I am a final-year university student attending what is presumably one of the 'rich' mega churches Dr Lee alluded to. While I sympathise with her feelings of 'losing' her loved ones, I find some of the assumptions and generalisations she made unfair. Firstly, while mega churches in Singapore are active in sharing their faith with the public, they do not target impressionable teenage schoolchildren. As with any religion, it is natural that as Christians we desire to share the joy of our faith with our friends and loved ones.

We are fortunate to live in a multiracial country where people are free to practise any religion. As religious tolerance is a value we guard strongly, it is saddening that Dr Lee should imply that the indiscretions of her children can be attributed directly to negative influence by the church.

While church activities do take up time, as a cell-group leader I can vouch that never has the church sought to sow discord in families or influence teenagers to rebel against their parents.

Like any other religion which seeks to inculcate good values and strong family ties, the Bible teaches Christians to honour and love their parents in obedience.

Some young Christians may get carried away by overzealousness, and churches need to step in to correct them. However, it is unfair to blame our family troubles solely on churches.

While speaking in general about the Christian faith to clarify certain misconceptions, I acknowledge that there will inevitably be deviants who may preach fanaticism.

I beseech Dr Lee to clarify matters with her children's church pastor.

Teo Choon Liang