Working for Unity and Maturity in the Cambodian Church

The Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia

Encouraging wise and appropriate strategies and service together

Brian is a forester and arborist from America who first came to Cambodia in 1990 and 1992 to work with Cambodian young people. He caught a vision for Cambodian young people and moved his family to Phnom Penh in 1994 to set up a Youth Ministry under CSS with the help of Harry Zuberbuhler and Uon Seila of YWAM. The Youth Commission is now operating under EFC and will run its 9th National Youth Leaders Camp in April of 2004

In considering ‘missions’ in Cambodia, one essential feature is learning how to work alongside, value and respect the National Church. Failure to do so risks being categorised as ‘great white saviours’ with ‘top down’ funds, strategies, education and answers. I have been in Cambodia for over 10 years and have seen, very generally speaking, two basic types of thinking toward the church by foreign missions.

The first and most difficult one is squatting down and serving. This may mean starting in the kitchen washing dishes, doing little things that may seem a waste of time or beneath one’s dignity. It is often a long process before one can win the right to be taken seriously. Some turn back at the first discouragement with feelings of being left out and de-valued. Those who persevere are more than likely, sooner or later, to be recognised. There is a weariness in the trudging along, that’s for sure, but the results are worth waiting for.

It is often a long process before one can win the right to be taken seriously

The other approach is when missions set up shop, as many have done over these last few years, and immediately conclude that the national church is not easy to work with. They learn the language and start their own church planting and/or hire ‘instant’ Cambodian church planters. This way, the process appears quicker and easier, with seemingly less problems. But the reality is somewhat different and the sustainable nature of the work risks being poor.

However, examples of missionaries working well with the Church are increasing. One model to be grateful for is the Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia (EFC), one of the five umbrella organisations which represent evangelical Christianity to the Government.

It was in March 1994 that the World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) representatives set up a meeting in Thailand for Cambodian church leaders to clarify issues concerning national fellowships. Dr. Sandararaj of the Evangelical Fellowship of Asia (EFA) and Dr June Vencer of WEF held a two day seminar which laid the ground for EFC creation. A steering committee was formed to begin putting together a framework for what would eventually be the EFC Constitution and By Laws.

I have had the privilege to see the conception, birth and growth of the EFC. Today the EFC is the largest of five councils which represent the church before the Government and makes it an aim to bring unity to the church at large.

Recently I found myself sitting in a hotel meeting with the EFC board. The larger part of the board consisted of Cambodian church leaders both young and old. But expatriates were also present, consisting of two Americans, Steve Westergren and myself, Milet Goddard a Filipino working with SAO/ICC, Philip Scott an Englishman from YWAM, and the Rev. Mok Wai Mung, a Malaysian from Singapore and Prefect of Cambodia’s Anglican Church in Phnom Penh. We met from 8 am to 9 pm for four days straight.

During the meetings I looked around the room at the Cambodians. I knew much of their history and their personal conflicts. I knew of the hurts they had received at the hands of foreign missionaries. I understood the cultural dynamics between the three levels of Cambodian leaders: a) those who had had an uninterrupted education and received their high school diploma before 1975, b) those who had never got past the eighth grade and c) those now coming up through the ranks with weak secondary school education, some with Bible School training.

I also knew the tensions between Cambodian pastors resettled overseas from the border camps in the early eighties and who returned in the nineties with theological qualifications. Lastly I was aware of the issues between those who were trapped in the camps for many years and those who considered themselves true patriots for remaining behind in Cambodia.

I want you to know that I was witnessing a real miracle

Another thing I noticed was that there was a foreign woman on the Board and a Cambodian woman facilitating the meeting. The level of dynamics in that room was enough to keep a truck load of sociologists going for years. I want you to know that I was witnessing a real miracle. Not too many years prior, such meetings would not usually see a woman, other than Samoeun Intal of FEBC, be a part of the board, certainly not facilitating the meeting.

Former EFC Board meetings usually decided on which churches or organisations could become members and how to put out fires between the Christian community and the government. But over the last few years the EFC has been well on the way to becoming proactive rather than reactive, and is now in the process of finalising a master strategic plan.

We have a constitution with a Vision and Mission Statement. We have core values and an organisational chart. We have commissions, departments and task forces which partner with all our member organisations, both expatriate and Cambodian. Cambodians are trying to put conflict and bitterness behind, the old are letting the young have a voice and EFC is moving closer towards gender balance.

I have learnt much about how God can change people seeing them working together in spite of past history, external dynamics, inter-cultural problems, age, gender and national barriers. Cambodian pastors now talk about wisdom, patience, forgiveness and how not to rejoice too much in successes but rather in the fact that our Father in heaven loves us.

a chance to listen and learn from Cambodian Christians

 

Difficult issues are placed on the table for discussion that would normally have created a heated and tense atmosphere, inciting unkind words. In the past, Board members would have taken sides but now restraint and patience are the victors. Ephesians 4 says that it takes biblical unity to bring maturity and it has been a privilege to see this happening, but not only that, it is a chance to listen and learn from Cambodian Christians. They have humbled themselves to serve the body as a whole and are a great example to me.

Please pray for the EFC. And please thank God for their work in bringing church unity and maturity and for those whose efforts kept it going in the midst of conflict.

Brian Maher

Working with EFC

After completion of further language study, SAO’s Graham Symons will be taking a post with EFC in capacity building and training for their financial systems. Graham has been an SAO member in Cambodia, now seconded through ICC, since 1998. Married to Deth, they have a 6 month old son, Matthew. Milet Goddard, who joined SAO in 1993, has been working within EFC for the last three years with the FAITH project, alongside churches in grass roots community development in poor villages. Milet is married to Nigel and they have two children, Sean 5 and Jasmine 3.

 

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