WIN: Cambodia - Persecution
My main interest in Cambodia arose when I first met a baptist lady going to reach Cambodia in the early 1990's & then when I discussed the Bible with S.H., the son of a Cambodian Cabinet official, about 3-4 years later. This entry has been slightly editted.
- Mert Hershberger
=====
Cambodia, Southeast Asi
Leader: Prime Minister Hun Sen
Dominant Religion: Buddhism
Christians: <1%
Persecution Ranking: Not Ranked
In 1990, Christianity was again permitted in Cambodia after 15 years of prohibition. ... [The] government's main concern was rebuilding the country. Their attention to Christianity was diminished, and this gave Cambodian Christians an opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and plant new churches without harassment. During the 1990s, churches were planted in every Cambodian province. However, the government is not totally relaxed in how they view Christians. Therefore, religious freedom is still very fragile.
Buddhist nationalism has increased in Cambodia in recent years. In November 2002, the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA) recommended that all references to "God" be removed from school textbooks. CITA maintains such references are unconstitutional as Cambodia's constitution states that Buddhism is the state religion. They even said that God "is a medicine that is poisoning students and will lead to social unrest." In February 2003, Cambodia's ministry of cults and religious affairs issued a directive to ban all Christian proselytising.
<+><
Prayer points:
= Pray for complete and well-entrenched religious liberty for Christians in Cambodia.
= Pray that Buddhist nationalism will decrease in Cambodia and that the Cambodian government and authorities will treat Christians fairly and respect their religious freedom.
= Pray for the growth and spiritual maturity of the Cambodian Church and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will spread throughout that country.
<+><
Almighty God, we thank You for the growth of the Cambodian Church despite the loss of so many Christians to Khmer Rouge atrocities. We pray that Christians will be able to make a major contribution to the rebuilding of Cambodia and assist Cambodians in tackling their many social problems. We pray for complete religious freedom for Cambodia's Christians and that Buddhist nationalism will significantly decrease in Cambodia. O LORD, protect Cambodia's Christians, including the Vietnamese Montagnard refugee community. May these refugees not be deported, but rather find permanent asylum in Cambodia or another country.
<+><
Sources: LifeAgape International, Barnabus Fund, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Forum 18 News Service, Jubilee Campaign, Middle East Concern, Open Doors International, and 3P Ministries
----------------------------------------
"Copyright © 2005, Window International Network. All rights reserved."
- Mert Hershberger
=====
Cambodia, Southeast Asi
Leader: Prime Minister Hun Sen
Dominant Religion: Buddhism
Christians: <1%
Persecution Ranking: Not Ranked
In 1990, Christianity was again permitted in Cambodia after 15 years of prohibition. ... [The] government's main concern was rebuilding the country. Their attention to Christianity was diminished, and this gave Cambodian Christians an opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and plant new churches without harassment. During the 1990s, churches were planted in every Cambodian province. However, the government is not totally relaxed in how they view Christians. Therefore, religious freedom is still very fragile.
Buddhist nationalism has increased in Cambodia in recent years. In November 2002, the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA) recommended that all references to "God" be removed from school textbooks. CITA maintains such references are unconstitutional as Cambodia's constitution states that Buddhism is the state religion. They even said that God "is a medicine that is poisoning students and will lead to social unrest." In February 2003, Cambodia's ministry of cults and religious affairs issued a directive to ban all Christian proselytising.
<+><
Prayer points:
= Pray for complete and well-entrenched religious liberty for Christians in Cambodia.
= Pray that Buddhist nationalism will decrease in Cambodia and that the Cambodian government and authorities will treat Christians fairly and respect their religious freedom.
= Pray for the growth and spiritual maturity of the Cambodian Church and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will spread throughout that country.
<+><
Almighty God, we thank You for the growth of the Cambodian Church despite the loss of so many Christians to Khmer Rouge atrocities. We pray that Christians will be able to make a major contribution to the rebuilding of Cambodia and assist Cambodians in tackling their many social problems. We pray for complete religious freedom for Cambodia's Christians and that Buddhist nationalism will significantly decrease in Cambodia. O LORD, protect Cambodia's Christians, including the Vietnamese Montagnard refugee community. May these refugees not be deported, but rather find permanent asylum in Cambodia or another country.
<+><
Sources: LifeAgape International, Barnabus Fund, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Forum 18 News Service, Jubilee Campaign, Middle East Concern, Open Doors International, and 3P Ministries
----------------------------------------
"Copyright © 2005, Window International Network. All rights reserved."
Comments