MISSION IN CAMBODIA AND HOME CHURCH

Shalom All,

Greetings in the Lord’s Name!

It is always good when we received the Lord’s presence into us as the joy and peace in our heart. Hallelujah to our Great Lord! Jenny has designed tambourines with a cross and we will use these to dance while giving Praise the Lord! The picture below is what the small bell tambourines look like and includes a description of the materials used to make them. In Biblical context, tambourines are one of the musical instruments that are used to celebrate the joy with the Lord as referred to in Genesis 31 v 27, Exodus 15 v 20 - 21, Judges 11 v 34, 1 Samuel 10 v 5 - 7, 1 Samuel 18 v 6 - 7, 1 Chronicles 13 v 8, Job 21 v 12, Psalm 68 v 25 - 26, Psalm 81 v 1 - 3, Psalm 149 v 3 - 4, Psalm 150, Isaiah 5 v 12 - 13 and Jeremiah 31 v 4.

In my past report, I had mentioned about the End Times as what has happened, is happening now and what is going to happen in future. Firstly I want to Praise the Lord, as the Lord pronounced that the prophesy is real and happening now. Secondly, the global economic challenge is increasing each day, global politics are in a mess as well as strange disasters are happening now. Thirdly, some of you are worried about your wealth diminishing and are not ready to face this crisis but Jesus said “don’t panic over all this as everything must take place” (Matthew 24 v 6 - 7 and Mark 13 v 6 - 7). We should remain warm with love otherwise we may go the opposite way (Matthew 24 v 12) as Jesus wants us to keep the Greatest Commandments in our hearts forever, then your Great Reward is with Jesus Christ (Revelation 22 v 12) and He shall pay your reward according to your deeds in faith and love. Hallelujah!

The recent news from Bangkok about the protestors (we called it the ‘yellow group’), after several protests at various government offices, now carry out huge demonstrations in the two airports, namely Don Mueang (domestic) and Suvarnabhumi (International) Airport. We are staying just a few kilometres away from Don Mueang Airport. We hear a lot of news about whatever is happening but never see the situation wherever we go within the Bangkok area! Many of you might not know “how and why” this protest started but that is another story! Anyway, what we can do, is to pray and fast for Thailand!

During past two weeks, I have been sharing to Christians (including pastors) about Jonah (Book of Jonah) who travelled to Nineveh to ask the people to repent and fast for 40 days. They did exactly that including the King, just as Jonah instructed. The Kingdom of Nineveh was to be destroyed, but God saw their heart and sincerity and protected them. Today, many people don’t see God in their first sight anymore, but rather say the event is normal. For example tsunami, hurricane, earthquake or floods happened recently, did they really repent like what Nineveh people did? Fasting and praying to God for mercy? When one disaster happens, the churches, organisations or the people will firstly do to the end plan, which is to raise funds rather than do fasting and praying. We need to ask God for mercy for all things that happen in the world.

On October 11th, 2008, I brought Bro. Mathaikutty (the brother I mentioned in my last email who worked in Sisaket as an English teacher) to the Lumpini Park in Bangkok as we evangelize, preach and pray for the people every Saturday. When he saw what we were doing, he was really touched and amazed at the work being done. He said that in India, they can’t do it at the public park otherwise they will be prosecuted and arrested. He was pleased and by God’s will, he plans to come frequently to join us even though the distance is not near (8 hours train journey from Sisaket to Bangkok).

I left from Bangkok around 5am and arrived at Phnom Penh, Cambodia around 7.30pm on October 13th, 2008. It is a long journey although India was even longer (3 days 2 nights journey). I was staying in the guest house near the French Embassy which cost about USD 5 per night, so the following day, I downgraded the room to one without a bathroom which cost me USD 3 per night. I had breakfast with Bro. Francis Elijah Kok who is a born again Christian. When I met him last September 2007, he was referred by a couple from New Zealand. We communicated through Skype (internet messenger) and we only met each other during this breakfast meal together. It is amazing how God has used me to bring him the encouragement, love and faith. Praise His Glorious Name! He will share his testimony through website/blog when he is ready and you will touch you by his testimony! As well, I met two Cambodian pastors and spent some quality time together sharing my thoughts on fellowship, as the Lord asked me to contact them even without knowing them first.

We met Sister Esther Ding from Cambodia Mission Services and visited her shop known as Khmer Life where they sell all kinds of handicrafts made by the villagers. It is amazing on how God is using her expertise in this mission for 14 years in Cambodia as she works in a different manner as compared to other missionaries. She believes in creating work opportunities for poor villagers such as doing handicrafts and providing services of homestay to the foreigners (in Khmer language, foreigner is Barang). The next day, Sister Esther and I went directly to Baray (near Kampong Thom) to visit the mission centre and the journey took us around 4 hours. When we reached there, we met a missionary couple from London who are doing a 6 months mission here and teach English for the primary and secondary school children while teaching them on what the Bible teaches on human relationships such as boy/girl relations. We also met a volunteer Christian doctor who provides a no-fee service for the villagers and we shared the same room in the Medical House.

During our mission visit, we had fellowship with a few pastors and shared the Word of God with them to encourage them and help them to move forward with God. God has really worked some amazing things here and I’ve even heard that some churches in Malaysia have given Praise Reports over my work done abroad. Though it may appear that I am fishing for credit, it is not myself alone who has done the work, but rather it is God who has done this work through me and we give all Praise and Glory to the Lord for touching lives.

For the readers who are involved in school, church or company camp, I would like to invite you to this Khmer Homestay to experience the village lifestyle as it will also benefit the mission work in Cambodia. It helps to provide employment to the poor villages and also to buy the general items such as foods, medicines and etc. The link to their website is “http://www.khmerhomestay.com” . Praise the Lord!

On the October 23 rd, 2008, we were invited to launch a new Home Church at Minburi and be the guest speaker, as such I shared about “What is Home Church and Evangelism with people around the area?” When it came time for prayer, I felt the Holy Spirit working in me and started to pray for everyone. Without touching them, they began to fall down and feel the presence of the Lord moving in them. Hallelujah and our God is always Great, Amen!

I am praying for Jenny to join me as a full time mission worker starting in the month of January 2009 as the Lord has called me to go to Cambodia for one month, Vietnam for a few months and China for 6 months or more. Currently, my mission funds are only able to support 1 person and we are seek the Lord to provide us with additional funds. Please continue to uphold us in your prayers.

Looking forward to writing the next report as there is more exciting news to share! Our God is a living God and Jesus is the Truth to our Life!

God Bless!

Blessing,
Pastor Steve Peter H S Kok