Staff
The Capital Vietnamese Christian Fellowship’s Staff is a collection of youth leaders from various churches across the East Coast. They grew up going to CVCF events where they heard and responded to the Gospel. They want to continue CVCF’s mission to impact their youth just like how their lives were impacted.
KEVIN NGUYEN
director
Kevin Nguyen lives in Silver Spring, MD with his wife of three years, Krista, and their baby daughter Nora. He is originally from Pascagoula, MS where he lived until 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit his hometown and his family had to relocate. Although he grew up in the church, he did not truly become a follower of Jesus until his time serving in the United States Marine Corps. He currently attends the Well Community Church and works as a career firefighter. Kevin is also pursuing his Associate’s in Food and Beverage at Montgomery College. He loves to cook, hike, read, and have deep theological and philosophical conversations (which he tends to initiate in the form of Facebook memes).
Kevin has a heart for youth ministry and has served as a group leader for over eight retreats. He is excited to see how God has continued to grow CVCF’s ministry in order to disciple and build up the next generation to be followers of Christ.
MICHELLE NGUYEN
WORSHIP TEAM COORDINATOR
Michelle grew up in Baltimore, MD and wears many hats at the Vietnamese Baltimore Baptist Church (VBB). Michelle has been on the worship team at her home church for almost 11 years and with the CVCF ministry for several. Michelle realized she needed the love of Jesus after her parent’s divorce at an early age. There was a void she knew only God can fill abundantly and satisfy.
Michelle is the first to graduate college in her family at the University of Maryland, College Park in December 2021. She is currently a social media marketing manager, nail technician, and small business owner. Michelle loves to spend time with people, eat with people, and make charcuterie boards for people through her small business Taste of Company. If you sing a worship song around her, she will 9 times out of 10 start singing it with you -- she simply cannot help it. She loves being a ray of sunshine wherever she goes, bringing joy and encouragement where she can! She’ll most likely laugh at your jokes even if she doesn’t get it. She is so excited to have her besties Leann & Esther on this year’s Oper-slaytion Team! Michelle is allergic to veggies and if you hear anything differently, it is a lie.. If you see her eating any veggies, she is INDEED in pain. Please give her a cookie to go with her lettuce.
ALEX CHIEW
Prayer Coordinator
Alex Chiew was born in Manhattan, NY and raised in New York for most of his childhood. He was first introduced to Christ through his grandmother who would walk him and his brother Derek through the streets of Brooklyn to Bensonhurst Chinese Christian Church every Sunday. At the age of 16 he moved to Maryland to be closer to family. He currently resides in Rockville, MD with his brother and mother. Alex has served at Living Faith Vietnamese Baptist Church for close to a decade in leadership.
In that same time he has served on the CVCF Staff since 2014. Alex was convicted when he first attended CVCF in 2013 and watched how the attendees would praise Jesus. He asked himself, "Why are all these people from different walks of life, worshiping this Christ Jesus? Is there something I am not seeing?" From that point on he sought to know Christ deeper and after forming a relationship with Christ, he also made it a mission to share the Gospel to those who were just like he was before discovering God.
Alex enjoys dance, Marvel movies, and basketball (talking and playing). He also has a bunch of hobbies so you can pretty much talk to him about almost anything. His favorite snack is Andy Capp's Hot Fries!
ESTHER PHAM
Finance & Fundraising Coordinator
Esther Pham was born in Vietnam but moved to the States at 7 years old. She grew up near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attends Drexel University as a nursing major. Esther accepted Christ as her Savior at 12 years old after a vivid message of Jesus’ crucifixion and realized His love, grace, and mercy for her. She currently attends Redemption City Church in Brewerytown, Philadelphia. In case you haven’t notice with the number of times she has mentioned Philly, she loves her city and is passionate about the Eagles #GoBirds! Come visit Philly and she’ll take you to the chef’s kiss food places in the city. Michelle loves them even when there are veggies. Esther has served with CVCF as a group leader before but looks forward to the Lord using her on the oper-slay-tion team this year!
SAMUEL NGUYEN
Design COORDINATOR
Samuel Nguyen was born and raised in Vietnam. His family migrated to Pittsburgh, PA when he was 14 and he served on the worship team as well as one of the youth group leaders at Pittsburgh Vietnamese Baptist Church until 2020. He currently lives in Baltimore, MD and has served on the worship team for CVCF in 2019 and 2022. Sam grew up in a Christian family with his Dad being a Pastor but didn’t discover his personal relationship with Christ until he came to the States. Sam pursued Computer animation in college but decided it wasn’t for him and stopped after getting his associate bachelor. God has been faithful since and provided Sam abundantly with multiple jobs despite the uncertainty. Sam likes to travel and spend time with friends and other communities, and if you know Sam you know he’s always down to karaoke. His memo is ”confidence is key!”
STEVE BUTNER
Group Leader coordinatoR
Steve Butner grew up in Boonville, NC and currently resides in Laurel MD where he has served in the Youth/College Ministry at Living Faith Vietnamese Baptist Church for 8 years. He has been involved with CVCF since 2009, where he has served as group leader on multiple occasions and continued to offer support indirectly until he was asked to join as Prayer Coordinator in 2021. Steve was found by the Lord when he was at a ripe young age but wasn't called into ministry until he was around 21, when he began ministering to others at Living Faith Vietnamese Baptist Church. Steve graduated from a trade school where he quickly became a Master Guild VW and Master Audi technician. He has recently re-enrolled into college and is pursuing a four-year degree. Steve enjoys tinkering with things/cars, reading, watching Romantic Comedies and Superheroes, almost everything Mario, John Piper, and spending time with his friends and family.
KHANG NGUYEN
Activities Coordinator
Khang Nguyen was born and raised in Vietnam. Khang and his family moved to Baltimore, MD before his 13th birthday. Khang is currently serving in the Vietnamese Baltimore Baptist Church and previously served as a small group leader at CVCF 2022. Khang grew up in a Christian family, but did not personally meet Christ until a series of events that he said could have destroyed his life or career. Khang recently got his Master in cyber security and is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administrator. Khang realized that God has been so good and faithful to him even though he is not. By the Lord’s grace, Khang is working for the Army as a system engineer. Khang enjoys outdoor activities and working out at the gym. Ask him to take you to Paintball. He said he’s pretty good.
LEANN NGO
Social Media and Communications Coordinator
Leann is a fun-loving, gal that grew up in her home church in Baltimore. She likes to eat kimchi jjigae and sit in the park. On weekends, she is a nail tech, but on weekdays, she is a master’s student. She is majoring in Higher Education Administration. The ‘PK life’ found her when her dad became the pastor. She loves being an irony to what ‘PK’ is by being more unhinged, but she also argues that most PKs are unhinged to some degree. Besides going around and saying her hobby is outdoor activities, her actual hobbies consist of binge-watching a show or webtoon.
She also loves God. She thinks He is a cool guy. He fills her life with joy and purpose and she appreciates that a lot. Leann recommends Jesus to everyone who can breathe.
JAMES TRAN
REGISTRATION COORDINATOR
James Tran currently lives in Baltimore, MD and serves at Vietnamese Baltimore Baptist Church. James has served as a CVCF group leader for several years before serving on the staff as activities coordinator this year. He was born into the Christian faith but accepted Christ as he continued to understand what it meant to seek a relationship with Christ. He currently serves in his church as part of the worship team (playing the bass) and also helps his youth pastor plan activity nights for the youth. As of right now he is in his second year of college and pursuing a degree in secondary education in mathematics. He plays volleyball and learns the guitar as hobbies.