Can we reasonably still call the several thousand Khmer people in New Zealand an unreached people group? They have their own church, and at least three home groups. But as of 2006, their church was still led by Dutch missionaries, who say that this church feels "foreign" to these refugees who left Cambodia's Killing Fields in the late 1970s. One web site states, "The majority of Cambodians are Theravada Buddhists, who use their temples as centers of religious and cultural practice." The article goes on to list five other places of worship for Buddhist Cambodians in New Zealand.
The missionaries who are trying to establish a Khmer Church in Christchurch lament that the Cambodians lack the spiritual hunger to attend church regularly. Some go to church if they feel they can get something out of it, but they will also worship at Buddhist temples. The love of money is a spiritual stronghold that is keeping many from Christ. Though some of the Cambodian Khmer do unskilled labor, an increasing number of them are starting businesses and working long hours so they can make lots of money. A 1999 article in the "New Zealand Herald" quoted a Cambodian shop owner as saying, "People tell me I am clever. I am not clever, but I work hard," meaning he gets up at 3:30 am!
As time goes on and the Khmer refugees forget the Killing Fields of Cambodia, what direction will they take? Will their children become so assimilated that they join mainline New Zealand culture? Will they turn from Buddhism to either Christianity of secular humanism? Though the older generation is trying to help those born in New Zealand to embrace the Khmer language and culture, it may be a losing battle as the decades roll by.
* Scripture Prayers for the Khmer in New Zealand.
* Pray for a spiritual hunger among the Khmer people in New Zealand that will lead them to the cross.
* Pray that the materialism that is slipping in will leave them feeling spiritually empty and ready to turn to the Holy One.
* Pray that as younger Khmer assimilate to New Zealand, that they will turn their hearts to Christ rather than secularism and materialism.
Profile Source: Global Prayer Digest |
Global Prayer Digest: 2006-06-19 |
People Name General | Khmer |
People Name in Country | Khmer |
Population this Country | 9,000 |
Population all Countries | 15,900,000 |
Total Countries | 13 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Cambodians; Central Khmer; Cu Tho; Cur; Kampuchean; Khmer Krom; Khmer Nam Bo; Khmer, Northern; Kho Me; Khơ-me; Kmer; Ku; Mien; Thai-Khmer; West Cham |
People ID | 12662 |
ROP3 Code | 104946 |
Country | New Zealand | ||
Region | Australia and Pacific | ||
Continent | Oceania | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Country | New Zealand |
Region | Australia and Pacific |
Continent | Oceania |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Primary Language | Khmer (9,000 speakers) |
Language Code | khm Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Khmer (9,000 speakers) |
Language Code | khm Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Khmer |
Primary Language: Khmer
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1899-1933) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1929-1993) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1954-2016) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Father's Love Letter |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament - Central (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture (Talking Bibles) |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories in Khmer, Central |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Khmer |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Ratchana's Testimony |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
Film / Video | The Hope Video |
Film / Video | Voices of Cambodia - Bihab |
Film / Video | Yesterday is Over |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
General | God's Simple Plan |
General | Got Questions Ministry |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Khmer Christian Bible |
Primary Religion: | Buddhism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
86.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 1.40 %) |
3.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
5.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
6.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
0.0 %
|
Independent |
25.0 %
|
Orthodox |
0.0 %
|
Other Christian |
0.0 %
|
Protestant |
25.0 %
|
Roman Catholic |
50.0 %
|
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2021 Cambodia Research Network All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Profile Source | Global Prayer Digest |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |