Words of Life Ministries, originally, had no intention of starting any churches. After much prayer and inactivity in rural areas, we began a program of training and equipping church planters with amazing results. The first team of four church planters started 15 churches in 4 months. Now these four are training new church planters to expand the work. In December of 2001, they set a goal of starting 13 new churches to add to the existing 13 in one remote province. In December of 2002 they counted 55 churches in the province. All new church starts were a result of second generation church planters. Now there are 3^rd and 4^th generation church planters starting churches. There are now nearly 10 full time church planters who are focusing their efforts on planting one church in every village across the whole region.

 

Church Planters are the commando's of God's army of people establishing the Kingdom of God. They are not people who worship in grandiose cathedrals, nor sit in luxury offices surfing the web on a daily basis. These people of God are truly servants of the almighty God who face disease, death, persecution on a daily basis. They are committed to see people come to Christ no matter what the cost. Rarely a western church leader, albeit a western believer, could comprehend the sacrifice which is required to be a church planter in some of the most rugged conditions and inhospitable terrain on earth. They are examples of faith, courage and perseverance. It is because of their work that thousands of Cambodians are enlightened to the need of Jesus in their lives to cleans the way of sin which they have previously lived.

 

 

Not everyone can be a church planter, first of all you must be CALLED of God. Church planting requires daring, hard work and strong life committed to holiness. These men and women have committed to further the kingdom of God regardless of persecution, criticism or suffering. Secondly, church planters require a support network. On a daily basis they face people with disease, demon possession, poverty and lives in crisis. They also face temptation to fall into the ways of the world. Church planter's must minister in the power of the Holy Spirit to defeat all the plans of Satan against them. Words of Life Ministries provides a support base for them so that they can push on boldly. We also provide church planters with Bibles, materials, transport and a small stipend.

 

 

Church Growth is either limited or enhanced by the vessel which the growth is expected to take place. As a potted plant can never achieve soaring heights, so a traditionally structured institutional church cannot not expect to change the world. The visible structure which God has given to represent the Kingdom of God on this earth is the Church. These are not buildings, but people. The churches which are planted in Cambodia are planted expecting growth, they consist of multiple leaders, extensive and low-cost discipleship of all believers and mobilization of all believers for further evangelism.

 

All churches started are free to truly be indigeneous and must depend on the Holy Spirit.  They are not asked, nor required to join any specific group, yet may relate in partnership for the Kingdom of God with Words of Life as long as they desire.  They relate through the local Evangelical Fellowship and have legal permssion to operate and worship through the local government authorities.  With a strong focus on relationship and partnership there is no bureaucracy to contend with so growth is not limited by internal stagnation.  These churches are light, mobile and can grow quickly.