Cambodia: Bringing in a New Harvest

Thanks to your prayers and generous support, there are now 38 local pastors serving, evangelizing and planting churches among Cambodia's unreached peoples. Another 9 pastors, fully supported by this ministry, have recently been launched into northern Cambodia to plant churches.

This is an amazing work we are embarking on in association with these local pastors. In a nation of 16 million people, with only an estimated 150,000 Christians, these sold-out ministers are bringing in a new harvest. Many regions of Cambodia are without any form of gospel witness. Now these dynamic pastors are taking the gospel everywhere they go, often to people who have never heard the name of Jesus. Even many Buddhists and atheists are becoming radically devoted followers of Christ.

The pastors also minister among the poorest of the poor. In every region Cambodians face tremendous needs because of the country's extreme poverty rate. Most workers make less than two dollars a day. Some of these pastors have felt led to move their families into impoverished communities to show the practical love of Jesus. They distribute food to the hungry, help supply clean water and operate medical clinics. Recently World Challenge sent a medical team into several villages, serving and healing the people, many of whom were brought to Christ. These works provide a great open door for families, primarily Buddhist, to hear the gospel. Already 644 families have been reached.

The work of God in Cambodia at present is amazing considering its brutal history. In 1975, some 2 million people were murdered during a terrifying genocide. At that time an estimated 200 Christians survived. Today God is raising up from those ashes a young and powerful church that is radically taking the gospel light across the land. A church is being planted every week, and Christianity is seeing its fastest growth since mission work there began.

Medical clinic and evangelism outreach at former Khmer Rouge Interrogation building in an unreached village in Cambodia.

In the capital, Phnom Penh, World Challenge helps support a school with over 400 children. The need among Cambodia's youngsters is overwhelming. An estimated 50,000 children are forced into the sex-slave trade. The nation also has the highest rate of child abandonment in Southeast Asia. Yet in the midst of this great need God is doing a marvelous work. If you could see these precious children worshiping Jesus, you would be hard pressed to hold back tears. We believe they are the next generation to bring the gospel light to Cambodia.

We wish to continue expanding our partnership with the faith-filled pastors here, men who are bringing the life-transforming gospel to this very needy nation. A growing church plus growing opportunities equal growing needs:

• More unreached communities need to hear the gospel.
• More pastors need to be trained and supported to be sent.
• There is a great need for Bibles to be distributed among the lost masses.
• Young children need to be educated that they might know Christ.
• There is a need for ministry to rescue children captured in the sex-slave trade.

You can make a difference; you can help meet these critical needs. Please ask Jesus to fall upon this nation in his power. 100% of what you give toward Cambodia will go directly to these needs and help advance this marvelous gospel work.

With you in Christ,
Gary Wilkerson