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During my visit to Cambodia late 2008, I was privileged to meet Brothers and Sisters who had been baptized in the last 18 months. Bro Guiller Frayna, who now lives in Malaysia, was the first baptism. Starting in August 2007, there have been 18 new members added to the ecclesia. The last two baptisms took place in December 2008: Sisters Som Kim Sreang and Belinda Roberts.

What follows are selected photos and extracts of the announcements found at http://acbmcambodia.blogspot.com/ that recount the exciting and blessed additions of new Brothers and Sisters in Christ. The information and statistics are not merely interesting. They are a testimony of the work of God in Cambodia.

Norm Fadelle – Feb 2009

August 20, 2007 – Brother Meng Him

Him is the first baptised Cambodian brother! This exciting event took place today in the Olympic swimming pool (for those who are unaware we live about 5min walk from olympic stadium - a major local landmark). The baptism went well with 2 other contacts attending as well as Him's wife and baby. The sun was extremely hot. The baptism took place at 9:30 in the morning.

As an adult, Him became a Christian and had many questions about the Bible. In course of time he attended a Christadelphian Bible Seminar. Since that time he has assisted with translation work for both seminars and other Bible lessons. As a result of his translation work Him has a full understanding of the first principles of the Bible.

He asked to be baptised on Saturday night and asked if the baptism could take place this morning while Raju was still in Cambodia. Raju had many discussions with Him from Him's first contact with Christadelphians.

[ed. Him now serves as one of the primary translators in the ecclesia, and often participates in the baptism of new members.]

December 2, 2007 – Sister Saroun Rorn (Loy)

Loy is baptised! Yes our own gorgeous, adorable Loy who cooks the most amazing food and manages to worm her way into every visitor’s heart - our closest friend in Cambodia.

Loy came back from visiting her family about 6 weeks ago to tell us that her parents don’t mind if she becomes a Christian and that she would like to be baptised. So after a few lessons to pull all the bits and pieces together and ensure that this was really what Loy wanted, Loy gave a simple and sincere confession of faith last Friday night.

Loy was baptised on Sunday at the Olympic Pool by Bro Him and Bro Jonathan. The baptism was witnessed by a few of our regular contacts from the dorm, Sis Sara-Rose and Sis Melinda (in photo with Loy). The pool was very noisy and most of us had to watch through a fence as we weren’t allowed in unless we were going to swim. But we managed to focus on the prayers, words of Romans 6 and the joy of yet another child of Adam becoming a child of God.

[ed. Loy now serves as the BEC housekeeper. Sis Gaye Busaba was baptized around this time as well].

June 16,2008 – Brother Keo Nirann and Sister Sithy

We felt you all with us as we celebrated the baptisms of Nirann and Sithy. God blessed us with a beautiful day and the boat trip was perfect. At the junction of the Mekong River, Tonle Sap and Basaac River we witnessed two of God’s children (who are also the first baptised, married Cambodian couple!) joining the living waters. As Nirann and Sithy came out of the waters of baptism we all joined to sing, “This is the day that the Lord has made…” with Chea playing guitar.

[ed. Nirann now serves as one of the primary two translators; Sithy leveraged recent university studies to lecture on the impact of SE Asia slave trade.]

July 14, 2008 – Brothers Long Ang, Veasna, Kosal, Kosal (K) and Vitou

We are busy today getting last minute jobs done for our wonderful day tomorrow when we will baptise five young men from Bethezer dorm into the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Please remember these young men in your prayers as they prepare for this amazing time ahead…

They have spent many hours over the last couple of years learning about God and Jesus Christ with so many brothers and sisters from Australia at the BEC. Their hearts are so passionate and we thank God that tomorrow the ecclesia in Cambodia will double in number! Kosal (K), Veasna, Vitou, Long Ang and Kosal were so excited and full of happiness as they celebrated the beginning of their new life in Christ.

Steve, Max and Nirann baptised our new brothers and Him welcomed them into God’s family with beautiful words from scripture on the boat afterwards.

Following a delicious lunch at the BEC, we gathered together for our very special worship service, which included the welcoming of our new brothers into the ecclesia at Phnom Penh. Sixteen brothers and sisters shared the remembrance of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

July 23, 2008 – Sister Koy Kuntheavy

I am delighted to report from Cambodia of the planned baptism of Kuntheavy (Theavy), wife of Bro Him, who would be baptised God willing in the Mekong River east of Phnom Penh on Wednesday 23 July 2008. I met with Theavy nearly three years ago when her brother introduced her and her husband Meng Him to me. She has remarkable knowledge of the Scriptures. Lately Sis Lynne has been guiding her through the 'preparing for baptism' lessons.

Sometimes joy comes in the form of hard work, feeling God’s purpose in your heart and mind as you share the gospel with others. At other times joy comes with rest and reflection upon the work He gives us to do. Today twenty five of us witnessed the baptism of Theavy.

September 4, 2008 – Brother Hem Vanny

We are so happy to pass on this wonderful news ... that today Vanny asked to be baptised! For so many of the BEC fieldworkers (past and present) this is the news we have all been praying for! Vanny is a university student who lives at Bethezer boys' dorm and has been studying at BEC since its inception at the beginning of 2007. Vanny has been learning about the Bible from many different churches in Cambodia and his journey has been a long and, at times, difficult one for him. He has constantly prayed to God, to give him the truth about the Bible, as he has wrestled with difficult concepts and doctrines. At last Vanny's prayers have been answered and he now feels confident that his beliefs are strong and he has a clear understanding of what God says in the Bible.

We had a fantastic day today as we witnessed the baptism of Hem Vanny at Sihanoukville. We rose early to catch the sunrise and as the new day began...so did Vanny's new life in Christ. Five of his brothers from the dorm were there along with three of his other friends from the dorm, and Sister Loy. Words cannot express the joy we all felt as yet another young man in this country gave his life to follow Jesus Christ and belong to the family of God.

November 14, 2008 – Brother So Veasna

Today we will witness another baptism in Cambodia. So Veasna arrived from the province last night very excited about his baptism which will take place in the Mekong River this morning at 10.00. This young man began as a translator with BEC last year when we ran seminars in Phnom Penh. He learnt the truth about the Bible through these sessions and also through study of God's word at BEC. His work took him to the provinces and so over the last nine months he has been continuing his study with correspondence lessons and by visiting the BEC once a month.

On Sunday we were excited to baptise and welcome a new brother into the growing Cambodian ecclesia … a small group of us headed down to the Mekong riverside in the morning ... under a nearby tree, we briefly considered the importance of baptism, the first step in our walk towards God's Kingdom. Nirann and Veasna then entered the water, and Veasna was baptised. He arose from the waters with a look of joy on his face, and we pray that he will continue to feel that joy in the days to come.

[ed. Veasna serves as a translator and also acts as a guide for P2P teams going into the provinces]

October 22, 2008 – Anticipation

This Sunday we will once more board the Mekong Flower to celebrate the baptisms of Vong and Kunthea in the Mekong River. Vong is pictured here with his mother and sister at his home in Bantay Mancheay province near the Thailand border. Vong is a student who lives at Bethezer Boys' Dorm and is studying Mathematics at university. He has been a keen student at BEC for the last seven months, during which time his love of God and knowledge of the Bible have grown. His English is not strong, so he has been mentored closely by brother Him. As well as attending Bible lessons at BEC, Vong has been studying with brother Him (the Dorm manager) each evening in preparation for his baptism.

Kunthea (pictured with his wife and baby daughter) is the director of the Leadership Character Development Institute (LDCI) schools in Cambodia which have strong links to the BEC in Phnom Penh. Many of the students from LCDI come to study the Bible throughout the week and also on Sundays. We are so happy that Kunthea will be part of this growing ecclesia in Phnom Penh. His love of the Bible and depth of understanding of God's message is inspiring!

[ed. Kunthea became interested in the BEC as a result of a former student at LCDI, namely Sister Loy!]

October 27, 2008 – Brothers Ean Vong and Khem Kunthea

There was an amazing buzz on Mekong River today as Vong and Kunthea were baptised into God’s worldwide family, and are now both inspired brothers. Sixty five people from the boys and girls dormitories, LCDI and a sprinkling of neighbours from around the BEC were gathered on a boat to witness the occasion. The boat stopped off at a quiet patch along the riverbank for Brothers Steve and Him to baptise the enthusiastic brothers, after which ‘This is the Day’ was sung with passion and utter joy from all involved. As the boat cruised down the Mekong, a pizza lunch was excitedly consumed by all aboard, soon followed by rigorous traditional Khmer dancing on the bottom deck, as the rain poured down outside. The celebrations continued until we arrived once again at Riverside. Roughly fifty people stayed at the BEC for the first memorial meeting of Brothers Vong and Kunthea where they were able to partake of the emblems, and receive their new English Bibles. Throughout the entire day, all were encouraged and inspired by the happiness expressed by the close friends and family of our two new members of God’s family.

November 4, 2008 – Sister Keo Nirath

What a beautiful day we enjoyed in Phnom Penh today. Nirath became a sister in Christ, and so now is a member of the growing Cambodian ecclesia. A small group of us caught a tuk-tuk to riverside, for Brothers Steve and Nirann to baptise Nirath, and so, changing her life forever. Her commitment to serving God and Christ for eternity was simple and quiet; exactly how she wanted it.

November 23, 2008 – Brother Son Chan Toun

The nicest part of the trip was seeing Chantoun being baptised. We headed to a waterfall about half an hour from Sihanoukville where Chantoun had requested his baptism take place. After Steve had given a short talk on the symbolism of water throughout the Bible, Chantoun, Him and Steve entered the crystal clear water and Chantoun was baptised. It was especially nice for Steve and Lynne to witness this step before heading back home to Australia. Chantoun has been living in the boys’ dorm since it first opened and is studying Information Technology at university. We pray that together with us he may hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering... stirring one another up to love and good works. May our Lord come quickly.

December 23, 2008 – Sisters Kim Sreang and Belinda Roberts

It was back at the Olympic Pool this time, but what a difference! Everyone was allowed into the pool area, and there were brethren from around the world in attendance: USA, Australia, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand. Belinda had wanted to be baptized in Cambodia, not her homeland. She got it videotaped too. Both she and Sreang were exhorted and prayed for in three languages: English, Khmer and Vietnamese. And close to 100 voices sang in joy at their new birth.