The first Mission District Annual Meeting of Cambodia

The meeting was held on 1^st March 2003 in Prek Thei Free Methodist Church. The superintendent of the Hong Kong Free Methodist Conference, Rev. Derek Ho, presided over the meeting, and Brother Daniel Sar was the interpreter for the whole meeting. The Executive Director of APFMMA/Missions Director of Hong Kong FMC, Rev. Polly Ho brought greetings. There were 18 delegates present, including 6 ordained missionaries. Besides that, about 20 observers from different churches and preaching points, some students of Light and Life Bible Center, 3 university students and the unordained missionaries were also present. The objective of the meeting was to organize the Administrative Committee of the Mission District and elect respective board chairmen and members. Thank God that we have elected a lay leader, brother Joshua Kung Ty, to be the chairman of the Administrative Committee, and he will lead all ministries of the Mission District. Brother Joshua Kung Ty will graduate from the Phnom Penh Bible School in July this year. He has led two churches since 1996 as lay pastor. Thus, he has 6 years of service in the church already.

Pol's health is not good

She gets tired easily because of her kidney problem. In mid-February she found herself with another health problem which requires her to go back to Hong Kong for surgery. Please pray for her health and her needs.

Kaoh Ksachtunlea West church dedication -

In August 2001, a team from Australia came to Cambodia to build the church building at Kaoh Ksachtunlea West, but the construction was not completed until January 2003 when the brothers and sisters from Wenatchee FMC came to paint the walls and to build another cottage. The cottage now is used as the place for Sunday School. In the future, it will function as the Childcare Ministry Center, ¡§House of Peace.¡¨ [Note: the policy is that a church must be organized for 2 years before it can have a Child Care Center, so the ¡§House of Peace¡¨ will not start functioning until 2 years after this church organizes.] On 2^nd March was the dedication of these buildings. Rev. Derek Ho, the Superintendent of the Hong Kong Conference led the dedication ceremony. After that, we had a thanksgiving feast . You may never expect that chicken soup with noodles, watermelon and papaya is considered an abundant feast in Cambodia.

First young man

I had time to talk with Soklin, one of the university students. He has to wear spectacles now and this is uncommon in the village. He said that he could not see clearly, so he needed a pair of glasses. He saved money and finally he had $25 for the spectacles, and he is happy that now he can see and read clearly. He shared with me that he only had very simple lunches and dinners so that he could save money. I was surprised to hear that he wanted to go to Bible School after graduation from the university. It is because he has come to realize that many people need the Lord, and he needs to have more training. Every Wednesday evening he is helping in the Phnom Penh Youth Bible Study, and on Saturdays he helps in the church, plus on Sunday afternoons he helps in the new Takhmau outreach. I remembered that when I met him for the first time, he was still a shy young boy and could not speak English. Now he helps for the interpretation in preaching and other ministries. We have found some Christians to support him for his studies at the university.

Second young man

Another fine young man also gives me reason to praise God. Some years ago Isaac was not active and looked so lazy and carefree. Now he is a different person. This time when I preached, he helped translate for me. He also helps in the church. He is a former child of the House of Love, and his sponsor is kind enough to continue to support him to study in the university.

Third young man

Peter was the third young man who impressed me very much. Once he was a shy and quiet boy, but now he is working in a Christian organization reaching out to children, and is getting married in March

10th Anniversary

2004 will be the 10^th anniversary of the Cambodia Free Methodist Church. We are very thankful for God¡¦s abundant grace and His love for His people in Cambodia. In March 2004, the church will have the 2^nd Annual Meeting, and at the same time will celebrate the 10^th Anniversary of the Cambodia FMC, as well as the 10^th Anniversary of APFMMA. We praise the Lord that the church is growing and getting mature. Joshua Kung Ty and Daniel Sar will be graduated from Phnom Penh Bible School this year. Joseph Sar is now in the second year and has two more years to go. And there are 3 organized churches and 7 preaching points, with a total membership of about 200. We praise the Lord for the dedicated labor of the missionaries and the lay pastors, as well as the faithfulness of many of the church members in reaching out and having a good Christian witness all these years.

May God's name be gloried in Cambodia.