Last week I traveled to Cambodia to take part in a seminar with Shalom Mission to Cambodia, HeartCry’s partner in the small Southeast Asia nation. For three days we studied the topic, “Union with Christ.” It was a great opportunity to look at some of the most basic Gospel truths and blessings and see how all these are true about those who are “in Christ.” In other words, oneness with Christ is the reality that binds together all the elements of salvation. Here’s a general outline of the sessions:
1. Building on the Foundation of Christ
2. Union with Christ – Introduction
3. Union with Adam
4. Union with Christ in His Obedience
5. Union with Christ in the New Birth
6. Union with Christ in His Death to Sin
7. Union with Christ – Imitating His Humility
8. Union with Christ by Abiding in Him
The time with the men was also a great opportunity to dialogue about life and ministry. I feel like I learned a lot from these conversations. They had many questions related to the topics being discussed, as well as questions about ministry in general. It was encouraging for me to also see how they interacted with one another and helped each other to think more biblical.
There have been some recent developments in the last three to four years in Cambodia among Christian workers which are a cause of concern and discouragement. Chhinho, Shalom’s leader, said that after the Khmer Rouge (1975-79), the church in Cambodia grew and began to flourish until the dramatic influx of foreigners and foreign aid. For a while the church in Cambodia was very similar to the primitive church, progressing in simple love for God as they proclaimed the Gospel to unbelievers in their communities. However, things are now very different and the church has become stagnant. Many pastors and Christian workers have become wealthy and powerful, and there seems to be a materialistic, prosperity driven culture that has formed among Christians.
The men with Shalom seem to be very different from this trend as they seek to remain faithful to the calling that God has placed on their lives; they desire to please God and win souls for Christ’s kingdom. Pray that God would help and strengthen them and protect them from the discouragement that can so easily come to those working in ministry, as well as the world’s distractions that can so easily creep in unnoticed.