A few months ago—before news of the coronavirus had made headlines—the C&MA church network here in Cambodia launched a media team. The day before the country shut down all its schools, we filmed one of the medical doctors on our team sharing information about the virus, how to prevent its spread, and how we as Christians can find hope and purpose in the midst of this crisis.
At the time, there wasn’t much information in the Cambodian language being posted. The video quickly spread to more than 10,000 views in two weeks. God had been working behind the scenes— preparing us all along for what we are currently experiencing!
In mid-March Cambodia banned all public meetings, which included Sunday church gatherings. In just a few days, we had a sermon posted by one of our C&MA missionaries and words from our Cambodian C&MA president encouraging us not to be afraid and to continue meeting together in homes and small groups. We as missionaries have been praying more in the recent years for the local church to catch the vision to do house churches and small groups during the week. Now that we cannot meet together in church buildings, we are excited for what God will do in the lives of our church family.
Hundreds of Cambodians watched our first Sunday sermon in their homes—with their families, with their neighbors, with local believers around them. We pray for and expect a revival of discipleship among the Christians here in Cambodia. We are praying for them to be bold in sharing the gospel with their families and neighbors and for them to hold tightly to meeting together as the Body of Christ while still observing to safety protocols. God is certainly at work in abundantly more ways than we can dream or imagine!
I keep hearing the still small whispers from God that I’m here for such a time as this, and I’m holding onto His promises—especially on the days my emotions get lost in the unknown future. I know God is our constant. I know none of this was a surprise to Him. I know that He does some of his most transformative work in dark times. I know that hardship is a friend of the gospel. I know that He is still on His throne! And I know that He has been preparing us in advance for the work He has called us to do.
As many international workers have been sent home by their organizations, I’m honored and blessed that I can still be serving here for such a time as this. Around the globe, we are all in a season of unprecedented opportunity for new ministries to be started and for new avenues for the gospel to be proclaimed. Thank you for keeping me here to stand in the trenches in Cambodia. This is not a time to slow down our ministry but to redirect new paths for Kingdom work. God is at work here and we are trying hard to keep up with Him!
by Catie Kerr