Immense hardship and deep sorrow have filled much of Kert Voun’s 64 years of life. Married in 1975, her husband and two of her infant sons died during those murderous years of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. Her second husband, whom she married in 1979, died just one year later, leaving her to care […]

Immense hardship and deep sorrow have filled much of Kert Voun’s 64 years of life. Married in 1975, her husband and two of her infant sons died during those murderous years of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. Her second husband, whom she married in 1979, died just one year later, leaving her to care for another two infant sons.

Living in the village of Tang Bompong in the Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia, with no husband and no income, Kert struggled to survive and to keep her sons alive.

Ker’s older sister was keen for her to get to know Jesus, after she had personally experienced the healing power of Jesus in her own life. The Word shared by her sister, encouraged Kert and she asked to know more about Jesus when she was visited in her home by the pastor and people of the Lutheran Church in Cambodia.

On 6 December 2015, Kert was brought into God’s family through her baptism at the Lutheran Life Centre/Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Phum Krus village.

God’s love, shared in actions and through his Word, is having a powerful effect in the lives of many young and older people in Cambodia.

The Word of God, shared by staff serving in the Daily Bread feeding program, by teachers in the computer classes, through home visits, in agricultural and livelihood focused training programs, in youth camps and in the families in the villages of Kampong Chhnang province and at the Rainbow Hostel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, has enabled many people to come to know the life-saving message of Jesus Christ and his love for them.

What a joy to know that on a December day in 2015, in Krus village, thirty three other people were also baptised into God’s family together with Kert – baptised into our Lutheran family in the Lutheran Church in Cambodia. Those who were baptised ranged in age from newborns to those well into their 70s – and many in-between.

On that special day, those baptised received a Khmer Children’s Bible or a Khmer Bible and hymnal, following the joy-filled baptismal service.

You are invited to pray for Kert, and for her fellow villagers in Tang Bompong. Pray also for the pastors and ministry staff serving in the mission of God in the Lutheran Church in Cambodia. Pray for the ministry and mission shared through the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand and our partnership in Cambodia.

‘So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’ Isaiah 55:11

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/