Cambodia

Adapted from a conversation with Michael Kenyon on the Follow Forward Podcast.*

In his must-read book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer diagnoses the 21st-century addiction to busyness as follows:

“An overbusy, hurried life of speed is the new normal in the Western world—and it’s toxic.”

This toxicity can deeply impact our disciple-making. We want instant results and immediate impact through our evangelism and mission endeavours. Yet real and lasting change in a person’s life almost always requires a long-term commitment.

Michael Kenyon is living out that commitment. His mission among young men in Cambodia is shaped by a willingness to play the long game.

The Road That Leads to Nowhere

Like many young people, Michael spent his early years chasing the illusion of success in all the familiar ways.

“I had a list. I wanted to have a nice car, a hot girlfriend, money in the bank, a nice job.”

Trained as a chef, he was living life in the fast lane. But one by one, those aspirations dissolved, and his life collapsed into addiction and homelessness. Yet, rather than destroy him, this became the avenue for transformation:

“That’s actually where Jesus met me… on the streets… when I had lost everything.”

As Michael began to rebuild his life, older men stepped in to disciple him, making a patient, long-term investment that would bear surprising fruit.

On a Road to Somewhere

Michael never planned to be a missionary. When he first sensed God calling him to Cambodia, he didn’t even know where it was. His first mission trip was more about the journey than the destination.

“I thought I was going to South America… then I showed up in Asia.”

What stands out in Michael’s story is not certainty, but obedience. He followed before fully understanding and discovered a vocation that would ultimately lead him to relocate permanently to Cambodia.

No Quick Fix

Perhaps, like me, you don’t know much about Cambodia beyond the Pol Pot–led genocide depicted in The Killing Fields (1984). Although these events took place over 50 years ago, Michael explains that Cambodia still carries deep layers of generational trauma.

There are no quick fixes in such a context—and this reality shapes his approach to mission.

“When I talk about the long game, I’m talking about generational change—not just now, but change that lasts.”

Michael’s strategy is to walk closely with a small number of young men for as long as it takes. Progress is slow and often messy—but deeply transformative. Given that Christianity is a minority faith in Cambodia, patience is essential to see the first shoots of Kingdom fruit emerge.

Low and Slow Is Still the Way

Michael’s training as a chef has opened up unexpected opportunities for mission. Together with the young men he disciples, he has helped establish an American barbecue restaurant in Cambodia, which provides employment, community, and a space for discipleship.

More than just part of his ministry, the kitchen has given Michael a metaphor for how discipleship really works through the example of how they cook the American staple — brisket!

“Brisket is tough. You cook it low and slow, for a long time—and at the end, it’s gold.”

Customers in Cambodia can’t get enough of it. Michael applies the same principle to discipleship:

“That’s how I see discipleship—not hot and fast. Low and slow… over a long period of time… really helping these young guys develop a deep relationship with the Lord.”

This steady approach creates space for Christ-like character to be formed. It is a follow forward way of life, offering young people vulnerable to destructive patterns a place to belong.

“We help people belong first… along the way, the hope is that they will believe.”

Committing to the Long Game

Michael is not in a hurry. He is seeking to follow the example of Christ with faithfulness in the context God has placed him. He sums up discipleship in this simple way:

“Live a life worthy of your calling—and invite others along for the ride.”

His example challenges us to live counter-culturally as we obey Jesus’ call to make disciples.

Where might God be inviting me to slow down, stay present, and invest more deeply in people rather than pursue quick results?

What would “playing the long game” of discipleship look like in my own context?

The irony is this: committing to the long game of discipleship does not make us less fruitful. Instead, it is a radical act of obedience and one that often leads to deeper, more lasting impact as we faithfully serve Christ.

*To find out more about the Follow Forward Podcast, click here.
To listen to Michael’s interview, choose your preferred platform: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.