Pacific Rim November Prayer Emphasis – Northern Khmer of Thailand

“Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him.” Psalm 33:8, NIV.

The Northern Khmer live on the border of Thailand and Cambodia, mainly in the province of Surin. They were once part of the Khmer Empire but were assimilated into Thailand after Cambodia was defeated in wars with both Thailand and Vietnam. The million plus Khmer have fit nicely into Thai culture, but they have also maintained their distinctive language and beliefs. The Northern Khmer are predominately Animist with a mixture of Buddhism to make their religious practices more acceptable to their Thai neighbors.

There are less than 500 known evangelical believers in this people group. The Bible was translated into their heart language in 2003, but the Northern Khmer have a less than 1% literacy rate in their heart language. Their literacy rate is much higher in the Thai language.  The Jesus Film was released in 2003, and cassettes and CDs of the New Testament, Genesis, and Psalms were released in 2004. It is hoped that these more oral versions of God’s word will have a tremendous impact on the Northern Khmer.

The Northern Khmer are mainly rice farmers, but they are also known as silk weavers and silversmiths. A growing number of Northern Khmer are receiving higher education and moving into teaching and civil service positions.

Pray that:

God will bless the recently released oral versions of His word to draw many Northern Khmer to faith in Jesus.

The few Northern Khmer believers will catch a God-given vision to share the gospel with their own people.

God will send out workers to come alongside the Northern Khmer believers to help them grow and reach their people.

Fear of spirits will finally lead the Northern Khmer to the ONE true God who is greater than any other spirit.

The growing number of educated Northern Khmer will turn to Jesus and be used by God to lead a rapidly multiplying church planting movement among their people.

The work of Mormons, Jehovah’s Witness and other pseudo Christian cults among the Northern Khmer will come to nothing and the people will receive true teaching about Christ and His gospel.

God will call individuals, churches and associations to faithfully pray for the salvation of the Northern Khmer of Thailand.

The evangelical believers already working among the Northern Khmer will not grow weary in sowing gospel seeds, but will persevere until the harvest comes.