A Simple Gift Brings New Life
in Cambodia
Day 20: A Simple Gift Brings New Life In Cambodia
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. – John 15:7
The Western Cham, a Muslim people group, have lived in Buddhist-majority Cambodia since the 17th century. Traditionally fishermen and farmers, they endured devastating persecution under the Pol Pot regime, when more than a third of their population was massacred in the 1970s. Today, around 600,000 Cham remain, holding tightly to their language, traditions, and faith.
In a quiet village, three hours from Phnom Penh, lives Hiba, an elderly Cham woman in her eighties. Surrounded by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, her days were once marked by routine — until a simple gift sparked a life-changing journey.
Two Jesus followers who regularly visit Hiba’s village gave her a New Testament in her own language, loaded onto a small audio player. Curiosity stirred within Hiba as she listened, and she began exploring other Bible narratives with the two Christians who visited each week.
One night, Hiba had a vivid, unforgettable dream: she saw Jesus judging the people of the earth, sending some to heaven and others to hell. The vision gripped her heart. She realized, with unshakable clarity, that Jesus was the way, the truth, and the life.
From that moment, Hiba became passionate about her new faith. She eagerly shared the gospel with family and friends. Today, two of her daughters and two great-granddaughters join her — along with the visiting believers — to pray, eat, and study Scripture together. Their doors are always open, and sometimes husbands or neighbors join in.
Faith is taking root. Hiba reports that ten people have been baptized, and her small community of believers continues to grow, a living testament to the resilience of the human spirit and God’s quiet, transformative work among the Cham.
*pseudonym
HOW WE CAN PRAY
- Pray for spiritual openness: Ask God to soften hearts among Cambodian Muslims, that they would be curious about Jesus and encounter Him through dreams, visions, or relationships with believers.
- Pray for access to God’s Word: Lift up efforts to provide Bibles, audio Scriptures, and teaching materials in local languages, and pray that these resources would spark faith and understanding.
- Pray for protection and perseverance: Many Cambodian Muslims live in communities where following Jesus could bring social pressure or rejection. Pray for courage, safety, and steadfast faith for those who explore the lifestyle of following Jesus.
- Pray for families and communities: Pray that entire households would experience God’s love together, and that small groups of believers like Hiba’s family would grow and support one another in faith.
- Pray for peace and reconciliation: Ask God to bring healing between religious and ethnic groups in Cambodia, fostering understanding, friendship, and opportunities for the gospel to spread in ways that transform communities.