Over the past two Saturdays, Man and I have had the opportunity to share the Gospel with quite a few young men in their late teens and early twenties. They have been open and attentive but have yet to trust Christ. They are having a difficult time grasping the truth of the Gospel. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to make our words real to them and that they would turn from their idolatrous ways to Christ!

PLEASE PRAY FOR GOD TO USE OUR WITNESS, BOTH IN WORD AND DEED, TO SEE THESE YOUNG MEN COME TO CHRIST!

It was a real blessing to be able to share the Gospel with Grandpa Va this past Saturday. He is in his late 80’s and has tuberculosis. Apparently, various members of our team in Phnom Penh have shared the Gospel with him in the past, but he had never trusted Christ. What a joy it was to be able to see him trust Jesus as his only hope for heaven.

PLEASE PRAY FOR GRANDPA VA’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH, HEALTH, AND HIS WIFE’S SALVATION!

On Thursday evening, Sunday morning, and Sunday evening I had the privilege of preaching for our Cham and Khmer folks in Psa Traach. I love spending time with them. They are such an inspiration. Many of these dear people, especially the Cham, have suffered serious persecution in the past because of their stand for Christ. I preached a three-part series from Micah 6:8 and God moved in all of the services. After the morning service we traveled about 50 kilometers to the Dol village for a new Children’s Ministry we recently started. During the almost 2 hour trip to Dol, two of our Cham men who were in the back of the tuk-tuk with me asked if I could teach them the Bible. So we had a Bible study on the back of the tuk-tuk covering a wide range of topics.

Upon arriving at the Dol Village we received word that our other tuk-tuk had broken down. So Brother Touch Keo picked up all of the children–all 61 of them–and we had a great time with the kids. Chai did a great job teaching them from Ephesians 2:8-9. I had so much fun with them. Especially, when I had them guessing my age. One child guessed 92 years old. 😦 But a few of them guessed my age as less than 20 years old. 🙂 There’s nothing quite as fulfilling than to be able to bring a few moments of joy to these children.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE OUR TEAM THAT COMES TO THE DOL VILLAGE TWICE A WEEK TO BE ABLE TO REACH MANY FOR CHRIST!

Over the past two weeks it has been a blessing to visit again the area called Steung Meanchey. We have mentioned it often in our updates, including our last update. Just before I returned from the States our team that goes to Steung Meanchey on a weekly basis started visiting in a new area. It has been a joy to meet so many new people, to share the Gospel with so many who have never heard, and in many cases have not heard of Christ, and to play with the children. It was also a blessing to spend some time teaching Thia and encouraging Grandma Bouenseng. There are so many poor and needy people and children in this country and many of them can be found in Steung Meanchey. Of course, they have many needs, but their greatest need is salvation!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THIA’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH, HER HUSBAND NEE’S SALVATION, PHAT’S SALVATION, AND GRANDMA’S HEALTH!

A few days ago, I got together with my friend Abraham. You’ll remember him, I am sure, from previous updates. He was teaching me the language–or at least trying to -and I was discipling him just prior to going back to the States. We will start meeting together a couple times a week as soon as I get back from the TEAM SOUTHEAST ASIA ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP in Bangkok next week.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ABRAHAM’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

Last night, as with every Friday night, our Teen Boys and our Teen Girls had their weekly meetings. Two weeks ago I treated the girls to some pizza, last night it was the teen boys turn. Like American teens, the majority of the teens here in Phnom Penh love pizza. They were happy campers when they saw the pizza arrive. I am grateful for all of our workers who give of themselves and their precious time to serve these young people. One of the keys to reaching this city, and this country, for Christ is to reach the young people. Our ministry, much like our home and sending church, is committed to reaching and teaching the next generation!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEENAGERS AND FOR OUR TEEN WORKERS TO BE USED OF GOD TO REACH MANY FOR JESUS CHRIST!

On Sunday morning, while traveling two hours for a full day at two different villages, I had these thoughts running through my mind and I thought I would share them with you:

As we are passing through village after village, it is so hard for me to comprehend, not only the physical poverty that has so many in this nation in a stranglehold but also the spiritual poverty. Less than 2 percent of these people “profess” to be Christians (in America it’s 77%). We are passing by one Buddhist temple after another. Of course, we do not pass by one church, at least that is visible to the naked eye, nor will we. Not only are we passing by temples, but also countless altars and idols.

Most of these people have never heard the Gospel, and unfortunately, most of them will live their entire lives and die without having ever heard the Gospel. To make matters even worse, a great majority of them have never heard, nor will ever hear the name of Jesus with an understanding of who He is.

I see so many lonely faces. I see so many sad faces. I see so many people who need Jesus!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE 4.5-5 BILLION PEOPLE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD WE KNOW AS THE 10/40 WINDOW!

Thank you for your continual prayers and financial support!

Johnny, Denise, Joy, and Sue

 

Well, I am back in Southeast Asia. I arrived on Friday afternoon and, as much as possible, got back in the swing of things immediately. On Friday evening I went up for a few minutes and checked on our Teen Girl’s Fellowship, as well as the Teen Boy’s Fellowship. So grateful for a church that emphasizes the next generation, not simply from the pulpit but in everyday life. Kanha, Joy, and Sue are doing a wonderful job with our teen girls. Vannak, Man, and Kosal are doing a great job with our teen boys.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEEN WORKERS AND OUR TEENS AS GOD CONTINUES TO RAISE UP THE NEXT GENERATION OF SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST HERE IN CAMBODIA!

On Saturday, Man and I went soul winning together. It was great to see Sony and her children. Good to have them in church on Sunday and again on Wednesday evening. We also went by to visit Wanita and her cousins. They have been out of church for quite sometime, not by choice, but it was great to see them in church on Sunday and have them go out with Denise, Joy, and Sue. From what I understand they had a wonderful time!

PLEASE PRAY FOR SONY’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND THE SALVATION OF HER HUSBAND, AS WELL AS WANITA, ISABEL, VANNESA, AND BASIL TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN CHRIST IN SPITE OF THE MANY OBSTACLES!

On Monday evening it was good to have Mora over our house. She has been saved for a little less than a year. It was good to see her bring her Bible and ask many really good questions. Our time together was a good reminder of how difficult it is for folks here in this Buddhist country to get saved and make a stand for Christ.

PLEASE PRAY FOR MORA TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN HER FAITH AND TO BE USED TO REACH FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR CHRIST!

On Tuesday we went to Steung Meanchey. Too be honest with you my favorite time of the week is visiting in Steung Meanchey. Lord willing, sometime in the near future, we will start a church in this needy area that has been infiltrated with NGO’s and Humanitarian help, which I am grateful for, but it is in desperate need of the Gospel!

Vannak and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with about twelve adults and/or teens. Ten of the twelve had either never heard the name of Jesus even once, or if they had, the name Jesus meant nothing more to them than the name “Johnny” or “Jeff.” I am very thankful for Sue and Lynn Keo helping with the children while we share the Gospel with unbelievers and teach the Bible to Christians.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF STEUNG MEANCHEY AND FOR THE WORK GOD DESIRES TO BE DONE!

Tuesday afternoon and evening I resumed my discipleship sessions with a couple of our guys. On Tuesday afternoon I met with Both, and that evening I met with Kosal.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE TIMES THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEND WITH OUR MEN TO BE FRUITFUL!

On Wednesday, after our normal early morning prayer meeting, staff meeting, and a chapel service in which I preached, Denise and I headed to Coffee Bean to get together with Naren. We have mentioned her often in our blog updates. Naren is the one who had never SEEN, nor HEARD of the Bible until I pulled one out at my house during one of the times we had her over for supper. Denise and I had a wonderful time with Naren. We had the chance to sit down and talk with her for quite a while; encouraging her in some trials she is going through and, once again, shared the Gospel with her.

PLEASE PRAY FOR NAREN’S SALVATION AND FOR HER MOTHER’S HEALTH!

On Thursday I had the opportunity and privilege to preach for our Cham (former Muslims) congregation. There was a great crowd in attendance, great congregational singing, great specials (four of them),  and a great response to the preaching. I preached the first of a three-part series from Micah 6:8.  Looking forward to preaching for them again this coming Sunday for the morning and evening services.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE CHAM PEOPLE TO REACH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AS WELL AS OTHERS IN THEIR AREA!

Concerning my first time back in Steung Meanchey on Tuesday. I have to be honest with you, being back in the impoverished Steung Meanchey after nearly three months in the States was like a cold slap in the face. Below are a few excerpts concerning poverty in the 10/40 Window lifted from my book “Peeking Through the 10/40 Window: Why it Matters to God and Why it Should Matter to Us”:

By any measure we are the richest people ever to walk on the planet earth. Furthermore, at no time in history has there ever been greater economic disparity in the world than at the present. While the average American lives on more than $90.00 per day approximately one billion people live on less than one dollar per day. And 2.6 billion (40 percent of the world’s population) live on less than $2.00 per day!

Today more than a billion people in the world live and die in desperate poverty. They attempt to survive on less than a dollar per day. Close to two billion others live on less than $2.00 per day. In other words, almost half of the world lives on less than two dollars per day. That is nearly half of the world struggling to find food, water, and shelter with the same amount of money that I spend on fries for lunch. More than twenty-six thousand children today will breathe their last breath due to starvation or a preventable disease.

If God’s people, especially those in the prosperous West, could “think deeply about the problem of poverty through biblical glasses,” I am convinced, not only would we be far more willing to lend a helping hand for the physical needs around the world, but we would also see more people reached with the Gospel of Christ.

Deuteronomy 15:10-11, “Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. ¹¹For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.”

It is good to be back home. It is good to be back in Southeast Asia doing the work of the ministry. We couldn’t be here without you. Thank you for your continual prayers and financial support!

Johnny, Denise, Joy, and Sue

Greetings in Christ! It seems as if it has been ages since my last update, but in reality it has been about three weeks. I have been very busy and the Lord has surely blessed in these past three weeks. I am typing this update as I sit and sip coffee. In less than 18 hours I will be jumping on a jet and heading back home to Southeast Asia.  It’ll be nice to be back home after nine weeks, 13 different churches, and three Missions’ Conferences here in the States. It has been a blessing to represent Christ and the cause of Christ in the 10/40 Window during my brief visit here. It has also been a blessing to spend time with family (especially the grandchildren) and friends, but it’s definitely time to get back to Cambodia!

PLEASE PRAY FOR A SMOOTH AND QUICK TRANSITION ONCE I RETURN TO SOUTHEAST ASIA!

Over the past three weeks, I have had the opportunity and privilege to be with the Sierra Hills Baptist Church and Pastor Billings for three services, a four-day Missions’ Conference at the Shenandoah Bible Baptist Church (Pastor Corey Bane), Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach and Pacific Baptist College once again, and Bible Baptist Church of National City (Pastor Larry Obero).

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SEEDS THAT WERE PLANTED AT THESE CHURCHES AND THE COLLEGE WOULD BRING FORTH FRUIT FOR GOD’S GLORY!

I was especially blessed to be a part of the Missions’ Conference in West Virginia. The conference theme was “10/40 Window: Window of Opportunity.” All six missionary couples are in, or going to the 10/40 Window (China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines) and the keynote speaker Ken Fielder has a ministry translating the scriptures for unreached people groups. His messages were both refreshing and challenging!

IT IS EXCITING TO SEE THAT THERE IS A BIT OF AN AWAKENING AMONG CHURCHES CONCERNING THE 10/40 WINDOW, BUT THERE IS STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE!!!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP THE AWAKENING GOING!

It has been a tremendous joy and blessing to see how many folks are not only buying my book “Peeking through the 10/40 Window: Why it Matters to God and Should Matter to Us” (Liberty Baptist and Shenandoah Baptist both purchased 100 copies and passed them out at their conferences), but are ACTUALLY READING IT and being blessed, inspired, convicted, and challenged in doing so. That’s why I wrote it!

While in Southern California I visited my brother in the hospital just about every morning, except for Sundays. I usually drive to a Starbucks not far from the hospital and spend 2-3 hours, with headphones on listening to Classical music, reading my Bible, working, posting, etc. until the hospital opens. I have done this the past two years while in the States. The employees here have become like family. I have invited them to church, given them Gospel tracts, and told them who I am and what I do. A couple of the employees are Christians and have expressed to me the desire to one day take a missions trip, which of course, I have encouraged them to do. I gave a few of the employees, including Janet and Britney, a copy of my book. Recently, I entered Starbucks and Britney asked me if she could get another copy of the book. Apparently, someone had taken the copy I gave her. Of course, I gave her another copy!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE THE BOOK TO INSPIRE MANY TO PRAY FOR, GIVE TOWARDS, AND EVEN GO TO THE GREAT HARVEST FIELDS OF THE 10/40 WINDOW! 

I want to thank all of you for “holding the ropes” for my wife and me, as well as for Joy and Sue.  We couldn’t be in Southeast Asia without your faithful prayer and financial support. And we definitely couldn’t make any sort of impact in the lives of others without you.