My family has been attending a Cambodian church close to our house. Guess what's called? It's "Living Hope in Christ" Church. Very dynamic intergenerational church. Its founder Rev.Barnabas Mam has an amazing testimony of surviving Khmer Rouge era and doing years of ministry while at a refugee camp (actually many Christians here have unique testimonies). Barnabas is an evangelist, church planter and discipler. I tagged along with him and his team leading a revival meeting in a rural province. It was during Khmer new year holidays which is filled with pagan practices and was at a historic temple site (I went into one of the old temples and it was spiritually challenging experience). Imagine people singing praises to Jesus and responding to the gospel message confronting these dark forces. I was really encouraged to witness that. Here is a clip:
Clearly Cambodian people are very open and responsive to the gospel. But churches are young and small and workers are few. Please pray with us that the Lord of harvest will raise up more workers for His kingdom in Cambodia. - Gil
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Living Hope In Christ
Rainy season has officially begun. This was no surprise to us, having experienced several downpours that left rivers running in the streets and many places in Phnom Penh under 8 inches or more of water. The announcement came with the warning that, since the rains came early, they could also stop early—people should prepare for drought later in the year. Here is what Gil took the other day:
These announcements came shortly after the Khmer New Year. Khmer New Year is a time for celebration and family reunions, honoring ancestors. A lot of predictions for the coming year are made. On one of these three festive days, at a specific time, the “angel” for the year was welcomed. Again, there was a dire warning: this particular angel had a thirst for blood, so expect a difficult and possibly turbulent year. Expect bloodshed.
We are in a country vulnerable to the vicissitudes of the weather. Farmers depend on getting the right amount of water at the right time. I feel that mirrors the spiritual situation. People are vulnerable to the vicissitudes of so-called deities. Put this together with a deeply shadowed past history and one can see that Cambodia could be a place with little hope.
One thing we’ve noticed is that Christians have brighter countenances than the average person on the street. I don’t think that it is because they are better off. No, they have a living hope that helps them face the future that no one can predict. They have Christ dwelling in them. Please pray for the living hope of Jesus Christ to sweep this country.
- Joyce
These announcements came shortly after the Khmer New Year. Khmer New Year is a time for celebration and family reunions, honoring ancestors. A lot of predictions for the coming year are made. On one of these three festive days, at a specific time, the “angel” for the year was welcomed. Again, there was a dire warning: this particular angel had a thirst for blood, so expect a difficult and possibly turbulent year. Expect bloodshed.
We are in a country vulnerable to the vicissitudes of the weather. Farmers depend on getting the right amount of water at the right time. I feel that mirrors the spiritual situation. People are vulnerable to the vicissitudes of so-called deities. Put this together with a deeply shadowed past history and one can see that Cambodia could be a place with little hope.
One thing we’ve noticed is that Christians have brighter countenances than the average person on the street. I don’t think that it is because they are better off. No, they have a living hope that helps them face the future that no one can predict. They have Christ dwelling in them. Please pray for the living hope of Jesus Christ to sweep this country.
- Joyce
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