The picture above is a grim reminder of the many trials and tragedies the people in this part of the world experience, and with very little help to recover after the fact. Many are familiar with the terrible flooding that has taken place this summer in the country of India, but few know of the flooding that has devastated many parts of the country where we presently reside and serve!

One of the multiplied thousands who was affected by the flooding is our dear friend, Pastor Lee Seng. Brother Dwight Tomlinson and the Barnabas1040 ministry, which he oversees, presently support Pastor Lee Seng and his ministry. In the past ten years or so, he has started six churches in this difficult country, and is presently co-laboring with us, pastoring a brand new village church, and he teaches in our School of Ministry. His home village was flooded and he lost everything on his farm. We are thankful for Brother Tomlinson and barnabas1040.com and their willingness to help this dear brother and his family to recover everything that they lost!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR LEE SENG AND FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE FLOODING HERE!

A couple weeks ago, about fifteen of our ladies and teen girls crossed the border and attended a Ladies’ Conference hosted by our dear friend Pastor Pradit and his church family. They were blessed beyond measure and helped immensely. We thank God for opportunities such as this, as rare as they are, for our folks to be stretched in their faith and grow in their love for Christ and others!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR LADIES TO BE THE PROVERBS 31 WOMEN GOD IS CALLING THEM TO BE!

For ten months my wife and I labored in China, prior to relocating to the “Creative Access” nation where we are presently assisting our team. We love China. Last week I had a chance to return to China to preach and teach. I was with the Living Water’s Baptist church that was started by a missionary friend and former co-laborer of mine (Dick Baucum) nearly twenty years ago. The church is presently pastored by a good man, a Chinese national, Pastor Bob (last name withheld for security reasons). I met Bob a little over two years ago, while preaching in a “Leadership Conference” in China and we had been trying to work it out for me to come since then. Praise the Lord, we were finally able to make it happen!

I had the blessed opportunity to preach six times and teach Sunday school during a three-day period (Friday–Sunday). My theme for all of the messages–including the Sunday School hour–was “Growing in Christ!” God moved miraculously. It was amazing to see God move in our midst, to see the tears, and a spirit of revival among the people.

For five of those sessions, we had two other churches join us. Both of these churches are church plants of Living Waters Baptist Church. We are grateful for these men and women who are laboring for Christ in a difficult field that is becoming more difficult by the day.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE COUNTRY OF CHINA, FOR THESE THREE CHURCHES, AND FOR GOD TO BRING FORTH FRUIT FROM THE SEEDS SOWN WHILE I WAS WITH THEM!

Jui is one of our fine young men. He was saved four years ago, just a few weeks before we left this country for Cambodia. A little over four months ago, Jui gave up a good paying job and career ambitions to serve God full-time. He is presently assisting me in many capacities–including serving as my full-time Interpreter. One of his responsibilities is to work with our young people, and he, along with a few others, is doing a tremendous job. This last week, while I was in China, Jui had one of our Monthly Teen Activities, and from what I understand it went very well. We are grateful for our young people!

We officially ended our summer with a two-day Team Training. We had a wonderful time of teaching, fellowship, and, of course, some really good food. Brother Koumaly Thongdy, my wife, and I all taught two sessions each. My wife officially takes over as the English School Administrator this week, so she taught a practical session on the school itself, and a great session on “Loving Young People.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEAM TO WALK IN HUMILITY AND TO WISELY SERVE CHRIST AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY!

Over seven years ago, Koumaly and Darath Thongdy came to this country after being asked by my brother Pastor Joe Esposito to do so. They have faithfully served here and loved the people of this country for these seven years now. Recently, they returned after a short and well-deserved furlough to the States. Anyone who knows the Thongdy’s know that they are some of the most kind and generous people in the world. For the first few days, after returning, they stayed busy going from place to place and delivering gifts from the U.S. and Canada. We are grateful they are back!

PRAY FOR GOD’S BLESSING ON KOUMALY, DARATH, SOMMER, AND HUDSON!

As I have mentioned in previous Updates, one of our village ministries, which is led by a young man named Kong and his wife Lillee, is doing very well. God has been moving! In fact, over the past 5-6 weeks at least six adults have turned to, and trusted Christ as their Savior. This past week was a special blessing, Kong’s Language teacher (he is from a different ethnic group) from when he was 13-year’s old, trusted Christ as her Savior!

PLEASE PRAY FOR MANIVANG TO GROW IN HER NEW FOUND FAITH!

As the summer draws to a close, I would like to say, it’s been a tremendous blessing to have different folks visit with us this summer, including four from our home and sending church, and another young lady from Illinois, named Ericka. Pacific Baptist Bible College students, Sammy Tith and Isaac Pechardo, spent nearly two months with us, along with nine days with our team in Cambodia. They sacrificed much – including their jobs back home – to be with us and they were a tremendous blessing to our folks here.

PLEASE PRAY FOR SAM AND ISAAC AND OTHER YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN LIKE THEM WHO ARE CONTEMPLATING A FUTURE ON THE FIELD FOR GOD! 

ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please pray for our Fall Term at the English school!
2. Please continue to pray that we have the love, power, and wisdom of God as we continue to serve in this part of the world!
3. Please continue to pray for the salvation of Quamsay, Bpum, Grandma Peng, Pone, his wife, and a host of others we are working with.
4. Please continue to pray for our full-time Bible college students (Kong, Jui, 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!
5. Please continue to pray for both of our village ministries to continue to reach new people and grow the people that they have!
6. Please continue to pray about a possible move our English school might make in the near future!

My wife and I want to thank you for your love, friendship, prayers, and financial support. Whether it’s preaching the gospel to the lost, teaching and discipling the saved, assisting missionaries and National pastors, having our lost neighbors over for supper, teaching village children the Bible and English, visiting the widows in their affliction, visiting the sick in the hospital, or just visiting the hurting in a village, WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!

Thank you,

Johnny and Denise

“While we understand that not all will ‘GO’ to the uttermost parts of the world, all who claim the name of Christ and have experienced the wonderful grace of God in their lives, must be a part of this great undertaking of which we call missions.”

-Johnny Esposito, Peeking Through the 10/40 Window