At least that's what one would think. Church members have managed to raise more than $200,000 in just over a month for their mission projects. That's $42,000 more than they set out to raise.
Members say they were moved by a recent trip to Cambodia where they met families living in internally displaced people camps. These families had been thrown out of their homes, they have no water, no toilets, no electricity, no medical care… and over all, no help. To add to the devastation many families have had children taken from them by child traffickers.
The money raised will go towards projects designed to keep those Cambodian children safe. "Child Safe Zones" will be set up in three of the camps. Qualified care-givers will watch after the kids, make sure they receive meals, educational tools and other opportunities to play.
In the last three years, Gymea Baptist Church has given more than $500,000 to overseas projects. And the commitment to server has expanded beyond the church. Rev. Karl Fasse says they have had guys doing surfathons, kids cooking pink food and hairdressers giving haircuts – all to raise funds and raise awareness of the plight of others.