TEACHING GOD’S WORD OUT OF COMPASSION

“And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34). This was how I felt when I visited Phnom Penh recently, and ministered to the Phnom Penh Thmey Community Church from 10 to 14 November 2012. This Church was formerly Phnom Penh Faith Presbyterian Church under Sun Sokha and his wife Nam Soon (both DipTh graduates of FEBC). The name change was due to the church’s relocation to Phnom Penh Thmey, a new suburb in Phnom Penh. The new premises was formerly a factory, but now houses a church sanctuary and dormitories for university students. Korean American missionaries Philip and Grace Chung who are co-labouring with Sokha and Nam Soon are responsible for the rental of the premises for the church and hostel. Sokha is the regular preacher and teacher in the church, ministering in Khmer or Cambodian. The church has about 40 members.

Sokha & Namsoon with Son Daniel & Daughter Jemima

In the five days I was there, I gave five lectures on Basic Christianity—Knowing the Bible, Knowing God, Knowing Man, Knowing Salvation, and Knowing the End Times. About 20 young people, mostly university students and some high school students, attended the seminar. The university students knew English, but not the high school students. Sokha had to be my interpreter, and since he was FEBC-trained, he could understand me well and communicate the contents of my lectures clearly and accurately.

The students were very appreciative of the lectures. They seized every opportunity to ask questions after each lecture. They were eager to learn and understand what was taught. After the last lecture, they presented me with a thank-you card with this note, “Thanks for being in Cambodia. Through your preaching we understand more about God and our faith is growing. We pray that you will come to teach us again and again.” These university students, many of whom are training to be doctors, nurses, engineers and teachers, are hungering and thirsting for God’s Word and for true knowledge and wisdom which can only come from the Holy Scriptures. Pray the Lord to call some to full-time service.

I am heartened to know that the Cambodians have a reliable and complete Khmer Bible with all the Bible verses intact as found in the Traditional Hebrew and Greek Texts underlying the KJV including 1 John 5:7. The Khmer Bible was translated from the Textus Receptus by Christian & Missionary Alliance (CMA) missionary Arthur Hammond who took a total of 21 years (1923-1954) to complete it. Since the 1990s foreign missionaries who have entered Cambodia started introducing modern English versions to the people. They also began work on a Khmer version based on the corrupt text and the translators themselves employed the dynamic equivalence method to corrupt the Word further. I was told that the new Khmer version has changed all fig trees into mango trees. The truth is turned into a lie by such new versions!

There is certainly a great need to ground the Cambodian Christians more deeply and thoroughly in basic theology and ethics, and warn them of the false doctrines and corrupt practices that abound today. I have given to all a copy of my book, Fundamentals of the Christian Faith. May this book help them to know and love their God and Saviour Jesus Christ more and more. May the Holy Spirit continue to use the Holy Scriptures to guide them into all truth and protect them from all falsehood and worldliness, especially the seductive influence of Charismatism and Contemporary Christian Music. Pray for Sokha who will be conducting more Bible study classes on Wednesday evenings and in Sunday School.

In order to be further equipped for theological ministry, Sokha will enrol in FEBC’s MMin programme which will be offered online starting 7 January 2013. As a background, Sokha after graduating with his DipTh from FEBC in 2002 went on to earn a Bachelor in English Literature from the University of Management and Economics (Battambang) in 2008. He graduated with an MDiv from Cambodian Presbyterian Theological Institute (Phnom Penh) in 2010. His wife Nam Soon, who is Korean, was a missionary to Beijing before coming to FEBC. She is now in her third year at the Royal Phnom Penh University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Besides Korean which is her mother tongue, Nam Soon is conversant in Mandarin, English and Khmer. Sokha and Namsoon married in 2002 and have two children—Jemima (7) and Daniel (6). Sokha started Moriah Bible-Presbyterian Church in Battambang in 2002 and served there for eight years. The church there is now under the care of a local pastor trained by him.Sokha’s sister Sreileakena, who just graduated with her DipTh from FEBC, now serves in the children’s ministry at True Gospel Bible-Presbyterian Church in Kampot under preachers Sopheak and Rotha who are also FEBC graduates (BTh 2008). They are supported by Truth Bible- Presbyterian Church (Rev Dennis Kwok).

Singspiration

God willing, I hope to visit Phnom Penh Thmey again next year so as to teach the believers there more things from God’s Word. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Tim 2:2). JK

Lord’s Day Service