Chosen

“God, I pray in your name if I’m the one that you choose for your glory, please help me to pass the interview.”

This was the prayer of a young Cambodian man named Veha Morng, moments before his interview for a scholarship with SEAPC eight years ago. Pastor Mark Geppert and SEAPC had partnered with a particular high school in Rongkor village, a blip on the map in the province of Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia. SEAPC was offering ten fully paid university scholarships to Rongkor high school graduates. Veha, one of those selected ten, is now 26 years old, married to his beautiful wife Saury who was also one of the scholarship recipients, and is now fully leading the team in the Banteay Meanchey Arise initiative that is rocking the nation.

At the time that prayer crossed his lips, Veha had already been given the opportunity to learn about Jesus, but was not yet fully committed. That sincere prayer in a moment of need and panic has set the course for his life. Veha left his small village to attend university in the capital city Phnom Penh, teeming with over 2 million people. He fully committed to being a follower of Jesus and spent the next four years studying computer science, web design and English, graduating with honors at the top of his class. Veha was elected by his teammates to be the house leader, or the equivalent of a resident assistant, to help bring order and support to daily life. This small leadership role carried over after graduation and their return to Banteay Meanchey, where the team had committed to work with SEAPC for the following four years. Veha began to act as liaison, helper, and administrator as the team and the ministry grew.

By February of 2019, Veha was fully set in position as the leader of Banteay Meanchey Arise. He is not only driven and talented, but a deep thinker, a responsible steward, and a man of prayer. I asked him how he feels he has changed in the past year. “Most of the lessons I’ve learned are from my mistakes,” he laughs. This is nearly an impossible lesson to learn in Asian culture, where “saving face” is highly valued and mistakes are regarded as embarrassments and weaknesses. The growing pains in this first year of full leadership have been very real, sometimes sending Veha spiraling into frustration and despair. But Veha has learned prayer is the root of everything.

“When we worship, we are lifted above the earthly perspective, and all our focus is on the one in heaven on the throne,” he teaches the team during our weekly Friday prayer meetings. He leads the team in prayer, worship, and intercession for the province, and the sweet presence of God is palpable in the room as the team members raise their hands in worship. The initiative of Banteay Meanchey Arise should be impossible by all worldly standards. Taking ten young people from their village and raising them up to be leaders across nine districts and a population of 700,000 scattered across agriculture lands and rice fields should be considered crazy. But, it’s not.

Currently Banteay Meanchey Arise consists of the Water Drop program, which is teaching English and biblical principles to 300 students and teachers across 8 rural locations. It also includes fulfilling the dream of a technical center in each of the nine districts. Five buildings have already been built and number six will open this coming March. Computer classes are in full swing for students and teachers in Preah Netr Preah district, and nursing and manufacturing classes begin this week. Music classes are being established in different locations, and the production of lemongrass oil is within reach this year as the needed materials come in.

Our team has grown from 10 to 22. Some work as English teachers, others work as translators or office helpers. All participate in English and discipleship classes, and are being trained as Christ-centered leaders for the nation.

“What’s next?” I ask Veha. He taps his pen against his notebook. “Find ways to be self-sustainable,” he responds. He has dreams of using media and YouTube channels to generate revenue to keep the ministry going, as well as the lemongrass manufacturing. “To have our first tech center completely up and running, and open the next one by the end of the year,” he adds. “And for you, personally?” I ask. He grins. “I want to go back to school,” he responds. Veha is hoping to enroll in a master’s program on the weekends to earn his MBA while still leading the Banteay Meanchey team. It is his dream to continue his education and eventually open his own private school back in his hometown. “I want to see Banteay Meanchey Arise,” he tells me, and I believe him.

Please keep Veha in your prayers, as well as the rest of the team and the initiatives taking place here in Cambodia. The impossible is happening every day, and we are thankful for Veha’s heart and passion at the forefront of it all. Together, we will see the vision from over 20 years ago come to pass: that “out of the killing fields and mine fields a generation will arise that is Christ-centered, bible-based, holy-spirit filled, and academically excellent who are witnesses to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ in the village, the province, the nation, and all of ASEAN.”