Tag Archives: tithe

July Ministry Highlights

Posted on August 7, 2023 by Castaway Ministries, Inc.

Due to the sensitive nature of this ministry, some details, photos and videos have been removed from the below update that was sent to our prayer partners. Prayer Partners: Thank you for your steadfast support! Castaway Ministries’ mission statement is: “To share the gospel of Jesus Christ by word and deed in the U.S. and abroad.” In short, Evangelism & Discipleship: Win souls to Christ (Only Jesus saves; 1 Cor 3:6-7) by sharing the gospel message with the full counsel. Then, train up converts in the Bible. The aforementioned “deed” refers to good works done FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF winning souls to Christ. We are not a “make the world a better place” ministry. The Lord Jesus Christ did not commission believers to ‘go into all the world and be a good person.’ He commanded us to… “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”  Mark 16:15-16 Castaway Church – Tithing: Tithing is not an easy spiritual habit to form for many Cambodians coming out of Buddhism. Pastor of the church where I served in 2016, nearing retirement, spoke of tithing as if it is the mountain he continues to coax his congregation to climb. The Lord led me to tackle it in a sermon this month. The Lord of all Creation certainly does not need our money (Ps 50:10-12). Tithing is a test of faith, to trust the Lord with a portion of that which He has entrusted to us (Jam 1:17). Beyond what we can see, touch and feel, we trust the Lord to provide. He blesses obedience (Matt 6:33; Mal 3:8-10). Mature believers put action behind their faith, ‘put their money where their testimony is.’ Young believers were encouraged to put even a 2-cent equivalent into the offering, to begin the spiritual discipline of tithing, to jump from trusting the world into the arms of Almighty God. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Matthew 6:33 Missionary from Alaska Visits: An American missionary who serves in Christian education in Alaska visited the church. Here in Cambodia for the summer break, he is refreshing before heading back. Click here to watch a video of him teaching the kids a song in English => https://youtu.be/pHtH0yETfsg “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”  1 Thessalonians 5:11 Cambodia’s Equivalent of Amazing Grace: This video (https://youtu.be/D7Yu4hQoVZA) is a men’s trio at Castaway Baptist singing Cambodia’s version of Amazing Grace. By that, I mean that virtually every Cambodian, believer and unbeliever, knows it. K’deye Sneye roughly translates to “Love in Action.” It sings the gospel message. Praise the Lord! “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8 Breaking Fear of Asking Questions: Cambodian culture teaches to respect elders, which is great. Taking that a step further, Cambodians are also taught to obey without asking questions. Through Bible studies and a sermon on “Doubting Thomas,” the goal is to break that fear so that we can answer doubts with God’s Word and move forward with strong faith. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”  Proverbs 30:5 With coaching, older teach younger… “Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.”  Psalm 86:11 Helping Illiterate Youth Memorize Scripture: Every Sunday, there is a memory verse. Below, Bunsin speaks the verse to illiterate youth. They repeated back and forth until able to memorize and recite the verse. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  Psalm 119:11 Bible Art on Display: These kids love to color. Typically we wrap-up Sunday School with a double-sided worksheet. For example, on the front, is a coloring sheet that illustrates the lesson and on the back, an activity. Below is the back wall of the church displaying their artwork… “Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.”  Exodus 35:35 Out in the Field – Those Struggling with Substance Abuse: Around my spiritual birthday, the Lord often brings about ministry that reminds me where I came from by His grace. Husband/father of the home has been torn apart by his binge drinking. His believing wife confided privately that she has been strongly considering leaving him. I encouraged her to stay. When we first met in 2018, he did not take the call to repentance and faith / new life in Christ seriously. Many in the throes of addiction are not willing to surrender to the Lord until faced with dire consequences. Recently he has come down with gout and has been struggling financially. So this time, he took me seriously and read Scripture. First steps in new life for those climbing out of addiction are challenging, but with the indwelling Spirit of God, the born-again believer can make it. I painted a picture for him of what lay ahead on the narrow, difficult path – for example, that separation from past-life friends is required. Although he was not yet ready to surrender his life to Christ, we all prayed together. Please pray the Lord breaks R’s fear of trading the familiar comfort of alcohol for everlasting life, joy and peace in Christ. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23 Out in the Field – Those Struggling with Substance Abuse: “V” is a prodigal from a Christian home. I have known him for about four months. He and his wife were standing at an altar to false gods as he told me all religions are basically the same, that all roads lead to heaven. I corrected him, ‘The Lord Jesus Christ is the one true God who created the heavens and the earth, the one true God who loves you, who died for you, the only path to everlasting life in heaven. He will return to judge. All other gods, all other paths lead to everlasting hell.’ After directing them to Scripture and praying with them, he began repeating what I said as though he was aligned. Please pray that the Lord resurrects “V” to new life. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;”  Exodus 20:3-5 Out in the Field: Evangelizing the LGBTQ… “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”  2 Corinthians 5:20 Online Ministry – “S” from Serbia: Castaway’s online ministry continues to charge ahead by the Lord’s grace. There are many men around the world struggling with homosexual desires who are afraid to talk about it in their local churches. “S” from Serbia (the former Yugoslavia) reached out this month for encouragement and prayer. Praise the Lord! “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23 Ex-Gay Testimony, 2023: Please share this testimony with those who feel hopeless, that they have gone too far to be forgiven => https://youtu.be/-6IXPUuPmH8 Praise the Lord! “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”  Revelation 12:11 Any of us could die at any moment. Click Here to find out how you can know enduring peace, God’s purpose for your life and be sure you will go to heaven when your brief time on earth is up. Ways to Partner: 1. Pray for: – Conviction, eyes to see and ears to hear for the LGBTQ. – That seeds would bear fruit, that the Lord would raise up Cambodian evangelists. – Revival for the U.S. church – that we would stand for difficult truth in these days no matter what the cost. – Financial support to keep me in the field doing what I am called to do. 2. Click to Donate via PayPal (tax deductible)! PRAISE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!