Description:

The internship is a ministry of building relationships, teaching English, and leading Bible studies in the church dorms, as well as a short time if teaching English in two rural villages.

Qualifications:

• The internship is open to two male and two female college students.
• Spiritual maturity and personal responsibility are extremely important.
• The ability to interact and work well with others is required.
• An openness to cultural differences is also essential.

Location:

Time will be split between Church of Hope in Phnom Penh and two rural provinces in Cambodia: Takeo and Siem Reap.

Length of Service:

Mid-term: 8 weeks, June–July 2026

Ministry Description:

Ministry focus: Dorm ministry, church ministry, children’s ministry, and teaching English

Following a one-week orientation and training in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with other WGM interns serving in the Asia-Pacific region, interns to Cambodia will spend seven weeks of on-site ministry split between three cities—Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Takeo—allowing for a greater exposure to a variety of ministries and cultures (both urban and rural).

Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital city, is rapidly developing, with lots of traffic and lots of opportunities. As an intern, you will be sharing a bedroom with another intern in either the Men’s Dorm of Hope or the Women’s Dorm of Hope, houses for university students who have come from rural areas to study in Phnom Penh. In the dorm, you will be expected to share the role together in leading a devotion or Bible study 1–2 times per week, as well as building relationships with the students, learning Cambodian life and culture from them, and sharing Christ’s love in their lives. English classes will also be taught 2–3 evenings per week. While it is not a requirement, we would love to have interns who are able to also teach or strengthen skills in playing the guitar, piano, or drums/rhythmic instruments and new English worship songs.

In addition to the dorm ministry, you will also become involved in the services and other ministries of Church of Hope, a church planted by the Romdenhs in January 2021. At present, church services average 30–35 persons, including 14 university students. We would ask you to have some lessons or activities prepared for the MKs and kids at church, as well as being prepared to share a testimony or short sermon.

While the majority of the time will be spent in Phnom Penh, you will have the opportunity to visit at least two other provinces (more rural geographic areas), including Takeo Province and Siem Reap Province. You will spend 1–2 weeks in each province, learning the provincial cultures and ministering alongside our ministry partners, Pastor Poleak and Pastor Arun and their families. Much of the ministry there will be focused on teaching English and children’s ministry but may also include visiting house churches or small groups and more.

In your English classes, your students could be a variety of ages and at a variety of speaking levels (it means that you could be teaching children at a very beginner’s level or teaching youth or university students at a more advanced or intermediate level). You should have several lessons prepared on a variety of subjects (including Christian English and the Bible) and give consideration to bringing along resources to aid in learning (recommended children’s books, visual aids such as pictures and other small objects.)

While these are the main ministry focuses of the internship position, it may be possible, in conversation with the missionaries, to provide exposure to other areas of interest.

Quick Facts:

• The Church of Hope was planted in the Romdenhs' home during COVID lockdowns in January 2021 and now averages 30 people in attendance each week.
• The Women's Dorm of Hope and Men's Dorm of Hope (est. in 2023 and 2024) are home to 14 young Cambodians who have traveled from rural areas across Cambodia to study at universities in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital city.
• From 1975–1979, Cambodia was ruled by the communist Khmer Rouge. During that time, between 1.5 to 2 million people died or were killed. Consequently, 65% of Cambodia’s population is under 30.
• Over 95% of Cambodia’s population is Buddhist.
• Cambodians consider the head as the highest and most sacred part of the body, so it’s extremely insulting to touch or pat someone’s head.