Psalm 117 (ESV)

The Lord’s Faithfulness Endures Forever

117 Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!

2 For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!

1. Lord, Should I Move My Ministry Site?

I praise what God is doing. The entire process—making us realize, repent, gathering people, and spreading the truth—feels as if I am being carried along passively. It is not I who am doing it; it is God.

Every weekend, I was busy preparing sermons, and on Sundays, my "job" was counting the number of people in attendance. As the numbers dwindled, there were days when only my family and the boarding students (those living and eating in this building) worshipped together. We were fewer than ten. I felt so powerless and pathetic seeing how few people there were, but I realized that was simply my reality and my current ability.

I knelt in prayer every day, but there was no answer. Just as I was thinking about moving my ministry because of the lack of people, I received an invitation to a different site that had many people and needed a missionary. I thought, "Is this how He moves me?" and decided to pray about it.

The very next day, God gave me Zechariah 11:17 as an answer. While looking through various scriptures during sermon prep—even though it wasn't my main text—that verse suddenly caught my eye. It was clear that moving was not God’s will, yet a protest rose in my heart: "But Lord, there are hardly any people here to call 'sheep'."

Around that time, I read a passage by Oswald Chambers that pointed out: "Our job is to call out the names of the saints and lift them up to the Lord. Then the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for them with groanings that cannot be uttered." It was a familiar verse I had memorized, but when it was pointed out to me, the meaning became crystal clear. The subject of prayer and intercession is not me, but the Holy Spirit; my job was to call the sheep by name and lead them to the Lord one by one.

It was a moment where my sin of merely counting heads instead of calling names was revealed. I felt so sorry before God. (Since these events took place over several months, the exact sequence of my memories might be a bit blurred, but they are all interconnected.)

One day, while evangelizing, an elderly lady said she would believe in Jesus. I asked where she lived and told her I would pick her up before the service the next day. It wasn't as simple as following a pin on a map; I only had verbal directions, and finding the house was not easy. Anyway, when I got there, she came out with her three granddaughters (Kkanika, Tabitha, and Risa).

What’s more, she listened to the sermon so intently. Because some people aren't used to a foreigner's accent, I usually display the full text of the sermon so they can at least read along. I saw her whispering and reading the words to herself. It’s rare for people of her generation to be literate (as they lived through times where survival was more important than education). From the pulpit, you can see everyone's faces. While some were dozing off, seeing her lips move as she read the words made me feel the Lord’s heart saying, "That one person is your sheep."

Since then, I have been practicing calling the names of the sheep and lifting them up to the Lord. Only then—I’m a bit hesitant to put it this way—did He start sending more people. I constantly resolve not to speak empty words or preach mere moralism, but to preach the Truth. The burden and responsibility to live according to the Word myself is a "heavy joy."

"After the Christmas Sunday service on December 21st..."

2. Connection and Joy

It has been one year and four months since we started worshipping with the children in Phum Dontry on August 25, 2024. A couple of months ago, while evangelizing near that village, I accidentally discovered an empty church. From the street, the building didn't look like a church at all. We had been worshipping in the yard of a house in Phum Dontry from the beginning, and this church was about 600 meters away from that original site. I wondered how I had only just discovered it when it was so close.

When I went inside, there were crumpled Bibles covered in thick dust; it was an inactive chapel at a glance (the floor area was about $5m \times 7m$, a single-story room about the size of a large studio). Still, my first thought was that since it was a building with a roof and walls, we would be less disturbed during worship. When I asked the neighbor, they said the owner had put it up for sale for $15,000.

After praying for a while, I wondered if we could at least rent it. As I was about to meet the owner, I remembered a story the sending church had told me about Arlington Nawa Falls Church. I thought to myself that when I met the owner, I should speak boldly: "I see this was originally a place of worship. Let me use it for free. You are likely a Christian yourself, and if worship starts here again, you will be blessed. If not, so be it. This place will just stay in this state, and I will continue worshipping in the yard where I’ve been."

However, when I finally met them, they were truly precious people. They were a local Pastor and his wife (Pastor No) ministering in a country where the Christian population is less than 2%. The Pastor’s wife said her heart always ached because the church in Phum Dontry had been abandoned, and she had been praying about it. Recently, she heard rumors that a "foreigner" (Kourey) was gathering children in that neighborhood to worship and had been hoping to meet me. She was so delighted that I had come to find them on my own.

The conditions Pastor Men Buty gave me were very reasonable: "No heretical teachings," "The chapel must not be used for purposes other than ministry," etc. I readily agreed, and starting from the New Year, the Phum Dontry ministry moved from the yard into the chapel.

I received this gift not "boldly" before man, but "humbly" before the Lord. God makes both the one who needs a place and the one who needs people smile. In Your presence is fullness of joy. Hallelujah.

From the street, the cross wasn't visible, so I had no idea it was a church at all.

As I got closer, I realized—is that a cross on the front?!

Inside the chapel. I think even cleaning this place will be a joy. Haha.

3. Setting Off on a Long Journey

Sathra (32), a co-worker who has been serving with me, is beginning her theological studies. We have worked together since July 2019, so it has been over six full years. Many people have come and gone from the dorm, but Sathra has stayed the longest. For this to work, personalities must be compatible; if they aren't, no matter how much you provide, it's hard to endure for long. Regardless, for the ministry, the church, and worship to continue even without a missionary, there must be a local leader living here. I recommended she study, and perhaps due to a thirst within her, she accepted willingly.

We are looking at the long term. The program is four years, and since the school is in Phnom Penh (a 3-hour one-way trip by motorcycle), consistent support for tuition, transportation, meals, and living expenses will be needed to raise her up as a leader. Most students at that school are in similar situations, so classes are held from Monday to Wednesday, and on weekends, students return to their respective ministry sites to serve. Then, by Monday lunchtime, they return to school to start classes again.

The annual tuition is $450 (yes, four hundred and fifty, not four thousand five hundred). I would be grateful if anyone whose heart God touches could support her in prayer or financially. It doesn't have to be one person; even four people providing support for one year each would be wonderful. As for other expenses like housing and food, she has decided to manage those by slightly reducing her current salary as a kindergarten teacher.

Her studies begin on January 5th. From what I have seen, Sathra is truly sincere toward God. She is moved to tears easily, has a passion for learning, and never hesitates to help with cleaning. She loves children and works well with them. She is very diligent and receives a lot of praise. I believe she will study hard as well. Of course, she has her flaws too, but I won't write them here. Haha.

At Euro Park in Phnom Penh (Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Opera House, and even the windmill Don Quixote charged at—they’re all here!). From the left: Haim, Sathra, Sung-sil, and Min-jun.

4. Personal News and Prayer Requests

My wife has been facing many trials lately: her mother’s passing last year, her own diagnosis of breast cancer this year, and just last week, the passing of her father. She is currently staying in Korea to organize his belongings. Believing she needs a season of rest, we have graduated the kindergarten children for this year and will be taking a break for the time being.

I received the news of my father-in-law’s passing while presiding over the service on Christmas Sunday (the 21st). I rushed to Korea to assist with the funeral and have since returned to Cambodia, where I’ve spent several very hectic days. Yesterday, I also wrapped up the guitar classes in Phum Thani, Tboung Khmum.

They were such passionate students that I truly enjoyed teaching them. I hope they continue to practice and hone their skills on their own!

Prayer Requests

Worship Ministry: May disciples be raised who worship in Spirit and in Truth and who testify to their faith through their lives.
The Gospel and Truth: As we plant the seeds of the Gospel, Truth, and the Kingdom of God, we pray that the Lord will make them grow.
For Sathra: As she begins her studies, grant her wisdom and help her not to lose her initial passion. We pray that all her needs will be provided for.
For the Missionary Family: May our family be filled with the Holy Spirit. Please comfort my wife and grant her the strength to overcome and be fully restored.

With respect and love, Missionaries Jong-chan Jeong / Sung-sil (Hajun, Minjun, Haim) P.S. Happy New Year!

December. 2025, Cambodia (Jong-chan Jeong, Sung-sil)