Kong Chak Mun works for the Lutheran Church in Cambodia (LCC) as an administrator and ministry support person. He was sent by the Lutheran Church in Singapore (LCS) and is financially supported by LCA International Mission. Chak Mun came to faith through the Boys Brigade youth ministry program. Before that, he practised Taoism. His mum […]

Kong Chak Mun works for the Lutheran Church in Cambodia (LCC) as an administrator and ministry support person. He was sent by the Lutheran Church in Singapore (LCS) and is financially supported by LCA International Mission.

Chak Mun came to faith through the Boys Brigade youth ministry program. Before that, he practised Taoism. His mum told him he could join the Boy’s Brigade and the Lutheran church but, she said, ‘just don’t get baptised’! However, five years after joining the youth group, Chak Man was baptised – a natural progression as his faith developed. At the Boy’s Brigade he found people prepared to walk with, correct and care about him and who took the time to invest in his growth as a person and as a follower of Jesus. Within the group, many young adults talked about their working life and how they actively served God.

When Chak Mun’s mum was diagnosed with cancer, members visited his family and, through their support, he came to value his faith community.

Chak Mun prayed that if God extended his mum’s life, he would serve him. His mother lived another four years and Chak Mun went to Cambodia for two years as a volunteer, where he helped start the Boy’s Brigade with the Methodist church. Three years after moving back to Singapore, Chak Mun returned to Cambodia in 2015 to help the young LCC.

‘In Cambodia, many Christians rely on pastors to translate the Bible’, he says. ‘They don’t read the Bible. Many leaders resist simplified translations of the Bible as they feel the words are not worthy of the King and are too simplified.’ However, Chak Mun prefers The Message translation. He says it builds on the concept of a relationship with God, which is very important to him.

His passion for the Boy’s Brigade has continued and, even while serving in his current role, he continues with the youth program as one of five adult leaders.

Because of his experience with the Boy’s Brigade, he has a focus on mentoring young people and walking beside them. He feels that, although every person has different hurts and challenges, each of God’s children need words of encouragement, forgiveness and grace.

Chak Mun has learnt that international partner churches are a blessing to LCC. And he reflects on the importance of partners giving time and space to new churches to develop practices that reflect their culture and offer a safe place for people to grow in their faith.

Even if Chak Mun doesn’t see all the fruits of what God has been doing through him in Cambodia, he trusts that God has used him for the extension of his kingdom.

This story was also published in the April 2022 edition of Border Crossings, the magazine of LCA International Mission.

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/