A Season of Growth in Cambodia
27/07/2018 2:39:06 PM |
As we witness the growth of the Global Interaction intercultural team serving among the Khmer, we wait in excited anticipation for how God is going use this growing team for His glory.
Teams form the building blocks of Global Interaction’s ministry and are key to the long-term sustainability of our work. Teams are formed by individuals, couples and families working together towards a common goal. They serve as branches of the True Vine, reaching out of their comfort zone, to share the Gospel of Jesus.
Global Interaction began its work in Cambodia in response to an invitation to join an international Christian consortium engaged in the rehabilitation and rebuilding of the devastated country following the fall of Pol Pot in 1979. From this starting point, coupled with the deep desire to share Jesus with the Khmer people, grew the ministry that God has called us to today. In 2013 The Centre for the Study of Global Christianity published a report that identified Cambodia as having the ninth-fastest growing Christian community per capita in the world.
As encouraging as this fact is, we understand that many Khmer believe they have to separate themselves from their culture in order to find Jesus as often the expression of Christianity is so foreign to them. We believe, and our experience tells us, that for communities to be truly transformed by the Gospel, the expression of faith in Jesus must resonate within their own cultural understanding and experiences.
Global Interaction’s ‘Pathway to Service’, specifically trains cintercultural workers for contextualised mission. During their first term in ministry (two – three years) our intercultural workers focus on learning the heart language of the community and immersing themselves in the local culture. This forms the foundation of the relationships they build and enables opportunities for deeper conversations and Jesus to be revealed in ways that make sense within the cultural context.
Praise God, the Cambodian team is growing! Ryan, Global Interaction’s VIC/TAS State Director has journeyed with Craig and Kim, who arrived in Cambodia in May. They are the first of four families anticipated to join the team in Cambodia this year. Ryan is also supporting Paul and Lydia who are in the final stages of their preparation for service. In Queensland, State Director Bob Rogers is journeying with Tristan and Megan who are also growing their partnership team.
Every team needs a leader and Luke, who served as Global Interaction State Director SA/NT from 2013, has recently resigned from this position and with his wife Rachel is preparing to serve among the Khmer. When in Cambodia, Luke will take on the role of Team Leader.
The team already in Cambodia, including Catherine, Scott and Janelle and Rob and Deb are eagerly awaiting the blessing that comes with new team members. Together they will grow as a family in Christ, nurturing and sustaining one another in their growing ministry.
Catherine shares, “It is exciting, humbling and an incredible privilege for us to be growing in this place, and to be part of His work unfolding here. As new team members arrive, we continue to explore, learn together and deepen our understanding and ways of living, being, and sharing Jesus with Khmer people.” As we witness the growth of the team in Cambodia, we prayerfully anticipate that over the coming years, we will see those whose hearts God is preparing, come to faith in Jesus.
Amid a population of some 16 million, the Global Interaction team has a seemingly humble presence among the Khmer. However, our impact is substantially larger with the extended prayer partners and supporters back here in Australia. For all who have sown into Global Interaction’s work in Cambodia, thank you! Our team is growing and we have candidates preparing to go!
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