2105 Cabinet Cambodia Mission: Different Country, Familiar Issues

November 18 by Rev. Ken Kieffer

Today we visited the Cambodia Methodist Bible School in Phnom Penh. I’m guessing we arrived later than we were expected because the traffic en route could have made even the most seasoned NYC cabbie give up driving. Picture every type of person driving every type of vehicle on the same two-lane road at the exact same time.

There are a couple buildings on the Cambodia Methodist Bible School (CMBS) compound, but it hasn’t always been that way. A few years ago, students actually slept in their classrooms, arising as early as 4 in the morning in order to prepare the room for learning and prepare themselves for early morning worship. Fortunately, thanks to the partnership of several significant sponsors, dorms were built for the students.

We met a handful of 4th year students. Of the group gathered (one young woman and 4 young men) one hoped to be a professor and the remainders aspired to become pastors. We didn’t spend a great deal of time with them, but with the courage, faith, and strength that they have already demonstrated to get even this far, they will be a wonderful blessing to the church of Jesus Christ.

After poking our collective heads out of their classroom, we stopped in the “Cabinet room” upstairs and visited with the 11 District Superintendents in the United Methodist Church in Cambodia. Despite our differences, I was struck by the fact that their problems are the same ones we in NYAC’s cabinet struggle with every day – a short supply of resources to do the ministry we would like to offer, buildings that are inadequate, and finding just the right pastor for each of the congregations under our care.

We covenanted to be in prayer for one another and considered the possibility of working together towards the lofty but shared goal of making disciples for the transformation of the world.