Cambodia

The Culture:

Cambodia has been called the land of tears. The people search for hope in a land that has suffered more than most. Almost every family in Cambodia has experienced violence and death. About two million (one out of four) of their finest have been starved, massacred or maimed by the Khmer Rouge.

Religions:

• Buddhism (87%) is the national religion.
• Spiritism and Buddhism keep the people in darkness.
• Since 1990, Christians been allowed to worship openly.
• There are only 3 Christians for every 1,000 people.
• Christians are persecuted, being told they must leave their farms.

Friends Work:

• We have young growing churches in two cities(the capital, Pnom Penh, and in Battambang) and six additional preaching points.
• All of our pastors or leaders have known Christ less than 10 years.
• Pray for this fragile, infant church, that they would shine for Jesus in the midst of what seems overwhelming darkness.
• We have only a few missionary families among 9 million Cambodians.
• Missionaries are urgently needed now to take the light of Christ to this desperately hurting land.

Our Missionaries

Gary & Christine Colfax

Gary & Christine Colfax moved to Cambodia in 1997. They have recently completed their language study. Kmer is a difficult language, requiring a full year of school in Phnom Penh and nearly another year of formal practice. Gary has recently started teaching TEE (Theological Education by Extension) to lay leaders and Christine has started a women's ministry group. The Colfaxes have three sons.