Ho Yeow Sun

Reverend Ho Yeow Sun (Chinese: 何耀珊; pinyin: Hé Yào Shān), better known as Sun Ho, is a Singaporean Christian pastor and co-founder of City Harvest Church.

Reverend

Ho Yeow Sun
Native name
何耀珊
ChurchCity Harvest Church
Orders
Ordination1992
Consecration19 October 2015
by Michael Scales, Nyack College
Personal details
Born (1972-06-02) 2 June 1972
Singapore
NationalitySingaporean
DenominationChristianity
SpouseKong Hee
ChildrenDayan Kong
ProfessionPastor, Singer
EducationAnglican High School
Victoria Junior College
In this Chinese name, the family name is Ho (何).

A former Mandopop singer, Ho is married to Kong Hee, a central figure in the City Harvest Church Criminal Breach of Trust Case, Singapore's biggest case in misuse of charitable funds.

Early life

Ho studied at Anglican High School and Victoria Junior College. Born in Singapore, she started as a pastor when she was 20 years old with her husband, Kong Hee,[1] founding City Harvest Church. Eight years later she moved to Taiwan, where she became a Mandopop singer.

Career

Ho is one of the co-founders of City Harvest Church and its community services and is married to Kong Hee.[2] Ho also led City Harvest Church's Creative Department from 1992[3] until late 2000, when she resigned and relocated to Taiwan, where she would do most of her recordings, to pursue her singing career.[4] At the beginning of her music career, she faced accusations that her dressing and song lyrics were sexually charged and inappropriate for her religious background,[5] and rumours of her using her church's support to aid in album sales.[6][7] After a series of concerts,[8][9] she had the opportunity[10] to further develop her career outside of Singapore, focusing on China, Taiwan and the US.[11]

External video
China Wine, Music video by Wyclef Jean
Mr Bill, Music video by Wyclef Jean
Fancy Free, Sun Ho's last music video before return to Singapore

From 2002 to 2007, Ho, based in Taiwan, released a succession of five Mandarin pop albums through Warner Music Taiwan, that have either reached double or triple platinum status.[12][13] During this five-year period, Ho worked with composers such as Ma Yufen (马毓芬),[14] the late Ma Zhaojun (马兆骏)[15] F.I.R.,[16] Milk,[17] Arys Chien (深白色),[18] Lee Wei Song (李伟菘),[19] and Tan Han Jin (陈奂仁).[20] "Lonely Travel" was ranked No. 1 on nine top music charts. Her next album "Gain" released in 2006 reached No. 1 position on 10 top music charts.[12] In 2007, Ho released "Embrace" which hit No. 1 on 11 top music charts.[12][21] Her song, "Starting Point", was used as theme song for Singapore TV series "Turning Point" based on real-life inspirational stories, of which Ho was the host.[22]

In 2003, Ho broke into Hollywood with her debut American single "Where Did Love Go," produced by David Foster and Peter Rafelson.[23] The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play "Breakout" Chart in December 2003.[24] Subsequently, three of her singles, "One With You", "Without Love" and "Gone" reached No. 1 positions on the Billboard Dance Chart. "Ends Of The Earth" also joined the abovementioned three singles to reach No. 1 positions on the UK MusicWeek Chart.[25][26][27][28][29] While in the United States, Ho worked with top industry personalities such as Wyclef Jean, Diane Warren, David Foster, Jimmy Harry, Tony Moran, Chris Cox, Eric Kupper, Jason Nevins, Moto Blanco and the Underdogs.[10][30][31]

Awards

On 6 November 2003, Ho was among 10 international nominees to be presented "The Outstanding Young Person of the World 2003" Award for her social work in Asia.[32][33] The ceremony was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, under the auspices of JCI (Junior Chamber International). Ho is the fourth Asian celebrity to receive the award after Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Michelle Yeoh.[34][29][35]

Controversy
Main article: City Harvest Church Criminal Breach of Trust Case

In 2010, Sun Ho was questioned by the Government of Singapore when City Harvest Church came under investigation for alleged misuse of funds.[36]

After the City Harvest Church trial began which created an extended scrutiny of Ho's singing career,[37] two suspension orders were imposed against her where "Ms Ho is not involved even though she is a direct beneficiary".[38] She resumed her role as the Executive Director of the church in Singapore after they were lifted in May 2013 by the Commissioner of Charities (COC).[39]

On 19 October 2015, two days before the sentencing of her husband Kong Hee, Ho was ordained by Michael Scales from Nyack College.[40] The ordination paved the way for Ho to lead the church as senior pastor while her husband awaited a potential prison sentence.

Two days later, all six City Harvest Church leaders were sentenced to between 21 months and eight years' jail on Friday (20 November) for misappropriating S$50 million of church funds as well as criminal breach of trust, and falsification of accounts.

Ho's husband, senior pastor Kong Hee, the founder of the church, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for criminal breach of trust. John Lam, former secretary of the church's management board, was sentenced to three years' jail. Sharon Tan, former finance manager, was sentenced to 21 months in prison. Former board member Chew Eng Han was given a sentence of six years and senior pastor Tan Ye Peng, five years and six months. Serina Wee, former finance manager for the church, was handed a five-year jail term.[41]

The November 2016 appeal revealed the City Harvest Church leaders spent $24 million on Ms Sun Ho’s musical foray into the United States which included a house in Hollywood that cost $28,000 a month in rent; a whole entourage of staff; a $1.9 million paycheck to rapper Wyclef Jean to produce the "China Wine" video; as well as another $500,000 to sweep up her albums when they tanked.[42]

Over the course of the trial, the court heard that Kong Hee had set up a multi-purpose account where church members deposited "love gifts" that were used to pay for expenses between 2006 and 2010.

External video
Law minister K Shanmugam setting out the government's position on the court's ruling, Gov.sg video

Examples of expenses included more than $300,000 spent on travel, more than $100,000 on food, and over $100,000 on make-up and medical costs. Ho's earnings of more than $400,000 a year came from these gifts, and Kong admitted in court that donors were unaware of Ho's earnings. The 2012 Commissioner of Charities (COC) inquiry found that $3 million was purportedly spent by Sun Ho from the MPA between April 2007 and March 2010.[43] Givers to the MPA were not told the Crossover project was in fact funded by illegal bonds and were persuaded to give towards the project's costs. Besides Sun's 'salary' from the MPA of $400,000/year, Sun was receiving an official salary from Xtron at US$10,000/mth and entitled to 25% of project gross income, regardless and before costs.[44]

Today, Sun Ho continues to sit on the Board of City Harvest Church.

Personal life

Together with husband Kong Hee, Ho has one son, Dayan Kong, who was born in 2005.[45]

She formerly lived in a 5,242 sq ft duplex penthouse located on the 11th floor of The Oceanfront in the premium residential enclave Sentosa Cove. The penthouse was co-owned by her husband with Indonesian tycoon Mr Wahju Hanafi，a church follower. The pair bought the penthouse for $9.33 million in 2007, each paying monthly installments of $17,000, before the apartment was sold at a loss of over S$2 million to a Kenyan diplomat.[46]

External video
Xiaxue's Sun Ho make-up tutorial, Clicknetwork video

In August 2016, blogger and online television personality Xiaxue lampooned Ho with a makeup tutorial inspired by her look in the controversial "Mr Bill" music video.[47]

Discography
  • Sun With Love (2002)
  • Sun*day (2002)
  • Lonely Travel (2003)
  • Gain (2006)
  • Embrace (2007)

References
  1. hermesauto (21 October 2015). "City Harvest trial: All 6 accused, including founder Kong Hee, found guilty of all charges". Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  2. Lam Leng Hung, John; Chew, Eng An (5 November 2003). "A Pastor in a Broad Sense". Streats.
  3. "Poon says sorry; pastor asks church to forgive". 29 January 2003. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  4. Personal communication from Rev. Derek Dunn, Pastor/Manager- HR, Office & Pastoral Administration Departments, City Harvest Church.
  5. Seah, Lionel (8 November 2004). "Faith, hope and Sun". The Straits Times.
  6. Wong, Kim Hoh (16 November 2003). "Church or Hollywood?". The Straits Times.
  7. "SINGAPORE: Ho Yeow Sun can't seem to avoid making headlines, and not always in a good way". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 22 June 2007.
  8. ""何耀珊大碟叫好叫座 台北演唱会过千歌迷热捧", YAHOO". Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  9. ""何耀珊档案", www.13520.org". Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  10. ""25 tastemakers in asia", Tiger Tales – Inflight Magazine of Tiger Airways". Archived from the original on 23 February 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  11. "何耀珊:话题女皇". I-Weekly (Mar). 2008. p. 32.
  12. ""何耀珊与奥莉维亚纽顿强合唱《Isn't It Amazing》", CE.CN". Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  13. ""Making The Brand: Sun Rising", Publication:Billboard". Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  14. ""何耀珊《拥抱》荣获台湾7大主流排行榜冠军", CN West". Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  15. ""马兆骏生前最后一首歌给何耀珊《拥抱》", 新华通讯社网络中心". Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  16. ""FIR友情跨刀创作 制作又献唱何耀珊专辑新歌",Yahoo.com.cn". Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  17. ""牛奶尬舞 辣媽電臀狂搖",自由電子報". Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  18. ""一杯随你调释"鸳鸯"何耀珊的音乐",中国风网". Archived from the original on 22 March 2005. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  19. ""依樣陽光的何耀珊《收穫》", 3C Music 中文唱片評論". Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  20. ""何耀珊《SunDay》", mojim!China Limited". Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  21. ""何耀珊上海召开《拥抱》视听会 讲述新专辑背后的故事", qkzz.net". Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  22. ""第3张专辑后 何耀珊要办巡回演唱会", Zaobao.com". Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  23. ""何耀珊杭州《孤单旅行》 自曝曾患忧郁症想自杀", SINA". Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  24. ""何耀珊捐百万酬劳建孤儿院 最希望与郑秀文合作", QQ.com". Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  25. ""Asian Pop Diva Sun Ho Set to Take America by Storm ", Asianbite". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  26. ""ARTIST – SUN", triple j Digital Music Service". Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  27. ""Singer Sun Ho Is Working with the Best", CCTV International". Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  28. ""Singapore-born singer Sun Ho is working with the best", Channelnewsasia.com". Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  29. ""Singapore's Singing Sensation A Role Model For Young People", eMU News Online". Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  30. ""Ends of the Earth",Discogs". Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  31. ""Without Love",Last.fm the social music revolution". Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  32. ""何耀珊 演绎大事记", NEWS". Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  33. ""何耀珊介绍", music.sogua.com". Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  34. ""Back from the Brink ", china.org.cn". Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  35. "TOYP 2003". Junior Chamber International (JCI). Archived from the original on 9 September 2004. Retrieved 1 June 2005.
  36. http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_541030.html
  37. NG, JUN SEN. "Sun who? Why Sun Ho failed to crack US market". The New Paper. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  38. Robert, Catherine. "CHC trial: Sun Ho's career, lifestyle attracted critics". The New Paper. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  39. "Ho Yeow Sun to resume executive role in City Harvest Church". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  40. "Ho Yeow Sun to resume executive role in City Harvest Church". Yahoo Newsroom. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  41. "City Harvest trial: 21 months to 8 years' jail for leaders". Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  42. Md, Suhaile (22 September 2016). "CHC Appeal: The optimism and folly of Kong Hee". Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  43. "Money from 'love gifts' went into secret account" (8 November 2015). TNP. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  44. "Appeal Judgment" (April 2017). Singapore Law Watch. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  45. "Probe was traumatic for my son: Kong Hee". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  46. Team, The Must Share News (2 September 2018). "Kong Hee's Sentosa Cove Penthouse Sold At $2 Million Loss After 3 Years". Must Share News - Independent News For Singaporeans. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  47. CoconutsSingapore (4 August 2016). "WATCH: Xiaxue's makeup tutorial will make you look like a ghostly replica of Sun Ho | Coconuts Singapore". Coconuts. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
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