Over the past few years, the new president of China has been “tightening the screws” and religious persecution has been on the increase. Just a few weeks ago, a friend of ours (serving in the country about 20 years) had the church he started and is pastoring raided by the police. A couple months before that, another friend of ours (serving in the country over ten years) came under investigation and turned the work over to a national serving alongside him. And, just a month or two before that, another missionary who had been serving in the country for over 20 years was kicked out of the country. The new president has vowed to kick all the foreign missionaries out of the country by 2017.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHINA AND FOR THE CHURCHES THAT ARE BEING PERSECUTED!

It has been a real blessing to be with our family, friends, and many of our faithful supporters the past two weeks. Over the past two weeks I have had the opportunity to be in five different churches. Three of these churches (First Baptist Church of Geneseo, Illinois, Faith Baptist Church of Bourbonnais, Illinois and Lewis Avenue Baptist Church of Toledo, Ohio) are supporting churches and two of them (Cross Point Baptist Church, Davenport, Iowa and Sheridan Road Baptist Church of Saginaw, Michigan) are not. It looks as if both of these churches will be taking us on!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL TAKE THE SEEDS WE SOWED AT THESE CHURCHES AND BRING AN INCREASE FOR HIS GLORY!

While at Sheridan Road Baptist Church (Pastor Lou Jurva), it was a blessing to see a picture of the Board family on their Missions’ Wall. We are so grateful for the many years of service of Dave and Debbie Board at Pacific Baptist Church in Long Beach. And now, for many years, their faithful service in Cambodia leading our team in this needy country. By the way, the picture below is an old one. Dave Board looks much older today, but Mrs. Board hasn’t aged at all! 🙂

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE BOARDS AND THE REST OF OUR TEAM IN CAMBODIA!

One of the many blessings during this trip was to be able to spend a few days with my niece Taryn, her husband Joel (pastor of Cross Point Baptist Church), and their three precious daughters (Angelina, Eden, and Gabby). I was reminded just how good God has been to my family since saving me 39 years ago, as a young soldier in Fort Lewis, Washington. Praise God for His goodness!

I also had the opportunity to sit in on an elementary school Bible Club in Davenport, Iowa. It was a real joy to see over 40 children in attendance and to witness the staff of the school leading the students in a time of singing to the Lord and teaching of the Word of God! A couple days later Pastor Kobernat and I, after a time of soul winning, stopped by a school fair and had the opportunity to talk to the school principal for quite some time. She was even passing out invites for Cross Point Baptist Church to some of the students. 🙂

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO USE PASTOR KOBERNAT, HIS FAMILY, AND THE CROSS POINT BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY IN DAVENPORT, IOWA!

As I mentioned above, one of the churches that I had the opportunity to be in and preach for, was Lewis Avenue Baptist Church in Temperance, Michigan. My dear friend Pastor Steve Hobbins has been pastoring the church for nine years now. He took over for his father, Pastor Les Hobbins, who faithfully served the church for decades. This is a church that has a real heart for missions in general, and for the 10/40 Window and Unreached People Groups around the world more specifically!

On a regular basis I receive reports of what is going on in Cambodia, especially in Steung Meanchey. If you will remember, after two years or so of soul-winning and discipleship in SMC, we started a new Children’s Ministry and a new church. Both of these have been doing very well! I am so grateful for the faithfulness of the Sann brothers, Man, Kosal, and Vannak, who are leading up this ministry and God is using them in a tremendous way.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR GOD’S BLESSING UPON THE MINISTRY IN STEUNG MEANCHEY, AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS OF MINISTRY IN THE COUNTRY OF CAMBODIA!

My wife and I would like to thank you all, once again, for your faithful prayers and financial support. We couldn’t serve in the 10/40 Window if it were not for your financial support and your faithful prayers!

Johnny and Denise