Buddhism: From one man to all of Asia
Posted on: 21st May 2018
CMS missionary Dave Painter (serving with his wife, Leoni) has spent nearly 20 years in Buddhist Cambodia. Here, Dave gives a quick overview of Buddhism around the world—the different strands and how we might better reach Buddhists with the gospel of Jesus. Believe it or not, Buddhism was virtually unknown in the West 200 years […]
Buddhism resource list
Posted on: 17th May 2018
CMS missionary Wim Prins, serving in Cambodia with his wife, Maaike, and two children, has put together a list of Buddhist resources for those who want to investigate the religion and how Christians can engage with Buddhists more. Folk Buddhism in Southeast Asia Senapatiratne, D., Allen, S., Bowers, R. & Sarasmut, N. 2003, Folk Buddhism […]
Eastern and Western Buddhism in Australia
Posted on: 14th May 2018
Former CMS missionaries Rolf and Bonnie Lepelaar worked amongst Buddhists in Cambodia for more than 10 years, returning to Australia in 2016. Rolf shares some evangelism tips for those in Australia seeking to share the gospel with Buddhist neighbours, as well as the useful distinction we can make between Eastern and Western Buddhists. I sat […]
First steps of mission
Posted on: 10th May 2018
Bethany Vaughan is in her first term as a CMS missionary serving in Cambodia. Checkpoint asked her about what approach she takes to sharing the gospel with people in her location. Even though her language and cultural understanding is still in the early stages of learning, Bethany was able to share about the way she […]
Review: The Accidental Buddhist
Posted on: 7th May 2018
Former CMS missionary Rolf Lepelaar reviews The Accidental Buddhist: Mindfulness, enlightenment and sitting still, American style. Rolf served with his wife, Bonnie, in Cambodia for more than 10 years. Of all the books I have read on Buddhism, The Accidental Buddhist by Dinty Moore is the most helpful book for understanding the mindset of Westerners […]
A very surprised Christian
Posted on: 5th May 2018
Raised in a Buddhist Sri Lankan family that immigrated to Australia when he was eight, Kanishka Raffel’s conversion to Christianity came as a big surprise to him in his early twenties. Now the Dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, Kanishka’s testimony[1] is an example of the power of God’s word to change hearts, even in those […]
Working in God’s harvest field
Posted on: 3rd May 2018
How does a worker both respect the government regulations in their location and also heed God’s call to work in his harvest field? One of our workers speaks about shining God’s light in a country where outreach is limited. Probably the biggest shaper of outreach strategies in my location is the prevailing political system which […]
Review: Missions amidst Pagodas
Posted on: 30th April 2018
Dave & Leoni Painter have served in Cambodia since 2001. They are currently on study leave at Moore College. Here, Dave reviews Missions amidst Pagodas: Contextual communication of the gospel in the Burmese Buddhist context by Peter Thein Nyunt. Peter will be speaking at CMS Summer Conferences in January 2019. Peter Thein Nyunt is a native of Myanmar, […]
Should I go to a Buddhist funeral?
Posted on: 26th April 2018
Dave and Leoni Painter, with Joshua and Grace, have served in Phnom Penh, Cambodia since 2000. In 2018, they are on study leave at Moore Theological College to better equip themselves for continuing their ministry at Phnom Penh Bible School, where they teach and train leaders for the Cambodian Church. Dave is undertaking a research […]
Where CMS trains: St Andrew’s Hall
Posted on: 23rd April 2018
CMS VIC State Director Wei-Han Kuan has delved into the history of St Andrew’s Hall in Melbourne. Here he shares some of his discoveries and summarises how this institution remains of essential importance to the work of CMS. Organised missionary training in Melbourne can be traced back to 1901 when a leading evangelical, the Rev […]
