President's Blog

Imagine a tooth extraction under the shade of a tree in 30 degrees Celsius and 100% humidity. A few years back I had the privilege of watching Fellowship International missionaries Oeut and Nhep Pech during one of their mobile dental clinics in rural Cambodia. Professional dental care was administered to dozens of people with the Gospel clearly presented. Several patients received Christ that day. A national pastor was later assigned to visit and disciple these new believers in the hope that a new church might be planted. The Pech’s ministry has been very effective.

Our current FAIR appeal, Brightening Smiles, Winning Hearts, seeks to resource the Pechs to continue their ministry. Let me allow FAIR Associate Director, Norman Nielsen, explain the appeal, the goal, and how you can get involved:

Brightening Smiles, Winning Hearts

Rural Cambodians have little to no access to dental services, making oral hygiene an issue for many. Through Fellowship International missionaries Oeut and Nhep Pech, Cambodians can have access to free dental care, courtesy of FAIR's mobile dental clinic.

While this ministry has focused on providing Cambodians the dental care they so desperately need, it has also taken every opportunity to effectively share the love of Christ with patients and their families. Since arriving in Cambodia in 2007 and launching FAIR’s mobile dental clinic ministry, the Pechs have helped 8,638 patients — 414 of whom have placed their faith in Jesus. Of the students who serve as a part of the dental staff, 54 have come to know Christ. Without the clinic, these people would never have heard the Gospel!

Vong Doeun and his wife Los Horn were among the first patients treated by FAIR's mobile dental clinic when the ministry started in Bosknor, Cambodia. They came to the clinic for dental treatment and, while waiting the prescribed 30 minutes after the procedure, they heard the Gospel for the first time. They invited Oeut and Nhep back to their home and introduced them to the rest of their family. After only two visits, both Vong Doeun and his wife, as well as two of their children, accepted Christ! Vong Doeun, who had been severely disabled from injuries he sustained in the 1970s during the reign of dictator Pol Pot, became instrumental in the spread of the Gospel in the area of Bosknor. A home-church gathering was held at their home each week until the number of believers exceeded the space available and a church building was built. God used Vong Doeun and his family to expand His Kingdom, displaying His strength through weakness.

Not only has this ministry been instrumental in leading many people to Christ, it has also facilitated the planting of three churches across Cambodia, each of which has a Cambodian national serving as pastor. In this country that has been so ravaged by war, churches are few and far-between. The goal is to plant two new churches in the next few years, a goal which cannot be met unless the Pechs are able to continue ministering through the mobile dental clinic. FAIR is seeking to raise $80,000 which will go towards purchasing much needed medical supplies enabling rural Cambodians to receive the dental treatments they desperately need and, at the same time, introducing them to Christ. Something so seemingly simple as receiving dental care is having an unbelievable impact on Cambodians. Please prayerfully consider how the Lord would have you respond to this appeal.