“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10 NLT
Last month, I mentioned that my family and I were feeling very discouraged and exhausted despite (or perhaps) because of many breakthroughs in ministry. Since that time, God has given us some space and time to “be still and know” Him better. When a tree grows taller the pressure of the winds can begin to tear at its roots and can threaten to topple the tree. It is during these times that the tree must grow deeper roots before it can grow taller or it will fall over as a result of its own “success”. Likewise, my family and I have seen a lot of upward and outward growth in our ministries so God has been calling us to grow deeper roots into Him through repentance, reconciliation, and growing deeper in the Word and prayer. This process has been painful but we can now say that it is, worth the pain.
Well intentioned Christians often say cliches like, “Where God guides, He provides.” However for those who are going through a time where God’s provision has not yet arrived, these truisms may cause them to doubt their calling, “If God isn’t providing is He still guiding?” As many of you know my family and I have been going through some serious financial challenges, partly due to the exchange rate between the Japanese Yen and US Dollar, which we will share in future posts. It is during trials like these that it is easy to question our calling to ministry in general and mission in Cambodia.
A few weeks ago, I (Darryl) went to the altar at the International Church with many others who were seeking God’s direction for our lives. There, I received a renewed sense of calling, “Take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people you will never meet, in places you will never go, in languages you will never speak.” This describes the calling that God has given me toward apologetics media ministry and for many years I have sensed that God was calling me not just to minister in Cambodia but to many other nations as well. Recently I have noticed that God has been bringing opportunities to share my materials in other languages and nations as well, including closed countries.
Internationalfishers.com One Year Update:
By faith, I renewed www.internationalfishers.com for another year. Allow me to share some stats that are encouraging. Between September 15th and October 15th, 644 different people visited the website and they in turn clicked on a total of 3,123 different posts, videos, and audio recordings. This is a fairly typical month. Given my personal limitations during the past month there is no way that I could have ministered to 644 people directly, but the website made it possible for me to minister people I will never meet, in places I will never go. As God opens the doors for new languages, then eventually, this ministry may be done in languages that I will never speak. Even though right now, I don’t know how this will take place–It seems impossible. So, I can only trust God who will bring about His perfect will in His perfect time, in His perfect way.
Other Ministries
Kayo continues leading the Japanese Life Group ministry and God has been using the Alpha Course videos to strengthen the faith of the new believers. Please pray for the non-Christians who started attending, various obstacles have arisen that have prevented them from attending. Please pray for them. She also has been quite involved in the worship team at the International Church and in helping prepare the way for other Japanese Christian musicians to minister in Cambodia in the future.
Christian Apologetics Classes
On October 23, Darryl will resume his third round of teaching Christian Apologetics at the Cambodia Presbyterian Theological Institute. Please pray for the strength and wisdom to be able to equip these pastors and church leaders to “Always be ready to give a reason for the Hope that you have, with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15). At the end of the class the students will give video presentations giving evidence for the Truth of God’s Word.
Please pray for our strength, wisdom, peace, and unity during this time. We are in the process of making some very important decisions which will impact our lives, family, and ministries for many years to come.
In Christ’s Hands,
Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin Record
Phnom Penh, Cambodia