Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride: Cambodia Edition
WILD RIDE AHEAD!
Here's a quick note get you up to speed, so to speak, before my upcoming trip to Cambodia - exciting things are happening there!
A friend in the Cambodian government has recently succeeded in getting Christianity officially recognized status in the country! This is a BIG deal; only about 2% of the people in Cambodia are Christian, and as a result, believers face significant political, social, and religious pressure. It makes it challenging to be the church there. It’s a new day!
It's an even BIGGER deal because this new status will open the doors to more church planting and fresh opportunities for existing churches. Almost everyone in Cambodia is Buddhist (98%), but the local church is passionate about reaching out to their country. Pray for Jesus’ name to be magnified in this new season. Pastoral training is key to the growth and stability of the church in Cambodia, and we’re positioned to make a big impact.
As a result of the new status, I have been invited to teach at a nationwide conference for pastors. We will have 3-4 pastors from each of the 26 regions of Cambodia in attendance. I will spend the first nine days of the trip traveling by car across as many of the 26 regions as we can get to. We will be meeting with small groups of pastors - the goal is to encourage them to recognize the new opportunities, work together for the Kingdom, and encourage their hearts. Many of these leaders will attend the conference during the second week.
Pray for us as my friend Joel Madson and I go on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride across much of Cambodia. The riskiest thing we do in Cambodia is to travel by car. The danger is expressed clearly on the US State Department travel website. This was proven on my last trip to Cambodia, 1000 wild miles across the country by car. Driving in Cambodia is absolutely Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. I am not feeling fearful, but prayer for Toad-Ride safety is warranted and welcomed.
Pray also for our health, stamina, and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit as we seek to help enlarge His Kingdom by encouraging, equipping, and challenging local pastors.
Pray especially for the Spirit’s conviction and power at our Leadership Summit pastor’s conference! This is epic; I’ll take a wild ride for this anytime!
AFRICAN CONNECTION
My dear friend and key contact in Burundi, East Africa, Pastor Oled Ndayisenga, was staying here with us in California for three weeks of training, mentoring, discipleship, and our GTN Annual Leadership Gathering. I just dropped him off at the airport, and he heads home.
His visit here was a powerful, strategic, and intense time of ministry preparation/equipping. It will reverberate back to his large and influential church of 1600 in the capital city of Burundi. I'll be flying out to visit them to do training again in just a couple of months. I am so thankful for the friendship and partnership God has wrought between us! Excellent ministry training is happening in Burundi as a result.
As always, THANK YOU for making these things a reality!
- Chuckk
For those who prefer to mail paper checks, the GTN mailing address is:
Global Training Network
PO Box 6507
Peoria, AZ. 85385
Checks need to be made to Global Training Network, not me personally. In the memo, it's vital to include my name and ACCOUNT NUMBER for support to make it to my personal account:
Chuckk Gerwig, ACCOUNT NUMBER #50322
