IN IT TOGETHER

Interview with Cambodian church planters, ANDREW & MAIJA THOMAS

Andrew and Maija Thomas pastor The Together Co. in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. They are passionate about bringing the reality of Jesus to the city’s young professionals and students – allowing his love to change people’s lives and the country’s future. Andrew shares with ACC EMag about the past few years of their church planting journey.

Q: CAN YOU UPDATE US ON WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE TOGETHER CO.?

ANDREW: The past couple of years, like every church, have been a bit up and down. We started weekly gatherings at the end of 2019; then Covid hit in March 2020 and we had to go online. We were online for almost two years.

We started meeting in person again this year. We meet weekly on a Sunday afternoon, in a room above a café. A lot of people stopped coming to church through Covid and many are worried about gathering again, so it’s been a real time of rebuilding. >

Q: WHAT DOES CHURCH LOOK LIKE THESE DAYS – BOTH ON A SUNDAY AND THROUGHOUT THE WEEK?

ANDREW: Our services are now bi-lingual. We have someone translating the preaching and news, although the praise and worship is still something we’re working on. The level of English is high in the city, and most people in our church speak English, but one of the best things about having a bi-lingual church is it creates community. It’s also this little taste of what the Kingdom of God can look like – people from every tribe, nation and tongue together.

During the week, a lot of the ministry we do is relational. We meet up with people, have meals and disciple them. I’m also involved with a lunchtime group in a local Christian school, helping connect some of those young people into local churches.

Q: WHAT IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE ABOUT CHURCH, AND CHRISTIANITY, IN CAMBODIA COMPARED TO AUSTRALIA?

ANDREW: Christianity is completely new for most people, as it’s a Buddhist nation. Most young people have never been to church or read the Bible. Their idea of Christianity comes from what they’ve seen in a movie, or an interaction with an NGO or a Christian organisation in the past. When we do Alpha, for example, we have to start from a different point than in Australia where there is at least some idea of who God is and some Christian values present in Australian culture.

It’s meant getting back to what’s essential and what’s not; learning to separate Australian culture from Kingdom culture, and Khmer culture from Kingdom culture. It’s about finding a way to all meet in the Kingdom of God and be Christians together.

Q: ASIDE FROM COVID, WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU’VE FACED IN PLANTING A CHURCH?

ANDREW: One of our key challenges is building team. We lost a few key people over Covid – foreigners who moved away, or local people who took a few steps back. The people we have are amazing and we continue to invest time in them, but of course it builds slowly. Maija is still running kids’ church every week and I’m preaching every week and setting up the chairs. We’re still in that pioneering stage, particularly coming out of Covid.

Q: WHAT’S IT LIKE RAISING A FAMILY ON THE MISSION FIELD?

ANDREW: Having young kids on the field is definitely challenging. But we know what we’re called to do and we firmly believe in bringing them on this journey with us.

At the same time, we are realistic about what we can achieve in this season and put limits on what we do. We’ve been here seven years and want to be here for many more. Making sure we’re okay as a family is a big priority.

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHERS WHO MAY BE ON A CHURCH PLANTING JOURNEY?

ANDREW: Focus on the essentials – keep working on building good relationships, having strong discipleship, connecting with people and being there for them. Ministry and missions is a lot more to do with obedience than it is hitting KPIs! Keep doing what you’re doing, be consistent and be faithful.

Church Planting

Pastor Corey Turner will be hosting an intensive for church planters and potential church planters. If you are involved in pioneering a new church or campus, or you are interested in learning more, this is the stream for you.

INCLUDED IN YOUR ACC23 NATIONAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

conference.acc.org.au/streams