Lawrence Khong Kin Hoong(born 17 July 1952) is aSingaporeanChristianreligious leaderand amagician.
Lawrence Khong | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 17, 1952 |
| Spouse | Rev (Dr) Nina Khong |
| Children |
|
| Church | Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) |
Offices held | Apostolic Overseer |
| Title | Apostle Lawrence Khong |
| Lawrence Khong | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | Quảng kiện hùng | ||
| |||
Khong is the founder and overseer ofFaith Community Baptist ChurchinSingaporeand the former chairman of LoveSingapore, a network of about 100socially conservativeSingaporean churches. Khong is also the founder and chairman of TOUCH Community Services, anon-profit,non-religiouswelfareorganization.
Early life and education
editKhong is the son of a businessman and a housewife. His father was a general commodities wholesaler who came fromGuangdongprovince inChina.Khong was a child of his father's second marriage, which began beforeWorld War IIafter his father relocated to Singapore.[1]
Khong attendedSt Joseph's InstitutionandNational Junior College,where he met his future wife, Nina.[2]
Despite becoming a Christian at the age of 13, he said he "backslid" during his army days. During that time he attended a church camp at Port Dickson and later said that[1]adrowningincident at the church camp made him reflect deeply on life and on himself. He returned to church and joined the Varsity Christian Fellowship. Khong began preaching from the pulpit while he was at university.[3]
As an undergraduate, Khong also started performing publicly as a magician. He became a member of the Singapore Charter of theSociety of American Magicians.[4]
After graduating with a B.A. inBusiness Administrationfrom theNational University of Singapore,[5]he worked as an intern pastor. A year and a half later, he married his fiancé Nina, who had completed her medical studies and gained her (MBBS) from theNational University of Singapore.The two set off forDallasso that Khong could attend theDallas Theological Seminary.While studying at the seminary, Khong was asked to pastor a Dallas church with a Chinese congregation because he could speak someChinese.
Khong returned to Singapore and joined Grace Baptist Church in 1981.[1]
Career
editFaith Community Baptist Church
editFaith Community Baptist Church(FCBC), was founded by Khong as acell churchin 1986.[6][7][8][9]Khong delivered his first message to the new congregation on August 17, 1986.
As of 2014, the church was reported to have a congregation of around 10,000 members.[10]
Besides serving as the pastor of themegachurch,Khong also stages entertainment shows that combine magic, music, drama and dance to engage his congregation.[11]
Khong is one of theInternational Twelve of Cesar Castellanos.[12]
Khong began assuming the title of "apostle"after a church service in 2000 in which he was given the title by theologianC. Peter Wagner.[13]Wagner was a key leader of theChurch Growth Movementand the controversialNew Apostolic Reformation,a movement ofPentecostalandcharismaticchurches advocating for the "lost offices" of church governance, namely the offices ofprophetand apostle.[13]Khong's use of the title is not recognised by churches in mainline Christian denominations.
In 2016, Khong delivered a series of sermons at Faith Community Baptist Church in which he calledCharles Darwin'sTheory of Evolution"a real deception from theDevil".[14]The church's support forcreationismin its pulpit and on social media prompted a discussion on the spread of the idea by certain groups of Christian evangelicals in secular Singapore. TheMinistry of Educationhas since clarified that creationism is not taught in local schools.[15]
TOUCH Community Services
editKhong is the founder and chairman of TOUCH Community Services (TCS), a non-profit, non-religious welfare organisation that has 18 services, 19 centres, and 24 youth clubs in Singapore helping the under-privileged. The organisation has served over 100,000 individuals since its establishment.[1][16]
In 2002, Khong conceptualisedProject SMILEorSharing Magic in Love Everywhere.He was selected as a finalist for the SIP-Schwab Social Entrepreneur of 2007.[17]
In 2007, TCS won the Outstanding Non-profit Organisation Award in the National Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards, which recognises best practices in the management of volunteers and donors, including fundraising practices, in non-profit organisations.[1][18]
Media and entertainment
editKhong has been performing magic since his late teens. He started producing movies in 2010[19][20]and performing magic shows such as "Magic of Love" and "Magic Box".[5][21][22]
Khong shared his experiences of "Magic of Love" in his bookGive me the Multitudes! Obeying God's Call into the Media World, TOUCH Ministries International: Singaporebut has received some criticism from fellow Christians for his use of magic and involvement in "marketplace ministries."[23]
Following the church's embrace ofdominion theology,Khong launched Gateway Entertainment to "reclaim the media industry for Jesus Christ", performing in "totally commercial, non-religious" magic shows and other theatrical productions alongside his daughter Priscilla Khong.[19][24][25][26]
Gateway Entertainment stated that Lawrence Khong was the "first in Asia to receive the Elite Diamond Merlin Award for Magician of the Year" in 2010, an award conferred by theInternational Magicians Society.[27]
Lawrence Khong has also been vocal against the spreading "anti-Christian and immoral values promoted by the secular world" by entertainers in Singapore, a non-religious state. He has spoken out against a performance byMadonnain the country.[28]
Recognition
editIn 1998, Khong was conferred the public service medal in recognition of his contributions to the community.[16][29]
Controversies
editViews on homosexuality
edit| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Lawrence Khong appearing in a BBC report on the "Wear White" movement,YouTube video |
Khong has been criticized for his stance against equal rights forhomosexualsin Singapore.[30]In January 2013, Khong issued a statement to Emeritus Senior MinisterGoh Chok Tongagainst repealing Singapore's laws that criminalise sex between men. He called the repeal ofSection 377A of the Penal Code"a looming threat to this basic (nation) building block by homosexual activists".[31][32]He has referred to the "homosexual act" as "the greatestblasphemyagainst the name of God ".[33]He has stated he believes inconversion therapyand has called theLGBT community"some of the most intolerant people that I have ever met".[34]
In 2014, LoveSingapore, a network of 100 local churches that Khong chairs, created a guide to supporting Section 377A of the Penal Code.[35][36]Khong also criticized theHealth Promotion Boardin an open letter, saying their webpage on sexual health "condones same-sex relationships and promotes homosexual practice as something normal".[37]He has also actively protested against the annual Singaporegay prideeventPink Dot SG,and has supported the counter-campaign and encouraged his followers to speak out against the normalisation of homosexual relationships in Singapore.[38][39]
Personal life
editKhong and his wife, Nina Khong, have four children - Priscilla (a magician alongside him), Michelle, Anthony and Daniel Khong Bao Liang (Senior Pastor of FCBC) - a grandson, Isaac, and a granddaughter, Hannah. Nina Khong has given up her medical practice to serve full time in FCBC and is now CEO of Gateway Entertainment. In 2003, Khong publicly disclosed that Priscilla had had a child out of wedlock.[40]The family has since reconciled with the church and stands strong on their belief of 'sex after marriage'.
Singapore Polo Club
editKhong is a nationalpoloplayer who won a silver medal with the Singapore team at the2007 Southeast Asia Games.[41][42][43]
In August 2013, Khong filed a suit against theSingapore Polo Clubwhen the club suspended his rights and privileges for two months for allegedly misusing the club's e-mail system and his position as honorary secretary. Khong had sent a mass email to the club members and Registrar of Societies questioning the conduct of the club committee when it amended results of a vote of no confidence against the previous committee.[44]
According to a suspension notice filed in his affidavit, Khong was allowed to keep his horses stabled at the club, but would not have the right of access to the club nor the right to the services of a personal professional polo player. At the time of the suspension, Khong was the honorary secretary of the club.[45][46]As of 2023, he is the president of the club.[47]
The High Court ruled in Khong's favor and set aside his suspension from the club.[44]
Notes and references
edit- ^abcde"The Pastor Who Does Magic: 'PREACHER'S MAGICAL TOUCH'",The Straits Times, 7 July 2008
- ^"Pastor Lawrence Khong opens up on family, elaborates on stance on homosexuality".20 May 2014.
- ^"WELCOME TO Faith Community Baptist Church".Archived fromthe originalon 15 April 2010.Retrieved5 November2009.,Retrieved 5 October 2009
- ^Loke, Angela (30 July 1974)."A tricky secret".New Nation.
- ^ab"G12 International Conference 2009".Archived fromthe originalon 11 July 2011.
- ^"About FCBC"Archived27 September 2011 at theWayback Machine,Retrieved 5 October 2009
- ^"WELCOME TO Faith Community Baptist Church".Archived fromthe originalon 5 April 2010.Retrieved5 November2009.
- ^Lawrence Khong (2000), The Apostolic Cell Church (Paperback)
- ^"Purpose Driven Church"Archived22 November 2005 at theWayback Machine,Retrieved 5 October 2009
- ^Lum, Selina (31 May 2014)."Church gets green light to challenge minister's decision".The Straits Times.
- ^"Singapore's mega churches offer salvation at a price".South China Morning Post.10 September 2012.
- ^"PastorNet: Lawrence Khong"Archived14 October 2009 at theWayback Machine,Retrieved 5 October 2009
- ^ab"Milestones".FCBC.Retrieved12 January2021.
- ^"MOE assures a concerned parent that creationism 'is not part of syllabus'".The Online Citizen.23 April 2016.
- ^"On creationism: MOE's reply to a concerned parent".humanist.org.sg.
- ^ab"Profile of Lawrence Khong",Retrieved 3 October 2009
- ^"Business With Heart: He's Well-Schooled"Archived28 May 2009 at theWayback Machine,The Straits Times, 15 December 2007
- ^"SMRT Has A Soft Spot for Charity"Archived5 May 2010 at theWayback Machine,The Straits Times, 16 November 2007
- ^ab"Destiny with HD"Archived1 June 2010 at theWayback Machine,TODAY, 25 September 2003
- ^"Digital dramas"Archived27 May 2009 at theWayback Machine,The Straits Times, 14 October 2003
- ^Lawrence Khong (2008)Give me the Multitudes! Obeying God's Call into the Media World,TOUCH Ministries International: Singapore
- ^""Winning the Marketplace", Retrieved 5 October 2009 ".Archived fromthe originalon 9 March 2010.
- ^"Lawrence Khong's Give Me the Multitudes",13 December 2008, Retrieved 5 October 2009
- ^"Lawrence Khong: Polo-Playing Illusionist".FCBC.Retrieved8 December2020.
- ^"Priscilla Khong: More to Magic".The UrbanWire.6 July 2015.Retrieved8 December2020.
- ^"lawrence's biography".Archived fromthe originalon 14 June 2013.Retrieved21 July2013.
- ^"Lawrence Khong | VISION - A Gateway Entertainment Production".vision.gateway.sg.Retrieved8 December2020.
- ^"Church tells Catholics planning to see Madonna to 'act according to their informed conscience'".The Straits Times.23 February 2016.
- ^"Public Service Medal Recipients"Archived28 March 2010 at theWayback Machine,The Straits Times, 14 August 2009
- ^"Ikea Singapore under fire for supporting anti-gay pastor's evangelistic magic show".19 April 2015.
- ^"Singapore High Court upholds criminalization of homosexuality".Channel NewsAsia.Retrieved7 February2014.
- ^Khong, Lawrence."SP Lawrence Khong's statement at ESM Goh Chok Tong's visit to TC".Retrieved7 February2014.
- ^"Pastor Lawrence Khong: 'We will wear white until the pink is gone'".mothership.sg.
- ^"Lawrence Khong: 'There are no ex-Chinese, but there are ex-homosexuals'".AsiaOne.9 September 2013.Retrieved26 December2020.
- ^"Pastor defends publication of pro-377A guide".Today.19 February 2014.
- ^"Church leaders air concerns on Madonna concert to Shanmugam".Channel NewsAsia.23 February 2016.
- ^"HPB's sexuality FAQs undermine family".15 February 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 15 February 2014.
- ^"'Traditional values' wear white campaign returning on Pink Dot weekend ".Today.
- ^The Independent,Singapore website, Retrieved 2023-04-12
- ^"The passion of Pastor Khong".Retrieved25 June2014.
- ^"SG Polo Team Clinch Silver Medal: 'POLO TEAM EARN SILVER TO END SEA GAMES ON NICE NOTE FOR TEAM SINGAPORE'", 2007
- ^"Polo Player Who Wears Many Other Hats: 'Middle-aged, But at the Top of his Game'"Archived28 February 2009 at theWayback Machine,The New Paper, 15 December 2007
- ^"The Polo-Playing Pastor: 'Being a Sport'"Archived20 June 2009 at theWayback Machine,TODAY, 25 October 2007
- ^ab"Pastor Lawrence Khong wins bid to quash suspension by Singapore Polo Club".The Straits Times.26 December 2013.
- ^"Pastor Lawrence Khong sues polo club after suspension".AsiaOne.23 August 2013.Retrieved26 December2020.
- ^"Lawrence Khong Kin Hoong v Singapore Polo Club [2014] SGHC 82"(PDF).Supreme Court, Singapore.
- ^Singapore Polo Club website,Retrieved 2023-04-12