There were 680 registered guests, representing 488 schools, 127,240 students, 5,240 teachers and the government of Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia. They stood together in the theater of Meanchey University. Hosted jointly by SEAPC, the Provincial Government, and the Ministry of Education, the meeting had been called for each District Superintendent to share their plan to stem the flow of children leaving school and going illegally to Thailand where they become the phantom faces we see in flesh trade videos.Having completed the national anthem, the lieutenant governor leaned over to me and said, “How ‘bout we cut the usual lengthy speeches, just say hello, and cut this meeting from two days to one?”Now that is the kind of leadership I enjoy — let’s cut the talk and get the work done.We endured a rather verbose national government representative and then the lieutenant governor made his welcome and assuring comments toward SEAPC and our involvement in bringing technology centers to public schools in the province.My comments were brief. The national motto of Cambodia is “Nation, Religion, King.” I pointed out to the assembly that I spoke neither for the nation, nor for the king, so I must be there to speak for God. I shared that He loves them so much that He gave His only Son, that whoever would believe in Him would not perish. This is now the second time I have shared the good news with these 680. Then I asked if we could stand and bow our heads and if I might pray for them. They stood and we prayed, inviting the Holy Spirit to Banteay Meanchey and closed with a hearty “amen” from all in attendance.Returning to my seat, my eyes met those of the lieutenant governor. “Good, pastor,” he said. “Thank you.”The agreement of church and state to bring Christian workers and materials into public schools is so refreshing. Each eye-to-eye agreement dissolves layers of misconception. We were there to formalize memorandums of understanding between SEAPC and each school district for the establishment of a technology training center at their desired location within each district.Nine districts, nine locations, nine buildings, all at the same time. They provide the land and 50 workers/builders, and we provide the materials and the trainers/contractors. Our investment is $125,000 per location, $1,125,000 for the total project. The short term fruit is 450 skilled workers certified by SEAPC, the school, and the government, which raises their income from $1 per day as unskilled labor to $10 per day as skilled labor.The long term result is curriculum development and distribution, beginning with My Precious Book, a children’s bi-lingual Bible storybook which we will use to teach reading at the elementary level (93,000 students) and English at the secondary schools (33,000 students).These buildings become educational centers as the students to whom SEAPC has provided scholarships return to Banteay Meanchey as trainers. We have developed a Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-filled training process for teachers as all levels. We also become a central leadership development facility for local church leadership development.With an agreement reached, MOU’s signed, dinner served, we now enter into “Do it Land.”The giving of Team 217 (217 people giving $100 per month for 18 months) will facilitate the translation, printing, and distribution of My Precious Book, and the other curricula we need. This team is making it possible to mobilize the young fruit of our orphan care, Love Cambodia, and our scholarship recipients to go to work within these districts.The $1.125 million is coming. The first payment to the contractor is due as you read this. Yippie, faith is fun.Please pray for these kids. If a child enrolls in these schools, there is a 90 percent probability that they will not graduate from high school. The senior class is less than 10 percent of the size of the first grade class. These are the children who, heavily recruited at age 13, are featured in the horrible videos we see of slavery. Jesus will change this place as we participate with Him. And they all said, “amen.”

They see a good work and glorify God! How does that work? A good work is truly untouchable, it’s sovereign. It was created by God before the foundations of the earth by God for His purpose and, exactly like the Ark of the Covenant; it cannot be touched by man.So where do you and I fit in? We read in Ephesians 2:10, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”Through Jesus, we are made clean. Through worship, we enter into his revelation. Through the Word, we equip ourselves for the work. At the altar, we enter into the work that people will see and glorify God.Kim Bennett gave her life to Jesus at a young age. She became a worshiper and loved to be in God’s presence. She learned to hear His voice. Later while teaching in public schools, she studied God’s word earnestly and eventually became a co-pastor of Acts Church with her husband Pastor John Bennett.Thirteen years ago, Kim went back into public teaching where she became a speech pathologist. In her first year she met Nathan, a young boy living with autism. It became clear that God had prepared her to work with children like Nathan.Today, Kim is becoming the first government certified international to train people to work with children living with autism in China. We are amazed by the open door and the incredibly rapid and strategic advancements of the work. Together with our partners in China, we marvel at the sovereignty of the work and, at the same time, guard ourselves from the temptations that surround it.God said, “Do not touch the ark!” We know that our weaknesses disqualify us for the work. We know that our resources limit us from accomplishing its goals. We know that our training will not heal the sick. However, we know God! Therefore we believe that this training will bring healing, that we are in fact qualified in Him, and that through His body we have all the resources necessary to complete the work.Here is a power prayer to walk in:“Jesus, help me. It is by your design that I am who I am in you and I receive the work in which you have created me to perform. I am your workmanship, God. Help me to walk in your work according to your purpose, that they may see the work of my hands and glorify you!”

A young man from Bellevue, PA, named Justin McGurgan, spent the last eight months living in Cambodia teaching baseball to kids. In his short time there, baseball became a hit among the children, and he found that his passion, knowledge, and abilities in baseball could be transformed into a very viable platform for children to come to know Jesus Christ.Stepping out in faith, with the financial and spiritual backing of his parents, pastor, and local church, Justin embraced a vision to spend one year teaching baseball, creating Christian baseball camps, and developing a Christian Youth Athletics program for public schools in Cambodia.The SEAPC global community began to support and pray for this vision and for Justin. Justin’s pastor, Rev. Don Brown of New Life Church in Bellevue, entrusted Justin into a discipleship program with local and international children’s missions leader, Pastor Tim Blanarik of REACH ministries. Pastor Tim worked closely with New Life Church’s children’s ministry, Justin, and his brother Shaun for a couple years to prepare Justin for the mission field.Upon his arrival into Cambodia, Justin submitted into the leadership of SEAPC-Cambodia President, Pastor Sinai Phouek and Fellowship Word of Life Church led by Pastor Vanna Srun. It didn’t take long for Justin to fall in love with the children he was serving and to find the opportunity to lead young people to Jesus.The Lord has honored Justin’s obedience and faithfulness to go and serve His purposes. Justin has successfully completed two SEAPC sponsored baseball camps. The first of which was held in conjunction with players from the Cambodia National Baseball team. From its success, Justin was contacted by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Western Pennsylvania who had just that year been asked by FCA International to adopt South East Asia as a region of focus. FCA asked if they could bring professionals from around the world to come and serve alongside Justin’s vision. Furthermore, Geneva College, who took a shot on Justin years ago and made a way for him to play college baseball, signed a MOU with SEAPC to bring Christ-based educational support to SEAPC’s Banteay Meanchey Arise program. Opportunities that were unimaginable just two years ago are all around Justin McGurgan today.Our God is a good God who hears our prayers and looks for men and woman to live for Him, submit to his church, and live by faith. Is that you? Are you someone who is willing to follow your dreams for the glory of God? If so, the South East Asia Prayer Center has a place for you. We exist to prayerfully prepare the platform for you to find fulfillment in Christ and for the people you serve to find a hope in Jesus.

The year of the current Shemittah is coming to a close. The Shemittah is from the Hebrew tradition ordained by God. When the Hebrews settled onto their promised land, the Lord had already put in place a seven-year cycle plan for the Hebrews into their law. So when they had claimed their promised land, that law became in effect.

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The last year of the seven-year cycle is known as the sabbatical year. It follows that God rested on the seventh day. That sabbatical year is called the Shemittah. It is a time when slaves are released, debts are forgiven, land is rested.  Basically, it is a time when the Lord resets the economy.

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Now, whether it still applies to us in the new covenant, I don’t know and I don’t claim to know. There are many rumors that are floating around on this topic — from meteor showers to rapture — that Charismatic personalities make as both truth and fact. With the added blood moons and the eclipse of the sun in the same year, it really seems that this could be it. Whether or not there will be a huge economic collapse following the Shemittah, here are some brief pointers to achieve financial freedom for the next year. If the Lord does indeed reset the economic system, following these keys will set you up in a position to receive.

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Remember this, it is not sheer luck that we are riding on but the covenant blessings of God. So no matter how gloomy the economic situation is, if we stay in the covenant, you need not worry about your finances. Also, we can learn a lesson from Abraham, who was the one who cut a covenant with God. He was blessed to be a blessing to the nations of the earth. (Genesis 12:3)

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Praying that you will have a great financial year.

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‍Wisdom will bring about prosperity (Proverbs 3:13-17)Instead of seeking riches and fame, be like a Solomon and seek after wisdom instead.

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‍Money will bring about money (Genesis 1:12)This is the principle of the like-kind, therefore money will produce after its own kind. To reap a monetary harvest, we need to sow money seeds onto good ground. Inferior seeds will produce low quality harvest.

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‍Faithfulness will bring about favors.   (Psalm 101:6)Faithfulness to God will bring about the favor of God. Learn from people like Abraham and Noah. They found favor with God. Walking in the covenant of God will bring about the covenant blessings of God.

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‍Seedtime will bring about harvest time. (Genesis 8:22)The law of the harvest only answers to the seeds sown. Prayer alone will not solve your financial debts.

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‍Godliness will bring about blessings (Proverbs 22:4)The Bible says, if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19). Seek after Godliness.

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‍Generosity will bring about wealth (Proverbs 11:25)This verse takes it one step further, give but generously and sacrificially. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. The word ‘cheerful’ means ‘hilarios’ which is where the word hilarious comes from. So have a big heart and give and not give miserly.

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‍Giving will bring about receiving (2 Corinthians 9:6)When you give, you are activating the covenant of God. It puts you in a position where you can receive the covenant wealth and blessings of God.

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~Hubert