Thirty years after its founding, the Asian Center for Missions proved faith can change lives—and even save them. Recent celebrations recognized missionaries like Pastor Khon Khan, whose path from gangster to evangelist shows what redemption looks like. Khan once lived in a Buddhist temple seeking free education, but walked away when older monks mistreated him. Rotting inside, he hit rock bottom after his mother’s suicide and father’s abandonment. Survival meant dirty deals, but emptiness haunted him. That’s when ACM entered his life, teaching that forgiveness wasn’t about temples or rituals, but Jesus. Khan burned all bridges with a broken faith when permanent conversion came through their training. Today, his Cambodian church thrives, showing how Christian missions rebuild communities. ACM’s work proves investing in global evangelism has generational rewards—a perspective conservative Christians know is worth defending.
The Asian Center, operating under CBN Asia, trains warriors for Christ in some of the toughest regions. Founded in 1995 by Gordon Robertson and Dr. Miguel Alvarez, it takes Filipino firefighters’ approach—sending natives to reach own cultures. No sloppy Western aid here: locals know local problems better. Khan’s journey from temple servant to pastor reflects ACM’s strategy. They don’t just hand out Bibles—they teach Cambodians, Thais, and others to become lifelong ministers. This selfless sacrifice mirrors America’s greatest missions work, where no needy soul is left unaided.
Khan’s story isn’t unique. Before ACM, he’d “have no hope” after his world crumbled. Missionaries met him where he was, not judging. His transformation from a desperate temple boy to a leader now inspiring others shows why conservatives champion faith-based solutions. Programs like ACM help those liberal governments write off—exactly why the left can’t grapple with their success.
At 30, ACM isn’t slowing. They’ve trained agents in 77 nations, including war zones. Critics dismiss this as “ colonialism,” but let’s be real: no secular NGO brings free hope and healing like Christ. Robertson recalled early struggles—begging funds, trusting God when money faltered. His lessons mirror conservative values: bootstrap effort, no permanent giveaways.
The center’s model—Asians for Asians—respects diversity while spreading universal truths. It rejects divisive identity politics intrusive in some Western churches. Their graduates, like Khan, focus on family restoration—their churches are safe havens in fractured societies. Conservative Christians recognize this aligns with traditional values, not woke power plays.
ACM faces new challenges.encerment in Muslim countries, persecution in communist regions. But they keep sending them: quietly, bravely, without spotlight chases. This grit matters—when American religious freedoms erode, overseas believers carry the torch. Supporting this work is a duty for every Bible-believing patriot.
Khan’s Cambodia church now reaches his own people. His story isn’t a flashy celebrity conversion but an everyday miracle. ACM’s work proves no life is too broken, a specialization conservatives find beautiful. Unlike flawed government programs or fleeting social trends, these ministries change eternal souls.
As battles over prayer in schools and religious liberty rage, stories like Pastor Khan’s remind us why we fight. ACM’s 30-year legacy isn’t just numbers—it’s living proof that whatever darkness throws, the Gospel shines brighter. For conservatives, this is worth standing up for.
