MISSIONARY ADDRESSES

PHNOM PENH, 7 3 Preoh Bat Norodom: Rev. A Mrs. H. K. Sechn'st,Chairman Rev. A Mrs. M. E. Graven Rev. A Mrs. A. 1. Hammond Rev. A Mrs. A. O. Kowles, Chinese Work Miss Lavinla McCurf KOMPONG CHAM, Mission Evanoeliquei Rev. A Mrs. 0. W. Ellison KOMPONG THOM, Mission Evangeiiqvei Rev A Mrs. J. E. Doty KRATIE, Mission Evangeliquei Rev. A Mrs. C. E. Thompson BATTAMBANG, Mission Evangelique: Rev. A Mrs. J. P. Ellison K AM POT, Mission Evangelique: Rev. A Mrs. M. B. Steiner ON FURLOUGH, Rev. A Mrs. F. C. Peterson Rev. A Mrs. H. M. Tayior Rev. A Mrs. B. 0. Dunninq "Cambodia" it published by the Cambodia Mission of the Christian A Missionary Alliance, for the purpose of soliciting prayer support, and inspiring Interest In missionary work in Cambodia. Cambodia staff members: Rev. M. B. Steiner, Editor; Mrs. A. I. Hammond;Mrs. C.E.Thompson, Asst. Editors

Toking Rice Seedlings to the field to Transplant — Photo by Photo Khmer > THEY "They that hove not heard shall understand" Romans 15:21 creation, leaving in the minds of the viewers the LIFT UP YOUR EYES AND LOOK question, "Did these marvelous things come of them­ "When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with selves, or is there Someone responsible for their compassion on them, because they...were...as sheep existence?" To the Combodion, this is o question having no shepherd." which sets his mind running in channels foreign to his past experience, for he has heard nothing about God the Creator, but believes that all things exist by chance. This prepares his mind for the short Gospel message at the end of the film and gives him a desire to know more. Thus he is often ready to accept Gospel literature or listen further to the Gospel message. Our conference appointed us to show the pictures in every possible place during the coming year. We have just finished two weeks of showing the films in Kompong Cham Province, and in the city of Phnom Penh. Never before have I seen so many people assembled together in Cambodia as I have seen in these past few weeks. Outdoor crowds have

The crowds begin to assemble varied from around 1500 to 5000, and in the crowds During the past weeks we have had the rare priv­ ilege of reaching literally multitudes of shepherdless Cambodians with the message of a God Who made them, not mere creatures of dust, but creatures with eternal destinies. We have pointed them to His Son, Jesus Christ, Who alone can save them from sin. How can this be in a land where interest in the Gospel — ^t^cigw is almost n-l, a land where the schooled and the government workers and teachers feel that to attend a Christian service is to suffer loss of face? This is happening through the grace of God and the leading of His Spirit upon the hearts of men in America who saw a need and the possibility of doing something about it. The Crowell Foundation oi Chi­ cago, upon hearing of the possibility of reaching The drama of God's love unfolds vast crowds of Cambodians with the Gospel, through we have seen school teachers and advanced stu­ dents, government officials, military men, and many, many farmers and laborers. We have also had the privilege of showing the films in a number of schools in Phnom Penh, including boys', girls', and co-ed high schools, and a technical college. By special invitation we showed them in the home of the gov­ ernor (mayor) of Phnom Penh. Everywhere we show them there is enthusiastic response, and people can hardly wail for us to come to their village or town. But best of all, we feel that the Holy Spirit is working, for young men students have come a day or so after seeing the films to enquire more fully about this great God of boundless love and mercy. The movies without the work of the Holy Spirit will Intently they watch as — be only first-class entertainment, but as He speaks the use of motion pictures, sent to our field two through them they can be a means of drawing thou­ excellent films, "The God of Creation" and "Dust or sands to Christ. Destiny", produced by the Moody Institute of Science, Christian friends, as you see in your minds' eyes and all of the necessary equipment to show the these multitudes without Christ, please remember films, in the Cambodian language, anywhere. The that they have been scattered abroad by Satan's films beautifully portray many of the wonders of wolves—sin, fedr, superstition, ignorance, and false religion. They have no Shepherd to lead them to a preparation, God's response to foith was evidenced place of salvation, satisfaction, and rest. Pray much In a marked way; the National Church was well for them, and pray for us as we present the Gospel organized and the Holy Spirit blessed throughout to these multitudes of Cambodia. Bliss Steiner the meetings. The opening night of conference was given to THE PEOPLE JUST BEYOND US closing exercises and the graduating of Bible School It Is our intention this year to make a real effort students. The biggest percentage of the Cambodian to reach two distinct tribal groups other thon Cam­ Church got their first view of the Bible School in bodian. These are the Chams (who are Mohamme­ action, for in former years Commencement come in dans), who live chiefly along the Mekong River December when so many are busy in the rice fields. between Kratie and Phnom Penh, and the Mnong The program was well attended and the students tribes people who live deep within the province of did their best. On Easter Sunday an impressive Kratie. ordination service was held for one of our pastors, In choosing these two groups, who are by no means Mr. Chan, whose ministry has been tried, proved, the only tribes in Cambodia, Ruth and I feel the direct leading of the Lord. From the very beginning of our missionary work in Kratie and Stungtreng Provinces we have felt the tug of reaching these peoples "just beyond us". They do not live on the beaten path. They keep to themselves. The Mnongs have no written language.They are scattered through­ out the forests. They are poor beyond imagination. And they are totally unreached. At first we will have to use our Cambodian lan­ guage which is understood by about fifty percent of the Mnong people and sixty percent of the Chams. It will be necessary to learn the Mnong language to efficiently reach the twenty thousand or so Mnongs who live "just beyond us". Some Old Folk take the Stage

snd blessed of the Lord. He wa» ul»u chof n-t*t ibc- chairman of the church body and a national commit­ tee of pastors and laymen was elected to aid him in the advancement of the Lord's work In Cambodia. Pray for them. The spiritual blessings in the meetings rose to high tide the last night of conference with an unusual display of joy and gladness. A group of older Christians went to the platform, sang their songs of praise onto the Lord, and gave their testi­ monies, some waving their arms in joy. The Cam­ bodians usually are slow to show any emotion. It was just the Lord I Harry M. Taylor

GEMS AND PURE GOLD D. V. 8. S. at Kfaal Chuor, Kratie Recently we made a four day trip to Bow Pailin We are fortunate to have an elder in our self- {Jewel Mine). Jewels—sapphires, rubies, zircons, supporting church of Kabal Chuor, Chen by name, and garnets have attracted men of many races who can speak quite a bit of the Mnong language. through dense jungles into this forbidding territory This elder has traveled extensively in Mnong country infested with malaria. and is willing to accompany me "as long as I need We, too, were attracted to Pailin by the desire for him". Praise the Lord for this preparing of the way. jewels —human jewels —priceless in the eyes of the Please pray with us in this new venture. It will be Lord. The fifty mile trip took nine hours by Land Rover hard, harder even than the work we are now doing. (British Jeep). This once first class road has suffered Without your prayers and the help of the Lord, we terribly at the hands of destructive men and floods. cannot do it, for this is indeed enemy territory. Three years ago Communist Vietminh invaders Ed Thompson burned forty-five bridges. Not a steam roller has been on the road since it was made over thirty ENCOURAGEMENTS years ago. The 1956 Cambodian National Conference was The Christian group at Pailin is, like the road, an one of the best on record. After weeks of prayer example of what persecution and lack of Care can do Jo the work. Because of unsettled conditions no they will take a good, long look at the Lord, thatthye missionary had been able (until early in 1955) to may give their hearts whole-heartedly and unreser­ visit this area for sixteen years. A year and a half vedly to Him, and love Him above everyone and ago wicked men falsely accused the Christians. In everything else. We trust that there will be another a wave of persecution four Christians were jailed baptismal service this summer or autumn, and that and cruelly tortured, two of them for twenty-six days. a goodly number will obey this command of the Lord, When we made our first trip only three of the former not hesitating, but going all the way. For it is written: twenty Christians received us joyfully. This last trip "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing there were ten, including two who have recently them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and given their hearts to the Lord. of the Holy Spirit." Pray for these Christians and their leader, Nai Violet Kowles, Chinese Work-P.Penh Thong Kham (Pure Gold). He has been tried and found to be "Pure Gold". The Lord is using his MISSIONARY TRACT LEAGUE fearless testimony to prepare many hearts for what A folder came in the mail recently that started a we believe will be an abundant harvest. train of thoughts on how to more quickly and effi­ J. Paul Ellison ciently get Gospel tracts out to the still untouched areas of Cambodia. THOSE WHO WERE NOT BAPTIZED The folder spoke of a tract club in which a number In the midst of rejoicing when Christians follow of churches would subscribe for 50, 100, I COO, or the Lord in baptism, there is sadness of heart for those whatever number of tracts they could use a month. who fail to take the stand to make a public confession The printer would prepare one or two new tracts of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Some have each month and send each church the number thay been enquirers and professing believers for quite subscribed for. The advantage is that the more sub­ scribers the more of each tract are printed and that makes each tract that much cheaper. They can also be made more attractive. While working in our Gospel Press of Cambodia, I got to meditating on this plan. I thought, "Good Christians are missionary-minded and would be glad to see that 100, 500, or 1000 tracts a month were distributed on the mission field for them." We are just in the midst of a program of tract printing and would be delighted to hear from friends at home about any part they might like to take in this program. We know that you would be more apt to pray for these tracts that are soon to go out if you had a part in paying for them. We print an eight-page tract in editions of 50,000 Baptismal Party of the Chinese Church copies at a cost of $1.50 per 100. Would you like to some time, but still they tarry and refuse to be subscribe? Subscriptions for any amount you like baptized. If you are an intercessor, we would urge can be sent to, Missionary Tract League, Gospel you to pray especially for them. Here are a few to Press of Cambodia, c/o The Christian and Missionary keep in mind; a young teacher, the only witness in Alliance, 260 West 44th St., New York 36, N.Y. a Buddhist home, who fears persecution and ridicule; Each subscriber will receive an acknowledgement a young Chinese, who is an English interpreter in a from the field. local firm and whose mother declares that he may Arthur Hammond go to church, but must not be baptized-he would rather obey his mother than the command of the Lord to believe and be baptized; a young man determined SHORT TERM BIBLE SCHOOL to marry first to please his parents, who are not We were halfway through our second Short Term Christians; a young lady who fears that she cannot Bible School in the village of Kabal Chuor. About live up to the Christian truth —and so it goes with twenty Christians were attending classes regularly, assorted excuses, fears and indecisions. There is and many others were dropping in whenever possible. need for just that extra step of determination to obey After attending several evening evangelistic services, the Lord beyond the fears that beset and influence the worst drunkard in the village and his wife came one to hesitate to displease those who do not forward Sunday morning and the Lord saved them. understand. During the afternoons eight women and boys were It is a weakened testimony when a Christian must learning how to read and write in an accelerated say that he or she has not yet been baptized. Pray course. At the same time Ed was assisting the men particularly for these Christians who hesitate, that in the digging of a well for the new preacher whom they had promised to support. No one had ever the whole village rejoiced in the fovingkindness of before dug a well in Kabal Chuor. Would they strike our Lord. water? Just as Rev. H. Sechrist, our Chairman, arrived for In the late afternoons the women were learning the closing services the men struck water in the well- to cut out and sew white sport shirts for their men sweet, clear liquid. A shout of praise rose from the folk. The one who made the nicest shirt would re­ deep hole in the ground. ceive a prize. Good crowds were attending the eve­ "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but ning meetings. Those who did not come could not they that seek the Lord shall not wont any good escape the message which reached their unwilling thing." ears, half a mile away over the P.A. system, as they Ruth Thompson sat smoking on their porches. But we were not the only ones who were busy. Satan was right on hand. Clouds of dust, stirred ON FURLOUGH up by passing trucks, had been suffocating us for Edith and Bernard Dunning, and Darrell, left us in days until our eyes were swollen and our heads late March and are now in the States enjoying their dizzy with sinus colds. Dale (5yrs.) had been burning first furlough. up with fever for three days. We could not diagnose Harry and Miriam Taylor, Janice and Judy, are his illness but sought the Lord for deliverance. I cried enroute home as this Issue of "Cambodia" goes to out in desperation, "Oh Lord, please send us rain press. They are flying to the Holy Land where they even though it is unheard of at this time of year. will visit Miriam's parents. Rev. 8. Mrs. G. W. Breadon, We cannot quit and go home now!" That night the in Beirut and visit points of interest, after which they heavens opened and wonderful big drops of cooling will continue on to New York. May the Lord bless water washed down over our Cree Coach where we their journey, and give them |ourneying mercies. were sleeping, soaking the parched ground and May He rest and refresh all of our missionaries on turning the six-inch deep dust on the road to mud. furlough, use them mightily to present to those at If rained all night. Praise Godl Dale's fever left the home the great spiritual need out here, and bring next day; Ed and I had relief from our colds; and them back to us in His due time.