The Beginning of Our Story

Our story is long, and our God is good. Our journey to now has not always been an easy one, but it has been one full of blessings, of affirmation, and of the Lord's leading us. He led me (Jewel) to Cambodia, He led us to each other, and He has led us since then.

When Titus and I met in May 2008, he was co-pastoring The Way to Life, a rural church that he co-planted two years earlier; and he was teaching English at the School of Hope, a school sponsored by World Hope International. Titus had already graduated from the Wesleyan Bible Institute and I had just finished my first year of college, studying Intercultural Studies and International Community Development.

Pastors Vandy and "Tito" - co-pastors at The Way to Life Wesleyan Church in Kratie Province

I was certain that God had called me to be a missionary in Honduras, but I signed up to go to Cambodia to visit missionary friends and to see what God was doing in this strange land. In truth, I also wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to see more of the world before eventually settling down in Central America. It wasn't until the second week that God began breaking my heart for the lost and hopeless in Cambodia.

Jewel in Cambodia, 2008

Titus feels that all of Cambodia is "his people" and he feels a personal responsibility to share with them the hope found in the Message of Jesus Christ.  While pastoring two rural churches, he felt a call to plant an urban church, but the Lord never provided a way for him.  Until now.  In October 2015, Titus graduated [with honors] from Indiana Wesleyan University with a bachelor's degree in Business Management.  His degree and knowledge will be a tool to build relationships with the educated and wealthy in Cambodia - the first step towards discipleship and planting an urban church!

The Lord has laid Isaiah 61:1-3 on our hearts, and it is the message and the ministry that we will take with us to the people of Cambodia.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted

 to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion -

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of joy instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

(Isaiah 61:1-3, NIV)

If you would like to hear more about our ministry, please let us know!  We would love to share our story with you.  If you would like to make a financial contribution to our ministry, please click the purple Give button here or at the top of the page; this will take you to our profile on WGM's website.

To see Christ glorified in Cambodia,
Titus, Jewel, & Sophear