January 20, 2016
Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,
We, the CCAMS remnant composed of four full-time staff members and nine students, have suffered severe emotional trauma ever since the rebellious and explosive departure last month of two full-time staff teachers, Sophun and Reaksmey Ty, accompanied by their children, plus seven student leaders/teachers and their siblings! Representing half of our CCAMS family, they abandoned those of us who remained, all in the space of one week, and simultaneously cast all of their many delegated responsibilities back upon our shoulders, while also leaving many important ministry projects unfinished in their wake! Not only that, but they falsely accused the CCAMS leaders of wrongdoing as reasons for their leaving, and they are continuing to do the same now, especially on social media.
However, as we cried out to the Lord, He comforted us with His message of hope:
“For there will be peace for the seed; the vine will yield its fruit…I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things…
I will save you so that you may become a blessing.
Do not fear; let your hands be strong…
These are the things which you should do:
speak the truth to one another;
judge with truth for peace in your gates.”
Zechariah 8:12-13 and 16, paraphrased
Especially embracing God’s words from verse 13b (bolded above), all of us members of the remnant, both young and old, “strengthened our hands,” joining in unity to shoulder the extra work responsibilities added to our already full schedules, while diligently continuing preparations for our yearly CCAMS Family Christmas Celebration to be held on January 16-17. On Saturday, January 16, the students received their Christmas gifts, and on Sunday, January 17, we all offered our gifts of worship to the Lord.
The remaining nine students, aged 9 to 16, had no previous experience leading worship at celebrations, because the older students always assumed those roles. But with strong faith in God’s power to use them, they all volunteered to offer their artistic gifts to honor the Lord Jesus on His birthday!
We teachers coached the students to sing (in Khmer and in English) and to play the Christmas songs on the keyboard, guitar, recorder, and percussion instruments. Then they diligently practiced, and practiced, and practiced!
The students also prepared to read aloud in Khmer the Bible passages that tell the Christmas story. Although they already knew how to read, now they had to acquire good public speaking habits of projecting their voices and enunciating clearly. Again, they practiced, and practiced, and practiced!
We trust that our children’s offerings for Christ’s birthday celebration were pleasing in His sight and also a blessing to His invited guests and to others through the internet! Thanks for all of your encouraging messages and for your prayers, financial support, and practical helps.
Click here to view a photo album of this 2-day event on Facebook.
Click here to view a video collage of songs from the Christmas program on Youtube.
Continuing to strengthen our hands to serve God,
The CCAMS Family