Cambodia, situated in Southeast Asia, has had a long and colorful history. Cambodia's heritage can be traced to the rise of the Khmer empire in the 9th century. Reaching throughout Southeast Asia, the Khmer empire influenced the political, cultural and spiritual developments of the area.
By the mid 19th century, Cambodia, like most other countries in Asia, came under increasing pressure from European colonial powers. In 1864, the country agreed to become a French protectorate.
Cambodia gained independence on 9 November 1953, but through resulting political turmoil the entire nation was plunged into civil war, leading to the Lon Nol Regime from 1970 until the rise of the communist inspired Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge reached Phnom Penh and took power on 17 April 1975. The regime, led by Pol Pot, changed the official name of the country to Democratic Kampuchea, and was heavily influenced and backed by China. They immediately evacuated the cities and sent the entire population on forced marches to rural work projects. They attempted to rebuild the country's agriculture on the model of the 11th century, discarded Western medicine, and destroyed temples, libraries, and anything considered Western.
Approximately one to three million Cambodians, out of a estimated total population of 8 million, died between 1975 to 1979 from the devastating genocides of Pol Pot. This era gave rise to the term Killing Fields, and the prison Tuol Sleng became notorious for its history of mass killing. Hundreds of thousands fled across the border into neighboring Thailand. The regime disproportionately targeted ethnic minority groups and intellectual people. According to Robert D. Kaplan, "eyeglasses were as deadly as the yellow star" as they were seen as a sign of intellectualism. This regime believed killing all of the intellectual people was the easiest way to control the people and curb any ideas of a revolt.
Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978, forcing the Khmer Rouge to flee to the jungles where they were eventually killed or captured. The Khmer Rouge was overthrown on 7 January 1979. Now celebrated as Victory on Genocide Day each January. In May 1993, UN administered elections led to a new Cambodian government, although the repercussion of the Khmer Rouge were still felt throughout Cambodia. As a result, Cambodia is still one of the poorest countries in the world. The average yearly income of a Cambodian is $343 and the life expectancy is 54 years for a male and 61 years for a female.
Even after extended times of war and the resulting poverty, the Cambodian people are opening their hearts to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in every region and province.
"Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
- Matthew 9:37-38
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20
