Unsung Heroes Ministries
As part of our ministry this month, my team and I will be highlighting in our blogs the ministries that the Lord brings across our path. The goal is to share more about them with our supporters so that more people are aware what God is doing here and how lives are being impacted for Christ!
Highlighted Ministry: New Life Fellowship Church (http://www.cambodiaoutreach.org/)
Church on the race has been very interesting….they are not as obviously placed as they are in the states, especially in Asia where many countries are not Christian. But here in Cambodia, there is a church that has put itself on the map figuratively and literally speaking!
As I pulled up our hotel on google maps, I noticed an icon that said “New Life Fellowship”(NLF) near it. Wow, I thought, that seems like words a church or ministry would use that is associated with Jesus Christ! How rare is this to see on a map, especially here in a Buddhist country! So I googled the church to find that they had 3 services and a whole lot going on!
NFL is a non-denominational church that is actually part of a larger ministry called Cambodia Outreach & New Life Fellowship of Churches Cambodia. The vision for this ministry is planting life giving intentional churches in all of the Cambodia provinces, to influence every sector of Cambodian society, and to train and send pastors and missionaries throughout Cambodia to reach the country for Christ.
My team and I jumped on the opportunity to attend church Sunday even though we don’t speak Khmer (the Cambodian language). To our surprise the church provided a hand held radio with head phones to listen to the English translation of the worship and message. There were also many other foreigners gathered there for worship.
Worship songs are sang in Khmer but displayed in both
Before we entered the service, the youth pastor greeted us at the door. We learned that NLF has been around since 1994, just recently celebrating 20 years of ministry here in Phnom Penh. I asked the pastor what obstacles they had faced in ministering and sharing the good news of Jesus with the community. He said family traditions and generational beliefs in Buddhism are predominant. Many are turning to materialism and seeking wealth, like in the United States, to find fulfillment and purpose. They reach out in many tangible ways to help people see Jesus’ love for them. (definitely check out their website!)
Another cool aspect of us finding this church is that my team and I have a place to invite and point local Cambodians we meet (like at the hotel) to for meeting and learning more about Jesus. Alexis on my team has set a great example of this in reaching out to the hotel staff. She has invested time in meeting the café workers and getting to a place of talking about faith with them. One of the workers, Sopcat, said he was Buddhist because of his family but also a Christian. Seeds have been planted and while they are unable to attend church with us in the morning on Sunday, we are going to hang out at a swimming pool with them! Maybe they will join us next Sunday…
Highlighted Ministry: Sak Saum (http://saksaum.com/)
If you saw this store front as you were walking down the street, you might not be compelled to come in, not really knowing what it is….but to a Cambodian who speaks Khmer you might be more intrigued to see what lies within a store that means DIGNITY.
Kayla and I discovered Sak Saum one sunny afternoon after leaving a coffee shop. We were given a business card from a teammate with the name and address on it. Upon entering the shop we were warmly welcomed by an American woman, Julie, who works for organization. The shop was filled with photos on the wall of the ministry and handmade items were neatly displayed around. While Julie was sharing with us about the ministry, the founder and international director Ginny Hanson walked up and joined us. Conversation ensued about the ministry, our travels, and how God had brought us here to the store.
Ginny, the international director and Theavy, the national director, do a great job of explaining what is at the heart of the Sak Saum ministry…..
**I love the point they make about their ministry…..while products are being made and sold, they are not the focus. These products are a by product of a CHANGED LIFE!!! The focus is the LIVES of those working and making the products. **
Kayla and & display clothing items we bought from the store
Support this ministry in prayer & in checking out their store (http://saksaum.com/store). Know that a purchase makes a HUGE difference in the lives of the men and women being reached through Sak Saum.
Join me in praying for NLF church, the hotel staff we’ve gotten to invite there & Sak Saum – the men and women who’s lives are being transformed through this ministry.
Thanks!
For Him,
Lauren
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1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
