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ARP 012 - Glorifying God in Your Marriage & Ministry
90 Plays4 years ago
In this episode, we are joined by our Things to Come Mission, Inc. missionaries to Cambodia, Ptr. James and Mrs. Agape Bermejo to talk about their relationship and glorifying God in our marriage. They also give us a glimpse of their life as TCM missionaries.
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Transcript
The Beauty and Chaos of Marriage
00:00:00
Speaker
Praise the Lord for His goodness and grace. We were able to survive and we were able to adjust to our personalities. Marriage. It's beautiful and incredible, but it can also get chaotic.
00:00:30
Speaker
This is why we see so many help books not only about keeping your marriage and staying happy with your spouse, but also about building a strong relationship with others in general. We believe that marriage is a lifelong commitment, and this mirrors the one between God and His Church. That being said, you would think, what does it mean to glorify God in your marriage?
Introduction to Pastor James and Mamaga Pibermejo
00:01:00
Speaker
In this episode of Above Ruby's podcast, we'll welcome our guests, Pastor James and Mamaga Pibermejo. We'll be talking about their relationship, how they started, and their role blocks they had to overcome along the way with God's help.
00:01:19
Speaker
Thank you for listening above Ruby's podcast, created by a mom for every mom and parents for that matter, embracing parenthood and sanity. Here to help you get by through weekly discussions and parenting, relationships, home and faith as you juggle daily in life.
00:01:47
Speaker
All right.
How Did Pastor James and Agape Meet?
00:01:48
Speaker
Welcome to another episode of Above Ruby's podcast. I'm glad you are tuned in with us today. And for this episode, I am joined with one of the couples I look up to. They are Missionaries to Cambodia, Pastor James and Mrs. Agape Vermejo. Hello, Po. How are you? Hello, I'm Nili. Thank you for inviting us.
00:02:11
Speaker
Hi, you're welcome. And thank you for squeezing in your time for me. Sorry we had to reschedule, but I'm happy our times have finally matched, okay? Even though Valentine's Day, it's not something that we really celebrate, you know, but it's a perfect time to talk about.
00:02:26
Speaker
love, divine love, and our marriage and relationship. For those who are unaware, Pastor James used to be my professor in A.G.A. Bata'an. I can't remember the subject anymore. Forgive me, Pastor James, but I know you were my professor. And well, Mom, Agape is someone I know since we were young because of the fellowships. Can you share with us a little bit about your love story? How did that start?
00:02:56
Speaker
Our families are already familiar with each other since one of my cousins, Pastor Darwinda, you got married to Agape's one of her aunties. I know there was a time before that we met during the wedding. I forget the exact year, but I guess that's around 2001 or 2002. A long time already. And a night before the wedding, I know that my family
00:03:24
Speaker
We stayed in Agapi's house, but during those times, it's like, you know, we're still very young. Yeah, I used to live in high school. And I'm sure during that time, I also have my own love life. Our families already have like close ties since one of our relatives got married. Agapi's dad and my uncle, Pastor Jerzon Bermejo, they were both together in a
00:03:53
Speaker
PCM's board of directors. So it's like our family, like we've known each other, but for me and Agapi personally, even during conferences, not that really. As far as I can remember, PCM's national conference in Cebu City, I forgot the exact year, but I think that was really the first time that we had a conversation. But as a friend,
00:04:19
Speaker
like it's just one of those yeah yeah we were so preoccupied with our own personal lives that we didn't even recognize life we're just friends in by name but not really having a connection like the spark is there but just a friend
00:04:48
Speaker
I just remember those times. Yeah, it was in Desmarinies Cavite when we found out that you two were already a couple. That was, I think, I don't remember the year. That was a long time ago. That's April, April 2012. 2012. I was like, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
00:05:08
Speaker
Every time we see you walking outside together, it's like, ooh, Pastor James, I don't know how to pay. Since you married almost two months before us, we married the same year in 2012, I think. So what does a life of an eight-year married couple in the mission field look like?
First-Year Marriage Challenges
00:05:29
Speaker
You go. Okay, so let's share first.
00:05:32
Speaker
We went out of the Philippines to see missionaries in 2016. So at least we had four years staying in the Philippines as a married couple and serving the Lord together. To be honest, the first year of our marriage was really rough and tough. I think almost all couples are having the same kind of experience. For us really, it's like our characters are
00:06:02
Speaker
We're both the same, like, we have the dominant personality. Ah, leaders. You're both leaders, too. Yeah. It's like a clash of... Yeah. So the first year really was a bit challenging, but we praised the Lord for his goodness and grace. We were able to survive.
00:06:29
Speaker
and we were able to adjust to our personalities. Even until now, we still have some personalities that we need to adjust because marriage is a journey. It's not just contract signing. It's really a journey of enjoying our companionship. And I think our years that we spend in the Philippines for four years, it's special.
00:06:56
Speaker
First year is a bit challenging, but after that, we were able to manage somehow. And when we were outside the Philippines as missionaries, there's another adjustment again. It's a new place, a new country. We need to adjust to the language. We really need to go deeper into learning the language, the culture.
00:07:23
Speaker
And it's like we have so many things in our plates and of course we don't want to compromise the growth of our marriage. So it's a bit challenging really to manage time, but so far that is really gracious that I can say that we were really able to find that quality time that we can really spend together as a couple. And I think it really helps us also. I think also like
00:07:53
Speaker
for the first month that we are married. Pastor James was working in BPO. So it was a change for my lifestyle as well. I have to be awake during the evening. After the wedding, just a day, one day, three days after the wedding, I changed my residency. And from Cagayan de Oro, I went to Valenzuela.
00:08:24
Speaker
I think one of the adjustments that I had was the place, the people, and the language. We know Tagalog, but it's not our way of life. And living with the person that I've liked, we had a relationship just for everything happened in just one year. We said, yes, as boyfriend and girlfriend, we can engage in me.
00:08:55
Speaker
officially boyfriend girlfriend April and we got engaged by May and then we got married that September so everything was like so fast like in one year so there was a lot of adjustments and when while we were preparing for the wedding we were like long distance relationship he would just visit me once a month and I would be preparing for the wedding so there was a lot of adjustments but
00:09:21
Speaker
I just praise the Lord because he loves God more than he loves me. That's the thing that really attracted me to him. Like there was a time that I could really say that his priority is God, second is me. So that is a very good quality of a man that I've been looking for. That's nice. And speaking of God and our faith, you know, how did your faith in God strengthen your married life?
Faith's Role in Strengthening Marriage
00:09:50
Speaker
Good question. Good question. I had several relationships before Agape. Several. It's like, it's always about me, my feelings. It's really more focused on myself. But after my last relationship before
00:10:19
Speaker
me and Agape got official. That's the time really that I talk to the Lord, not just in prayer. Sometimes it's just like, it seems like I'm abnormal, but it's like I really said, Lord, I really pray and I am really asking you to guide me and to provide me a ministry partner because I know that you have prepared my life for this kind of service.
00:10:44
Speaker
So just provide me the right partner that I can really work together in the ministry. And that's really the time that my perspective was changed, that it's not about me anymore, but it's really more about God. That's why when we got married, I really told the gapi, you know, the priorities of my life. God first, you say can. The rest, you know,
00:11:13
Speaker
hierarchy of priorities. But my faith really, there was really a big change because during that time, a year before we got married, we already had a long distance relationship. We became boyfriend-girlfriend online. A year before that.
00:11:36
Speaker
Maybe everyone didn't know this. We had a relationship around like August of 2011. It was in August, but we broke up because we didn't agree. I was so busy. I still have a few feelings. So we did broke up for how many months? Until December.
00:12:05
Speaker
So from August to December, August we got like boyfriend and girlfriend, but we broke up of 2011. And then I just messaged him because he was so, he was so silent for how many months. But then for me personally, it was like really God who was leading me to this man, because I was the kind of person who was like pushing myself to my previous relationship. I was pushing myself to my,
00:12:33
Speaker
this my partner's before my boyfriend so I always was like the all the effort I was pushing but this time when we when you know it's from God you will be at peace in your heart that God will give you the peace and rest that this is the meant for you and you will be like this is it
00:12:57
Speaker
Small heart. And that was really good and showing our listeners that no couple is perfect now because it's all my God's grace that we can
00:13:08
Speaker
to survive the suffering of the marriage or the challenges in marriage. And like Pastor James said, it's not just in contract, it's a daily challenge that you have to work on. Can you share with us some of the things you argue about and how do you resolve it? It doesn't have to be deep, just something you can share and we can relate, something we can relate.
00:13:38
Speaker
I think it's really about like the five languages of love that really helps when we understood it more clearer and better. But before that, because it's like I have my own way of showing love, expressing my love and how the way also that I want to receive love.
00:14:00
Speaker
But for Agape, it's also different. She has a different way in expressing it and a different way how to receive it. And the thing is that we have a different personality in terms of that kind of matter. So that's why there are times that this is what I want, this is how I wanted to feel or how I wanted the way it will work out. But for Agape also, it's different.
00:14:29
Speaker
From the very beginning, we have this clash of dominant personalities. So those are the times that really we have some misunderstandings, disagreements. Just a matter of really like we have miscommunication of really understanding that, oh, this is how the way she expresses her love and this is how the way I express my love. Those kind of matter. That's why we have some arguments and misunderstandings before.
00:14:58
Speaker
That's so true. Being a single for a long time, I got married like 27. How old were you? I married too early. I married when I was 23. I got married when I was 27 and I already had my own idea of what marriage should look like. And I already have my own personality and I've
00:15:24
Speaker
been a leader in my own area of influence as well, but really submitting to a man, because that's what the Bible really says, why submit to your own husband. There are times that I think like, Lord, it's so hard to submit when you know that you have your own already, your own core values, you have your own thinking on how things should, yeah.
00:15:48
Speaker
how things should work and to submit to a man who has also this strong character of leadership. It's a hard thing to really swallow my pride. Being a leader for a long time as well and knowing myself as well. But it's really by the grace of God to really make God's word the priority and the principle of your life.
00:16:16
Speaker
Like when the Bible says wife, submit to your own husband and we should have to really obey him. So really it's about like submission. Yeah, word submission for me as a leader by myself growing up to submit to his authority and
00:16:36
Speaker
Sometimes I would feel like he is very like, I called him before, like Dominador.
Conflict Resolution in Marriage
00:16:42
Speaker
His name is Dominador because he is so dominant. But we praise the Lord that it's really by his grace that the struggle of like, what should be the biblical standard to follow God's will in their lives. That really helped us with our struggles also.
00:17:03
Speaker
That's really nice. And yeah, I have to agree because I also read the Five Love Languages books. I think I have mixed love language and Dane has a different one too. So it's really not easy to
00:17:20
Speaker
just because you spoke two different languages doesn't mean you don't love each other you just do not understand yeah so it's good that you're able to of course we have to we have to overcome the challenges there's no way but overcome it so that's really good and also the word compromise and the sacrifice the sacrifice even because we know that it is not natural
00:17:46
Speaker
for me to do this kind of thing because this is his love language but to sacrifice what is unnatural.
00:17:53
Speaker
for the sake of love. Wow, that's deep. OK, so right now, as we can all agree, it's not easy to maintain a good marriage. And without God's help, we really can do it on our own. So what's your advice to our fellow Christian couple who might be in the rucks right now, who might be experiencing challenges in their marriage? Pastor James?
00:18:23
Speaker
For me, really, it's like always go to God first. Then don't quit on your love. Don't quit on your partner. You know, problems in life are normal. It's always there. There will always be, even if there are times that you already come to an agreement, but there will be times that you will still experience some problems. But for those who are experiencing significant times or challenges in their married life,
00:18:52
Speaker
Just go to God first, then put it away in your mind about quitting. Because this is, I always follow this principle, God rewards faithfulness, faithfulness in serving him and even faithfulness in really valuing the relationship of husband and wife. And I praise the Lord that little by little he, for me personally,
00:19:21
Speaker
God really let me experience his rewards for us as a married couple. And I always share this idea during a couple's fellowship about love triangle. That God should always be at the top, the husband and wife. The feeling should always be mutual or the same. The more each of us will get closer to God,
00:19:50
Speaker
the more we will also get closer to one another. And there's really no other way to really become more closer to each other than going through God's principle. And like the common phrase, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, the reality is that there will be problems, there will be disagreements, misunderstandings, a lot of things, but just don't quit.
00:20:18
Speaker
there will always be a reward for faithfulness. Because for me, I take this as one of the important ministry as a man, as a husband, that I should take care of my wife also. And just go to God and don't quit on your marriage. I don't know where that got me. Well, we know that problems are just temporary.
00:20:46
Speaker
And our marriage is an institution by God. And if there's something that as human thinking, we cannot solve, then God will always be the solution. God will always give us the solution. For me personally, is that whenever we have problems, when we have struggles in life, I would always ask God, if I would let this problem like just
00:21:14
Speaker
past or just let it go or shrug it off, will God be happy in my life or will God be happy with our relationship? So it always boils down to me thinking, is God happy of what he is when he is looking at our lives personally and as a married couple? It always boils down, is God happy?
00:21:39
Speaker
And one of the things that we are doing now, I forgot for how many years already, but for us now we are here in the mission field. We really take Monday as our rest day. It's like because all of the other remaining days we have schedules already. So Monday we make sure that we will really have our own quality time like going out as a couple.
00:22:07
Speaker
We also make sure that we can also spend our own mid-time. Ah, yes. My own personal time, Agape, she will also have her own personal time. We call it a mid-time and a mid-time. For me, it's like, for example, we go to the mall, my own mid-time, just go to a coffee shop, spend time reading or playing games, something like that.
00:22:33
Speaker
Agampe will also do her window shopping, go to something like that. But I think it's healthy and helpful for couples to also spend quality time with each other and spending quality time also just by our own selves. Because for us, it really helps. It helps our marriage relationship. I'm healthier than before.
00:23:01
Speaker
Oh, I like that. That's a good one. Some couples, they insist that you always have to go together. And we call that intagal of naha kasakhal. It's good that you have your own personal time as well to connect with yourself and connect with God. So I really like that part.
Calling to Mission Work in Cambodia
00:23:27
Speaker
Coming up, let's talk about the Burmese commitment to go to the regions beyond and learn about their mission work. For your daily dose of inspirational proverbs, visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Simply search above Ruby's blog. Want to know more about podcasting and connect with podcast virtual assistants? Join us in our exclusive Facebook group. Simply search podcastBA's Philippines.
00:23:58
Speaker
All right, and we're back. We're still with Pastor James and Mrs. Agape Bramejo, and we want to have a glimpse of your missionary life right now. We know that you are assigned in Cambodia, but was it your plan to be missionaries, or was it something that God planned for you, but you did not expect? And how long did it take for you to decide for it? We made a personal decision separately. We were still singles. Me.
00:24:28
Speaker
Year 2009, when Pastor Genesis Marahad was one of the speakers in one of the conferences in Luzon. For example, it's the last night, but one of his preaching schedule, he challenged the attendees, who are those who really hear God's voice, God's calling for mission. And I am one of those who stood up and say yes for missions. And I think for Agape, it was 2010 during the in GYO in Bohol.
00:24:57
Speaker
She also made the decision personally to say yes. During the time, it was Pastor Ben Anderson who challenged the attendees. But as a couple, when we got married in 2012, before we got married, Pastor Ben Anderson already talked to us. He gave hints, yes. He's really doing his part in convincing us.
00:25:25
Speaker
Since 2000, I think 2012, 2013, 2014, national conferences in the Philippines, we always say, not yet time. That's what we thought before, because I think our work in Venezuela is still really growing. We really enjoy the history that the Lord has provided. I cannot attest to that. I can see that.
00:25:53
Speaker
But when he invited us to join the Second Southeast Asia Grace Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when we were able to hear one of the testimonies, one of the local members in a close country, maybe we cannot mention that in the country. But they were also part of the delegation during the conferences, during the conference. When we hear the testimony that they are like, instead of being
00:26:22
Speaker
drug smuggler but bible smuggler and they are really like it's okay for them to be in prison just for the sake of really distributing the bible it really strikes my heart like uh like god is saying is telling me like james when when is the time there are people like this in the other countries willing to go to prison and maybe we maybe even willing to die
00:26:48
Speaker
So that's really the time and I don't know where the gap is, but during that time, that's really the time that as a couple, we really decided to say yes. That's May 26, 2014. And that's the time that we also talked with Pastor Ben and we told him that I think now is really the right and the right time to say yes for mission. And we are willing to entrust and surrender everything.
00:27:17
Speaker
Because as a couple, we didn't have that hard time for deciding to go for a mission, because when we were still singles, God already prepared our heart to be called in the mission field. So as a couple, it was like maybe it's not yet time, I'm not yet ready or what, but it was so easy that we know that it's really from God. And there's no hesitation or reservations in our heart that
00:27:42
Speaker
Oh, it's not yet like I'm not prepared or what are the expectations of being a missionary like that. Because when God really leads us, it's, um, he would really give some confirmation and you will be addressed and your heart will be addressed to make this kind of decision. It was a hard decision because we really love Venezuela, our family in Venezuela. And it was like growing years of the church.
00:28:08
Speaker
but we really praise the Lord because it was him who really put it in our hearts. It's not because Pastor Ben, he will be blamed for this, but it was really God who really put in our hearts that burden, that heaviness that if not now, then when would be the right time. And I think one factor also I believe is that
00:28:37
Speaker
when I was still a small seven, eight years old when I started to join a prayer meeting in my hometown church. My grandfather, he's not with the Lord, but for how many years? He really prayed that someday there will be a bermiho missionary. And it's like how many years really? And I think that's really one of the big factors also, that also leads me to really know the Lord,
00:29:07
Speaker
in the sense that he's calling me for mission. Wow, that's really nice. Okay, can you give us like an overview of what it is or what your daily schedules are in your ministry right now in Cambodia?
Life and Ministry in Cambodia
00:29:27
Speaker
Okay, let's start with Monday because Monday is our last day.
00:29:31
Speaker
Usually Monday, you know, it's like a lazy day, so we usually woke up very late since we already told our church members that, sorry, but Monday, it's like we don't accept visitors or something like that. We really told them that we put boundaries. We really need to set that time just for us. Yes.
00:29:58
Speaker
Yes, true. So that's our Monday and sometimes we go out and not really sometimes but usually that's our schedule we go out and nowadays we just sometimes we just drive the motor bike just go somewhere and sometimes eat dinner outside something like that that's our Monday.
00:30:20
Speaker
drink, especially coffee. Coffee is life. Our Tuesday, since we have a schedule in the church at night time, so morning is really preparation till afternoon. Then we have a schedule at the evening. We have a Bible study fellowship. Wednesday morning, we have been in devotion together with one of our commissioners here, Julia.
00:30:49
Speaker
Ever since we arrived, before my hometown resigned, she was with us also during that schedule. A few months ago, I also had a schedule of playing football or soccer, because that's the popular sport here in Cambodia. And also connecting with the locals. We should do it, even though he doesn't know how to play. At first, really, it's like...
00:31:16
Speaker
Actually basketball is like the Philippines basketball is life. But here I learned to enjoy the game. I really started to love the game now because I slowly understand it really gives opportunity to connect with a local man. And I'm happy that because of that, there's one married man that also played with us. And he is now regularly attending our fellowship back at church.
00:31:45
Speaker
And while Pastor Zheim is out playing, I am also like accepting visitors in my house, like the single ladies are like out from their work. So example on Thursday, they have scheduled teaching. So that would be the time that I could connect also with the single ladies, mentor them of what would be the lessons for the next day of preparation. Mostly it's my girl time, ladies night. So,
00:32:13
Speaker
What Pastor James is doing is sports. So I will be in the house also accepting all the single ladies and eat with them and prepare and mentor them also. Thursday morning and afternoon preparation for our activity in the evening because we have a prayer fellowship. There are times also that Thursday that's our laundry day.
00:32:38
Speaker
It's morning until afternoon, it's laundry time. Friday I have mentoring sessions, one during lunchtime, one in the evening also. Right now I'm mentoring two main leaders in our local church. I'm looking forward that they will be trained and equipped so that they can also handle in the future the pastoral ministry of the local church.
00:33:07
Speaker
Saturday is we are planning to resume our music class in the afternoon and usually evening time is our praise and worship songs practice and Sunday is really like holiday morning worship here in city central and there are times in the afternoon we will go to the other church or join them for worship also. We really do have like a long time for preparation
00:33:35
Speaker
because we don't speak English most of the time in the church. So we have lessons. So we have to really think about the lessons that they could understand, especially if they have this Buddhist background as well. So you need to have the contextualization of every lesson. Like, do I convey the same message? Would they understand that this is the principle or the things that I would like them to learn? Because most of them are new.
00:34:05
Speaker
and they don't have like an idea of not like us in the Philippines, like a long time already, like we know who Jesus is, but for us it's like we started in a negative or zero scale. So we're starting to introduce to them the facts of the Bible and we have to really prepare it in the language that we are using. So a lot of preparation is done, but before is like Mondays to
00:34:33
Speaker
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we have our language studies as well. But for after three years, it has already stopped. But it doesn't mean that we are very good at it. We are still struggling. Very challenging. Yeah, struggling with the language. Especially for us, it's like, for James, we Filipinos can speak like four languages normally. Yeah. And dialects in the Philippines. And you add Khmer,
00:35:03
Speaker
We call it Kamai here. And also the grammar is so... The construction of a grammar is like in English, it's a beautiful girl. But when you say it in Kamai, it becomes girl beautiful. When you translate it more, it's like...
00:35:22
Speaker
So really like a preparation really is a bit longer. And also the writing is not the same as letter A, B, C, but they have another kind of writing. It's like a Chinese character, but they also have a Cambodian character. So it's really the preparation time is really like so long.
00:35:44
Speaker
And we want to make sure that they understand what we are going to tell them. So we are facing our own laptops and we are making our own lessons, not talking to each other. So yeah, it's hard, but rewarding also that you would learn the language, especially when you're going to buy outside. Not choice.
00:36:09
Speaker
But we praise the Lord for the busy schedules, but it's not just the incesting stream. And I'm pretty sure people are already commending you for it, but I want to personally say that we've been blessed with your life and ministry in Cambodia.
00:36:24
Speaker
We see your posts and your YouTube channels. And even though I don't understand, I watch it. I watch it sometimes. But we see that God is working in the ministry and we're really praying that it continues to grow that way. And do you have a goal for Cambodia ministry, maybe five or 10 years from now?
Five-Year Ministry Plan in Cambodia
00:36:47
Speaker
What's the vision? Last year, we have launched our five year master plan because here in Cambodia,
00:36:54
Speaker
We already have the national leadership. So together with our Cambodian leaders, we launched last year, our five-year master plan. So last year, the target was to complete our constitution and bylaws since it's written in English because it's in English first. So we completed it and translated it also in Cambodian language.
00:37:20
Speaker
And this year our target really is to be registered with the government. And last year we affiliated our church organization to a big umbrella group. It's Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia. They are registered with the government. They are the ones who helped us renew our visa for one year. We don't have any problem with that anymore. So we are already recognized and
00:37:48
Speaker
Our application was only accepted and approved. So they will be helping us also in registering with the government. So that's our target for this year. For next year, 2022, our target is to establish two new local churches, Lord Wheeling.
00:38:07
Speaker
Yes. That's our target. Then in 2023, to buy a property here in Phnom Penh City in the capital. So that will be used as the headquarters and like a Bible training center or like a Bible school. And the last year of the five year master plan, 2024, our target is to start the Bible training center.
00:38:32
Speaker
And perhaps during that time we could be able to train and equip leaders also that can be part of the teaching staff. Nice. That's really nice. Wow. Let's pray for that. That's a big goal to have and only by His grace that we can do it. We also have here in Bagaq, we also have different ministries we're praying for. And please keep posting because that's the only way we get updated. Sure.
00:38:57
Speaker
And yes, so it's really nice to see people working, like dedicating their lives to the Lord, no, 100%. And I just wanted to let you know that we are blessed by your lives and we praise God for using you as an example for the ministry, for the mission.
Preparing for Missionary Work
00:39:13
Speaker
Now, what's your advice for the younger generation who are probably thinking about giving their lives for the ministry or joining the mission work in the future, going to the regions beyond? What do they need to prepare for?
00:39:27
Speaker
And maybe how important is it for them to have a partner with the same God as you? One thing that I can really suggest and I hope that the younger generation will do is that just enjoy the journey where God has put you. Be faithful in the ministry where you are right now. God has planted you, be faithful in that. And if God has called you to be in the mission field, He will let you know that and He will impress it in your heart and no one can really force you
00:39:57
Speaker
to be in the mission field, but only God can put that in your heart. So wherever you are or what ministry you are right now, be faithful in that ministry. And soon if God calls you in the mission field, then it will not be hard for you to identify that this is a calling for God. For me, what really convinced me like to my bone
00:40:22
Speaker
When I have learned statistics that around 50,000 people are dying every day without hearing even once the name of Jesus. And when we go back to Philippians chapter two verse, I think that's eight, nine, and ten, like every knee will bow every time confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. So it's like right now there are still a lot of tribes or languages or people groups. We call it people groups.
00:40:52
Speaker
even one person is not yet a Christian in the people group. Meaning there are still a lot of dialects, people groups, tribes, or maybe in some countries that God's glory has not been declared yet in those places. The reality is that God's mission work or the task ahead is still great. So we really need more manpower. It's really a personal calling.
00:41:22
Speaker
because I know there are some people that also like trying to become one, but it's really God's calling. And that's what Agapi said. Just be faithful in what you're doing right now in your area of influence in the ministry. There's really no big or small ministry. Where God has put you right now, just be faithful. If the Lord wills, your giftings will be used in a cross-cultural setting. God will really impress it in your heart.
00:41:51
Speaker
But the reality is that we really need more people to be in the mission field because the work here in the mission field is still big, still great. Here in Cambodia, for example, out of 16,200,000 population, 95% are still Buddhist. 95%. Those who are associated with Christianity, around 3%.
00:42:18
Speaker
but those who are really active and involved in the church ministries and activities, it's just around 2%. So could you imagine just very small percentage? Yes, there are challenges, but we are so happy right now what we have been seeing so far that more Cambodians are not just participating, but also leading in the Christian movement here in Cambodia. So this is just Cambodia. How about those other countries that
00:42:46
Speaker
more than 95% are still Buddhist and even just other than that. So meaning the work is still big, but just be faithful in where you are. And if the Lord wills, He will call you for missions.
00:43:03
Speaker
Wow, that's really good. Thank you so much for your time today. That ends up this episode. Thank you so much for Pastor James and Mama Agape. I know you're busy, but you spent this time for me and I really appreciate that. If people want to reach out to you, how can they find you? Know more about the ministry in Cambodia. They can contact us anytime through Messenger, Facebook.
00:43:28
Speaker
I'm not sure with the phone number, but maybe for nowadays online or social media is a much better communication line. So they can contact us directly through our Facebook or messenger. And our minister here in Cambodia have a Facebook page also named Cambodia Grace Gospel Church.
Connecting with the Ministry Online
00:43:51
Speaker
It's a Facebook page.
00:43:53
Speaker
And for our local church, we have a Cambodia Grace Gospel Church, city central ministries if you want to look for updates in those. And we have a YouTube account also for the ministry here in Cambodia. It's called Kamai Connect. It's spelled as K-H-M-E-R, space connect.
00:44:14
Speaker
So you can find us also on YouTube. All this time I thought that's come here or it's come by. Come by. Come by. Yeah, come by. For story, let's end this with a prayer. Can you lead us in prayer? It was a really nice conversation. Thank you. Before I pray, thank you, Mamilin, for this opportunity of sharing our life and love story.
00:44:41
Speaker
And mission journey. Yes. And thank you for those who will be listening to this podcast, especially those mission partners of ours from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for your partnership, for your faithfulness in praying and supporting God and God's mission. And God's mission is here in Cambodia. We really appreciate it. Let's pray. Lord, thank you because you are a faithful God.
00:45:09
Speaker
We know there are times that we are weak and even there are times that we have not been faithful to you. But we thank you because your character never changes. It's who you are. You are a faithful God. And we thank you because that's also one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, faithfulness. Lord, help us that we will be faithful also, not just only to you, but faithful in
00:45:40
Speaker
in service, faithful in our married life, faithful with our partners, faithful in finances, faithful in whatever things that you have entrusted to us. So we thank you, Lord, for the different opportunities and privileges that you have provided in front of us so that we can participate in what you are already doing in the world today, especially in declaring your glory among the nations.
00:46:09
Speaker
And we just want to thank you, Lord, that despite there's still COVID matters. But we thank you for your goodness and your grace, that you have sustained our needs. You have supplied us good health. And we thank you for this ministry of family together with the whole family. Thank you, Lord, that there's this online avenue of sharing
00:46:38
Speaker
with one another, encouraging one another. We pray for the ministries in Badan, especially through a GBI bagat. We are so glad and so happy with all the things that has been done there with your people. Thank you for those new churches, the ministries that our pastors, Bible women, the Bible students are involved with.
00:47:06
Speaker
We pray for you, Lord, to continue to guide them and bestow upon them your grace and goodness and that their needs will also be supplied. Thank you, Lord, for all of these things. We pray for safety for everyone. As we know, there's still a list of going out or maybe being exposed to someone who have COVID. But we just pray, Lord, for your guidance.
00:47:35
Speaker
protect us and all our family members and our brothers and sisters in Christ. And we just want to entrust to you, Lord, all the things that we desire, we want it to happen, our goals in life. We just want to entrust it to you, Lord, because we know that it's only us. There's really no way that we could be able to achieve all of this. That's why we are entrusting it to you, Lord, because we want to
00:48:05
Speaker
give to you the glory and the honor and the praise. So thank you for today, Lord, and thank you for this opportunity. It's fun, and we hope that it will be fruitful. Other slides will be encouraged and will be blessed. Thank you, and in Jesus' name we give thanks and we pray. Amen.
00:48:24
Speaker
Amen. And that's a wrap. I am so grateful and blessed to have the opportunity to talk to the Bermejos and learn about their relationship and life as missionaries. May we all be encouraged to continue living each day of our lives, glorifying God, God alone. After all, that's the only thing that counts.
00:48:47
Speaker
Hope you enjoyed today's episode. Sign up to my newsletter so you're notified of my next podcast at www.abovepreciousroobies.com or follow me via Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, YouTube, and other channels.
00:49:03
Speaker
Today's Bible reading is found in 1 Corinthians 13, verses 1-3, 8-10, and verse 13. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
00:49:23
Speaker
And though I have all faith so that I can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love never fails, but whether there are prophecies, they will fail. Whether there are tongues, they will cease. Whether there is knowledge, they will vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part,
00:49:53
Speaker
But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. And now, by death, faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these, is love. Find out on the next episode of Above Rupees Podcast. Let's talk about parenting while working from home with one of my colleagues at Zencaster, someone I consider my podcast coach, Sunny Galt.