Stewardship in Southeast Asia: Abundance in the Lord’s storehouse

Deaconess Neak Mao and ELCC President Vannarith Chhim at rice-storage facility.

by Leonardo Neitzel

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cambodia (ELCC) is aware of local financial challenges which might arise if it continues to rely solely on external funding for its mission and ministry. ELCC’s President, Rev. Vannarith Chhim, and several of the church’s pastors and deaconesses are working together to establish sustainable, self-supported ministry based on solid biblical stewardship teachings and creative initiatives. By focusing on stewardship, they hope to help local congregations seek out new opportunities to enhance their outreach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and with human care.

In one community in southern Cambodia, Deaconess Neak Mao and her pastor have started a rice granary. During the harvest season, the price of rice is low and the congregation purchases and stores as much rice as resources allow. Members of the Lutheran church who own small rice farms donate a portion of their rice as part of their contribution to the storehouse of the Lord. When drought season arrives and the price of grain is very high, the congregation takes two steps: first, it gives some of the stored rice to poor families in need of food and to the elderly who cannot work anymore; second, it sells remaining rice to the public, which helps raise funds to maintain the congregation’s ministry.

ELCC is committed to becoming self-sustainable. The church continues encouraging pastors and deaconesses to apply sound biblical stewardship principles. As the proverb goes, if you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day; if you teach him to fish, he’ll eat for the rest of his life. ELCC is committed to teaching its members and their communities how to “fish” rather than waiting for “fish” to be caught and handed to them. A micro-loan program is now in place for the benefit of church members and congregations. The program is sponsored by the Garuna Foundation, a Lutheran organization from the United States which supports social initiatives in Cambodia as well as church worker training through the Lutheran Institute Southeast Asia (LISA).

In Southern Thailand, a region devastated by the Tsunami in December 2004, there are signs of hope in the Thailand Concordia Lutheran Church as Rev. Suchat Chujit and his church’s members continue to grow in stewardship life and practice. Rev. Chujit expects financial contributions to the local church and its ministry to continue increasing, as rubber trees planted following the tsunami begin to mature. The trees, which take about eight years to mature, produce a natural source of latex which can be harvested throughout the life of the trees. Rev. Chujit notes that local fishermen also play an important role in helping to support the ministry of the church in Thailand.

It is indeed gratifying to witness pastors, deaconesses and congregations throughout Southeast Asia encouraging one other and joining together to learn and nurture good stewardship of the Lord’s kingdom work. The words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:6-14 apply very well to this situation:

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”

We pray that the Lord continue to encourage the church in Southeast Asia and in Canada to live lives of faithful stewardship. May the Holy Spirit continue to encourage us through His words: “’Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it’” (Malachi 3:10).

Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel (far right) and other LCC visitors meets with Garuna Foundation’s Director and ELCC pastors.

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Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel is Lutheran Church–Canada’s Executive for Missions and Social Ministry.

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