As you may know, we have the privilege of serving in Cambodia with teammates in both Phnom Penh and in the province. In Kampot province, Luke and Sokha Smith along with John Lee and Khmer staff have been working together in ministering to the people of Angk’jeay village through Eternal Life in Christ Church (ELCC). It has been a great encouragement to see how God has been using them to bring the gospel to many youth, to disciple them as they mature in their faith, and to love them in their care and support. God has blessed the church and outreach ministry as they have deepened their relationships in the village and have been a light to the community. Many of the students continue to study at university in Phnom Penh where they are plugged into the city church plants, who build on the foundation of many years of discipleship in the students that arrive. It has been a great encouragement seeing the partnering of ministries in the village and city to build up the young church in Cambodia.
For the last couple years, three MTW teammates (Luke, Sokha, and John) and three Khmer staff who graduated from Phnom Penh Bible School (Kunthea, Heng, and Kakrona) have formed the staff for the church plant and ESL outreach program. Kunthea has worked the last 5 years with ELCC and continues to serve there. Heng was from a church that MTW helped for a season and also helped him finish Bible school. After graduation, he worked with ELCC for almost 3 years, then in September, left for a new opportunity at a Christian medical clinic where several of his friends from Bible school work. Kakrona has been a pastoral intern with ELCC and is pursuing ordination with the Cambodian Presbyterian Association. His two year internship will conclude on March 10th. He will then move to Phnom Penh to continue preparations for church planning in the city. Also, John Lee’s first four-year term will be coming to an end in July. After his three-month HMA in the U.S., he plans to minister in Phnom Penh where he will be focusing on partnering with the city church plants and helping disciple college students and young adults as they navigate new seasons of life. Many will be students John has worked with while in the village. He hopes to transition in the later half of this year.
As God calls these brothers to other ministries, we believe that God will provide for ELCC as they say goodbye to co-laborers in the gospel and God will use these men to bring the gospel to other parts of Cambodia.
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
- Luke and Sokha & the ELCC community:
- To say there goodbyes and grieve well but also celebrate these brothers as they head out for gospel work.
- God would raise new co-laborers to work alongside Luke and Sokha.
- Kunthea – To continue to rely on God’s grace and strength to minister to the children at AKJ.
- Heng – be used by God at the medical clinic to be an excellent worker and diligent sharer of the Good News.
- Kakrona – his ordination exams and as he seeks counsel and support from the presbytery in discerning his call.
- John – his time in the USA for HMA and his transitions to life and ministry in Phnom Penh.
The Lees in Cambodia 