“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…”  (Mat. 24:12)

While we do notice “the love of most” have grown cold, there is a sign that people still desire to help others in need.  This has fueled the trend of “Social Entrepreneurship” in the States.  In his National Bestseller, The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman wrote about a story of a Harvard graduate who quite his job with a top business consulting firm, and started a business in Cambodia.[1]  His company hired local Cambodians, otherwise would have no employment, to do data input for US companies.  The result is that the young people in Cambodia, instead of dropping out of school to support their families, could work part-time and still continue to go to school; more importantly, they would earn more money than the minimum wage to support their families.

This story reminded me of what Sokoun (Lo) Chanpreda is doing in Cambodia.  Sokoun became a disciple while studying in Boston University in 1986.  He came on the Hong Kong Mission Team, (led by Scott & Lynne Green), in 1987 and was leading the Teen Ministry in my Sector.  We were best friends in the early days of the Hong Kong church.  I remember vividly playing tennis with Sokoun while the other staff had to study Cantonese each morning.  Of course, besides playing tennis, we were also busy saving souls.  Sokoun’s teen ministry saw four teen men baptized in one day, as I recall.  Not long after Jane and I left for Taipei to plant the church, Sokoun also went on the Bangkok Mission Team.  He is the only disciple that I know that has personally been on three original mission teams: Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Phnom Pham, Cambodia.  It is also in Cambodia that he launched his Social Entrepreneurship program—Institute of Hospitality in Siem Reap’s Shinta Mani Hotel.  The program would train young people in the art of international hospitality.  Upon graduation, they would be able to find employment with the five star hotels in the area.  These 9-months long training, not only would cost the students nothing, they are paid “a monthly stipend, uniforms, meals, study materials, and a weekly supply of 4 Kilograms of rice for their families!”[2]  These on-the-job training also provided additional staff for the Shinta Mani hotel, so it is a win-win situation.  Furthermore, the recent mission team to Siem Reap, sent from Phnom Pham, could support itself financially, because Sokoun hired the leader in his other hotel.

I would like to encourage the resourceful disciples around the world to think about such opportunities.  Why can’t we preach the Word and also make an impact socially?  Why can’t we give to the needy and at the same time become prosperous through the Lord’s blessing?  Sokoun’s business acumen is only surpassed by his heart for the needy.  They adopted a street child in Bangkok six years ago, and his wife, Aye, has been heavily involved with an orphanage in Bangkok.  I pray that the Chanpreda’s example can provide an inspiration for all the disciples, wealthy or not, to further impact our needy world.

Steve Chin

Taipei, China