Population: 11,500,000
Buddhist 82%, Chinese/Traditional 9%, Muslims 4%, Christian 2% (evangelicals 1%)
Mission District
- Organized Free Methodist Churches: 5
- FMC Membership: 603
- Ordained Ministers: 2
- Ministerial Candidates: 2
Origins
Rev. Sok Em and his wife, Savy, became Christians while they were living in a refugee camp in Thailand. Sok received Bible training while there. In 1985, the Ems and their three children immigrated to Canada. In 1992 Rev. Em, an ordained member of the Canadian General Conference and supported by the Canadian Free Methodist Church, returned to his village of Prek Thei to begin the work in Cambodia. The Cambodian Free Methodist Church officially began in 1994 as a project of the Asia Pacific Free Methodist Missions Association, with the Hong Kong Free Methodist Church responsible for supervision.
Present Ministries
Nine missionaries overseen by Asia Pacific Free Methodist Missions Association (APFMMA) form a multicultural ministry team in Cambodia. Joel and Elva Grace Margin arrived in June 2000 from The Philippines, and Joel now serves as the field supervisor. Rebecca Chung from Hong Kong and the Wilkins (Chris is American and his wife, Yuko, is supported by the Japan Free Methodist churches) joined these missionaries in 2002. Davis Lam from Hong Kong arrived in 2003, and Mui-ling Lee, also from Hong Kong, joined the team in mid-2004. Christina Leung from Hong Kong and Helen Cabayao from The Philippines arrived in late 2006.
Most current members have been converted from Buddhism. Thriving ministries include three International Child Care hostels, church planting through community health education/evangelism, and livelihood projects to support pastors and provide income for church members. Free Methodist churches in Hong Kong, the Philippines and the U.S. have made many medical and evangelistic trips to Cambodia.
Canadian Involvement
Rev. Sok and Savy Em are Canadian Free Methodists involved in a leadership training program based in Kampong Chnang. Their present assignment in Cambodia began in early 2006. |
Leadership Development
Half of the people in Cambodia are under 20 years old. Most have never heard the gospel, even once. Pastors are often fairly recent converts, with little experience or training in how to care for their flocks of even younger and newer believers. In this kind of spiritual climate, a little investment in training and encouragement goes a long way. Some people claim that Cambodia has the fastest growing church in the world. Without adequate statistics that claim is impossible to verify, but there is no doubt that Cambodians need hope, and that they are open to listen and respond to the gospel right now. Church planting and leadership training are huge needs. |
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