A SEASON OF
GROWTH IN CAMBODIA
As we witness the growth of the Global Interaction
cross-cultural team serving among the Khmer, we wait in
excited anticipation for how God is going use this growing
team for His glory.
Teams form the building blocks of Global Interaction’s
ministry and are key to the long-term sustainability of
our work. Teams are formed by individuals, couples
and families working together towards a common goal.
They serve as branches of the True Vine, reaching out
of their comfort zone, to share the Gospel of Jesus.
We believe that teams grow according to God’s timing.
In saying this, the Global Interaction family prayerfully
petitions the Lord to place a calling on the hearts of
individuals for cross-cultural mission. We also rely
on local Pastors to identify, mentor and encourage
their congregation with a heart and vision for the
least-reached among whom we are called to serve.
Global Interaction began its work in Cambodia in
response to an invitation to join an international
Christian consortium engaged in the rehabilitation and
rebuilding of the devastated country following the fall
of Pol Pot in 1979. From this starting point, coupled with
the deep desire to share Jesus with the Khmer people,
grew the ministry that God has called us to today.
In 2013 The Centre for the Study of Global Christianity,
which researches worldwide demographic trends in
the Christian faith, published a report that identified
Cambodia as having the ninth-fastest growing Christian
community per capita in the world. As encouraging as
this fact is, we understand that many Khmer believe they
have to separate themselves from their culture in order
to find Jesus as often the expression of Christianity is so
foreign to them.
We believe, and our experience tells us, that
for communities to be truly transformed by
the Gospel, the expression of faith in Jesus
must resonate within their own cultural
understanding and experiences.
This page (L-R): Catherine with Khmer friend. Craig and Kim
with their children. Rob and Deb.
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GLOBAL INTERACTION
Global Interaction’s ‘Pathway to Service’, specifically
trains cross-cultural workers for contextualised mission.
During their first term in ministry (two – three years)
our cross-cultural workers focus on learning the heart
language of the community and immersing themselves
in the local culture. This forms the foundation of the
relationships they build and enables opportunities for
deeper conversations and Jesus to be revealed in ways
that make sense within the cultural context.
Praise God, the Cambodian team is growing! Ryan
Smith, Global Interaction’s VIC/TAS State Director has
journeyed with Craig and Kim, who arrived in Cambodia
in May. They are the first of four families anticipated
to join the team in Cambodia this year. Ryan is also
supporting Paul and Lydia who are in the final stages
of their preparation for service. In Queensland, State
Director Bob Rogers is journeying with Tristan and Megan
who are also growing their partnership team.
Every team needs a leader and Luke, who served as
Global Interaction State Director SA/NT from 2013, has
recently resigned from this position and with his wife
Rachel is preparing to serve among the Khmer. When in
Cambodia, Luke will take on the role of Team Leader.