Grace Brethren missions began in Cambodia through a Cambodian believer, Vek Huong Taing, who had formed a friendship with Jay Bell in the Long Beach Grace Brethren church. Huong and his wife had survived the “killing fields,” four years of terror during which the Khmer Rouge had murdered nearly one-third of the population.
Huong had begun evangelizing Cambodian refugees in Thailand, and invited the American brethren for some exploratory trips, leading to the involvement of several American churches sending teams to Cambodia. The tragic events of that country opened many thousands to the gospel. In 1997, the Grace Brethren movement in Cambodia consisted of three traditional churches ministering to 155 people.
One month later apostolic teams were launched on motorbikes into the villages surrounding the city of Battambang. By the end of the decade nearly eighty Points of Light, a term designating house groups that were becoming churches, could count 1,000 adults. All of this was carried on with the cooperation of teams from American churches. In 2000, newlyweds Steve and Debbie Wise began in-depth training of the Cambodian apostles, later moving to the capital city, Phnom Penh, to continue their training ministries.
Cambodians continue to seek to penetrate the villages. Kevin and Jill Kane currently serve in Battambang, joined for several years by Kent and Becky Good, who had served for many years in France. Tim Robertson, who serves with his wife Jessica, is using art and photography to reach people. One of the recent outstanding accomplishments has been the purchase and renovation of a Ministry Training Center.
Huong had begun evangelizing Cambodian refugees in Thailand, and invited the American brethren for some exploratory trips, leading to the involvement of several American churches sending teams to Cambodia. The tragic events of that country opened many thousands to the gospel. In 1997, the Grace Brethren movement in Cambodia consisted of three traditional churches ministering to 155 people.
One month later apostolic teams were launched on motorbikes into the villages surrounding the city of Battambang. By the end of the decade nearly eighty Points of Light, a term designating house groups that were becoming churches, could count 1,000 adults. All of this was carried on with the cooperation of teams from American churches. In 2000, newlyweds Steve and Debbie Wise began in-depth training of the Cambodian apostles, later moving to the capital city, Phnom Penh, to continue their training ministries.
Cambodians continue to seek to penetrate the villages. Kevin and Jill Kane currently serve in Battambang, joined for several years by Kent and Becky Good, who had served for many years in France. Tim Robertson, who serves with his wife Jessica, is using art and photography to reach people. One of the recent outstanding accomplishments has been the purchase and renovation of a Ministry Training Center.
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