The Western Cham of People Profile

Cham people worshipped a “Mother God- Who are the Western Cham? dess,” a common practice in agrarian societies.

About 500,000 Western Cham people live in Indian traders in the 3rd and 4th centuries Cambodia. Most Cham villages are located introduced Hinduism, and the Cham began in the province just north worshipping the Hindu gods Shiva, Brahma Cambodia Western Cham of . Cham people can also be and Vishnu. Mahayana Buddhism also found in , Malaysia and Thailand. became influential. Despite these influences, Cambodia’s Western Cham trace their however, the common people of Champa ancestry to the ancient Champa kingdom, often preferred traditional spiritual practices a wealthy maritime kingdom in frequent such as ancestor and hero worship and fertil- Population: 500,000 contact with China. Originally centered in ity cults. Location: Cambodia Languages: Cham, Khmer Vietnam, the Champa kingdom gradually The Western Cham of Cambodia gradu- lost territory between the 15th and 18th ally accepted Islam over a period of several centuries, leading many Cham to seek a new centuries. Today almost all Western Cham are homeland in Cambodia. Muslim. Despite their commitment to Islam, The Western Cham, however, animistic practices continue to be Prayer Points who make up the observed in many rural areas. majority of Cam- The early Cham Muslims developed a unique Praise God for the Cham who have bodia’s tiny Muslim form of Islam that is different from Middle population, suffered decided to follow Jesus. Pray that they Eastern patterns. Some Cham continue to would begin to meet together in house heavily under the practice this traditional Cham Islam today. regime in the 1970s. Entire fellowships for worship, study and prayer. However, Islam in Cambodia has seen a May they reach out to their families and villages were slaughtered. Today, the Cham revival in recent years, and many Cham have are a small, disenfranchised minority in the communities, demonstrating God’s love begun practicing a “purer,” more global form and sharing the Good News. majority-Buddhist nation of Cambodia. of Islam. Pray that God would send more fol- Languages Islamic movements such as Chang Veng, lowers of Jesus to serve the Cham. Pray Imam San, Da’wah and Wahhabiyya are that followers of Jesus would find ways The Cham language is related to Malay. Some active in Cambodia. Chang Veng villages to reach out in love to struggling Cham Cham also speak Khmer, the official language receive support from Muslims in Malaysia, communities and that they would share of Cambodia. Students may learn Thai, Arabic and tend to mix Malay words with their the Good News in culturally sensitive or Malay in order to pursue studies abroad. vocabulary. Imam San villages have fewer ways. connections with the outside world because their approach to animistic traditions is unac- Pray for the nation of Cambodia as it Livelihood ceptable to fundamentalist Islam. Da’wah is a continues to develop. Pray for the leaders conservative missionary movement originat- Most of the of Cambodia to make wise decisions to ing in Islamic countries outside Cambodia. Cham people help the nation develop a strong, stable Visiting groups of Da’wah missionaries can be live in desolate economy. Pray for improved living stan- seen in Cambodia today. Missionaries travel villages along dards throughout the nation. from village to village spreading their beliefs, the banks of the preaching and living in village mosques dur- and Pray for linguists and skilled Cham ing their stay. The Wahhabiyya movement, Tonle Sap Rivers. translators to make the stories of Jesus like Da’wah, also preaches a fundamentalist Many Cham are fishermen, some living on available in the Cham language. type of Islam. houseboats. Others are farmers, cultivating wet and dry rice as well as cotton, maize, Dozens of Cham have decided to follow tobacco, castor-oil plants, manioc, peanuts, Jesus. While the Bible has not yet been ferns, beans and other vegetables. The Cham translated into the Cham language, there is also hunt and raise domestic animals. Some some media available. There are no known Cham are cattle traders and butchers. Like fellowships of followers of Jesus. other Cambodians, many Cham are very poor. For more information about the Westerm Cham, Beliefs visit: www.apeopleloved.com/cambodia Religious practices among the Cham have varied widely over the centuries. Ancient

Rev. 02/11

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