Dedication Day

Baby Dedication

Throughout Scripture, the family unit is described as a sacred institution, to be honored, supported, and defended. Though we see much brokenness and decay in the world around us, the Body of Christ should be a place where family is not only welcomed, but built up and strengthened.

Recently, parents at Gospel Community Church Saang took an important step in building their families on a strong foundation: dedicating a total of 9 infants and children to the Lord. Mothers, fathers, guardians and the congregation committed to help raise them according to Biblical principles, and to provide encouragement and support for each one on their journey to a personal relationship with God.

We feel so privileged to be a part of the work God is doing in each of families that dedicated children to Him, and look forward to ushering many more into the Kingdom in due time. What He begins, He is faithful to bring to completion!

Other News

As those of you who follow our Facebook page already know, staff member Rhiannon was injured in a moto accident last week and is now recovering from a broken scapula and brain contussion at a hospital in Bangkok. God has been very faithful in many ways throughout this situation. Please continue to keep Rhiannon in your prayers!

-In His Steps

Planting and Harvest

It is rice planting season here in Cambodia, but we are in an exciting time of harvest at In His Steps! God is stirring hearts toward himself, and and there have been 17 salvations in the past week alone! One of the ways we provide opportunities for evangelism an d discipleship at the Kairos Training Center is our ecumenical Youth Fellowship.

Youth Fellowship has two goals: to strengthen the Body of Christ in our region through building their next generation of leaders and church members, and to provide a fun and welcoming venue where teens from area churches can invite their friends to hear the Gospel. Typically, between 200-300 youth attend! 

It’s rare in this rural province to see so many in this age group congregating at a Christian event, and even rarer to find an event where nearly every part is planned, prepared, and executed by the youth themselves. With guidance from our staff, young people in our church write dramas, practice songs, plan games, help with setup and cleanup; learning servant leadership through hands-on experience.

Young people from all over the area of Saang arrive at each Youth Fellowship excited and expectant, and leave strengthened and blessed. Each time we hear stories of how encouraged the believers feel to meet fellow Christians in their region, and to see so many ways to use their gifts and talents to glorify God. Meanwhile, those who are not yet believers experience, perhaps for the first time, a positive, welcoming community and expressions of God’s love and purpose for them. Please join us in praying for those who heard the Gospel at this past week’s Youth Fellowship and chose to receive salvation!

- IHSI

Marking Milestones

We are proud to introduce our first group of graduates from our KTC literacy program! These children have completed a course of Khmer phonics and reading, gaining a valuable skill that will be used for a lifetime. We celebrated this important milestone by having a little party for them and watching a fun literacy DVD together!

As we’ve mentioned before, literacy is a huge problem in Cambodia and a fundamental issue in combatting poverty and human trafficking. Education helps close the doors of ignorance and shame that can lead to poor life choice, opening new doors to confidence and success.

The children in our class were so excited to receive graduation gifts with new books and children’s Bible materials. For many, these are the first books anyone in their family has ever owned. Breaking the cycle of illiteracy will benefit not only them but others in their home and future generations! We look forward to many more “graduation parties” to come.

Other News

For the last two weeks a women’s team from Denver United Church in Colorado has been with us, doing ministry and building relationship in Sak Saum, teaching at an anti-trafficking seminar and church events, doing children’s outreach, and more. You can see pictures of team ministry here. And if your or your church is considering an outreach to Cambodia in 2014, now’s the time to start planning! Go to our outreach page to learn more.

- In His Steps

June News

Visitors and Volunteers

During the spring and summer months we often host short-term teams and volunteers that come with a desire to serve Cambodia and bless the community here. In His Steps has been blessed with many friends from around the world, and have had visitors from places near and far: the U.S., Canada, Germany, Norway, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and more!

Last month, a friend of a friend came to Cambodia for two weeks, a volunteer from Russia. While visiting us Yulia got to experience ministry in Saang and help with our literacy program, English classes, visit our Sak Saum ministry, children’s programs, and youth group. She also spent time with the children in Father’s House, was a part of our church services, and built relationship with staff member Aly by “shadowing” her throughout each day. It was great for staff and those in our programs to meet this new friend, and judging from a recent email we think she enjoyed her time here as well:

“...I came back to Russia 2 weeks ago, [and] today I was able to share with my church about Cambodia and your beautiful ministry…I would like one more time to thank you for accepting me, for giving me chance to feel like a part of your family!!! I really felt this [and] I will be praying for you... your ministry, your people and Cambodia. Thank you very much.”

Yulia is by no means the first visitor to mention feeling like part of the In His Steps family. Family is one of our highest values as a ministry, and each person working with us is loved and valued for who they are, no matter how long or short their time with us is. And sometimes, those who have come to visit find that God begins to stir a calling to ministry (whether in Cambodia or elsewhere). That’s what happened to Rhiannon, a former intern who has just come back from a visit home, this time as a full-fledged staff member. Read her most recent blog post here.

If you or your church/organization is interested volunteering with In His Steps in Cambodia, learn more on our outreach page!

Other News

• Although Father’s Day is not a particularly recognized holiday in Cambodia, just like on Mothers’ Day our church chose to celebrate parents through songs, dramas, and a message of encouragement and exhortation. It was a sweet and meaningful service, with a fun children’s dance, a drama about forgiveness between generations, a great lesson from Ginny on the value and calling of fathers, and an original song written by boys in our Loaves and Fish/Father’s House programs (video below).

A staff member caught this Father's Day song on her phone this past Sunday, written and composed by youth from our Loaves and Fish/Father's House program and performed by some of the members of our Gospel Community Church Saang soccer team.

• Since forming our very first Gospel Community Church Saang soccer team, we have been enjoying seeing young men in the church working hard to hone their skills and growing in team unity and sportsmanship. So far the GCCS team has won 3 out of 4 games this season!

• Cambodia has a major election coming up next month. Please keep the nation in your prayers, that wisdom, truth, and justice would be the hallmarks of the entire election process.

- In His Steps

Health Check Surprise

When our founders Eric and Ginny Hanson realized they needed to leave Cambodia this month in order to renew their visas, it seemed like a perfect time to visit neighboring Thailand for some health tests for Ginny. Little did they know that this trip was to become significant in ways they could not imagine! 

When the Hansons arrived and began scheduling appointments for Ginny, she suggested that Eric take this opportunity to do a full health check. Although he was feeling fine, he agreed, and soon a full day of tests was underway. All was going smoothly until a doctor came in and stopped the cardiac stress test, stating that there were abnormalities that needed to be checked by a cardiologist.

Naturally, the Hansons were beginning to feel concerned as they were led in to meet with the cardiologist. He informed them that a CT-scan was needed to look into Eric's heart further and determine the cause of the abnormalities. 

What the test results revealed was both shocking and frightening: a nearly blocked artery, which could without warning lead to a heart attack. This was not news that anyone expected. In fact, the week before Eric had been conducting business as usual in Cambodia, even helping lift heavy wooden beams for playground construction with a visiting team!

The following day, the procedures began: angioplasty to break up the blockage in Eric's artery and a stent inserted to keep the artery open. After several hours, two failed stent attempts before a third successful one, and many prayers from friends and loved ones, Eric emerged from the operating room. The problem that had been caught by "coincidence" (or rather, God's plan all along) had been corrected.

Please keep Eric in your prayers, that there would be no further complications and that the Hansons' insurance provider would cooperate with them in order to help cover the costs of his treatment and two remaining follow-up checkups. We at In His Steps are all so thankful that this potentially life-threatening problem was discovered, and in a place where it could be dealt with as quickly and safely as possible. The God we serve is faithful.

 - In His Steps