A Good Start to 2025
Hi all,
We hope you’re doing well.
It’s not long into 2025 and alongside the usual (busy schedules, serving and family) we have reports of unusual things as well.
In the beginning
We began the year in the classic, usual way, of starting the year with lots of good meetings, where we evaluate the past and look to the future together.
- National Eldership Team (NET), we meet 2 to 3 times a year to seek the Lord’s guidance, plan, strategize, and strengthen each other. This usually includes the legal aspects of the organization, and brings clarity of the vision to see Cambodia be transformed in one generation.
- Bi-Annual leadership meeting – this meeting is for all the ministry leaders and directors on Battambang campus to meet twice a year to pray and seek the heart of God Specifically for our campus. We evaluate the past to celebrate and learn from obstacles/ challenges.
- Master’s Intensive in Salatiga, Indonesia, we didn’t go there in person for a few reasons including Liam’s lungs not having the all-clear yet. We prayed and felt that staying back was right for us. However, Pheap still joined in via zoom to keep up with the content, so she could grade the candidates well.
Photo of the NET
Story
One of the many stories where God is winning over people’s hearts. This story happened in Koh Kong province where we were sent out a team to pioneer a new location. The team found a commune where there was no church at all.
There they met a violent and drunk man who was so unstable that the community had chained him to his house so that he couldn’t leave his property. The team came and spent time with him sharing the gospel. Then he went and did a Discipleship Training School (DTS) and was radically transformed. He’s now serving the Lord full-time.
We’ve been told 90% of people in Koh Kong have an alcohol problem and aren’t open to the gospel, but since this man had been so changed through Jesus, his life has been a testimony of God’s love and power to the surrounding community. Now, people welcome the team to do ministry in their houses. Please pray for more of this kind of transformation in different villages.
This is just one of a few stories of what God is doing to our country,
More Fruit
Here are some reports of people meeting Jesus recently.
- Valentine’s day concert: This included a small Q&A panel about God, 90 attendees, there were 31 who gave their hearts to God and are now being followed up with and joining small groups.
- Church planting: Two new locations were planted, bringing the total to 26 locations. They sponsored one new child to attend school, so now 65 children are being supported overall. The team built toilets and began holding fellowships with village elders, expanding beyond children’s programs. This is amazing considering how the older generation are difficult to reach. And in the first week of February, 15 people gave their lives to the Lord. They’ve started calling it the “toilet fellowship”, hehehe.
Photo of people standing in front of a newly built toilet at a village
- Youth Development Center: An English teacher intern accepted Jesus, along with 2 students, and a few students are very interested in learning about God. This is a double win for them as they also get more opportunities in life through learning English.
It’s awesome serving with this community. I am sure there are more accounts of transformation that I am not aware of.
Family
Den has been doing well at the Khmer school. However, he’s been dealing with outbursts of big emotions, so please pray for us for wisdom to parent well and please feel free to write back if you have any advice.
Liam’s been well and full of smiles.
Photo of the boys
upcoming Travel
Master’s intensive module 5 (June): This will be the last module before the graduation in Kona, and this will be either in Central Asia or Papua New Guinea. Either way, we will need approximately $4,800 to $5,000
Master’s program graduation (August): This is the last trip for the whole master’s program, and it’s an exciting one as we will hear the candidates’ thesis defense. This will be around $5,000 again.
Please reach out to us if you want to give or you can tap here to find ways to give.
Prayer requests
- Liam’s doctor appointment (April 10), that God heals his lungs and there is no concern for his lungs anymore.
- Wisdom as we are trying to parent two boys to be the men God called them to be.
- For our financial needs for the upcoming trip as we intend to finish facilitating this master leadership program well.
- More financial supporters to join our support team. We’re thankful for the support we have, and as financial needs are increasing we believe God will bring more partners who want to join us in serving, educating and developing Cambodia. Alongside prayer, it would also mean a lot to us if you helped spread the word about us.
So already it looks like this is shaping up to be a fruitful year.
Thanks for being with us. We want to hear from you, so let us know which part of this newsletter you found interesting.
Take Care,
Pat & Pheap.