CHURCH PLANTING in the NEW NORMAL in Cambodia

Carol Ong, Missionary with MMS serving in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Her home church is Toa Payoh Methodist Church.

COVID-19 posed tremendous challenges worldwide on various fronts, and not a single life on earth has been left unaffected by it. The Church in Cambodia too faced challenges, and found herself having to adapt to changes and adopt new ways of shepherding her flock while continuing the work of evangelism, bringing the Good News to Cambodians who are grappling with uncertainties and desperately needing a hope that they can be sure of. At The Third Place, we discovered that with each and every challenge, there exists wonderful opportunities.

At The Third Place, we discovered that with each and every challenge, there exists wonderful opportunities.

On-site and online Sunday worship.

When COVID-19 infection numbers started to rise early this year in Cambodia, and consequently, restrictions and regulations were put in place by the government to stem the tide, these resulted in the inability of churches to meet physically for Sunday worship as well as for other regular weekday activities. At The Third Place, WiFi was installed so that Pastor Tharoath could continue to conduct Sunday Worship Services and shepherd the small flock of 10 persons remotely. Internet connectivity is a challenge – good at certain times; slow and unstable at other times – and it also depends on the location one is at, as well as which internet service provider one is using. Whether the connection is good or bad, we remind ourselves that we “do not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another” (cf. Hebrews 10:25), all the more, in these stressful pandemic times! One positive thing that emerged from going online, was that there were new people joining us for worship, which otherwise, would not have happened due to where they were located.

Food distribution to the needy.

The daily wage earners and those on the lower rungs of Cambodian society, i.e., the tuk tuk drivers, the karang-guni man, hawkers selling food on the road, etc., were the hardest hit by the pandemic. The Third Place reached out to help alleviate their difficulties by running food distributions, which were sponsored by churches as well as individuals back home in Singapore. These food distributions afforded us the opportunities to share God’s love in a tangible way, as well as the message of His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. As an aftermath of the food distributions, people were invited to come to church to learn more about the faith. In addition to online worship services, The Third Place now holds in-person worship services to cater to elderly villagers who do not possess internet connection nor the knowledge to access social media platforms. Current COVID-19 regulations allow gatherings of up to 10 persons. The average Sunday worship attendance in-person and online now stands at around 17 persons. Indeed, all thanks and praise to the Lord of the Harvest for His harvest!

Karang guni man receiving a food pack.

An encouraging testimony in times like this: Chan used to frequent Pastor Tharoath’s coffee stand, and the latter would share the gospel with him. One day, Chan asked if Pastor Tharoath’s God could help his two sons who were in the province and unable to attend school. Pastor Tharoath then taught him how to pray and trust God, and encouraged him to attend church to learn more about God. He did so and one month later, his prayers were answered. His two sons secured a place at a Christian school with full scholarships as well as room and board. He was so happy that he shared the miracle of answered prayer with his wife. Both of them were convicted of the reality of God, and decided to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Both now attend church at The Third Place.

Together with three other new believers, Chan attends weekly bible study with Pastor Tharoath. He shared that he would like to serve the Lord and tell others the good news too.

Chan giving his thumbs-up while Pastor Tharoath is standing.

Although current COVID-19 regulations do not permit the physical gathering of children for classes (children’s ministry and weekday language classes), having online lessons with those who have access to their parents’ devices gives us the opportunity to be in touch with their parents, thus opening the way for friendship and evangelism.

Children’s ministry pre-COVID days.

Indeed, with each and every challenge, there exists wonderful opportunities. May the Lord lift our eyes beyond the drab pandemic landscape, to see and seize the opportunities that await us.

Children’s ministry pre-COVID days.

ABOUT

The Third Place is a beacon of light and hope, reaching out to the factory workers and neighbourhood in Odem, Phnom Penh with the love of Christ. If you are interested to help in this ministry, please contact MMS at mms@methodist.org.sg.

HELP

• We need funds for food distribution to help those affected by the pandemic.

• We need funds to support school-going children to attend school online.

• We need prayer intercessors.

PRAY

• for the capacity building of the national leaders, and the sustainability of ministries in Cambodia.

• for the Methodist Churches in Cambodia to continue wholesome and fruitful online services.

• for creativity and wisdom for pastors to nurture their disciples.

• for perseverance and faith to trust and grow in faith.

• for stable internet connection at The Third Place.

• for the health and protection of pastor and volunteers.

OVERVIEW

MMS in Cambodia has been involved in Church Planting from the beginning (1996). We have been a bridge for partnership between local Methodist churches in Cambodia and Methodist churches in Singapore as part of the church planting process. We have seen several church plants becoming self-governing, self-propagating, and self-financing churches. Currently, MMS continues to partner the following churches: Krang Svay Methodist Church, Glory Trinity Methodist Church, Prek Ompel Methodist Church, Antioch Methodist Church, Upper Room, The Third Place.