Youth Conference

Prior to COVID, for the past five or six years, churches in both **** (Creative Access Nation) and Thailand would gather every April for a wonderful time of good preaching and teaching of the Bible, along with lots of food, fun, and fellowship. I have had the opportunity, pleasure, and privilege to speak almost every year. It has always been a pleasure and a privilege.

Unfortunately, after COVID hit, we had to split Youth Conference into two conferences, one in each country. It has turned out to be a blessing (one of the many blessings of COVID). Now, far more people can attend and be challenged by good preaching. And, of course, many more people are able to get involved in all the various aspects of hosting and putting on a Conference.

This year’s conference in **** was tremendous! Twelve different churches and 150 young people had the privilege to gather for some great Bible preaching and teaching, and lots of food, fun, and fellowship. Pastor K, his wife Lily, and our college students in the village did a fantastic job planning, organizing, and hosting the event. Absolutely a fantastic time for all involved.

I was originally scheduled to speak in this year’s Conference, unfortunately, the borders were still closed, and we were not able to make it. It looks like the borders are opening soon, Denise and I are hoping to visit in June or July.

PLEASE PRAY THAT THE SEEDS OF GOD’S WORD THAT WERE SOWN DURING THE THREE DAYS OF THE CONFERENCE WILL BRING FORTH MUCH FRUIT!

Visit with Pastor Joe

As most of you know, my brother, Pastor Joe Esposito, has been ill now for over 8 years. Not long after Pacific Baptist Church’s 25^th Anniversary, on the first day of our Missions’ Conference (just a couple of hours after I had preached to open the conference), my brother was rushed to the hospital and had emergency surgery. He was in a coma for the next year and a half, but God miraculously brought him out of the coma.

While he is still not totally recovered, we are thankful for all that the Lord has done in his life and glad that he is home with family, after spending nearly seven years in the home for assisted living. I had the opportunity to visit with him when we first arrived back in the States. We are grateful for his leadership, vision, and his consuming desire to make an impact, not only “around the corner,” but “around the world” during his 25 years as pastor of Pacific Baptist.

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR JOE, HIS WIFE MARY, AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY!

Children’s Home

Just before we left Thailand for our brief trip to the States, Denise, Jui, and I were scheduled to spend the day with our favorite Children’s Home. In fact, we were going to take the young people out shopping and for a meal at KFC. And then, COVID!

Sound familiar?

Oh yes! COVID ravaged the Children’s Home. In fact, all but five of the young people and staff tested positive and there was no chance of us being able to take them out to shop and feast. After everyone tested negative, it was too late, Denise and I had left the country. Thankfully, Jui went ahead and blessed the young people. Oh, I am sure he ate his share of Colonel Sander’s chicken too.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR CHRIS TAYLOR, HIS STAFF, AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE RONG BER HILLTOP BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOME!

New Children’s Ministry Rooms

One of the many blessings of serving in such a needy part of the world and yet, have so many dear, faithful friends in prosperous America, is that my wife and I often have the pleasure and the privilege to help the two to join hands in various kingdom projects. Such is the case, in the building of two new Children’s Ministry rooms for two new church plants in the country of ****. Prior to this, the children were meeting outside under the sun and in extreme heat. Let us not talk about when it rained. Now, the children can meet inside with no distractions as they are taught the word of God. 

A third project we were able to get some folks to rally behind was a building project, which would not only be home for a growing church family and our Bible students in the city, but also for Pastor K, his wife, and their two children. A special shout out to Pastor Ryan Thompson, the Liberty Baptist Church, and Newport Christian School of Newport Beach, CA for being very generous and helpful in all three of these projects!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE THESE THREE NEW BUILDINGS TO REACH MANY YOUNG AND OLD FOR CHRIST!

Discipleship and Teaching

As of right now, my four primary ministries – those consuming most of my time and energy – are (1) Discipling 10 men and one married couple; (2) Teaching our 24 Bible College students in two separate locations; (3) Operation Samaritan’s Compassion; (4) Preaching and teaching for our church family in Chiang Khong. Of course, the preaching and teaching in CK is on hold as of right now while Denise and I are on this short trip to the States. We definitely covet your prayers for these four areas of ministry!

Samaritan’s Compassion

The past seven weeks have been busy and blessed. In addition, to assisting with a few new building projects for the children (mentioned above) and meeting quite a few different physical needs, there were three “projects” that were a special blessing to be a part of.

First, we were able to help a four-year-old girl named Viengxay have a much-needed surgery. Praise the Lord, four people trusted Christ as a direct result of our helping this precious child.

Secondly, we assisted a very needy family put a floor in their house and get them some much needed supplies including a mattress for the children (they had been sleeping on the dirt floor). They were happy campers to say the least!

Thirdly, we were able to assist a former Muslim woman whose husband divorced her after she trusted Christ, get a fresh start in life.

We are incredibly grateful for the recent generous financial gifts for Operation Samaritan’s Compassion given by Liberty Baptist Church in Newport Beach, CA. (Pastor Ryan Thompson) and Crossroads Baptist Church in Hemet, CA. (Pastor Kirk Beard) that helped to make this assistance possible.

Over the past close to 16 months now, we have been able to partner with eleven different churches in two communist countries, pastored by National pastors to help the poor, the needy, the hurting, and the helpless. Here are reports I have received in recent days:

One combined report (8 churches) from one of two communist countries for the past 16 months concerning fruit from Operation Samaritan’s Compassion: We were able to help4,000 people. Most of this help was providing necessary food for the hungry. At least 189 of these trusted Christ! *In the above country, we have also been able to help them some, in the start of two new Bible Institutes.

One of our churches in the other communist country sent this report, for the past 16 months concerning fruit from Operation Samaritan’s Compassion: We were able to help more than one hundred families (at least 500 people) during this time. Most of this help was providing food for the hungry and/or medical assistance. At least 65 of them trusted Christ and most of these were baptized.

Another combined report from two other churches in this same country concerning fruit from Operation Samaritan’s Compassion:  We were able to help over one hundred families (Again, about five hundred people) and more than 200 received Christ as their savior and many of these were baptized. 

If my calculations are correct, that would be at least 6,000 different people helped physically and about 454 of them trusting Christ through the ministries of these eleven churches in the past 16 months in these two communist countries. Add to that a few new church plants as a direct result of this ministry!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OPERATIONS SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION AND THE FRUIT THAT COMES FROM THIS MINISTRY!

As always, Denise and I thank you for your faithful prayers and consistent financial support. We could not be where we are, nor could we do what we do if it were not for God’s grace and your generosity!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito