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Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,

The purpose of the Global Consultation on Music and Missions (GCoMM) is to explore how God is drawing the nations to Himself through music and related arts. This year, the consultation was held at the Empress Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand (July 6-9), and Gioia was invited to attend and to share about how CCAM is discipling artists in Cambodia!

The first invitation came from Joan and Allan Eubank, who founded the Christian Communication Institute (CCI) at Payap University in Chiang Mai. They were mentors to Gioia and Noren back in the early days of establishing the CCAM School in Cambodia, and their contextualized ministry through cleansed Thai art forms demonstrates the type of outreach that we were already developing for the Khmer context at that time.

Although excited by the prospect of attending the event, the practical reality remained that there were no available funds for travel, food, lodging, and registration fees. But as we prayed for God’s will, He provided donations for travel expenses and led Joan Eubank and the Pan Rak Foundation to award a scholarship to cover the rest!

The second invitation to participate in the meeting came from Byron Spradlin, President of Artists in Christian Testimony (ACT International). He assigned Gioia one of his teaching sessions in his Break-Out Track, “Arts and Discipleship.”

Gioia’s PowerPoint presentation, “Discipling Artists,” began with an overview of biblical principles related to discipleship and how those principles apply specifically to discipling artists. This was followed by an illustrated version of Gioia’s own personal testimony, showing how God led her through both positive and negative life experiences to understand the value of discipleship. Next, Gioia shared highlights from the current discipleship ministry of Cambodian Christian Arts Ministry (CCAM) in Cambodia. The conclusion focused on a few transformational insights which have revealed fresh perspectives about the purpose of her life and ministry.

After the presentation, Byron and all of the participants gathered around Gioia to pray for her and for her CCAM family back in Cambodia. What an affirming experience! Some people requested that Gioia post her presentation on the internet for further study. Click here to view a PDF of her PowerPoint, “Discipling Artists.”

A third invitation came from George McDow, Vice-President of the CCoMM Executive Board and Chair of the Planning Committee, asking Gioia to share her PowerPoint presentation called “Pictures that Preach,” highlighting some of the artwork being produced by the young artist disciples at CCAM. This was presented as one of the Tea Time Talks scheduled in the afternoons. Click here to view a PDF of “Pictures that Preach.”

Gioia’s roommate, Renee Bovee, is also a protégé of Joan Eubank and a scholarship recipient. Her art form is dance drama, which she demonstrated in the CCI Break-Out Track and during Open Mic and Tea Time Talks. We had many stimulating discussions about creative ways to share the Good News through the arts.

In the lobby was a display of visual art created by Christian artists from around the world. Worship times were led by various music groups, some with Western flavor and others with ethnic sounds and beats, demonstrating the global diversity of musical styles that are spiritually unified in the corporate praise offered by the Global Church to the One True God!

The message of Psalm 67, the theme for this event, was eloquently expounded by plenary speakers Samuel Chiang and Anne Zaki. One of the many shared insights was….as we boldly ask God for His grace, mercy, blessing, and favor, evidenced by His turning His shining face towards us and forgiving all of our sin, we must remember that His blessings are bestowed upon us SO THAT His ways may be known upon the earth and His salvation to all the nations! Out of gratitude, we should volunteer as living sacrifices for the furtherance of this endeavor! (Romans 12:1-2)

Psalm 67 was also beautifully expressed in song lyrics set to a traditional Thai melody and then danced by the CCI team as an example of how the arts “speak” God’s heart language for every culture. The song was also translated into English, and after singing it together every day, most participants must still hear that graceful song resonating within their hearts!

Praise God for providing all of these divine appointments and life-changing experiences!

Artists Volunteering for Service,
The CCAMS Family