Church in Svay Pak

Today we went to the 8am church service at Svay Pak. It will go down I think as one of my most memorable days here that I have ever had in Cambodia over the past 9 years that I have visted this country. I sat in awe and wonder at the work God is doing through our Newsong partners as they seek to be His salt and light in this community. Rahab's house church service was filled with over 100 people from the community although the majority were female with a handful of men. In the crowd one would find some pimps (both male and female), some brothel owners and parents of children who have been sold into the sex trafficking industry.

Several of us from the team were asked to share. Below are some of the comments I shared with the those at the Rahab's House church:

My dear brothers and sisters, the bible tells us that God has a plan for your life and my life. His plan is to bless us, not to harm us, His plan is to give us a future. It is a plan filled with hope for a new life, a life that Jesus promises to everyone who comes to Him , receives Him and acknowledges that He is Lord. This building that you sit in today---Rahab's House is a symbol of the new life that God wants to give you both as individuals and as a community. Many years ago you know that this building was filled with a lot of pain and suffering. It was a place of darkness. But now, look at it, it is a place of light, a place of new life, of new hope and new joy! Just as Jesus has transformed and changed this building from a place of hopelessness to a place of hope with new life, He can do the same for you. You see, Jesus hears the cries of your heart. He sees the pain in your heart. He knows the suffering you have endured. He knows the hopelessness and helplessness we all feel at times, but He says to you and to me 'I love you', I want to help you. I want to give you a new life filled with new hope. What I did for this building, I can do this in your life. This building represents the love and hope I have for you and want to give to you. Jesus has not forgotten you. This is why He sent Pastor Chantha, Bunthan and Ratanak here. They want to help you discover this new life and hew hope that Jesus promises you. This is why our team is here today, because all of us want to tell you, that you are loved by Jesus; You are important to Him. You have value in His eyes. He has not forgotten about you because He has engraved you in the palm of His hands.

Newsong Girls Preparing to Serve The Communion

One of the most special moments for me was seeing some of the girls from the Newsong centre leading the worship at the service. Their very presence in this building is a reminder to me that God can do more than we can ever ask or imagine. They are after all an example that what man intended for evil, God will turn it around and use it for good. Their lives are living testimonies to us that we are more than conquerors in Him, that nothing is impossible for Him and no person is so broken that He cannot heal, nor restore. For each week that they come to lead the worship, it is as if the head of Satan is being crushed under their heels. But they don't just lead the worship, they also serve the communion and collect the offering during the church service. These girls who so often in their past were treated as garbage and refuse, abused, dehumanized and devalued in the worst possible ways are now part of God's chosen priesthood, His holy 'nation' whom He has called out of the darkness into the light. The very blood of Christ that cleansed them and healed them, they now offer to others who are broken and bruised that these too might experience new life in Christ.

Next door at the Lord's Gym, some other Newsong girls were leading the Sunday school kids program. Many of the kids we interacted with last year are part of this program and yet others are noticeably absent.




At one point during the service at Rahab's House, some of the kids who are now attending school came over to sing a few songs in English and Khmer. As I listen to them sing some familiar Christian kids songs, I could not helped be overcome with tears of joy and sadness. Joy---as I listen to their little voices offering songs of praise to God and rejoicing at the future that is their's to come. Sadness---as I thought of the many young girls who were trapped in this very building just a few short years ago, their voices were silenced by the evil that so pervaded this very building.

God's ways indeed are not our ways but one thing we know, He is building His kingdom in Svay Pak. Jesus said 'let the little children come'---they are coming indeed to know the carpenter King. Pray that the seeds sown in these young hearts will fall on good soil.