Cambodian Christian Related Articles

Foot Steps

Cambodia, also known as Kâmpŭchéa, is situated in Southeast Asia. More than a thousand years ago, Cambodia was known as the Khmer (Cambodian) Kingdom of Angkor, a great empire that dominated Southeast Asia for 600 years. A monarchy since ancient times, Cambodia’s most recent history reveals continual political upheaval both from with and from with out.

1863 to 1939, French Protectorate

1939 to 1945, Japanese entered French Indochina

1946 to 1953, French Protectorate

1953 to 1970, Kingdom of Cambodia

1970 to 1975, A Monarchy Replaced by a Republic

1975 to 1979, A Communist regime known as the Khmer Rouge, Democratic  Kâmpŭchéa.

1979 to 1989, A More Moderate Socialism Regime

1989 to 1991, A Cambodian State Regime

1991 to 1993, United Nation Transitional Authority of Cambodia.

1993 to NOW 2^nd Kingdom of Cambodia

During Khmer Rouge reign, the Democratic Kampuchean government nationalized all means of production in Cambodia. Money and private property were abolished, and agriculture was collectivized (ownership was transferred to the people as a group, represented by the state). The Khmer Rouge executed hundreds of thousands more people whom they judged to be enemies of the regime. The atrocities of the Khmer Rouge period decimated Cambodia’s labor force.

As a result of the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror  vengeful feelings became deeply rooted in the hearts of the Cambodian people. Who can fix this problem?  The UN? The Government? Religion? Nobody can, but we Christians can make things better by obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ, the prince of PEACE. As Christians, we believe that people were given the moral freedom to make choices—significant choices. Materialists believe that man is a machine, an automaton. Animists, for their part, believe that man is dominated by outside forces. The truth is that we have real freedom. This means we force both real choices and genuine consequences (I do not understand what you mean here). People are  proactive creators of history, not simply passive onlookers, nor  are do they simply react or respond in terms of cause and effect.

EFC Youth Commission

 For the EFCYC’s  Youth Leadership Camp # 11, will be 303 young people from all over the country of whom we will introduce our Theme to. The Theme of the Camp this year is “Christian Youth as Agents of Peace”. Our intention is to mold this generation of Cambodian youth in the image of Jesus’ teaching regarding peace. If there is no peace there is no development, and no bright future for this country. We want our youth to forget the past conflicts, and to forgive those who have done wrong to them. Forget and forgive are the keys to solving our present conflicts. Peace building has to start with us as Christians. We have to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus.

EFC Youth Conference

In other words, we want to have build a society which knows how to live in harmony and peace together. We have longed to see a Peace Driven society take root in this war torn country for more than two decades now. What does ‘Peace Driven’ stand for?

Promote gender equality and empower women.

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

Achieve universal primary education.

Combat HIV and AIDS, Malaria and other diseases

Ensure environmental sustainability

Develop a global partnership for development

Reduce child mortality

Improve maternal health

Volunteer approach (I say get the young people to help carrying out the project)

Engage the integral mission to the project. (Seila, what does this mean?)

*Seila, you might add how you would get young people to be involved in your acronym above.  What steps to encourage them on each point. bm

I strongly believe that through the young people of Cambodia joining hands together and being inspired by God, the Prince of Peace, they will be able to build a better future for Cambodian history. Then we can be known not because of  Killing Fields but healing fields and prospering fields.

Brian, teaching

Uon Seila is Codirector of EFC Youth Commission