World Vision Malaysia was privileged to have seven pastors from partner churches join us on a visit to Stong 2 Area Development Programme (ADP) in Siem Reap, Cambodia from 11-15 March 2019. The purpose of the visit was to give pastors field experience on how World Vision expresses the advancement of a holistic Gospel through community transformation development programmes.

On this trip, we visited five communities. The pastors witnessed a variety of transformative projects such as education, safe spaces for children and youths, a water system that connects clean underground water to households, livelihood development, as well as a health support group that promotes child nutrition to mothers with children under five. All of these works improve the well-being of children. Our Malaysian pastors gave words of encouragement and blessings at every place that we visited.

We also visited a home church to fellowship with the pastor and members to understand the local context of church ministry. In addition, World Vision Cambodia organised one-day leadership training so that our Malaysian pastors could equip the local pastors and church leaders, enhancing their capacity to lead their church growth. Pastors from both countries appreciated the time spent together in relationship building and mutual edification.

Pr. Susan from Glory Christian Centre, Kt. Kinabalu shared her takeaway, “House church pastors and leaders who need to earn daily livelihoods made an effort to come for the training session. Most of them are illiterate yet passionate for God and willing to be equipped!”

What impacted our pastors the most on this trip is the community empowerment that is taking place through partnership with World Vision.

Indeed, the community, including local churches, is being equipped with knowledge and skills to take ownership of their own community’s development.

Group photo at World Vision’s Stong 2 ADP office