Mis- sionaries translated the Bible, and wrote, translated and printed. Bible
school curricu- lum, tracts, new believer materials,. Bible studies, songs and more
.
PUBLISHING WORLDWIDE
CAMBODIA
Serving Khmer Christians
Steve Westergren describes efforts in providing literature for Cambodians.
T
he Alliance Literature 1975. During those very late 1978 when word frightening years of war, Department is part of started trickling out about tens of thousands of the Christian and Misthe state of affairs. It is Khmer accepted Jesus as sionary Alliance (C&MA) estimated between 1-3 their Savior. At least 29 denomination. The C&MA million people died of meeting points are known starvation, malnutrition in Cambodia was the only to have existed throughprotestant evangelical misor mass killings. Thouout Phnom Penh in 1974. sands of believers and sion in the country from 1923 to 1973. Mispastors died. sionaries translated Refugees began to the Bible, and wrote, flow out of the country translated and printed in 1975 but was halted Bible school curricuconsiderably during lum, tracts, new the Khmer Rouge believer materials, years. Dozens of Bible studies, songs refugee camps were and more. The C&MA established within the possessed almost all Thailand border. More Christian materials in than 200,000 people the country. fled to other countries At the end of that during the next 10 time, the war in years. Also, 360,000 Vietnam escalated Khmer lived in refugee and Cambodia camps until 1993 From left to right: Sauphorn Soeurn, Editor; served as a hideout Steve Westergren, Missionary; Sopheap Kes, when all refugees were for communist Viet- Receptionist; Da Yourng, Production; Samrech repatriated. From Phol, Administrator; Savy Dith, Chief Editor. namese. Also, the 1973-1990, C&MA A Khmer proverb, also the provided Christian literaKhmer Rouge (French for title of a book on the hisred or communist) infilture for the refugees on tory of the Church, was trated the country, the Thai border. However, very true during this time: for 15 years starting in fomenting discontent against the Cambodian When the blood flows, the 1975, Bibles were not government. heart grows softer. available in Cambodia. In 1972, a spiritual awakening began, mainly Years of Bloodshed New Beginnings in the capital, Phnom From April 1975 to JanA remnant of believers Penh. Unprecendented uary 1979, Cambodia survived the holocaust spiritual revival in Camexperienced its own holo- and remained in the bodia grew right up until caust under the Khmer country, including three the months before the Rouge. Cambodia was cut pastors. We estimate there Khmer Rouge took over in off from the world until were approximately 200
14/INTERLIT FEBRUARY 2000
or more meeting secretly in Phnom Penh when C&MA returned to Cambodia in 1990. In May of 1990, God enabled us to get 1500 pounds of literature into the country, including Bibles. We trucked in materials from Thailand. Currently we have 96 published Khmer titles, and publish about 10 titles a year. Currently our front list has two or three titles. Our backlist has at least eight titles. In the past few years, the Alliance Literature Department has primarily edited and reprinted existing materials. The ministry has been able to financially support itself for seven years. One third of all revenue from literature sales is set aside each year to defray administrative and personnel costs. In 1999, financial assistance was requested for the first time. However, we continue making materials as inexpensive as possible for the Church. Our publishing work has three full time Khmer staff and one part-time missionary. The staff selects titles to be translated, written, edited, and
