A Widow’s Cry Heard: Freedom in Christ Near the Vietnam Border
Names, locations, and images have been changed to protect the identity of individuals in sensitive regions.
In the remote borderlands of southeastern Cambodia, a quiet spiritual awakening is unfolding. For many, like one widowed mother, hope arrived when all seemed lost—and it came through the hands and prayers of local believers.
Trapped in Fear and Despair
Nary, a 54-year-old widow, lived with her three children in a village near the Vietnam border. Her home life had been dominated by abuse. “My husband drank, screamed, and hit the children. They were always scared,” she shared. After their divorce, things worsened. Her daughter Sophea became sick—numbness in her legs, mental distress, and even spiritual oppression. “She was not herself,” Nary recalled. “We were desperate.”
In her search for help, Nary turned to fortune-tellers, ancestor worship, and traditional healers. “I spent all I had. Nothing worked,” she said. “At one point, I just wanted to die.”
“I spent all I had. Nothing worked… I just wanted to die.”
A New Message in the Village
One day, believers came to Nary’s village. Pastor Piseth and his team began sharing the gospel and offering practical teaching on health and agriculture. Curious but uncertain, Nary started attending a small group. “They talked about Jesus and prayed for us. They even helped with training in how to grow food,” she said.
Though hesitant at first, Nary began to see a change. Her daughter started improving. “I didn’t reject God,” she reflected. “I just wanted to see if this Jesus could really heal.”
“Day by day, Pastor Piseth and his team visited, prayed, and never gave up.”
Light Breaks Through
Over time, Sophea experienced complete healing, and Nary’s heart began to change. She and her daughter were baptized on October 15, 2023. “Now, I use what I’ve learned at home—both the health lessons and the Word of God,” she said with joy. “We have peace now.”
How Compel International Supports the Work in Cambodia
Compel International partners with indigenous leaders like Pastor Piseth to bring transformation to unreached regions. In Cambodia, we equip leaders with training in church planting, community health, and practical discipleship—reaching people who’ve never heard the gospel and helping them discover abundant life in Christ.
Names, locations, and images have been changed to protect the identity of individuals in sensitive regions.