Dear praying friends and supporters
While the Cambodian Church has been growing at a tremendous rate since Cambodia was opened to the world in 1991, in recent years the pace of growth has very much slowed. To help identify the problems with growth, a group has been started, calling itself Mission Kampuchea 2021 (MK2021). Their plan is to see a "transformational church" in every village in Cambodia (13 000 villages) by 2021. At present it is estimated that there is only a Christian presence in about 2600 villages, so this is an ambitious project. They estimate that the number of churches will need to double every four to five years. However, the committee obviously believes that through the power of God it is achievable. Further, some have pointed out, it is in line with the objectives of the government, that wishes to promote "religion" throughout the country. Across the top of all official documents are the words "Nation, Religion, King".
Last week I had the opportunity to visit the branch church of the Anglican Church that we are part of in Phnom Penh. This church is in a town called Tak Kmau, about 20 kilometres away. It was planted by students from Phnom Penh Bible School back in the mid 1990's and handed over to the Anglican Church as part of the partnership that existed.
There were about 25 people meeting together in a room opening out to the street. As a guest, I was placed under the one fan, a position I appreciated as the morning heated up. The sun was beating down upon an iron roof, less than a metre above the head of the Rev. Tit Hieng, the Anglican pastor from Phnom Penh who was preaching that morning. After the meeting I spoke to one of the leaders. He said that this church had no regular pastor for many years, but relied on visiting speakers for their spiritual nourishment. Apparently nobody is willing to come to this place – it being too far out of the city.
Our experience is that the situation with this church at Tak Kmau is a common one. Bible literacy is very low. Churches often depend upon a travelling "expert" who will come out every now and again to share words of wisdom, to only quickly depart and return to their home in the city (I too was about to return there). People here showed that they are eager to learn God's Word, but the opportunities to regularly deepen their understanding are often far and few between.
In our time in Cambodia, we have learnt that while people may be quick to respond very positively to foreign ideas, friendship, and practical support, unless there is competent, regular Bible teaching in their own language, their worldview generally remains unchallenged. The Buddhist worldview remains largely untouched in a Christian veneer. Often only the only the nature of the religious language and the shape of the building they meet in has transformed. So while there the church here is numerically strong –our understanding is that "the Khmer soul" remains largely untouched.
This week please pray for:
· Dave as he preaches on Sunday to the Khmer congregations at the Anglican churches in Phnom Penh and Tak Kmau.
· Leoni, as she continues working with the ladies of the EFC Women's Commission.
· The Anglican Church – that has just appointed a new minister for the English congregation – Rev. Norman Beale, a former missionary from Nepal.
· Peter Blowes, as he prepares to come for a CMS pastoral visit to Cambodia early next month.
· PPBS – enrolments are disappointingly low this year, with only 14 first year students.
· For our local community – two families have broken up in the last month, (resulting in the departure of one of Grace's playmates).
While the Cambodian Church has been growing at a tremendous rate since Cambodia was opened to the world in 1991, in recent years the pace of growth has very much slowed. To help identify the problems with growth, a group has been started, calling itself Mission Kampuchea 2021 (MK2021). Their plan is to see a "transformational church" in every village in Cambodia (13 000 villages) by 2021. At present it is estimated that there is only a Christian presence in about 2600 villages, so this is an ambitious project. They estimate that the number of churches will need to double every four to five years. However, the committee obviously believes that through the power of God it is achievable. Further, some have pointed out, it is in line with the objectives of the government, that wishes to promote "religion" throughout the country. Across the top of all official documents are the words "Nation, Religion, King".
Last week I had the opportunity to visit the branch church of the Anglican Church that we are part of in Phnom Penh. This church is in a town called Tak Kmau, about 20 kilometres away. It was planted by students from Phnom Penh Bible School back in the mid 1990's and handed over to the Anglican Church as part of the partnership that existed.
There were about 25 people meeting together in a room opening out to the street. As a guest, I was placed under the one fan, a position I appreciated as the morning heated up. The sun was beating down upon an iron roof, less than a metre above the head of the Rev. Tit Hieng, the Anglican pastor from Phnom Penh who was preaching that morning. After the meeting I spoke to one of the leaders. He said that this church had no regular pastor for many years, but relied on visiting speakers for their spiritual nourishment. Apparently nobody is willing to come to this place – it being too far out of the city.
Our experience is that the situation with this church at Tak Kmau is a common one. Bible literacy is very low. Churches often depend upon a travelling "expert" who will come out every now and again to share words of wisdom, to only quickly depart and return to their home in the city (I too was about to return there). People here showed that they are eager to learn God's Word, but the opportunities to regularly deepen their understanding are often far and few between.
In our time in Cambodia, we have learnt that while people may be quick to respond very positively to foreign ideas, friendship, and practical support, unless there is competent, regular Bible teaching in their own language, their worldview generally remains unchallenged. The Buddhist worldview remains largely untouched in a Christian veneer. Often only the only the nature of the religious language and the shape of the building they meet in has transformed. So while there the church here is numerically strong –our understanding is that "the Khmer soul" remains largely untouched.
This week please pray for:
· Dave as he preaches on Sunday to the Khmer congregations at the Anglican churches in Phnom Penh and Tak Kmau.
· Leoni, as she continues working with the ladies of the EFC Women's Commission.
· The Anglican Church – that has just appointed a new minister for the English congregation – Rev. Norman Beale, a former missionary from Nepal.
· Peter Blowes, as he prepares to come for a CMS pastoral visit to Cambodia early next month.
· PPBS – enrolments are disappointingly low this year, with only 14 first year students.
· For our local community – two families have broken up in the last month, (resulting in the departure of one of Grace's playmates).
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