In these pictures, former FCOP administrative worker, Chomrong, is helping meet the needs of some local children in the small rural village where he lives. Chomrong worked for FCOP’s administrative office for over 10 years, in which time he married, learned valuable trade skills and is now starting to plow a path of being his own business owner. This is one of thousands of examples of how FCOP’s work the last 21 years has always looked towards sustainability models and practices to be situated for the future, as best as possible. This is why, from almost day one, church services and activities have been spearheaded and led by local Khmer leaders. Recently, we came across this definition of sustainability from a publication at Princeton University:

sustainability [ suh-stey-nuh-bil-i-tee ] noun. ecology a means of configuring civilization and human activity so that society, its members and its economies are able to meet their needs and express their greatest potential in the present, while preserving biodiversity and natural ecosystems, planning and acting for the ability to maintain these ideals for future generations. (Princeton University “About WordNet.” WordNet. Princeton University. 2010).

Now, let’s reread that last phrase again, “…planning and acting for the ability to maintain these ideals for future generations.” It could not be said any better and it’s pretty much parallel to what we’re taught in the Bible about a good tree bearing good fruit in Matthew 7. If we’re good at discipling, we’ll see generations continue to plant churches and lead the charge in seeing Cambodia for Christ.

One essential key in ‘maintaining these ideals for future generations’ is limiting distractions from healthy maturity as much as possible. From our vantage point, nothing is more destructive of sustainable growth than the constant use of smart phones by entitled youth. There is a whole lot to be said about being too poor and too rural to own a cell phone when you’re six! This is one thing that FCOP is quite good at! 

Chomrong was raised in one of FCOP’s church refuge centers with his sister and is now doing exactly what was done for him; helping care for children in need and spreading the Good News of Jesus. Now, that’s sustainability and the good fruit we love seeing!