FCOP Update -- July 2004

Dear Friends and Family,

It was mainly just small things. A District Supervisor complaining that one Superintendent was given a vehicle while another, his brother, was not. A young pastor, who left medical internship to serve the Lord, was having marriage problems. Another Supervisor wanted the scope of his power expanded. One more Supervisor was upset because another District paid the orphanage staff while he said he didn't have enough money. There was just a lot of junk, from a lot of directions.
Peter, our national President, Sou, and I decided it was time for a meeting.

Now! About twenty of the key leaders (District Supervisors), of the almost 1000 churches we watch over, gathered. Most brought their wives. We finished this morning.

After three days it ended with us (Sou and I) washing Peter's, and his wife's, feet, then Daniel our Vice President. They started washing Supervisor's feet. Before it was over, most had shed tears. The young pastor, who'd left his wife and church, because she was pressuring him to leave ministry for more money as a doctor, was repenting before his leaders. The circle of washing ended with our young lawyer, and the key building contractor, both lay leaders, washing our feet. It was one of those moments when you could feel the Lord's presence, but it wasn't the only time this week.

Two nights earlier we gathered for our first evening together. I was teaching out of, First Timothy, 6: 6-7. I thanked them for choosing to serve

God together with us, even though most of them had been offered more money with other ministries or organizations. I explained that our resources are not guaranteed, and that we live month to month by faith. The orphans are fed with the first money, bills are met, and then, last of all, when money permits, staff members and pastors get paid. Many, pastors get no pay, and most of the rest just get $10 per month to help with travel. I went on to explain that the terrible grip of corruption in Cambodia, (see article) often rampant even in Christian Churches, could only be broken by the power of God demonstrated through sacrificial love. I told them I could promise them nothing other than that Sou and I would stay and starve with them, if it came to that, but that God had been faithful, and He hadn't changed. It was a moment that could not have been captured by the most skilled Hollywood director. It was a spontaneous outburst of joy, a shout to the Lord that they were in for the long haul, and would only quit when their country had come to Christ. It was a convergence of the Spirit of God with the will of man that produces an 'E'sprit De'core' that can transform the soul, and I believe, a nation. We were a unit again. God is good.

Good news. I'm getting married! Better news. To the same woman! For the fourth time! I know, I know, you're all wondering what has possessed me?
Here's the deal. The first time was a Lao civil ceremony in 1970, then, to make it legally recognized in the USA, we did it again at the Embassy. Since we'd never walked the isle of a church in a Christian ceremony, for our 25th anniversary, in 1995, we were married again in our Woodstock, IL church.

Now, Cambodia has this thing called a "Family Book", in which all citizens are registered. Since Sou, due to her royal heritage, is a Cambodian Citizen, she has a book. Problem, I'm not in it. She is listed as a "spinster". We thought about trying to present our papers and having my name transcribed into the "book", but that is expensive in Cambodia, as it is one of those acts that demands retribution in the form of cash. It is much simpler, and cheaper to just get married AGAIN, in Cambodia. Hey, the honeymoons are great! Now, you know my real motive.

You guys need to get our new Cambodian DVD. It contains 11 video clips, 3-5 minutes long, on the work in Cambodia. Some of you are thinking, "I've seen it already", but unless you saw the one that was put together in May of this year, and given out at the Foursquare Convention at the Warm Blankets booth, you haven't. You can order it from Warm Blankets, call 847-894-7074, ask for the New Cambodia DVD from the Foursquare Convention. They will send you one. I think? Right Randy? (Just what he needs, more work!) Anyway, here is what I want you to do. Look at it and show it to some people, take it to your church and show it. Why? We need sponsors for homes. We are building our 65th church/home, and I promised ICM, the partner who helps us build the homes, that we'd get sponsors. It takes $1500 per month to sponsor a home. The average church/home has planted more than 20 churches, and that's in 5 years. Wait! Wait! All of you who want to write and lecture me about building dependency, save your paper. I am a hopeless case. Kids are dependents. We call them that on our income tax forms. Besides, according to Jesus, the only valid measure of a ministry is fruitfulness, and that means churches. We are first and foremost a Church planting ministry. We opened three more this week.

Anyone saying differently is simply wrong. Even so, we are working toward becoming self sufficient, with our integrated Ag projects, and when the Lord moves a major donor, our Theatrical and Culinary Arts Training Center (click here to download write-up- 91Kb), will be funded, and that will help a great deal. Maybe you know someone??

The fleet is getting old, and tired. The Toyota Ambulance (1988) broke down yesterday about 100 miles north of Phnom Penh, and the Sporatge (1994) croaked about 250 miles NW of here today. Moving food, supplies, and personnel around in this mud is a costly business. Vichea (our lawyer) dodged a truck full of drunken police, rolled the FourRunner three times.

Fortunately, we got Peter on the scene, 1&1/2 hours and 150 miles later, being a major, he outranked the drunken captain, who was just sobering up enough to be a problem, insisting he had a right to drive on whatever side of the road he wanted. We hired about 20 villagers, who loaded the smooshed Fourrunner on a flatbed, and it is now being resurrected at Paul Mok's (our favorite mechanic). No worrys, give him two weeks and it will look like new, and we will be about $700 poorer. Oh! Vichea? He's got a few bruises and a sprained foot, but in better shape than the truck.

My trip to the States was a hit. It lasted two weeks and two days, that gives me three Sundays, and I spoke in three great churches. I took time to Visit with two of my children, Tony and Chanta, four of my grandchildren, my Mother, a brother & his family, speak at a luncheon for Warmblankets donors and board members, tinker with my antique tractor, and attend the Foursquare convention. Busy time! Jack Hayford, founder of Church on the Way, which is one of our Church/home sponsors, was elected President of the Foursquare Church.

We have had several teams visit. Anna Blake, left today with a group from Hope Chapel, Santa Rosa, CA. They are building a Cafeteria for Anlong Veng, where we plan host a World Teams medical mission in August, which will, God willing, treat in excess of 10,000 people. Take a look at:
http://www.missionreports.com/icm_june2004/ International Cooperating
Ministries, which has been the primary partner in Church/home construction, paid us a much appreciated visit, as did LIFE Pacific University, and Dave Magee and Billy Campbell of Hong Kong. Hannah, our only resident child, is on staff at Camp Hickory, the Foursquare Camp located in Fox Lake, IL.
She sounds like she is working hard but having a good time doing it.

God bless you, and have a great month! We will!

Ted & Sou,
Cambodia

 

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See March 2004 Update