Long-life, life-giving fruit
The sale of thousands of bags of deliciously sweet dried apricots from Barmera in South Australia’s Riverland has eternal benefits.
The apricots are grown, dried and prepared by Lou Moss and fellow parishioners in the Barmera–New Residence parish, together with local community members. The proceeds from the sale of each 500-gram packet reaches across borders to produce long-lasting fruit of another kind in Cambodia.
Sopheoun (pictured above with her mother Yin Yuon) is the first ‘home-grown fruit’ of the ministry in Cambodia. Small in stature but with a big heart for Jesus and for sharing his love with her Cambodian people, Sopheoun serves as the evangelist and ministry leader for two new outreach points about three kilometres from the Lutheran Church in Cambodia’s first mission in the village of Phum Krus.
This new outreach ministry, led by Sopheoun under the guidance of Pastor Mose, started in August 2015 after much prayer, research into the needs of the people, and careful preparation. Each day 55 undernourished children receive a nutritious meal, and 40 children and 25 young adults attend English classes offered by Sopheoun.
The weekends provide more opportunities for Sopheoun, as she is joined by her ministry team of Srey Liak, Touch Keov and Duy Sarann. Together they engage with the children in Saturday school, through songs and Bible stories. The expanding cell group in the village of Tang Bom Pong is led by Pastor Mose.
The mission and ministry carried out by Sopheoun is just part of a great partnership in the gospel shared with the emerging Lutheran Church in Cambodia, together with the Lutheran Church in Singapore, the Lutheran Church of Australia and various other overseas Lutheran churches.
This year a staggering $9600 was raised through the sale of the dried fruit prepared by Lou and his many helpers. This gift of love will go on to Cambodia to produce fruit of another kind – ‘fruit that will last’ for eternity.
Glenice Hartwich is the LCA’s Assistant to the Bishop – International Mission.
Contact LCA International Mission at:
a: 197 Archer Street, North Adelaide SA 5006
e: lcaim@lca.org.au
p: 08 8267 7334
More information: LCA International Mission Website
Connect with us
Do you or your congregation or small group want to Connect to the work that God is doing in Cambodia or in one of the other LCA International Mission overseas partner churches? You can become a partner in mission in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea or Cambodia.
Have you thought about volunteering overseas? LCA International Mission can provide you with a wide range of opportunities to Go to serve overseas through the Volunteers in Mission program.
You are invited to Give so that others such as Sopheoun can continue to share Jesus’ love with those who don’t yet know him.
Best of all, you are invited to Pray for the work of those who are bringing the love of Jesus to local people in many ways and in many places around the world.
Outreach sows seeds
On 6 December 2015, 34 new believers of the Lutheran Church in Cambodia (LCC) Krus community were baptised. All the candidates for baptism had come to faith in Jesus through one of the Krus community’s:
- Seven children from the Daily Bread program (meals for undernourished children)
- Five young people from the youth camp
- Five young people from the computer classes
- Four adults from the home visitation program
- Three adults from the agriculture-focused livelihood project
- Ten family members of LCC Krus members
The baptism candidates were from the villages of Phum Krus, Phum Teuk Chenh, Phum Tang Bompong and Trapeang Trach. The age of those baptised that day ranged from newborns to those well into their 70s. A Khmer children’s Bible or a Khmer Bible and hymnal were presented to each person baptised.
This feature story comes from The Lutheran March 2016. Visit the website to find out more about The Lutheran or to subscribe.
