Faith Community Baptist Church

Faith Community Baptist Church
Country Singapore
Denomination Independent
Website www.fcbc.org.sg
Clergy
Senior pastor(s) Lawrence Khong, Nina Khong

Faith Community Baptist Church, or FCBC, is a megachurch in Singapore. FCBC was founded by Pastor Lawrence Khong in 1986.[1] As of Nov 2014, it has a weekly service attendance of 12,000.

History and leadership

FCBC was first founded in 1986 as a cell church, but since 2002 has become a 'G12 cell church' which follows the G12 Vision of César Castellanos. It is a Charismatic church that practices speaking in tongues. The word "Baptist" in the name is from the church's historic Baptist position.

Following the pattern in G12 churches, FCBC is led by Khong and his wife, who together head 12 Teams consisting of 12 couples.

Ministries

FCBC conducts multiple services at three locations: TOUCHCENTRE in Marine Parade, Gateway Theatre (formerly TOUCH Community Theatre) in Bukit Merah currently for its Chinese services and Nicoll meeting rooms 1-3 in Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre under a lease agreement.

FCBC has a community arm, TOUCH Community Services (TCS). TCS serves the local community in Singapore in a variety of ways, including providing various services and help to troubled youth, children, senior citizens, the visually challenged, mentally challenged, physically disabled, family services and in character development. TCS also has an international arm, TOUCH Community Services International, that provides aid and relief to disaster spots and areas that need help around the world. TCSI also supports long-term involvement in global communities and is deeply involved in the rebuilding process in the tsunami stricken areas and others. TCS is a non-profit, non-religious community organization, which has served over 100,000 individuals since its establishment.[2] In 2007, TCS won the Outstanding Non-Profit Organisation Award.[3]

FCBC also has a media branch known as Gateway Entertainment that produces various movies and stage productions which teach moral values and Christianity. Its pioneering magic & theatre show, The Magic of Love (MOL), toured the United States. As of 2007, over 208,000 people worldwide had watched the show.[4] Gateway's second show, titled "MAGICBOX", performed at The Esplanade Theatre in July 2008. Gateway's latest production, "Vision", performed at the same venue in July 2011. Both these shows were a commercial success, with more than 90% of tickets sold for the runs.

Reverend Khong, together with FCBC, started the LOVESingapore Movement, a Unity movement among the churches in Singapore, in 1994. There are over 150 churches in this movement united in prayer for Singapore. Other major churches involved include Victory Family Centre and Covenant Evangelical Free Church.

Unfair Dismissal Case

In August 2013, FCBC was fined by the Ministry of Manpower(MOM) and made to compensate a former staff whose employment was terminated 7 months into her pregnancy, depriving her of wages and maternity benefits. The married woman had been dismissed after she was discovered to be pregnant with the child of another former male staff. Employment Act in Singapore protects an expectant mother from the fourth month of pregnancy and requires employers to pay maternity benefits if she is dismissed without sufficient cause during this period.[5] Reverend Khong disagreed with the ministry's judgement, but the ministry said that "employment legislation has to be kept secular because of Singapore's multi-cultural and multi-religious society.".[6] In October 2013, the church announced plans to file papers requesting a judicial review of the original judgement, believing the ministry had acted unconstitutionally in the way it interfered in the church's affairs. The ministry expressed disappointment, saying that "We live in a secular society where laws have been put in place to protect individuals while not depriving religious organisations and individuals of the space to carry out their practices."[7]

References

  1. ↑ Ong Sor Fern (2002-07-21). "Rise of new churches - New-style churches are run like businesses and boast big congregations and buildings. They say they are only keeping up with the times and meeting aspirations". Sunday Times (Singapore).
  2. ↑ http://www.tcs.org.sg/corp_info/index.html
  3. ↑ http://www.nvpc.org.sg/non-profits/awards/artmid/736/articleid/54/national-volunteerism--philanthropy-awards-2007.aspx
  4. ↑ http://magicoflawrence.com/shows_mol.asp
  5. ↑ http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=149442:compensate-woman-fired-for-adultery-ministry-tells-church&Itemid=4#axzz35nRoocfs. Missing or empty |title= (help); External link in |website= (help);
  6. ↑ http://sg.news.yahoo.com/church-pays--7-000-compensation-for-dismissed-pregnant-staff-who-had-affair-162329331.html
  7. ↑ http://www.singapolitics.sg/news/church-wants-review-order-compensate-axed-employee

External links

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