When you visit a Mc Donald’s in the country of Thailand, you will be greeted by a Ronald giving the traditional Thai greeting. In just over thirty years. McDonald’s has went from one location to over 200 locations in Thailand, including over 100 in Bangkok alone! They plan on opening another 200 locations by the year 2020. Sounds like they have a vision for Thailand’s 69 million people (less than 2 percent professing to be “Christian”).

The question is, “Do we?”

Every year, for the last 3-4 years, our teams from the “Creative Access” Nation, which we will soon be returning to, Thailand, and Cambodia have met in Bangkok for a week-long time of refreshing fellowship, and of course, great teaching from different members of our various teams. I had the opportunity and privilege to teach two different lessons: “Leadership that Glorifies God” and “Discpleship with the End in Mind.”

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD CONTINUES TO USE OUR TEAMS AND THE NATIONALS WE HAVE SEEN GOD RAISE UP TO REACH SOUTHEAST ASIA AND EVEN BEYOND!

This year, we had the privilege of also having our dear friend, Dwight Tomlinson and his wife Gayle with us. Brother Tomlinson is the founder of barnabas1040.com This a wonderful ministry, which raises support for national pastors. They presently are supporting 28 pastors in 12 different countries and 3 different Bible Colleges in the 1040 Window. Barnabas1040 is presently providing support for four men that I have had the opportunity to invest some into their lives.

If you are looking for a good investment for eternity and the 1040 Window, I would encourage you to prayerfully consider Barnabas1040.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE TOMLINSON’S, WHO ARE SERVING IN CHINA, AND FOR BARNABAS1040! 

I arrived in Bangkok one day early to preach for my dear friend and fellow laborer, Enrile Badua, and his church family (Bangkok Baptist Church). It was the last Sunday of their Missions’ Emphasis Month. I taught on “Right Attitudes on Prosperity and Possessions” during the Sunday School hour. And I preached a message on “Investing for the Master and the Mission” during the morning service.  Brother Badua has been in Bangkok for 17 years and has a wonderful ministry!

PLEASE PRAY FOR BROTHER BADUA, BANGKOK BAPTIST CHURCH, AND THAT THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN DURING MY TIME THERE WILL BRING FORTH FRUIT!

As I have mentioned in many of our updates, one of my primary responsibilities and privileges has been to disciple a few of our men individually and in a group setting. In the group setting, it has been more of a time of leadership development and discipling future disciplers. It has been a wonderful experience and I will always cherish these times together and will miss these men greatly!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR MINISTRY AND THESE MEN IN CHINA!

It was a real blessing to have three dear friends visit with us for a few days on their way to the Philippines for the Spiritual Leadership Conference of Asia. I have known Pastor Ryan Thomson and Assistant pastor Doug Mc Mains for many years. I have only known Tom Chapman, who is planning on moving his family to this part of the world in just a few months to serve the Lord, for about 4-5 years. All three of these men are wonderful servants of Jesus and have a heart, not only for the Lord, but for the lost. We had a wonderful time together and Pastor Thompson preached a powerful message on the Great Commission!

In just over a month, my wife and I will be relocating to the “Creative Access” Nation where my wife and I served for a year and a half, to assist in leadership development, discipling men, and starting a Bible Institute/Bible College. I flew down for a week and met with Koumaly Thongdy, preached for them a few times, and looked at the place where my wife and I will be living.

In the picture above, you will see a young man named Kong interpreting for me. Kong was saved a little bit over two years ago and surrendered to serve in the full-time ministry while listening to a message I preached at a Bible Camp in Thailand almost two years ago. Just a few weeks later, he started a ministry for teens and children in his home village about an hour-and-a-half a way from where he is presently living. God is using him and his new bride in a very special way in reaching the Hmong people, especially those in his home village.

PLEASE PRAY FOR KONG AND LILEE AS GOD USES THEM TO REACH THE HMONG PEOPLE!

While in the “Creative Access” Nation, I also had the opportunity and privilege to preach for another dear friend and fellow laborer, Brother Jamin Rodero. Brother Jamin and his dear wife have been in the country for ten years and he has planted, or helped to plant five different churches around the country. As always, it was a great service and they had a lot of food after the service.

PLEASE PRAY FOR BROTHER JAMIN AND HIS MINISTRY!

In previous Updates, we have asked for prayer for Peng Li Mai. She trusted Christ a couple of years ago, but for the past year or so has basically been bed-ridden with cancer. A couple weeks ago, Peng Li Mai went to heaven and I had the opportunity to speak for her funeral service. It was an honor, but it was also definitely different. Let’s just say they do funerals a bit different over here than back home. None of her family knows the Lord, so they did get a chance to hear the Gospel.

Just a few days after my wife and I arrive back in the “Creative Access” Nation,  I will be preaching, for the fourth time in the past five years, the annual Camp in Thailand. Yes, the same Camp that Kong surrendered to serve in full-time ministry in two years ago.  It’s always a blessing, a great encouragement, and a time where anywhere from 12-15 churches from two different countries gather together for a lot of great preaching, food, fun, and fellowship. This year’s emphasis is the youth. I am especially looking forward to having my nephew, Pastor Joe’s son, preach with us!

WE COVET YOUR PRAYERS FOR THIS UPCOMING CONFERENCE!

My wife and I thank God for all of you. We are grateful for your prayers, your words of encouragement, and your faithful financial support!

Johnny and Denise

“Sympathy is no substitute for action.” — David Livingstone, missionary to Africa