The precise origin of the Cham is unknown, but they are the survivors of the Champa Kingdom, which flourished from A.D. 2 until A.D. 1471. When the Vietnamese invaded their kingdom, most aristocrats fled to Cambodia; whereas, the poor peasants remained in Vietnam. Evidence still remains of this once flourishing civilization; grandiose temples and sanctuaries, irrigation systems, woven cloth, sculpture, and jewelry.
The Western Cham are a mixture of Cham and Malay, with whom they traded during the time of their powerful kingdom.
The Cham people live mainly in Cambodia and Vietnam, but smaller numbers have strayed to Thailand and Malaysia.
Some Western Cham people who live in Malaysia were sent there in an agreement between the governments of Vietnam and Malaysia. Others use a tourist visa to enter Malaysia, then they find work. The Cham are cheap laborers for the duration of their labor contracts. They are expected to return to Vietnam after their contracts are up, but it doesn't always work this way. These Cham employees would often go to Thailand to work when their contacts are up in Malaysia, then return to Malaysia to work again later. This pattern is not unique to the Cham. Other peoples from Vietnam do this as well.
Cham villagers are extremely poor and their settlements convey a sense of impermanence. They are now largely integrated into the Cambodian lifestyle and many now speak Khmer.
Hundreds of years ago the Cham were Hindu. The date that Islam was introduced is undetermined, but Malay influence is responsible for restoring and strengthening the Muslim practices of the Cham. Today the Western Cham people in Malaysia are solidly Sunni Muslim.
The Cham people have faced rejection and isolation. They need to experience the acceptance and love of the Savior.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers to the Western Cham in Malaysia.
Pray for agencies to send missionaries to gossip the gospel to the Western Cham people in Malaysia.
Ask the Lord to raise up an army of faithful intercessors who will pray for the Western Cham until they have a vibrant church.
Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Western Cham church to the glory of His name!
Scripture Prayers for the Cham, Western in Malaysia.
http://www.seamist.org/cham.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chams
https://www.wycliffe.net/world?continent=ASI&country=CB&code=cja
https://books.google.com/books?id=YDojBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA137&lpg=PA137&dq=Western+Cham+in+Thailand&source=bl&ots=qFzo89w7vn&sig=JFU5LECzJluJs_vIBg06yG3ty0g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY0-bTr-jOAhUI7WMKHff-C58Q6AEISzAH#v=onepage&q=Western%20Cham%20in%20Thailand&f=false
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Cham, Western |
People Name in Country | Cham, Western |
Natural Name | Western Cham |
Pronunciation |
chom
|
Alternate Names | Cambodian; Cambodian Cham; Chăm (Chàm); Chiem; Chiem Thanh; Hoi; Thanh; Tjam; West Cham; Western Cham |
Population this Country | 14,000 |
Population all Countries | 328,000 |
Total Countries | 7 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 15361 |
ROP3 Code | 110776 |
ROP25 Code | 301650 |
ROP25 Name | Cham |
Country | Malaysia | ||
Region | Asia, Southeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
Persecution Rank | 43 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Scattered in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. Source: Ethnologue 2020 |
Country | Malaysia |
Region | Asia, Southeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
Persecution Rank | 43 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Scattered in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.. Source: Ethnologue 2020 |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.01 %) |
0.01 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
10.00 %
|
Islam |
88.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
1.99 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Cham, Western (14,000 speakers) |
Language Code | cja Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Cham, Western (14,000 speakers) |
Language Code | cja Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Cham, Western |
Primary Language: Cham, Western
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1968-2015) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2021) |
Bible-Complete | No |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Cham, Western | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2023 Cambodia Research Network All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | Anonymous |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |