First Phase of ‘Build A City’ Dedicated; Church of God Officially Recognized in Cambodia
March 19, 2013–Phnom Penh, Cambodia–Church of God General Overseer Mark Williams and People for Care and Learning (PCL) Director Fred Garmon today joined the governor of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, His Excellency Kep Chuk Tema, to dedicate Phase I of the Build a City complex in a Phnom Penh suburb. The government official also awarded medals for humanitarian service to key PCL leaders.
The visionary project, when completed in 2015, will provide housing for 1,500 families, as well as a school, medical clinic, marketplace, community center, park, and related facilities. The Phase I dedication marks the completion of the clinic, marketplace, installation of underground sewers and drainage, electric service, and the first seven homes.
Fred Garmon addresses the delegation gathered for the dedication of Phase 1 of the Build A City project. Church of God General Overseer Mark Williams is seated behind.
The dedication event caps a week of celebrations and history-making events during which the Cambodian government awarded the Church of God the right to be an officially recognized church in the nation. Church of God World Missions Director Tim Hill and Assistant Director John Childers received the official government proclamation from the Ministry of Religion spokesman. Previously, church activities were authorized under the umbrella of the Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia. Sixteen local congregations have been established recently; now that the church can own property and have additional rights, the number of churches is expected to increase.
The Build a City project (www.buildacity.org) is the largest initiative of People for Care and Learning (PCL). Its target is a large group of poor people who were relocated to an area where adequate housing and support services were not available.
The 32-member Cleveland, Tennessee, delegation includes civic, business, and church leaders who are spending 10 days in the Southeast Asia nation. The first event was the formalization of a Sister City covenant between Cleveland and Phomn Penh. Cleveland City Councilman Bill Estes and Chamber of Commerce president Gary Farlow represented the city in the agreement signing.
People for Care and Learning, in addition to the Build a City program, operates homes for children, English-language instruction, job training, a demonstration farm, clean water projects, medical clinics, and other humanitarian endeavors.
