August 11, 2026
Mission Partner Highlight: ICF Cambodia
Our partnership with ICF Cambodia began through friendship. Years ago, ICF’s Lead Pastor Eddie Roach was leading short-term mission trips with teenagers when he met Phillip and Sarah Villarreal. That connection opened the door for Church on the Move to join ICF in their mission to help underprivileged kids stay in school, support families holistically, and—above all—help people know Jesus.
From the start, the vision was clear: mission trips are a win-win for both the sending church and the receiving church. As Eddie shared, “Church on the Move was the very first mission trip we organized and received. We saw miracles and salvations. We saw passion growing in Church on the Move and in our church.”
“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.”
Psalm 96:3
What Happens When We Serve Together
Every trip to Cambodia is unique, but the heartbeat is the same: relational outreach and practical service. When COTM teams join ICF, we step into a ministry that listens to the Holy Spirit and loves people deeply. Together, we’ve engaged in:
- Relational Outreach: Visiting homes, listening to stories, praying with families, and building trust.
- Community Events: Supporting large gatherings that draw kids and families into connection and care.
- Painting & Facility Projects: From restoring bleachers to upgrading equipment—projects that ICF couldn’t tackle alone.
- Creative Classes & Art Groups: Bringing joy and creativity to kids and teens.
- Manual Service: Washing dishes, cleaning kitchens, and serving behind the scenes.
- Daycare Sponsorship: A game-changer for staff and vulnerable women in villages—keeping families together and preventing trafficking.
Bethany Roach, who pastors ICF Cambodia alongside her husband, called it relational outreach: “We go house to house, introduce ourselves, listen, pray, and follow up. An average week for us is six quality conversations with people who’ve never heard about Jesus. When Church on the Move came last year, we had 96 in one week.”
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
Discipleship Beyond the Outreach
The impact goes both ways. For ICF Cambodia, these trips bring resources and manpower for projects that would otherwise take years. For COTM, they create defining spiritual moments. As Eddie shared, “When we engage in what God’s doing, whether across the street or across the world, we can’t help but be changed.”
The daycare story is a perfect example. What started as a dream became reality when COTM stepped in. “Pastor Greg Scott from Church on the Move asked me for something small, medium, and big,” Eddie said, “The big dream was a daycare. He just smiled and said, ‘That’s us.’ Now we have this incredible daycare that keeps families together and empowers women to work.”
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Proverbs 27:17
Why Missions Matter in Cambodia: A Word from Todd Walker
“We call it a discipleship step. It’s not just jumping on a plane to do good things—it’s actively participating in the mission of God together.”
—Todd Walker, Church on the Move Missions Director
Todd reminds us that missions isn’t about choosing between local or global—it’s about joining God’s one story. Trips like Cambodia help us break out of our bubbles and experience God in new ways. “Sometimes it takes getting out of our comfort zone—even out of our own culture—to experience Him in a new way. It changes us personally,” Todd said.
“We come alongside what God is already doing,” he said, “And when we do, we can’t help but be changed—just like the team members who return home with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper love for the global Church.”
Stories of Transformation
From hut-to-hut conversations that lead to prayer and salvation, to facility upgrades that strengthen ministry, the testimonies are powerful. And the daycare? It’s more than a building—it’s a lifeline for families and a beacon of hope for women at risk. Every trip reminds us that God’s mission is bigger than borders—and that when we serve together, lives are changed on both sides.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”
Ephesians 3:20
Looking Ahead
Our partnership with ICF Cambodia is more than a trip—it’s a shared mission to bring hope and healing to Southeast Asia. Every conversation, every prayer, and every project is part of God’s bigger story. And as we look toward future opportunities—expanding outreach, supporting families, and strengthening local churches—we know this truth: the best is yet to come.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”
Matthew 9:37
How COTM Missions Work (At a Glance)
If you’re interested in joining a Church on the Move mission trip, we’d love to have you! Here’s a quick outline of what you can expect from joining a team:
- Fall: Trips will be unveiled for the upcoming year, and the application season opens.
- New Year: Teams get finalized, and team meetings begin to build relationships and get prepared.
- The Trip: We fold into what our partners are doing—coming alongside, not over.
- Post-trip: A debrief to discern how God moved and identify next steps at home, followed by a celebration with all the trip members to close out the mission season.
