Carry On Winter 2022
A publication for alumni, partners and friends of Life Pacific University with news, current events, and stories, including updates for alumni from LPU, or LPU-VA, LIFE Bible College, Mount Vernon Bible College, and LIFE Bible College - East. Check out the latest and greatest at LPU!
A publication for alumni, partners and friends of Life Pacific University with news, current events, and stories, including updates for alumni from LPU, or LPU-VA, LIFE Bible College, Mount Vernon Bible College, and LIFE Bible College - East. Check out the latest and greatest at LPU!
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
LPU ALUMNA NAOMI (HOKYO) LYFORD ’07:<br />
SERVING IN CAMBODIA<br />
Called to missions at the age<br />
of 8, Naomi Hokyo knew she’d<br />
serve God by going to the<br />
nations. Graduating from Life<br />
Pacific in 2007, she worked<br />
abroad many years through<br />
YWAM, starting schools in<br />
Africa and then Malaysia,<br />
before working with the<br />
Burmese people in Myanmar.<br />
When Naomi met Uriah Lyford,<br />
another YWAM missionary, the<br />
couple knew God had positioned<br />
them to partner together in life<br />
and in ministry. Now married<br />
with two daughters, Uriah and<br />
Naomi consider themselves<br />
a “family on mission” as they<br />
work to strengthen and expand<br />
their ministry in Cambodia.<br />
Ministry efforts keep them<br />
busy, and God continues to<br />
bless their labor. Even though<br />
the Lyfords are experiencing<br />
a fruitful harvest for their work,<br />
Naomi is quick to explain, “It’s not<br />
just numbers. It’s about the people.<br />
We are connected to these people<br />
in a way that we are going to get to<br />
walk with them.”<br />
“IT’S ABOUT THE PEOPLE.”<br />
Currently, Naomi and Uriah<br />
are focused on establishing a<br />
youth movement to help young<br />
Cambodians understand their<br />
identity as children of God and as<br />
Cambodians. Seeking to empower<br />
young people so that they will not<br />
just survive but thrive is at the heart<br />
of this endeavor. The strategic<br />
importance of this vision is immense<br />
considering the nation’s history of<br />
war characterized by a targeted<br />
persecution of the educated adults<br />
in the nation, leaving behind scores<br />
of orphaned, impoverished, and<br />
disenfranchised children.<br />
Naomi’s connection to the LPU<br />
community remains strong and<br />
she is grateful for her time at LIFE<br />
as a college student, “I believe the<br />
education and training I received<br />
at LIFE is directly connected to<br />
the ‘success’ I’m having now in<br />
ministry.” According to Naomi,<br />
LPU is “the kind of institution that<br />
will adequately train you for life,<br />
to be a light and example in your<br />
community and in the world in<br />
whatever vocation you choose.”<br />
CAMBODIA<br />
WITHIN THE PAST YEAR,<br />
NAOMI & URIAH<br />
IMPACTED...<br />
42,000<br />
STUDENTS<br />
2,500<br />
FAMILIES<br />
40<br />
FT STAFF/STUDENTS<br />
4 MILLION+<br />
REACH<br />
Enrolled over<br />
42,000 students in<br />
their online school.<br />
Provided a 1-month supply<br />
of food to 2,500+ families<br />
in the poorest communities<br />
most affected by COVID-19.<br />
Led a discipleship<br />
community of over<br />
40 full-time staff &<br />
students.<br />
Managed a social<br />
media platform which<br />
has reached over 4<br />
million people.<br />
Watch this interview to learn more about<br />
how God is using the Lyfords in Cambodia:<br />
vimeo.com/668025198/8583d18823<br />
Scan to<br />
watch.<br />
WINTER <strong>2022</strong> / 4
Change language