Contributed by Annie Wong
Have power over money, but don’t let money have power over you.
That was the message at the heart of a speech by Dr Che Ahn at the auditorium at Research University for Leadership, at the Riverwalk on 17 July 2009.
About 250 business owners and executives attended this Marketplace Insight session. Dr Ahn is the senior pastor of Harvest Rock Church, California; he is also the founder and president of Harvest International Ministry, a worldwide apostolic network of over 5000 churches in over 35 nations with the common vision of “Changing Lives, Transforming Cities, and Discipling Nations.”
Dr Ahn proposed that the most effective way to change the world is through wealth, and hence it is very important that Christians be wealthy. He told a story of how one missionary started a business in China because it was a pre-requisite for him to remain in China. As his business grew, he invited missionaries to evangelize to his executives, converting many. Further to that, he wined and dined government officials, developing strong relationships with them. This helped him to gain a permit to start a university. The officials even allowed him to use the campus to share the values of the Christian faith after school hours.
Throughout the teaching Dr Ahn provided many anecdotes of how different individuals attained wealth and through that, were able to reach out to many. He also shared that in order to prosper, Christians have to believe that God wants to prosper us. Also, we have to repent from materialism and break the spirit of poverty.
“In this modern world, many also serve a monarchy, with Money being the King!” When he said this, many in the audience nodded their heads and laughed.
It is equally important, said Dr Ahn, to renew our methods, to be current always. “When Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to the rock as instructed by God, he was depending on his old ways. God, through His grace, allowed water to come forth from the rock. However, it is important for us to constantly hear from God and be relevant. We cannot always depend on our old methods.”
At the end of the meeting, Dr Ahn prayed for the congregation, breaking the spirit of poverty, so that this group of Christians would be open to give as well as to receive. This was followed by a time of ministry and the passing on of an apostolic anointing, to make apostles of these leaders in the marketplace, she that they could be godly movers and shakers out in society.
“I received a revelation when Dr Che Ahn said that wealth is like a chameleon. We have to shift according to the situation, to make changes and still prosper!” said Calvin Ho, a sales executive.
