About

Dareth

In the spring of 1975, Cambodia fell into the hands of the Khmer Rouge — a radical Maoist regime that brought devastation to the nation. During their brutal reign, over two million Cambodians were tortured, starved, or killed. The once-lush rice paddies became known as the infamous “Killing Fields.”

At just 7 years old, Dareth was taken from his family and sent to a labor camp, where he endured severe abuse and was forced to work in the fields with little or no food. But even in the darkest moments, God’s grace and mercy were at work. At age 11, Dareth miraculously escaped and was later brought to the United States as an orphaned refugee.

Placed in a foster home by child protective services, Dareth encountered the love of God for the first time. At the age of 14, he surrendered his life to Christ — a turning point that brought healing, restoration, and a divine calling.

To hear more about Dareth’s powerful testimony, you can watch his story by clicking the link in the sidebar under “Dareth’s Story.”

Thida

Thida is also a survivor of the Killing Fields. As a young girl living in Battambang, in northwest Cambodia, her world was forever changed when the Khmer Rouge seized power. Her father, a member of the military, was among the first to be executed.

Like so many others during that time, Thida’s family was torn apart — each member sent to different labor camps across the country. Miraculously, after four long and harrowing years, they all survived and were reunited when the Khmer Rouge regime was overthrown by the Vietnamese army.

Eventually, Thida, then 12 years old, escaped Cambodia with her mother, three brothers, and sister. They resettled in Houston, Texas as refugees, and later made their home in Minneapolis, Minnesota — a place where their family could begin to heal and rebuild their lives.

Dareth & Thida

Thida and Dareth met at North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota — two survivors of the Killing Fields, brought together by God thousands of miles from the land of their birth. In His perfect timing and purpose, their stories intertwined, and they were married in August 1993.

Together, they’ve built a life of faith, love, and mission. They are the proud parents of three wonderful daughters: Sophie, Sabrina, and Saidah. Since August 1996, Dareth and Thida have been serving as missionaries in Cambodia — planting churches, training leaders, and meeting the practical needs of communities through the construction and operation of schools.