A Good Seed That Grows

(Onyx alumni volunteering in Onyx program)

Hello, my name is Daneath, and I am from Onyx Cohort 9. I have been involved with Mission Dove’s ministry for almost two years through the Onyx program. Why do I volunteer for this program? After spending one year as a student in the Onyx program, I found that it helped me a lot in developing self-awareness and growing in my discipleship with Jesus Christ. One lesson that especially interested me was about the missional church. It talked about Christ as a role model—how He served and loved people in the community. That really inspired me.

I have been volunteering as a coordinator for the Onyx program for the past two years. It is a mission I truly love. I also want to gain experience in facilitation skills, especially because I enjoy doing ministry that helps people learn how to draw closer to God.

This month, we took students outside to experience nature through a quiet retreat. For me, it’s a time to be still with ourselves and with God. Our bodies can rest, our minds can focus on nature, and our spirits can be refreshed. Even when we face difficulties, we remember that our God is great and Lord of the earth. What I noticed from the students is that they felt relieved and refreshed. They could have new experiences, like composing songs, drawing pictures, or choosing objects to represent the feelings they experienced after spending time alone. They enjoyed sharing their reflections with the group and encouraging one another through their time together. I hope and believe that after spending one year in the Onyx program, they will grow in their faith in Jesus and learn to love their community as He did.

Student from Cohort 11 Testimony

Hello, my name is Dara, and I’m from Peace of the Lord Church. I have two siblings, and I’m the youngest. This year, I’m 21 years old. Currently, I live with my parents in Chak Angre Leu, Phnom Penh.

I learned about the Onyx course through my auntie and sister, who always encouraged me to join. They said it would help me grow, understand myself better, and build stronger confidence. I’ve always wanted to learn new things and develop myself, but before starting this class, I was hesitant. I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough time to study because I’m already working, attending college at night, and doing some part-time jobs. I felt I might be too busy, especially on Saturdays. However, my auntie encouraged me to give it a try, so I decided to sign up and started studying right away.

For me, I am not a person who is very talkative and turned to be shy in the new situation, but when I got to know the Onyx program and met other friends, it made me more courageous, daring to speak my opinion to the group and the larger group, and I began to know myself better.

After studying in the Onyx class for almost half a year, I’ve learned so much. This program has helped me grow in my faith and build a closer relationship with God. Before joining the class, I believed the only way to worship God was by going to church. But through Onyx, I’ve come to understand that there are many ways to connect with Him and experience His presence. Now I know I can grow closer to God in everyday life, not just in church.

A lot has changed in me. First, I don’t put too much pressure on myself like before. In the past, I wanted everything to be perfect, and that made me feel lost and confused. But now, I try to think more positively and not overthink things. Second, I feel more confident and willing to try new things. I’m not as scared as I used to be, and I believe in myself more. Third, I learned a lot from friendship. I made good friends in the Onyx class. We trusted each other, helped each other, and shared love. These friendships really meant a lot to me. The thing that touched me the most was going on retreats. I learned how to spend time with nature and be alone with God. Simple things like walking and watching butterflies helped me feel peace and healing. It reminded me to trust God more. Like a butterfly staying on a tree during the wind, I learned to stay strong and trust God through hard times. He created nature and its beauty to show us that He is always with us. This helped me understand how to trust God—not just by saying it, but by being patient and really believing in Him. I’ve seen this in my own life. My job is not easy. I work with the government, and there’s a lot of pressure and many tasks. But now, when I feel stressed, I know how to give it all to God. Before, I never really surrendered to Him. I didn’t talk to Him or share what I felt. I wasn’t brave enough. But now, little by little, I’m learning to trust Him with my weaknesses. I’m learning to humble myself and give everything to His hands. What touched me the most was going on retreats?

The lessons about spending time in nature, being alone with God, walking, and watching butterflies helped me feel at peace and healed. I learned to trust God more deeply—like a butterfly that stays on a tree even when the wind blows, trusting the tree to hold it. God is like that tree. He created nature and its beauty, and through it, I’ve learned to trust Him—not just with words, but with patience and action.

God has shown me this in my own life. My job is challenging, stress and pressure from the boss but now, when I feel stressed, I know how to surrender everything to God. Before, I never really gave my struggles to God. I didn’t talk to Him or open up about what was in my heart. I didn’t have the courage. little by little, I’m learning to trust Him more. I’m learning to surrender my weaknesses, humble myself, and place everything into His hands.

Mission Dove Activities: FaithWalking

Eight students and three leaders participated in a FaithWalking retreat on May 9-11, 2025. This retreat focuses on spiritual formation and growing in our self-awareness. Last year, Mission Dove offered this program as a 4-month, weekly program. However, since many interested young adults weren’t able to make a weekly commitment, we adapted the content to fit into a 3-day retreat. Throughout the weekend, participants had opportunities to reflect on God’s love for them, the positives and negatives of their families of origin, the impact of their wounds, and how God is reshaping them through the cooperative work of the Holy Spirit. The participants bonded well together and dove deeply into the lessons—creating a safe community where everyone could share without judgment and could experience a taste of radical, loving Christian community. We will follow up the retreat with four small group coaching sessions for participants to continue to integrate the retreat content over the next two months.

Mission Dove Activities: Local Leader's Retreat

Theme: The Leader Who Rests

From May 14–16, we gathered 12 ethnic leaders—pastors, spouses, and servants of the land and people—for something rare: a sabbatical retreat designed not to fill them with more, but to return them to themselves. In a world that measures leaders by how much they do, we created space for them to simply be.

Over three days, they slowed their pace, softened their hearts, and stepped into a different kind of leadership—the kind rooted in the courage to walk slowly and discerningly, to listen deeply, and to rest. They rowed in silence, walked with the wind, and honored their pain, their faith, and their cultural wisdom.

And in doing so, they remembered:

1.    Rest is not escape—it is a return.

2.    Slowing down is not falling behind—it is realigning with what matters most.

3.    Leadership is not performance—it is presence.

Prayer Points

1.    Pray for Daneath and other former Onyx Students.

2.   Pray for encouragement for Dara as he reflects on his growth as part of a previous Onyx Class.

3.    The eight students of the Faithwalking program and their continued growth.

4.    Pray for Dove leaders as they have strategic retreats with local church leaders.