The Telegraph/FRED POLLARDLuke Smith, originally from Greenfield, is preparing for a missionary trip to Cambodia. After completing graduate school, Smith attended Dallas Theological Seminary and plans to make missionary work a long-term commitment.
By FRED POLLARD
The Telegraph
http://www.thetelegraph.com
Former area resident Luke Smith is preparing to leave for missionary work in Cambodia.
"People often ask me 'Why Cambodia?'" Smith, 27, said. "First, I wanted to go somewhere that is unreached. Second, I wanted to go somewhere that is a developing country. Third, I wanted to be able to work under someone with experience. I saw these three things coming together best with the team in Cambodia."
The Asian country is struggling to overcome the effects of years of famine and civil war. Today, most Cambodians are Buddhist and an estimated 90 percent of Christians were martyred or fled the country during the Pol Pot regime of the late 1970s. A recent surge in the number of Christians has made the need for missionaries and pastors in the area more urgent.
"In a country that has long been strongly Buddhist, there is much openness to the gospel," Smith said. "The church has expanded from just a few hundred believers in the '90s to over 100,000 believers today."
Smith grew up in the Greenfield area and graduated from Greenfield High School in 2000. His parents, Paul and Teresa Smith, and older brother, Jason, still reside on the family farm just outside of Greenfield.
"Living in Dallas the past few years has made me miss the seasons of the Midwest some," Smith said.
Smith attended Western Illinois University and began planning out a career in agriculture. While in college, he read Elisabeth Elliot's "Through Gates of Splendor," which proved to be a life-changing event.
The book chronicles the hardships of missionaries and their wives while reaching out to the Aucas, a jungle tribe in Ecuador, in the 1950s. Elliot's husband was killed by the tribe, many of whom later became Christians.
"Reading of their desire to proclaim the gospel to a people without Christ deeply burdened my heart for those in other parts of the world that have no chance of hearing the gospel," Smith said.
While finishing graduate school at Mizzou, he decided to go to Dallas Theological Seminary to prepare for a life in mission work.
"My first mission trip in January of 2003 to Juarez, Mexico, really had a profound effect on me," he said. "I had not been exposed to such poverty and need before."
Smith is studying for ordination, working as an intern, and attending classes in preparation for his mission work. For the ambitious young student, traveling to Cambodia is just the beginning of what he hopes will be a life of service.
"As a long-term missionary, I will be serving four years on the field and then on home missionary assignment for one year," he said.
Smith's stretch as a long-term missionary costs $5,664 in ongoing monthly support. One hundred percent of his monthly support must be reached before he leaves for the field. Anyone interested in making a pledge through Mission to the World in Atlanta can contact Smith at LBSmith62@hotmail.com. fred_pollard@thetelegraph.com
The Telegraph
http://www.thetelegraph.com
Former area resident Luke Smith is preparing to leave for missionary work in Cambodia.
"People often ask me 'Why Cambodia?'" Smith, 27, said. "First, I wanted to go somewhere that is unreached. Second, I wanted to go somewhere that is a developing country. Third, I wanted to be able to work under someone with experience. I saw these three things coming together best with the team in Cambodia."
The Asian country is struggling to overcome the effects of years of famine and civil war. Today, most Cambodians are Buddhist and an estimated 90 percent of Christians were martyred or fled the country during the Pol Pot regime of the late 1970s. A recent surge in the number of Christians has made the need for missionaries and pastors in the area more urgent.
"In a country that has long been strongly Buddhist, there is much openness to the gospel," Smith said. "The church has expanded from just a few hundred believers in the '90s to over 100,000 believers today."
Smith grew up in the Greenfield area and graduated from Greenfield High School in 2000. His parents, Paul and Teresa Smith, and older brother, Jason, still reside on the family farm just outside of Greenfield.
"Living in Dallas the past few years has made me miss the seasons of the Midwest some," Smith said.
Smith attended Western Illinois University and began planning out a career in agriculture. While in college, he read Elisabeth Elliot's "Through Gates of Splendor," which proved to be a life-changing event.
The book chronicles the hardships of missionaries and their wives while reaching out to the Aucas, a jungle tribe in Ecuador, in the 1950s. Elliot's husband was killed by the tribe, many of whom later became Christians.
"Reading of their desire to proclaim the gospel to a people without Christ deeply burdened my heart for those in other parts of the world that have no chance of hearing the gospel," Smith said.
While finishing graduate school at Mizzou, he decided to go to Dallas Theological Seminary to prepare for a life in mission work.
"My first mission trip in January of 2003 to Juarez, Mexico, really had a profound effect on me," he said. "I had not been exposed to such poverty and need before."
Smith is studying for ordination, working as an intern, and attending classes in preparation for his mission work. For the ambitious young student, traveling to Cambodia is just the beginning of what he hopes will be a life of service.
"As a long-term missionary, I will be serving four years on the field and then on home missionary assignment for one year," he said.
Smith's stretch as a long-term missionary costs $5,664 in ongoing monthly support. One hundred percent of his monthly support must be reached before he leaves for the field. Anyone interested in making a pledge through Mission to the World in Atlanta can contact Smith at LBSmith62@hotmail.com. fred_pollard@thetelegraph.com
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