Cambodian Youth Testimonies…
I was born in a Christian family. However, I did bad things like stealing pop drinks from my family for a long time. I tried to stop but kept on doing it. These made me angry at Satan, angry at myself and feel really guilty. But then I heard pastor Sou preach at the old Met, that Jesus Christ died for my sins, like stealing. But God raised him up on the third day, and if I put my full trust in Jesus, he will change my heart so I don’t do bad things anymore. I didn’t understand this message on the first time but on the second or third time and then I believed. I was about 10-12 years old. I believed because I trust pastor Sou because he loved my family. After I gave my life to Christ, I didn’t steal anymore because Jesus changed my heart and I don’t want to steal anymore. Instead I want to go to church, pray, help people, and be baptized. In conclusion, I want to thank pastor Sou for helping me and that’s why I’ve asked him to baptize me. I also want to thank Matthew for strengthening. He brought me to alpha, which increased my understanding of the Christian faith. Alpha was also done at the Chinese church which allowed me to meet other believers who encouraged me. I want to thank my parents for bringing me to church. Finally, I want to thank God for many miracles, like when my dad had a heart attack. I am making a declaration that I am a Christian and God saved me by being baptized today. Justin L.
Today I stand before you without a completed story. I am just at the beginning of my life making something of myself, branching out and having to start making my own decisions. During this year, I was on an emotional roller coaster, transitioning from secondary school to post-secondary school. For me, crying was my coping mechanism when something is brothering me. I always let fear, doubts, indecisiveness take a toll on my life. For me, I constantly struggle with trust and reliance on the Lord. I don’t like the unknown. This always leads me to anxiety, doubts and avoidance. I like things paved out and planned beforehand. Taking risks and stepping out of my comfort zone is hard.
More than ever, I realized this following year that all this concern to get my future right and plan out is the wrong approach, nothing needs to be set in stone. I could turn to several people for advice but I need to say that’s enough and start with him. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
If I did not make the decision today, to be baptize, you wouldn’t even know that I am sinning. My biggest sin is following myself, not taking the time to listen to the one, who created me, who knows everything about me, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the third year I was asked to be baptize and it is about time I stop disobeying his command. I could use several excuses, fear of public speaking, not having a real story, haven’t read the whole Bible as possible reasons to prevent me from fulfilling this. However, I am choosing to, out of obedience. I understand that God will never allow, more than we can handle. He is omnipresent, with us every step of the way. So why fear the words surrendering everything? God is the author and the finisher of my faith. Why not leave it to the ultimate potter? Only he can shape and mould me into his liking. I will never be perfect but I am learning to summit everything to him, to allow him to fix my quarks, insecurities and to change me. I don’t know what the future holds but I want the Lord to be my strength and my shield. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (give yourself up to him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into his keeping) and you will be saved. Acts 16:31
Throughout my whole life, I have the guidance of my grandma and my mom. At an early age of 7 on Saturday, June 28, 1998, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord, and Saviour with the help of my mom during the Billy Graham Evangelistic Conference. I want to thank all the people God had lead to touch my life, my grandpa or pastor Sou, for his teachings and his connection with my family since I was little. Furthermore, I would like to thank all three youth pastors, Matthew for believing in me and his prayers, especially his encouragement. (For starting this) Liz and Michael for their understanding, revealing God’s love letters and helping me achieve what I am doing today. Plus thank you to Bu Chinda, Ma, my family and Mme Lisimaque. All of these people thank you for all your support and love.
Present day, I have learned that I can’t change people, only God can. Gradually God is changing me, although I won’t see immediate changes. (Inch by inch, row by row, God will make my garden grow.) I need to keep learning and adding to my journey. I ask for your assistance and would like to thank everybody. Nancy N.
My aunt got me to know Christ. My aunt always told me “you accepted Christ when you went to see Billy Graham back in 1998 at the Scotia Bank Place”. I was never quite sure of this because I barely attended church and mostly showed up for the Christmas specials, and I rarely even attended those too. Well, it’s been almost 10 years since I went too see Billy Graham, but what I realized after all these years is that Jesus has always been there for me through happiness, sadness, depression, excitement, and angry times. But I never knew he was present because I was always in darkness. I couldn’t see past the darkness because I was blinded, and I couldn’t see the light.
In June 2006 God revealed himself to me through a dream. God was speaking to me through an angel. He was telling me about the holy Trinity. The father, the Spirit and the Son. It was an awesome dream, a dream that I would have never dreamed of. A dream that would change my life and the way I looked at life forever. From that point on I knew the lord wanted me to work for him and to live for him and not for this fallen world. He showed me Heaven. There were people dancing and singing with its glorious music being played in the background. I asked the angel “how come I don’t see my dad?” The angel either said “He’s not here yet” or “he’s not going to be here”. I couldn’t make it out. Then my dream ended.
As my faith becomes stronger in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ my passion to spread the word of the gospel also grows. I feel like I am doing missionary work in my own home. I’m spreading the word to my mom, sister, brother and friends because I know Jesus wants me to do his will. I want my family and friends to be saved too. I want them to know Jesus the way I know him.
I think it was in October 2006, is when I became a Born Again Christian. Something overcame me and touched me deep down inside and I couldn’t figure out what was happening to me. At the time I didn’t know it was the Holy Spirit changing me inside. He made me realize and showed me the sins I had and committed which I never realized was wrong. I felt like I was a kid again; the Holy Spirit made me reflect back to when I was 16 when my aunt brought my sister, my brother and I to see Billy Graham with the rest of the Cambodian Christians and the rest of the Christians from all over. But this time I was truly aware I had truly accepted Christ into my heart. My aunt had been right all these years and I truly think she is a blessing in my life.
On the evening of August 8th 2002, tragedy struck my family that would change the course of our lives forever. My dad had been diagnosed with cancer back in 2000, underwent treatment in 2001, and after losing the battle with cancer, he passed away. Our family and friends were devastated. I’ve always thought to myself “how come God didn’t do anything to help him get better?” If only I was a believer in Christ then, I would have prayed for him everyday and told him about salvation. I think my dad knew about Christ because we used to attend church when we first came to Canada. I remember going to the Met and eating good food, watching people walk in the gym and hearing the gospel in English and in Cambodian. I couldn’t make out what was being said because I was still young I think I was around the age of 4 or 5 and plus I was still new to the country and the language. But the thing is my parent’s were the one who had brought my aunt to Church. And my aunt was the one who brought me to Christ. My aunt had stayed with the Church and my parent’s left, so it’s just unbelievable how things work out sometimes. Jesus had guided me through each step in my life and for this I open up my heart to him and I truly love him and I want to be more like him. He has blessed my life in so many ways.
If it wasn’t for Jesus I would still be doing my destructive ways and following the ways of this fallen world. I’ve experimented with drugs, alcohol and sex. At one point it was so bad. I almost jumped out of a moving car because my state of mind was so messed up on ecstasy. We were traveling on the highway and thank God I had a friend sitting next to me and he grabbed me right before I was going to jump out of the car. I wasn’t trying to kill myself or anything; I thought the car wasn’t moving. During times when I was heavily involved in drugs sometimes I felt depressed and I felt like I couldn’t go on anymore. Satan tempted me to contemplate suicide. I told my sister about it and she said I was being selfish. My sister helped me in so many ways; she was always there for me when I needed someone to talk too. Even though she was a few years younger I’ve always looked up to her and admired her. She was mentally stronger than I was. And a lot more mature then I was. She helped me many times when I thought about suicide. I hope the best for her and I hope one day she will get to know Christ the way I know him. I am finally out of darkness and for once I can finally identify Jesus as my Savior. He has sent the Holy Spirit inside of me to cleanse me from wickedness, evilness and all the sins that I’ve committed. And now I know I have to repent. He changed me forever and now I want to encourage and help others who have been in similar situations and help them get out of darkness.
In March 2007 God had revealed himself to me again through another dream. In my dream I saw Jesus descending on a cloud through the sky. There was one angel on his left and another angel too his right. So I truly know the time is near when Jesus is coming back to do what has been prophesized in the Holy Bible.
I really like Isaiah 41:31. I really feel like I can relate to this verse.
But those who hope in the Lord
Will renew their strength,
They will soar on wings like eagles;
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not be faint.
I also like John 3:16
For God so loved the world
That he gave his one and
Only son, that whoever
Believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. Sopheak K.