Former national soccer player to return to Cambodia to reach out to his people for Christ

By James L. Lambert

A survivor from the brutal Khmer Rouge reign of terror will return to his country this summer to perform missionary work. Kiri Nguon is currently serving as pastor for a small church in San Diego, California. Nguon was born and raised in his native land of Cambodia. As a 17 year old (in the 1970s), Kiri was selected to be a member of his country’s national soccer team: a high honor. His team competed internationally and represented the country throughout Asia.

Things radically changed for the budding soccer star in the spring of 1975. A dark cloud descended over the land of Cambodia as the Khmer Rouge came into power in the small country of 7 million people. While the regimes of both Vietnam and Cambodia previously had communist governments, the Khmer Rouge was known for its brutal tactics and abuse. Their leader, Pol Pot, and his cronies garnered control over the country by intimidating and eliminating all opponents of their regime. Many of their so-called opponents were more imaginary than real. Government officials would often accuse people of political crimes when no such crimes existed.

The regime forced thousands to flee the capital city of Phnom Penh to perform agricultural work. During the purge, hundreds of thousands were tortured and killed. Cambodians with any social prestige or stature prior to the Khmer Rouge’s ascent to power were viewed suspiciously.

Kiri’s position as a nationally recognized soccer player forced him to leave Cambodia and flee to Vietnam in June of 1975, where he became a fisherman. His athletic talent was soon recognized and he began to play soccer professionally. In 1979, the communist government of Vietnam declared war on the Khmer Rouge. Now, the young soccer player was in a bind because his place of origin had become Vietnam’s enemy. With his life in danger once again, he had to escape.

Nguon decided to go through Cambodia and escape to Thailand. He knew it would be a perilous journey. Traveling by foot, bicycle, and automobile, Kiri moved past war-torn towns and provinces controlled by the Khmer Rouge

and the communist army of Vietnam. The experience was not only terrifying for Kiri, but opened his eyes to the extreme cruelty of humans against their own countrymen.

Miraculously, after a number of weeks of travel, Kiri found his way to a Thai refugee camp in December of 1979. There Christian missionaries found Kiri and he committed his life to Christ not long after. Less than 2 years after his conversion to Christ and with the assistance of a missionary group - a sponsor was found for Kiri. The sponsor paid for his trip to Providence, Rhode Island. There he worked in a church that was attended by many from his former country.

For the next four years, Kiri learned about his new-found faith and studied the Bible. His days in Cambodia and on the soccer field seemed so far away. Ultimately, Kiri was assigned to a position as assistant pastor of a large Christian and Missionary Church in Santa Rosa, California. Two years later he was given the responsibility of leading his own church in San Diego.

Throughout his time in America, Kiri still remembers his native land. Cambodia is considered one of the poorest nations on earth. It is estimated that its gross national product is only $3.1B annually. The country is ranked by the United Nations in the lowest economic tier (130 out of 162 nations) with the average Cambodian earning only $2 a day (People Magazine).

With so much poverty and suffering, Kiri believes it is important for him to return permanently to the country of his birth. He plans on leaving this summer with the vision of starting a sports ministry to reach out to his people. He will form this new ministry in the mold of Athletes in Action; something (to his recollection) that has never been done before in this Southeast Asian country.

Kiri needs our support. We can help him fulfill his dream of forming a sports ministry and reaching his people for Christ. Currently only about 1-2% of that population are Christian. Tax deductible donations can be sent to International Church Missions, PO Box 1198, Vista, CA. 92085 (re: Kiri Nguon)