The Story of CCC

Beginnings

Rev Ross Rennie

In 1994 Rev Ross Rennie, then a recent Bible college graduate, visited Cambodia for the first time. As a result of reading the book Anointed for Burial by Todd and DeAnn Burke several years previously, Ross's wife Jackie had received a calling from God to work with Cambodian children. At first Ross did not share Jackie's interest in Cambodia, but subsequently God spoke to him about sharing the good news with Cambodian people.

During his 1994 visit Ross stayed with Myers Cooper, who had been working in Cambodia as Administrator for Southeast Asian Outreach (now SAO Cambodia) since 1991. One Sunday Myers invited Ross to accompany him to the church he attended. At that meeting the Holy Spirit came upon the congregation with great power, and Ross received from God a commission to establish a 'Samaritan Trust' that would bring finance and other resources into Cambodia for the work of the Kingdom of God.

Shortly afterwards Ross met a group of Cambodian church leaders and together they committed themselves to establishing a non-denominational Christian centre on land that had formed part of the 'killing fields', where Cambodian people had been murdered during the Khmer Rouge regime.

CCC is founded

Ross returned to his home in the United Kingdom, where he and Jackie founded Cambodian Communities out of Crisis (CCC). They invited some of their friends to become the first Council members and appointed Myers as CCC's honorary representative in Cambodia.

CCC began to raise funds, which were initially used to support the newly formed School of Practical Ministry Cambodia (SPMC), while Myers helped to set up SPMC's administrative systems in Cambodia.

Education

During a visit to Cambodia in 1996, God prompted Ross and CCC Treasurer Tony Nixon to make a grant to pay for three young Cambodian men to take courses in business studies at a college in Phnom Penh. This was the beginning of CCC's programme of student sponsorship, which has continued to the present day.

Timothy College

In 1999 God gave to CCC a vision for a Christian college of further and higher education, to be called 'Timothy College'. CCC Council members shared this vision with Cambodian church leaders in 2000 and received their support for the concept.

Friends and Partners

One of the Christian leaders whom Ross met in 1994 was Barnabas Mam. Soon after their meeting Barnabas founded the School of Practical Ministry Cambodia, which CCC supported and which Myers Cooper helped to set up. Ross and Myers have remained good friends with Barnabas, who for several years served as CCC's Honorary Chairman in Cambodia. Barnabas is now Asia Regional Director of Ambassadors for Christ International.

CCC enjoys good relationships with a number of churches, associations and mission agencies in Cambodia. CCC also values its membership of Global Connections, a UK-based network of mission agencies, churches, colleges and service agencies with a passion for the world.