We certainly need believers to visit us time and again to help us with the work in Cambodia. It was a pleasure to receive Bro James Willie on the 10th June 2019. I did not have to wait long for him at the airport because his flight with SilkAir from Singapore was on time. Time has traveled so fast and I can hardly believe that I have been here in Cambodia for more than 10 years. The Country too has developed very rapidly within these years and Christianity has not been left behind.
I remember that it was in August 2008 that I came to Cambodia. My first thought was to find a local church and work with the Pastor to establish believers in the knowledge of the scriptures. After working with a local Pastor for one year, the Lord opened a door for me to start a church at a Christian Centre which already had a church building. Bro. Gan came to support us and he encouraged other ministers to visit Cambodia and help in the work.
I have also had the opportunity to travel to all the 24 Provinces in Cambodia sponsored by Voice of God Recording (VGR). This helped us to locate many independent churches in the country and increased our contacts for outreach.
Brother James visit was timely and we used it as opportunity to examine the situation on the field and to share our gains and challenges with him. The first province we visited was Kampong Chhang Province. We had a meeting with the leaders on the 14th of June. The messages were fundamental as we were trying to see if the people understood the basic Christian doctrines. At the end of the Bible study we had a session for questions and answers.
The next Province we visited was Kampong Speu Province and it took place on the 16th of June 2019. The name of the village is Trengtroyeung. This is where I started a small fellowship several years back. The believers were growing in the knowledge of the scriptures. We were not many attending regular church services but we were blessed by the word and we did feet washing and partook of the Lord’s Supper. The church has travailed but I believe the time has come for the dry bones to come to life. I preached on the Power of Love & Bro James concluded with exhortations. When the worship service was over, we had a meeting with the leaders to share the difficulties they face and what we need to do for the church to grow.
Bro. Kim Eang and Bro. Kea all said it has been long since Bro Gan visited us in Cambodia and they would like him to visit. We all want Bro. Gan to visit again but I have been telling them that Bro Gan does not have much time for social visits. If they want him to visit Cambodia they have to be more committed in the church. It is common in Cambodia for many people to come to church if they hear that a minister is visiting from abroad but when he is gone the seats are empty. True worshippers must worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. On the positive side, I can testify of some changes in the behavior of the people as a result of the washing of the water by the word.
Brother James(LEFT) giving exhortation during the fellowship.
I wish the church to grow in the knowledge of the truth. The property where the church building stands is about 7 hectares of land. It is a quiet place and good for worship while waiting on the Lord. Many people were baptized in this village. But we have to do follow up time and again to help the stray ones come back home.
The Last Province we visited was Takeo Province on the 18th of June 2019. I have visited many churches in this province but I decided we visit the Ampork Church in Kirivong district to encourage the pastor and his members. Pastor Man Yan was the Pastor of KIrivong New Song Church which is a denominational church run by a Korean missionary. He was asked to step down because he does not have a Bible school diploma. But he is a man filled with the Holy Spirit and understands the Bible. Most of the members left the church to follow him. He started his church worshipping in a tent. It turns out that he has more members than all of the other churches in the district.
Although our visit was on a Tuesday and Sunday is the day the villagers always gather for worship, a considerable number still showed-up. Bro James preached about Heavenly Blessings when we walk in obedience to the Lord. He quoted Joshua 1:8 and part of Deuteronomy 24 and other scriptures. It was a very rich message and a blessing to the church. I saw the Pastor nodding his head each time during the preaching. Bro James suggested that each time we visit a place it is good to discern the condition of the people by God’s help and preached to help the situation. When one is sent by God it is usually to address the issues troubling the people you are sent to. Most of the villagers are very poor farmers but God’s word brings blessings to all those who can understand and obey. It has taken the group 5 years to build a place of worship and it still needs a little finishing touches like flooring and the ceiling. Bro James gave the Pastor an offering to assist the Pastor with the project.
Bro James sharing a message during our visit to the 3rd province
After the Church visits, it was now time for a little recreation. Bro James wanted to see the Killing Field. The site gives sorrow than recreation because of the crime against humanity that was committed at the Killing Field. Many people have heard of the genocide that happened in Cambodia during the Poi Pot regime. The Khmer Rouge was the name popularly given to the communist party. The Killing Field is a touristic site and many foreigners who visit Cambodia choose to see for themselves what happened there. Bro James has visited the concentration camp near Munich and he narrated to me that what he saw was very pathetic. The 20th of June soon arrive, and it was time for Bro James to travel back to Singapore and then to Germany. We appreciate the blessings God used him to provide for us. We pray for more visitors to come to Cambodia.
