Bible transforms Cambodian Saul into Paul

Christians living in Cambodia during the rule of the Khmer Rouge were heavily persecuted for their faith and for reading the Bible. By the time the Khmer Rouge was out of power, there were barely any Christians left due to the brutal and arbitrary executions, torture, and genocide committed in two short years.

Sovann was a member of the Khmer Rouge during those awful years.  “Looking back,” he whispered, “I am ashamed of the terrible things I participated in as a member of the army. We treated people as if they were animals, and worse.” When asked if he had ever taken a life, all he could do was quietly whisper ‘yes’ while staring at the bamboo floor.

The reign of terror ended when Vietnam took control of the country, but Sovann left the army a shell of a man. He was tormented constantly by the crushing guilt he carried, and nothing provided any relief. One day while he was preparing to spend another day in an alcohol induced stupor, there was a knock on his door. On the other side was a Bible League International trained pastor who was making calls on all the residents in his neighborhood.

“I don’t know why I let him in,” Sovann recalled, “but I sensed that he could help me.” As they sat, Sovann shared his personal unhappiness with the pastor, who immediately flipped open his Bible. He turned to Isaiah 1:18 and asked Sovann to read it.

“Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

“When I read those words…scarlet…crimson…rouge,” Sovann remembers, “tears began streaming down my face. The pastor told me that even though I used to be Khmer Rouge, God would forgive all of my sins and make me white as snow.”

That was the beginning of a new life for Sovann. The power of forgiveness found in the Bible enabled him to embrace Christ as Savior. He shared his story with us at his church near Phnom Penh. “I thank God for this ministry and the pastors they train in Cambodia.” Sovann finally smiled. “I don’t know where I would be if God hadn’t spoken to me that day.”