April 18, 2015

This past week or so was an extremely busy and blessed one. As most of you know, I flew into the “Creative Access” Nation where my wife and I served for 17 months when first arriving in Southeast Asia two years ago. On Sunday morning I preached twice for a Filipino congregation in the capital city. God really did move in a special way! This is the church that Denise and I, along with the rest of our team, were a part of for Sunday mornings when we were in the country. I was blessed to be able to preach every Sunday morning for these folks while we were based in the country, and they have a special place in my heart. I love the pastor (Aaron Inventor), his family, and I love the people dearly!

Preaching for our Filipino friends in Creative Access Nation!

Please pray that God will continue to use this church to be a lighthouse in a nation that has less than 2 percent of it population profess to be a “Christian!”

One other tremendous blessing was the opportunity to meet Timothy. He is a missionary sent from Nigeria to this “Creative Access” Nation. He’s a really great guy. After the service (this was his first time attending the church), I asked him how he ended up in this country. His reply was powerful. He said, “Our church is trying to send missionaries all over the world, especially in the 1040 Window. THEY TOLD ME TO COME HERE, AND I DID!”

What a blessing to hear a man say that he didn’t come necessarily because of a burden or a call, but both he and his church recognized a country and a people who desperately needed the Gospel, and he volunteered to come. Praise the Lord!

Standing with missionary Timothy!

Please pray for Timothy and other missionaries in this “Creative Access” Nation, including our team, to be used mightily for God to reach these dear souls for Jesus Christ!

My primary reason for flying into the country is because I was invited to once again preach for the annual three-day Bible Camp that the nationals conduct during the New Year’s celebration. It’s normally held across the border, as it was this year. This year was my third year preaching for the brethren, and may very well have been the best camp of theirs that I have ever been a part of. Seven from our group from the “Creative Access” Nation were detained at the border for interrogation. Praise the Lord, they were finally released. Unfortunately, they were not allowed to cross the border and unable to be a part of the camp.

While the crowd at this year’s camp was down some from previous years (a few of the other churches that are normally a part of this camp, primarily Thai churches, chose to attend another camp in Bangkok this year). God did some great things in our midst. I have heard some really good reports that God blessed the camp in Bangkok also. In spite of the two camps going on at the same time, we still had five pastors in attendance, and six different churches represented, five from the “Creative Access” Nation. I had the privilege to preach a total of six times, while missionary John Henry preached or taught a total of five times. God moved in a mighty way, and for this we are very grateful. Thank you for praying!

Preaching at the camp in Thailand!

Eating with the brethren after the morning service during the three-day camp!

Here I am with the pastors that attended the conference from the “Creative Access” Nation (Pastor Khammon is not pictured) and missionary John Henry!

Bible drill time at the camp!

Please pray for these five pastors and the six churches that were represented. Pray that God will bring an increase from the seeds that were sown during this three-day camp!

Before closing, I just had to mention one more thing. While out of the country, I was, of course, keeping tabs on my wife, daughter, and niece, as well as some of the guys I am discipling in Phnom Penh. Both is a 16-year old young man that I have been discipling since the beginning of the year. He follows me on Instagram and saw a D.L. Moody post of mine and texted me saying, “D.L. Moody was a great man.” To which I shot him a reply, saying, “Yes sir! A special man for a special time.” It wasn’t long before I received a text from him that said, “Pastor, how can we see a special time?” What a blessing to receive a text like that from Both. If that young man keeps his eyes on the Lord, God’s going to use him greatly.

Both is a young man with a lot of potential!

Please pray for Both and the other young men and women that our team are currently discipling. Pray that God will use them to reach their people for Christ!

The words of D. L. Moody are as powerful as they are practical. Yes, we are only one, and we can’t do everything, but by God’s grace, we can do something. Oh Lord, help us to do something for your glory and for the good of others, especially in this part of the world!

It was a blessing to get a text from my niece, along with a picture of her and my daughter, while I was in the “Creative Access” Nation. Of course, they are both presently serving in Phnom Penh. The text simply said, “We are praying for you Uncle Johnny.” My heart was touched, and it was a good reminder to all of us on this side of the Pacific that what God does here in this part of the world really is dependent, not only on our labors, but on your prayers for us. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!