Samuel and Chamroeun Nuon recently share at a Language Music Celebration, sponsored by the BCM/D.
By Sharon Mager, BCM/D Correspondent
FREDERICK, Md.—Church Planter Samuel Nuon and his wife, Chamroeun, fled from their home in Cambodia in the mid-seventies. They lived in a refugee camp under difficult conditions and small quantities of food but it was there that they heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, where they gave their lives to Him and were baptized. What Satan intended to be harmful, like Joseph in the Bible, “…God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Samuel Nuon pastors First Cambodian Baptist Church of Maryland, a house church in Frederick where about 15 to 20 people gather monthly to sing pray and hear Nuon’s message. It’s a family atmosphere. The smell of Asian food wafts through the home, cooked by Mrs. Teang, known as “Cindy,” who serves through her love of cooking. Church members laugh and hug before heading to the lower level for worship. Afterwards, they fellowship around the meal.
Samuel is very happy with the house church model. That’s the way the early church worshiped, he explains.
“It’s organic, it’s simple. We support one another. It’s open and friendly and we share. Last night we stayed until 10 p.m. enjoying the fellowship and good food,” Samuel says, referring to a special event the church hosted to help an organization (Cambodiareads.com) supply books to Cambodian children.
“It doesn’t replace the traditional church, it complements it,” he says.
Paula Prak, a “modern-day Lydia,” opens her home for the Cambodian house church.
The church home is that of Paula Prak, who freely offers it to the Nuons.
“She is a modern-day Lydia,” Samuel says.
should share the results of theirsuccess with the church. Tragically, Paula’s husband, Sampach Prak, died in an accident. Paula feels that by opening her house to the church, she is honoring their combined wish and his memory.
“This house is not just for me. It’s for God and His people, His church. The love He gives me is so meaningful, my heart can’t say thank you enough,” Paula says.
The Nuons speak freely of their experience in Cambodia. Though it has been over 35 years, they vividly remember the terror. For over four years they lived with the constant bombing during the Vietnam war. Food and medicine was scarce. As the war was ending, Communists had taken over Phnom Penh. On April 17, 1975, they remember the date exactly, the Nuons, their children and a few other relatives, fled to the border of Thailand where a Communist soldier blocked them and told Samuel, “Don’t move or I’ll shoot!”
Paula said she and her husband felt that they should share the results of their success with the church. Tragically, Paula’s husband, Sampach Prak, died in an accident. Paula feels that by opening her house to the church, she is honoring their combined wish and his memory.
“This house is not just for me. It’s for God and His people, His church. The love He gives me is so meaningful, my heart can’t say thank you enough,” Paula says.
The Nuons speak freely of their experience in Cambodia. Though it has been over 35 years, they vividly remember the terror. For over four years they lived with the constant bombing during the Vietnam war. Food and medicine was scarce. As the war was ending, Communists had taken over Phnom Penh. On April 17, 1975, they remember the date exactly, the Nuons, their children and a few other relatives, fled to the border of Thailand where a Communist soldier blocked them and told Samuel, “Don’t move or I’ll shoot!”
“I held my six month old in my arms, and I screamed at Samuel not to move!” Chamroeun says.
A government official helped and they were able to pass. They escaped before the infamous “killing fields,” but much of their family did not.
Samuel Nuon has a conversation with Fred Luter, president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
“My parents and a lot of relatives lived through it. I saw the movie. It was worse than that,” Chamroeun says.
They stayed at a refugee camp for six months. Times were tough. Food was scarce. But God was present. The Nuons were Buddhists, but while in the camp they heard the gospel message preached and asked Jesus to be Lord of their lives.
They began seeking asylum and applied to various countries–France, Holland, New Zealand, and the United States. In Sept. 1975, they were transported to the United States for resettlement.
They arrived in Arkansas. “We saw our first snow. It was cold. I’ll never forget it,” Samuel says.
The family settled in Virginia attended church regularly and Samuel said they began to grow in their faith. Samuel felt God leading him into ministry and he began taking seminary classes, eventually receiving degrees from Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Carolina.
BCM/D missionary Robert Kim contacted Samuel and shared the need for a Cambodian church plant in Maryland/Delaware and the Nuons responded.
Through the years, the Nuons have seen Cambodians come to Christ. In fact, after years of trying to locate Champroeun’s family, the connection was made and the Nuons were able to bring her family to the United States and later, they were able to bring them to Jesus. Chamroeun’s family did indeed live through the “killing fields,” but found that Jesus conquers death.