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Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Counting on God : Clement Chow Interviewer : Peter Loke Clement Chow is a well-known songwriter in Singapore and composed the song, Count On Me Singapore, among other achievements. He is the worship Coordinator of Festival of Praise. He is married with a son and a daughter. I'm called to do worship; strategic worship. I'm not worried about what I'm going to do in the next 2 years, 5 years, or 10 years, for I've seen God's hand in everything I do. Peter: How did you become a Christian? Clement: I come from a Christian family. In fact, my whole family was mission-orientated. My maternal grandfather was a missionary and he had a halfway house in Malaysia that housed missionaries like John Sung and Watchmen Nee. He also started Telok Ayer Methodist church which was the first Methodist church in Singapore. However, despite being born into a Christian family and going to church every week, I only really became born-again during my National Service (NS). My Christian life is made up of 3 phases; the Christian entry phase (which started during my NS) from 1981 to 1986, the Christian maturing phase from 1986 to 1996 (of which I was serving full-time in Youth With A Mission (YWAM) from 1989 to 1996 in All Good Gifts Ministry (AGGM)), and the Christian giving phase which is now. Peter: Which church and ministry are you in? Clement: I'm a worship leader in Wesley Methodist Church, leading their Prayer and Praise (P&P) services. Initially I didn't want to be in Wesley as I felt that people were there for all the wrong reasons as it was a place with all the models and rich and famous people. It was like a social club. However, God has a strange way of doing things as I've now ended up there. Peter: What kind of work do you do and what have you done so far? Clement: Firstly, I do event management and production work with Inn Entertainment, which is a company I set up in 1988. Our niche is in musicals and production work. I have written corporate musicals for companies like Citibank, Allen and Gledhill, Siemens, Takashimaya, Tangs for events such as anniversary celebrations. These musicals can range from half an hour to an hour and a half. Secondly, I also bring in acts from overseas such as Laura Fygi, Stephen Bishop, Karen Black, Ron Kenoly, Paul Jackson Jr, Tommy Walker, Sheila E, Abraham Laboriel, and Tom Brooks. I'll be bringing in Israel Halken and Abraham Laboriel's band next year too. Usually I prefer to bring in those who are Christian, though not necessarily Christian artists. I also work a lot in Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines. Peter: What struggles do you face as a Christian in the arts? Clement: Well, it's a choice in anything you do. As for me, I do music and not dance. As long as it's fun and clean, it's fine. My own convictions pave the way for the road I choose. That's why I created my own company and do my own productions, so that I don't have to compromise over worldly issues like wine, women and song. Doing my own productions allows me to decide how I want my musicals to turn out rather than having to do what other people want. For instance, you can choose to look classy instead of sexy. Instead of wearing a revealing outfit, you can choose a mandarin costume which covers up to your neck. We always watch the costumes we use. Everything is done in good taste. All this depends on the maturity of one's viewpoint. This is why in my company, my key employees are Christians; all 5 of them. Peter: How did you get into this industry? Clement: I have been in the music industry for 23 yrs. From 1979 to 1981, I did my NS in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Music and Drama Company (MDC). I was a MC, producer, singer and dancer there. Those were the days where all the big names came from the MDC; people like Jack Neo, Jeremy Monteiro, Dick Lee and Martin Tang. In 1982, I won Talentime with a group called Distant Affair. After that, for the next 3 years, we did many shows with TV stations. I’ve also worked with Jeremy Monteiro in a studio, and did a basic education skills programme for the British High Commission. I was also with a company called Tescum, and we did the first few shows for Sentosa Musical Fountain's laser show. I've also taught in Yamaha Music School and created programmes for them such as strumming and singing courses. Before that, from 1979 to 1984 I played with the Eagles. In fact, Glen Goei played there too, right after I left. Between 1982 and 1986, I played at night with Tony, Terry and Spencer at Imperial Oberoi. I was the keyboardist then. I also played with Mark Chan (the brother of Pat Chan, Singapore’s original Golden Girl) at the Changi Sailing Club on weekends. In 1987 I wrote Count On Me Singapore. That was the time when I did a great deal of government work; doing shows for the nation. From 1986 to 1988 I focused on national work, doing about 75 shows a year. After that, I set up Inn Entertainment in 1988. I also produced the album Deeper Than I Can Imagine (which was based on Onesimus' principle from the book of Philemon) with the help of YWAM. YWAM came in during difficult times and helped launch the album in 3 weeks with people such as Mark Chan, Karen Lim, Pat Chan, Robert Fernando, Kevin Ong and Vivien Tan. Their way of working was very good and taught me many lessons. There were no stars. Everyone had to be involved; hands-on. Thereafter, I was with AGGM from 1989 to 1996. Peter: What kind of training did you have? Clement: I was in the military band in school. A few of us formed a pop band which was supported by the school, and traveled to Malaysia to join pop/band competitions. Back then, we were one of the top groups around and won many awards for 3 years. I was the lead vocalist and lead guitarist in the band. After that, Radio and Television Singapore (RTS) gave us TV appearances in 1978. Peter: Have you ever tried to do anything else? Clement: Yes, I've also tried hairdressing and interior designing, and even had my own company doing it for 2 years. However, I learnt that it's not my kind of thing. I'm not a person who can sit in an office the whole day. Furthermore, it wasn't very lucrative. Peter: What do you plan to do from now onwards? Clement: God told me specifically that I'm not a preacher but a "reacher". I'm called to do worship; strategic worship. I'm not worried about what I'm going to do in the next 2 years, 5 years, or 10 years, for I’ve seen God's hand in everything I do. I've been intimate with Him and have learnt to stop striving for things. He has orchestrated things for me and will continue to do so. He is affirming and confirming me, and is leading me to do what He wants me to do. I am also organizing Festivals Of Praise (FOP) in Melbourne and the Philippines. These are wonderful evangelism opportunities. Peter: What's your advice to Christians in the arts? Clement: Its character versus ability. However, character is more important than ability. It's not good enough to play well, you must have the heart as well. You must have some ability, and must want to work towards excellence even if you're not very talented. In addition, no one should be an uncut diamond. All talent must be used for God and must not be hidden. It is not an end to a means, but a means to an end. Through this means, there's evangelism. The ultimate goal is to make disciples of all nations and to love God with all your heart. For example, if you're a businessman, you must make money. To honour him, you must do well in what you're called to be. You are also to be first-hand witnesses and need to ask yourselves where you are with God, for you cannot lead unless you've been there. Peter: Thanks for your time and advice. I want to wish you all the best in your future and may God bless you even more abundantly in your life!
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