The Cambodia Team

On April 17th, 1975 the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, took over power in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. In order to turn Cambodia into a Maoist, peasant-dominated agrarian cooperative, all the city dwellers were forced into the countryside or to labor camps. Hospitals, schools, stores, religion and family were banned. Children were separated from their families and forced to work in mobile groups or as soldiers. People were given minimal rations and forced to work in unbearable conditions.

Many were killed for not working hard enough, for being educated, for being ethnically different, for being too young or too old, or for showing sympathy as they witnessed other family members being killed. By execution, torture and starvation, an estimated 2 million Cambodians, or 30% of the population, died during the reign of Pol Pot.

Cambodians are now rebuilding their lives, their culture, their very identity. The country is young, the average age is a mere 20 years old. A small middle class is emerging, though heartbreaking poverty is still the norm. Friendly and sociable, Cambodians are hungry for a new hope.

Openness to the gosepl has led Xenos Christian Fellowship to commission four couples to lvie as church planters in Cambodia. Tim and Marjie with their 4 children; Dustin and Sarah with their 3 children; Bob and Julie with their 2 children; and Chris and Amy and their 2 children are all dedicated to bringing the gospel in word and deed to Cambodia. The team is hard at work in language learning, building relationships, teaching the Bible and offering free medical and health care to the poor, as well as other forms of assistance.

Two large tasks for the team are 1) equipping Christians to serve their country men in ways that are culturally relevant and reproducible, and 2) facilitate church planting.

If you are interested in being part of God's work in Cambodia, there are several ways you can help:

• Prayer partners - Prayer is the most important aspect of any church planting effort. Without it, we labor in vain. CONTACT INFORMATION

• Financial Partners - Consider supporting one or more of our church planters. Each family depends on monthly support from financial partners. This is an excellent way to particpate in the work God is accomplishing in Cambodia. CONTACT INFORMATION

• Advocacy Team - This team seeks to educate, increase awareness, and communicate what God is doing in Cambodia with the local church. CONTACT INFORMATION

• Home Support Team - Assists with the administrative and logitstical needs of the church planters. CONTACT INFORMATION

• Humanitarian Aid and Development:

  • Hope for Cambodia's Children - Your gift will serve the youngest and most-vulnerable members of Cambodian society. More than 35,000 children between the ages of five and 12 participate in weekly, interactive programs that focus on health, hygiene, nutrition and the love of Jesus. You can help restore physical health and foster spiritual rebirth for these children.
  • Mentoring Initiative - provides general education, Bible training, meals and transportation for 7 Cambodian Christian workers