Killing Fields, Living Fields: An Unfinished Portrait of the Cambodian Church

by Don Cormack, Sharon James (Foreword)

This is a book for our times as Pol Pot's lust for control in Cambodia has been re-enacted over and over again by Putin, Assad, Kim Jong-un, the Ayatollahs...



While Cambodia is best known for Angkor Wat and tourism, its enchantment hides a recent history and a poignancy beyond imagining. In the mid-1970s, starting with political, military and religious leaders, the entire nation was turned into a death camp.



Don Cormack entered Phnom Penh five months before its fall to the Khmer Rouge in April 1975. He mastered the language, and worked in the border refugee camps for years after the nation fell. As he spoke Cambodian fluently, he is able to give voice to Cambodians themselves. Here in this book, the only one of its kind, we hear first-hand accounts of endurance and faith under one of the most barbaric regimes in modern history. 



The book opens with the early beginnings of the Protestant Church in 1923. From here Cormack traces the lives of several families up to, and through, the genocide under Pol Pot, and then on to the present day.



How did the mass torture, and mass killing start? Paris-educated Pol Pot and his bourgeois colleagues returned to Cambodia as Marxist zealots, and in April 1975 declared 'Year Zero'. Inspired by Mao's Cultural Revolution and Red Guards, they formed the Khmer Rouge, setting in motion the auto-genocide of the 'Killing Fields'.



Here we gain a wide sweep across decades of turmoil, while drilling down into personal stories of courage and resolve, of epic journeys, of survival; of finding the Way, the Truth and the Life.



At the time of publication only one of the Khmer Rouge leaders is still alive, in prison in Phnom Penh, now aged 93. He remains defiant. 



Astonishingly, the story is also told (first broken by the Far East Economic Review in 1999) of Comrade Duch, the chief executioner, becoming a Christian in the early 1990s and being baptised. He was personally responsible for the torture and liquidation of tens of thousands. He remained faithful to Christ, and died in 2020 in prison, with a Bible and a hymnbook beside his bed. Cormack tells of his own meeting with Duch, unawares, in a refugee camp.



Index, Timeline, and three Photo Galleries. This is the eighth and final edition of a contemporary classic. It is beautifully written.

Genres: Biography, History, Christian, Asia, Nonfiction, International, Church

550 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[David Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1980 I attended the prayer meeting in my local church - Buccleuch Free Church in Edinburgh.  I was a bit down about something - but that prayer meeting made me rethink so much.  A young Cambodian was speaking - of the slaughter in his own country and how he became a Christian.  The joy in his face - in the midst of such unspeakable suffering made a big impression.  I was reminded of this when I read Don Cormack's book is subtitled "An Unfinished portrait of the Cambodian Church".  It is the best modern missionary book I have ever read - its honesty, understanding, history and compassion are outstanding!  It is incredibly moving and a real inspiration - but not in the fake hagiographic way so beloved of many such books.  The weaknesses of the church, the failures as well as the glorious victories are all chronicled in meticulous detail.   It is a long time since I have read such a faith affirming book.  Peter Lewis describes it as The Wild Swans of Cambodia - 'a modern Christian classic".   Highly recommended.  

"The heart of the Cambodian problem is the problem of the human heart. This is a universal fact."

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This book is so incredibly well written and very informational concerning Christianity in Cambodia from the beginning to the more recent years. It also explains many things concerning the Khmer Rouge. This book increased my conviction and passion for ministry in Cambodia as well.

[Lisa Vickerage-Goddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. I learnt so much about Cambodia, I knew very little before reading this book. It was also good to read the strength of people's faith and the extent to which they will go because of it.

[Paul, · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the chance to live and work in Cambodia for a time with members of the Christian church that survived the killing fields. This book has powerfully shaped how I view the region. It is admittedly biased, but it is written by a man who was intimately involved in much of it.

[Kevin Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book. I cried tears of both sorrow and joy. The author's love and insight into the Cambodian people is amazing. This book will help you learn from the boldness of faithful brothers and sisters when met with extreme trials.

[Jason Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the church in Cambodia through the horrific years of the Khmer Rouge and after . A rich testimony that builds in the political background well and tells may human stories . Horrific but hopeful.

[Caroline W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep, disturbing, insightful and hopeful.

[Emily Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most comprehensive books on the history of Cambodia.

[Paula]

This book is not for the squeamish, nor is it for those who insist on good writing. In fact it is sometimes so badly written that it's hard to understand, and some of events are so brutal that you want to stop reading anyway. So why persevere, you may ask. Only because the book provides a detailed, often eyewitness account of the life of the church in Cambodia before, during and after the Khmer Rouge years. It's not like any other book I've read, and this is my second reading. I highly recommend it.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another quite culturally significant book. Though I had heard of Cambodia's killing fields before, I never imagined the extent and horror of what happened during that time. Not the best writing, but a book I'm really glad to have read to have a better idea of what some Christians have had to undergo in defending and spreading the gospel, and what Christians in these situations are capable of as Christ works in them.

[Yvonne Stiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the most comprehensive one out there about the history of the evangelical church in Cambodia spanning from the 1920's through the early '90's. A little slow to start with but completely filled with amazing stories of God meeting His faithful people right in the middle of unspeakable trials. Also not fantastic writing but the content makes up for it!

[M.J. Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the classic book on history of the birth and growth of the Church in Cambodia from 1923 to 1990. Though its history, its full of powerful stories of God's protection, guidance, and grace as a young church was strengthened and flourished despite such severe persecution. Read it and you will be blessed!

[Lc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gruesome....disturbing......sad, but the Cambodia Christians had been very encouraging. They still worshiped the great God despite all the persecution from their own people, the Khmer Rouge, even the foreigners in the refugee camp.

[Paul Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

an excellent book, starts with the Buddhist worldview dominating the country to it's becoming Marxist. the Christian Church survives and in the end the confusion echos the postmodern confused worldview.

[Joshua Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For any who want to minister in Cambodia, this book is a must-read. It is an account of Protestant Christianity within the country.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great history of the church in Cambodia. Highly recommend to any who want to understand this complicated land.