My Personal Call to Student Ministry - Chamroeun

In 2009, I was in my first year at National University of Management. In those days, I just went to class and then returned home like many other non-Christian students. My life continued like this for a year and a half until I prayed for a part-time job. I needed one in order to pay for my schooling and help to financially support my family. God provided and I started to work at World Vision Cambodia. I was grateful for this job because it allowed me to serve God by working for a Christian organization and provided financially for my family and me. This was not always easy though. I worked full-time and then went to class at night.

In 2011, I decided to join a student ministry group. This group (then called FES) taught me a lot and I really grew in my faith. I was able to be part of a prayer group, a small group, attend leadership trainings, and evangelistic camps. I also got the chance to attend a student conference in Singapore. This conference really opened my eyes to the bigger picture of student ministry. It showed me the impact student ministry makes in the lives of students. God also spoke to me three different times with the same verse from 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” I returned from Singapore not only with a greater desire to serve students, but also with the question, “Could God be calling me to something more?”

When I returned, it was time to focus on my last year of university. I needed to prepare for my final exams and focus more at my job. But the more I studied and understood God’s mission the more I wanted to be part of it. So I decided to pray and ask God if He wanted me to serve Him in a different way. I waited several months for an answer but finally God answered. The ministry leader for FES asked me to think about becoming a staff worker. As I prayed that night the Lord brought me back to the same verse in 2 Chronicles. This felt like the confirmation I needed. So upon graduation I became one of the first ever local staff of SONOKO Cambodia.