Happy New Year! 2007 has definitely been an exciting year for our family. As we look back, we have much to be grateful for. We hope and trust that, by God’s grace, we accomplished our goal this year of “Spreading the Sweet Aroma of Christ in Cambodia.” We are truly thankful to God for helping us to minister without our teammates this past year. It has definitely been a growing experience for us in many ways. At the same time, we are excited that our teammates will be returning on January 14. Over the next two months, we will be switching places with them as we return to the States at the end of February. Our teammates and our family haven’t seen our newest joy—Susanna! We can’t wait to share her with them!

Since we arrived back in Cambodia on November 5, we have had a full two months of ministering here as well as preparing for our upcoming furlough. Let me share some of the highlights and give each of you some matters for prayer:

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2. Evangelistic Christmas Outreach in Anlong Vul—On December 16, the entire Inheritance in Christ Church went down to the countryside village of Anlong Vul, where Ming Khom lives, to hold a Khmer-style Christmas program. In order to do this event according to the church’s financial ability, they limited their invitations to those near Ming Khom’s house who had expressed some interest in learning more about Jesus. With the entire church from Preiy Nyee (about 25 or so) as well as the guests in AV (about 25 or so), the Lord gave them a wonderful time celebrating the birth of Christ. I had the opportunity to preach over a loudspeaker for about 20 minutes. I focused their thoughts on the reasons why Christian people like to celebrate Jesus’ birth, even though it is not commanded in Scripture to do so. I told them, using Luke 2 and Rom 15, that Jesus’ birth brings true and lasting joy, peace, and hope to all peoples. In the program some members sang, read Scripture, and one lady gave a short testimony. It was a great bonding time for the church folks in PN as well as for Ming Khom. The seed now has been sown (through evangelism this past year) and now watered (through this outreach). We are praying now for a harvest in God’s timing!
3. Wandering Sheep—After returning from Thailand, I have had to spend time visiting and admonishing some members of ICC who have been wandering. I would like to ask your prayer for three men: Pisut, who has been mentioned in many prayers letters, continues in his lifestyle of drunkenness. Just last week, two men from the church came with me to confront him. He has promised to repent and start fresh with the New Year. Please pray, if Pisut is truly a child of God, that he will be controlled by the Holy Spirit instead of alcohol (Eph 5:18). Layda and Pros, two teenage boys who were baptized earlier this year, have been struggling spiritually and have experienced persecution from their family. I have gone to their houses many times to encourage them to put Christ first in their life. This is a test of their commitment to being a true disciple of Jesus.
4. Upcoming Wedding in Preiy Nyee—I would like to ask you to begin praying about a big event coming up in the church in Preiy Nyee. Two members, Phuek and Prum, will be getting married after Forrest arrives back from the States. They hope to have the wedding in February since Forrest and I will both be here in Pursat. This wedding will be a joyful occasion in the life of the church but it will also be a testing time. All Buddhist weddings serve alcohol and it is a big time for people to drink and get drunk. Unfortunately even recent “Christian” weddings in Pursat have done the same. Khmais, in general, don’t think weddings are “sabai” (happy) without alcohol. Since people generally give money as wedding gifts and since many may not be interested in coming if alcohol is not served, this will undoubtedly lead to a great loss of money for the family as well. Phuek was saved this past year but his entire family is unsaved and they want alcohol at the wedding. Prum’s family are all members of ICC. Her father is Aun, who still hasn’t had complete victory over alcohol himself. Aun knows that serving alcohol at the wedding would be a great sin against God and a bad testimony for Christ. This wedding will definitely cause ripples not only with the unsaved but also with those who profess salvation. We will need special grace to handle this situation in both a culturally and biblically appropriate fashion. Please begin to pray about this.
5. Transition Time for our Team—We would covet your prayers for our team over the next two months as we switch places. Forrest’s health is still not 100% and he will need wisdom in adjusting back to life in Pursat. Our family still has many details to work on in preparation for this first furlough. Thankfully most of our furlough meetings are scheduled. Please pray for our entire team, both adults and children, during these next two months of transition.

We trust each of you had a wonderful Christmas season. What a joy it is to spread our joy in Christ to all the peoples of the world! You are helping us to do this by your prayers.

Until the net is full,

Chris for the Seawright family