Faithful Dependence: Transforming Lives Through God's Power
Summary
From a young age, God began to shape my heart for those who are often forgotten—orphans, widows, and people in distress. I remember being just 11 years old, reading James 1:27, and feeling a clear call to live out a faith that cares for the vulnerable and keeps itself unstained by the world. That early conviction, combined with the encouragement of mentors and a willingness to take risks for Jesus, eventually led me to Cambodia, where I found myself in the midst of a fight against the evil of sex trafficking.
When I first arrived, I was full of youthful confidence, thinking I could be the hero who would stop the bad guys. But the reality of the brokenness and depravity I encountered quickly humbled me. I realized I had little to offer in my own strength. It was in that place of inadequacy that I learned to depend wholly on God, trusting that He is still a rescuing God who cares more deeply for the oppressed than I ever could. My prayer shifted from “let me fix this” to “God, unless You move, nothing will change.”
Over the years, I witnessed God do what I could never have imagined. What began as a simple, unsophisticated step of faith—knocking down walls in a former brothel, painting it yellow, and declaring it a church—became the seed for a transformed community. Today, over 2,100 girls have been rescued, nearly 700 traffickers arrested, and entire neighborhoods have been changed. But the real miracle is not in the numbers; it’s in the lives transformed by Jesus—victims, victimizers, and staff alike.
The most powerful testimonies come from those who were once recipients of help and are now leaders, teachers, and advocates for others. Our staff’s passion is not rooted in technical expertise, but in the undeniable reality that God has changed their lives and their city. The work is not about us or our strategies, but about being faithful to the next step God puts before us, trusting Him to do the miraculous.
As we expand into new communities and even new countries, our prayer remains the same: that Jesus would be at the center, that we would remain humble, and that God would continue to get all the glory. The story of transformation is not about our greatness, but about a great God who is still in the business of rescuing, redeeming, and restoring.
Key Takeaways
- True ministry begins with humility and dependence on God. When faced with overwhelming evil and brokenness, it’s easy to believe we must be the solution. But God often brings us to the end of ourselves so we can see that only He can truly rescue and restore. Our inadequacy is not a barrier, but an invitation to deeper faith and reliance on His power. [06:34]
- The gospel compels us to see both victims and victimizers through the lens of grace. It’s tempting to divide the world into “good guys” and “bad guys,” but the message of Jesus is that all have sinned and all are in need of rescue. Our calling is to approach even those who do harm with humility, praying for their redemption and transformation, just as God has done for us. [10:50]
- Faithfulness in small, unspectacular steps can lead to miraculous transformation. The most significant changes often begin with simple acts of obedience—showing up, serving, and trusting God with the outcome. Rather than seeking impressive strategies, we are called to be faithful with what we have, believing that God can multiply our loaves and fishes into something extraordinary. [20:07]
- Long-term transformation happens when those who have been rescued become rescuers. The most powerful leaders are those who have experienced God’s redemption firsthand and are compelled to pass it on. Their testimony is not about their own abilities, but about what God has done in their lives and communities, making them living witnesses to His power. [25:12]
- The work of God is sustained by prayer, humility, and a focus on Jesus. As ministry grows, there is always a temptation to drift from Christ at the center. We must continually pray for discernment, for the right people to join the work, and for God to receive all the glory. The story is not about our organization or our efforts, but about God’s faithfulness and the movement of His Spirit. [37:01]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Early Calling and Missionary Beginnings
[02:28] - Childhood Encounters with God’s Heart
[04:30] - Entering Cambodia and Facing Reality
[06:34] - Learning Dependence on God
[09:51] - Confronting Evil and Changing Perspectives
[10:50] - Grace for Victims and Victimizers
[13:30] - Faithfulness Amidst Challenges
[16:32] - God’s Miraculous Work in Cambodia
[20:07] - Simple Obedience and Community Transformation
[22:30] - Staff Stories: From Recipients to Leaders
[25:12] - The Power of Testimony and Safe Spaces
[27:34] - The School as a Lifeline
[31:35] - Expanding to New Communities and Countries
[36:19] - Prayers for the Future and Staying Christ-Centered
[37:01] - Prayer Requests and God’s Provision
[38:16] - God’s Faithfulness Through the Church
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Humble Faithfulness and God’s Power to Rescue
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### Bible Reading
James 1:27 (ESV)
> Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
John 6:8-13 (ESV)
> One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to James 1:27, what does God consider “pure and undefiled” religion?
2. In the story of the loaves and fishes (John 6:8-13), what did the boy offer, and how did Jesus use it?
3. In the sermon, what was the speaker’s initial attitude when arriving in Cambodia, and how did it change after facing the reality of the situation? [[06:34]]
4. What are some specific examples from the sermon of people who were once helped and are now helping others? [[25:12]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think James highlights caring for orphans and widows as a mark of true faith? How does this challenge common ideas about what it means to be “religious”?
2. What does the story of the loaves and fishes teach about our own sense of inadequacy and God’s ability to multiply what we offer? How did the speaker relate this to his own experience in Cambodia? [[06:34]]
3. The sermon talks about seeing both victims and victimizers through the lens of grace. Why is this difficult, and what does it reveal about the gospel? [[10:50]]
4. How does long-term transformation happen, according to the sermon? What role do former recipients of help play in this process? [[25:12]]
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### Application Questions
1. The speaker described feeling called to care for the vulnerable after reading James 1:27 as a child. Is there a Bible verse or moment in your life that has shaped your sense of calling? How have you responded to it? [[02:28]]
2. When have you felt inadequate or overwhelmed by a need or problem? How did you respond—did you try to fix it yourself, or did you turn to God? What would it look like to pray, “God, unless You move, nothing will change” in your current situation? [[06:34]]
3. The sermon challenges us to see both victims and those who do harm through the lens of grace. Is there someone in your life who is hard to see with grace? What would it look like to pray for their redemption, not just their punishment? [[10:50]]
4. The story of the loaves and fishes and the yellow-painted church both show that God can use small, unspectacular steps of obedience. What is one “small step” of faithfulness you could take this week, even if it seems insignificant? [[20:07]]
5. The most powerful leaders in the sermon were those who had been rescued and then became rescuers. Have you experienced God’s transformation in your life in a way that you could share with or use to help others? What might that look like? [[25:12]]
6. As the ministry grew, the temptation was to drift from keeping Jesus at the center. Are there areas in your life or ministry where you’ve started to rely more on your own strategies than on prayer and dependence on God? How can you re-center on Jesus this week? [[37:01]]
7. The speaker asked for prayer for humility, discernment, and for God to get all the glory. What is one area where you need to ask God for humility or discernment right now? [[37:01]]
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Close in prayer, asking God to help you take the next faithful step, to see others through His eyes, and to trust Him to do what only He can do.
Devotional
Day 1: True Religion: Caring for Orphans and Widows
God calls His people to a faith that is not just about personal piety, but about active compassion for the most vulnerable. From a young age, the call to care for orphans and widows can strike the heart with clarity, reminding us that pure and undefiled religion is not found in words alone, but in sacrificial service to those in distress. This is a call to live out faith in tangible ways, to step into the needs of others, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. When we pray for God to help us live this out, He answers by shaping our hearts and leading us into opportunities to serve. [03:30]
James 1:27 (ESV)
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
Reflection: Who in your community is vulnerable or overlooked, and what is one practical step you can take this week to serve or advocate for them?
Day 2: God’s Power in Our Weakness
When faced with overwhelming evil and brokenness, it is easy to feel inadequate and powerless. Yet, God invites us to bring our small offerings—like the boy with the loaves and fishes—trusting that He can multiply them for His purposes. Recognizing our own limitations is not a defeat, but the beginning of true dependence on God, who is still in the business of doing miracles. Faith means offering what little we have and believing that God can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, even in the darkest places. [06:34]
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Reflection: What is one area where you feel inadequate or overwhelmed, and how can you offer it to God today, trusting Him to work through your weakness?
Day 3: Humility and Grace in Mission
The temptation to see ourselves as the “good guys” fighting against “bad guys” is strong, especially in justice work. But the gospel reminds us that we are all sinners in need of rescue, and that God’s grace is for both the victim and the victimizer. Approaching others with humility and a desire for their redemption, rather than judgment, transforms the way we serve. True mission is done in Jesus’ way—marked by grace, humility, and a longing for every heart to encounter Christ’s love and transformation. [10:50]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Reflection: Is there someone you find difficult to show grace to? How might you pray for them and seek to see them through the lens of God’s mercy today?
Day 4: Faithfulness in Small Steps Leads to Transformation
Lasting change in communities and lives rarely comes from grand strategies, but from simple, faithful steps of obedience. God honors those who show up, serve, and trust Him with the results—even when the work seems unimpressive or slow. Over time, these small acts of faithfulness can lead to miracles, transformed cities, and stories of redemption that only God could write. The call is not to be impressive, but to be faithful with what God puts in front of you, believing that He will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. [20:07]
Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Reflection: What is one small, faithful step you sense God asking you to take today, even if it seems insignificant?
Day 5: Passing On the Blessing: Becoming a Lifeline for Others
When God transforms a life, He often calls that person to become a lifeline for others. The most powerful testimonies come from those who have experienced God’s rescue and now long to see others set free. Whether it’s a teacher who becomes a safe place for a child in crisis, or a former recipient of help who now leads and serves, God’s love multiplies as it is shared. Ask God to show you how your story and your experiences can be used to bring hope, safety, and transformation to someone else in need. [27:34]
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
Reflection: Who in your life could benefit from the comfort or hope God has given you, and how can you intentionally reach out to them this week?
Quotes
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