You’re My Lord

11 Inspirational Christian Songs

About Duke Nguyen Browning (Songwriter/Singer) 

      Duke became a Christian at the age of 18 and was baptized by a Chaplain in 1973 while serving in the South Vietnamese Marines. Duke believes that his journey in faith has led him to where he is today, considering his very unusual background. 

      Growing up in South Vietnam, unfavorable economic conditions in his war-torn village forced Duke to quit school after he finished fifth grade so that he could help his family make a living. Duke left his village home at the age of 11 and went to Saigon City in hopes of finding a job.  There, his cousin introduced him to a photography shop where Duke began to work and learn his trade in photography.  In less than two years he was offered a main position at the photo shop — unfortunately, it was because the lead photographer and technician who had worked with him was killed during the Tet offensive in 1968. Duke was a full time photographer and darkroom technician by age 14, making enough money to help support his family and also to fill his passion for music by taking music theory and voice lessons a couple times a week.       

      In 1972, Duke joined the Vietnamese Marines.  Although he never planned or expected a miracle to happen that would keep him from fighting on the frontline, his photography skills became a blessing when he was in the right place at the right time. During basic training, Duke was personally recruited by the Colonel, then Marine Headquarter Commander, to work in the photography department at the Vietnamese Marines Headquarters — an opportunity that no one would have imagined would happen at the time. He worked there as an events and news photographer and darkroom technician until he accompanied his friends out of the country, bound for the United States, on, April 29, 1975 — the last day of the Vietnam War. 

      Duke did not know any English before leaving Vietnam, so upon arrival in the United States, learning the language was Duke’s first priority. With his passion for music, he found a creative way to learn English by using music albums that had printed lyrics on the covers.  He also prepared English lessons he wanted to learn and had friends and neighbors read to a tape recorder so that he could replay them and learn how to read and pronounce troublesome words and sentences.

      Duke initially settled in Muskegon, Michigan, after he left a refugee camp in October of 1975.  There, he worked as a freelance photographer, taking wedding and special occasion photos. He also worked as a piano tuner for a Baldwin Piano dealer and its customers, all while taking a few English courses from a nearby community college.  When he finished with the English classes, he quit his job and continued his schooling, earning an Associate’s degree before going on to a four-year liberal arts college, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in business administration.  After college, Duke worked in Houston for a couple years before he decided to go to law school. He started his legal career a few years later after passing the Texas Bar Exam in 1985.  Duke married his wife, Kerrin, a college classmate, in 1983, and the couple now has three daughters. 

      Music has always been Duke’s passion, but the initial language barrier made a dream of pursuing such a career somewhat impossible.   Today, besides representing his clients in business and real estate matters, Duke is grateful for the opportunity to work on music as a songwriter—he also sings occasionally—after many years of pursuing other interests.  In addition to the Christian songs on this CD, Duke has written other songs depicting stories with positive, inspirational, and encouraging messages, whether about love or life.   

      This limited edition “You’re My Lord” album was released on March 30, 2007, in memory of Mrs. Jenna V. Jelles (a.k.a. Jenna V. Kemink and Jenna V. Browning), one year after her death.  To Duke, Mrs. Jelles was a true living witness as a Christian, and her life and works touched the lives of many people who came to know her, not only in the United States, but also in other places throughout the world.  He feels that it was always an honor and privilege to call her “Mother” from the time he first came to the United States in 1975, and also an honor for his children to call her “Grandma.”  When Duke became an United States citizen in 1983, he decided to change his name to Duke Nguyen Browning from Duc Ngoc Nguyen, so that he might honor the then Mrs. Browning for what she, like a mother, had done for him in the first period of his life in the United States. 

      Finally, Duke would like to add, “I am thankful for my mentors, sponsors, supporters, and friends who have contributed to my fun and enjoyable life over the years, and especially, my family: Kerrin, Amy, Laura, and Michelle; father- and mother-in-law, Herbert and Gloria Wilson; and of course ‘that great uncle Reg’ – as my daughters would say – in California. Without all of their love and support, my life’s sailing would not have been as smooth.

      I believe that it was God’s will that we came to know, support, and love each other, despite the fact that we started out in different corners of the world – we can only imagine what else God may do, or may have in store for us.”