The Cambodia Kinship Church is located right in the middle of the garment factories in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Factory workers have exhausting schedules, working Monday through Saturday from 7:00-4:00 and sometimes working overtime until 8:00 in the evening.
The work is labor intensive, stressful, and doesn’t even pay a living wage.
Many of the women who work in these factories work in order to send the money back to their families who live elsewhere. This means when they move to Phnom Penh they have no family, no friends, and no resources. They are completely on their own.
Cambodia Kinship Church noticed the loneliness of these girls and decided to do something about it!
Offering Friendship and Opportunity
They decided to start a soccer ministry and every Saturday evening from 7:30 – 8:30 the factory workers come to the Cambodia Kinship Church and play soccer with their friends. For many of them, this is the most exciting activity of their week.
Since they don’t have family in the area, the Kinship Church has become family for many of the girls. It’s a place they can go to relax, play games with friends, learn more about the Gospel, share their struggles, and just be themselves.
The Cambodia Kinship Church also gives the girls a lot of different practical experiences – English lessons, cooking food together, and learning the principals in the Bible.
Sharing the Gospel
The church is a place where they are able to meet with Christian leaders and learn about Christ. And many of the girls have found love and hope in Christ, and they have given their lives to him.
This is causing a transformation! These girls used to be depressed and lonely, but now they are filled with joy and happiness. They used to curse those around them, but now they use their words to bless others.
And Passing it On!
The girls have been so changed through their experience with the church that they want everyone they know to experience the love of Christ! They go out every Sunday evening and visit poor kids in the community or other garment factory workers and teach them about the Gospel of Christ and invite them to the Cambodia Kinship Church.
How amazing is the life-change that is happening in these girls? And it all started with a soccer game.
Take Part in their Ministry
We love how God is using the Cambodia Kinship Church to bless others, and we want you to be a part of their ministry. So will you join us in praying for these girls?
Pray that:
- They would continue to find faith in Christ during their difficult situations
- They would be able to withstand the persecution they face from their friends and employers
- They would continue to reach out to people around them who don’t have the hope of Christ
So let’s pray for the Kinship Church in Cambodia and believe in the scriptures when they say, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” –Philippines 1:6
