DIAKONIA 2026 VOLUME 2
Annie Khoo
Sangkhim School, Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia
After learning about the church of Sardis, some admitted they have sometimes come to church out of habit or because they have been assigned some duty at church. Thank God they now know they have to wake up and strengthen their faith and grow up bearing spiritual fruits.
Thank God some church members begin to understand the Importance of visitation ministry. Pray that as we do visitations together, they will learn that visitations open opportunities for us to bring people closer to God.
A few of us visited Ratha and her parents. We found out although Ratha’s parents claim to have believed in Jesus since years ago, yet they have never attended worship and have no clear understanding of what it means to be a born-again Christian.
Ratha in black T-shirt. Seated from the right are Ratha’s parents.
Pray that as I bring some ladies with me for follow-up visitations, (1) may the Lord give me wisdom on how to lead Ratha’s parents into a genuine growing faith, (2) may they hunger to understand spiritual truths and be willing to obey the Lord, (3) may the ladies who follow me, learn and be encouraged to see that they too can also do outreach work through visitations, relying on the guidance from the Holy Spirit and God’s Word
Raksa was called home 3 years ago due to blood cancer before she completed her grade 12 at Sangkhim Canaan School. Recently, the family rented out their house on the main road to Mormons. We got concerned and visited the family to check on them. They remain staunch Buddhists.
They invited us for Raksa’s 3rd year rememberance ceremony to be conducted with Buddhist rites even though they know that Raksa had believed in Christ. In fact, even while Raksa was on cancer treatment, they had repeatedly asked Raksa to return to Buddhism. But Raksa had expressed to us her personal faith and her desire & prayer for her family to believe too. We have done our part to share the gospel to the family and continue to keep in touch with them. May God do a miracle and turn Raksa’s family to Christ in due time
This visitation also presented a good opportunity for our teachers’ Bible study group to discuss about how Mormons are different from us. Thank God for real life events that can be used to spark deeper studies into God’s word for understanding.
From the right, Soeurn Theary and Leakhena from our teachers’ Bible study group visiting Raksa’s family.
Last Sunday, some of us went to the hospital to visit Sambath’s cousin, also named Ratha. The doctors have told the family to prepare their hearts as his health deteriorates. Part of visiting the terminally ill is to prepare them to meet God. We shared the gospel to him. Ratha showed regret for his sins and asked God to forgive him. Ratha declared his faith before his family and said he has no fear of judgement because God has forgiven his sins. He is ready to meet God. He also agreed to have a Christian ceremony to comfort the living and let them know he has gone to be with God. Having
family members to bear witness to his decision is so important as to prevent the Buddhist elders in his family to prepare a Buddhist ceremony for him. It’s also important so that non-Chistian relatives can hear the gospel.
Pray for our church members who have gone visitation with me that as I have debrief-sessions with them, they will learn what they can do when they meet with such situations in the future. Pray also for our newly appointed church elders, Sambath and Kosal, that together with brother Kian, they will be equipped and ready to hold Christian wake services and funerals in the predominantly Buddhist community.
Pray for our ministry leaders too as we equip and prepare our youth leaders to do follow-up on the young campers who indicated they want to believe in Christ (from BASIC camp held on 14-16 May). Pray that each youth leader will understand that making disciples for Christ is a relational and spiritual work in partnership with the Holy Spirit to bring God’s Word deep into people’s lives. Pray for the young campers that they will have genuine faith. Pray that they will not fear or be discouraged if they face family opposition and discrimination from their community. Pray that their hearts will be like good soil, ready for the seed of the Word of God to take root and grow.
May Sangkhim Church members be growing disciples who will obey the Lord to “Go” and make disciples for Christ.
Thank you for your partnership in the gospel.
Annie Khoo has been a missionary in Cambodia for over 20 years. She currently serves as a ….