As most of you know, I flew into the States recently and will be here for two months. I will have a full calendar. As of now, I am scheduled to be in 13 churches, 3 Missions’ Conferences, and will be teaching a three-day Intensive at Pacific Baptist Bible College called “Discipleship and Missions.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR MY TIME IN THE STATES TO BE FRUITFUL!

I arrived in the country on Thursday evening and less than 36 hours later, on Saturday, my niece Sarah (Pastor Joe’s daughter) was married to one of our assistant pastors (Bruce Mejia). The most exciting thing about the wedding was that my brother was able to attend the wedding. What an emotional time it was to have Pastor Joe wheeled down the aisle holding his daughter’s hand to present her to Bruce. Of course, this was the first time my brother has been anywhere off of the hospital property for nearly two years and the first time he has been in the church since that dreadful night October 3, 2013.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR MY BROTHER’S RECOVERY, FOR HIS WIFE, THE REST OF THE FAMILY, AND FOR GOD TO USE BRUCE AND SARAH MEJIA FOR HIS GLORY!

The following day was Pacific Baptist Church’s 27th anniversary! Regrettably, my brother wasn’t able to make this special event. Just over 27 years ago, my brother and his wife Mary, along with their first-born Joseph, started Cambodian Baptist Church. The name of the church was later changed to its present name of Pacific Baptist Church.

God had placed a dream in my brother’s heart years before, while still a student in Bible College, to reach the Cambodian people. The dream, which was birthed in North Chicago, led my brother to Long Beach (an amazing story right there) to start a church and has now been responsible for a thriving church in Long Beach, another one about twenty miles away in Monterey Park, and missions teams in Cambodia, Communist Laos, Thailand, and possibly, in the near future the country of China!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PACIFIC BAPTIST CHURCH TO CONTINUE WITH THE MISSIONS FERVOR OF THE PAST!

As always, it was a real joy to be able to spend a weekend with my dear friend Pastor Art Maricle, his family, and the New Hope Baptist Church of Santa Rosa. I had the opportunity to preach for them three times on Sunday. I preached messages on “Dreaming Big for God,” “Compassion Makes a Difference,” and per Brother Maricle’s request, on Sunday evening I preached a message called “Lessons We Have Learned.”

This message, again per the pastor’s request, was about lessons we have learned the past two years since my brother’s illness. I asked my brother’s wife Mary and his eldest Joseph, to give me a few lessons they have learned, and I added a few of my own. While the Holy Spirit moved in all three services; the evening service was special, not to mention, emotional!

While my time here in the States is primarily about the Father’s business, reporting the great things God is doing in Southeast Asia, and getting the word out about the 10/40 Window, we are also finding time to be with the grandchildren. Now, that’s always a blessing! Two of my grandchildren, Hosanna and Bella, started K-4 just this week. They are all growing up so quickly!

I SINCERELY COVET ALL OF YOUR PRAYERS DURING THESE TWO MONTHS IN THE STATES!

 As most of you know, for many followers of Christ in Southeast Asia and other parts of the 10/40 Window, persecution is a daily occurrence. In fact, it’s a way of life. The three teen boys pictured below (Sron, Bundit, and Sophea) have stood for Christ and because of their stand they were all kicked out of their homes in Phnom Penh. We mentioned Sophia’s testimony in our last blog update. Eventually, Bundit was forced to go back home to harsh beatings. He continues to serve Christ in spite of it!

It is good to hear that Sony is remaining faithful in her stand for Christ in spite of persecution from family and friends. Since Man and I had the opportunity to win her to Christ over a month ago, she has been faithfully attending the services

Please continue to pray for Sron, Bundit, Sophea, and Sony to stand true to Christ amidst the persecution! 

Thank you for your prayerful support of our ministry in Southeast Asia!!!