October: Happy Reformation Day!
October was a very eventful month. Some updates in the video here:
1. Bora and I were invited to Brazil by "Fiel Ministries" to get training on Christian Publishing and to meet many like-minded publishers from around the world. It was an amazing experience and we returned to Cambodia with a renewed excitement and fresh vision for increasing our output of Christian books for this nation. This country suffers from what some coin as "Theological Famine", meaning that biblical resources are so few and far between that seminaries, pastors, and churches are starving for more material to study and learn about the truths of God. Pray that God would guide and bless us in these hopes for more solid biblical resources in this country.
2. A Canadian from Vancouver named Jason Liw arrived to Cambodia to join us through a short-term mission trip. He will be here for a month, helping the team with translation software solutions that would improve our efficiency and ability to create articles and books in the Khmer language. He will also help us setup an online Christian bookstore! Please pray for Jason as he stays with me and serves during his first trip to Asia.
3. Reformation Day is upon us. I recall the day I stepped into a church in Mississauga on one October 30st and the preacher (Paul Martin) taught about Luther and the Reformation. It blew my mind. I learned so much about the roots of the Protestant faith and the powerful message of salvation by grace through faith! This year, our team created this video that I animated. Find it below. Pray that many would come to know the importance of the Reformation and why it is still relevant and wonderful in 2022.
4. We just finished a camp with the Harvest Ministry team with over 50 attendees, training up Sunday School Teachers for ministry across churches in Cambodia. We are using gospel-focused curriculum based on the Jesus Storybook Bible and the New City Catechism. I was tasked with coordinating activities and also preaching on Sunday on Philippians 2, teaching on "Working Out Your Own Salvation". It was a joyful time! We still need more funds to cover the costs of this camp. The team is in a deficit to pay for the expenses. Please consider giving.
SEPTEMBER 2022
Consider donating $100 to support a Cambodian Sunday School teacher to attend the October multi-day training workshop. This covers their lodging, food, materials, staff, and the translated curriculum. Just $100 can make a difference for the future of the church and the next generation of young teachers and Cambodian children.
AUGUST 2022
Birthday Reflections
This is a longer update today. As I reflect this birthday, here are 4 things I am thankful for:
1. God's Provision
I remember sitting with friends Trevor and Hayley when considering missions work in Cambodia. My biggest fear was asking for money and raising enough to live month-to-month. To be in full-time ministry here, I would need to pray and hope for the support of my church and friends back in Canada. Most missionaries spend years raising support at home before buying their plane tickets. I had zero supporters, and then Covid hit and made things even more unlikely.
I am thankful for how Trevor and Hayley and many others pushed me over the edge to pray and seriously consider working here as a missionary. The fear was real. It sometimes still is. But God provided enough each day. Just enough manna. He has provided and I praise him for all the friends and churches that have helped and joined me as partners for Cambodia and the gospel.
2. God's People
I am blessed that God has put me among his people here. How joyous it is for me to be in the midst of great men and women of God, many who left their lives and jobs to come to Cambodia. Many sold their homes, packed up their families, and overcame great obstacles to be here. I get to befriend them and fellowship with them. I get to learn from them and be loved by them. I get to partner with them, side-by-side, for the sake of our Savior and the eternal Khmer souls that need the gospel.
And on top of that, I get to meet Cambodian brothers and sisters, totally different than me, but totally united in Christ as family, adopted by the Father, through the power of the Spirit. And I get to laugh and grow and minister with these Cambodian believers. Truly, I can hear Jesus remind me that, "everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms on account of My name, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:29)
3. God's Providence
I never planned to be here in Cambodia. I never planned to join a missions team long-term. I never planned to be involved in Christian publishing. I never planned to be a part of manufacturing, designing, and promoting Desiring God, Crossway, Daily Bread, and Jesus Storybook Bible in Khmer. My plan was to make a living with board games and serve at my Canadian church. That was the plan.
Then one day the board game industry canceled me because I posted a John Piper article about transgender pronouns, stating I will not call he “she”, or call she “he.” Then probably about $100K of contracts were canceled.
So to ease the financial and social pain, a friends gave me a 6-month contract in Cambodia to help with student exchange trips. Then I met Daren. Then I bought books from Bora. Then I joined a small group with Trevor and Hayley. And then the Holy Spirit moved me to join the mission and Action Cambodia and the publishing team. And I even get to help with books by those authors I love to read! And I get the chance to teach the Bible to many people here! This is truly the providence of a God who moves all things. He takes what is painful and evil so that he can use it for our good and his glory.
This week I read this by J.I. Packer:
"Providence teaches Christians that they are never in the grip of blind forces; all that happens to them is divinely planned, and each event comes as a new summons to trust, obey, and rejoice, knowing that all is for one's spiritual and eternal good."
I rejoice! And on a related note, I never would guess I could launch a board game while living in Cambodia. But last week I did. Seems appropriate for my birthday. And it is going rather well on Kickstarter. If you are into board games with a "Lord of the Rings" kinda theme, take a look at my project and preorder one :)
4. God's Patience
Finally, as I reflect on the 42nd year and my life now in Cambodia, I think of God's great patience and mercy for me, a sinner. His mercy shows me pity and much kindness in my wretched state. He is gracious beyond measure each day with me in my shortcomings. His patience withholds his hand from severely disciplining this servant each time I sin and neglect to do what is righteous. He watches, and he patiently waits, and sanctifies this sinner so gently day after day. I am not worthy to serve Christ or to be among these godly servants here, but God is kind and patient towards me. I see that here and now more than ever before. Praise be to God. He redeemed me. And he continues to redeem me.
So, I end this birthday reflection with A.W. Pink:
Let us review our own lives. It is not long since we followed a multitude to do evil, had no concern for God’s glory, and lived only to gratify self. How patiently He bore with our vile conduct! And now that grace has snatched us as brands from the burning, giving us a place in God’s family, and has begotten us unto an eternal inheritance in glory, how miserably we requite Him. How shallow our gratitude, how tardy our obedience, how frequent our backslidings! One reason why God suffers the flesh to remain in the believer is that He may exhibit His “longsuffering to us-ward“. Since this divine attribute is manifested only in this world, God takes advantage to display it toward “His own.”
- The Attributes of God (Translated soon in Khmer)
Ministry Updates
1. Pray for Lawn's schooling
The past months have been like being back in school, as I have been helping my friend Lawn, who is taking Seminary courses here, to catch up on 3 research papers! Praise God he is caught up now, but we spent many long nights looking for citations and editing. Google translate surprisingly does a great job at turning a paper in Khmer into a paper in English! God is good! Please keep praying for him as he continues theological education in a challenging program that is not in his native tongue. And pray that I am patient as I try to help him with the courses.
One beautiful quote I read as I helped with the Missionary Biography paper is by Ann Judson (from a John Piper book, "How Few There Are Who Die So Hard", that our team has translated on Adoniram Judson. "I have about come to the determination to give up all my comforts and enjoyments here, sacrifice my affection to relatives and friends, and go where God, in his providence, shall see fit to place me."
2. Pray for Amjad's family and application to Canada
Amjad and his family fled Pakistan for persecution. They are living in Cambodia and struggling to make money here. The restaurant business is hard and especially when school is on summer break. Pray for their daily bread. The kids barely can afford basic English classes and recently they needed $1,800 for Visa renewals to stay in Cambodia. They managed to get the money but it is a struggle. Plus they are praying to find a home in Canada and a church to care for them. So far they have raised over $25,000 USD of the $35,000 goal. Please consider donating. And please pray.
3. Pray for my Friday sermons
For several weeks I've been given the opportunity to preach a short message with a translator at the local Cambodian church at their Friday youth service. Though there are a few things I don't align with at the church, I am praying for God to use me to preach from the Bible with zeal and clarity each week. Pray that the young unbelievers would hear the gospel of Christ and believe. Pray that the young believers would be moved by the Spirit to love their Bibles, grow in truth, and live with passion and conviction.
4. Pray for my daily English class students
Monday to Thursday for almost 3 years I have had the joy of teaching English and Bible and playing games with a small class of 5-10 students. We meet and study and memorize God's word. Half the class are not believers but happily come each day to practice English, read and understand the Bible (currently the book of Mark), and last month we were learning The Lord's Prayer and how to pray. I care very much for these students (age 14-16) and hope many will come to salvation. Please pray.
Also, thanks to some of you who donated funds to buy bilingual New Testaments for the class and the church. In total we got 40 books for them! They find it very helpful to follow the English and Khmer while we read together. I praise God for your help.
5. Aspects of Holiness by JC Ryle
This month I helped design the new cover for a Khmer reprint of J.C. Ryle's "Aspects of Holiness". This is published by Church of Mercy (Lawn's home church). The pastor asked for my help to redesign it and find a printer overseas for better quality and pricing. I am honored to be used by God in this place. Pray that this reprinted book will be a great asset to the Cambodian church.
6. Framed Bible and theologian quotes
A fun new idea we created at our office was to use the designs from our Instagram for Christian souvenirs or gifts. See below for a look. These were designed by Ro, our teammate, and I picked some to print and frame for sale at the office. We hope they will be a blessing.
7. Pray for our Action Cambodia publishing projects
We are done printing the new reprints of "What is a Healhy Church?" by Mark Dever and "Fifty Reasons Jesus Came To Die" by John Piper. These were all sold out, so praise God that we can print them again because of our supporters.
Also, we found a friend who translated "Don't Waste Your Cancer" by Piper for use in their ministry in Cambodia. Desiring God approved publishing it so we will help them create this short Ebook for distribution online.
And this year we are working on a book with 50 "Ask Pastor John" questions and answers from his translated articles we have made. We got funding from Desiring God for this and I am excited to print this book for Cambodia!
And one more project is that Bora is deciding what big project to translate next. One potential is the Commentary on Galatians by Martin Luther. I started reading it also, and found this excellent quote from Luther: "We do not preach for the praise of men, or the favor of princes. We preach for the favor of God alone whose grace and mercy we proclaim."
8. Pray for our online resources
Our Plovpit translation team creates Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and Youtube content to point people to the Bible for the answers to life's hard questions. We also make testimony videos as a form of evangelism to unbelievers in Cambodia. And recently I started a podcast for our Christian resources with daily episodes (currently at 168 episodes). As always, we need your prayers, that God would use these resources as his instrument to proclaim Christ across Cambodia. That every knee would bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
9. A Christian publishing conference in Brazil
By God's grace, Bora and I were invited to a Christian publishing conference in Brazil! Bora just received his travel Visa in Thailand at the Brazilian embassy. Praise God! Our tickets are purchased and we fly to the Fiel Conference in October! Very excited!
JUNE 2022
"Let the little children come to me..."
This month I am not raising for myself, but for a ministry that is in need desperately of your help. Please read and consider giving to our Bible Teacher Training curriculum in Cambodia, to tell kids about Jesus Christ.
29% of the population of Cambodia is 14 years old and younger (2019 census). That means that 4.5 million children need to hear the gospel of Jesus in an unreached population where only 2% are Christians.
This summer 2022, help us train Cambodian churches with gospel resources. We are raising support to translate curriculum and teach teachers to use those resources for children's ministry all around this the country. We need your help to bring biblical resources to the unreached of Cambodia.
Support Our New Christian Curriculum
We have a 3-year plan for the gospel of Christ to reach children and families across Cambodian churches. This fundraiser is for the first year. We aim to translate, contextualize, and train Sunday School Teachers to teach historic Christian doctrines using the New City Catechism Curriculum, originally developed by Crossway and Redeemer Church.
"A catechism is tremendously valuable for providing an overall interpretation for the sweep of Scripture."
- John Piper
MAY 2022
I Rejoice With You All
The Confessions
After much work from the team, the Confessions by Augustine is here! This was Bora's dream project ever since he was young. We praise God that this big project is complete and now being shared across Cambodia. To learn more, visit https://confessionskhmer.com/en/
R.C. Sproul writes:
“We need an Augustine or a Luther to speak to us anew lest the light of God’s grace be not only overshadowed but be obliterated in our time.”
You can learn more about this famous Christian book at the end of my update video, where I present the book's introduction by John Piper (in English).
More May Updates:
- Aside from the daily English and Bible classes, I am now sharing a sermon twice a month with the young people at Kingsway Community Church. Please pray that the gospel would be preached clearly and boldly.
- Praise God that our grant application for online resources in Cambodia has been approved from Desiring God. This has allowed us to hire a new staff member and also improve our equipment needs for recording and editing gospel media for Cambodia. This has been an amazing blessing of the Lord's generous provision.
- You can also pray for me as I prepare for my first sermon given at Shalom Church's English Service in 2 weeks. My passage is on Luke 9:18-36. I am excited and honored to be given the opportunity to be a herald for God's word in the pulpit of this church.
- I admit that life is never without its great valleys and dark shadows. Pray for me in my own wretchedness and struggle against sin in my own heart. I say with John Newton: "I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior." Amen.
- In a frustrating turn of events, my laptop had many issues and a local repair shop made it much worse. Media editing and work came to a halt for many days. But by God's mercy and great kindness, my teammates at Action Cambodia, plus my family in Canada, pooled together to surprise me with the funds for a new slick laptop. I am very blessed and undeserving of all this. God is good. Yes, he is good.
APRIL 2022
Pray For My Role In Cambodia
I don't usually talk about my own funding or underfunding. Today I ask for prayer and maybe support for the work God allows me to do in Cambodia. I am in the process of applying for "long-term" status with Action International as a missionary. Please pray. I am currently underfunded by $1,000 per month. If you might consider helping me, that would be a great blessing.
Excited for the Story of Hope
I was able to be involved with my missionary friends Trevor and Hayley Amack for the Story of Hope training camp. This excellent resource points to Christ from Genesis to Revelation, teaching local leaders to understand the glorious gospel for the proclamation of Christ in Cambodia. I was so blessed to be invited to assist and participate in this Bible-saturated training camp.
MARCH 2022
Help Our Pakistani Friends
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-persecuted-christians-start-fresh
Watch their testimony here.
FEBRUARY 2022
Thank you for praying
Here is an update from February. It has been a joyfully busy 2022 so far, but I am constantly reminded of the Lord's grace and his providence in my ability to be here as a simple servant of Christ. My 2-year contract with the Action mission team is ending soon, but I have begun the process of recommitting as a "long-term" missionary. Please pray for me as I solidify plans, hoping for God to make his will clear to me.
"The power which the Lord gives His people to exercise in heaven and earth is real; the number of laborers and the measure of the harvest does actually depend on their prayer." (Andrew Murray)
Feb Updates + Prayer Requests
- My friends Leakena and Travis got married. Travis is a missionary I was trapped with during Covid lockdown. I got to stand in as Travis' "father-figure" because his family could not fly in. It was a beautiful wedding in the Lord and I'm proud of this son of mine :) Also, they asked to give free Christian books from Plovpit at a table during their wedding reception! It was an incredible idea. Everyone must try this!!!
- English classes continue at the church where I volunteer, and I am explaining through the verses in Psalm 103, having them memorize the chapter. With Omicron looming, pray that classes can continue to meet, learn, and play.
- Pray for the Jesus Storybook Bible curriculum for Sunday School teachers. It started in February with our friend Sophoin organizing the first training session of 2022.
- Pray for our production of Augustine's "Confessions", now printing. We hope the shipment won't hit any delays or issues. We hope this classic work of Christian literature will be a blessing to the Cambodian church.
- What Is The Gospel? by Bryan Chapell
- Suffering and Success in the Life of Adoniram Judson by John Piper
6. Pray also for our translation of "The Attribute of God" by A.W. Pink, printing this year. It is a classic work and I recommend everyone to read it! In softcover, only $10 CAD on Amazon Canada.
7. I am preparing a master list of all Khmer Christian books that exist in Cambodia. Pray for cooperation between publishers that we may share these resources so that churches and ministries would be able to better know what is out there and how to benefit from gospel resources in this country.
8. Finally, please pray for my plans for a Christ-Centered Christian Conference in Cambodia this year. I am in talks with many ministries to partner for a pastor's conference to equip and encourage leaders. My hope is to unite a group of multi-denominational pastors who are committed to the true gospel. The aim is for a 3-year plan for these events. Big ideas, but I leave it all to the Lord.
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Thank you for your support and prayers for Cambodia and for the ministry here.
"Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel." (Ephesians 6:19)
JANUARY 2022
Happy New Year!
As the year ends and a new year begins, I thank God for his outpouring of kindness and mercy. This year has been so full of blessing. The team has been a major part of multiple church leadership training camps, we've printed 4 translated titles for Cambodia, and it's been a great year for new articles in Khmer by Desiring God, Got Questions, Crossway, and Gospel Coalition. All this has been a joy to be part of and the team has worked very hard, though all by the strength that God supplies.
DECEMBER 2021
Year-End Reflections
This year has had countless challenges, with Covid restrictions on discipleship, church, and many other consequences. But God is good. Because of your help and God's loving grace, we produced 4 new books in 2021! We printed The New City Catechism (by Gospel Coaltion), The Jesus Storybook Bible (by Sally Lloyd-Jones), Good News of Great Joy (by John Piper), and Daily Manna (by Our Daily Bread).It was a record year of book production, by the goodness of God, with 14,000 books printed for Cambodia. We also created video curriculum with Jesus Storybook Bible and helped run a training camp for Sunday School Teachers. And we were part of a training camp for The Story of Hope (another project we translated). And as always, the team releases online Khmer articles and videos weekly from Desiring God, Crossway, Ligonier, Got Questions, Tim Challies, and Gospel Coalition. The team was hard at work all year, though it was not by our effort, but the grace of God that was with us. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
Looking back at 2021, I am moved by the passion and joyful diligence of our team, striving to proclaim the glorious gospel for the sake of Christ Jesus our Lord. And I am moved by the providence of God, working all things for good, and using the circumstances of the year to sanctify us and bring glory to Himself.
NOVEMBER 2021
Facebook will match $8 million USD in qualifying donations made on Facebook during GivingTuesday. Please consider donating this Tuesday to our gospel projects in Cambodia.
This Christmas, every $26 donated can help give 2 bundles of books
- 2 x Daily Manna
- 2 x Jesus Storybook
- 2 x New City Catechism
- 2 x Good News of Great Joy
We need your partnership in the gospel. Whether you give $26 or $260, please partner with us for these resources.
Support these projects for 2021-2022
Christian Videos and Articles Translated
Sunday School Teacher Training
Book Share Project for Our Daily Bread (aka Daily Manna), New City Catechism, Jesus Storybook Bible, and Good News of Great Joy.
2000 Our Daily Bread Translations (3 months x $500/month + $3500 printing = $5000)
52 Christian Q&A Video Translations (12 months x $500/month + $600 equipment = $6600)
20 Sunday School Training Workshops (20 teachers x $70/workshop = $1400)
5 Sunday School Training Camps (5 camps x $200/camp = $1000)
OCTOBER 2021
SEPTEMBER 2021
Books, Bible Workshops, and Joseph Prince!1. Are we actually done Jesus Storybook Bible edits? Almost. The team has worked hard through fixing newfound errors. Printing starts soon! 2. We are printing 3 new books simultaneously! For the first time ever, we are printing 3 books at once: Jesus Storybook Bible, Confessions, and Good News of Great Joy. The aim is to have all these excellent gospel books made and shipped to Cambodia before December. Looking tight, so please pray that things run as smoothly as they did for New City Catechism. And pray for the translation staff who have been working so tirelessly on these projects this year leading up to this moment. 3. Why translate an old book like Augustine's Confessions? Isn't it a Catholic book? Well, we answer some of this in a quick video I filmed with Bora Chheang. It's at the end of this update video. Excuse my shaky camera :) 4. I recently made a video about the False Teaching of Joseph Prince. I was able to write my first article for the Plovpit team, which was translated to Khmer, and published on their website. I developed this video in both English and Khmer, exposing the dangerous teachings of popular "pastors" like Joseph Prince. His heresies are now being imported into developing nations like Cambodia. Pray for those who might be led astray, that they might see and reject the errors and motives of such wolves. To share with any Cambodians you know, here is the Khmer-language version: https://youtu.be/nC3dTjuUNqs Take a look below to see the English-language Joseph Prince video I wrote. |
| 5. In a week I am helping teach classes at a Bible Workshop for Cambodian Christians. I am assisting a fellow missionary named Trevor Amack, who is in charge of this event. Pray that there will be no sudden changes with Covid restrictions and that the Khmer attendees will be equipped and encouraged through the 4 days of teaching through the Old and New Testament. This is stage 1 for a long-term plan to train Cambodians to train Cambodians in the gospel. 6. Praise God for a sudden improvement in my health and overall mood over the past month. Not sure if it's sleep, or diet, or sickness, or spiritual, but I was feeling really low the last few months. Now, by the Lord's grace, I am back to 120%. Thank you for praying. 7. I visited Koh Dach (aka Silk Island) for a personal prayer retreat last week. It is a small island an hour away from my home. I spent 3 days in prayer, Bible, fasting, and journaling. It was very refreshing and much needed. 8. My bro Lawn and his wife Chantha are expecting their first baby (a boy) in October. Please pray for God's mercy and protection over them. 9. If you know any churches/pastors in Cambodia who would like the New City Catechism in Khmer, we are donating 30 copies per church from our Book Share fund. Contact me for more info! I am blessed by your prayer and encouragement. Through all the highs and lows of life and the drama of 2021, we know we are kept by our might Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Much love, Jeff. |
AUGUST 2021
The Confessions
DID YOU KNOW... Augustine died today, August 28, in 430 AD. He was 75 years old. He died as North Africa was being invaded by the Vandals. We are finalizing edits and layouts for The Confessions in Khmer, by Augustine. Also, here are some quotes that praise this classic Christian book. Have you read it yet?The Confessions is a masterpiece not only of Christian literature but of literature in general.
—Carl R. Trueman
For 1,600 years, Augustine’s voice has continued to beckon hungry sinners to feast upon the liberating, sovereign joy of Jesus Christ.
- John Piper
If you’ve been a Christian for one year, and you haven’t read “The Confessions” of Saint Augustine, shame on you!
- R. C. Sproul
New City Catechism Arrived!
Praise God that all 3000 copies of the New City Catechism in Khmer have arrived to our office in Phnom Penh. It was a wonderfully smooth process of printing and shipping for this book. The next step is to promote and distribute this excellent resource of 52 questions and answers for the Christian faith. If you would like to preorder some or donate towards our Bookshare budget, you can visit this site: khmerqanda.com/order.html
Some Positive Covid
Prayer request for the team, as some contracted Covid. So far, pretty minor symptoms. Pakistani friends
Please keep praying for our Pakistani friends who are in hard times due to Covid restrictions. Pray for their restaurant here and their application to settle in a country to escape religious persecution.
My buddy Lawn
My Khmer Christian brother Lawn is facing new financial hardships as his school is forcing a month with no salary due to Covid. Him and his wife Chantha have their first child on the way. If you are interested in helping out, please contact me.
Jesus Storybook Bible
Next up is 5000 copies of the Jesus Storybook Bible. To preorder, go here: jsbkhmer.com/en/. We are in the process of approving the digital proofs now. And we discovered by accident that our printer is the same one that prints the English version! Also, we are still developing curriculum for teachers to utilize the Jesus Storybook Bible across Cambodian churches.Christmas Devotional by John Piper
Our team is also planning to print a Christmas devotional called Good News of Great Joy, by John Piper. It will include 25 daily readings for Advent, beginning December 1 and going through Christmas Day. Please pray that the printing process for this book, and all our scheduled books, will go well and serve the Christian church in Cambodia for the glory of God.
JULY 2021
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
JUNE 2021
For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."(Acts 13:47)
I hope you enjoy my concise video update on our Team Retreat, the New City Catechism (NCC) printing, and the Jesus Storybook Bible (JSB) printing. In addition, some news about creating curriculum for Cambodia for the NCC and JSB!
This month I also have bug bites and delayed culture shock. Please pray for me. His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
(2 Cor 12:19)
MAY 2021
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.~ Romans 8:28
1. Confessions by Augustine
The translation team is still working on final touches on Augustine's Confessions in Khmer. Both Nathan Wells and I have made some cover designs. Click on the poll and tell us your pick. Some of the covers are shown in English, but of course the final design will be in Khmer. Help us and vote for your favorite!
2. Jesus Storybook Bible: Teacher's Guide
Please watch this short video I created.
3. Kingsway Kids
Been meeting my students online still, as church buildings are still closed. Most of the students aren't allowed to meet me face-to-face anyway, as their parents are nervous about Covid. We've been playing English activities over video chat, progressing through "Little Pilgrim's Big Journey", and memorizing scripture (Psalm 23). It continues to be a joy to meet them daily!4. Discipleship with Lawn
Lockdowns allowed us to increase the frequency of our discipleship sessions to about 5 days per week. We spend time memorizing Bible passages (he insists on doing it in English!), and we are almost done David Platt's Secret Church ("How To Interpret The Bible"). We've also started studying some topics in systemic theology. Lawn is seriously growing a lot and I am super encouraged by the work of the Spirit in his faith and knowledge.5. Lockdowns Lifted
Due to increasing Covid cases, we were in lockdown and had an 8pm curfew. The curfew finally lifted and most places are open again for business. Pray that things keep open, as many Cambodians and local businesses are hurting in these times.6. The Great Imbalance
This month I began watching David Platt's new lessons on "The Great Imbalance" with some friends from back home. Jesus commands us all to, "Go and make disciples of all nations." What if, despite our best intentions and sincerest efforts as the church to obey Jesus, we are actually ignoring what he said?Churches are spending approximately 99% of our missions resources in places that are already reached with the gospel. Put another way, churches are spending approximately 1% of our missions resources among the 3 billion people in 7,000 people groups who haven’t heard the gospel.
The fact that so few of our financial resources and missionaries are sent to the unreached is what is known as the Great Imbalance. The number of unreached people is higher now than ever before and will continue to increase until Christians and churches decide to change how we use our resources.
This means that, unless something changes, more people than ever before in history will go to hell without ever hearing how to go to heaven. If we are going to obey the Great Commission, the Great Imbalance needs to be rectified.
Read more, here: https://radical.net/articles/great-commission-statistics-that-should-concern-us/
That's all for this month. Though Covid has brought many obstacles to ministry here, we can be certain that our God is sovereign over it all. He works all things for his glory and for the good of those who love him. Let us fight for joy in these challenging times, with the confidence that he is using this time, even with Covid, for his good plans and purposes in Christ Jesus. Amen.
APRIL 2021
Here is an April video update from Cambodia!
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5. I added some pics:
- Bora and Bunry and their baby, Monika.
- My friends, Lawn and Trevor, as we studied together recently.
- A pic of my awesome mosquito bites. Not fun.
THANKS FOR READING. I CONTINUE TO DEPEND ON YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT. TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY.
February 22, 2021
| Khmer Wedding. Khmer Jesus Storybook. Khmer New City Catechism. Here is a February video update from Cambodia! |
1. Above is a video from the previous Saturday's Jesus Storybook Bible workshop, where a dozen churches came together to cooperate on a kids' gospel curriculum based on the upcoming books that will be distributed throughout Cambodia.
2. The New City Catechism (www.newcitycatechism.com) has been translated and is now available online at www.khmerQandA.com. We are also promoting this great Christian resource through our social media with images that I am generating in Khmer, via Photoshop (below).
3. Lawn and Chantha were married! My first full Khmer wedding. Here is a video (right) of the morning events.
January 30, 2021
It's a new year. New plans. New hopes. New mercies.Here is a video update from Cambodia.
1. Lawn's wedding is this Sunday and I'll be preaching a sermon on Ephesians 5 to an audience of mostly unbelievers. Pray for bold gospel proclamation and for the Spirit to move.
2. We surpassed the $20,000 goal! Thanks for all the support in December and January for the book projects for the Jesus Storybook Bible and The New City Catechism. People have been so generous. God has amazed us with the amount raised. We will keep you updated on the 8000 books being printed. I can't wait for them to be distributed across Cambodia this year! Here is a thank you video from our 2021 planning sleepover!
4. At the end of the video is a short introduction of Bora Chheang and his incredible gospel publishing and translation work with Action Cambodia. To support him and his wife Bunry, go to this link and include "Bora + Bunry" in the Notes section: https://www.actioninternational.org/project/Cambodia-National-Christian-Workers
5. We are another step closer to finishing the confessions by Augustine. Here is a clip of Bora translating the final line.
8. Visited Lawn's former church in Kandal province last month to donate copies of Little Pilgrim's Big Journey and my game Nut So Fast. It was really nice getting to know his old friends and pastor. Got to play some games too!
THANKS FOR READING!
For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:18
December 25, 2020
The Lord Is Come!
Gospel Book Project
Our team is at 87% of our funding goal to publish 8000 books (5000 Jesus Storybook Bibles + 3000 New City Catechisms) for Cambodia. Thank you. May many come to know Jesus the Lord through these books! To share this project link, go to: www.facebook.com/donate/3505982626159235/End-Of-Year Gifts
As this year comes to a close, I am awed by how God has challenged me here, taught me, humbled me, and used me for his purposes. The Lord has been so patient and gracious to me during 2020 in Cambodia. He is truly loving, sovereign, and good. Your prayers and donations have been an incredible blessing.
They are here to raise up Khmer pastors and leaders to build the church in Cambodia. To learn about their ministry and consider supporting them, visit: https://countrysidebible.org/trevor-hayley-amack
December 15, 2020
Gospel Book Project
We have 2 donors that have offered $4000 of matching funds. For every amount donated from now on, it will be matched, up to $4000. Please keeping praying and sharing so we can publish 8000 books (Jesus Storybook Bible + New City Catechism) for Cambodia.
Thank you. To God be the glory.
Share this project link, here: www.facebook.com/donate/3505982626159235/
December 1, 2020
Gospel Book Project for Cambodia
We want to publish The Jesus Storybook Bible and The New City Catechism for Cambodians.
To donate to this end-of-year book project, visit this link: https://www.facebook.com/donate/3505982626159235/
What is Giving Tuesday? Facebook is matching donations today up to 7 million dollars - first come first serve! Support the Cambodian project today!
October 31, 2020
Please pray for the damage and loss caused by flash floods this past month. In the provinces 14,299 households were displaced and 38 people died. Details are in the Situation Report below.
We want to print and distribute two awesome titles, with thousands of copies to spread throughout Cambodia. We will publish the 2nd printing of Jesus Storybook Bible and 1st printing of the New City Catechism in Khmer. Please pray and consider supporting this project before 2020 ends. As a gift to thank supporters, we will offer the upcoming Little Pilgrim's Big Journery Animated Series and eBook. Tax-deductible donations to the project and team can be given here: www.actioncambodia.org/translation
It is Reformation Day! Though the culture in the west is telling everyone to celebrate Halloween, Protestant Christian celebrate the Reformation. On this day 503 years ago, Martin Luther nailed the Ninety-Five Theses to the door of Wittenberg's Castle Church in Germany. To learn more about it, I recommend this solid documentary from Ligonier. It's free! https://www.ligonier.org/blog/stream-luther-documentary-free/
Tax-deductible donations for my ministry work can be given here: www.actioninternational.org/missionary/jeff-lai
October 1, 2020
- Language tutoring has been going well, with Lawn, my Christian Khmer brother, helping me out. Languages are definitely not my spiritual gift :) Still very basic Khmer, but progress nonetheless.
- Lawn got a new teaching job, after months of Covid-19 and unemployment. Praise the Lord!
- We finished up our English modernization of Augustine's Confessions. Now the team is working on the Khmer version and almost done. I've been blessed through my involvement in the modernization. I can't wait to get it printed!
- Bible Study Small Group has started up at my place. About 6 people so far and I'm stoked to get into the book of Job together!
- Prepping for a fundraising campaign for producing a 2nd printing of Jesus Storybook Bible and 1st printing of the New City Catechism in Khmer. Both are such awesome tools for introducing Cambodian children (AND adults) to the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- Tax-deductible donations for my mission work: www.actioninternational.org/missionary/jeff-lai
- Tax-deductible donations to the publishing team: www.actioncambodia.org/translation
"I should not like you, if meant by the gifts of God for a great missionary, to die a millionaire. I should not like it, were you fitted to be a missionary, that you should drivel down into a king; for what are all your kings, what are all your nobles, what are all your stars, what are all your garters, what are all your diadems and your tiaras, when you put them all together, compared with the dignity of winning souls for Christ, with the special honor of building for Christ, not on another man's foundation, but preaching Christ's gospel in regions yet far beyond? I reckon him to be a man honored of men who can do a foreign work for Christ, but he who shall go farthest in self-annihilation and in the furtherance of the glory of Christ, he shall be a king among men, though he wear no crown that carnal eyes can see."
- CH Spurgeon
September 8, 2020
- I am using the New City Catechism in Cambodia and we are fundraising for the printed version soon
- Upcoming translations and printing in Khmer:
- Jesus Storybook Bible (2nd Print Run)
- Attributes of God
- What Is The Gospel?
- Say hello to the team at the translation office
- New "What Is Plovpit?" video
- Support this amazing translation ministry at: www.actioncambodia.org/translation
- Support my part in this ministry at: www.actioninternational.org/missionary/jeff-lai
August 6, 2020
I am helping a Canadian missionary and author, Tyler, with a book crowdfunding project. It is now the top Christian crowdfunding project ever for children's fiction. A great resource for parents to teach kids about the beauty of the gospel and the trials and joys of the Christian walk. Ending within hours. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/littlepilgrim/little-pilgrims-big-journey-pilgrims-progress-for-kids?ref=efpmoe
JOIN US: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/littlepilgrim/little-pilgrims-big-journey-pilgrims-progress-for-kids?ref=efpmoe
Yay! I get to teach Bible and English everyday again at a nearby church. It is a great joy to see and interact with these students again through games and Bible lessons. Right now we are working through the book of Jonah.
3. Jesus Storybook Bible for Cambodia
Our team is working on the Animated JSB series for Cambodia. Done chapter one! We are also ramping up for a 2nd Edition printing of the book for Cambodia.
4. Turned 40
This isn't really a missions update. But got one year older and feeling so blessed at the ripe age of 40. God has been so good to me. By his grace he has me celebrating in Cambodia. I would have never dreamed of this unexpected journey. His grace is amazing indeed. Thank you all for the prayers and support. Your support has given this unworthy servant much to be grateful for.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
- Psalm 118:1
July 12, 2020
1. We are preparing for the launch of the New City Catechism in Khmer. The online translation is complete and our hope is that Christians across Cambodia will have this tool for teaching and maturing in the gospel.
2. Our team is working on Augustine's "Confessions". First written in 396 AD, this incredibly influential Christian masterpiece is rich with beautiful insights into the conversion of sinner's and God's glory.
3. I recently began assisting with translating quotes and Bible verses published on the Plovpit site, Instagram, Facebook, and now even TikTok. The team is experimenting with multiple online channels. Though I can't read Khmer, my Photoshop skills come in handy :)
5. Though schools and churches are still on hold here, I have been given the green light to start teaching my English/Bible classes again this month!!! Yay!
6. My friend Tyler, a missionary here who teaches at the local seminary, created a gorgeous kid's book based on John Bunyan’s "Pilgrim's Progress". It launches on July 7th. More info can be found here: https://littlepilgrim.mailchimpsites.com/
I am greatly blessed by the work here. I am encouraged by the hunger and engagement coming from the tools produced by our publishing team. May God use these resources to reach his chosen throughout this nation.
We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
MAY 31, 2020
Some brief updates from Cambodia.
1. Plovpit Office Tour: Check out the short video I made at our office about the gospel projects from our Plovpit Publishing Ministry. Some new and interesting translations we are working on include:
- The New City Catechism - 52 questions and answers to teach biblical truths
- Post Tenebras Lux - A comic about Martin Luther
- The Plovpit App - A free app that pushes articles, quotes, Bible verses, and reminders to Christians in Cambodia
Please continue to pray for the Christians here. The Cambodian church is still fragile and this pause of ministries means many are not being evangelized or discipled right now.
For myself and the Plovpit team, please pray for the new materials being produced, that they would seen and used by Christians, to deepen their faith in Jesus Christ, to mature in truth, and to know the real gospel in a sea of falsehoods.
Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. And thanks for reading my update. Feel free to message me for any extra info on my ministry here.
"Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth." (Psalm 67:4)
In Christ
- Jeff
MARCH 30, 2020
Hello. I have designed some visual summaries with details about the mission and focus. You can follow these links to view the documents:
1. https://www.dropbox.com/s/smee22kik8zxu0x/Mission-Summary-March29-2020.png?dl=0
2. https://www.dropbox.com/s/tk0rhkp4lkzulyx/a1f1a773-ac64-424e-828d-9d2c0e3b1fe2%20%281%29.png?dl=0
A video update amidst the COVID-19 situation. Please consider a monthly donation and sharing the link with people you know. Thank you! Stay safe out there. All hope in Christ, especially when the world is in crisis mode.
A brief video update from Cambodia.
MARCH 7, 2020
"I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace." - Philippians 1:7
So much happens week to week, but this is a summary of most of the prayer items from me in Phnom Penh.
1. Niza - Please pray for Niza, a student I teach in my daily English Bible class. She got into a moto accident just this weekend and injured her face. She is not a believer, however she is adorable and enthusiastically the most consistent student in my classes, since day one! I found myself so sad that she was hurt, as if she were a family member. I hope that somehow this accident might soften her heart to the hope of Christ. It reminds me of the urgency of proclaiming the gospel, as life is so fragile.
2. Tey - My Khmer-language tutor is still experiencing major family and financial issues, and currently has no home. Her only source of income is what I pay her for my language-learning lessons. I'm still trying to connect her to a Christian counselor friend to talk about her issues but she is hesitant and embarrassed to get help. Keep praying that she accepts my attempts to connect her to help.
3. Visky and Pengron - We've identified that they have been attending a fellowship that teaches Word of Faith theology. (To learn what that is, see this short video: https://youtu.be/wYDwjDDel94) Visky has mentioned how discouraged he gets when the emphasis on miraculous gifts leave him questioning the sincerity of his faith. It's unfortunate that they are in a group that teaches unbiblical theology, but I thank God that Visky and Pengron are both eager to study the Bible together and see what it really teaches.
4. Wedding Sermon - I've been invited to preach (with translation) at a rural Khmer wedding for my Cambodian brother, Lawn! Pray for my preparation next month. There will be many Khmer non-believers attending, mostly Animist-Buddhist. May the power of Christ be preached boldly through me, that many might come to repentance and faith in Jesus.
5. Theological Studies - Please pray for my theological studies. I've begun some online theology courses with BiblicalTraining.org. The Lord has placed a desire on my heart to eventually do seminary. For now, this website will allow for me to get a Certificate in Theological Studies after completing tests for 5 courses, totalling 34 lecture hours. After that, I will look to a Masters program somewhere, God-willing.
....
Thanks for reading. I am very dependent on your prayers and I thank the Lord for you.
In Christ Alone,
Jeff
FEBRUARY 26, 2020
Firstly, thank you to everyone who has helped fund this Gofundme. Within these few weeks it is already over 50 percent funded for the 3-month goal.
New mission's updates!
1. Visky and Pengron:
New believer, Visky, is meeting me for the 3rd week at my home to discuss the gospel and walk through the Bible to better understand the Christian faith. My Christian Khmer friend Lawn joins us as well. Visky recently brought his non-Christian friend Pengron and is trying to get this friend to also believe. That friend said he wants to know how to become a Christian. They are both currently open to learn and hungry for answers. We've had very long exciting talks and they have great questions.
2. #FallingPlates:
Translated into many languages, this well-known 2012 gospel video by CRU, used by many ministries and missionaries, has yet to be translated into Khmer. I used it before in China and find it helpful. I have been working with a Khmer translator and the final edits are almost done. I'm happy to have this tool for evangelism in Cambodia. Find the original video here: https://youtu.be/KGlx11BxF24
3. Missionary Application:
I've officially been approved to help the wonderful missions organization, Action International! The Canadian office went through my references, police checks, and paperwork, and now I'm part of Action Cambodia's publishing and translation team, working on strategic planning and awareness for Khmer gospel tools. I went to visit the office on Tuesday and see some of their great Khmer books (images attached). Our team partners with well-known publishers like Desiring God, Ligonier, 9 Marks, TGC, Got Questions, and Tim Challies. I love those resources so this is a dream project for me!
PRAYER REQUESTS
1. Pray for Visky, his friend Pengron, and our weekly discipleship meetings. As mentioned before, Visky's Buddhist friends and family have expressed their disapproval of his conversion and it will create tensions. Also, he is hearing opposing views from another local Christian group that is strangely pressing him to speak in tongues. Additionally, they are telling him to avoid attending a church, saying it's not important for Christians. I'm not surprised, as this type of wrong teaching and practice from other "Christians" here is commonplace.
2. Pray for Tey, a friend of a friend, who is helping me learn and practice Khmer. The lessons are going rather well (Praise God!) but I recently learned she is temporarily homeless. I'm trying to connect her with a Christian counselor friend to talk to her about the situation, but she's reluctant to share about it. She is not a believer.
3. Pray for my Action Cambodia meetings this week, that as plans and goals solidify, the Lord would bring wisdom and move powerfully.
4. Pray for the students of my daily dorm classes. We are walking through the Old Testament using Bible Project (now finishing Deuteronomy) and pointing to the gospel in all Scripture. In my class of 18 students, many are not Christians and many of the Christians know little about the Bible, possibly from inadequate teaching of low literacy. May God use me to teach and mature them in the good news of Jesus Christ in the Word.
Thanks for reading. More updates soon!
For the glory of God!
- Jeff
"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." - 1 Corinthians 2:2
FEBRUARY 14, 2020
Quick update about my Khmer friend Visky. He was raised Buddhist and his family even lived in a pagoda for several years. He is one of the first Khmer friends I made here.
During my first month in Cambodia, I had told him the good news of Jesus Christ. Last week he messaged me that he got baptized and became a Christian. Wait... what?!
He joined me at church last Sunday, sharing his story of conversion with me and some of my friends. Last night I had him over to my apartment to talk more about the other influences that led him to faith in Jesus. It became 4 hours of questions, answers, Scripture, borderline tears, and prayer.
Praise the Lord!
We plan to start a book study and next time I'll begin to help him read and understand the Bible. I brought some ESV Bibles from Canada. He already had a Khmer Bible but he wanted an English one. It's my first time giving a Bible to a Cambodian! God is truly full of surprises. I thank the Lord for this wonderful encouragement.
He already faces many challenges in this culture. Many friends have told him previously that they would not be his friends anymore if he became a Christian. In this country, to be Cambodian is to be Buddhist. Conversion is a betrayal to Cambodia's religion and nationality. He feels certain that his family and friends will be very upset when he tells them he's a Christian.
I shared the story of Nabeel Qureshi, a former devout Muslim who came to faith in Christ and wrote about breaking the heart of his mom and dad through this. And we emotionally read Jesus' words in Matthew 19:29. "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life."
Please pray for Visky, that he continues with a hunger for the gospel and desire for being discipled in the Word.
I'm applying for missions with Action Cambodia. Please consider supporting.
An update to my church, several months before joining the missions team here.