For several families in Cambodia’s northeastern province of Ratanakiri, the message they heard was new. Yet it carried a hope that spoke directly to their hearts—the promise of Jesus, His love, and His soon return.
From July 15 to 18, 2026, faith and cooperation brought the light of the gospel into a previously unreached area of the province. More than 300 people from different Indigenous ethnic communities attended the evangelistic meetings each day.
The outreach was led through a partnership between Mrs. Danita P. Caderma, Children’s Ministries director of the Adventist Church in the Southern Asia-Pacific (SSD), and Heng Sayon, Children’s Ministries director of the Adventist Church in Cambodia(CAM).
Together with local workers and church members, they created an opportunity for children, parents, and entire families to hear a message that many were encountering for the first time.
A Message of Hope for Every Family
Serving as the main speaker, Caderma presented messages of spiritual encouragement and hope. At the center of her presentations was the promise of the second coming of Jesus—a truth that invited listeners to look beyond their present circumstances and place their trust in God’s future.
The meetings were more than a series of presentations. They became a place where people could listen, reflect, and respond. Through each message, families were reminded that they are seen by God, loved by Him, and invited to become part of His family.
Twelve Lives Take a New Step
The four-day outreach concluded joyfully on Saturday, July 18.
On that day, 12 people from the local Indigenous communities publicly committed their lives to Jesus Christ through baptism.
Each baptism represented more than a number. Each person carried a unique story, a family, and a future newly grounded in faith. Together, their decisions became a testimony to what can happen when the church prayerfully enters new communities and shares the gospel with compassion.
For those who organized and supported the meetings, the baptisms were not simply the conclusion of an event. They marked the beginning of 12 new journeys with Christ—and the beginning of a growing spiritual community that will need continued prayer, care, and discipleship.
Children’s Ministries Reaching Entire Communities
The outreach also demonstrated the important role of Children’s Ministries in the wider mission of the church.
Ministry to children rarely touches children alone. When children are welcomed, parents listen. When families feel seen and valued, relationships begin to grow. Through those relationships, the message of Jesus can enter homes and transform entire communities.
The cooperation between the Southern Asia-Pacific Division and the Cambodia Adventist Mission showed how shared faith and united service can extend the church’s reach into places where the gospel has not yet been widely heard.
The Mission Continues
What happened in Ratanakiri is an encouraging step forward for the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cambodia—but the work does not end with one successful program.
The 12 baptisms remind the church that people are still waiting to hear a message of hope. Some live in distant communities, while others may be nearby. Reaching them will require prayer, cooperation, consistent presence, and a willingness to cross cultural and geographic boundaries with humility and love.
In Ratanakiri, the gospel entered new ground. Twelve people responded. A new chapter began.
Their story now calls every church member to consider a personal question:
Where might God be asking us to carry His hope next?
The original article was published in the Cambodia Mission website.
