Puzzled, Amy put down the phone and tore open the parcel to find a harmless-looking VCD. Wondering what it was, she put it in the player and waited. What appeared in the next few minutes were revolting scenes of hardcore pornographic actions!

Amy was not the only one who received the VCD; several other church members also received similar VCDs, all purportedly sent by their Pastor Tan who immediately lodged a police report, as did some of the VCD recipients. This was done to protect himself from any potential police action that may be taken against him (distributing pornographic materials is an offence).

Although surprised and saddened by the whole affair, Pr Tan has not let it affect his ministry in any way. He confessed though, that initially, he did go on a mental hunt in search of the sender and what caused him to do so. He ended the hunt with the conviction that the sender is not a member of his flock, and perhaps it is this confidence in his congregation that had enabled him to move on.

Unlike Pr Tan, Pr Lim knew immediately the group of people responsible for trying to get him into trouble with the authorities. And they were his own church members who were unhappy with him for emphasising certain aspects of the charismatic renewal – such as deliverance and healing – in their conservative congregation.

So, when Pr Lim handed out some seminar notes which contained some sensitive matters relating to other religions, the disgruntled members pounced on the notes as the means to "get even, to disqualify me from my ministry," according to Pr Lim. They handed the notes to the leaders of the two religious groups mentioned in the notes, who in turn passed them to the police.

Did he do anything to clear his name? "No. The police decided to close the issue in the process of their investigation," Pr Lim replied. Blessed with the "time will tell and the truth shall prevail" attitude, it was work as usual for this pastor who refused to be mowed down by the malice of his own sheep.

"Some members were concerned; some were wondering what it’s all about; a few opposed the work in the church. On the whole, the church moved on but a few disgruntled people were affected," he recalled.

Asked about his feelings toward the people concerned, he said: "I don’t think I harbour any ill feelings. It (the incident) only opens my eyes to see the extent some Christians are prepared to go to."

Pastors and leaders make easy targets for scandals as they are in the forefront of God’s work. One way to help protect themselves from falling prey to unnecessary troubles is to build a strong relationship with their members and earn their trust, Pr Tan suggested.