Corporate Mission Focus

As an additional strand to the church’s mission strategy, we have adopted a corporate focus for united, whole-church mission. The theme of people-trafficking has been chosen and we have undertaken to develop partnerships and support projects which make a stand against the exploitation and enslavement of people, and work to minister to those affected by it.

The first of these projects is Cambodian Hope Organisation, which we are supporting in partnership with Tearfund.

• People-trafficking is the fastest growing international crime, and one of the largest sources of income for organised crime.
• The majority of trafficked victims arguably come from the poorest countries and poorest strata of the national population.
• It is estimated that 1.2 million children are trafficked every year. (UN estimate)

Cambodia is still living with the legacy of the civil war and genocide of the 1970s, which devastated the economy, education and healthcare. CHO is a Christian NGO based in Poipet in the North West. They work with rural communities along the border with Thailand, where poverty and lack of employment make people, particularly young people and children, vulnerable to trafficking into forced labour and the sex trade. Their vision is to see a network of strong, hope-filled communities, where mental, physical and spiritual needs are met, in line with Matthew 22:39, where Jesus commands us to ‘love our neighbours as ourselves’. CHO’s practical help and training provides alternatives, offers a way out of the cycle of poverty and reduces the risk of trafficking. Their outreach is truly holistic, centred around church planting and focused on education and empowerment. Over the last 5 years SBC has provided financial support for CHO’s anti-trafficking and anti-poverty programmes, and a number of different teams have visited Cambodia to offer support and encouragement. This has included delivering training to CHO staff in primary education, English language teaching, training and mentoring pastors, and health education.