Dear Praying Friends and Family,
We trust that this note finds you well. With all that is going on around the world in addition to the on-
going issues related to Covid-19, everything around us may appear depressing and discouraging. But, in
the middle of uncertainty and of darkness and glooming season, God is still in control and still at work as
evidenced in the stories below…
A Biblical Story in A Cultural Context…
Recently, during a lively group discussion in the Firm Foundations class in Toul Prich village, Syna
engaged her students to compare a Biblical story found in John 3:1-20 to the Cambodian cultural context
of the local Buddhist followers from among the Khmer people to try to understand why some of
Buddhists seemed reluctant or resistant to the Christian faith. As the discussion went at length, a
conclusion was formed: some local Buddhists (even some from among the higher rank of Buddhist
priests or Buddhist monks) would reluctantly admit that Jesus is the one true God. Sadly, because of
shame highly placed by cultural expectations and because of the fear of “losing face” or the risk of being
abandoned from or rejected by family and the local community (if they were to choose Jesus over
Buddha) these Buddhist people would not willingly and publicly confess their true feelings about Jesus.
Aware of the cultural context, at the end of this class discussion, the seven villager-students were
challenged to seek creative ways to share the Gospel with their unbelieving friends and relatives. They
did...
Savy, aged 50 a devoted husband and a doting father of five adult children, along with his wife and
youngest daughter are members of the Toul Prich Firm Foundation Alliance church. Since this discussion,
Savy intentionally shared the good news of Jesus Christ with his other adult children. At this writing,
Savy excitedly called with a report, “My oldest daughter and her husband were asking many questions
about Jesus! I’ve been telling them what I learned from class. And I think they are about 90% closer to
become followers of Jesus!” Like Savy, other students also took this challenge seriously as they talked
boldly about the hope and true freedom found only in Jesus to their Buddhist neighbors and relatives
and even to elderly people serving at the local Buddhist temples…
One of our greatest joys and motivation for teaching weekly discipleship classes is seeing believers not
only applying God’s word to their daily practical lives, but that they felt burden and compelled to share
the good news with other people…
The Captives Set Free!
For generations, people of the entire village of Pume Thmey (translating meaning “New Village”) had
lived in under firm grips and heavy bondages of Satan’s control throughout their entire lives! When
upset with a neighbor, some offended people seek revenge by consulting and hiring local witch
doctors to cast spells on their opponents. And even local prominent leaders were often known for using
these evil practices of witchcrafts, sorceries, and black magic to keep local people spiritually
imprisoned. To “set free” or relieve them from evil ones, family members of the affected victims had to perform many rituals of food offerings or animal sacrifices in hope to please the upsetting evil spirits of the areas.
These practices were often done at the victim’s personal costly expense and at the recommended
choice of offerings which were usually advised by local witch doctors…
When walking through the streets/paths of Pume Thmey Village, one can easily feel in their skin or could
easily sense the presence of evil or a sense of darkness/oppressive spirits clouding the surrounding
areas. Local villagers were often suspicious of strangers, and “Fear was written on over their faces!” If
any visitor trying to ask some information about village, everyone ran away and hid; no one was willing
to talk especially to outsiders. But the few brave ones who were willing, when conversing with some
Christian visitors recently, they’d reluctantly and carefully whispered a confession, “Look around and see
for yourself. Go and ask other villagers. Every home and every family in the entire village had lost at
least one or more family member to witchcrafts”. These statements were eventually confirmed with
the fact that there were so many young widows and orphans in the entire village!
BUT, as of early March of this year and even during Covid restrictions, the Hope and the Good News of
Jesus Christ had reached this village! God has amazingly and effectively used a timid, reluctant, but
faithful humble servant, a 9-month old believer, Lang (Lang, one of the 17 students who studies in
Syna’s weekly Abundant Life course in Srae Nouy, is also from Pume Thmey Village; his story was shared in February and July’s updates) to carry the Light of Jesus into this dark place! Using the weekly lessons he learned and the vigorous notes he took from Abundant Life class, Lang courageously shared the Good News with anyone and everyone he met in his village. At first, the villagers were hesitant to accept
Lang’s persistent invitations. After witnessing a few people who were miraculously healed after being
prayed for, villagers began to flock into Lang’s small cramped house on Tuesdays and Fridays for evening
Bible studies!
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| Lang, in light blue shirt, prayed for the needs for more workers |
As more and more people kept on coming every week, and feeling overwhelmed for not
knowing what to do, Lang, with tears flowing down his cheeks shared in the class about the urgent
needs and asked for help. After sometime of earnest prayers, God answered and sent Po (Pastor Dy’s
oldest son—see Po’s story in July update) and his wife Sony, to help Lang. Since then, Po has been
leading a team of 5 emerging leaders to help teach Bible studies and lead prayer services in Pume
Thmey, twice a week. As the meetings continue, God is doing AMAZING works in this village every
week! Every time the meeting took place, “The place was always packed with at least 35-40 people,
children and adults included”, as reported by Po and then added, “After we finished with each meeting,
at least two or more villagers asked for prayer for healing. And when we come the next time, the same
people would be completely healthy and well!”
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| Po, in black shirt with lifted hand, excitedly shared about believers in Pume Thmey |
Inspired by what Po shared, Lang found courage to join in, “Last week, a small child about two years old was brought to us for prayer for healing. This little guy was crying non-stop because the pains from the many boils and open infected wounds on his body! The boy had abscesses, sores, and wounds all
over his little body! We all counted and there were 24 wounds in all! At his mother’s requests, we
prayed for the boy's healing that Tuesday night. On Friday night when we returned, the same little
boy’s body was completely cleaned! We searched and searched, but not even one fresh or old wound
was found!" Those who saw the healing were impressed at the power of God.
Every Tuesday at Andong Chan village (morning) and at Srae Nouy (afternoon), Soeuth and I both teach leadership and discipleship classes: two classes in the morning, both are taught at same time in separate locations, and two other classes in the afternoon. We always had joined worship service along
with time for prayers and sharing before the groups split into two. Recently (July 28), Po and his
team reported, “At least 3 or more people prayed to receive Jesus at the end of each meeting. Last
Friday (July 24), 23 people prayed to receive Jesus! Lang and Po and other emerging leaders
unanimously and excitedly reported, “In almost every home in that village, at least 2 or 3 members from each family had prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior!” And instead of looking gloomy and depressed and suspicious of visitors as they used to, “The villagers were always excited and full of joy and waiting anxiously for our arrival”, Po joyfully shared and then added, “Every time we approached the village, they always shouted, ‘Oh, look! the Jesus people are coming!’” Po concluded his observation, “These people were slaves to the evil spirit for many years. Satan had captured and put them in bondage for generations. But Preah Yea-sue (the Lord Jesus) has set them free! They are free at last!
Inspired by what happened in Pume Thmey, believers from the same Tuesday class also shared about
what God was doing in their designated locations. The common theme is that more and more people
are curious and they wanted to know just who these “Jesus people ” are. Pastor Dy reported, “28 people
prayed to received Jesus at Srae Nouy on Sunday (July 26)!” Similar stories (though with lesser amounts) took place at other Alliance church sites throughout the Anlong Veng church ministries. “Leaders are training new believers in God’s word preparing them for the next joined baptism. Pray that Covid be lifted soon, so we can have a baptism”, Dy reported with a request…
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| Weekly bible studies at Rohaal village |
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| Soeuth led two boys to receive Christ at Rohaal Village |
Classes/Church Attendants Doubled and Visiting Guests…
With the increasing numbers of those who came to Christ recently, even without invitation, new
believers joined in our already full classes! For the past three weeks, class attendants and Sunday church
attendants had been doubled in most places! People are crying out for new classes to start. BUT we are
maxed out with our time capacities…
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| Discipleship students prayed for visiting guests |
This past week (July 28) during a lunch break, we had the privilege of receiving some honored guests
from National Alliance leaders in the country. Rev. Roum Chamroeun, Khmer Alliance President, along
with his wife, two members from the Northwest Regional Church Committees, in addition to 4 others of their traveling companions came to visit our classes in Srae Nouy. After a fellowship of meal, Pastor Dy was asked to give brief ministry reports including some highlights and challenges about the overall church ministries in Anlong Veng and in Srae Nouy areas. Among the highlights Dy included, “8 new church sites were planted since Covid. About 150 people total prayed to receive Jesus since Covid!" As for challenges and needs, Dy shared about the needs for (1) A worship place for each location, (2) The lack or short supplies of trained Bible teachers to disciple new believers, (3) The on-going needs as most church families are still without work or a means for re-generating incomes mostly because of Covid, and (4) The issues of sheep stealing from prosperity gospel Christian groups. Since early April, a few families who used to worship Srae Nouy left the Alliance fellowship to join other church groups. These families, not only left the Alliance themselves, they had secretly persuaded other families to join them. As a result, conflicts took place among the believers especially those who live in remote locations. Because of this, the Srae Kandal church came to a painful split where five families left…
Before parting companies, Rev. Chamroeun encouraged Dy and those who heard the reports to,
“Remain faithful to the tasks God has given you at hands. Whenever there are church growths there are
also oppositions. Those who are on the side of truth will stand firm no matter what. And God will carry
us through in times of difficulties”.
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| Class/ church attendants doubled in past three weeks |
Dates & events needing your prayers…
1. We had hoped that our son, Jonathan, would be able to travel to Penang, Malaysia, on July 21 to give enough time for a 14- day required quarantine before school starts, August 5. That did not happen as borders are still closed for both Cambodia and Malaysia. Therefore, Jonathan will resume online school in 12th grade on August 5th. Please pray for a reliable electrical power and accessible internet, in addition to a willingness and motivation for Jonathan to stay focused and engaged in participating with school activities through online classes…
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| Jonathan will resume online school for his senior year |
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| Rice distribution at Kampong Klang floating village |
3. Please continue to pray for key church leaders in a fervent way. The Enemy seemed to attack church leaders at an alarming rate! Pray for protection physically and spiritually for the leaders and their families. One key family unit with three small kids (ages 2, 6, 11) has been battling with a marriage crisis since early June with one spouse refused to work things out...
4. There have been some significant changes among the Alliance National youth committees since early July where we had to do multiple Zoom meetings while battling limited internet access. In August 8, in Phnom Penh, we will attempt an in-person meeting. Pray for wisdom and discernment for us (and for the remaining six committee members) we carry our roles as advisors to the committees.
Thank you for your partnership with the Anlong Veng Ministries. We appreciate your prayers and
financial support to the overall Alliance Mission in Cambodia and all over the world.
Blessings,
Soeuth and Syna
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