Pastor Kong Hee says that despite a challenging year, Jesus was real in his life

City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee and his wife Sun Ho, also known as Ho Yeow Sun.Edgar Su/Reuters

City Harvest Church founding Pastor Kong Hee posted a status on Facebook saying that it has been a challenging year, but Jesus was real for him and his family.

In the Facebook post, the 51-year-old pastor, who has been sentenced to jail for manipulating millions of dollars in church finances to fund the music career of his wife Ho Yeow Sun, shared how Jesus had been so real for him and his family. The post also shows photos and videos of the pastor and the ministry of CHC.

"This is my personal Year-in-Review. It has been a challenging one but Jesus has been so real to me and my family every step of the way." the post of Pastor Hee reads. "Thank you for loving us and always praying for us. We love Jesus and all of you... Happy New Year!"

This is my personal Year-in-Review. It has been a challenging one but Jesus has been so real to me and my family every...

Posted by Kong Hee on Thursday, 31 December 2015
Post by Pastor Kong Hee on New Year

Pastor Hee was found guilty for channeling $35.9 million in church funds into a company called Xtron, which handles the music career of Sun. The guilty party contested claiming that the company was an activity deemed as outreach to non-Christians. However, evidence proves that there was misappropriation of funds on the part of CHC staff, and that the act was considered criminal in nature.

According to The Straits Times, The Singaporean pastor along with five other staff have been sentenced to prison with sentences lasting from 21 months to eight years. Hee will receive the lengthiest sentence of eight years, which starts this January.

Other staff members of CHC who were involved in the malpractice of organization funds are CHC fund manager Chew Eng Han, who was given a six-year sentence; deputy senior pastor Tan Ye Peng, who got five years and six months; and ex-finance manager Serina Wee, who got five years; and Ex-CHC finance committee member John Lam and former finance manager Sharon Tan, who each got 21 months.

City Harvest Church is a Singaporean Christian church that was started by Hee back in 1989. The congregation now has over 15 weekly worship services and has over 17,000 members in attendance.