Partner Stories
A Cambodian Christmas
By David ManfredChristmas in Cambodia does not at all seem like a North American Christmas. The temperature is about 90 degrees. There are very few decorations. The idea of giving gifts at Christmas is almost non-existent. Since Cambodia is a Buddhist country, Dec. 25 is a normal work and school day. The only ones who celebrate Christmas are the Christians.
A local Cambodian church can have their Christmas service at any time from Dec. 15 to Jan. 1. They have a large service where they invite Christians from other nearby churches along with their friends and neighbors. During the service, the youth group typically puts on a Christmas play. In addition to the normal parts of the Christmas story, one interesting addition that Cambodians often include in their Christmas play is the slaughter of the babies in Bethlehem. That is understandable given the fact that it is biblical and is related to Cambodia’s recent violent history but it does seem a little strange to North American sensibilities. Following the service, the Christians put on a large meal for everyone who attends. Most churches take special offerings to save up for this meal for up to two months before the Christmas service.
On Dec. 15 I had opportunity to attend the Christmas celebration at one of our C&MA Churches about an hour motorcycle trip northeast from Phnom Penh at a place called Koh Daj. Koh Daj is a large island in the middle of the Mekong river so a small ferry ride was also part of the trip. The church is about three years old and meets at the home of one of the members. When I arrived, there were already over 100 children there and about another 100 adults and youth meeting under the house and into the yard (houses in Cambodia are on stilts about 3 yards high so it works out great to meet under the house). More than 50% of the people who were there were not yet Christians but had been invited by the Christians in the house church.
I had opportunity to preach and spoke about the meaning of the names given to Jesus that first Christmas…“Jesus”, the One who saves us from our sins (Matthew 1:21) and “Immanuel”, “God who is with us” (Matthew 1:23). When an invitation was given for people to receive Christ, about 25 people raised their hands indicating their desire to make a first decision for Christ. The key for these people growing in their faith will of course be the local believers following them up through their on-going ministries and teaching in the community.
After the message, Christmas songs were song (Christmas songs were a new thing to most of the people there), the youth put on their Christmas play, and then the kids were dismissed to play games while the adults shared a nice curry meal together.
This service was quite typical of what is happening all over Cambodia this Christmas season. Although a Cambodian Christmas does not have all the “trappings” of Christmas in North America, in some ways, I think the simple approach that Cambodian Christians take towards Christmas may be closer to the mark of what it is all about…worship, telling the Story, sharing food with other Christians and non-Christian neighbors, and working together to help others know about Christ.
Simple but profound…like the first Christmas.
