The Western Cham are a Muslim people group with their own language who have lived in Buddhist majority Cambodia since the 17th century. Traditionally fishermen and farmers, they were severely persecuted under the Pol Pot regime, with more than a third of their population massacred in the 1970s. They now number about 600,000.
Mei is an elderly Cham woman in her eighties who lives in a small village about 3 hours from Phnom Penh with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The gift of a New Testament in her own language on a small audio player fed Mei’s curiosity about the gospel and she began working through the Bible narratives with two believers who visit her village regularly. Then, one night Mei had a vivid dream about Jesus judging the people of the earth, sending them to heaven and hell. This convinced her that He was the way the truth and the life.
Today she is eager to share her faith whenever she meets family and friends. Two daughters and two great granddaughters regularly join with her and the two believing visitors to pray, eat and study stories from the scripture. The meetings are open for others to join. Sometimes one of their husbands joins them. Recently around ten more people were baptized so the small community of faith is growing.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we ask that You speak to the Cham people through the Cham-language audio Bible and other spiritual resources, so that they may understand Your word and come to know You. May more believers like Mei seize opportunities at weddings, funerals, and everyday gatherings to share Your word and naturally pray for those in need, so that the gospel may flow like a spring among the Cham communities of Cambodia. May more families join Christian fellowship and grow in spiritual health and maturity. As the Lord says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” May Your word dwell in the hearts of the Cham people, and may their prayers be answered. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
