Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8
God has blessed us as we take refuge in Him. August and September have flown by as Benjamin returned to the 3rd grade at Hope International School. He is doing well and is even continuing his judo in an after school club.
Kayo has been busy with worship team at church and at a women’s conference. She restarted the Japanese Life Group ministry in August. She also serves at Precious Women Ministry as a volunteer to help with administration once or twice a week and working from home.
Darryl released the videos, “What About Those Who Never Heard about Jesus Christ?” and “Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead?” to more than 12,000 people in Cambodia. The website continues to equip around a thousand visitors each month.
Darryl and Kayo also resumed Cambodian language study.
Prayer Requests:
The Cambodian government is tightening regulations on foreigners including driver’s licenses and visas. Please pray for wisdom as we must navigate these new challenges.
Please continue to pray for our health and strength.
Please continue to pray for our various ministries.
“Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some,” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” John 21:6
God blessed us with a productive month of July as we returned to our various ministries. Here are some of the highlights.
Darryl’s new video, Archaeology and the Bible, in the Cambodian language, was made available to more than 29,000 Cambodians via Facebook. It received more than 1,600 views from
www.facebook.com/internationalfishers alone. It also received 140 likes and 86 shares from two of the smaller pages that we can track statistically.
www.internationalfishers.com is up to 344 unique visitors and 1,062 page views per week.
Darryl was invited to teach Christian Apologetics again at the Cambodian Bible Institute in January.
Darryl was also invited to teach Christian Apologetics to pastors from Myanmar who travel to Thailand for training in February.
Darryl helped a Christian hospital connect with Fount of Wisdom Publishing so they can equip their staff with the book, Christianity: Reasons for Faith. It is good that the book is still being used to equip people in Cambodia.
Kayo led devotions at Precious Women Ministry, and is exploring future activities with this ministry.
Kayo has returned to the International Christian Assembly’s worship team.
Benjamin had a good time at vacation Bible school at ICA.
Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support. We sense God’s blessings and favor. Please continue to pray for strength, health, and wisdom as we continue to connect with our ministry partners and explore exciting new partnership opportunities.
Then he said,“Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!”So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. John 21:6
We arrived in Cambodia on June 2 and God has been faithful to us. We have been able to reconnect with our ministry partners. Darryl has been working on producing a video in Khmer and English entitled, The Bible and Archaeology. He is also writing and revising other video scripts for future projects and some blog posts as well. The website, www.internationalfishers.com is ministering to Cambodians in Cambodia and in the USA as well. Around 288 people visit the website each week. This is an encouraging number considering our eleven month sabbatical.
God has provided a safe comfortable apartment for us and a car. Kayo will return to worship team and other ministries in the coming weeks. Right now she is busy getting us settled in our new place. Benjamin was able to reconnect with his classmates at Hope International School. He will be a third grader there in the fall. He finished his home schooling so now he is on summer vacation. He enjoys reading and listening to audiobooks.
Please continue to pray for health and strength for us as we resume our ministries and explore what God has for us in this new chapter of ministry in Cambodia.
In less than a month, on June 1, we will fly back to Cambodia. We have a lot of packing between now and then and once we get there we will need to buy a car and find a place to live. We will be staying in the Green Pasture Inn for a few days after our arrival. Green Pasture Inn is a Christian run guesthouse that specializes in accommodating short term mission teams and missionaries.
For our friends in southern California, we would like to invite you to a Dessert Gathering hosted by Calvary Chapel La Mirada (15144 Leffingwell Road, La Mirada, CA 90638) on Wednesday May 17th immediately after the Wednesday service (around 8:45pm). It will be a good opportunity for us to fellowship and share with our senders before we depart on June 1. We hope you can come.
Things have been going well with us. Kayo and Benjamin continue to wrap up his homeschooling for the year. Darryl is writing video scripts for future evangelistic videos once we return to Cambodia.
Isaiah 41:10b I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
We praise God for opening the doors for us to return to Cambodia as missionaries! We will be returning to Cambodia on June 1 after nearly eleven months away. We look forward to this new season of ministry. We have been blessed by our time in the USA but now the time is coming to move into the next season. Please pray that it will be a fruitful and blessed season. We want to thank everyone who prayed, encouraged, hosted, loaned us vehicles, and supported us during this time of furlough. We trust that God will bless you for your faithfulness to Him.
Once we return to Cambodia, Darryl will resume his work with International Fishers: Christian Evidence Ministry. The purpose of this ministry is to equip local churches, organizations, and believers with the evidence they need to be confident in the truth of God’s Word so that they can evangelize others with more boldness. He will also resume other ministries as God opens the doors. He is writing a video script on the inspiration of the Bible so that he can hit the ground running once we return. Please pray for renewed creativity for him.
Kayo and Benjamin’s first time in Mexico. Our family joined a one day mission trip to visit our friend Deanna in Pedregales Mexico.Our friend Deanna and her childrens’ ministry.
Kayo will continue her ministries of mentoring Cambodian women, worship ministry, and reaching out to Japanese living in Cambodia.
Benjamin will return to Hope International School as a 3rd grader this fall.
Prayers and Praises:
We will need to purchase another car and find a place to live once we return to Cambodia, please pray that God will open the doors for this.
We give glory to God for Darryl’s recovery, please continue to pray for complete healing.
Please continue to pray for our remaining two months in the USA that God will grant us favor.
We thank God that Kayo received her Green Card for another ten years.
In Christ’s Loving Hands,
Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin
Children’s Ministry Mission’s Day at CC Chino HillsBenjamin earned his yellow belt in Judo.
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. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
With our dear friends, missionaries to Cambodia from Fiji.
As we come to the end of 2016, we have the opportunity to reflect on the past year and to look forward to 2017. After serving as missionaries since 2007, 2016 has been a year of reflection, rest, reading the Word and other books, and reconnecting with family, friends, and our calling as missionaries to Cambodia, a real sabbatical. We are thankful for all of the grace and blessings we have received. We also give thanks to God for providing for our practical needs of housing, transportation, and finances through faithful ministry partners, church family, and some other amazing miraculous ways.
We lived and wrapped up our work in Cambodia until June 2016. Benjamin could successfully finish his school year at Hope International School and we sold and stored some of our belongings there. We arrived at Los Angeles on July 7 and are staying in the greater Los Angeles area where our mission agency and main sending church in the USA are located. Darryl has been able to get the medical treatment and member care that he needs to return to health and strength. Kayo’s Green Card process has gone smoother than we expected and so she should receive her new Green Card around February 2017. Benjamin has been occupied with homeschooling through a charter school and is also taking a Judo (Japanese martial art) class at a local community center.
Lord willing, we will start getting ready to return to our mission field, Cambodia after the first of the year. The returning date on our returning tickets to Phnom Penh, Cambodia is March 25, 2017. Thanks in advance for your faithful prayers and encouragement that God has used to restore and refresh us.
“Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.” Luke 1:64
There have been several months that Darryl has only been able speak and write a little since his mental breakdown/burn out around Christmas 2016 caused by long term stress of bearing various kinds of ministry responsibilities over nearly ten years of our service in Cambodia as a family. Darryl finished teaching classes on a topic of Christian apologetics at two Bible schools in the early part of December. The Lord blessed those classes and beautiful fruit came forth but it seems his mental capacity was poured out as he finished teaching an intensive Christian apologetics class.
Last week we were praying together, tearing down some dark spiritual strongholds which have been hindering Darryl from being all that God designed him to be… and Darryl sensed God restored his ability to communicate. We know that there are no coincidences with God but we as a couple have been reading Luke 1. When Zechariah could speak again, he praised God, Darryl wants that to be true for him too!
We have much to be thankful for despite the discouragements about whether or not our ministries were worthwhile. One of Darryl former students posted this encouragement on the International Fishers Facebook page:
I thank you lecturer Darryl for your practical teaching. It was such a powerful teaching you gave to me at CBI. I made some mistakes there at that time on my presentation, but because of it, I have a better preparation of this kind of message to present to my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ in my area and to my beloved people every time I have a chance to share the gospel. I pray that your biblical materials continue to bless our students in Cambodia.
USA Furlough July 7, 2016-March 25, 2017 +/-
With much prayers, we have discerned that God is leading us through a season of Sabbatical. As a matter of fact, our capacity to achieve external ministry accomplishments has been greatly diminished since the beginning of this year; on the other hand, it has been been a season of spiritual growth in each member of our family including Benjamin. Both Darryl and Kayo (along with other missionary colleagues in Cambodia who have seen and helped us go through this time of weakness and brokenness) still have a clear sense that God’s calling for our family to serve in Cambodia as long term missionaries is not over yet. Nevertheless, Darryl is in need of higher level of medical care that is not available here and also will be able to use some rest and therapy to work things through. In a mean while, Kayo will be able to renew her ten years Green Card that is about to expire. We used to think that we would only take 2-3 months furlough each year but just like many other long term missionaries, we finally seem to need nearly a year long furlough.
As is expressed in the Bible, Jewish concept of “a day” starts from the sunset. For example, the Sabbath day starts from Friday evening right after the sunset and ends at sunset on Saturday. It is interesting that people start their “day” by resting and finishing up their day by working to accomplish tasks. Our family currently is learning how to abide in Christ and rest in His presence. We’ve spent a lot of time in prayers; reading some Christian books, working through them; spending extra time and resources to strengthen our marriage and family relationships; searching, finding and solidifying our Christian identity as children of God; etc; thus, “resting” in God and enjoying our Sabbatical season with Him. Our hope is that as we go through the rest of this Sabbatical season in the US, God will restore, equip, and prepare us to enter into another season of serving in Cambodia with much bigger and better capacity to bring His kingdom on earth with joy in 2017.
. . . Jesus . . .saw a large crowd and He felt compassion for them. . .His disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and it is already quite late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But He answered them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and spend two hundred (days wages) on bread and give them something to eat?”And He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” . . . They said, “Five, and two fish.”. . . And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.” Mark 6:30-44 NASB
Phany gave us the update that in 2016, Kone Kmeng is planning (by faith) partner with 190 local Cambodian churches to equip them to minister to 30,000 at risk children! This is amazing considering that the Director Pang Sophany, “Phany” co-founded this organization in 2006 in his bedroom. Since then the phrase, “You give them something to eat.” has been rolling around in my heart. Kone Kmeng works with the churches to meet the children’s physical needs for food, shelter, clean water, and education etc. . So instead of feeling called to give them “physical food,” because Kone Kmeng is already doing that, I feel called to give them spiritual food. I long to help these 30,000 young people to know Christ as their personal savior, to become confident in the Truth of their faith, so that they can be bold in their witness to their family, friends, classmates, and community. But I only have one video for children in Khmer called “Real Joy.” For the past few years I have desired to make more videos like this on more topics like creation, the Bible, Jesus, and salvation in the Cambodian language and other languages as well. In order to do this I will need a team or staff and increased funds to distribute the video. These children live without electricity or Internet. The cheapest way I can distribute videos is on CD-Rs (not very efficient for these children) but blank CD’s cost at least $0.30 each so 30,000 copies could cost $10,000 at least and it still wouldn’t satisfy their need. So, like the disciples I have come to the place of understanding that the needs and opportunities are too big for me. So, I am waiting for Jesus to multiply the five loaves and two fish that I do have.
Training and Equipping Cambodian Pastors and Church Leaders
Since the end of October, I have been teaching Christian Apologetics 8
A Living Parable: Samaritan’s Purse supplied tablets to Cambodian Pastors which include International Fisher’s Khmer videos and resources. Pray for them to become effective “Fishers of Men.”
Cambodian Bible school students at the Cambodian Presbyterian Theological Institute. The class is 4 hours every Thursday from 10am to 3pm until December 17. I plan to video their Apologetics presentations and post them on the International Fishers website, as I did this spring. Between December 7 to the 17th, I will also be teaching Christian Apologetics at Cambodia Bible Institute and they also will be making videos like they did last year. A few months ago, I mentioned I shared all of the International Fisher’s Cambodian language videos and audio files with Samaritan’s Purse Cambodia. They have been purchasing tablet (computers) and filling them up with as much Christian resources in Khmer as possible, including International Fishers’s Khmer resources. It has been wonderful to partner with these other ministries and organizations to equip the leaders who will be able to equip the Christians of Cambodia for decades to come.
Knowing the Times We Live In:
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:10-12)
From the time I was four years old, I followed US politics like most “normal” kids follow sports. Instead of being a professional football player, I dreamed of being the President. So, when I went to college it was natural for me to major in political science. I tested in the top 3% of political science majors during my year, and after an internship in the state Capitol, I graduated in 1999 magna cum laude with a BA in political science. Then God called me to abandon it all to serve as an English teacher, missionary, and Christian apologist in Cambodia. Since then I have often wondered if this major was a mistake.
So, for more than 15 years I did my best not to pay attention to or comment on US politics. Last spring, I felt led to start a blog so that I could respond to the politically motivated attacks that were coming against Christianity, mainly in the USA. As a college student I remember having lively debates and disagreements with others from a wide range of political views on every possible issue and we all stayed friends. My freshman year I had a roommate who was a Muslim from Bangladesh since there were not many other people from Bangladesh at Truman State University in Kirksville Missouri, my roommate’s new best friend was a Hindu from India. I remember discussing the virgin birth of Jesus Christ with both of them at the same time in our dorm room. We all stayed friends. Later I helped my roommate get a job in the Vice President’s office as a student worker with me. After fifteen years away from US politics, I realized that the culture has shifted so that political debates were very toxic and divisive. I wondered why, so I started to read and research so that I could find the best way to help Christians deal with it and also to prepare to vaccinate the Cambodians from spill-over. In my view, radical/nihilistic ideologies are gaining ground in many areas of the US’s society. This is not based on one person or even one political party, it is spreading everywhere. This ideology divides, dehumanizes, and destroys societies, traditions, and institutions. The antidote to this ideology is Romans 13, Luke 6:20-46 and other related Scriptures. We need to start memorizing Scripture so that we can live scripturally every day.
I am beginning to sense that God is integrating my political science, cross-cultural, international, multi-language, and Christian apologetics backgrounds, “for such a time as this.” Please pray for me to have grace, patience, wisdom, and discernment so that I can understand the new culture and even help equip Christians to view these new political challenges as witnessing opportunities by applying the basic ideas of business as mission to “politics as mission.” I believe that God is giving us some some opportunities to help some “Sauls” be transformed into “Pauls”. “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)
Here are some recent posts that may be helpful in helping you to understand the times we live in and still have a peace that passes understanding. Here are some links to some of the articles that I have written that may help you understand the times we live in as I share my thought processes.
Preparing for the Next Chapter: Helping to Prepare the way for the Gospel to Spread from Cambodia to the rest of the World.
There are two parts to my calling. 1. Equip the Cambodian Christians to take the Gospel to their own nation. 2. Help prepare the way for the Gospel to spread from Cambodia to the rest of the world. God is already bringing about part 1 so by faith, I trust him to fulfill part 2. So, by faith we are moving forward to expand International Fishers so that it can spread the Gospel not only across Cambodia but across the globe, especially in closed countries and unreached people groups.
As I mentioned in my last update, my family’s personal/mission finances are about $1,200-$1,500 short each month for ministry work funds and health insurance partly due to the 40% drop in the value of the Japanese Yen against the Dollar. (this is draining our financial reserves more information here.). We praise God that so far we have received faith promises for 10% of this amount! Of course faith promises are like eggs until they hatch in our account so while, “we can’t count our chickens before they hatch,” we can count on God. We understand that the economy is tight, church budgets are tight, and other missionaries have needs. So, I have been looking for ways for people to save money (on coffee, eating lunch out, credit cards etc.) so that they can have extra money to invest in their Heavenly Rewards Account (like an IRA but without the IRS). Check out these ideas at Daily Investments for an Eternal Impact. To partner with us in expanding International Fishers: Christian Evidence Ministry, Japanese Immigrant Ministry, Worship, and Mentoring Locals, please click here to make a donation (Heavenly Investment).
“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.” (Ephesians 6:10-19)
Then I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom can I send? Who will go for us?” So I said, “Here I am. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8 NCV)
Suddenly this passage came to my mind in a whole new way and with it came
Firefighters run into buildings when others are running out. Missionaries move into countries when others are moving out. Both say, “Send me!”
my renewed calling. “Whom can I send, to equip the Cambodians to take the Gospel to their nation and to help prepare the way for the Gospel to spread from Cambodia to the rest of the world? Who will go for us, despite dangers, diseases, and discomforts, even if it means death? From that moment on, my soul has been leaping with joy shouting, “Send me! Send me! Send me! SEND ME!” Aside from this being a calling from God and that He programed my soul to respond this way to His calling, there is no logical reason for me to feel this way. But, I am reminded of John the Baptist leaping in the womb (Luke 1:41) and that “for the joy set before Him, he endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). At church, I prayed with a missionary couple from the Philippines and there was a very strong confirmation that I should not give up or turn to the left or to the right. Every believer has a special calling from God, what is it that makes your soul leap and shout, “Send me!”? It may be business, education, medicine, media, or even politics. There is a saying that “Firefighters run into buildings when others are running out.” Is it a classroom, a hospital room, your own living room, or a cubicle? Where ever it is, that is where God will use you the most powerfully!
“For God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn. (Romans 11:29 NLT)” “For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16)
Some may read the above paragraph and think, “Great, Darryl’s found his calling. What does that have to do with me?” God is our commander and once He gives the order to charge, He does not retreat. Just as God has patiently and persistently sent prophets, Christ, and the apostles to Israel, He is just as patient and persistent in calling as many of His followers as necessary for as long as necessary in order to win spiritual battles. I have always known that the calling that God has given to me is too big for me. Therefore, I have faith that God has called, is calling, and will continue to call as many people to join in this calling as necessary to complete it. Even if I am unable to complete it, I trust that God will call others. Who knows, He might even call you, your children, or your grandchildren. We pray for, support, and encourage our troops, police, and firefighters partly because we want them to face the fires so that we don’t have to. This is a good reason to pray for and encourage your pastors and missionaries–so that you don’t get drafted! : ).
“…If you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs.” (Matthew 10:41)
… “Since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14:12-14)
I often hear political pundits complain about, “the donor class” or “There’s too much money in politics!” This may be true, but I can’t remember ever meeting a pastor or missionary who would make the same complaints. : ) This is because when people “donate” to politics, they are either trying to get a law passed that will help them or prevent a law from passing that will hurt them. So it isn’t really “giving” at all, it is more like paying protection money to the mafia. Christian giving should not be like this. We should give ourselves first (2 Corinthians 8:5) and then we should give our time, talents, and resources without expecting repayment, in this life. Therefore, Christian donations are more like making investments in our HRA (Heavenly Rewards Account) in the same way that we invest in our IRAs. Missions and other ministries are a lot more like “investment firms” than we realize, except that our HRAs are completely secure.
Another aspect of investing in missions is that both senders and missionaries share the rewards in the same way that investors and entrepreneurs share dividends or profits. Some of my senders have been investing in me (spiritually, emotionally, and financially) my whole life, others just a few years. I know that whatever heavenly rewards I receive, I will have to share dividends with so many people that my net reward will be much smaller than the gross reward.
So the one who plants is not important, and the one who waters is not important. Only God, who makes things grow, is important, . . .(but) each will be rewarded for his own work. (1 Corinthians 3:8)
Here are some examples of things that God has done in Cambodia through the partnership between our senders and us. In heaven I believe there will be some rewards for all of us to share from these ministries.
Helped establish a Christian presence on a major university campus that continues to represent Christ before university students fifteen years later.
Helped lay this spiritual foundation (since 2000) that led to the founding of Kone Kmeng children’s ministry in 2006. Kone Kmeng has equipped more than one hundred Cambodian churches to minister to thousands of children who are vulnerable to being trafficked into child labor or prostitution. Darryl now serves as a board member.
Authored and co-authored Christianity: Discerning Essential Doctrines and Preserving Unity (2009) and Christianity: Reasons for Faith (2012) these are the only two books that define and defend the essentials of Christianity (Christian apologetics) ever published in the Cambodian language.
Developed and sponsored a Christian apologetics radio programs in the Cambodian language.
Helped to found Trinity Institute of Cambodia which is now called GLOW Cambodia, which offers training in the Bible, Chinese, English, Leadership, and Education.
Founded International Fishers, the only Christian Apologetics ministry in Cambodia, which provides free evangelistic materials in Cambodian, English, and other languages. www.internationalfishers.com
Provided the first Christian apologetics classes in two Bible schools, more than sixty pastors and church leaders have been trained so far.
Provided emergency training to help stop the loss of pastors and church members to cults.
Kayo started and runs the only ministry to Japanese living in Cambodia. She also is part of a the worship team at an international church, mentors Cambodian women, and is the mother to Benjamin.
More unlisted and more to come.
This is not to boast, because it is all God, but we see the fruit that others never get to see first hand. Many of you who are reading this will say, “When did we______?” when you receive rewards and thanks for ministries that you were not even aware of. Some of our senders have already gone to heaven, I wonder if they are still receiving dividends of the fruits of ministries that they invested that are still producing fruit. …”There is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner changes his heart and life.” (Luke 15:10)
“First they gave themselves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5)
As missionaries, we must be committedto God’s calling while our senders must only be invested. To understand the difference between “committed” and “invested” we only have to think about a plate of bacon and eggs. The chicken is invested but the pig is committed. : ) In other words, missionaries must be, “all in”. From the time we heard God first calling Kayo and I many years ago, we have been living our lives in submission to this calling. This has completely shaped our life decisions: about marrying each other, our education, careers, finances, and purchases. We have been, “all in” through many trials and so long as God leads us, we will continue to be “all in”.
“Who ever goes to war at his own expense?” (1 Corinthians 9:7 HCSB) For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. (Ephesians 6:12 HCSB)
Immediate Opportunities For Kingdom Investments
During Darryl’s time in Cambodia from 2000-2003 his financial needs were met by a combination of donations and income earned from teaching English. This was also true 2007-2009, when Darryl taught English. In 2009, God called Darryl to step back from teaching English and focus on other ministries. During the US financial crises, God provided extra blessings for us because the Japanese Yen gained 30% against the US Dollar (Cambodia uses US dollars so this was a big boost). This provided the funding for us to sponsor two books, a radio program, and other ministry projects, even without the income from Darryl’s English teaching! During those years we could even able pay off Darryl’s student loans for his much used Apologetics degree from Biola and become completely debt free!
Between 2007 and 2012, the enemy frequently attacked our health, living conditions, and safety. In 2012, we moved back to Phnom Penh and since then God has blessed us with increasingly safe living conditions and our health has improved. However, from the time we became debt-free, the enemy has started attacking our finances by weakening our financial “supply chain,” which is a common tactic in any battle, including spiritual battles. Since the beginning of 2013, the Japanese Yen has lost 40% in value against the US Dollar. Meanwhile, Benjamin has started school.
At this moment, our minimum budget needs are underfunded by around $600 per month, for things like health insurance and ministry work funds. In addition to this, we have been paying for Benjamin’s educational expenses out of our personal savings. Unless God provides a financial miracle for us, our ministry and personal financial reserves will be exhausted sometime early to mid-2016. To pull us back from financial vulnerability, we need to raise $1,200-$1,500 monthly ASAP. This will set us free to start long term ministry projects.
Even though raising an additional $1,200-$1,500 monthly or cutting that much, is impossible for us, it is not impossible for God. For example, if God will raise up 40-50 people who will donate or increase their donations by $30 per month ($360 yearly), our financial needs will be met and we could advance in our ministries. “Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
Long-Term Opportunities for Kingdom Investments
Beyond the immediate needs, God is calling Darryl to not only help reach Cambodia with the Gospel but to help prepare the wayfor the Gospel to reach from Cambodia to the rest of the world. This means that in the not so distant future, International Fishers will need equipment, a studio, translators, and production staff. What if God would raise up around 300 or more financial partners who will give at least $30 per month? This would enable International Fishers to reach an unlimited number of people (via social media and personal contacts), primarily in closed countries, for a fraction of the cost of traditional media. We may never see another opportunity like this in our lifetimes!
You have a saying, ‘Four more months till harvest.’ But I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields ready for harvest now. (John 4:35)
The fields are ready for harvest now! Not only in Cambodia but from Cambodia. Here are just a few of the reasons why basing International Fishers in Cambodia is better than basing it from the USA.
Ready access to Christians from many different nations including closed countries (30 nations represented in our international church every Sunday).
Easy visas, political neutrality, religious freedom, and low cost of living mean that Christians from closed countries could travel to Cambodia, make materials for their own people and return without raising suspicions of their own countries.
Overland travel to many closed countries is possible, which is better than air travel.
Young, increasingly educated, multi-lingual, computer/social media savy Cambodian Christians are available to serve as staff at reasonable salaries.
Improving technology, electricity, and Internet service nationwide.
Please Pray
1. Please pray for us: Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin to continue to grow in our capacity to sense God’s desires and our willingness to follow Him.
2. Please pray for healing for Constance, (Darryl’s Mom) as she recovers from one or more strokes and for the family members who are helping her.
3. Please pray that God raise up courageous Christians who are ready to advance the Kingdom despite persecution, political, or economic obstacles. God is greater!
“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:
September 15-October 15th 3,123 Page ViewsSeptember 15th to October 15th 644 Unique Visitors.
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.
God has blessed us as we take refuge in Him. August and September have flown by as Benjamin returned to the 3rd grade at Hope International School. He is doing well and is even continuing his judo in an after school club.
