by Mr. Leng Thy
During a monitoring visit to project groups in Phum Sreh Church, Kompong Thom, we recently visited a new grocery store owned Mrs Chhith Long, a 30 year-old mother with 3
children and husband, Chhy Sariem. During a one hour chat with her, the shop owner shared
briefly how her grocery store started.
Born in a farmer family, by her upbringing Chhith Long always regarded grocery business as a
kind of occupation suited to Chinese-Cambodian, not Khmer people. Perceiving herself as having no
skills, no experiences, and no capital to start the business she viewed the grocery store as far
beyond her ability even to think of. Her thinking was that for Khmer people like her, an appropriate career should be a farmer for
which its skills have been passing on from generation to generation. Such self-degradation hasn’t
encouraged her to take initiative or risk of new venture for which a desirable future would take
place, but rather has inevitably entrapped her into enduring poverty.
Becoming a church member in 2000, and later a saving and credit group member in 2009, Mrs.
Chhith Long said that that traditional view has been reshaped by a new sight through the lens of
biblical perspective from which they acquired through the training provided, especially Mobilizing
the Church, and project group monthly meeting. This fresh view allows her to see the world
differently for which hope and confidence is brought to her warmly. She grew to realized that
grocery shop is not exclusively a business for Chinese, but for everyone on earth. The creation and
everything in it (including human beings, who are created by God and share His love equally) belong
to God. Referring to the Book of Proverb 16:3 “Commit to the Lord everything you do, then you
plans will succeed” she said that with God’s presence nothing impossible.
Because of these encouraging scripture verse, in June 2012, with her husband agreement she
decided to take 500, 000 Riel loans ($125) from her saving group as a supplement to her own family
2,500,000 Riel capital ($625) to start the business. Since the outset, might be the result of God’s blessings,
she said, her store has been good selling compare to others shop within the village. The villagers
told her that they like buying things in her store because it provides good value and friendly
greeting to all clients as well. Hence, her capital increased from 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 Riel ($750 to $1250) in the first 4 month period. Learning from this practical experience Chhith Long said that she has
ideas in mind to expand her business by inviting some of her group members whose skill in sewing
and cooking to take part for which they can take from it more advantages in terms of improving
their skill and receiving a proportion of income.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Impact of Mobilizing the Church Training
by Mr. Leng Thy
Poverty of though, when people view themselves as poor, is a major handicap to the creativity and initiative required risk taking for developing their God given potential to reach its fullness. Removing the pessimistic view of life by encouraging them through empowering approaches to discover who they truly are where at which they gain hope for moving towards an unfamiliar situation yet desirable territory is a fundamental mission of CHAD program aligning with God intention. To this end, the program has conducted training with various topics for all MMC districts, including series training named Mobilizing the Church.
During a session of Mobilizing the Church training conducted for all Local Social Concern Committee (LSCC) in Kompong Thom district, Northern part of Cambodia, the participants discussed how to serve the church more effectively. Through the discussion, they came up with the ideas that training for church leadership capacity building plays a vital role for the church’s growth. To make the training available they also agreed to contribute personally towards transportation cost that usually paid by the CHAD program.
In a recent training, prior to the commencement of this event, a representative of Social Concern Committee (SCC) in Kompong Thom, Mr. Chhee Sariem who is coached to be a co-facilitator with CHAD team reminded participants of what they have just said previously about transport contribution. They responded without reluctance that they willingly contribute 50% of the cost. It doesn’t much matter to this amount of contribution; it seems to be so small. The matter is that the change of receiving habits deeply entrenched in people mindset to becoming an attitude of which they are willing to share where everyone can be blessed through it.
Other than that, there seems to be shown that the rise in willingness to learn has also occurred when they took part in their transport cost. This can be noticed as a major change as well because they previously attended in the training just show up in the event for merely the transport allowance, not for learning attempt.
The transformation of churches within Kompong Thom district would set a good example for various churches in other districts to transform their undeveloped habits. It is evident that this achievement is caused by the program’s constant effort and the God’s involvement through the endless prayer. Relying on our strength without God’s intervention would worsen the situation.
Poverty of though, when people view themselves as poor, is a major handicap to the creativity and initiative required risk taking for developing their God given potential to reach its fullness. Removing the pessimistic view of life by encouraging them through empowering approaches to discover who they truly are where at which they gain hope for moving towards an unfamiliar situation yet desirable territory is a fundamental mission of CHAD program aligning with God intention. To this end, the program has conducted training with various topics for all MMC districts, including series training named Mobilizing the Church.
During a session of Mobilizing the Church training conducted for all Local Social Concern Committee (LSCC) in Kompong Thom district, Northern part of Cambodia, the participants discussed how to serve the church more effectively. Through the discussion, they came up with the ideas that training for church leadership capacity building plays a vital role for the church’s growth. To make the training available they also agreed to contribute personally towards transportation cost that usually paid by the CHAD program.
In a recent training, prior to the commencement of this event, a representative of Social Concern Committee (SCC) in Kompong Thom, Mr. Chhee Sariem who is coached to be a co-facilitator with CHAD team reminded participants of what they have just said previously about transport contribution. They responded without reluctance that they willingly contribute 50% of the cost. It doesn’t much matter to this amount of contribution; it seems to be so small. The matter is that the change of receiving habits deeply entrenched in people mindset to becoming an attitude of which they are willing to share where everyone can be blessed through it.
Other than that, there seems to be shown that the rise in willingness to learn has also occurred when they took part in their transport cost. This can be noticed as a major change as well because they previously attended in the training just show up in the event for merely the transport allowance, not for learning attempt.
The transformation of churches within Kompong Thom district would set a good example for various churches in other districts to transform their undeveloped habits. It is evident that this achievement is caused by the program’s constant effort and the God’s involvement through the endless prayer. Relying on our strength without God’s intervention would worsen the situation.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
The Story of Four in Chhoeung Prey Church
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that
is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not
all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and
mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the
eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5
On Tuesday, June 26,
2012, Irene Mparutsa, Sophal Sok, an impromptu translator David, and I visited
a few villagers of Chhoeung
Prey Church in Kandal Province.
For the past several years, CHAD has been working closely with these villagers who
are members and leaders of this local Methodist church. CHAD financially and agriculturally
supports and practically advises them through the community’s rice bank. On that
day, we had the privilege of meeting and interviewing four leaders in their
newly elected rice bank group committee:
Outsan: The
Establishment of the Church
One day, in the
early- to mid-1990s, Outsan’s son was really sick and his uncle took him to the
hospital. Ever since he recovered from his sickness, he worked in the field and
took care of cows. On a random day, when there was a downpour of rain, he took
cover in a nearby shelter, only to have found a Bible. Reading the living Word
of God, the Lord softened his heart to desire to know Him more; he wanted to
know the meaning of these parables, these commandments, the Gospel, the Good
News. Sharing his desiring heart to know who God is—who Jesus is—with his
uncle, his uncle knew of a local church and sent him there. Eventually, with
his gifts in music, he used them to serve in the church worship team by playing
all kinds of instruments, such as guitar and flute.
A few years
later, he travelled to Phnom Penh and attended a Khmer church called New Life
Fellowship. He had hoped to start a new life there, but in 1997, there was a
clash between two parties: the Cambodian People’s Party and FUNCINPEC Party. The
result of this political conflict led many people, including Outsan’s son, to
flee from Phnom Penh to his childhood village where he continued to work
faithfully for the Lord by evangelizing to the villagers, joyfully sharing the
Gospel and the Good News with them. In that same year, as he shared with his
mother that he wants to start a church, Outsan, 68, was convicted by the Spirit
to sacrifice her home to be a home church, which is now Chhoeung Prey Church.
When they first
started the church in 1997, there were 180 adults who came out to the worship
service. Right now, in the year of 2012, there are 30-40 members in the church.
They believe that the cause of this huge decrease in church attendees is twofold:
(1) the home church, now, leaks when it rains, and (2) they don’t serve a lot
of food and beverages anymore before or after service. Despite any possible
reason for the decrease in church attendees and regardless of the number of
people in the church—whether there are 200 or 2—we are called to “worship the
Father in Spirit and in Truth” [John 4:23] both “in season and out of season”
[2 Timothy 4:2] and to work faithfully [Matthew 25:14-30], for the Lord our God
alone saves the lost by faith alone in the perfect life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit with His
sovereign grace alone.
Please pray for
the following:
- For Outsan’s vision to eventually build a children’s center, a computer teacher, an English teacher, and to host weddings in their new church building that is currently being built right now;
- For the young pastor who is serving in Chhoeung Prey Church;
- To not be discouraged by the number of church attendees, but to be faithful in worshiping and loving God;
- For her youngest son Bakaran to have the diligence and faithfulness to work hard to go to a university; and
- For Outsan’s health.
Veasna: The
Miracle of a Changed Heart and Mind
When Veasna, 32,
was suffering from heart disease and hepatitis B, CHAD helped him to go to
Cooperative Services International (CSI) Mercy Medical Center, where he felt
loved and respected. He shared that if he was at another hospital like Calmette
Hospital, they would have asked him to pay first before they treat him.
However, CSI, which is a Christian hospital, seeks to treat all patients
whether they can pay on the spot or not. While he experienced all of this when
he was a nonbeliever, he came to know the love of Christ through these doctors
and nurses, and he committed to following Christ in March 2012. Praise God!
He also informed
us that he is illiterate. So, I asked him how he first came to hear of the
Gospel and the Good News. He shared that when he attended Chhoeung Prey Church
as a nonbeliever, he had heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the pastor’s
sermons and by talking to Outsan. Moreover, he asks his children to read the
Bible to him so he can learn more about the Word. Hallelujah! There is such a
strong need for discipleship among the churches and pastors in Cambodia. And we
can only praise God for using such unworthy people with inadequate abilities to
help others see the glory and holiness of God. God alone is good! [Mark
10:17-18; Romans 3:10-18]
Puong Sreang: Hope
for Her Husband’s Salvation in Christ
Puong Sreang, 56,
gave her life to follow Jesus Christ after an encounter with a group of pastors
called Hope Organization. She eventually went to study the Bible at Hope in
Phnom Penh for three months, but came back on behalf of her husband’s wishes. She’s
the only one in her family who believes in Christ. But she believes that God is
slowly working in her husband. He stopped burning incense sticks and
worshipping ancestors, but is still hesitant.
Please pray for
the following:
- For God to bless the community. As the chairperson of the rice bank, she hopes to increase the rice bank;
- To grow in faith;
- For physical healing. She has diabetes and an upset stomach; and
- For God to meet her husband in a newer and greater way.
Ttoi Sietnim: Christ
as Yahweh and the Ultimate Healer
Ttoi
Sietnim is Outsan’s daughter and is currently a rice bank committee member. Before
she met Christ, it was hard for her to forgive others. She was easily selfish,
bitter, frustrated, and angry. She also didn’t know that Jesus was God and that
He can give peace in the midst of her family struggles. But when she met
Christ, she repented and now knows that He is the only true God, the creator of
the heavens and the earth, the ultimate Healer. Praise God! In 2000, she worked
with a multi-national team from several Southeast Asian countries to evangelize
to factory female workers.
Please pray for
the following:
- To serve in the children’s ministry once it is established;
- For her son to gain knowledge of English so he can ultimately study in Phnom Penh; and
- For her and her family, particularly her husband who is not a believer yet; for her husband to stop drinking.
Pray much for the
members and leaders of Chhoeung Prey Church. Let’s pray that the
church would continue to worship in spirit and in truth both in season and out
of season.
Beloved, I pray that all may go well
with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 John 1:2
In His love and for His
glory,
CHAD Summer 2012
Intern,
Michael Oh
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Cruz Journal - Summer 2012 Missionary Newsetter from Ken Cruz
Reflections on Missions as Transformation
Still in its growing stages, the Methodist Church in Cambodia is humbly rediscovering the true meaning of preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God through our holistic approach to mission and evangelism. Our journey in recovering the “kingdom mentality” is not without growing pains, bumps and pot holes. But our journey is worth taking. Majority of 160 local Methodist congregations are now actively involved in addressing various social concerns issues with their respective communities.
We have also witnessed so many signs of God’s unfolding Kingdom through our various works in church-based relief and development. Through health programs sick people have been healed and communities now have increased access to clean water. Our agriculture programs are increasing local food supplies while our income generation activities continue to diversity and expand income sources for families. Similarly, our transformational leadership development training significantly improved the collective capacity of churches and communities in addressing social concerns issues and promoting local initiatives for change.
Our influence extends from the villages all the way up to decision-makers at provincial government agencies. Our network of partners who help us carry out holistic ministries with the poor and the needy come from diverse backgrounds, churches and nationalities. Thus, giving everyone a chance to share or use their God-given gifts and talents. Through acts of mercy, kindness and justice, many Methodist congregations in Cambodia are proclaiming the Kingdom of God that is here and now—not in a distant place or time like many of us tend to believe.
Bearing witness of God’s Kingdom unfolding reminds us that as we seek His Kingdom and his righteousness we can expect God to multiply the impact of our efforts even in our failures!
As long as we allow God to mold and shape our being into His likeness, we will remain a mighty tool in His hands capable of doing things we would otherwise be unable to do. We believe God calls each of one us to proclaim His Kingdom wherever we are and whatever we do in life. And we hope you will also experience the incredible joy of seeing God’s Kingdom transforming you and the people around you.
We all love you with the love of the Lord!
Your grateful partners in Christ,
Ken, Jomil, Kim and Kyle Cruz
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:9-10The Lord’s Prayer about the coming of God’s Kingdom to earth I believe is the most compelling message that we followers of Christ can share with others. Yet, it seems that it is the least understood truth in church mission and evangelism work in Cambodia. If properly understood I believe this holds the key to the Church’s role in transforming Cambodian society plagued by endemic corruption, poverty, materialism, inequality, hopelessness, social injustices, and environmental degradation.
Still in its growing stages, the Methodist Church in Cambodia is humbly rediscovering the true meaning of preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God through our holistic approach to mission and evangelism. Our journey in recovering the “kingdom mentality” is not without growing pains, bumps and pot holes. But our journey is worth taking. Majority of 160 local Methodist congregations are now actively involved in addressing various social concerns issues with their respective communities.
We have also witnessed so many signs of God’s unfolding Kingdom through our various works in church-based relief and development. Through health programs sick people have been healed and communities now have increased access to clean water. Our agriculture programs are increasing local food supplies while our income generation activities continue to diversity and expand income sources for families. Similarly, our transformational leadership development training significantly improved the collective capacity of churches and communities in addressing social concerns issues and promoting local initiatives for change.
Our influence extends from the villages all the way up to decision-makers at provincial government agencies. Our network of partners who help us carry out holistic ministries with the poor and the needy come from diverse backgrounds, churches and nationalities. Thus, giving everyone a chance to share or use their God-given gifts and talents. Through acts of mercy, kindness and justice, many Methodist congregations in Cambodia are proclaiming the Kingdom of God that is here and now—not in a distant place or time like many of us tend to believe.
Bearing witness of God’s Kingdom unfolding reminds us that as we seek His Kingdom and his righteousness we can expect God to multiply the impact of our efforts even in our failures!
 |
| Changha Village Rice Seed Bank Group posing with bags of rice seeds from UMCOR. |
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him...” I Peter 2:9Celebrations & Prayer Requests
- Praise God for the growing interest of many local churches in addressing social concerns issues.
- Praise the Lord for new covenant relationships.
- Praise the Lord for the opportunity to teach leadership and transformation- al development at the Cambodian Methodist Bible School.
- Praise God for the growing number of people and communities the CHAD program serves.
- Pray for our CHAD team as we are facing some growing pains with our work- ing relationship with the Social Concerns Committee.
- Pray continually for my wife Jomil’s health.
- Pray also for my safety as I frequently travel for out of town project visits.
- Pray also for God’s wisdom as I prepare for my half yearly work plan.
- Finally, I want to praise God for your faithfulness and commitment to this partnership in mission.
As long as we allow God to mold and shape our being into His likeness, we will remain a mighty tool in His hands capable of doing things we would otherwise be unable to do. We believe God calls each of one us to proclaim His Kingdom wherever we are and whatever we do in life. And we hope you will also experience the incredible joy of seeing God’s Kingdom transforming you and the people around you.
We all love you with the love of the Lord!
Your grateful partners in Christ,
Ken, Jomil, Kim and Kyle Cruz
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