Elder Jamey Tucker and I were first introduced to Chuob Sopheap in November 2007 at our conference in Phnom Penh. We both remembered him as very intent on the lessons that we taught, and he seemed to have a good deal of understanding of the Bible and the message of Sovereign Grace.
Home and Meeting House for Brother Sopheap
We again met him during our teaching in October 2008 at the training session near Siem Reap. At that time, Brother Sopheap, along with 13 other church leaders, expressed his belief in Primitive Baptist doctrine and his desire to reset his ministry and church experience based upon his new understanding. He was baptized in the West Baray near Siem Reap on October 1, 2008.
Pailin Conference Attendees
Rachel and I were blessed to finally visit Pailin City in January 2009, and met in Sopheap’s home at that time. We were with the ministers and members for only one day and a half, but in that time, they each became very special to us and I have looked forward to resuming ministry in their community.
After our return from Bangkok and release from quarantine, Dara and I were finally able to schedule a visit to Pailin on August 12-14. The scheduled services began on Thursday morning and concluded on Friday at 12 noon.
My text for Thursday morning’s introductory message was John 5:39“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eteranl life; and they are they which testify of me” coupled with Luke 24:25-27 “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” I attempted to show how Jesus Christ is the subject of the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments. It is important for us as Christians, and particularly as ministers of the word, to search the Old Testament scripture as well as the New, in order to have a full understanding of all that God has revealed to us of himself.
In subsequent messages I attempted to present the Old Testament types, figures, promises and prophecy of Christ as found in the accounts of Adam and Eve, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22.
Friday morning, I preached for more than 2 hours on the qualifications and responsibilities of the Pastor and Teacher. The congregation remained very alert and attentive, and seemed to express genuine conviction and understanding of the gravity of the responsibilities being addressed.
The final message was an overview of Old Testament prophecy, eschatology and prophetic interpretation (sorry, the digital recorder malfunctioned so this message is lost to posterity).
Brother Sopheap with his new motorbike.
We were also blessed with the ability to purchase a used Suzuki motorbike for Brother Sopheap to enable him to better travel and preach the gospel in his area.
Please pray for God’s blessings on the 14 congregations that were represented at this meeting and for their leaders as they study God’s word and continue to grow in knowledge and understanding.
In love,
Joseph Weyel
