Greetings brethren in Christ!
Welcome to my blog on the work of Christ and my ministry in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It's always a joy to be able to reflect on the work here from month to month and share with my supporters and encouragers about what's going on in my life in this part of the world. Some see it as a chore to report of these things, but I count it as a blessing because it keeps me focused, accountable, and energized! I was recently asked a question pertaining to my ministry about what is the greatest challenge that I am currently facing. It's not the first time I have been asked this question. In the past five years my answers to that same question varied based on my experience. In the beginning it was adapting to the Cambodian culture, its food, way of life, etc. Then as I progressed my biggest challenge was how do I get the lost in this part of the world to recognize that they need Jesus and what's the best way to evangelize to them. Finally, my answer to that question has become, how do I get the saved to trust and depend upon God completely in all aspects of their life. I, myself, struggle with this but am progressing slowly in totally and completely trusting in Him to provide for all things physical and spiritual. Also, as the director of IBISR, the major concern that I have pertaining to IBISR is how do we get our students, after they graduate, to have the mentality of the apostle Paul with respect to his ministry. Meaning do they understand principles like:
Philippians 4:11-12 (to be content in whatever state, whether it's in lacking of things or in prosperity; handling it correctly as they live their life and serve God)
1 Corinthians 9:1-18 (to know their rights; as laborers for God, they have a choice in receiving support from the local church or not and doing whatever necessary to further the gospel even if it requires sacrifices on their part)
Acts 20:33-35; 18:3 (the principle of hard work to not only support themselves but help the weak and poor; to understand the blessing of giving!)
These three principles, if developed in our graduates, we won't have to worry much about their high salary or lack there of. We won't have to worry about their incentives and motives for doing Gods work. Hopefully the work study program of IBISR, along with the current curriculum, will get us moving in that direction. We will find out in the next few years as we are still in our developing stages. Please keep us in your prayers.
This month we had four Christians (Ravy and Chealin, Piseth and Rotana) committing to one another in marriage. We pray God's blessing upon them as they embark on their journey together as Christian husbands and wives!
Phanat
If you would like to see Phanat’s report with pictures, please click here.