This study is designed into four parts, in which chapter I introduces the motivation and purpose of the study. Then chapters II and III define the term and flows of 'mission' and 'missiology' from the past to the methods on how to contextualize Christianity in other religions' culture-based mission fields like Cambodia. And Chapters IV and V illustrate the understanding of religions in Cambodia, both Theravada Buddhism and Cambodian Christianity, especially their impacts on the past and contemporary society as well. The final chapter has a conclusion on how understanding Cambodia, its rich history on how it is related to religions, can make an appropriate way to reach out deeply into Cambodian society.
The main statement of the purpose of this study is: Does understanding more about Cambodians make the church contextualized and help the gospel deep-rooted in society?
In this study, we describe how 'mission' works in the non-Christian worlds with general methodology, however focusing on 'contextualization' by the 'locals' is also emphasized. Cambodian Christianity is yet still in the process to be itself. And this study has the purpose of suggesting an appropriate way to reach out the gospel to those in other religions culture-based like Cambodia by localization, and deep growth through three self-model of contextualization. The authentic contextualized Christianity in the Kingdom of Cambodia must include a self-sustainable system.
Mission in other cultural-based communities, the appropriate way to reach out to them, is to contextualize and localize it by the native. The real Khmer Christians are in the process of being themselves through Khmerization. Especially, Buddhism as a partner in dialogue with Christianity is such an appropriate way to reach out to Buddhist traditional culture-based Cambodians in the Kingdom.
Understanding more about 'Khmer' is also a key to enlarging the Kingdom of God in Cambodia. The very appropriate way to form a mission model in the Kingdom also starts with a partnership with respect. Missio Dei is not a part of religious belief, but the relationship between God, the Creator, and His universe. Even though Cambodia is a part of a pluralistic world; evangelizing in this kind of non-Christian worldview needs more patience to seed the truth and calmly wait for its prosperous fruits.
There is a limitation to this study since Cambodian history on how religions have their role from the pre-history until modern day, brought only some part to take an overview with how possible to adapt to Christianity. I expect the other study on this field will be more details in various ways to reach the gospel to Cambodians in an appropriate way.