Communication and Sustainability Director
Naleng Real’s journey has been marked by hardship but also strength in faith through Jesus Christ. Naleng’s father left her family for government duty before she could call him “Pa”. In 1975, her mother, seven siblings, and she were captured and forced to leave Phnom Penh city. Naleng’s mother and five of her siblings died during the Pol Pot Regime due to disease and starvation. One of Naleng’s oldest sisters, sister’s husband, and four children fled to the Pursat province during the war.
In 1979, Cambodia was liberated from the Khmer Rouge. Naleng and her sister spent over three months walking from Battambang to Kandal province, passing by Phnom Penh city. During their journey, Naleng got measles and was very sick for three months. She suffered from the side effects of measles and did not recover well – her torso was deformed, and her body did not grow properly because there was no proper medical treatment available.
Naleng’s uncle is a very compassionate person and welcomed Naleng and her sister into the family. In 1980, her oldest sister, who had fled to Pursat province, found Naleng and her sister. She took them to live with her in Sihanoukville. In 1993, there was a mission family from Assemblies of God (AOG), who came to Sihanoukville and opened up an orphanage with an English class. There Naleng learned about God’s story in the Bible. The missionary witnessed to her, and she gave her life to Jesus in 1993. Naleng served in AOG for six years.
From 2004-2007, Naleng pursued a Master of Art in Intercultural Studies at the East Asia School of Theology in Singapore, and graduated in 2007. These educational foundations prepared her for a life of cross-cultural ministry and service to build God’s kingdom. After Bible school, Naleng served in various ministry roles in World Vision, as a Christian Formation Program Coordinator. Her involvement at Good News of Jesus Church is her weekend ministry—Worship Leader, Sunday School teacher, trainer, and Church Planter.
Currently, Naleng serves part-time in the Sustainability Project with Fountain of Hope (FOH) and is a student of Christian Counseling (online) at Covenant Theological Seminary, USA. Through this role, Naleng sees how Cambodian communities are eager for the gospel. FOH encourages staff and volunteers to demonstrate their faith through both words and actions in their community programs.
Naleng is grateful for a life of purposeful service, that inspires others to find strength in faith and purpose in serving through the gospel so that people can receive salvation and the love of God.