Cambodian ‘Saul’ killed for the Khmer Rouge, transformed into ‘Paul’ by the Word and the Spirit

Cambodian ‘Saul’ killed for the Khmer Rouge, transformed into ‘Paul’ by the Word and the Spirit
By Mark Ellis, Special to ASSIST News Service
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (ANS - July 1, 2015) -- When the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia in 1975, they forced people out of the cities, and sent them on forced marches to rural work camps for “re-education.” They demanded the entire population of 2.3 million vacate the capital of Phnom Penh within three days, including the elderly, children, monks, doctors and nurses, hospital patients, wounded and sick people, even mothers who had just given birth.
They said they would be leaving for a few days, but the evacuation turned into a three-year nightmare. Nearly everyone was either executed, faced starvation, or was worked to death. During their violent rule, 2.5 million perished — almost a third of the population — in what became known as the Cambodian genocide.
The horrific ordeal was memorialized in the award-winning Hollywood film “The Killing Fields.”
Christians living in Cambodia during the rule of the Khmer Rouge were heavily persecuted for their faith – even for reading the Bible.
By the time the Khmer Rouge were finally vanquished by Vietnam in 1978, there were barely any Christians left due to the brutal and arbitrary executions, torture, and genocide committed then.
Sovann was a member of the Khmer Rouge during those horrible 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, according to a report by Bible League International.
The reign of terror ended when Vietnam took control, 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. It was a pastor making calls on all the residents in his neighborhood.
Photo caption: A young girl called Meo Soknen stands with pile of skulls and bones after the terrible events in Cambodia.
MORE
About the writer: Mark Ellis is a senior correspondent for the ASSIST News Service and also the founder of www.Godreports.com,  a website that shares stories, testimonies and videos from the church around the world to build interest and involvement in world missions.
** You may republish this and any of our ANS stories wtih attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)