Discipleship Training from Hope Lutheran Evangelical Church with partnerships. No Place Left….Cambodia 2025 Acts 1:8 Discipleship Training workshop.
‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses
in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’
No doubt the book of Acts holds significant relevance to the 21st century and the mission of the church here; to spread the gospel, to build community, leadership, and to deal with the diverse and hostile world.
This very bible verse is immensely critical in this discipleship training platform that is sweeping Cambodia at the moment. Hope Lutheran Evangelical Church(HLEC) is playing a crucial role in teaching and training of those leaders in the ‘peace houses’ sprinkled around the tiniest of communities. These new stepping stones of faith are being introduced at just the best time as each one of us see sprouting seeds of faith believers forthcoming.
As we looked around the room at this second gathering at Hope Lutheran Evangelical Church(HLEC), where the discipleship training program was underway, we clearly realize that we are living in an Acts movement of the Bible time here, and now, watching from the sidelines as tiny local churches are now sprouting, not only to grow their own church, but also to reach beyond their peace house. What is different now, in this 21st century, is the way that this is happening. Technology is being used more now than ever before. And the bulk of this new generation population are young adults in their 20s who are being called to faith, influenced and acknowledged to be the next leaders in the church as it grows.
Pastor Ravy’s role in this day and a half long event was to minister to the young folk in attendance, teaching them how to pray, the power of prayer, and how to sincerely connect to God in the most intimate ways. During this part of our gathering, we learned how talking to God is like talking with / to our parents. That is the same way we can talk to God. Using the example of Hannah in the Bible, he expounded on the deepest power of prayer, be it a prayer of request, one of pleading, or one during fasting.
Let’s look at Hannah of the Bible. She is a prominent figure in the Bible, particularly in the First Book of
Samuel. She was the wife of Elkanah and initially struggled with infertility, which caused her great sorrow.
Despite her deep longing for a child, she remained faithful to God, praying fervently for a son. In her prayer, she promised that if God granted her a child, she would dedicate him to the Lord’s service for his entire life.
God answered her prayers, and she gave birth to a son named Samuel. True to her vow, she brought him to the temple at a young age, where he was raised by the priest Eli. Hannah’s story is significant for so many reasons; she had an unwavering faith, she was deeply devoted to God, and her role in the birth of Samuel, who later became a great prophet and leader in Israel. Her prayer of thanksgiving is also a beautiful expression of her gratitude and faith. That reflected her knowing of God’s sovereignty, justice, and mercy.
So, in conclusion, this conference exemplified that it is still about reaching out, and crossing any and all
boundaries. Modern technology in social media and the internet makes the mission to spread the gospel even more accessible now. This country’s major population number is still rural, oft-times difficult to reach reasonably on foot. That has not stopped these folks to share the good news. There are phones and sim card services. Sim cards are the link to podcasts, websites, and services unknown even 70 years ago. And to disciples of the true word.
This bold ministry discipleship program is a great fit for this country and its rural community. In this fellowship platform, multiple step by step mentorship is given from the moment a believer or a group of believers is identified, giving them a responsibility to carry onward the gospel message as they, themselves, learn to grow in the faith. The excitement of new believers is always exciting, so why not share that excitement onward to grow the church.
The power of the Holy Spirit carries on the hearts and souls in these communities.
