Lawrence Khong Kin Hoong (born 17 July 1952) is a Singaporean Christian
religious leader
Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...
and
magician. He is the leader of
Faith Community Baptist Church in Singapore and the chairman of LoveSingapore, a network of about 100
socially conservative
Social conservatism is a political philosophy and variety of conservatism which places emphasis on traditional power structures over social pluralism. Social conservatives organize in favor of duty, traditional values and social institution ...
Singaporean churches. Khong is also the founder and chairman of TOUCH Community Services, a non-profit, non-religious welfare organization.
Early life and education
Khong is the son of a businessman and a housewife. His father was a general commodities wholesaler who came from
Guangdong
Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020) ...
province in China. Khong is a child of his father's second marriage which began before World War II after his father relocated to Singapore.
["The Pastor Who Does Magic: 'PREACHER'S MAGICAL TOUCH'"]
The Straits Times, 7 July 2008
Khong was rebellious and did poorly in primary school though he claims that his grades improved when he matriculated to
St Joseph's Institution. Following this, he went on to
National Junior College
National Junior College (NJC) is a government junior college located in Bukit Timah, Singapore. Established in 1969, it was the first government junior college in Singapore. NJC offers a two-year course for pre-university students and a six-year ...
, where he met his future wife, Nina.
Despite becoming a Christian at the age of 13, Lawrence said that he had "backslid" during his army days. He did however attend a church camp at Port Dickson during that time.
Khong claims that a drowning incident at the church camp made him reflect deeply on life and on himself. He returned to church and joined the Varsity Christian Fellowship. Khong even began preaching from the pulpit while he was still an undergraduate.
[, Retrieved 5 October 2009]
As an undergraduate, Khong also started performing publicly as a magician. He became a member of the Singapore Charter of the Society of American Magicians
The Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) is the oldest fraternal magic organization in the world. Its purpose is "to advance, elevate, and preserve magic as a performing art, to promote harmonious fellowship throughout the world of magic, and ...
.
After graduating with a B.A. in Business Administration from the National University of Singapore, he worked as an intern pastor. A year and a half later, he married his fiancé, Nina who was working for the couple as a homemaker. The two set off for Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
so that Khong could attend the Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) is an evangelical theological seminary in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system dispensationalism. DTS has campuses in Dallas, Houston, and Washington, D.C., as well as extension ca ...
. While studying at the seminary, Khong was asked to pastor a Dallas church with a Chinese congregation because he could speak some Chinese.
Khong returned to Singapore and joined Grace Baptist Church in 1981.
Career
Faith Community Baptist Church
Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC), was founded by Khong as a cell church in 1986.["About FCBC"]
, Retrieved 5 October 2009[Lawrence Khong (2000), The Apostolic Cell Church (Paperback)]
, Retrieved 5 October 2009 Khong delivered his first message to the new congregation on August 17, 1986. Besides serving as the pastor of the megachurch
A megachurch is a church with an unusually large membership that also offers a variety of educational and social activities, usually Protestant or Evangelical. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research defines a megachurch as any Protestant C ...
, Khong also stages entertainment shows that combine magic, music, drama and dance to engage his congregation. The church is reported to have a congregation of around 10,000 members as of 2014.
Khong is one of the International Twelve of Cesar Castellanos.["PastorNet: Lawrence Khong"](_blank)
, Retrieved 5 October 2009 Following the pattern in G12 churches, FCBC is formerly led by Lawrence Khong and his wife, Rev (Dr) Nina Khong.
Khong began assuming the title of "apostle
An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to send off". The purpose of such sending ...
" after a church service in 2000 in which he was given the title by theologian C. Peter Wagner. Wagner was a key leader of the Church Growth Movement and the controversial New Apostolic Reformation
The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a movement which seeks to establish a fifth branch within Christendom distinct from Catholicism, Protestantism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Eastern Orthodoxy. The movement largely consists of churches nominally ...
, a movement of Pentecostal
Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement and charismatic churches advocating for the "lost offices" of church governance, namely the offices of prophet
In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the s ...
and apostle. 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 called Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended ...
's Theory of Evolution
Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. These characteristics are the expressions of genes, which are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Variatio ...
"a real deception from the Devil". The church's support for creationism in its pulpit and on its social media channels prompted a discussion on the spread of the idea by certain groups of Christian evangelicals in secular Singapore. The Ministry of Education
An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...
has since clarified that creationism is not taught in local schools.
TOUCH Community Services
Khong 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.["Profile of Lawrence Khong"]
Retrieved 3 October 2009
In 2002, Khong conceptualised ''Project SMILE'' or ''Sharing Magic in Love Everywhere''. For his achievements, he was selected as a finalist for the SIP-Schwab Social Entrepreneur of 2007.["Business With Heart: He's Well-Schooled"](_blank)
, The Straits Times, 15 December 2007
In 2007, TCS won the Outstanding Non-profit Organisation Award in the National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards, which recognises best practices in the management of volunteers and donors, including fundraising practices, in non-profit organisations.["SMRT Has A Soft Spot for Charity"]
, The Straits Times, 16 November 2007
Media and entertainment
Khong has been performing magic since his late teens. He started producing movies in 2010["Destiny with HD"]
, TODAY, 25 September 2003["Digital dramas"]
, The Straits Times, 14 October 2003 and performing magic shows such as "Magic of Love" and "Magic Box".[Lawrence Khong (2008) ''Give me the Multitudes! Obeying God's Call into the Media World'', TOUCH Ministries International: Singapore]
Khong shared his experiences of "Magic of Love" in his book ''Give me the Multitudes! Obeying God's Call into the Media World, TOUCH Ministries International: Singapore'' but has received some criticism from fellow Christians for his use of magic and involvement in "marketplace ministries."
13 December 2008, Retrieved 5 October 2009
Following the church's embrace of dominion theology
Dominion theology (also known as dominionism) is a group of Christian political ideologies that seek to institute a nation which is governed by Christians and based on their understandings of biblical law. Extents of rule and ways of acquiring go ...
, 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.
Gateway Entertainment touts Lawrence Khong as having been the 'first in Asia to receive the Elite Diamond Merlin Award for Magician of the Year" in 2010, an award conferred by the International Magicians Society
The International Magicians Society (IMS) is a magic society created by Tony Hassini to "help promote and preserve the art of magic and provide a format where magicians could share their secrets and ideas." The society gives its own "Merlin Award" ...
.
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 performance of Madonna in the country.
Recognition
In 1998, Khong was conferred the public service medal in recognition of his contributions to the community.["Public Service Medal Recipients"](_blank)
, The Straits Times, 14 August 2009
Controversies
Views on homosexuality
Khong has been criticized for stance against equal rights for homosexuals in Singapore. In January 2013, Khong issued a statement to Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong (; born 20 May 1941) is a Singaporean former politician who served as Prime Minister of Singapore between 1990 and 2004, and Secretary-General of the People's Action Party between 1992 and 2004. He was the Member of Parliament (M ...
against repealing Singapore's laws that criminalise gay sex. He called the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code
Section 377A is a Singaporean law that criminalises sex between consenting adult males. It was introduced under British colonial rule in 1938 when added to the Penal Code by the colonial government. It remained part of the Singapore body of la ...
"a looming threat to this basic (nation) building block by homosexual activists". He has referred to the "homosexual act" as "the greatest blasphemy against the name of God". He has stated he believes in conversion therapy and has called the LGBT community "some of the most intolerant people that I have ever met".
In 2014, LoveSingapore ,a network of 100 local churches that Khong chairs, created a guide to supporting Section 377A of the Penal Code
Section 377A is a Singaporean law that criminalises sex between consenting adult males. It was introduced under British colonial rule in 1938 when added to the Penal Code by the colonial government. It remained part of the Singapore body of la ...
. Khong also criticized the Health Promotion Board in an open letter, saying their webpage on sexual health "condones same-sex relationships and promotes homosexual practice as something normal". He has also actively protested against the annual Singapore gay pride event Pink Dot SG
Pink Dot SG, known exonymously as Pink Dot, is an event that has occurred annually since 2009 in support of the LGBT community in Singapore. Attendees of Pink Dot events gather to form a "pink dot" to show support for inclusiveness, diversity ...
, and has supported the counter-campaign and encouraged his followers to speak out against the normalisation of homosexual relationships in Singapore.
Personal life
Khong and his wife, Nina Khong, have four children – Priscilla (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. In 2003, Khong publicly disclosed Priscilla's incident of having a child out of wedlock. The family has since reconciled with the church and stands strong on their biblical belief of 'sex after marriage'.
He is also a national polo player who won a silver medal with the Singapore team at the 2007 Southeast Asia Games.["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'"](_blank)
, The New Paper, 15 December 2007["The Polo-Playing Pastor: 'Being a Sport'"](_blank)
, TODAY, 25 October 2007
Suspension from the Singapore Polo Club
In August 2013, Khong filed a suit against the Singapore Polo Club
The Singapore Grounds, or better known as Singapore Polo Club is a varied sports centre in Singapore. It is one of the oldest grounds in Singapore.
History
Polo was introduced to Singapore by officers of the King's Own Royal Regiment who were s ...
when 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.
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.
The High Court ruled in Khong's favor and set aside his suspension from the club.
Notes and references
External links
Faith Community Baptist Church
TOUCH Community Services
International G12 Conference 2009 – Give me the Multitudes!
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khong, Lawrence
1952 births
Living people
National University of Singapore alumni
Singaporean Baptists
Singaporean people of Cantonese descent
Singaporean Charismatics
Singaporean Christian clergy
Singaporean religious leaders
Singaporean magicians
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