Sophouen, and her close friend Sreyleak, are no ordinary Cambodians. Their lives have been transformed from the ordinary, into children of God, followers of Jesus Christ. Sophouen and Sreyleak were among the ‘first fruits’ of the ministry in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia. They were invited into the emerging church’s two-year internship program, and later developed a […]

Sophouen, and her close friend Sreyleak, are no ordinary Cambodians. Their lives have been transformed from the ordinary, into children of God, followers of Jesus Christ.

Sophouen and Sreyleak were among the ‘first fruits’ of the ministry in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia. They were invited into the emerging church’s two-year internship program, and later developed a deep desire for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the people in their own country. The pastors saw their gifting and challenged them to pray about being trained, and to be part of the church ministry team in the future.

In 2011, Sophouen was sent from the village of Phum Krus to Phnom Penh Bible School for a 4-year Bachelor program. Sreyleak followed a year later. Today, both young women stay at the Rainbow Hostel, Phnom Penh and are doing their field training at the Lutheran Church in Cambodia City Church, and in the expanding mission outreach programs in the village of Kandal in Takeo province, and to people in the Kampong Cham province.

Within one week following the dedication of the Rainbow Hostel/City Church building in 2013, Sophouen and Sreyleak had already started daily English classes for the children in the community surrounding the hostel. They insisted on doing the classes daily, instead of the proposed three times a week, because they were eager to bless the community and to start the Sunday school ministry.

During the long holiday breaks, instead of returning to their home village for a good holiday, they took the initiative to report for duty daily at the Life Centre and Good Shepherd church in Phum Krus for ministry.

Each year as the monsoon rains caused the flood waters to rise and affect the lives of so many people living in the provinces, Sophouen and Sreyleak are among the many students from the Rainbow Hostel to pool their meagre resources to buy rice and supplies, and to go with the teams of ministry and students to deliver these most needed practical items, together with the life-saving message of Jesus Christ.

The Rainbow Hostel in Phnom Penh where Sophouen and Sreyleak live with about 60 other students from rural areas of Cambodia, is an amazing mission and ministry centre for the emerging Lutheran Church in Cambodia. In 2014, through prayerful and financial support from many Lutherans in Australia, and Singapore, together with support from others in Germany and Finland, land alongside the Hostel/City Church was purchased in order to begin the next phase of this exciting ministry and mission.

Plans are being prepared for the development of a Lutheran pre-school, and ministry training rooms, on the newly acquired land. You and I are privileged to join with Jesus, the young people and ministry leaders of the Lutheran Church in Cambodia and the Lutheran Church in Singapore, as the ministry expands in Cambodia, the love of Jesus comes to life in young and older people, and more lives are changed forever.

Many of our partner churches are working in new territory for the kingdom of God; therefore, spiritual attack is their everyday reality. As a member of a congregation, school, or family, or a couple or individual, you are invited to commit to praying for our partners in mission. For regular prayer point updates, go to www.lca.org.au/international-mission/act-now/pray

Read more stories about our partner church in Cambodia at www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/cambodia/