New Creation Church (Singapore)

New Creation Church is a megachurch in Singapore.cite news|title=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|date=July 21, 2002|publisher="Sunday Times (Singapore)"|author=Ong Sor Fern] cite web|title = Joseph Prince at Hillsong Conference 2007 Sydney, Australia|publisher = "Hillsong Church"|url = http://www2.hillsong.com/conferences/hillsong/default.asp?pid=1226|accessdate = 2007-07-05] Since its founding in 1984 it has grown to a congregation of over 17,000 members in 2008 (Recently a Sunday service saw more than 20,800 members in attendance. The church is still growing steadily). All weekly messages preached by its pastors or guest speakers are recorded and released on audio CDs, while selected messages are released on DVDs. The church also periodically releases "praise and worship" albums produced by its music ministry. The church holds services in English, Mandarin, Hokkien and Korean.

History

The church was founded in 1984, and from an initial attendance of 25, grew to about 150 members by 1990. In June 1990, Joseph Prince, a founding member and pioneer leader of the church, was appointed as the senior pastor. By 1997, its congregation numbered about 3,000.

New Creation Church, along with a few other independent churches in Singapore such as Faith Community Baptist Church, Lighthouse Evangelism (Singapore) and City Harvest Church, have congregations which have been growing exponentially. As of 2008, the church has 14 pastors.

In 2003, the church was noted for installing thermal scanners to help inhibit the spread of SARS. The scanners would alert the helpers of the church if the body temperature of anyone seemed abnormally high.

Global outreach

According to the church's website, it has been involved in missions throughout the Asian region and has sent pastors and leaders to countries such as China, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. [cite web|title = Ministries - Global Outreach - Missions|publisher = "New Creation Church"|url = http://www.newcreation.org.sg/ministries/global_outreach/missions2007.html|accessdate = 2007-05-17] The church's services are also broadcasted weekly in Ugandacite web|title = Harrison House signs Joseph Prince|publisher = "Harrison House Publishers"|url = http://www.harrisonhouse.com/news.aspx?newsId=87|accessdate = 2007-05-17] and on weekdays in the United States (via the Daystar Television Network), [cite web|title = Links - Programmers Directory - Programmers List - Joseph Prince|publisher = "Daystar Television Network"|url = http://www.daystar.com/links/programmers_directory/programmers_list/joseph_prince.htm|accessdate = 2007-05-17] and twice a week on the Australian Christian Channel. [cite web|title = Program Information - Destined To Reign|publisher = "Australian Christian Channel"|url = http://www.acctv.com.au/programdetail.asp?code=378|accessdate = 2007-05-17]

Every year, the church organizes trips to Israel through their own tour agency.cite web|title = New Creation Church: New Friends in Singapore|publisher = "Keren-Hayesod – United Israel Appeal"|url = http://www.kh-uia.org.il/Christian/in/7.11.06_a.htm|accessdate = 2007-07-05]

Music

The church has produced and released several English praise and worship albums to date,cite web|title = Now In: Music → Music CDs|publisher = "Joseph Prince Ministries"|url = https://www.destined2reign.com/onlinestore/c-6-music.aspx?IsTop=1|accessdate = 2007-06-04] including:
* "You Gave" (2005)
* "You Alone I Praise" (2006)
*"I See Grace" (2007)
*"A Touch Of His Presence"
*"Still Waters"
*"Unleashed(youth album)"

In May 2007, the church produced its first Hokkien and Mandarin worship album - 称義 (Justified), a double CD album containing 10 Hokkien and 9 Mandarin tracks.

Contemporary Christian Music artists such as Bob Fitts and Steven Curtis Chapman have performed at the church. Hillsong United had a youth concert at the church in November 2006.

enior pastor Joseph Prince

Senior Pastor Joseph Prince is one of the founding members of New Creation Church. cite web|title = Joseph & Wendy Prince|publisher = "New Creation Church"|url = http://www.newcreation.org.sg/joseph_wendy_prince/abt_joseph_wendy_prince/abtjosephwendy.html|accessdate = 2007-06-09] He has a publishing house, and releases books and CDs, which are sold at the affiliated Rock Gifts & Books Centre and at secular bookshops such as the Times bookshop in Singapore. [cite web|title = Resources - Online Catalogue|publisher = "New Creation Church"|url = http://www.newcreation.org.sg/resources/onlinecatalogue/catalogue.htm|accessdate = 2007-05-17] His latest book, Destined To Reign, released on 15 July 2007, contains teachings from his last ten years of preaching the gospel of grace. [cite web|title = Now In: Books → Destined To Reign (Hardcover)|publisher = "Joseph Prince Ministries"|url = http://www.destined2reign.com/onlinestore/pc-1276-5-destined-to-reign-hardcover.aspx|accessdate = 2007-08-17]

In 2006, Prince was invited to speak at the Grace & Favour Seminar, at Hillsong Church in Sydney and also to Hillsong London [cite web|title = Special Guests|publisher = "Hillsong Church London (Hillsong London)"|url = http://www.hillsong.co.uk/hillsongconference/index.php?content=speakers|accessdate = 2007-05-17] to preach at its three Sunday services. He has also been invited to preach at churches in countries such as Canada, Norway, Netherlands and Indonesia.

He is married to his wife, Wendy, and has one daughter, Jessica Shayna.cite web|title = Joseph & Wendy Prince|publisher = "New Creation Church"|url = http://www.newcreation.org.sg/joseph_wendy_prince/abt_joseph_wendy_prince/abtjosephwendy.html|accessdate = 2007-06-09]

ee also

*Charismatic Movement
*Christianity in Singapore
*Evangelism
*Pentecostalism
*Religion in Singapore

References

External links

* [http://www.newcreation.org.sg New Creation Church]