Wrapping up with the second part of their investigation into C3 Church and Phil Pringle, ‘A Current Affair’ gave us just a glimpse into several stories that exposed the lack of biblical integrity in dealing with hurting ex-C3 members. And it was very obvious that given the time allotted to such an important story, many of the issues touched on by ‘A Current Affair’ were not given the scrutiny they deserved – for example Kong Hee and his relationship with Phil Pringle, Pringle’s culpability in that relationship and a more in-depth look at the way Pringle tried to get the C3 congregation to support Kong Hee’s financial difficulties by helping to cover his legal expenses – without actually giving the congregation any details surrounding the case. We know they were unaware, because contributors here at CWC have friends still attending C3, friends who stated they were never given any details surrounding the case, details given openly here on CWC.
ACA’s report on John Pearce and the ‘prophecy’ given by Phil Pringle came from a very secular understanding of how these ‘prophets’ operate – we here at CWC acknowledge that these are merely empty words from a known ‘false prophet’. There is no hidden agenda other than a hope to ‘spiritually’ influence ‘the very top echelon of power in this country via C3 Australia director John Pearce’, and it’s simply part of the Seven Mountain Mandate we cover here at CWC.
So, with the understanding that the two-part investigation comes from a very secular news program, we note that ‘A Current Affair’ decided to focus in on the Anthony Shalala sex scandal (rather than Kerri Ferguson’s very disturbing story), and it’s important to now give some insight into why Phil Pringle even allows men like Shalala to become ‘overseers’ of a C3 church, Anthony Shalala proven to be a man whose character did not qualify him to be a pastor in the first place. He was not ‘above reproach’.
‘A Current Affair’ highlighted an interesting fact that many may not have noticed – Phil Pringle’s drive to achieve the C3 Global Church ‘2020 Vision’ at any ‘cost’.
In order to achieve his 2020 Vision, there’s no doubt that Phil Pringle is training up many young people under the C3 Leadership model, a unbiblical model not unlike that of Leadership Network’s Peter Drucker and Bob Buford – rather than the biblical model laid down for us in scripture. With these young men and women starting c3 churches all around the globe, there’s no doubt their seemingly very young age, and in the case of women, their gender, disqualifies them as ‘overseers’ of God’s flock. Do they have a solid theological seminary background to help them fulfil the pastoral role? The doctrinal responsibility of this office seems to be laid aside in the haste to achieve Pringle’s ‘vision’.

“Praying for new pastors of new locations tonight! It’s always a highlight seeing people step out boldly to lead and impact communities across Australia. #wearec3 #c3australia#c3churchglobal” (Link)
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God,] which he obtained with his own blood.” Acts 20:28
“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:1-3
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 1The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” John 10:1-13
Men like Phil Pringle “talk like sheep, pray like sheep, they make themselves look ultra-holy, they say “Lord, Lord”, they claim to be doing miracles, casting out demons, making prophecies in the name of the Lord … but by their fruit you will know them … the fruit of lying, of false works, false prophecy, false teaching, false anointings, following false apostles, and trying to be justified by their works. The Shepherd sees through their ruse and calls them what they are … evildoers.” (Link)
CWC will address C3’s media statement in a follow-up article and also address a very inappropriate comment made by a senior leader in the C3 Church Global movement.
‘He covered up a felony’: Mega-church’s history of sex scandals revealed.
Anthony Shahala was one of C3’s rising stars. (A Current Affair)
Phil Pringle is the leader of C3 Church. (A Current Affair)
Pastor Phil Pringle (right) told reporter Dan Nolan it was a “tragic situation”. (A Current Affair)
Pastor Gary Dench admitted in court to knowing about the sexual abuse of a child but doing nothing. (A Current Affair)
Ex-church member Kerri Ferguson said Dench had covered up a felony. (A Current Affair)
Pastor Pringle said C3 was “reviewing” whether to sign up to the National Redress Scheme. (A Current Affair)
Kong Hee (right) embezzles $50m from his the parishioners of his own church. (A Current Affair)
Pastor Pringle said he had a vision of John Pearce (right) talking to the Prime Minister. (A Current Affair)
Source: Dan Nolan, ‘A Current Affair’, https://www.9news.com.au/national/c3-church-sex-scandals-politics-plans-revealed-a-current-affair-investigation/2ce53887-d08c-4664-9c68-eddba9129509
Full video Part 2 can be viewed here:
Source: ‘A Current Affair’ Facebook access, https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=517802178767953. Premiered October 1, 2019. (Accessed October 1, 2019.)
Related article:
‘A Current Affair’ demonstrates that Phil Pringle is not ‘above reproach’ – Part 1.
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“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16
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