale of the bungalows (RM35 million) and profit from the joint venture (RM50 million), leaving a balance of RM69 million. The board is confident of paying off the balance RM69 million over 10 years at RM6.9 million per year. This translates to a repayment of RM575,000 per month.

Bro Ngeow expressed hope that the CCC will bring in more people and that there will be extra income from rental of the auditorium and carpark.

Next: CCC: EGM Update Part II

CCC Cost Continues to SOAR

2011-06-02T01:36:00.017+08:00

First, they told the members that the Calvary Convention Centre (CCC) will cost RM50 million to build, excluding land cost of RM35 million.

Then, a few months later, Ken Yeang, the freemason architect presented to the members his spaceship-looking design complete with cherubim-winged roofs that can be opened at the touch of a button, a 5,000-seat auditorium with sunken orchestra pit and revolving stage, fully-fitted air-conditioned classrooms, office space, chapels, recreation halls, gym, dining halls, luxurious lounges and a huge basement carpark. All these for only RM80 million, Mr Yeang said.

But PG (Prince Guneratnam) assured the members that he can slash the costs down to RM50 million. The members were elated with PG’s assurance. Some even joked that if Calvary Church missed the rapture when Jesus comes, the members can hop onto the spaceship CCC and fly after Jesus.

Then, a little while later, they said that Mr Ken Yeang made a mistake in his arithmetic and that it will cost RM150 million instead to build the CCC. The members cast suspicious looks at each other, threw caution to the wind and took it in stride. PG asked the members at that specially-convened EGM to stand and praise the Lord. The members stood up and PG calmly declared the motion carried!

Then, a little while later, they said that costs have escalated and the RM150 million can only get them the auditorium with a lower quality roof and with the cherubim wings clipped off and the rest of the facilities as promised earlier but un-useable as they will be just “shell and core” meaning just totally bare ugly concrete rooms which will require further millions of ringgit to complete and fit-out later. They called it value-engineering. To the lay-man, it’s common sense cost-cutting! The members (the smarter ones, at least) realized that they had been fooled but of course, they were reminded to “touch not God’s anointed”.

And then at the recent EGM on 21 May 2011, they told the remnant members and the die-hard PG supporters (the smarter ones have left or have been sacked, remember?) that the construction costs have escalated further. It would now cost RM200 million to have the auditorium with lower quality roof and with the cherubim wings still clipped off and the rest of the facilities as promised earlier, still “shell and core” but now they will come with some wiring and basic electrical installations.

The important thing is that the rooms and halls may now be useable and all they need is to splash some paint on the walls so that it won’t look so dull. All these just for RM200 million and it is now called Phase 1. Phase 2 will be the completion and fit-out of all the “shell and core” facilities and whatever left undone. That will, of course, cost some more tens of millions but that’s for another day and probably for another Senior Pastor to tackle.

Another Senior Pastor? You mean, PG won’t be hanging around for long? Aiyoyo…. you’re so blur! The members may be foolish but he is not!

As soon as PG has had his glory hosting the Pentecostal World Conference in CCC in August 2013, he will surely and most definitely pack up and sail into the sunset to fulfill his calling to be an evangelist. He has told the members before of his calling, remember? He’s called to be an evangelist, he’s not called to stick around to clean up the financial mess in Calvary Church. No, that’s Pastor Peter’s job!

Coming soon: The facts and figures presented at the recent EGM

Why the Plaintiffs did not requisition for an EGM

2011-05-30T11:57:00.051+08:00

This article was emailed to CT by one of the Plaintiffs.

Many have asked why the Plaintiffs did not exhaust all the avenues available to them in the Constitution before going to court. Why did they not requisition for an EGM?

The reason is that the provisions in the Constitution were engineered to make that almost impossible. There are provisions for members to requisition for an EGM but the requirements are there to make sure we cannot do it.

The Constitution in Rule IX.(1) provides that the quorum for any general meeting shall be “one-fourth of the total voting membership of the Church”.

However, this is modified by the next clause that says,

“If within half an hour from the time appointed for a General Meeting a quorum is not present at the said meeting, the Voting members so present shall by a two-thirds majority vote resolve that all Voting Members so present shall constitute a proper quorum for such a General Meeting, notwithstanding Rule IX(1) above…”

This means that, at the extreme, just one Voting Member present would be enough to form the quorum. After half an hour he can vote and have a unanimous decision that he is the quorum.

However, the above provision is not applicable if the General Meeting was requisitioned by the members. Let’s say that there are 800 voting members. To requisition for an EGM we would need to get at least 200 (one-fourth) Voting Members to sign.

After that the requisition would be handed to the Board. The Board then has 30 days to convene the meeting. If they failed to do so the requisitioning members can hold the meeting. However, the quorum for such a meeting that had been requisitioned by the members is now 400 (one-half) Voting Members.

Although the Plaintiffs were confident of getting the 200 signatures they were however not confident that at least 400 would turn up. PG and the Board with its propaganda machinery through the Life Groups could easily persuade the Voting Members not to be present for the Requisitioned EGM by the members. They could be intimidated not to be present with “your position could be at risk” talk.

Therefore, the requirements in the Constitution made it almost impossible for the Plaintiffs to successfully requisition for an EGM.

Previously, the average attendance for an AGM is 60% to 70% of the Voting Membership. However, at the recent EGM held on the 20 May 2011, the attendance was only slightly more than 200 Voting Members.

So, in view of the requirements imposed for requisitioning for an EGM, the Plaintiffs instead tried to have their Resolutions put before the members at the 2009 AGM. They just wanted the members to decide and be allowed to exercise their rights as Church Members to vote but PG and the Board refused to even allow the members to make their decision.

There is a "feel good" clause in Rule IX which says, “The full powers of administration of the Church are vested in a General Meeting of the church members.”

We now realise that that Clause is a lie. It was placed there to make the members feel good. Members at a General Meeting do not have full powers of administration. This is just a hanging statement, and there are no subsequent provisions to support this statement.

Instead, all subsequent provisions in the Constitution give full powers to the Board as seen in Rule XIV which states that Board is “…the sole authority for the interpretation of the Rules and By-Laws.”

This was the Clause that the Board used to throw out the Resolutions submitted by the Plaintiffs. The Board is given full authority to interpret the Constitution to their own advantage.

We are now in bondage to the Constitution that was most cleverly crafted by PG in 1985. At that time we all thought he could do no wrong. We all voted for the Amended Constitution without understanding its implications. Some actually did have private meetings with PG at that time to voice their concerns about the absolute powers given to the Board but yet voted for the 1985 Amended Constitution. We were blinded by our trust in PG as the Senior Pastor of Calvary Church.

If the Constitution is so badly flawed why not change it?

Ah! Yes, but only the Board can make changes to the Constitution, not the ordinary Voting Members because,

Rule XV(1) says, “…no resolution to amend the Rules and By-Laws shall be brought before the Church by the Board of Deacons unless it has the support of at least two-thirds of the Board of Deacons.”

So unless the Board initiates THE CHANGE, there can be no changes to the Constitution.
The Board would not initiate it unless PG approves of it.

The Constitution Review Committee had been in existence for more than two years, since the start of this CC Saga, yet nothing has happened until today. The only amendments made were those recommended by the Financial Task Force pertaining to the appointment of External Auditors and a Financial Controller for the Church.

Until today the Financial Controller has not been appointed. This shows that PG and the Board has just put it all up just as window dressing and lip service to pacify the members when things were getting hot at that time.

The Plaintiffs recognized that changing the Constitution is most important for things to improve in Calvary Church. In the recent court-assisted mediation the Plaintiffs proposed that the Church Board set up an Independent Committee comprising the two sets of lawyers “…to review and draft such amendments as would be appropriate for a congregational church with such checks and balances, structures and procedures as are necessary for good church governance”.

PG and the Board rejected it. They are not interested in good church governance. They are only interested in maintaining the structure that had protected their power base including the power to control more than RM100 million of assets belonging to the Church, rightly said as belonging to the Members of the Church.

No body gives up power willingly. It would require a popular uprising. But PG is smarter than most leaders. There can be no popular uprising in Calvary Church. He had removed the threat before it can happen. He got rid of all those whom he thought could be part of the uprising. He got rid of whole families. This action by PG was endorsed by the Board and the Associate Pastors.

When questioned how this could happen they just kept quiet, unable to give any reply. They are equally guilty of this crime against the members, the purging of members which is not unlike ethnic cleansing.

So we see now, the Calvary Church Constitution which was so cleverly and deceitfully crafted by PG in 1985 that today in 2011, when tested, we see the extend of its power that even the High Court cannot give us, the members of Calvary Church due justice.

However, today we recognise God’s hand in leading us, the members of Calvary Church, to expose this deceit embedded in the Calvary Church Constitution which was so cleverly hidden all these years.

If God is not with the Concerned Members, then how could a small group of members cause such a stir in a large Church Organization such as Calvary Church, Kuala Lumpur which is pastored by a world renowned man?

What was hidden from the Church Members is not hidden from God. God knows everything and He will expose all sins and wrong doings especially those done under the guise of His matchless Name.

What is the expose that we feel God has revealed and warned us about, through this Calvary Church Saga?

The Constitution of Calvary Church is so powerful that even the high court cannot give us due justice. The danger now is that domineering Pastors, Pastors of independent churches and AOG churches, Pastors that are not under the oversight of a denominational authority or those registered as a Berhad or a Society, will take the Calvary Church Constitution as their model.

These churches are not governed by any law or authority. They are an authority unto themselves. If you are attending such a church beware. No one can help you when there are financial mismanagement or abuse of power. The AOG General Council or the NECF cannot interfere or intervene. Now we found out not even the Courts of the land can. You are at the mercy of your Senior Pastor. What if they are no longer serving the Lord but themselves?

“An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; And my people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?” Jeremiah 5:30,31

********************************************************

Note from the administrator :

These are words of encouragement from a caring brother who have been constantly giving us encouragement to help us along in this journey. We are grateful that God has sent people like Bro. Vijay whom we do not know personally but through his words of encouragement here have become a familiar friend and brother to the TTG cause.

Bamboo Conspiracy said...

Spiritual Ploughing

"But Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).

I am with my elders in Dallas, Texas who are aware of the Calvary Church saga and the verdict of the court. The Word for those fighting the good course is Luke 9:62. The Lord has commissioned these not to look back but to pursue the righteous course in FAITH.

The Elders were not surprised with the verdict of the court! It was meant to be. It came from the throne of God. Although it may appear, those who fought the Good Fight “lost”, but in the Spiritual world, they have already won! It is those who have desecrated the house of God, i.e. the present leadership, the AOG and spiritually blind members who have lost.

I mention the AOG because the learned judge pointed out that among the remedies available, “the Plaintiffs should have requisitioned for a special EGM to petition for the intervention of the Assemblies of God of Malaysia to resolve the problems in Calvary Church.”

(However, we all know that the provisions in the Constitution are engineered to make this an almost impossible task.)

NEVERMIND. Yes, the court has given its verdict, but God has given His final verdict even before the Calvary Church saga materialized. Nevertheless, before the Lord executes His judgment, He wants us to come to the end of all hope so that when His vengeance is executed, the AOG, the present leaders and the spiritually blind members will know that it is GOD who delivered His people. God is jealous of His glory and will never allow another to rob Him of His glory!

How true the conclusion in the Blog: “The AOG General Council or the NECF cannot interfere or intervene. Now we found out not even the Courts of the land can. We are at the mercy of the Senior Pastor. What if they are no longer serving the Lord but themselves?”

Indeed we are at wit’s end. We no longer have the answer to the Calvary Church saga. BUT GOD DOES!

During the time of Jesus, ploughing was the most difficult and the heaviest work that anyone might contemplate. For one thing it is at a time of the year (winter) when things are most difficult. Yet, against everything the ploughmen have to force their way. In addition, ploughing is a lonely task and only a few have the emotional capability to do the job.

That is exactly what Calvary Today, TTG and other supporters of the righteous course such as the two lady lawyers (who acted pro bono) have done…….they have ploughed alone through the difficulties.

Have you ever pondered who is behind the events that have now become the Calvary Church saga? We may think it is satan, the rogue leaders, the BOD, the AOG or even members of the spiritually blind congregation. The truth is - it is not. The initiator is no one else BUT GOD!

God has determined according to the council of His will to use satan, the rogue leaders, the AOG and spiritually blind members as pawns to carry out His plan. For the Lord has purposed to ‘stir up the eagles nest’ and purge the present state of Christianity in Malaysia, including the AOG.

Anyone preaching that all is well with Christianity in Malaysia is not hearing from the Lord. They speak of peace when in reality there is no peace. Those who chose to remain silent with events at Calvary Church and gone about their own business without reaching out to the suffering members will realize that they have been excluded in the future purposes of God. They will not be His instruments of Glory for that He has purposed in Malaysia.

Have you ever wondered why does the farmer plough? The farmer ploughs to produce a harvest. But before he can sow the seeds, he must scourge the land.

Ploughing means the disturbing and breaking up, of settled conditions. When things and people have settled down, they do not like being disturbed, turned over, and broken open. Ploughing is the uncovering of what is hidden, and no one likes that – including those the Lord has commissioned such as the AOG to take care of His affairs.

Our greatest fear is that at this kairos moment, many who have fought the Good Fight are tempted to give up. We could say, 'No, it is too much' and our hearts can so easily be turned back by the consciousness of how much there is to be done. The temptation is ever present because of the vastness of the demand, its hopelessness and beyond us.

But Lord knows everything about our weariness in the way. The Lord Jesus knew something about that. "Jesus... being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well" (John 4:6). Our greater enemy is weariness.

Jesus as the chief of all the ploughmen of God accepted the difficult field and had commissioned His fellow-workers and said, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God". The heart must not go back. We must not contemplate giving up.

Vijay, Dallas, Texas

www.normangrubb.com

June 1, 2011 8:16 AM

SPECIAL NOTE :

This is an additional note from the Plaintiffs in response to the many offers of financial contribution from our readers to cover the legal cost incurred.

Thank you all for your offer to contribute towards the legal cost. With the empathy of the high court judge our legal cost to the defendants is only RM7,000 and not the RM100,000 requested. Our two lady lawyers have been on the case for almost three years and they did it pro bono, i.e., foc. The legal cost and disbursements have been covered by some core TTG members. We thank you once again for your willingness to be part of this journey for righteousness sake.

Our two lawyers did a fantastic job at the hearing. They served out of a sense of indignation and a passion for justice and righteousness to be restored to Calvary Church. You can bless and encourage them with a word of appreciation through a thank you note or an email message via CT email : calvarytoday@gmail.com

***************************************

Court dismisses Plaintiffs’ suit

2011-05-27T02:43:00.004+08:00

The High Court yesterday dismissed the Originating Summons brought by the 7 Plaintiffs against Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) and the Board of Deacons of Calvary Church.

In delivering his judgment, the learned judge remarked that whilst he empathized with the Plaintiffs over the impropriety in the affairs of Calvary Church and the questionable movement of church funds to PG’s personal ministry account, he nevertheless, has to dismiss the Originating Summons on the grounds that the Plaintiffs have not fully exhausted all the remedies provided in the Church Constitution. Until those remedies have been exhausted, it is pre-mature to bring the matter before the Court.

Among the remedies available, the learned judge pointed out that the Plaintiffs should have requisitioned for a special EGM to petition for the intervention of the Assemblies of God of Malaysia to resolve the problems in Calvary Church.

CT was told that PG’s lawyer requested for legal costs of RM100,000 but the Judge awarded costs of only RM7,000 to them.

PG’s lawyer, Tan Sri Cecil Abraham of Zul Rafique & Partners is a well-known and well-connected figure in the legal fraternity and his services does not come cheap. He also used to be very active in the freemason movement in his earlier years and was involved as legal counsel in a much publicized legal dispute between fellow freemasons many years ago.

Although the Plaintiffs’ suit against PG and the Deacons are personal, it is almost certain that PG will dip his hands into the Church coffers to pay the expected high legal fees charged by Tan Sri Cecil. PG had already hinted that in one of the Friday prayer meetings sometime ago.

CT was informed by one of the Plaintiffs that they will not be filing an appeal against the dismissal of their suit.

Coming soon : CCC cost escalates further

Court Judgment to be delivered on 26 May

2011-05-18T03:16:00.007+08:00

The High Court, which was scheduled to deliver its decision today on the Originating Summons filed by the concerned members against PG and 6 Deacons, has postponed the delivery of its judgment to 26 May 2011.

PG Continues to Hoodwink the World

2011-05-06T07:09:00.005+08:00

This year’s World Assemblies of God Fellowship Conference was held in Chennai, India, recently. Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) was one of the conference speakers. Before preaching his sermon at one of the services, he gave the audience a video presentation of the Calvary Convention Centre (CCC) and shared his vision of the CCC with the crowd. Some of the comments he made were as follows:

1. The favour of God has been on Calvary Church…..I’m experiencing growth.

(Comment: Presumably he meant the church is experiencing growth but everyone in Calvary Church and many in the Christian community in Malaysia know that Calvary is not growing. The attendance has dropped much from the peak of more than 3,000 to less than 2,000 now since the church crisis started. Their Ampang satellite church has closed down since early this year and attendance at the main Damansara church continue to drop, so much so that they have resorted to closing the rear portion of the sanctuary and spacing out the pews.)

2. I’m seeing God do some very marvelous things in Malaysia.

(Comment: This is admittedly true. Other than Calvary Church, God is certainly moving among the churches in this land. Many are experiencing tremendous growth both numerically and spiritually.)

3. God has confirmed through prophesies and as visitors come, they have confirmed those prophesies.

(Comment: He failed to mention that these prophesies regarding Calvary were given some 15 to 20 years ago and they were in respect of another site in Sri Hartamas which never materialized. PG’s vision and those prophesies came to naught.)

4. They (presumably he meant invited preachers) have described Calvary Church as a fountain-head church.

(Comment: It was Rev Dick Eastman who said this about Calvary about 20 years ago. Back then, Calvary indeed was a growing church. Back then, PG was still a reasonably good shepherd who had not succumbed to pride, ambition and living a lavish lifestyle. Back then, he wasn’t a Datuk or a Tan Sri. Today, he is not the same person and today he cannot continue to declare or imply that Calvary is a fountain-head church as it is untruthful.)

5. To look for a piece of land between 4 to 5 acres in the city was almost an impossible task but when we put our faith and trust in God, God is able to do the impossible.

(Comment: PG made the above statements to imply that the hand of God was on the search for the CCC land. In so doing, he gave the impression that the CCC land is in the city of Kuala Lumpur, which is obviously untrue. The CCC land in Bukit Jalil may be on the fringe of the Federal Territory but it is certainly not in the city of Kuala Lumpur.)

6. God is faithful and men are liars.

(Comment: This is about the most honest statement that he has made and it’s ironical that he said this after telling half-truths and lies.)

Click on the sound clip to listen:

The following biodata on PG was extracted from the conference website : World Assemblies of God Celebrations

Prince Guneratnam

Rev.Tan Sri Datuk (Dr) Prince Guneratnam, Founder & President of Calvary International Ministries, is recognized as an outstanding Christian leader worldwide. Since 1966 he has been in the ministry and has served as the senior pastor of Calvary Church in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is the vice chairman of WAGF, the secretary of the Pentecostal World Fellowship and general superintendent - emeritus of the Assemblies of God, Malaysia.

In spite of Calvary International Ministries (CIM), having been de-registered by NECF, PG continues to promote CIM internationally. When he spoke at a Christian conference in Singapore last year, he was still introduced as the CIM Founder and President. Albeit CIM’s de-registration in Malaysia, it still remains alive and kicking outside the country, probably as an unregistered entity.

Click here to read : CIM to be de-registered

Although CIM’s bank accounts in Malaysia have been closed as a result of the de-registration, its bank accounts in the USA and Singapore probably remains active. The offshore banks would not know of its legal status unless they are informed.

It is therefore, not inconceivable, that his love offerings from his international preaching engagements continue to be banked into CIM’s offshore accounts. The obvious danger is that contributions to the CCC Building fund from unsuspecting overseas churches and donors may be channeled to CIM as CIM carries the “Calvary” name.

Although PG has always represented and promoted CIM in all his introduction biodata in conferences, he has never declared in printed and electronic media like the above that CIM is his personal ministry. Who will then know that CIM has no linkage whatsoever to Calvary Church? Besides carrying the “Calvary” name, remember it also shares the same address as Calvary Church.

Todate, other than Pastor Robert Lim’s church and Pastor Cho-Yonggi’s church and 1 or 2 small churches, no other churches or Christian organizations outside Malaysia have made any contribution towards the CCC Building Fund in spite of Calvary Church, having previously, supported countless other churches worldwide in their building programmes and in spite of PG constantly sharing his vision and burden wherever he preaches. This fact has always puzzled the church members.

That “snaky” feeling again…

2011-04-16T08:07:00.005+08:00

Remember that eerie, “snaky” feeling some of you felt when you first saw the design of the Calvary Convention Centre (CCC)? The cobra-head like design gave you the creeps, right?
To recap, read CT posting entitled CCC-A Matter of Concern” dated June 12, 2009

Now take a look at Calvary Church’s Easter poster and flyer for this year’s Easter program. If you get that same “snaky” feeling, you are not getting cuckoo. Look closely at the bottom section (circled in red) of the image of the crown of thorns. You will clearly see the semblance of the head of a snake! Creepy, right?

Click on the image to enlarge it.

It would be a wise thing to do for all church event organisers to pray and ask God for discernment and guidance while looking for materials to be used as church promotional tools. There may be things and images that skip our human eyes but nothing is hidden from God. God will reveal it to us if we ask Him for wisdom and guidance.

Moving on to more serious matters. Next week is the start of the Passion Week.

Last year, Berita Calvary posted articles on the series of events that took place during the Passion Week.
Click on the DAYS to read.

Palm Sunday

The Monday of the Passion Week

The Tuesday of the Passion Week

The Wednesday of the Passion Week

The Thursday of the Passion Week

Good Friday

The Saturday of the Passion Week

Easter Sunday

***********************************************************

Just Added on 21.4.11.

We have relocated this Comment here in the main page as it is a timely reminder for us to rethink what Jesus did for us on the cross as we approach Good Friday tomorrow. God Bless.

Anonymous said...

Just wanna share the article below, from the Senior Ministry Living website. Hope we will take this time to reflect and appreciate what Jesus had to endure when He died on the Cross for our sins.
***************
And they crucified Him. --Mark 15:24
A medical doctor once gave a detailed description of what happens when someone is crucified:

"The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders again the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place.

"The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed. The victim is now crucified. As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain--the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward to avoid the stretching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet.

"As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath. Finally carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream. Spasmodically he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.

"Hours of this...pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.

It is now almost over--the loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level--the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues--the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues...finally he can allow his body to die."

The Bible records this process of death by crucifixion in just a few simple words. How often we take for granted the pain and suffering Jesus endured when He died on the cross for you and me. Let us remember this Easter the sacrifice He made.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank Jesus for the price He paid for your sins through His painful death on the cross.

April 21, 2011 8:50 AM

HAVE A BLESSED EASTER EVERYONE!!!

The Outcome of the Court Hearing on 12 April 2011

2011-04-13T11:12:00.007+08:00

The Originating Summons (OS) was heard by the High Court yesterday before a new Judge.

We were told that it was a full day hearing in chambers with submissions from both lawyers representing both parties.

The Judge will deliver his decision on the 18 May 2011 afternoon.

We were also informed that the OS was not converted to a Writ of Summons as the previous presiding Judge was not agreeable to the conversion. The Defendants' lawyers has also indicated that they will object to such an application. The Plaintiffs were advised by the then presiding Judge to withdraw the OS and then file in a Writ instead.

The Plaintiff decided against doing so having come so far in this current OS action. Withdrawing this OS and filing a Writ would tantamount to starting the legal suit all over again.

For those who are new to the Calvary Church Crisis and are not aware of what this OS is for, please click here to read : Legal Action to Seek Fresh EGM

Please continue to pray that this new Judge will be fair in his judgement.

Note added on 15.04.11 : Following the query from a reader, CT checked with one of the 60 odd class action plaintiffs and was informed that PG did not turn up for the OS hearing. He was represented by Pastor Peter and Pastor Steven.

.

Pray For The Court Hearing

2011-04-11T16:13:00.006+08:00

It has been a slow and uphill climb for the TTG brothers and sisters who have stood up against all odds to try to get the leadership of Calvary Church Kuala Lumpur to establish a system of Church Governance based on Truth, Transparency and Good Governance.

Since 2008, we have seen the Lord step by step guiding and leading the team to take one step at a time to reach to where we are today. All the records of the efforts made by the team are documented here in Calvary Today and Calvary Today 2.

We now seek the prayers of all Calvary Church members including those who have been "axed" or have left voluntarily, to spend some time today to pray for the Court Hearing which has been set to take place tomorrow in the Jalan Duta High Court.

We understand that there will be a new judge who will be hearing the case tomorrow, 12th April 2011.

Prayer Items :

1. We pray that the judge would read all the affidavits and submissions that both lawyers have presented to the Court and will take the time to understand the whole situation and purpose why this case is in the Court for hearing.

2. We pray that our Lord will give the judge the wisdom to make the right decision as according to His will to accomplish His plans and purposes for the Church and His people.

3. We pray that our Lord will give the Plaintiffs' two lady lawyers the wisdom and a clear mind to say and do the right thing at the right time, and the boldness to speak in defense of truth, transparency and good governance in the church.

History of Calvary Church, Kuala Lumpur, Revisited

2011-04-09T07:30:00.005+08:00

We reproduce below a Comment / Testimony posted by a pioneer member of Calvary Church, since the days of Calvary Church's humble beginnings in Jalan Sayor. It is good to remember our roots and to thank God for the way He led the pioneer Pastors of Calvary Church and to recognise the work of those Pastors who guided, encouraged and loved the members of the Church by living a godly example to the Church members back then.

Jalan Sayor migrant said...

History

Guynes was one of our pastors when we were in Jalan Sayor. He did not play a part in the building of CC DH (Calvary Church Damansara Heights).

Pastor Jones and Assistant Pastor Fred Abeysekera (Singaporean) were our pastors in Jalan Sayor who spearheaded CC at DH (Calvary Church at Damansara Heights). We were the English speaking congregation sharing First Assembly in Jalan Sayor.

They caught the vision to purchase DH (Damansara Heights) land at RM2.70 per sq foot, plans were drawn and we built our present church by stages. They shared their vision with us and assured us since God gave the vision, He (God) will supply the money.

This He did - Americans like Gene Martin, Katherine Kuffman foundation and various other people helped to raise funds. Our congregation then was 60-70 and only about 20 were working with limited income. We raised funds by selling cookies, kueh, sew clothes, wash cars - meagre sums but we were all happily doing what we could to contribute.

Mind you there were no faith promise, missions offering, pledges etc. We did what we could - Pastor Jones and family moved in to the back of CC DH (where the Visitor's lounge is) so that he can give his housing allowance for renting of a bungalow to the church offering.

WE MOVED IN DEBT FREE - this made a very strong impression on me - when God desires us to build any churches for His glory, He gives vision to one or two or three - they share, the rest will catch the vision. He provides the funds through others, through us and multiplies. There was no pressure - we sacrificed what we could - God did the rest.

Pastor Jones GAVE what others from abroad gave to Calvary Church for CC building fund.

What others give to PG for CCC from abroad, does he give All back to CCC or his personal account?

PG and PG2 were pastoring in the backwaters of Klang - sure, he did not contribute 1 single cent.

In fact when we employed them as pastors, they came in to a well established church because all of us love the Lord - we also loved the Guneratnams and even gave them an interest free loan to buy their BANDARAYA house and pay their instalments for them as housing allowance.

YET WHAT DID THEY DO? They axed some of the Jalan Sayor crowd. They bite the hand of those who feed them!!

MANY OF US FROM JALAN SAYOR can attest that this is what we went through.

Am sharing this with you because when you are not part and parcel of those who helped to raise funds for CC DH, you will have no qualms even to sell it to ensure CCC comes into being - HJK mentioned this during an EGM.

Wonder whether you guys are ever concerned that in KL it is extremely difficult to get a church land, let alone at DH?

It is where we begun, so we should hold tight to it and not chase after CCC which is really out of the way for many, especially the older ones.

For BOD - godliness with contentment is great gain - do not chase after the wind!!!

This was a Comment posted on April 8, 2011 11:16 AM in the previous artical on Calvaryland - Another Sad Tale

Calvaryland - Another Sad Tale

2011-04-04T01:36:00.004+08:00

We reproduce below a Comment posted by a Calvarite on his/her personal experience with Calvaryland.

CALVARITES SUCKERED OVER CALVARYLAND

Further to Thawed Brain's remarks on Calvaryland, we wish to share our true story about it. After Calvaryland materialised and became a reality, we thought it would be an excellent idea to transfer our aged mother to Calvaryland. We thought it would be the ideal place, full of fresh air and tranquility. Plus we thought it was run by CC, esp since it was supposedly managed by loving Christians.

We were simply shocked by the negative responses to our enquiries on in Calvaryland. Sister Sherren* told us there were no medically qualified staff at Calvaryland. Only periodic visits to governnment clinic far away from Calvaryland. She emphasised we must be self financing, that is, we must pay for all mum's expenses (which we were prepared to do so, in the first place).

Which brings us the the question: If all the ten inmates or less are self paying/self financing - why is Calvaryland being allocated RM300,000 - RM 500,000 every year ? Why need so much money for only ten inmates or less ?

How can the homeless, the single mothers, the drug addicts, the poor orphans, etc be self financing ? How can they pay for their expenses at Calvaryland ?

Why after costing RM 1o million to build and equip, Calvaryland only has ten or less inmates ?

Isn't it obviously not cost effective ? Not result oriented ? We at CC and the general public who contributed to this noble cause would have expected better results, right ?

BTW, we have not finished our true story.

The heart attack shocker we had was - When we were told by Sister Sherren*, "Calvaryland is too far away for your mother, sure you don't mind !"

Question : If Sister Sherren thinks Calvaryland is located too far, why in the fisrt place CC (through PG's grand vison) buy the land and build this RM 10,000,000.00 (RM 10 million) Calvaryland ? Really stupid and Illogical !

We could help being hurt and digusted by the turn off attitude of this person, attending to our enquiries. We had no choice but to conclude having the uncanny suspicion that she was trying very hard to shoo us away. She did not show any concern about accepting or even meeting our aged mother. She seemed to be firm about turning away our poor mother !

BTW we are CC members for decades.

Yet we received such harsh treatment. Thank God. We later found a very suitable nursing home for mum, a home where the staff show genuine concern and care for our mother. NOT Calvaryland.

We wonder whether Calvaryland serves its original purpose as proclaimed in CC by PG. Or has it deviated so much from it original good cause ?

We too were SUCKERED into believing the grand lies Calvaryland being the ideal place for aged people, homeless orphane, single mothers, drug addicts, poor and needy, etc. We also did our share of contributing to this "noble cause". BUT the truth exposed showed the opposite ! we also shared with our home life leader about our disappointment over Calvaryland BUT he said nothing.

No wonder Calvaryland got only ten VVIP extremely PRIVILEGED EXCLUSIVELY SELECTED INMATES !!!!!

We swear to Almighty God everything said in this blog is 100% true.

Another PG's lies exposed. Calvarites be warned NOT TO CONTRIBUTE ANYMORE to Calvaryland.

Wake up people. TOTT. TOTT. TOTT.

Until CC is cleaned of the sinful leadership it has now.

Posted by Anonymous on April 3, 2011 12:41 AM in the post titled PG Chickens Out Again.

PG Chickens Out Again

2011-03-25T08:12:00.002+08:00

Court Mediation fails

After agreeing to the Plaintiffs’ proposal for a Court Mediation, Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) failed to turn up for the much anticipated face-to-face negotiations. Instead, he sent Pastor Steven and deacon David Peters to represent him.

The above information was obtained from one of the 60-odd class action plaintiffs who also informed CT that out of the 6 deacons collectively named as the 2nd Defendants, only Patrick Wong, Edward Rajasingam and Philip Tan showed up.

According to the source, the main 7 Plaintiffs went with only one simple proposal and that is the formation of an independent committee to review and revise the Church Constitution for the future good of Calvary Church. And even that was rejected.

The sincerity of PG and his deacons in agreeing to the Plaintiffs’ proposal to settle the matter out of court really comes into question.

CT is unable to provide further details at this time as according to the source, the 7 main Plaintiffs are unsure if they could divulge the full details of what transpired during the Court Mediation.

The matter will now be set for hearing in chambers on 12 April 2011.

PG Changes Lawyers

2011-03-10T13:19:00.002+08:00

Zul Rafique & Partners replaces KK Wong

In a baffling move, Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) recently applied to court to change the lawyer defending the Board of Deacons and him in the ongoing class action legal suit brought against them by a group of some 60-odd concerned Calvary Church members.

For reasons not known, he has replaced KK Wong with Zul Rafique & Partners. Zul Rafique & Partners was one of the legal firms which a few of the Plaintiffs had consulted before the commencement of the present legal suit. However, the Plaintiffs subsequently did not engage this legal firm and opted instead to engage a Christian legal firm.

KK Wong, who is a well-known Christian lawyer had, in October 2010 suggested that the Plaintiffs put in a proposal to the Defendants for an out-of-court settlement, in the interest of the Christian community. The Plantiffs agreed to the suggestion and promptly submitted their proposal to KK Wong. However, PG rejected the Plaintiffs’ proposal outright without even bothering to make a counter-proposal.

Shortly after, at the case management on 6 January 2011, the Court was informed that Zul Rafique & Partners has now taken over the defence from KK Wong.

Despite the slap in the face, the Plaintiffs pursued the route for an amicable resolution
to the ongoing crisis and made a new proposal for a Court-assisted Mediation, which is a newly adopted process in the Malaysian legal system, designed to encourage disputes among families and communities to be resolved amicably out-of-court.

The Court Mediation is now set to take place on 24 March 2011. In the event the Mediation process fails, the case will be heard on 12 April 2011.

The Church leaders have not, until today, updated the members on the change of lawyers or the developments leading to the change. They have only merely announced the Court Mediation and Hearing dates. That’s transparency, Calvary Church KL-style.

PG says No to Christian Arbitration

2011-02-15T06:52:00.021+08:00

NECF efforts at mediation fails

Since December 2009, the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia (NECF) had quietly worked on a mediation effort to try to resolve the ongoing legal suit involving Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) and his Board of Deacons and a group of 7 Concerned Calvary Church members.

The 7 plaintiffs, representing a class of Concerned Members, had filed an Originating Summons to the High Court seeking to declare the 2009 Church AGM null and void and for the 7 rejected Resolutions to be tabled. (Please refer to the older posts in this blog for the full story and details of the rejected resolutions)

NECF was aware that an earlier attempt at mediation initiated in October 2009 by a prominent Calvarite and the Assemblies of God General Superintendent (AOG-GS) had failed. That meeting was called off when PG told the AOG-GS just two days before the scheduled meeting that “the date was not convenient”. The time, date, place and terms of reference had all been agreed at least 7 to 10 days before. For reasons best known to himself, PG got cold feet. The plaintiffs were disappointed because they had accepted the Terms of Reference and were all ready for mediation.

After the failure of the above mediation effort by the two individuals, NECF waiting patiently for the Assemblies of God Malaysia (AG) to take action to resolve the conflict which has set the Christian community in Malaysia abuzz. However, to the disappointment of NECF and the Christian community at large, AG failed or refused to intervene, probably in fear of their mentor who is now a Tan Sri.

To their credit, NECF then took it upon themselves to attempt to mediate between the two parties. They contacted one of the Plaintiffs sometime in December 2009 to explore the possibility of resolving the crisis through mediation or Christian arbitration. The Plaintiffs readily agreed to mediation but however, PG proved to be very elusive and despite a number of attempts by NECF, PG just refused to provide any dates to meet.

In spite of this discouraging setback, NECF persevered and proposed Christian arbitration in keeping with the teachings of 1 Corinthians 6. They proposed that the Plaintiffs take the matter out from the secular court and put the matter before a panel of Christian senior lawyers and ex-judges. The Plaintiffs readily agreed to the proposal. NECF then met PG and conveyed the proposal.

However, on 25 May 2010, the Plaintiffs were told by NECF that Steven Kum had telephoned them the day before to convey PG’s reply. PG refused mediation and arbitration. This was most shocking news. Yet NECF was not willing to give up. They wanted to meet with PG again to try to persuade him that Christian arbitration would be the right and proper way to resolve the crisis. The Plaintiffs waited with much hope but in September 2010, the Plaintiffs were finally told that NECF had given up on trying to persuade PG to go for Christian arbitration. As far as NECF was concerned, PG had officially refused mediation and Christian arbitration.

NECF, being just a fellowship of churches and Christian organistions, has no authority over Calvary Church or PG but for the sake of the Kingdom, let us hope that they will rely on their spiritual authority as the umbrella body for nearly all the evangelical churches in Malaysia to help bring the Calvary Church crisis to a close.

CCC: God’s Vision or PG’s Vision?

2011-01-25T09:08:00.004+08:00

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!

2010-12-22T00:40:00.003+08:00

PG bulldozes through AGM

2010-10-06T10:05:00.012+08:00

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 then 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 because of this weakness in the Missions Fund administration, that 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 4 : 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

2010-10-02T17:02:00.004+08:00

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

Did AOG Malaysia Lie To The Court?

2010-09-03T11:59:00.012+08:00

On 5 July 2010, the Kuala Lumpur High Court had allowed Assemblies of God’s (AOG) application to strike out the Originating Summons which cited them as the Third Defendant. This means that the Court agreed that the AOG is not a party to the case.

The 7 Plaintiffs, who are concerned members of Calvary Church, had included the AOG as the Third Defendant on the basis that the AOG is the supreme body of all the Assemblies of God churches in Malaysia including Calvary Church and as the supreme body, they ought to look after the welfare of the members of their member-churches.

All the concerned members of Calvary Church are naturally disappointed with the Court’s decision as they strongly hold to the belief that the AOG should take responsibility and intervene in the affairs of Calvary Church which has become a joke in the Christian community. The AOG’s act of applying to Court to strike out the Plaintiff’s inclusion of them as the Third Defendant is testament of their “couldn’t-care-less” attitude. The shame is on the AOG and their Executive Council members.

But what shocked the CT team were The Statements made by the AOG in their sworn Affidavits filed in Court. In their attempt to “wash their hands off” the matter, they resorted to twisted interpretation of their Constitution and telling half-truths.

The following are some of what the AOG has stated in their sworn Affidavits:-

1. AOG not responsible for Calvary Church

AOG claimed that Calvary Church is only affiliated to AOG and that it has no authority over Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam or the Board of Deacons (BOD).

A) AOG Constitution Article III, Aims and Objects, states under (D):
“To have the right to establish churches and provide for their development…”

B) Article V.A.3 of their Bylaws further states:
“The church shall submit its annual report of its progress and financial statement to the General Council.”

Does this not mean that Calvary Church is established by AOG and under its control?

Isn’t it a fact that all pastors of AOG churches are ordained by the AOG and receive their credentials from them?

The mere fact that the AOG can remove and have, in the past, removed the credentials of their AOG pastors is evident of their authority over their AOG pastors.

2. Calvary Church members are not Members of AOG Malaysia

They denied that the AOG Malaysia is a family to members of Calvary Church and stated that Calvary Church members are not members of AOG Malaysia.

Their Article VI, Membership of the AOG of Malaysia says:

A. “The membership of the AOG of Malaysia shall consist of all ministers….”

B. “The membership shall also consist of all members of local assemblies which have been set in order by a duly constituted official of the AOG of Malaysia and have been granted a Certificate of Affiliation.”

Article VII (B) even provides for one lay delegate to be sent from each sovereign church to attend and vote at the AOG General Council.

Yet they submitted to the Court that Calvary Church members are not members of the AOG.

3. Calvary Church Constitution not approved by AOG Malaysia

They denied that Calvary Church’s Constitution was approved by them. They denied that they are a party to the Calvary Church Constitution. They claimed that they only endorsed the Constitution based solely on the approval and acceptance of the Calvary Church Constitution by the church members.

Their Article V.C.1 clearly states:
“Amendments to the constitution (of local church) may be made at any general meeting of the church provided that the proposed amendments have been submitted in writing to all voting members of the church at least one month before the meeting in question. The proposed and accepted amendments will only come into effect after a written approval of the Executive Committee of the General Council has been given”

Their submission to Court clearly contradicted what is stated in their Constitution. If they “only endorsed the church constitution based solely on the approval and acceptance of the church members”, then why is there a need for a written approval of the Executive Committee of the AOG for amendments to the churches’ Constitutions? This is clearly twisting the facts.

4. Calvary Church Attendance Figures

In the AOG Commemorative Year Book 2002, they had stated that Calvary Church has 10,000 members. In their sworn affidavit filed in Court, they told the Court that Calvary Church has only more than 1000 members and its regular service were attended by more than 3000 persons.

So if the figures they stated in the affidavit are true, then did they lie in the Commemorative Year Book? Obviously so, especially bearing in mind that in the 48-year history of Calvary Church, they have never ever had such a large membership!

5. Ronnie Chin’s Role at the AGM

They admitted that their Assistant General Superintendent Pastor Ronnie Chin met with some of the Calvary Church Deacons before the 2009 AGM but claimed that it was only for him to be briefed. They denied that it was for these Deacons and Ronnie Chin to strategize how to throw out the Resolutions from the concerned members.

The fact still remains that 6 out of 7 Resolutions were thrown out by Ronnie Chin on the request by Philip Tan (on behalf of the BOD) at the AGM.

Was there a conspiracy between Ronnie Chin who was representing the AOG and these Deacons?

Did the AOG lie to the court?

Certainly looks obvious. Anyway you look at it, the fact that Ronnie Chin was briefed by the Deacons beforehand goes against the very basic principle of corporate governance, ethics and transparency and reflect very badly on the AOG.

6. Coup d’etat

This is the mother of lies!

The AOG claimed that the High Court proceedings taken by the Plaintiffs appeared to be an attempt by a minority of just 69 members to try to take over control of the Church against the wishes of the majority.

There has never been any Resolution proposed to place any of the concerned members onto the Board of Deacons. There was never any attempt to remove the Deacons from their position. In fact for the 2009 AGM, the concerned members advised the church members to vote wisely to place responsible Deacons on the Board.

One of the Proposed Resolutions actually called for the intervention of the AOG into the affairs of Calvary Church and to manage the Church. Certainly none of the Plaintiffs has any desire to pastor or to take control of Calvary Church.

Some of the Plaintiffs are personally known to some of the Executive Council members and these Council Members know that there is no such intention by the Plaintiffs.

The AOG therefore, knows this is a blatant lie and yet they can swear this under oath.
Where is their conscience and Christian principles?
It is sad indeed that a national Christian body like AOG which represents the largest growing Christian denomination in Malaysia can stooped this low.

It is even more sad to a few of the Plaintiffs who had done so much for the AOG and Bible College of Malaysia (BCM) and were actually in very good terms with AOG and BCM.

From what we have gathered, one of the 7 Plaintiffs was instrumental in acquiring the building in which the AOG Headquarters today occupies. This Plaintiff personally raised half of the Purchase Price of this building. He also helped out financially many times towards the needs of BCM.

Another one of the 7 Plaintiffs bought a brand new van for BCM a couple of years ago. Today that vehicle is still being used to ferry BCM students around and for missions work. This same person has also helped out financially many times towards the needs of BCM. He also sponsored the entire cost of the AOG Widows’ Fund-raising dinner held last year.

It is certainly ironic or rather the humour of God to have chosen the above two Plaintiffs, out of the thousands of Christians in Malaysia, years before this Calvary Saga started, to be a channel of His blessings to AOG and BCM. There must be a lesson that God wants us to learn from and a message He wants us to heed and follow in this test that God has placed before us all as Christians and as Church organizations through this CCC – Calvary Church Crisis!

Whatever the outcome of the Originating Summons is, it does not matter to the concerned members and the Plaintiffs. It is not their battle but the Lord’s. But through this chain of events, one can clearly see that God is certainly in control. The true colours and character of the Church leaders are being exposed today. God is cleansing His Church in Malaysia and in His time, we shall all see His glory and His purposes for His Church in this land.

Footnote: After this article was published, CT received a request from one of the above two Plaintiffs to delete the mention of his contributions to AOG and BCM. Much as CT appreciates the wish of the person to remain anonymous, CT is of the opinion that since no names were mentioned, the anonymity of the person remains intact. CT wishes to elaborate that the purpose was not to highlight the contributions or the contributor but to expose the ungratefulness, nonchalance and gutlessness of the AOG leaders when push comes to shove.

Court Of Appeal Decision

2010-08-23T23:49:00.003+08:00

The appeal by the 7 Plaintiffs (concerned church members) and the cross appeal by the Respondents (Pastor Prince and the Board of Deacons) on the matter of the Interlocutory Injunction was heard before the Court of Appeal this morning.

After hearing the submissions from both the Plaintiffs and Respondents’ lawyers, the Court dismissed both the appeal of the Plaintiffs and cross appeal of the Respondents.

The Court commented that these interlocutory proceedings and actions were unnecessary and ordered both parties to return to the High Court and seek an early trial for the Originating Summons.

In dismissing the appeal by the Plaintiffs for the reinstatement of the 400 terminated or reclassified church members, the Court stated that this issue should not be part of this proceeding as the termination or reclassification of the 400 members occurred after the Originating Summons was filed. This issue should be pursued as a separate court action.

The Court rejected the cross appeal by the Respondents against the reinstatement of the 7 Plaintiffs by the High Court. The church membership of the 7 Plaintiffs, therefore, remain reinstated.

The most interesting statement made by the Court in summing up their decision was that the AGM is the supreme authority in any organization. In simple terms, this means that the members in an AGM has full authority over everything else including the Board of Directors or Deacons, in our case.

To recap, an Originating Summons was on filed on 12 November by the Plaintiffs against the Respondents to seek the High Court’s ruling for the following:-

i. that the AGM held on 19th and 20th June 2009 be declared null and void;

ii. that the committee members appointed during the AGM held on 19th and 20th June 2009 be annulled and be declared void;

iii. that the Defendants convene an EGM within 30days from the date of the Court Order for the tabling of the resolutions which had been submitted by the Plaintiffs;

iv. that the removal of Dr. Lum Siew Heng as a member of Calvary Church on 20th March 2009 be annulled and to be declared void.

The Originating Summons is currently fixed for mention on 23 September 2010. At this mention, both parties will be seeking an early date for trial.

Please continue to uphold the matter in prayer.

Hearing of Appeal fixed on 23 August

2010-08-20T00:11:00.008+08:00

The Hearing of our Appeal will be held on Monday 23rd August 2010 and it will be an OPEN Court of Appeal hearing (this means that you can sit in to listen to the proceedings).
All our previous court proceedings had always been held in Chambers (i.e. only the lawyers meeting with the judge); thus, this is the 1st time that it is open to you and the interested public.

The details of the Court of Appeal hearing are as follows:

Date : Monday 23 August 2010

Time : 8.30am

Venue : Mahkamar Persekutuan Malaysia

Presint 3, Istana Kehakiman, 62506 Putrajaya

Tel 03 8880 3500

Please remember to pray for the Court Hearing on Monday, and if possible, be there to lend your moral support and to bring the presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling is us, into the Court Room.

Bamboo Conspiracy said...

August 22, 2010 4:42 PM

DECLARE VICTORY BY THE FAITH OF GOD!

Christ spoke such a word as this. He spoke it once to a fig tree: "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again" (Mark 11:14). Next day Peter noted that it had withered, and he commented, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away." Now note what Christ said, in effect: "You go and do the same. I spoke the word of authority with which I am equipped by the indwelling Father [see John 14:10ff]. Now you speak it also." His actual words were, "HAVE THE FAITH OF GOD. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea; ... he shall have whatsoever he says" (Mark 11:23).

Thus Christ said, "Say unto this mountain." "SAY," not "pray." The word is most significant. The thought is not that all prayer should be omitted (for the Word counsels us to pray) but that prayer should not be from an attitude of feeling that one has not and therefore has needs.

Saying the word of faith is the attitude of one who has and dispenses what he has. Such is the "throne life". A throne is occupied by a king. A king is a possessor and dispenser of gifts. This is why we who are believers and joined to Christ -- He the head, we the members of one Body, physically on earth, spiritually enthroned -- are told that we are "kings ... unto God" and "seated in the heavenlies."

THE PRINCIPLE INVOLVED CANNOT BE APPLIED ARBITRARILY TO JUST ANY NEED IN THE WHOLE WORLD, BUT RATHER TO THE SPHERE FOR WHICH GOD IN HIS GRACE HAS MADE YOU INDIVIDUALLY RESPONSIBLE.

Then, according to the needs of your calling and sphere of life and service, speak forth the word of faith. Call the things that be not as though they were. Carry out Mark 11:24: "Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."

I think we who stand for TTG and called to intercede for Calvary Church should declare ‘VICTORY' no matter what the outcome tomorrow and go forth knowing that He will accomplish what we have declared by authoritative faith for this is why His SON died and shed His blood for - TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF SATAN.

Is not present events at Calvary Church "A WORK OF SATAN"? Yet, ordained by the Lord for His purposes. Satan is only His tool, and we the righteous sons/daughters of God should shout Victory. We cannot accept defeat - no matter what the Court declares.

What if the declaration does not happen? What if the court rules against us? My friends understand what AUTHORITATIVE FAITH IS!

"Have the faith of God" is the literal meaning in the margin of the Authorized KJV and this conveys the vital meaning more clearly than just "have faith in God," as in the KJV text. For to "have faith IN God" means just a reliance on the ability of God in His heaven and a leaving it to Him to do it. But to "have the faith OF God" means to recognize an indwelling God, i.e. to realize that we have His mind, and that by the inspiration of His Spirit we speak forth with our human lips the word of believing faith, of authority!

We are not operating by OUR faith but HIS faith and hence the responsibility for the outcome of our declaration is HIS! He is responsible to RESOLVE THE PRESENT CRISIS IN CALVARY CHURCH. If we believe God has already destroyed satan at Calvary, all the negatives we see in the natural world are just ILLUSIONS! In the Spiritual world satan is already defeated. Calvary Church is already a victorious church etc. So satan may win battles but we have already won the war!

LORD WE "SAY" YOU MOVE THE MIND OF MEN AND COURSE THE COURT TO RULE IN OUR FAVOUR TOMORROW (Monday 23th August 2010).

This is what I have learned from Norman Grubb and hence I declare victory no matter what the court declares. I will continue to declare Calvary Church as a victorious church and the present crisis resolved.

Vijay

****************************************

On a different note but addressing a relevant issue which was brought up by a reader who identified himself/herself as Scott J. We thank our gracious God and the quick response from our dear Brother in Christ, Vijay for a simple yet direct answer.

We now extract these two comments which were posted in the previous article here because we believe that the questions and concerns raised by Scott J may be issues that many of you as Christians grapple with within yourselves.

Scott J said...

I have been following your plight over the happenings in Calvary Church, and in the face of ‘apparent’ injustice with all the evidence that is presented on this site, it is hard to dispute the findings. I believe that your motives in seeking justice are justified, but amidst your frustrations, we have to ask ourselves what has happened to our faith in God to bring about justice? I know that you initially did what was stated in Matthew 18: 15-17, and you may have tried that but have not succeeded, but to put your plight on the internet and the newspapers, it goes beyond the confines of the church. Even with the hard evidence that is presented, many of us have failed and have fallen into the trap of “judging” in our hearts through what we see with our own eyes through this site.

Just spare a heart’s thought about these:

a) Have we forgotten about our faith in God to bring about justice?

b) Even if we have, have we, to a certain extent through this site, taken matters into our own hands?

c) Is what is being done here on the internet bringing glory to God or tearing down the church, not just yours, but to others as well?

d) Many others, particularly unbelievers, are observing the happenings within Calvary and there is a generalized sentiment that Christians behave in this manner, could this be a factor to build up a barrier of distrust toward those who are out there working to shine forth God’s light to the unbelievers?

Before continuing, we have to ask ourselves with a heart’s thought: With your plight being aired out here on the internet and the ‘bickering’ (forgive my usage of this term due to the lack of a better word), “How does God feel about this?” our lack of faith in His timing and His purposes? As to the rest of us, let us seek God and ask God how He feels about us being a spectator and potential contributors to add fuel to the flames.

August 18, 2010 11:15 AM

Bamboo Conspiracy said...

THE BIBLE TELLS IT ALL.

I sometimes think, we Christians impose more stringent standards than even what God imposes in what we may communicate.

The Bible is still the number one CONTENT presented in multimedia (audio, visual and paper). If God sees fit to tell to the whole world in MULTIMEDIA the SINS of HIS CHILDREN (David a murderer and adulterer, Moses a murder, etc), I find insufficient grounds to stop people in sharing the real happenings in the Christian world!

In fact, I believe the Lord wants the world to know what is really happening so that WHEN HE ACTS - ALL WILL KNOW THE CHRISTIAN GOD IS A JUST AND FAITHFUL GOD. Then they will worship Him.

Just imagine if there was no CT or TTG or no reports in the Newspapers etc. - the world will not hear the TRUTH and they will not know that there is a LIVING GOD who ANSWERS THE PRAYERS OF HIS CHILDREN.

Let us have spiritual discernment and not muzzle the voice of His Children!

Vijay

(Of course - any unkind words or personal attacks should be edited out!)

August 18, 2010 11:13 PM

As the Administrators of CT, we have tried our best to remind those who post comments to do so with consideration and to refrain from making personal attacks, name calling and unkind words. We have withheld releasing many comments made by both TTG sympathizers and pro-PG readers because we cannot "edit out" comments as this function is not provided for by Blogger.

We noticed that this function may have been added in since this week but we have yet to try it out. However, we will still maintain that we will not release any comment that we deem is not appropriate or relevant to our cause.

On yet another note, we are always in awe of how God has led us and is still leading us step by step here in CT. You may or may not be aware that CT was first created as a communication tool to keep the concerned members of Calvary Church abreast with what is happening behind the whole facade of Calvary Church and the TTG brothers and sisters' pursuit of Truth, Transparency and Good Governance in the administration of the Church.

God has been with us and He has constantly provided us with relevant materials useful for that particular moment to be published as updates to our fellow Calvary Church members who are in "diaspora" seeking "religious asylum" in various churches in and around Kuala Lumpur. Here's a word of encouragement for us to ponder on.

Bamboo Conspiracy said...

SEE GOD IN EVERYTHING!

I know the pain many are going through because of events at Calvary Church. I have been there and I too had my own share of waiting when there were leadership problems in churches. It is always natural; the first reaction is "TO DO SOMETHING!" As so did I! But the Lord also wanted me to trust Him after having done all that I could! Part of spiritual maturity is knowing when to grow from 'DOING' to 'BEING'!

We will suffer as we wait and the only way out of the suffering is to see GOD ONLY in all things. Spiritual maturity is required to understand this faith principle.

When we arrive at this place of faith, we stop asking questions why Calvary Church and the congregation is suffering through this crisis. We boldly accept by faith that the Lord has WILLED present events at Calvary!

(NOTE I said WILLED - NOT PERMITTED i.e. GOD HAD PURPOSED IT! - now this is a difficult principle to accept and I know there will be some who may not agree with me but it is OK as I am writing this just as the Lord had directed me and leave the consequences in His hands.)

The Bible says:
"Though HE were a Son, yet learned HE obedience by the things which HE suffered" (Hebrews 5:8)

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" (Hebrews 12:6,7).

God "tested" Abraham in the realm of self-love, self-will and trust in self. He wanted to know whether Abraham had total faith in God!

This present trial at Calvary is not really about the misdeeds of the leadership but about HIS FAITHFUL SONS AND DAUGHTERS - WILL YOU TRUST HIM. He will deal with the rogue leaders but before He does that HE wants to know whether HIS CHILDREN WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE FAITH IN HIM. That is what GOD IS AFTER - YOUR FAITH IN HIM!.

It was God who DIRECTED Joseph to prison. His brothers and others were just the Lord's tools to accomplish His purposes – to eventually bring them back to the Promised Land. Paul, Moses, David, etc were all DIRECTED by God into the wilderness – and so will we.

And so today. The faithful ones in Calvary are His remnants and the rogue leaders and people associated with these are just HIS TOOLS. Read you Bible and you will notice after God had used them to accomplish His purposes, He destroyed them!

I believe God had purposed to raise a new band of Christians in Malaysia because those presently in power do not have the leadership quality He needs to raise the spiritual barometer in Malaysia. HE NEEDS FRESH SONS & DAUGHTERS!

(I have been accused of being too hash with the “enemies” of God but friends – I have seen what the Lord has done with MY 'enemies' and believe me – IT IS A TERRIBLE THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD. I PITY THEM BECAUSE SOMETIMES HE EVEN CALLS THEM HOME BEFORE THEIR TIME!)

Those who speak of God’s love don’t really understand that God’s LOVE also means HE MUST BE JUST!

Vijay

August 18, 2010 10:34 PM

God is Good All the Time!

The Big Question?

2010-07-22T10:59:00.014+08:00

Many Calvarites will remember the infamous theatrical alabaster jar-breaking act of Senior Pastor Prince (PG) a few years ago on Easter Sunday at Stadium Putra.

That Sunday was the launch of a major fund-raising campaign for the Calvary Convention Centre (CCC) project and PG wanted to impress the congregation with his “sacrificial” pledge of 9 months of his salary towards the CCC building fund. In an unashamed display of haughtiness, he took an alabaster jar and broke it to symbolize his “sacrificial” giving, trying to replicate the sacrificial act of the woman in the Bible who broke her alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ head.

Many in the crowd in the stadium applauded PG’s act of sacrifice but little did they realize that his sacrifice of 9 months of salary will not affect him much. His dear wife, Sis Petrina was still drawing a big monthly salary of RM10,000 which is more than what senior pastors in other similar-size churches earn. For two persons, this amount of salary is more than adequate to live on, considering that they have no financial commitments and their cars’ petrol and maintenance costs are all taken care of by the Church. There are many members who feed their families and pay their housing and car loans and everything else on much less income.

What the members also do not know was what took place subsequently in the Church office. Because PG sacrificed his salary for 9 months, the Church staff were encouraged to buy lunch for him as often as they could!

Towards the end of that year, the Board of Deacons, in “recognition of PG’s great sacrifice” took a special Christmas love offering from the congregation to bless him. And like a big hero, PG “humbly” accepted it and immediately announced that he is giving the entire love offering to CCC. The entire episode is worthy of a grammy award.

Now, with that background story and in the light of the latest fund-raising campaign, many Calvarites are watching to see what “sacrificial” advance PG will be giving this time.

Clip 1 : Ask and ask big

At the combined services in Sime Darby Convention Centre two Sundays ago, PG announced that his CCC committee members and the Deacons have made advances totaling RM3 million to the CCC. While this may appear to be a large amount, we must take cognizance of the fact that several of the committee members and deacons are millionaires with a few owning fairly large multi-million dollar businesses. Therefore, RM3 million advances from this group is commendable but nothing to shout about. However, the interesting thing to note about this announcement is that PG, himself a millionaire, did not state whether he made any advance and if he did, how much.

Clip 2 : Tremendous sacrifice (?)

The fact that PG is a millionaire is undeniable. His local properties alone are worth at least RM6 to 7 million. The value of his local assets can be easily quantified. His present 3-storey semi-detached house in Bangsar is worth RM4 to 5 million. His Taman Tun house where his daughter, Pam was living in, has just been sold for RM1.2 million. Another house in Bangsar where his son, Jim lives, also belongs to him and this is worth easily RM1.2 to 1.5 million. He is said to own other properties besides the above.

The value of his overseas properties is not known. The amount of money he has in his local as well as overseas bank accounts is also unknown. Since he has never declared to the Church the love offerings he has received, there is, therefore, no way to ascertain the amount of wealth he has amassed overseas.

When Pas Robert Lim of Singapore came to preach just two services in Calvary Church on one Sunday in 2003, the Church gave him a love gift of S$10,000 (read the CT article on 3 April 2009). If we use this as a benchmark, the amount of love offerings that PG would have received over the last 40 years from his overseas preaching engagements, can be fairly substantial.

The deacons have mentioned before that his personal ministry, Calvary International Ministries (CIM) also has bank accounts in Singapore and USA but we have no way of verifying the bank balances there. Nevertheless, it is safe to estimate PG’s total wealth to be in the region of at least RM10 million. Bearing in mind that he has no known borrowings, he is certainly a very rich man.

It is therefore, of great interest to members to know how much advance he has pledged or made to the CCC project this time. After all, he is the Senior Pastor and the CCC is his vision and it is only appropriate that he leads by example.

The amount of advance he commits to the CCC compared to his wealth will be a good yardstick for the ordinary members to follow if they believe in his vision and want to participate in this “Give an Advance” campaign.

The big question on everyone’s lips is how much is PG advancing to the CCC. Is it RM1 million, RM2 million, RM3 million or more?

So Prince Guneratnam, can you answer our BIG QUESTION, please?

************************************************

We thank our reader who used the pseudonym "Discovery Channel" for these photos of the November-December 1993 issue of Calvary News. This article written back in 1993 welcoming Pam G and her husband and daughter back to Malaysia after being away for 7 to 8 years in the USA for studies is proof of PG's wealth even back then.

It takes a very rich man to be able to afford to support a daughter's overseas studies for 7 to 8 years. In PG's case, he not only need to finance his daughter's study and living expenses, he also had to finance the bringing up of a granddaughter, who spent the first 4 years of her life in the USA. To top this, his son Jim was also studying in the USA about the same time.

As we recall, PG and wife also took one year sabbatical leave to be with his children and granddaughter in the USA. Of course, the members were told that he was there to do a Masters degree. Now, this is indeed the lifestyle of the rich