文 / 范美琪
日期 / 2025年8 月
August 19th is World Humanitarian Day, which is a day to commemorate humanitarian workers who continue to serve others during disasters and crises, and to remind us to pay attention to those in need around the world. For me, a missionary serving in Cambodia, this day is not only a time of remembrance, but also a reminder: it makes me reflect again on how I can continue to accompany and serve the people of this traumatized land with faithfulness and tenderness.
In late July, the tension on the Cambodia-Thailand border spiraled and became uncontrollable, with news reports of military clashes and casualties. Some colleagues expressed deep sadness at the loss of life and the chaos caused by the war. Social media also circulated a flood of false information, slandering and attacking Cambodia. This emotionally strained many colleagues, leaving them glued to the news all night, tossing and turning, filled with worry and anxiety. Some of our colleagues and students’ families live near the war zone. Some have begun preparing to evacuate, while others are still waiting and watching, all deeply concerned for the safety of their loved ones and friends. One colleague’s family still travels to the farm every day to work, even though they endless bombing can be heard in the distance. Some students who have families in the military face deployment to the front lines. One child told me he was terrified that his father would die, just as his grandfather had been killed in the war. These raw conversations are heartbreaking.
Cambodia has experienced tremendous historical trauma. The damage and impact of the Khmer Rouge era on society are still reverberating today. I met an elderly Cambodian-Chinese man in Hong Kong who briefly shared his family’s experiences of flight and separation during that period. Although these stories are now a thing of the past, for many, the memories remain clearly etched in their mind. Today’s younger Cambodian generation, while not experiencing war firsthand, has also faced numerous challenges growing up in poverty and resource-deprived environments. Many students come from blended families, with weak morals and distorted values. For many, violence, deception, and despair have become a way of life. Now, the shadow of war has returned, undoubtedly, with another blow. The government recently announced its consideration of reinstating compulsory military service, and this policy may be placed in immediate effect. I cannot make decisions for them, but I know I can offer prayer and companionship. In these times of crisis, our responsibility is not to provide all the answers, but to bear witness with our lives to a different path: a path that confronts hatred with forgiveness, triumphs over lies with truth, and overcomes fear with love.
We cannot predict how the situation on the Cambodia-Thailand border will develop by the time this newsletter article will be published in mid-August. But whatever the future holds, we eagerly invite your prayers for us and for this land. May the Lord grant us peace and wisdom from above, so that we can continue to follow His footsteps amidst turmoil, serving Him as salt and light, and remaining faithful to our calling to be peacemakers.
In this ever-changing world, missionary conditions can shift at any moment. I often share with my church brothers and sisters: “If there’s work to do, do it right away.” We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, and there’s no guarantee the freedom we have today will always be there. In the present, what we can do is to faithfully nurture believers, helping them to gain a firm footing in their faith so they can stand firm in the face of challenges. In 1 Timothy, Paul exhorts us: ” First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). This verse reminds us that praying for those in power is not only a responsibility but also an integral part of our missionary strategy. When a society’s leaders prioritize peace and justice, the gospel has more room to spread. Conversely, when the environment tightens, missionary work may be constrained.
In many corners of the world, war and conflict rage on. From the Middle East to Africa, Eastern Europe to the borderlands of Asia, countless families have been displaced by strife. Their lives shattered, and countless children were deprived of their education. As Christians, we cannot turn a blind eye to this suffering. God never ignores human suffering; He calls His children to be instruments of peace in this turbulent world. As the Lord Jesus said, “ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Although we are in different places and our abilities are limited, we can choose to care, to pray, and to live out our witness of peace and mercy in the role God has given us. We may not be able to change the world, but we can change our response to it—replacing indifference with love, powerlessness with prayer, and action with action. In these turbulent times, may we remain faithful to our calling to be peacemakers, serving as salt and light for the Lord until He returns.
Maggie Fan
FiCF, Cambodia Missionary, Alliance Bible Seminary master Master of Divinity（Major in Intercultural Studies）, Currently in Cambodia FiCF PHG and PSG, Engage in Pastoral Care