In the coastal town of Tawau, where daily life moves at an unhurried pace and communities are closely knit, an eleven-storey building rises above the skyline, crowned not with a corporate logo, but with a striking symbol of Christian faith. Known as the Calvary Crown Building, it stands as a quiet yet powerful testimony; what God can accomplish through a small group of believers who are united in heart and unwavering in faith.
Calvary Crown, the tallest church building in Malaysia, is situated in the most unlikely place, Tawau, Sabah, where the local population is declining as they move out to greener pastures in bigger cities. Those who pursued their tertiary education are unlikely to return to Tawau, as much as they would like to, as they could not find job opportunities that match their aspirations and thus decide to stay in the big cities. It was in such a cowboy town that God called Calvary City Church Tawau, led by their senior Pastor, Rev Teh Yung Huat, to embark on a journey of faith to declare His greatness and glory to the world through this iconic and landmark building in Tawau.
This is not a story of wealth, population size, or strategic advantage, but of obedience, unity, and believing God beyond visible limitations. The congregation was not large. There were no major donors waiting in the wings. What the church possessed instead was a unity of heart, and a shared and collective belief grounded in prayer, trust, and obedience to God.
A Vision Born from Necessity (2007)
The vision for the Calvary Crown building arose out of the need for more space due to the expansion of the Calvary City Church’s ministry. As the church land was limited, the only way was to build upward. What started as a building project to meet the immediate need ended with the committee planning for a 6-storybuilding. Eventually this vision would increase to an 11-story building.
The Divine Connection for His Glorious Plan
This remarkable building would not have happened without the creativity and hard work put into the design by Mr. Michael Watson, an award-winning interior designer who is known for his work on the revolving restaurant of the British Telecommunication Tower in London. Mr Watson has since migrated to Australia. It is hard to believe that this well-known and respected architect would be connected to this project in a little place called Tawau, which many people, including Malaysians, have not heard of until the rise of Semprona as a tourist destination in recent years.
Mr. Watson is a devoted Christian who had received a prophetic word about being involved in building a new church building ten years prior to this engagement. The vision was not even born in Tawau. The connection started with Pastor Teh who was going to Africa on a mission trip at that time. The trip took him via London, where met Brother Ong TK, a member who had settled in the city. Bro Ong connected Pr Teh to Mr. Watson via email. Bro Ong and Mr Watson had attended the same fellowship in London, but Mr. Watson had since migrated to Australia. The following year, Pastor Teh was invited to Brisbane, Australia, to conduct a leadership training and that is where the two met for the first time to talk about the initial building plan. The rest is history.
“We are absolutely astounded by the divine hand of God,” Pr Teh shared. “There must be a far greater purpose than what we know at this moment. It will be interesting to see how God will lead Calvary City Church Tawau into fulfilling His greater purpose in Tawau and beyond through Calvary Crown.”
The Design of Calvary Crown
At the top of the building stands the Calvary Crown, inspired by the crown of thorns worn by Jesus Christ. It is a visible declaration that this structure exists not for human recognition, but to honour Christ’s sacrificial giving and love, leading to His victory. Jesus died for our sins, wearing the crown of thorns on His head. Calvary Crown reminds us that true glory is found in surrender and obedience to God.
The cross in the frontage of the building and on both sides of the building tells us that on Calvary, there were three crosses with Jesus and the two criminals hanging there by His sides. His love for all mankind will continue to reach out to our dying world.
When the Calvary Crown Building was completed in 2014, it stood not merely as a physical achievement but as a testimony of God’s faithfulness. What once seemed an impossible dream has become reality, not through any extraordinary human capability, but through sustained unity and belief in God’s provision.
The Journey of Overcoming Faith
The project, when first mooted, was met with opposition and doubts from within as members of the medium-sized Calvary City Church could not believe it could be done. The church was also experiencing a major conflict that resulted in a split. Though this conflict was unrelated to the project, it was an easy target to question the motive of the senior pastor in coming up with such a crazy and ambitious idea of building a high-rise building, and what’s more, making it the second-tallest building in Tawau in actual height. The town actually did not even have a hydropower crane to transport the cement up during the construction of the building, as people had not build such tall buildings in Tawau previously. The challenge to build a world-class building was enormous.
Pastor Teh led the members in sacrificial and breakthrough giving. A breakthrough in faith where members came to believe that it could be done occured when God spoke to a couple in the Church to give one million ringgit for the building project. In fact, another person had then followed suit with another giving but later demanded the money back. The committee decided to return the money in order not to allow the devil a foothold to create a bad name against the church. By then, the faith of the members for the building had already been established and no opposition would deter the church from moving forward. The key was to focus on the Lord Jesus and the work they had to do. They did not allow the distraction from the enemy to stop them from moving forward.
The Faithful Provision of God
Calvary City Church did not plan for this mega project, and all available funds were used to upgrade the church hall, sound system, and the multipurpose hall. There was a seeming delay in getting all the statutory approval until the actual beginning of the project but it turned out to be the wisdom of God. The delay allowed the church to have room to continue raising enough money for the building project before it took off. The initial building cost was projected to be RM13 million. However, when the building and all the internal and external fixtures were completed, that cost came to almost reach RM20 million. Pastor Teh commented that it was better not to know too much earlier on as it would have caused him to be daunted and abandon the assignment God had given the church.
God was so faithful throughout this building project that He kept supplying all that they needed. He also granted the church the favour so that they were able to buy three shop-lots to establish the Grace Training Centre, a school for stateless children. A house was also bought where the teachers of the International School could stay, and another house for the set-up of a Kindergarten.
“It was a time of unprecedented favour and abundant supply from God,” the church shared. “We managed to get a bank loan as well for this project. Those who obeyed Him in giving generously were blessed in return by God.”
Timeline for the building:
2007: Vision conceived.
Oct 2010: Building plan approved by Town Council
April 2011: Piling works completed
June 2014: Calvary Crown completed.
From Construction to Completion
The journey from vision to completion spanned several years and required perseverance through challenges. Plans were approved, foundations laid, and the construction progressed step by step. Each milestone became an opportunity for thanksgiving and renewed trust in God.
Inside Calvary Crown: Faith in Action
Calvary Crown is a multipurpose building intentionally designed to serve the community as well as a testimony to a mighty living God.
Every level of the Calvary Crown Building was shaped and built to reflect a holistic understanding of Christian life, integrating worship, learning, leadership development, health, and community engagement:
Level 11: Sky Garden for weddings and functions.
Level 10: Banquet Hall –A flexible venue for weddings, celebrations, and large gatherings, serving both church and community events.
Levels 9: Multi-function Rooms – Marriage registration office serving the community. Rooms for seminars and training.
Level 8: Church Offices – Administrative, media and recording room and ministry offices supporting leadership, pastoral care, planning, and operations.
Level 7: Accommodation – Comfortable lodging for visiting ministers, trainers, and guests, extending hospitality as an expression of ministry.
Level 4, Level 5 & Level 6: Charis International School – An academy nurturing the next generation academically, developing critical and analytical skills while guiding them to establish good inner values and character (offering IGCSE courses).
Level 3: Gym – The gym beside the standard equipment also has a Sauna and Jacuzzi, promoting physical health and wellness as part of holistic stewardship of life.
Level 2: Auditorium – The auditorium serves as the BM worship hall and the front foldable backdrop can be opened so the auditorium becomes the upper floor for Dewan Calvary, which is a multipurpose hall annexed to Calvary Crown for concerts, worship and sporting purposes.
Level 1: Reception lobby & Café – The Café is serving Western and Chinese cuisine and catering to wedding banquets and functions.
The building facilities are open for the public to use with applicable fees. All these facilities and services are owned and run by Calvary City Church.
A Church without walls for the transformation of cities and nations!
The thrust of Rev Teh ‘s message is to advance the Kingdom of God on earth, preparing for the coming of Jesus. “The Church is to be a House of prayer for the nations,” he shared. “Whatever we do, we must do it with all our hearts for the glory of His name. We are to penetrate into society to be the light and salt of the earth. There is no division of the secular from the spiritual, for God owns everything and they are used for His purpose and glory. How we steward the gift and resources from God will determine our inheritance in the Kingdom of God.”
A Living Testimony to the Nations
Today, the Calvary Crown Building serves thousands through worship services, Bible training, education, community programmes, and daily interactions. It has become a landmark in Tawau, not just because of its height alone, but because of the story it tells.
For the church, the building is a continual reminder that God honours obedience. For the local community, it is a centre of learning, wellness, and connection. And for believers across Malaysia, it stands as an encouragement that size does not limit God; unbelief does.
In an age where success is often measured by numbers and resources, the Calvary Crown offers a counter-narrative: when God’s people move together in unity, align their hearts with His purposes, and take steps of faith, even a small town can raise a crown that points heavenward.
From Tawau, a crown was raised, not by might, nor by power, but by faith in the living God.
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