The picture above is a huge statue of Buddha that oversees one of the villages in the mountains of Northern Thailand. The country of Thailand is 98% Buddhist and they desperately need the Lord!

Before being hospitalized, my brother, Pastor Joe, had a desire to reach not only Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, but Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), and the country of China. His desire was to get a team as close as possible to the Golden Triangle that would be used to train nationals to reach all of these countries for Christ. Our trip to spend time with the Chang’s and Sutrick’s brought back so many wonderful memories and emotions!

Our seven-day trip to the northern part of Thailand was a blessing. It was a real joy to be able to spend quality time with Tom and Sue Sutrick. They are amazing people to say the least. They were simply retired “laymen” who, after 20 something years of working with the Hmong refugees in Wisconsin, became burdened for the Hmong people of Thailand and a “Creative Access” nation. They packed up their basic necessities and moved to Northern Thailand and became a part of our team sent out of Pacific Baptist Church. They have now been living in a village up in the mountains of Thailand for the past six years!

PLEASE PRAY FOR TOM AND SUE SUTRICK AS THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE THE HMONG PEOPLE IN THAILAND!

While in Chiang Khong we had the chance to go soul-winning on three different days and preach for the Sunday services of Siam Baptist Church, as well as their Midweek service. In addition, I had the opportunity to teach for three days and three nights for their church workers and a handful of Hmong church leaders from across the border from a “Creative Access” nation. And, of course, I had a wonderful time playing with the Hmong children!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SIAM BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY AND THE DIFFERENT MEN AND WOMEN WHO CAME FOR THE INSTRUCTION ON THE GREAT COMMISSION AND DISCIPLESHIP!

One of the special blessings I had, was the opportunity to meet up with a man who I had witnessed to six years ago. While Tom and I were sharing the Gospel with a husband and wife he just popped out of nowhere. Here’s the kicker, he came up to me and said, “I remember you told me Jesus was knocking on the door of my heart. I still haven’t let him in.” I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with him once again.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE MANY OTHERS WE HAD THE CHANCE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH WHILE SOUL-WINNING IN THE VILLAGES!

It was also a blessing to be able to spend some time with Jay Chang. Jay is a former Hmong refugee that was reached on my brother’s bus route while my brother and I were still students attending Bible college. Jay and Tom, along with their wives, started Siam Baptist church about six years ago. Tom now oversees the church, while Jay has since branched out and is doing the work of an evangelist going from one Hmong village to another. He is also overseeing two small Hmong congregations that do not have a pastor and teaching a few days every other week in one of the villages. We are grateful for his zeal for the Lord and for his interpreting for me most of the week in Northern Thailand!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR JAY AND THE WORK HE IS DOING AMONG THE HMONG IN THAILAND, LAOS, AND VIETNAM!

Denise and I arrived in China, our new home on Friday, August 14. And, all I can say is, “We aren’t in Kansas anymore!” 🙂 The city we now call home (at least for awhile) has about seven million people, and while there are definitely foreigners here, we haven’t seen many in the part of town where we live. In fact, the first week we were in town, I saw none, Denise claims she saw two older ladies walking down the street. I personally think that was just some wishful thinking. 🙂 I did finally meet a young Chinese lady named Maggie who spoke some English. I thought I was in heaven!

As we mentioned previously we will be working alongside of Dick and his wife (picture below blurred for security reasons). They are longtime missionaries in both Hong Kong and Mainland China. God has been using them and their people to do an amazing work here. We look forward to learning from them and assisting them here for a season.

PLEASE ADD TO YOUR PRAYER LIST OUR NEW CO-LABORERS IN THE MINISTRY DICK AND TRISH! 

It was a blessing to be able to spend some time with some of the church folks, and quite a few teenagers, both saved and unsaved, on the second day we were in town. I had a chance to be able to speak to them. I taught them how to use the Wordless Book. One young teenage girl named Emily trusted Jesus after we shared the presentation!

PLEASE PRAY FOR EMILY’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

Our first Sunday here the auditorium was packed to overflowing. Not only was the main auditorium packed, so were the two overflow sections. It is really amazing to see what God is doing among the Chinese people. And, we look forward to seeing what God has in store for the future!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS THE WORK HERE IN CHINA AND DO WHAT ONLY HE CAN DO THROUGH HIS PEOPLE HERE!

As always, my wife and I want to thank you for your consistent prayers and financial support. We could never do what God has called us to do without Him and you. Thank you for partnering with us in this worthy endeavor!

Johnny and Denise

“If I had 1,000 lives, I’d give them for China.” – Hudson Taylor