Koh Kong is a coastal province in southwest Cambodia, known for its natural beauty, including the Cardamom Mountains, mangrove forests, and Tatai Waterfall. It borders Thailand and plays a key role in trade and tourism, primarily through the Cham Yeam border crossing.
Post-Covid-19 Challenges
After the Covid-19 pandemic, many people in Koh Kong faced job losses, forcing them to migrate for laborer’s work in other countries. This led to family separations and a rise in school dropouts as youth left to support their families. Churches also struggled, losing members and seeing reduced youth and spiritual activities due to economic hardship.
Our focus in this province was to equip and encourage local pastors to remain faithful in prayer and committed to serving their churches. Aware of their unique challenges and limited resources, we carefully provided five key DPM books: Will You Intercede?; Authority and Power of God’s Word; The Power of the Sacrifice; Hear God’s Voice, and Faith and Works. Each book was chosen to deepen their understanding of God’s truth and to remind them that genuine faith is lived out through action. Through these lessons, pastors were encouraged to trust in God’s provision, walk in obedience, and continue their ministry with boldness. Even under challenging circumstances, God is faithful to strengthen and guide those who are willing to serve Him with both heart and hands.
A total of 45 pastors from various villages and districts attended the seminar. Some woke up before dawn and traveled long distances—even crossing the sea from remote islands—driven by a deep hunger for spiritual growth. Though many arrived on empty stomachs, their hearts were full of expectation, eager to be filled with God’s Word, encouragement, and fellowship.
As they gathered, their faces lit up with joy, and they warmly greeted one another with smiles and open arms. We welcomed them with early morning snacks before the program began, and soon everyone joined together in heartfelt worship. It was a beautiful reminder that despite challenges, God unites His people with a shared passion to grow in faith and serve His Kingdom.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
This scripture ties in perfectly with the lessons from Derek’s book Faith and Works and beautifully reminds us that salvation is a gift from God, not something we can earn through our efforts. It also teaches us that while good works are essential, they flow from genuine faith, not as a way to earn God’s favor, but as a response to His grace.
Pastor Sarah’s Testimony: Understanding Faith and Works
I am genuinely grateful to God for the many lessons we learned today through Derek Prince’s book. Every lesson was valuable, but the one that had the most impact on me was Faith and Works. Previously, although I believed in Jesus Christ, I struggled to understand the relationship between faith and works fully. Many different teachings had left me confused. I tried hard to be righteous before God, but my efforts only led to self-condemnation and doubt. At times, I even questioned my salvation.
However, after studying Faith and Works, my understanding became clear. I now know that we are saved by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. Works do not save me, but they are the natural response to true faith. Good works are meant to glorify God, express my gratitude, and lead me into a life of blessing, not as a burden or requirement for salvation. This truth has set me free, and I am committed to sharing it with others. I will use this lesson to teach many Christians in Koh Kong province so they, too, can experience the assurance of salvation and the joy of living out their faith in the right way.
