Have you heard of the Killing Fields? In the 1960s and 70s, more than 200 million people were brutally murdered in Cambodia, the most tragic event in human history since Hitler's atrocities.
It was so cruel that they would snatch a newborn baby from its mother, hold it by its legs, and kill it by hitting its head against a thornbush.
The 343 locations across the country where the bodies of people killed were dumped like trash are called the 'Killing Fields'.
Remains of victims of the Killing Fields (meaning 'gardens of death')
The Cambodian people were so wounded and hurt that the entire country was in a state of trauma.
The main targets of the massacre were intellectuals, and since even those who could write were killed, children had no choice but to grow up without a proper education.
In the midst of this unfortunate situation, I prayed and pondered over ways to turn Cambodia, once called the Killing Field, into a living field.
We prayed together to plant the shining gospel in their homeland.
Thankfully, our prayers reached Kampong Chhnang, 81 km (50 miles) north of Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh.
Kampuchea, Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in the world, was full of children begging on the streets and people living on garbage dumps and around lakes instead of homes.
It was a place that led to a vicious cycle of unstable, low-wage labor and poverty.
People living in garbage dumps and around lakes instead of homes (November 2004)
A family living in a roughly built wooden house on someone else's land
A street house made of leaf roof and black plastic awning
For this purpose, he donated 17 pyeong of land in Kampong Chhnang, which he had prepared through Elder Shin Su-bin 31 years ago, for the church's sharing ministry.
We are calling this place Jesus Village, and we want to bring about a new change in life by improving three environments to help strengthen the economic capacity of the vulnerable class and achieve local self-reliance.
4/14 Housing Project
Christian faith education / character education
Practical Leadership / Self-Reliance Skills Education
For the economic independence of parents
Plan to establish a self-sufficient job factory
Baby Diaper Factory
Eco-friendly organic and nature-friendly farming methods
Cultural Experience
(His life Theater)
Pottery Experience
Tonle Sap Lake Eco-tourism
In November 2021, the mission center, the center of the first project, Jesus Village, was completed.
Starting in July 2022, a residential area for 7 households is being built centered around the mission center building.
To this end, land leveling work was carried out to compact the land and lay a foundation, and overgrown areas were cleared of lush weeds and trees, creating a residential area for Jesus Village and land for agricultural production.
In January 2023, the land that was once filled with lush weeds was nowhere to be seen,
It shows a residential environment where children can play and grow safely.
This residential environment was built to house local teachers, trainees and volunteers, as well as indigenous people.
Creation of a model house for indigenous people to live in (exterior and interior)
Creation of a model house for indigenous people to live in (exterior and interior)
Creation of a model house for indigenous people to live in (exterior and interior)
A perspective drawing of the residential environment where indigenous people can live
Accommodation for local teachers, trainees and volunteers
Accommodation for local teachers, trainees and volunteers
We create an educational environment and facilities to make Cambodia a land where children can nurture their dreams.
For children, educational opportunities are a way to escape poverty and dream of a brighter tomorrow.
<Kampong Chhnang Visionary School>, created by our church members, is giving Cambodian children a normal daily life while also changing the perception of their families and local communities.
Building a school is not just about building a building, but it also requires teachers and students, and it is difficult to operate.
However, God brought us together with another church that could work together with Promise Church.
Dongil Church in Dangjin, Chungcheong Province, South Korea is an exemplary church that operates an alternative school and after-school program.
The same church decided to take responsibility not only for the school building but also for its operation.
Under this precious decision, the <Kampong Chhnang Visionary School> was completed in November 2023.
Kampong Chhnang Visionary School - Kindergarten and School (November 2023.11)
Kampong Chhnang Visionary School - Kindergarten and School (November 2023.11)
Completion of establishment of Kampong Chhnang Visionary School (2024.3.11)
To provide financial independence for parents so that they can send their children to school.
What is the most important thing to create a living and educational environment for children?
First of all, it must be an environment in which parents can live.
Even if they teach their children for free because they are poor and have nothing to eat,
Parents do not send their children to school, but send them to factories and do business.
To this end, Jesus Village established self-sufficient factories and farms so that parents could make a living.
We aim to build productive village communities that help parents achieve economic independence.
Environmentally friendly corn/soybean/red bean test cultivation for self-sufficient farms (June-July 2022.6)
Development of farmland for self-sufficient farms (December 2022.12)
Self-sufficient farm cultivation (2024.3)
Farm configuration for more cultivation for self-sufficient farms (2023.11)
Farm configuration for more cultivation for self-sufficient farms (2023.11)
Job Factory Promotion Plan for Economic Self-Reliance (Technical Training and Operational Support for Economic Self-Reliance)
There is a lack of opportunities to expose children to diverse cultural environments in Kampong Chhnang area.
In particular, the Kampong Chhnang area is home to Vietnamese refugees and various superstitions.
There are many Cambodian Muslims living there.
To this end, so that Jesus Village can be established as a Christian village community,
His life, a dedicated performance hall, a hospital for children's health, an environment where they can enjoy sports,
And we want to build churches so that the Christian gospel can take root in the lives of children.
Jesus Village Project Overview
The mission center, which was completed in September 2021, has a chapel and accommodations for missionaries.
Many Cambodians were encouraged to come to God while building Jesus Village.
Mission Center Completion (2021.9.29)
The first step to creating a Christian culture is to establish a church.
Of course, there is a chapel in the Jesus Village Mission Center, but while preparing to build a larger chapel, we established a 120th anniversary commemorative church in Cambodia to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the founding of the Chilgok Church in Daegu, Gyeongsang Province.
The 120th Anniversary Church will hold its dedication service on Easter, April 2024, 4.
120th Anniversary Memorial Church Construction Site
Details on establishing a hospital within Jesus Village have not yet been finalized.
However, many of our Promise Church members are saying that they will spend the rest of their lives serving in Cambodia after retirement, and we are praying and preparing for this.
For the health of children and residents, this is the most essential place.
Please join us in interceding for the necessary parts to establish a hospital.
Bird's eye view of the hospital in Jesus Village
A multipurpose chapel that serves as both a main sanctuary and a musical theater.
It has 200 seats, which is 1500 more than the New York Promise Church sanctuary.
Every day, more than a thousand children come to see the His Life performance, which tells the story of Jesus' life.
It is scheduled to be completed by Christmas 2024.
If 1 people watch the musical His Life, the life story of Jesus, every year,
In 10 years, 500 million people will believe in Jesus and Cambodia will dream of a truly great miracle.
In the future, many people will be able to benefit from Jesus Village in Cambodia.
We ask for your interest and support so that children can develop bigger dreams.
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