Timothy Leadership Training Spurs Cambodia Outreach

Pastor Prey Sokoin leads New Freedom Church, a rural church southwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Although New Freedom Church is barely four years old, in the last three years, it has planted 10 churches and initiated plans for three more. This outreach is largely the result of Pastor Sokoin applying tools he learned in Timothy Leadership Training (TLT).

Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM) missionaries around the world use TLT, finding it adaptable and effective in many contexts. Centered on applying biblical principles to life, TLT is an easily reproduced “hands on” leadership development program.

CRWM missionaries Navy Chann-Chhay, Ly Chhay, and Gil Suh use TLT in Cambodia to mentor local church leaders. One of the leaders they’ve reached through the training is Pastor Sokoin.

Pastor Sokoin joined one of Gil Suh’s TLT workshops four years ago. After the first training, he taught what he had learned to members of his own church. He repeated this with the trainings that followed. Each time, church members made plans for ministering to others. Soon he had a team of committed, equipped leaders who were leading church planting efforts in other communities.

These church planters, all volunteers, serve joyfully. They are eager to see more people come to Christ. In each new village, they look for people who seem ready to serve their community. Then they link with them, listen to their stories, and explore outreach possibilities such as medical care and counseling. As the church planters get to know and care for people, they share their faith in Jesus with them.

“New Freedom Church does not wait for outside help or resources to begin the new house-church plant,” says Navy Chann-Chhay. “They have learned to expect the Lord to provide . . . [and] step out in faith.”

Sokoin says God has moved powerfully through the church’s witness. Broken families have been restored. People have been freed from the grip of demonic forces. Others have come to know and follow God for the first time. Church plant by church plant, New Freedom Church is pointing people to Christ.

TLT helped Pastor Sokoin and his church see their role in expanding God’s kingdom. Now they’re using the tools they learned to share his Good News with people waiting to hear it.