CAMBODIA

Bordered by Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and the Gulf of Thailand in Southeast Asia, Cambodia is a country striving to rise from its scarred past. For the first time in many years, Cambodians are experiencing some measure of peace and freedom. It’s mostly Khmer-speaking population endured many violent governmental changes in the last half of the 20th century. Invasions by its neighbors, the Vietnam War, and the ruthless Khmer Rouge regime have left Cambodians distrustful and guarded. The trauma from Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979), its mass evacuation of cities and towns, and the ruthless genocide of those they viewed as opposition can be seen across all generations. One result is that approximately one-half of the population is under 21 and uneducated. The economy has also suffered from the turbulent past, and foreign aid accounts for one half of the central government budget. Since the 15th century, Buddhism has been the national religion in Cambodia. Today 85 percent of the population is Buddhist, while less than two percent is Evangelical Christian. In spite of past governmental attempts to eliminate all religions, Christianity has survived. Christians have worshiped openly since 1990, and indigenous church planters have established many new churches. The overwhelming social and emotional traumas of the past have left people open to the gospel. Mature Christian leadership is crucial to mobilize the churches to meet the needs of the people today. Cambodians are hungry for the gospel and are in need of missionaries willing to GO and share the love and life of Jesus.

Bryans Fitzhugh, who for many years partner with us in Border Ministries through University Baptist Church from Fort Worth, serves as DJD Cambodia Ministries, Inc, that has been leading church planting efforts in Cambodia for over 20 years. He has extended invitation to join their efforts in helping improve the spiritual, educational, economic, and physical condition of the people. Each year they plan short-term mission to Cambodia supporting outreach programs such as: school uniforms and supplies to provide for several thousands of children ($12 per child), children’s camp teaching the Bible to kids in the churches (youth from the local churches are trained to lead weekly camp), and youth camp. Also, they support churches with Bibles and song books, and work with the local churches to provide rice to families, which is the main staple in Cambodian’s diet (a ton of rice consists of 20 bags and costs $700 and feeds 60 families for several months). This effort is designed to support long term discipleship processes in local churches focused to school-age children and their families, providing food for families in need, and assisting churches in their quest to transforming their communities thorough the spreading of the gospel and church planting. In 2024 four FBCEP missionaries and in 2025 Anabel and Jake Renteria joined missionaries from University Baptist Church Ft. Worth on missions to Cambodia where we saw firsthand of the need for the gospel, and we are looking forward for a small team to join them this year. They are both feeling led for possible long-term missions to Cambodia.