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.

From 9News.com:

‘He covered up a felony’: Mega-church’s history of sex scandals revealed.

C3 is the mega-church making mega-millions, but it’s now mired in a sex scandal. Last night, A Current Affair aired the first part of its months-long investigation into the Australian church and its prosperity-preaching leader Phil Pringle. Tonight, in the second part of the investigation, A Current Affair revealed further scandals plaguing the church. Until last year, pastor Anthony Shalala was one of C3’s rising stars.

Anthony Shahala was one of C3’s rising stars. (A Current Affair)

He was tasked with spreading the church to Malaysia after showing the C3 flair for raising money. On Instagram, Phil Pringle once described him as a “great man”. But former C3 member Aaron, who was one of Shalala’s assistants, had a different view.

“I was berated and put down – ‘you’re not with me, you’re against me’, sort of thing,” he said.

Phil Pringle is the leader of C3 Church. (A Current Affair)

Additionally, Shalala – a seemingly happily-married pastor with three children – was having affairs with his parishioners.

“They initially portrayed it as, oh, he’s just made a mistake,” Aaron said.

“He’s just had one marital affair, he’s just like a normal guy. He’s just messed up, done something stupid.”

However, it eventually emerged Shalala had affairs with three women – all of whom, Aaron claimed, disappeared from the congregation.

Pastor Phil Pringle (right) told reporter Dan Nolan it was a “tragic situation”. (A Current Affair)

Ps Pringle told A Current Affair it was a “very unfortunate and very tragic situation”. He said the church had done all it could to provide counselling to the women. C3 said in a statement it took claims of sexual misconduct seriously, and its primary concern was the wellbeing of the person who brought the claim to their attention. Shalala was removed from C3 and has since died.

Pastor Gary Dench admitted in court to knowing about the sexual abuse of a child but doing nothing. (A Current Affair)

But it’s not the only allegation of cover-ups the church has faced. Pastor Gary Dench ran the Christian City Church former parishioner Kerri Ferguson attended, before it morphed into C3. Dench admitted in court, and to Ms Ferguson, that he knew about the sexual abuse of a child at the hands of Ms Ferguson’s former husband, but did nothing.

“He covered up a felony. And he did it knowingly,” Ms Ferguson said.

Ex-church member Kerri Ferguson said Dench had covered up a felony. (A Current Affair)

Another pastor, Trevor Russell, was convicted of molesting boys at a Christian City Church camp in Adelaide in the 1980s. Three of the victims launched a civil claim 10 years ago, stating church elders failed to act on repeated warnings of Russell’s inappropriate behaviour. It’s believed the claim was settled by the church.

Pastor Pringle said C3 was “reviewing” whether to sign up to the National Redress Scheme. (A Current Affair)

Ps Pringle said it was a situation C3 was “reviewing” and was “involved in”, but the church’s website clearly states it will not be joining the scheme.

“We are definitely looking at those circumstances and wanting to be as helpful as we possibly can,” Ps Pringle said.

One of Ps Pringle’s protege’s Kong Hee, started his own church in Singapore.

Kong Hee (right) embezzles $50m from his the parishioners of his own church. (A Current Affair)

But Kong Hee was convicted and jailed after embezzling $50 million of donations from his believers. He spent $20 million building his wife Sun’s music career.

Ps Pringle asked the faithful for more money to fund Kong Hee’s legal defence. And now, Ps Pringle has a plan to influence the very top echelon of power in this country via C3 Australia director John Pearce.

Pastor Pringle said he had a vision of John Pearce (right) talking to the Prime Minister. (A Current Affair)

“Mr Pearce, I believe that God is going to take you to the halls of government,” Ps Pringle was recorded saying at C3’s Australian conference in September.

“I see you talking to the prime minister, I see you talking to other members of Cabinet.”

Ps Pringle appeared to suggest his church had plans to influence legislation.

“I see you having a part to play with a needle in your hand, weaving into the fabric and the culture of Australia certain legislations that are going to take place,” Ps Pringle said.

“You are going to go into that place, and you are gonna prophesize by the power of God.”

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.

Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com

^“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16

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