When the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia in 1975, they forced people
out of the cities, and sent them on forced marches to rural work camps
for “re-education.” They demanded the entire population of 2.3 million
vacate the capital of Phnom Penh within three days, including the
elderly, children, monks, doctors and nurses, hospital patients, wounded
and sick people, even mothers who had just given birth.
They said they would be leaving for a few days, but the evacuation
turned into a three-year nightmare. Nearly everyone was either executed,
faced starvation, or was worked to death. During their violent rule,
2.5 million perished — almost a third of the population — in what became
known as the Cambodian genocide.
The horrific ordeal was memorialized in the award-winning Hollywood film “The Killing Fields.”
Christians living in Cambodia during the rule of the Khmer Rouge were
heavily persecuted for their faith – even for reading the Bible.
By the time the Khmer Rouge were finally vanquished by Vietnam in
1978, there were barely any Christians left due to the brutal and
arbitrary executions, torture, and genocide committed then.
Sovann was a member of the Khmer Rouge during those horrible years.
“Looking back,” he whispered, “I am ashamed of the terrible things I
participated in as a member of the army. We treated people as if they
were animals, and worse.”
When asked if he had ever taken a life, all he could do was quietly
whisper ‘yes’ while staring at the bamboo floor, according to a report
by Bible League International.
The reign of terror ended when Vietnam took control, but Sovann left
the army a defeated man. He was continually weighted down by the
crushing load of guilt he carried, and nothing provided any relief.
One day while he was preparing to spend another day in an
alcohol-induced haze, there was a knock on his door. It was a pastor
making calls on all the residents in his neighborhood.
“I don’t know why I let him in,” Sovann told Bible League
International, “but I sensed that he could help me.” As they sat
together, Sovann shared his personal despondency with the pastor, who
immediately opened his Bible. He turned to Isaiah 1:18 and asked Sovann
to read it.
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins
are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as
crimson, they shall be like wool.”
“When I read those words…’scarlet…crimson…rouge,’ tears began
streaming down my face,” he told Bible League International. “The pastor
told me that even though I used to be Khmer Rouge, God would forgive
all of my sins and make me white as snow.”
That was the beginning of a new life for Sovann. The power of
forgiveness found in the Bible enabled him to embrace Christ as his
personal Savior and Lord. “I thank God for this ministry and the pastors
they train in Cambodia.”
“I don’t know where I would be if God hadn’t spoken to me that day,” he said, with a broad smile.
Do you want to know God personally? Here are four steps…
How you can respond:
Pray for Cambodia: Pray that any spiritual darkness
in Cambodia would be lifted by prayer. Pray that the light of the gospel
would so shine that the structures of society as well as individuals
would be decisively changed. Pray for growth in the church without
government manipulation or interference, and effective discipleship for
young people. Pray for many Christian families to be raised up who can
live for Christ as examples of His power to save and change. Pray for
strong, mature, well-trained Christian leaders. (Operation World)
Help support Bible League’s work in Cambodia here
Source: Mission Network
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