My wife celebrated her 29th birthday once again this year! 🙂 Our church family surprised her with a small party just before a recent Midweek Bible Study/Prayer Meeting. I am so grateful that a loving heavenly Father gave me a loving wife, wonderful mother and grandmother, and the perfect helpmeet for a missionary. Denise does so much, not only for me, but for our ministry here in this country, and all over Asia. I definitely would be lost without her!

The last few weeks have been so very busy! In addition to our various ministries, we have had the privilege to host a few of our Team Members from Cambodia. Former students of mine from Pacific Baptist School/Pacific Baptist Bible College, Michelle Hardesty and Adrian Torres, both spent about a week with us.

We also had Kosal and Phalley with us for four days. While my wife and I lived and served in Cambodia for two years, Kosal was one of the many men that I had the privilege to disciple. We had a wonderful time with Kosal, his wife, and their precious daughter Abigail!

It has also been a real blessing to have two of our young men (Isaac Pechardo and Sammy Tith) from Pacific Baptist Church and Pacific Baptist Bible College with us for the past month, they will be with us for another three weeks. I have known these young men since they were small children, and they too were former students of mine at Pacific Baptist School. Isaac and Sam have been a real help here in the school and in various aspects of our ministry.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR TEAM IN CAMBODIA AND THE DIFFERENT YOUNG MEN FROM LONG BEACH WHO HAVE VISITED US HERE RECENTLY!

It is amazing what God is doing through Kong and Lillie in Kong’s village. As we have mentioned previously, Kong started the work a little bit over two years ago and God is blessing them tremendously. Recently Pachuo, one of the Hmong young ladies who is living with us,  started helping them with the children on Sundays.

Two weeks ago, a young man named Dean trusted Christ. A week ago, not only did they have a great day, but they had a miraculous day. Grandma Jua, who had been without physical sight for three months and spiritual sight for over fifty years, attended their service and received both her physical and spiritual sight. She trusted Christ and is spending a week with Kong and Lillie here in the capital city!

PLEASE PRAY FOR KONG, LILEE, AND PACHUO AS THEY LABOR FOR THE LORD IN THE VILLAGE!

Our two most recent “Celebration Services” have been very special. Worshipping Christ in song, partaking of the Lord’s Supper, testifying of God’s goodness, and receptive hearts during our time of teaching have made the days very memorable. There is nothing quite like hearing the Nationals testify of God’s goodness and grace in their lives.  Along with many others, one of our good ladies, named Champa, who just so happens to be disabled, testified of God’s goodness since trusting Christ and her gratitude for the love of God’s people. It was such a touching testimony, folks were talking about it for days. In our most recent “Celebration Service” we had 96 people in attendance. God is good!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR THREE CONGREGATIONS AND THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO USE THEM TO REACH THEIR VILLAGES FOR CHRIST!

We are grateful for the opportunity and the privilege to work with our School of Ministry (Bible College) students. Their hunger for the word of God, their desire to serve God, and their overwhelming burden to reach their people is humbling and convicting. We recently had our Mid-term Week and I am happy to say, “Everyone did so well!”

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY STUDENTS!

Our Sunday services, Midweek Services, and Small Groups have been going very well. On Sundays, I have been teaching, for ten weeks now, on “Growing in Christ.” On Wednesday’s, for about the same amount of time, I have been teaching a series, “Lord, Teach Us to Pray.” I am especially excited about the Teen Small Groups led by Jui and Bounmee.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SERVICES AND OUR SMALL GROUPS!

Every Sunday, immediately after our Small Groups, we have a huge meal. It’s a wonderful time of fellowship, and let me assure you, the food is great. And every week, the same group of girls wash the dishes for us. Two weeks ago, I treated them to some ice cream at Swenson’s. It was a first for four of the girls and we all had a good time!

PLEASE PRAY THAT THESE YOUNG LADIES WILL GROW TO BE THE WOMEN GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO BE!

Another of the many blessings since our last Update a few weeks ago, was the privilege to once again preach and teach for another church not far from here. I have mentioned this pastor and church many times, in the years gone by. I have been preaching for them and teaching in their Bible college for seven years now. He was the first National IB pastor in the country. A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to preach for him and his folks once again. My wife and I taught split sessions for the men and the women. Of course, as always, they were extremely receptive. The vast majority of these folks are factory workers (think “sweat shops”) and don’t have much of a “life,” so they always look forward to us coming. As always, it was a great time, and, as always, they were a tremendous blessing to fellowship with!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR KHAMPAI, HIS CHURCH FAMILY, AND THEIR BIBLE INSTITUTE!

ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please pray that we have the love, power, and wisdom of God as we continue to serve in this part of the world!
2. Please pray for the salvation of Quamsay, Bpum, Grandma Peng, Pone, his wife and a host of others we are working with.
3. Please pray for our full-time Bible college students (Kong, Jui, Cher Chou, Lamphan, Bounmee, Lilee, and Pachu) to continue to grow in their faith, their love for Christ and others, and their dedication for the cause of Christ!
4. Please pray for both of our village ministries to continue to reach new people and grow the people that they have!
5. Please pray for our upcoming Ladies’ Fellowship in Thailand (August 13-14)!
6. Please pray for my upcoming meetings in Hainan, China at the end of August!
7. Please pray for our English School’s Fall Registration, which begins at the end of August!
8. Please pray about a possible move our English school might make in the near future!

As always, my wife and I want to thank you and your church family for your continual prayers and financial support for our ministry here in Asia. God has blessed in so many ways, and He has used you to be a great part of the blessing!

 

“Reaching remote unreached people groups is the most urgent and important mission. It is his great commission, and that mission is worth giving our lives for.” – David Markham