Intentional Discipleship
“Discipleship is a long obedience in the same direction.” —Eugene Peterson.
How can I be a better disciple of Jesus in this trying season of life? I pray every day for God’s wisdom and guidance so I can be a better discipler to others. I pray to obey and know Him more, and then He leads me to the cross. Tears of gratitude, I am in awe of His grace and mercy. I have to be a disciple of Jesus Christ first and foremost in prayer, compassion, and humility. Recently, His Word in the Gospel books and Acts has brought me into another level of intimacy with Jesus. At 46, a single missionary has been in the field for at least 13 years now, with weaknesses in life, and yet He gives me a vision for intentional and genuine discipleship more than before. The call to discipleship is a call to live an extraordinary life - an extraordinary life that is rooted in an intimate relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ--Pastor Edmund Chan. Jesus' often invitation was, "Follow me." And if there is one thing that I know this far, it is following Jesus with an intimate relationship with Him daily, both privately and publicly. Jesus Christ perfectly modeled this to us. This global crisis has brought me into a deeper relationship with God. I need Jesus every day and every minute of my life and ministry. O how I longed for His presence and promises. Thus, by the grace of God, going back to intentional and genuine discipleship, I must surrender my whole life and future—giving in to the will of God, with a faithful, grateful, and righteous life. May I continue to obey and learn from HIM. Praise and glory to God alone.
Sunday School Teacher’s Training at Shine center
with the help of Myra, a friend missionary, and with Kanhchany, Freedom’s
Promise (FP) leader who has asked me to do this training for their village
teachers. 8 young teachers were equipped and delighted in this one-day
training at Shine center. They testified how blessed they are during the
evaluation. In return, I am also encouraged to know that they are all doing
well in their teaching ministry.
September 11—MaYa and MaChan‘s salvation. They believe and receive the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The desire to know God is evident as they spend time every day reading the Bible. Ma Ya, 35 years old, single, has testified that before she hates when she heard people talking about Jesus and the Bible. But now she’s enjoying the relationship with Jesus and reading the Bible every day. The two are grateful to God for the new life they have in Jesus. They become more effective in their job as housemothers of 29 young girls, attested by their NGO manager, Leakhena.
Mentoring time with Kanhchanchy and Leakhena, who are managers in two different Christian International NGO's on
Cambodia’s PaChhumben holiday went physical. These two young beautiful ladies have encouraged me to cycle with them to
Banun Mountain. We cycled for at least 52 kilometers and it took us almost five
hours back and forth. I couldn’t imagine myself doing it but God sustained
me. It was my first time to cycle that far in a day. This was really a
different level of discipleship because it was beyond what I can do and what I
prefer to do on a holiday. However, a wonderful moment of empowerment and
encouragement took place in this method as we shared together with our life’s
experiences and spiritual journey with God. Early morning that day, God’s
message to me was to believe because I doubted myself.
Shine cell group monthly fellowship is a venue where we gather unbelievers to establish relationships. Savin is a social worker of a non-Christian NGO. Her self-esteem is very low. She is 28 years old and single. She was introduced to me by a friend. Savin has joined the Shine cell group fellowship for two consecutive months now. Last week after our cell group fellowship, she asked me to stay a bit longer. I was tired and a bit late in the evening already but the Holy Spirit just prompted me to allow her to stay. She started to share her life struggles at work and family and asked about the message I shared during the cell group fellowship, her doubts, and her fears in life. I knew then why the Lord wants her to stay. She asked more about Jesus Christ, who is really he? However, it was really late already, she decided to leave but with a promise that she will come again and learn more about Jesus. Now, she is very excited about joining our upcoming cell group Christmas fellowship.
Sopheak, Sreylen, and Sreylis are faithfully attending our Bible study class. As the relationship grows deeper, these three
would even come to the center aside from their Bible study hour just to hang
out at the center. They came, before or after their school classes. Their
parents allowed them to come to the center. What a change! After our food
fellowship at the kitchen, I asked them some questions on what they think about
Jesus Christ. They were honest in telling me the doubts in their hearts but
they want to know more. Note, these three now are helping in the food and cleaning
or set up preparations at the center when we have our monthly cell group
fellowship. They stayed at the center, almost the whole day with permission
from their parents. Recently, they helped me make our personalized Christmas
tree. Sreylis, while wrapping our Christmas gift box, have some moments also
that I believed was from the Holy Spirit. She wants to stay more at the center
rather than going out with her friends.
Daneth brings her school friend, Lina to the Shine center and I started to spend time with these two after they practice a Christmas dance for almost two months now. We have a very good time sharing about their school experiences, likes, and dislikes, struggles as grade 12 students; their national examination is fast approaching on January 16, 2021. The date was changed thrice already because of the pandemic. This is another opportunity to share about God and to pray for both of them every after their dance practice. Yesterday, as I shared Proverbs 3:5-6 on trusting the Lord with all heart, the Holy Spirit convicted Lina and she received Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She went home last night with joy that she is now the daughter of God! Praise the Lord for He is mighty to save. God is good.
Praise and glory to the Lord for providing good opportunities in this trying season time. He blessed me with a good opportunity to be equipped more through online classes and seminars. I finished the 3 months online class at BTCCGST on Healthy Emotionally Woman and Singapore IDMC Whole-life Discipleship two-day conference. The sleepless nights because of classes and assignments were worth it. God knows the desires of my heart and He honors them. Above all, I rejoice in the Lord for providing my needs in the field this 2020. I am fully supported despite the global crisis! Hallelujah to the Lord Almighty! Thank you so much for your faithful partnership!
Dara is about to give birth this month, she celebrated her 24th birthday with
her aunty Savy last December 7. I baked a chocolate cake and banana muffins. The celebration was simple as we pray for God’s
blessing and ate the cake with Dara’s family.
Please pray for…
1. Shine cell group monthly Christmas fellowship
on December 26. His Word will be conveyed well. Fairweather, receptive hearts
as the Holy Spirit convicts, and preparations. We have a recycled making star
contest and exchanging gifts. These are new to the majority of the few contacts
who will be joining. Dec 25, village Christmas celebration of Freedom's Promise ministry to
which I am invited by Kanhchany to be part of the celebration.
2. Spiritual growth of Ma Ya and Ma Chan, Lina, my
sister in the Philippines and brother-in-law, Merly & Alex with good health
as they're going to the dialysis center twice or thrice a week.
3. Salvation of Sopheak, Sreylen, Sreylis,
Savin, Mariya, Bunhab, & Lina
4. Intentional discipleship and mentoring
time with Singim, Dara, Leakhena, Kanhchany, Vorleak, Kimseng & Panha,
Daneth, Sophea (quality time with them, I meet them once or twice a week
individually).
5. Strength, good health, protection, and
intimacy with God in His Word and Prayer to Shine's team-I and Singim.
6. Wisdom from the Holy Spirit. God surprised me with the recent election of Evangelical Fellowship Cambodia (EFC), provincial leadership team. It was my first time to join an EFC Pastors and leaders gathering and they voted me to be part of the leadership team. Please pray that God will accomplish His purpose in giving me this opportunity with responsibility among the Pastors from different churches in the northwest of Cambodia.
7. Dara’s safe delivery and provision. She is expected to give birth in mid-December.
"As I express my gratitude to
you all, I must never forget that the highest appreciation is belongs to our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord, for keeping me and for providing
my needs here in missions this 2020 through your faithful children. From the
bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!”
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Glory is all HIS.
In
Christ,
Mary Jane G. Aragon
BSOP
Cambodia missionary
https://mjaragonbsop.blogspot.com
P.O. 369 Box
Battambang City, Kingdom of Cambodia
+855770305008
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