Working in God's Print Shop: Stories from Light Asia Publishing - Cambodia
Mrs. White famously wrote that our literature should be "scattered like leaves of autumn" to share Bible Truth around the world (In Heavenly Places, p. 323). However, in Asia, Spirit of Prophecy books and other Adventist literature can be very difficult to find, especially in the local languages of the people.
Jon Wood recorded the closing of the only Adventist Printing facility in Bangkok in 2010 in the series “I Want This City.”
Kenton Rogers saw that video and felt impressed by God to move, with his family, to Cambodia to start a new publishing house for Southeast Asia. We hope you will be blessed by Kenton's recent update on how God is growing this printing ministry!
Kenton Rogers with his family
By Kenton Rogers
Literature helps to share the light of Jesus Christ with those who sit in darkness and provides spiritual nourishment for those who are daily growing in the light. Our focus for Light Asia Publishing is to help print the needed literature in the languages of Southeast Asia. Generations have passed without the opportunity to know about the Gospel hope and the privilege of walking with God. (Titus 3:7; 2 Cor. 6:16).
This publishing house in Cambodia is God's print shop. It exists for His mission, and He is the one who sustains it. Each day and month, God has worked in many ways and through many people to provide what is needed to go forward. It has not always been according to my plans or time frame. But as I look back, this print shop is here only because of His provision. Through each difficulty, God has aided—giving wisdom, skill, assistance, and financial support.
We have grown over the years. Our print shop assistant recently finished his university studies and is now full-time. We also have a pastor working with us full-time to translate the Great Controversy and help review some other books. Together with two contract-based and one part-time employee, they comprise our current translation team. These translators work from their homes located across Cambodia. In Laos, we have one translator working on books for his language.
Translation is the most time-consuming part of creating literature in Southeast Asian languages. Finding good translators with a biblical understanding is challenging. Our translators have been able to utilize AI as a helpful tool, but it does not replace their experience and decision-making. I value each one of the translators we work with.
A New Press and a God-Given Technician
Kenton with the visiting Technician and a Cambodian team member
A year ago, we purchased a second-hand Komori offset printing press. Through a connection in the States, we learned about a Seventh-day Adventist Press Technician. After many schedule changes and a lot of prayer, he was finally able to come at the beginning of June and stayed for three weeks. We were blessed to work with and have the help of an experienced technician who leaned upon God as he worked. He set up the press and trained us on it. He also fixed two other machines (one of which two local technicians had given up on after four days of trying to repair it). I am thankful that God also gives me the wisdom to work on the toner/laser printers.
Current Printing and Translation Projects
The Khmer (Cambodian Language) Sabbath School lesson book for this quarter
Editing a Translation Manuscript
Some of our printing projects have been for the local Cambodia Seventh-day Adventist Mission. We have been printing the Sabbath school lessons and other books that they have translated. I am glad we can work with the Mission on these projects.
We are also printing some of our own projects. One of these is the book Living by Faith in Thai and Khmer (the Cambodian language). For the Thai version, we have finished printing over 3,000 books. They are ready to ship, but we are praying for peace on the troubled (and currently closed) border of Thailand and Cambodia. The Khmer version is now ready for printing.
Cambodia also has many Chinese residents. So we have printed 500 copies of the Chinese Great Controversy, which is 480 pages long. We are also creating a cover for it and starting the binding process.
Several other book translations are getting very close to printing. These are Lessons Jesus Taught (simplified Christ's Object Lessons), Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, The Sanctified Life, and Steps to Christ. The books that we are currently in the midst of translating are Great Controversy, Desire of Ages, and several story books.
Expanding into India
Praneeth's print shop dedication service
Neighborhood children with their new Bible Coloring books
A few years ago, God connected us with Praneeth in India. He was working on starting a small print shop. Together with a man from Canada, we were able to get Praneeth some printing equipment. After working from his house, he was recently able to move into a rented facility. Local church members had a dedication service in his first month there. The following week, the neighborhood children came asking for paper to draw on. He did not have paper for them, but instead offered them a Bible coloring book, which they eagerly accepted. Then they spread the word about the coloring books. A long line of children received their copy of the Bible coloring book. Praneeth's shop has also printed several books for IYC (India Youth Conference).
Prayer Requests and Current Needs
Living by Faith in Thai, ready for shipping. Please pray for God to provide a way for these books to get to Thailand.
As we move forward, we desire your prayers for God to continue providing the necessary wisdom and guidance. The translators need the influence of the Holy Spirit as they share the messages of truth in their language. We desire prayer for God's provision for paper and ink/toner costs for each printing. We also need another assistant in the print shop and a proficient Christian Khmer translator. There is a great need for a collator machine to work together with the newly set-up printing press. When we print 5,000 to 10,000 copies of each signature (a group of pages on one sheet of paper) for a book that has 30 signatures, we must collect those signatures into a complete book by hand, which is a considerable task.
In the far corner of northern India is a lady who has been working with distributing Seventh-day Adventist books. She heard about Praneeth's print shop. She desired him to help her get started printing books, as it is very difficult to obtain books where she is located. He shared her desire with me. Currently, I do not have the funding to get her set up. But God willing and with His blessing, there could be another Christian print shop in India.
Please pray with us for God's work to go forward and the light to spread quickly as we approach the final moments of earth's history.
If God is inspiring you to partner with Light Asia Publishing to print literature for Southeast Asia, please click the button below.