Kong Hee is the founder and senior pastor of City Harvest Church, a thriving congregation in Singapore. As a second-generation Singaporean, Kong received Jesus as his Saviour when he was 11 years old. A month later, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4). He spent his growing-up years in a neighbourhood Anglican church and was actively involved in its Sunday school and youth ministry.
During his freshman year at the National University of Singapore, one day, he heard the still small voice of God, “Kong, do you love Me more than all that the world could offer? Would you live fully for Me and serve Me for the rest of your life?” That afternoon, his “yes” to the Lord launched him into an incredible spiritual adventure, one that he has been on ever since. For the next few years, working alongside his Anglican vicar, Kong was involved in local church-planting work. At the same time, he was serving actively with a missions agency, making frequent trips to the Philippines. In 1989, with just 20 youths, the City Harvest Church story began.
Over the years, Kong has sought to stay focused and faithful to the strengths, distinctives, and revelations given by the Holy Spirit for his life and ministry. CHC has been a centre for revival and church growth, and its entire ethos can be described in one sentence: loving God wholeheartedly and loving people fervently (Mt 22:37-40). With Jesus Christ as the foundation of the church (1 Cor 3:10-11), Kong has carefully built CHC upon the spiritual disciplines of Scripture, prayer, fasting, relationship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and missions (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Chr 7:14; Eph 3:16; 1 Cor 13:4-7; Lk 9:23; 1 Pet 4:10; Mt 28:19-20; 24:14).
In a postmodern world where truth has become relative, Kong teaches and champions Protestant, Evangelical, and Pentecostal beliefs and practices. This has made his ministry an enigma for many. While CHC continues to be creative and relevant to contemporary culture by constant progress in areas of worship and evangelism, at the same time, it is deeply rooted in the Scripture and in the historical doctrines of the faith. Inasmuch as Kong highlights the importance of the gifts of the Spirit, he also constantly teaches on the greater importance of cultivating the fruit of the Spirit, which he emphasises is the character profile of Jesus (1 Cor 12:7-11; Gal 5:22-23). While he encourages believers to boldly believe God for healing, blessing, and protection, he also teaches that trials, hardships, and sufferings are inevitable for everyone who lives for Christ (Mk 16:17-18; Jn 16:33; 2 Tim 3:12). Because of these biblical truths, CHC has continued to grow as a congregation, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region, in spite of its many challenges and trying seasons.
An insight into Kong’s spiritual convictions:
Kong believes that every Christian should be a soul-winner. He constantly encourages all to “find a need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it” (Prov 11:30; Mt 25:34-40). However, more than all we can ever do for God, our ultimate focus should be our spirituality and spiritual formation. God loves us and wants a relationship with us. As such, Christlikeness and intimacy with God must be our highest passion and goal in life (Rom 8:28-29; 2 Cor 3:18; 2 Pet 3:18; 1 Cor 13:12; Mt 6:33).