Up from the Ash Heap

Almost 1,700 people have been baptized since 2005 by Pauley, our Cambodian World Radio coordinator and the church continues to share the light and truth of the simple, powerful message of the man they call Jesus. “One of the most savage slaughters of the 20th Century” describes the Cambodian genocide of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Evidence to this is 60% of the population in Cambodia being under 24 years old. Survivors of the war with Vietnam and extreme Khmer Rouge Marxists are left with deep psychological wounds and are grasping for hope every day.

Only a few thousand Christians survived into the ‘90s but now, despite the horrific past, the local church leaders are baptizing more people and planting more churches than could have been imagined 30 years ago. Their message does not stop with the Gospel, but continues to grow new Christians in the Lord because they need as many workers in the field as possible.

Several “circuit riding” preachers move about sharing the Good News and how to live as co- heir with Christ. These men also assist in planting churches in remote areas as people become children of God

We currently have two programs within Cambodia, in Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham, but we need more. Because of the war with Vietnam, many of the government officials in Cambodia are Vietnamese. We would love to see another program planted exclusively using the Vietnamese language to reach across the border to Vietnam as well as the government within Cambodia. We pray that this will give more freedom to the Christians in Cambodia as their government leaders see the light in their message and the truth about Jesus.

“He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.” 1 Samuel 2:8

Help us deliver the hope of the Gospel to one of poorest countries in the world as they are raised up from the ash heap.