Grace for All the World
S21 Prison lives in infamy as a prison with a near 100% mortality rate. An estimated 17,000 lives were claimed by the Khmer Rouge for banal or paranoid reasons.
This video by Disturban History portrays what life was like for those unfortunate to end up in a prison beyond comprehension.
Rev Ross Rennie, Director of Grace Missions, recently wrote to Mrs Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He assured her of his prayers, and those of many other Christians, regardless of political views or affiliation, who accept the authority of the Bible’s injunction in 1 Timothy 2: 1-2 to pray for all who are in authority. He wrote,
You are my prime minister and as long as you decide to keep your position I and the true Christian church of Jesus Christ will pray for your protection, for wisdom for our nation, to heal the wounds and rebuild this country, to root out bigotry and hatred in our nation, so as an Englishman I and others can be proud again of our nation and our democracy.
Ross also alerted the Prime Minister to two dangers which cause him great concern.
In his letter to Mrs May and another to the Director General of the BBC, Ross expressed his disappointment and anger at how the BBC has abandoned the value of impartiality with which it was founded and has become a platform for elitist, anti-Christian, anti-Brexit views. This is symptomatic of the way our news media have been corrupted.
To quote The Christian Institute,
The BBC has openly mocked the beliefs of millions of Christians and others with socially conservative views in its election commentary.
During an interview on Monday morning, Radio 4 presenter John Humphrys laughed at former MLA Nelson McCausland when he stated that the DUP’s policies are “compassionate”.
The BBC also ran a sizeable feature highlighting mockery of the DUP’s socially conservative values by various satirists.
Other media outlets have attacked the party for its views on sexual morality and marriage in recent days.
Telegraph columnist Dr Tim Stanley said the hostility shown towards the DUP because of its stance on same-sex marriage and abortion shows that mainstream Christian beliefs have become toxic in politics.
Writing about the resignation of Tim Farron as leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, who said, “To be a political leader… and to live as a committed Christian… has felt impossible for me”, Andrea Williams, CEO of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre, said,
“Tim Farron’s treatment demonstrates that Christians are simply not tolerated by the illiberal elite in positions of influence. This, alongside the widespread reaction to the DUP’s views on abortion and same-sex unions, is further evidence of this anti-Christian morality.
“The vilification of the DUP for its opposition to abortion and same-sex unions and castigation of Tim Farron is shocking and upsetting. If we continue in this crusade of ‘totalitolerance’, we will enter a harsh and conformist world where Christianity will be ‘no platformed’ and eventually squeezed out of every sphere of public life. The elite determines what are toxic unacceptable views. Unless you approve of their ‘new morality’ you are punished. At first comes the loss of privilege, a political position, a place at university, then the detriment: the refusal of a grant and ultimately criminal sanction.”
Ross wrote to Mrs May about the possibility of violence in Cambodia if the opposition party wins next year’s general election:
Many in Cambodia are very concerned about the possible actions of Mr Hun Sen, the Prime Minister, who has over many years marginalised all opposition even back to the time in 1997 when using his control of the army he ousted Prince Norodom Ranariddh when they were first and second prime ministers in a coalition government.
For many years Hun Sen has been seeking to neutralise the principal opposition party and he has made repeated threats that he will hold on to power, if necessary using military force, even if his party loses in the general election.
When Ross wrote to Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary, asking to discuss this with him, he was told he was too busy. Instead he was assured that the British government was giving money to Cambodia for election monitoring. Ross suggested to Mrs May that this was like giving money to Hitler to protect the Jews.
The alarm bells are ringing.
The tendency of the authorities in the United Kingdom seems to be to ignore them and only take action when it is too late, whether it is erecting barriers to protect pedestrians on London’s bridges or enforcing fire safety standards in high-rise buildings. Christians should be different.
Where are the watchmen? Who will speak up? Who will give a warning? What will you do?
Timothy College and Business Institute
As many of you that have followed this web site will know, many years ago, Myers Cooper and I were given a vision which we have held on to for 18 years. We have learned that some things that God imparts to men and women can take many years to come to fruition. If it takes the rest of our lives we will never stop trusting, we will never stop believing, that God will build Timothy College and Business Institute in Cambodia.
In Habakkuk 2: 2, it tells us clearly that the visionary should write the vision, make it plain and wait for those to run with the vision. I believe we are very close to a major breakthrough.
We were once asked at an SAO (Southeast Asian Outreach, now Cambodia Action) conference at Bawtry Hall their headquarters, that we were kindly invited to in order to share this vision, how we were going to build Timothy College, and I remember Myers Cooper saying, ‘We are not; God is going to build it.’
Some years later, we were invited by Barnabas Mam, then Asia Regional Director of Ambassadors for Christ International, to Spain where we met Louie Giglio. I have never forgotten the message that day when he spoke about Moses at the burning bush. I remember him saying that he thought Moses would have said, ‘I am not but I know I AM.’ We have held on to those words since that conference in Peñiscola and we know that if it takes the rest of our lives God’s word will never return void. Timothy College and Business Institute, which will be managed by the church leaders of Cambodia, will be built as God would build it.
If you feel led to be part of this, please contact us wherever you may be in the world. If you feel led to give to this (as Jesus said, ‘Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys’), then I know you will be doing a wonderful thing in the kingdom of God. You know we do not believe in this nonsense that many do: giving to receive. I believe that it is better to give than to receive and trust God for the rest. I have also learned in my walk with the Lord that I am not responsible for the fulfilment of these things. God is. As Gamaliel once said, ‘If this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.’
Please pray for the Cambodian church and its leaders, as it is their needs that need to be supplied, not ours. We have many good-quality colleges and universities. They have few.
Rev Ross Rennie
Mr Polo Touch (left) with Rev Ross Rennie
Mr Polo Touch, who featured in the BBC TWO programme A Cabbie Abroad in 2014, drives a tuk-tuk (a motor cycle and passenger trailer) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Mr Polo provides a taxi service and usually waits for custom outside the Golden Gate Hotel in Street 278.
We have found Mr Polo to be extremely reliable, honest, conscientious and friendly. He speaks English and knows the city well. He will give you a fair price and will not overcharge you.
You can contact him on telephone number +855 11 899 261 or by email at polodriver7@gmail.com.
Watch this interview with Mr Polo by Rev Ross Rennie: