Heartwarming fellowship, complimentary meals, exciting games, fantastic prizes, an extraordinary concert and much more! These were the ingredients that made the City Harvest Family Day event on May 1, 2007, a resounding success.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

On the first day of May each year, Singaporeans enjoy a public holiday known as Labor Day. This year, some 10,000 members of City Harvest Church (CHC) and their family and friends took this opportunity to gather at the Singapore Expo for a day of fun-filled activities and programs organized by the church.

In this first-ever CHC Family Day, a huge carnival was organized in conjunction with a special appreciation service.

The carnival, which filled two large halls at the Singapore Expo, provided an eclectic mix of exciting rides and game stalls —there was indeed something for everyone to enjoy. At the food stations, all kinds of local fare were served, satisfying the palates of those in attendance.

Many families also took the opportunity to take free portraits at the photo stations, thus having a souvenir to bring home from their day of fun and excitement

UNEXPECTED SURPRISES

As evening approached, the crowds moved into the adjacent hall to see what the appreciation service had in store for them. There were many activities lined up that afternoon, including a special guest appearance by homegrown singer, Sun Ho, as well as Taiwanese celebrity, Milk. Several students from O School, one of Singapore’s flourishing dance academies, also gave a rousing performance that shook up the entire hall with their cool grooves. A surprise birthday celebration for CHC’s senior pastor, Rev. Kong Hee’s mother was also planned. It was a heartwarming moment to see Mrs. Kong’s face light up as the cake was presented to her.

Unknown to most, the organizers had planned a thrilling lucky draw segment with the top prizes each being a three-day, two-night vacation for a family of four to Hong Kong Disneyland — with flight and five-star accommodation included! Every person who entered the hall was given a lucky draw coupon with a five-digit serial number, and five fortunate winners got to match their serial numbers with the numbers that were flashed on the large LED screen onstage.

The senior pastor of CHC, Rev. Kong Hee, then took the stage and began to thank all the church cell group leaders and ministry heads for giving their time and energy to serve God. Every leader was then presented with a brand new mobile phone!

In the words of one leader, “I was so surprised when Pastor Kong announced for all the leaders in church to stand up during the appreciation. I wasn ’t expecting anything so when the ushers handed me a mobile phone, I was very touched. I know that the gift is Pastor’s way of appreciating our hard work and the simple thought of giving each of us something is really an encouragement to me.”

The majority of these church leaders are volunteers who hold full-time jobs outside the church. Yet each week, they spend much of their time and effort serving tirelessly in the church, whether through ministering to people in the various cell groups or through the various ministries in the church. Therefore, to be duly acknowledged by the senior leadership was truly a welcome gesture to all the leaders present in that room.

A DAY TO REMEMBER

Beyond the excitement, fun and games shared by all, the CHC Family Day will be remembered as a day of bonding between family and friends. For many of the invited guests, this was the first time they had ever been into a church. It was a heartening sight to see many grandparents and parents dutifully served meals and enjoying games with their grandchildren or children who are members of CHC.

All in all, the day affirmed in many hearts that City Harvest Church is a place to call home. HT