October 23, 2003

Eighteen young men and four young women hung on every word as we began the study of “The Work of an Evangelist.” From eight different towns and villages they come every Friday morning and stay until Saturday night, to study the Bible at the church building here in Phnom Penh. Most of them have been Christians less then one year but have solicited our help to start congregations in their villages and are trying to equip themselves to teach the new born church. Countless others would come to the Bible school if funds for transportation and materials could be provided. It costs about $25 per month per student to buy their bus tickets and feed them the two days a week they are here.

In order to expand this muchneeded training, we are planning to conduct month long Bible schools during the rice farmer’s free time. We will rent a facility where they can sleep, eat, and have classes and bring them together for three weeks two or three times a year. This will allow them to gain much knowledge and not leave their farms and source of livelihood. In three weeks we can give them the equivalent of two and a half months of the weekend Bible School.

When there are no mature Christians we must start at the beginning. It’s just like it must have been when the apostle Paul went to the pagan Gentile world. These new Christians have no background in the Old Testament, no concept of a living God, His Son or the Church and certainly no concept of what living the Christian life is all about. To know that no one has preached the gospel here in at least the last ten centuries is a humbling responsibility. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and together we are making an eternal impact on this country all because He Cares.

William E. "Bill" McDonough, Director
Partners In Progress
Phnom Penh, Cambodia