Missions, The Persecuted Church Across the World

Eastern Cham in Vietnam – 17th November 2021

Joshua Project, 16 November 2021 (excerpts)

One of the most ancient ethnic groups in Southeast Asia, the Eastern Cham live in the provinces along the coastline of southern Vietnam in the coastal and Mekong Delta provinces.  A small minority group now overrun with poverty and persecution, the Eastern Cham kingdom once reigned in Southeast Asia and are descendants from the Champa kingdom in Vietnam, Cambodia and southern Laos. They are a mixture of Hindus and Muslims, highly influenced by traditional ancestor worship and animism.

Their religious beliefs contribute to their history and identity, making it difficult for Cham individuals to become Christians, as it would result in expulsion from the community.

Pray that Christians in other Vietnamese tribes will be led by the Lord to the Eastern Cham, to tell them about Christ, and that  this people group will comprehend that the blood of animals will never get them right with the one, true God.

A number of individuals in this tribe identify themselves as Christians.  Pray also they would be able to live as faithful followers of Christ yet be able to stay in their culture.  The Eastern Cham people have very low self-esteem and self-worth as individuals and as a people group. Yet, they have pride in their heritage, and vehemently point out to visitors that they are Eastern Cham, not Vietnamese.