Media Missionary Focus

Tis The Season

Ah, Christmas time. Even here in Cambodia the retailers are beginning to catch on to this year end opportunity to increase sales. Only a few years ago the only, if you were to drive down the main streets of Phnom Penh during December, you would see basically the same thing you would see during any other part of the year. But now, you can see some stores “getting into the spirit of things” and putting up Santa Claus signs and cheap decorations. When we returned to the field a few years ago we made sure to bring along an artificial Christmas tree so that we would have one. But now, off the top of my head I can think of about 4 different places I can buy one in town. Even little Cambodian kids recognize Santa Claus now as “Grandpa Christmas.”

At the same time, the knowledge of Jesus Christ is also spreading. When we first came to Cambodia in 1994, there were only about 120 evangelical churches in the entire country. Now the Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia recognizes more than 2400! Things have certainly come a long way.

Bangkok has also caught on to the retail holiday aspect of it all. I was there in early November, and all the malls already had their Christmas marketing in full swing. Then, I went from Bangkok to Manila in the Philippines for a few days, and they really go all out for Christmas. The country is predominantly Catholic, so by early November there are decorations of all kinds everywhere you look. And at least there they don’t totally ignore Jesus, but recognize that He is at the center of what Christmas is really about.

Even in the States there is a growing gulf between what Christmas is supposed to be, and what it has become. I try to follow the news via the internet, and one of the big things I have been hearing about this year is the “war on Christmas.” I think it’s great that some of the politically correct nonsense is being rolled back, but have you noticed the emphasis of the arguments? It’s all about reclaiming out traditions, not the meaning behind them.

Even in my own life I see this more and more. Even though I am not servicing as pastor of a church here, being in the ministry still makes Christmas a very busy time. At times it can be overwhelming to think of all the things I need to finish this month. Lisa has been in charge of the kids Christmas program at the international church we attend, and so, by proximity, I have also been drawn into the maelstrom of frenzied activity surrounding it all. The program actually took place this past Sunday, and it went well, but as I sat there running sound and working on some of the technical parts of the production, I found myself focusing on performance details and technical needs, and totally ignoring the more important parts of the program; what it said about Jesus, and what He means to us.

It’s easy to point the finger at the businesses who try to capitalize on Christmas for missing the point, but I find myself doing similar things every day.

This Christmas is also marking the beginning of our Dan and Louie radio broadcasts. This is a story based children’s radio program that has already received some good response. At 7:00PM, on Christmas day, we will have our first broadcast on a local FM radio station that reaches 75% of the country! Hopefully, this is one more step toward bringing the people of Cambodia closer to the savior whose birth we are celebrating.

posted by Troy In Cambodia @ 11:13 AM