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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Celebrating Women Rights Month...

This picture shows the number of women that attended the women conference held at Ampel Chrum, Kampong Cham province. This conference was not held in a church building, nor in a house church but in a tent set up in one corner of the rice field. Out of the 70 women gathered, half of them are believers and the other half are not. They came from 2 villages and small groups only. Many of those who do not have a Christian experience are interested and hungry to hear about what they call the "Sasna Yesu" which means "the religion of Christ. This was a historic event in Wesleyan church of Cambodia. What made this historic was the fact that it was the first ever local women gathering held in only two house churches and yet 70 women came willing to learn more about Christ. Rev. Grace Tsutada, who was usually called ma'am Grace, was the first lecturer. She presented the Gospel, focusing on a turning point where a sinner can turn his/her life back to God. After her lecture, she gave an appeal to the audience to respond to Christ. In a culture where altar call is unfamiliar practice, the option is to lead those who are willing to receive Christ in prayer while remain seated. When the challenge is given, many of them prayed. Only God can tell how many of these women have actually surrendered their life to God. The Gospel was presented clearly and the challenge was given with power, it is God who will do the transformation. The follow-up next month will tell us how many did respond. Virginia Quinn also taught on Christian marriages and raising children to love God.
Ptr. Eng Kieth is our hardworking layman who works with these two house churches. He is leading two other small groups in different villages as well. He and his wife are very committed to the ministry--reaching the communities with the Gospel. They do not only evangelize and disciple people but they also help empower them to have a better living. At Ampel Chrum he and his wife created a cooperative wherein a family can borrow 100 kilos of rice during the planting season and then during the harvest season, that family will return 130 kilos back to the cooperative. His wife, Nekru Sopheak Mony, was the main organizer of the women's conference. She created this conference in time for the women's right month, but instead of just focusing on the women's right, she focused on the transformation of life that is based in Romans 12:2, with a theme "New Life following God's Will."
Resie was privilege to speak to these women as well. It was her first time to give a one hour and a half lecture and carried a discussion without the help of an interpreter. She taught "A Woman being Rooted in the Word of God and Cultivating a Prayer life." The women were very attentive and participatory. While many of them absorbs the lesson, few others are confuse finding it hard to believe what reading and studying the Bible can do and also what the power of prayer can do. Among the 70 women, only 7 of them own a Bible, and 40 of them are interested to have one. To be able to study the Bible for growth, they do need to own a Bible. For this reason, we are raising $200 to purchase Bibles for these 40 women (20 for Ampel Chrum and 20 for Tropeang Rosey) and $100 to purchase Hymnals. Both hard cover Khmer Bible and Hymbook cost 5 dollars each. If you are interested to donate please contact Rev. and Mrs. Greg Fernandez at greferjun@yahoo.com
More pictures and stories at
National Church Ministries