Cambodia The Time Is Now There are 29 countries where believers make up less than 1% of the population. Cambodia is one of those 29 needy countries. Of these 29 countries, only about 10 allow freedom to openly serve as Christians. Cambodia is one of those 10 open countries. Cambodia is a land of mighty rivers, monsoon rains, Buddhist temples, landmines, and a broken people who have little hope for their future. A turbulent national history, most recently under the horrific Pol Pot regime, has left Cambodians physically and spiritually impoverished. The political situation has calmed in the last decade allowing organizations of all kinds to enter in and help Cambodians recover from a war-torn past. Location: Cambodia lies in S.E. Asia and is bordered by Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Cambodia covers an area of 181,035 sq. km (69,884sq. mi.). Rice fields and forests cover most of the land. The climate is tropical.
Language: Khmer is the official language. English and French are also used. Religion: The official religion is Therevada Buddhism (87%). Christians number less than 0.4% of the population.
People: The population of Cambodia is approximately 12 million people. The Khmer, the predominant ethnic group, account for 85% of the population. They are descendants of the Khmer Empire that once controlled much of the Indochina peninsula. There are more than one dozen minority groups such as the immigrant Vietnamese, Cham, Chinese, Kui, Lao, Mnong, and the Tempuan.
History: Powerful kingdoms reigned in Cambodia from the 1st to the 14th Centuries. For the next 500 years the nation was a pawn in regional and global conflicts. During the Pol Pot Regime (1975-79), two to three million people perished. There was a mass exodus of some 50,000 refugees. Cambodia’s 40,000 amputees bear witness to the grim fact that her people still contend with millions of unexploded land mines, a legacy of the Vietnam conflict and civil war. Cambodia has the highest rate of physical disability in the world. Families have been decimated, leaving many widows and orphans.
Cambodia It is difficult to understand Cambodians today without a knowledge of their turbulent history. Over the past 400, years Cambodia has often been controlled by either Thailand to the west or Vietnam to the east. During the years 1975-1979 they endured what is perhaps the darkest chapter of Cambodian history, the rule of Pol Pot. With his radical brand of communism, Pol Pot depopulated the cities of Cambodia and sent people to work in the rural rice fields. People who opposed his rule were often summarily killed, as were the educated or those in power. During his reign of over three years, approximately one million Cambodians perished from starvation, disease, or outright murder. Vietnamese forces entered Cambodia in 1979 and ousted Pol Pot from power. The decade of the 1980s saw Cambodia occupied by Vietnamese forces. The Paris Peace Accords of 1991 paved the way for the United Nations-sponsored general elections of 1993. As a result of the elections, two Prime Ministers co-led the nation of Cambodia. This fragile coalition broke in July of 1997 when Second Prime Minister Hun Sen led a coup and ousted First Prime Minister Norodom Ranariddh. Ministry in Cambodia has historically been difficult. Christian Missionary Alliance missionaries labored for 47 years before they saw a breakthrough after their arrival in 1923. The church had grown to as many as 12,000 in 1975, but an estimated 2,000 are all that survived the Pol Pot regime. Past events have left Cambodians with little hope and an uncertain future. Earning a living for today is their main concern. However, Cambodia is open to foreign help and welcomes development workers. In addition, some groups, including World Team, are allowed to minister in churches. World Team is committed to avail itself of this opportunity and fulfill its vision of planting reproducing churches among the unreached people of this nation.
World Team in Cambodia Following a series of eye-opening survey trips in the early 1990s, World Team, in full dependence upon God, began a ministry in Cambodia. The first missionary couple arrived in 1996 and since then the team has grown to more than 30 missionaries with additional people in preparation for joining them. The vision of World Team in Cambodia is to see churches multiply across Cambodia until there is a local church available for every 1,000 Cambodians. World Team’s ministry in Cambodia began in Phnom Penh, the capital city. Living Waters church was the first church born of the ministry and it continues to be a growing fellowship of Cambodian believers. In 2003, a small team moved to the northern province of Preah Vihear to disciple and encourage a small band of believers. Since then, God has used key gatekeepers to spread the Gospel throughout the community and a harvest of souls is being won for Christ in that region.
Demonstrating the love of Christ through physical and spiritual care. World Team’s Heart and Health initiative is bearing fruit in Cambodia’s rural villages.
Numerous agencies are working primarily to meet the overwhelming physical and social needs of the Cambodian people. World Team believes that genuine and lasting change, in individuals and Cambodian society, will come through the Cambodian church. Therefore, we are committed to a holistic ministry approach, responding to both physical and spiritual needs. Our desire is to evangelize and disciple national leaders, equip them with the Word, and encourage their passion for reaching out to the lost around them. At the same time, community health and medical ministries help demonstrate the love of God in practical ways to the Cambodian people and provide a bridge for building trust and establishing relationships for sharing the Gospel. Cambodia is still a needy country. Her people are hungry for hope and many are responding to the message of hope found in the Gospel. The doors are open. The harvest is ripe. Now is the time for Cambodia. We are looking for others to join us in this work the Lord has begun. Cambodia needs evangelists, Bible study leaders, and community development and public heath workers. Financial support is needed to fan the flames of this growing work. Most importantly, Cambodia needs your prayers. Cambodia is hungry for hope! Opportunities abound to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of the Khmer people and other minority groups. Is God moving you to be a part of His work in Cambodia? Contact World Team today.
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