In order to provide the necessary environment for training a team of future ministry leaders, we established Cambodian Christian Arts Ministry School (CCAMS) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. CCAMS has five main departments (Music, Dance, Drama, Visual Art, and Creative Writing/Storytelling). Other departments (Bible, General Academics, Vocational Training, and Communication) provide support for these.

The primary purpose of the CCAMS program is to disciple and train Christian leaders. When students who plan to serve in Christian ministry complete the requirements for graduation, they receive a CCAMS "Arts in Ministry" diploma. This diploma certifies that the graduates:

1. possess a foundational knowledge of the whole Bible and have demonstrated over the years a steady growth in general spiritual maturity and the practice of day-to-day Christian life principles;
2. have demonstrated and developed in our apprenticeship program the gifts and abilities necessary to succeed as teachers or other types of leaders;
3. possess a foundational knowledge of the five traditional Khmer art forms (as well as Western forms) and understand how they should be used by Christians for evangelism, teaching, and worship, plus demonstration of practical expertise in each form at least on an intermediate level;
4. have demonstrated the ability to create original works in each of the five art forms;
5. possess academic knowledge at least equivalent to the level of Khmer public schools;
6. have demonstrated proficiency in both written and spoken Khmer and English languages;
7. have demonstrated proficiency in various vocational skills, especially computer data entry, using both Khmer and English characters.

Students who do not pursue the "Arts in Ministry" diploma may receive liberal arts academic diplomas for completion of ninth grade and twelfth grade. Because of difficult life circumstances which have delayed normal development, our students are home-schooled to provide individualized instruction. Therefore, students who get a late start may not graduate until they are young adults. Since CCAMS is their home as well as their school, they are not required to leave after graduation, but may choose to stay as leaders and teachers of the next generation.

CCAMS shelters 30-50 students between the ages of 6 and 26. All of them come from difficult backgrounds—orphans, abandoned kids from broken homes, youngsters living on the streets, children sold into slavery, kids who were members of gangs, poor children whose families could not feed and educate them, abused children, youngsters at risk for abduction, etc.

It is hoped that, somewhere along the way, each individual student will receive the gift of salvation offered by Jesus Christ. We pray that such believers will also receive a direct calling from God, either to become a future leader at CCAMS, or to pursue some other ministry calling in the Kingdom of God. And we also hope that all of our graduates will become moral citizens, wise leaders, and Christian witnesses for the secular culture.

CCAMS provides students shelter, food, clothing, medical and dental attention, school supplies and allowances. We train them in Bible, Christian discipleship, leadership skills, five art forms (music, dance, drama, visual art, creative writing/ storytelling), arts ministry, worship leading, computers, multi-media, academic subjects, vocational expertise, and teacher training. In addition to proclaiming the gospel through artistic performances, they are trained to evangelize through formal preaching and personal witnessing.

The primary model for our ministry comes from that of Jesus Himself. He chose a small group of disciples, lived with them closely for a few years, poured His life into their discipleship and training, and then commissioned them to multiply His ministry by training others, who would, in turn, train others, and so on.

On July 29, 2006, the first "Arts in Ministry" diplomas were awarded to five graduates, two of whom made a two-year internship commitment, and three of whom made a long-term career commitment, to serve the Lord by training others through CCAMS.

Through workshops and special classes, CCAMS teaches members of churches and organizations about the biblical basis for arts ministry and how to effectively use the arts for evangelism, teaching, and worship. Other training available: story and script writing, song writing, music composition and recording, choreography, costume and scene design, and performance professionalism. A CCAMS workshop, "Writing Children's Books," taught by Gioia Michelotti in September 2007, was sponsored by Fount of Wisdom Publishing House, Phnom Penh.

The CCAMS Performing Company assists local churches and Christian organizations with their programs of evangelism, teaching, and worship by periodically joining with them to proclaim the truths of the Bible through original artistic expressions designed by CCAMS for Christian celebrations and evangelistic crusades. CCAMS also provides trained performers for special projects sponsored by local groups.

Special classes in Bible, English, or the arts are sometimes offered for outside students. Student teachers help teach these classes.

CCAMS seeks to evangelize and disciple the children living in our own neighborhood. Periodically, we organize mission trips to evangelize in Phnom Penh or out in the countryside. Believing students are encouraged to witness to every non-believer they encounter in the course of each day.

The CCAMS Performing Team has already traveled to many provinces to proclaim the Good News with music, dance, drama, preaching, and testimony. One day, we hope to establish a CCAM School in each province. Fully trained CCAMS graduates would staff these centers and evangelize, disciple, and train new disciples in each place, reaching out from there to assist local churches and to evangelize the lost.

Community development projects could also be organized by CCAMS to fulfill practical needs of people living around these centers.

At a local theater in 2005 and 2006, CCAMS presented in English an evangelistic version of the musical "Annie," as an outreach to the expatriate community.

In our professional recording studio, we record music (vocal/ instrumental) and radio dramas. We also plan to produce videos, as well as artistic Christian tracts, Bible lessons, and books, especially children's picture books.

In September 2007, Fount of Wisdom published the first ever Khmer Christian children's picture book entitled "Miknia's Doll", written and illustrated by CCAMS graduate intern Lina Pao. Since 2007, CCAMS has independently published 7 original bilingual (Khmer and English) children's picture books, written and illustrated by CCAMS students and staff: "Miknia's Doll" Second Edition, "Miknia's Kittens" sequel to "Miknia's Doll," "True Friend," "Remember," "A Hole of His Own," "Blackie's Boy," and "Never Give Up."

So far, we have offered vocational training in computers, writing, illustrating and publishing books, song writing and music composition, electronics, audio recording, woodworking, cooking, sewing, stage makeup, and artistic crafts. Visiting teams periodically train students to be medical and dental assistants.

In July 1999, we were able to purchase our first tract of land in Kompong Chhnang for the purpose of eventually growing our own food and for building multiple buildings to house the many facets of the CCAMS ministry. Since then, other tracts have been purchased, completing our three-acre site. An EMI team of architects and engineers partnered with CCAMS in June 2003 to draw up plans to build our own ministry center on that property. In July 2007, the construction of the perimeter wall around the property was completed. Now we await funds to build the buildings inside. We also await funds to purchase our own headquarters property in Phnom Penh and to eventually establish additional CCAM Schools in every province.

When the Kompong Chhnang center is ready, we will have room to take in more children, even babies. There will also be room for widows to help care for the children, work in the gardens, and create arts and crafts to generate income for the ministry. In addition, we will have room for handicapped musicians and other types of artists to live on the premises. There will also be accommodations for married staff with families and short or long-term volunteers. Click here for more information about this building project.

From September 1 until December 12, 2001, the CCAMS Performing Team, sponsored by Women of Global Action and U.S. churches, toured the United States, appearing before Anglo and Khmer audiences, including special performances at the Global Celebration of Women at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas.

In October and November 2006, the CCAMS Performing Team, sponsored by SAO and WEC, toured England, Northern Ireland, and France.

Through evangelism, discipleship, and worship, CCAM team members sing "a new song" unto our Lord Jesus Christ, as priests called and set apart for His service (I Peter 2:9). Recapturing the spark of God's original creation, we yield to the Creator's continuing work through us, to preach, teach and praise in unique ways. CCAM is God's appointed discoverer, trainer, and patron of Khmer Christian artists.

Examples of CCAMS Outreach to Artists:
CANA-CCAM Christian Arts Seminar, August 2014
New Creative Ventures Christians Artists Fellowship, Phnom Penh, 2015
New Creative Ventures Teaching Blog: newcreativeventures.wordpress.com/
GCOMM Thailand 2015: gcomm2015.wordpress.com/media/

Communicating the Good News through the traditional art forms of the Khmer people bypasses the cultural barriers erected by Western-style missions and fulfills the biblical mandate to "become all things to all people" in order to save some (I Corinthians 9:22b). Please pray for the continued unfolding of this vision according to the will of God.

CCAM is registered with the United States government as a non-profit organization in the State of Florida. CCAMS is the local non-profit Christian school, a member of EFC, registered under the religion department of the Cambodian government. The ministry of CCAM-CCAMS is patterned after the Asian family model and is an interdenominational, parachurch organism (functioning as a family instead of an organization).

CCAM-CCAMS is a faith ministry, totally dependent on God's provision through the financial gifts of His people around the world. No fees are charged for students to live and study at CCAMS or for CCAMS to present workshops or performances. However, donations are welcomed from those who are able to offer them. We hope that many graduating students will become faithful donors to CCAMS, as God prospers them financially through the free training they have received.

All staff members are volunteers, either raising their own support, or sharing together in the provisions made available through CCAM donors. We hope that many graduating students will volunteer their time and talents to assist their alma mater.

For more information about CCAM/CCAMS:
Website: www.ccamvision.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cambodianchristianartsministry
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ccamvision

It is possible to make tax-deductible donations online through Pay Pal.

Tax-deductible donations by check may be sent to:

CCAM
P.O. Box 2918
Loveland, CO 80539
U.S.A.

Make checks payable to CCAM.

NOTE: Donors wishing to send large amounts of money direct to us should contact Gioia by email to receive bank wiring instructions.

Correspondence may be directed to: ccam.arts@online.com.kh

Cell Phones: Gioia 012-755-144; Noren 012-706-867; Kelsey 017-261-194