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MARANATHA MESSENGER Weekly Newsletter of Private Circulation Only

MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 9 June 2013 “Present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28)

Address: 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore 509851 Tel: (65) 6545 8627 Fax: (65) 6546 7422 E-mail: maranatha.bpc@pacific.net.sg Website: www.maranatha-bpc.com

Sunday School: 9.45 am Sunday English / Chinese Worship Service: 10.45 am Sunday Chinese Worship Service: 7 pm

Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 8.00 pm Pastor: Rev. Dr. Jack Sin (HP: 9116 0948)

Theological Education in the Kingdom of Cambodia

Introduction

2 Timothy 2:2 says, ‘And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the

same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.’ By the will of God,

we thank God for a most meaningful time of equipping about 20 Pastors and their wives in

both country Y and Cambodia in Phnom Penh from 26 May to 1 June 2013 with Angie Sin and

brother Peter Goh of Calvary Jurong BP Church. Cambodia has over 14 million people over

181,000 sq kms (i.e. 250 times the size of Singapore) with predominantly Buddhist

background and slightly more than 1% Christianity. There is a growing interest in gospel

missions and Bible training here as the Lord led the Koreans here and there is a great need

for theological training of reformed pastors here as well.

In 1997, three Korean pastors in Revs. David Koo,

Moses Hanh and Jonathan Lee came after their

graduation from FEBC and over these 16 years, at

least 2 of them have made much spiritual progress in

the work of the gospel in Sihanoukville or

Kompongsom. Cambodia being a secular state has

greater religious freedom to a large extent (compared

to country Y).

The 2 credit hour course on the History and Doctrine of

Revival was attended by more than 20 Pastors from

both Cambodia and country Y. Angie Sin took the Pastors’ wives in the Study of Woman of the

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Bible and a short lesson on Biblical Counselling as

well. There was a mid-term examination on

Wednesday and a final assignment given to them

to write on the lesson learnt from Old Testament or

New Testament Revival. This was well coordinated

by Pastor P and his wife H together with brother

Peter Goh of Calvary Jurong BP Church. One of

the Pastors commented that his country need a

revival and that country Y was visited by Dr. John

Sung in1939 and brought about a great spiritual awakening to them.

These Pastors (some of whom travelled more than 1000 km for this course) have completed 4

years of theological training and they have to study for another 2 more years before they can

receive their diploma in theology. Do pray for diligence and endurance for the Pastors and for

the other 2 courses to be conducted in August and November this year by 2 other BP Pastors

in Rev. Peter Tan and Rev. Ho Chee Lai.

The last session was a meaningful time of challenge and reflection and

corporate prayer followed by a time of thanksgiving and sharing and a final dinner to celebrate

and give thanks to the Lord.

By the higher hand of God, 4 of us with brothers

Peter Goh and Paul Sokha were led to visit the

Life University and ministered at the

Kompongsom BP Church bible school, 4 hours

drive from Phnom Penh. Rev. David Koo and Rev.

Moses Hanh have been serving faithfully here

over the past one and half decades and their

labour have bore much fruit. Some of their

students have started churches. Rev. David Koo

who is associated with the missions of Life BPC has more than 1000 students from the

primary to university level in the Life University over 8 hectares of land and Rev. Chivan, one

of our former students is the Dean there. We were there to teach the theological students in

2008 on the Elements of Reformed Theology and Angie Sin taught Accounting to the

Business students.

Among those who came for the theological course are Vanarith, Nam Soon, John Roth, Paul

Sokha and Bun Phanna and a new brother who is teaching a bible school called Soknel who

has benefited from the course.

Pastor Paul Sokha who is partially supported by Moriah BP Church has a started a new BP

church 6 months ago and has about 20 people and do pray for its spiritual growth. Our

presence there is to encourage support the work for the Lord and our MRM materials were

well received and Paul will be translating some of the MBPC tracts into Kymer for the benefit

of his members and for evangelism.

One of them who could not come to join us for the course was my former student,

Pastor Poun Lork who is teaching the Kompongsom Bible School. On Friday, we travelled 4

hours to minister there and were encouraged by the faithful and fruitful work done by Rev. and

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Mrs. Moses Hanh.

There were more than a 100 students from the primary to secondary level where they were

taught lessons on different subjects and Bible free of charge and there with about 30 in the

bible school and after they were trained, they will be sent to the various provinces and villages

to preach and start churches.

These children from a poorer background come for

studies from 10am to 4pm and they were taught word

of God and hymns and they heard the gospel and

many of them were saved after hearing the gospel by

the covenant mercies of God.

We also met up with Rev. Mark and Wiwin Baldwin

and her mother and had lunch fellowship with them.

Do pray for Wiwin who has delivered safely and for the spiritual and physical growth of baby

Zachary and their ministry there.

Conclusion

Our Lord in Matthew 9:37:38 says, ‘Then

saith he unto his disciples, The harvest

truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,

that he will send forth labourers into his

harvest.’ There is a great need to continue

to preach the pure gospel and teach the

word theologically in the wide harvest fields

of both country Y and Cambodia and to equip Pastors, evangelists and preachers in the

Reformed Faith. Let us pray to the Lord for more labourers and for faithful men to be soundly

trained and who will spearhead the gospel work there as the Lord leads.

Jack and Angie Sin

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Email from Cambodia

Dear Rev. Dr. Jack Sin and Mrs. Angie,

Greetings to you in the Blessed Name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Thank you for allowing me to join your VBI on the Revival class. The Lord has reminded me a

lot that I need to wake up and seek the Lord to revive myself first then for the Lord's

congregation.

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Without Him, there is no revival at all. Cambodia, Vietnam and elsewhere are really in need of

this course to seek Him and allow Him to heal and bless their nations. Thanks for your

encouragement and wonderful time of fellowship. I learnt a lot from both of you. And thanks for

the love gifts that you gave to us. We will use them for the printing of Gospel tracts and some

ministry need.

Take care and may the Lord continue to bless and use both of you more for His Kingdom and

glory.

Pastor Paul Sun Sokha and Nam Soon

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

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Theme for the Quarter : Sacred Meditations and Applications (1 and 2 Thessalonians)

Rev. Dr. Jack Sin The Coming Of Anti-Christ (2 Thess 2:1-12)

[End of MM]

Our helpful ladies

folding materials

for the VBS.