Treasuring Each Day As a Gift

Recently had privilege to learn more on thriving. We are designed to do something that is unique to who we are created to be. Considering grapes growing the vine depends on the farmer and the farmer depends on nature to grow the vine and make it fruitful. Thriving is bearing much fruit; contentment no matter the circumstances, a joy that bubbles up.

In the Bible John 15 has Jesus talking about fruit that lasts. A type of fruit that leaves a legacy after death. Jesus means transformed lives. Now the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control means transformed relationships. Remaining in Jesus as no branch can survive on their own they wither and die eventually. Jesus says he wants to live in us. Are you living in him?

We have heaven resources to impact this earth. Love others into taking Jesus seriously. Always a privilege to speak into the lives of others. All people are worth understanding. Keeping vitality by building my vision of God in his mission and work.  Steve Jobs once quoted a quote “Live each day as if it were your last day because one day it will be true…”.

The areas around Cambodia will be heard to lift Jesus up in high honour because the Spirit of God will promote, move and act. The choices we make today are the stories others tell in reflecting or retelling our stories.

BLESS is a lifestyle

B=Begin the day with prayer

L=Listen to God and others

E=Eat with others

S=Serve people

S=Share your story how God’s story has impacted you

Each day is a gift so treasure it. God renews the life within us with himself.

On Mission: Rob & Deb Griffith the Next to Go!

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The Khmer People of Cambodia

The Khmer People And The Need
There are 15 million Khmer people, 10 million under 25 years old, who mostly live in rural regions with many working as subsistence farmers. While nearly three decades of war and genocide left the nation broken and economically stagnant, an emerging and youthful generation is engaging with the modern world and constructing a different future.

Today the Khmer people hold to a culturally Buddhist worldview influenced by animistic and ancestral beliefs. Only 1% of the population profess to follow Jesus and those who do live with a constant tension of following the traditional values and norms of their culture while being influenced by a rising Western culture.

The Response
The cross-cultural team live in the North West region of Cambodia among communities struggling with poor health, low literacy rates and high unemployment. They are committed to seeing faith communities emerge and develop. They are focused on building relationships and identifying the needs and opportunities for ministry in this region.

The team is committed to working in partnership with local people to see holistic transformation that only Jesus can bring to a community.

Visiting You in Your Church or Home Groups

We are keen to meet with you in your church, or home group to explore ways we can invite you to be part of Gods mission in Cambodia.

With the hope of sharing with you about how God has invited us to join with Him in His mission activity as long-term cross-cultural workers. This means the initial term of service is seven years – three years, then six months back home, followed by another three years. We have four adult children who will be remaining here in South Australia as we plan to leave late in 2016 for Cambodia.

We attend Blackwood Hills Baptist church, in Adelaide, Australia. From 17 years old Deb experienced God’s call towards cross-cultural mission. A significant Bible passage for this call is Jeremiah 29: 11-13 especially verse 11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. These verses Deb keeps feeding from for me and the Khmer. Deb is no longer 17; but as we all know 1000 years are like a day to the Lord. We are confident and at peace now is God’s timing to be sent to Cambodia. We plan to visit Cambodia December 2015 to continue preparing ourselves in cultural awareness.

For us both this call was further confirmed through experiences of short term cross-cultural trips. I have enjoyed a career working in Agriculture and food production, whilst Deb works as a midwife and nurse, offering care to the homeless and refugee communities in central Adelaide.

We are passionate about being a part of God’s mission among the Khmer of Cambodia. With less than 2% of people identified as Christians they are considered a least-reached people group. We are moved by the injustice that people, like most of the Khmer, currently go from birth to death without hearing the Good News in a way that they can understand.

We will become part of the Cambodia team based at Siem Reap seeking to build communities of faith in the North West region of Cambodia. Our focus initially will be learning culture and language so that we can build relationships that introduce the hope of Jesus. We want to be helping people to follow Jesus in ways that embraces their Khmer culture, as vibrant faith communities.

Through 2016 we would like to get to know you and share with you what God is inviting us to be a part of in Cambodia. With God’s help we will be building a partnership team to support us financially and in prayer. We would love the opportunity to meet with you and your church, to invite you be a part of God’s mission in Cambodia. If you would like to arrange for us to visit your church, or any group in your church please contact the team at the South Australian State Office of Global Interaction +61 8 8357 1755 or Contact them on this link http://www.globalinteraction.org.au/contact/sa-nt