Kachan Praising Church

Life before Believe Jesus
My name is VOEUN RAVY. I was born on January 28th 1990 in Sorin Province, Thailand. 

In 1992 my parent moved to Batambong province,  Cambodia then in 1995 we moved to Ratankiri Province which is my parent home town. My family and I are tribal people. We are farmers, planting rice on the hill and hunting.

My family believe in half Buddha and half tribal religion( treat demon as god or helper and practice Brahma way).

I have six siblings, 3 elder brothers, an elder sister and a younger sister. I grew up and lived in Ochum district, about 10km far from Banlung town, Ratanakiri. During my time it so far because of the road not good like this day, muddy, slide, dusty, mountain up and down. This day half  hour or 20 minutes can reach the town.
Until 2002, Ratanakiri province have only one high school in the town. Every district there aren’t any high school or secondary school. So all the students who finished primary have to come to the town. Some family they rent the house for their children in the town. Some family they have their relative in the town so their children can stay with.  Some poor people no place to stay just stop study(my brother also stopped), only who live in the town have much chance for study. Luckily, in 2002 government build a dormitory in the town high school for the students from all the district. So I am the first generation of dormitory student.

My brother decided to re-study so he studied the same class with me. We lived in the dom together in 2002 we have to learn to live by ourselve. 2005 was the sad year. I and my brother have to pass grade 9 for enter the high school.  But this year my family met bad situation. My father and my mother decided to divorce. My mother moved to another place. My father live another place I and my brother live in the school dom. It really impact to my study. 

In 2006 my brother decided sadly to give up his study because our family situation. 

 

God set the plan to choose me
In 2007 one of my roommate introduce me about English school which study according through Hong Kong school. This school will bring the student to visit Kampongsom once a year if we attend the Sunday service. So I was very interested. My purpose were number 1 English, number2 visit other province number3 school fee is lesser. Then I went with him. I met Pastor Borya Banabas and his wife teacher Esther. They taught me English book after that English through the bible. I don’t know when I decide to believe Jesus. I just attend the Sunday service and English bible class. Then I invited my roommate  to join English bible class because it free they also follow me. we were happy.
In 2008 was the year I decide to believe in Jesus and also disappointed and angry Jesus. One day Pastor Borrya bring me and my friend to village 4, Kachanh commune for evangelism just to see how to evangelize. After finished he ask us do we want to believe and received Jesus as our savior. I and my friend said “ yes” then he prayed for us. From that day I decide strongly that I follow Jesus.

I become a church member of Ratanakiri Love Church. I attend Sunday service never missed, English bible class regularly. I had learn a lot about God through Pastor Borya and teacher Esther. I start to serve God by go for evangelism, teaching children and cleaning the church. I also study for my high school final exam. That years I ask God two important things. One I asked Jesus to reconcile my father and mother back. I really want them to live together again. Two I ask Jesus to help me to pass my high school exam at the end of the year. If I pass I will go for law colleague in abroad country, because I want to be a lawyer because I think that it’s cool and get a lot of money.  There was an organization in Ratanakiri want to help indigenous student.

Unfortunately, the result came up all my friend are passed but I failed. I was very sad and shameful.  My friend were shock of my result because they know my study rank, I help them in teaching many main subjects after the school. They could not believe that I failed. I was so shameful and so upset with God. My wish was gone; I want to give up my faith on Him. My brother and friend encourage me to do re-exam on the next year but I couldn’t think anything just sad. However I still continued to go to church, helping the church through teaching English for the small kids with discourage doubting about God’s will. One Sunday after service, Pastor Borya announce about 1st Revival Camp in Kampongsom. Anyone want to join the revival camp have to register beforehand. So I decide to join because I want to see Shihanoukville because I never go there and it also make me release from my sadness too. Travelling day came we were on the bus, we departed early morning crossing from province to province till dark evening could reach Phnom Penh I was excited to see tall building which is strange from my province. Next morning we departed to shihanoukvile. When we reached KBS I feel strange with the way of KBS student act to us are very friendly, kindly and respectfully as we ever meet before. During 3 day of Revival Camp I was happy to see many Christian from all province, pastor Borya brough us to the sea. I thought that may be God have another plan for me and want to serve God instead of angry God. Because I saw the preacher stand on the state in front of many people I feel it cool and I want to do like them.
After came back from 1st Revival Camp Pastor Borya ask me and my friend do we want to study Theology at KBS for 3-4 years we will have more privilege to serve Him. If we study, well we also have some chance to study abroad. I thought that “ Oh this is my opportunity to run away from my shame, if I still stay in my province I feel shy my friends. If I go I can study English and bible may be can be a preacher and if  I study well I can go to other country.” So I decided to go to Kampongsom Bible School with my friend. 

 

God’s Test and Result
There was a faith test for me after decided. My mom health become not so well I feel want to take care her, then one of my English classmate want me to work in an organization with him as his assistant at the same time. 

If I agree I can have 400$/month for first 3 months(that time this amount was a higher amount for assistant staff). It made me feel depressed which way should I choose. Bible School also good, earning money and look after my mother also good. One Sunday come my pastor preach about  “SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD… ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADD UNTO YOU” So I know which way should I choose. I pray Oh Lord I will go to KBS.
On April 29th 2009 I enter to KBS. There are a lot of things I meet and learn in KBS, hard time, happy, joys, sad, cry, pride, humble, shame, sometime want to give up but no by God’s grace. I graduated on August 2012. Then start ministry at Kachanh Praising Church formed from Pastor Borya and Brother Mesa. I got married on March 2013. My wife’s name SOK CHENDA. We have two sons, elder son name DAVID was born on January 23th 2014. Second son name JEDIDIAH was passed away.
Since August 2012 until this day we are doing three ministries:
1) Education ministry.

   We teach English, Music and Bible.

   We do evangelism through the class this ministry mostly able to reach only kids and youth.
2) Winter coat ministry(started 2020)

   It is the ministry that focus on winter season.

   We receive and collect the winter coat from who willingly to give to the poor.

   Last year both believer and unbeliever join with us to provide the coat to the villager

   then we gather them in one place share the gospel to approach old people.

   Through winter coat mission since January 2021 we have new 6 families are worshiping the Lord in new village.
3) Back Row Ministry

    It is the ministry mostly individual sharing gospel to all kind of people

    especially, unthinkable people, bagger, orphan, lonely people etc.

We encourage our church member and other believers who want to serve God give 1$/month into ministry for mission. Every months we will report in our ministry page about the budget, our activity according to the amount of donator. We ask for 1$/month because we don’t want to make donator be burden of donating and everyone able to join, even the kids, students or the poor also have this kind of amount to serve God through this ministry. We want this ministry become an organization for long term even our family promoted to glory it still continue by the next generation to help and share with the people all around the world. 

 

Illustration of my story
Through my story I see two things in me about His will.
1) God know what is in me and has exactly purpose and plan for my life which is the most value. I wanted to be a lawyer, but God know I could not because He know that I scared of talking with people, my mindset not flexible,

I can’t face with the big problem, my tongue slow to reply, my voice not so clear and heavy, impatience, easy to disappointed and more . So God change my way to KBS by using my failure, my shame. He want me to be His servant. He does not want me to serve the world but to serve him. He want to bless me to meet my wife. I have talk with my wife about two years ago about what she want to be before she went to KBS. She say she want to be a lawyer and she has a chance to study even to outside country. But God set the place for her and me have to meet in KBS. So God have exactly plane.
2)  What am I receive after decide to “SEEK YE FIRST…” 
   a.  In 2010 I pass my re-exam of high school without go to school.
   b.  In 2012 Having a place to stay and serve Him.
   c.  In 2013 I got married with a beautiful wife. She is a great lady which God give me.

       She’s friendly, smart, creative, brave and good communicate.

       All these good points she has but me is very less so God sent her for me for His glory.
   d.  In 2018 Jesus choose my mother to be His child. She serve the Lord at my second elder brother church.

       Even she’s old she happy to help the church by cooking, and gathering old people.
   e.  In 2020 my fourth elder brother also accepted Christ.
    f.  Even though my mother and father can still cannot reconcile

        but I feel more bless to see God choose my mother and brothers.
This is my briefly story life what I know and see the blessing through flesh eyes.
Thank you.

 

 

1. Worship and fellowship

 

2. Evangelism and Baptism

 

3. Sunday School and English class

4. Music team and Dancing team

5. Winter Coat and Back row ministry

6. Community outreach

7. Christmas

 

8. Pastor. Ravy's family