CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
THE events of Dec 21, 2008 brought great joy to the hearts of all present – and I think to God’s heart as well!
The COS Children’s Village (COSI – supported mainly by Bedok Methodist Church, Pentecost Methodist Church and other Methodist individuals) and the Emmaus Women’s Centre held a combined Christmas celebration. Emmaus is supported mainly by the General Conference Women’s Society of Christian Service and other Methodist individuals from Singapore.
The COSI children presented a dramatisation of the birth of Christ, and the Emmaus girls performed a modern dance of worship. A visiting team from Evangel Christian Church in Singapore gave a Christmas message during the Sunday morning service.
Making this Christmas celebration all the more memorable was a baptism service that followed. It was a glorious, sunny afternoon as the congregation walked together from the Emmaus Chapel to a large lake nearby.
Methodist Pastor Sem Samoeun baptised 57 people by immersion: 27 from COSI (23 children and four house parents), 24 from Emmaus, and six from the village of Angsnoul. Every face shone with the joy that came from knowing Jesus Christ as his or her personal saviour!
The COSI children and house parents received Bibles from missionary Carol Loh to honour this blessed event. Ms Carol Ong, missionary in charge of Emmaus, presented each young woman with a necklace bearing a wooden cross.
As Ms Ong observed, “it was truly a day of rejoicing as we celebrated the birth of Christ and the baptism of our Cambodian brothers and sisters.
“We were reminded that the purpose of His coming was to give His life that all might be saved.”
Indeed, there was rejoicing in heaven as these 57 children, youths and adults declared their faith and commitment to God.
STORY AND PICTURE BY TERESA WILBORN in PHNOM PENH
Teresa Wilborn, a Methodist Missions Society Associate Missionary, is a member of Aldersgate Methodist Church.