Photo: The Rev. Gerry Schnackenberg (r), John Roberts and several young lay leaders from Christ Our Peace church.

As the sun set on Sunday, February 12, 2006, elder Bob Sarchet and The Reverend Gerry Schnackenberg of Epiphany Anglican Fellowship in Colorado departed on a long journey to visit the Anglican Church of Christ Our Peace (CCOP) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Three years ago John and Sheryl Roberts felt called by God to go to Cambodia on mission. While working there they fell in love with the Anglican Church of Christ our Peace and Pastor WaiMong Mok and his wife MeeWha of the Anglican Church of Southeast Asia. They joined the church with their seven children and began to share in the leadership and ministry of this vibrant body.

In the summer of 2005, the Roberts returned to Colorado (to give birth to twin daughters) and began worshiping with some of their vast extended family at Epiphany Anglican Fellowship (their home church in Colorado had since disbanded). Epiphany became their sending church, supporting them through Mission to Unreached People, their mission agency. So amazingly, the Roberts brought together two churches across the globe, both under the leadership of then Archbishop Yong Ping Chung of Southeast Asia. The Most Reverend John Chew is now their Archbishop and their Bishop as they are a mission of the Diocese of Singapore.

Our EVA flight to Taipai was delayed by snow in New York, so Bob and I arrived a day late. This required a full day of rerouting through Bangkok.

Once on the ground in Phnom Penh, we entered right into the life and ministry of the Roberts and the church they serve. We first visited a hospital with a special wing set apart for those suffering from AIDS and tuberculosis. The lay leaders of CCOP, John Roberts, two young Khmer ladies and a senior English woman walked confidently to the bedside of several different patients and began to simply listen to their stories and share the hope of Jesus with them. They responded humbly and with large smiles at the suggestion that we might pray with them. As we bowed our heads, they clasped their hands and held them up in front of their faces with eyes closed in expectant prayer. As we departed, they smiled in deep appreciation for the compassion and prayer. We visited several more patients, then left praying for God’s mercy, and that they might have felt and known His presence with them.

The next day we visited a Khmer “youth” prison. Over sixty boys and girls are housed in a facility with stark concrete walls inside and out, broken down plastic and wooden chairs on bare concrete floors with tin roofs. The youth were guilty of the usual sort of crimes of stealing, disorderly conduct and more serious offenses. They were sentenced to years in prison and had little to keep them “entertained.” We joined with Prison Fellowship in teaching them English as a Second Language and provided one of the few highlights of the week for them… especially Bob and me “teaching” when we had no training to do so. They did get some good laughs if nothing else, and seemed to enjoy the visit immensely.

Other visits included an impromptu Bible “camp” in a village on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, and a stop at two “micro-enterprises” (producing brown sugar from palm fruit and furniture from bamboo) bringing hope that the churches in Cambodia may one day be self supporting. And of course we visited two of the eight congregations in Cambodia: one Khmer and one International English.

The eight congregations are in five churches: two in Phnom Penh, and three in outlying provinces. The other five congregations include three more Khmer congregations and two Chinese congregations. There is an amazing diversity in culture and language. There were people representing at least fifteen different countries among the 65 people present at the international service!

Another highlight for us was an unexpected and secret visit from two Chinese Christians. They are part of the Chinese underground church that is responding to a prophetic call of God to evangelize all of Asia in the 10/40 Window from Vietnam to Jerusalem! They spent several days with us and explained the passion they have for sharing the Good News of Jesus with all people. It was their specific mission to “spy out the Land” like Caleb… looking for opportunities to have some sort of business that Chinese Christians could be involved in as they share the Good News. What a joy to visit first hand with these devoted men of God, to hear their stories and share with them in worship and prayer.

The Roberts have dedicated their lives to serving the Lord in Cambodia. They love the Khmer people and the members and leaders of the Church of Christ Out Peace. Please hold them in your prayers as they serve the King of Kings and as we partner with them in this mission.

In Jesus Joy and Peace,
The Reverend Gerry Schnackenberg
Senior Missionary Pastor
Epiphany Anglican Fellowship
Northern Front Range of Colorado

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