i just read the article "Church Raises $19m in 24hrs." an article by the Straits Times on how my church (New Creation Church) managed to raise SO MUCH MONEY in just one day, and during an economic crisis too!

i can imagine what people must be saying right now. i noe most of you think we shouldn't be lavishing such money on a church building and we should give the money to the poor instead. here's a little fact about life. life is unfair. it's like this; if Brad Pitt or Jessica Alba were to save a kid from getting run over by a car while crossing the road, it would be all over the papers. "Actor is a True Hero!" and the whole world would celebrate. but if an old man from across the street were to do the same thing, who'd care? a few months ago when our church had a donation drive drive for Salvation Army, and thousands of members donated, leaving Carrefour practically sold out on everything, nobody thought it was worth mentioning in the papers. one day we decide to collect money to build our own church, BIG NEWS. i'm not asking that we should've been in the news when we actually gave to the poor. what i'm saying is, you don't know. the newspaper isn't going to explain to you that we did it for God, so let me try and explain.

i've heard this from many people, especially my friends. "$19m will still go far if you gave it to the poor! why waste it on building a church?!" you you remind me of a story in the bible...

6Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who previously had leprosy. 7While He was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabastar jar of expensive perfume and poured it over His head. 8The disciples were indignant when they saw this. "What a waste!" they said. 9"It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor." 10But Jesus, aware of this, replied, "Why criticise this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me..."
Matthew 26:6-11
 

 imagine you loved a person beyond your own understanding, and their birthday was coming up. wouldn't you want to also rush out and get them the most expensive thing you could buy, just to show them how much you care? or would you rather save that money so you could give it to the poor? no one in our church was forced to give. we gave out of the fullness of our hearts. being in New Creation Church has changed not only mine but thousands of lives in Singapore, and millions more the world over. how can we not give? and let me remind you, many of the people who gave are themselves not rich. but we give with a hope in our hearts, knowing our God will take care of us. the church is like a home. we were just saving up money to build a brand new house to live in.

if you still feel you can't understand what i'm trying to say and all this sounds like a load of crap to you, then i've got 4 words for you. "SAY WHAT YOU LIKE..." because as for me and my house, we're gonna continue 'WASTING' our time and money for God. 'cause we know the rewards are now in this very life. (whoohoo!)

 and who told you it took only 24hrs to raise $19m?! it took 10years (or more) of preaching...