In recent days, Both, who I have had the privilege to disciple for the past 18 months, has let me know that he wants to translate my new book “Keep the Dream Alive” into the Khmer language. To be honest with you, at first, I didn’t take him serious. I didn’t take him serious until he sent me a text that said, “Praying for the book. Hope it will appear in Khmer soon. I am going to try my best to finish it.” He then wrote, “The purpose [for translating it to Khmer] is (1) To encourage people to pray for Pastor Joe,  (2) Show our church members [in Cambodia] how much Pastor Joe loves them, (3) To expand his dream here. I have finished the Introduction and Chapter One, but haven’t had it checked by Pastor Dave yet. Thank God for Pastor Joe!”

To be honest with you when I read Both’s words I wept like a baby. And, even now, typing these words, I am finding it difficult to hold back the tears. After I replied and commended him for attempting to take on this task, he shot back a quick reply: “FOR WITH GOD NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE!”

I meet with him twice a week. He has asked that during our time together, prior to my leaving for the States, if I could help him to understand the meaning of some of the words and phrases that I have used in the book!

PLEASE PRAY FOR BOTH TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE GRACE TO DO WHAT GOD HAS LAID UPON HIS HEART!

It is always a blessing for my wife and I to go to Abraham and Rohm’s house for a time of Bible study on Friday mornings. It has been a real treat to have Pastor Tho go with me the past 6-8 weeks now. He even filled in for me while I was in China and will do so again when I leave for Guangzhou in a few weeks. Lord willing, he will be doing it full-time coming in September.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ABRAHAM AND ROHM’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

This past week I had the opportunity to preach for our Psa Thrict church on Thursday and our Phnom Penh congregation on Sunday morning. While it is always a joy to preach the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ, it is especially a blessing to preach to hungry hearts in this part of the world. Of course, when I go to Psa Thrict it is always a very busy and blessed day. We go out soul-winning, teach the Bible to new converts, and I had a chance to give a devotion or teach the leadership of the church four times that day, including about two hours was spent on teaching the men the difference between a teacher and a shepherd!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS THE WORDS THAT WERE PREACHED, THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN, AND THE LIVES THAT WERE IMPACTED!

On Saturday evening we hosted Nak and his wife Srey Gee. We go back a long way with this couple. Not enough time to share the whole story, but thankful that Nak recently trusted Christ, and that he, Srey Gee, and Sros are faithfully attending church. Srey Gee and Sros are even going out with us on Sunday afternoons to Steung MeanChey. Praise the Lord!

PLEASE PRAY FOR NAK, SREY GEE, AND SROS TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN THEIR FAITH!

The ministry in Steung MeanChey is really going well. God is blessing the prayers and the labors of His people. The past two weeks we have had over 100 teens and children in attendance for the Sunday afternoon Teen/Children’s Ministry. Brother Man and his workers are doing a great job. We have also seen some adults saved, and many who are still open and listening to the Gospel, but who have yet to trust Christ. Man, Kosal, and their wives are moving to Steung MeanChey this week and on Sunday, August 7, they will have their first adult and teen Bible study. Lord willing, this will someday soon blossom into a church.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE MINISTRY IN STEUNG MEANCHEY!

While the Teen/Children’s Ministry is going on in Steung MeanChey, I am normally soul-winning with Brother Vannak. As always, the past two Sundays have been a great time of soul-winning. Brother Vannak and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with a man named Nuen and a neighbor woman named Phannay. They were both very open, especially Nuen. We tried to get back with them on the following Tuesday but they weren’t home. A few days later, Vannak and I were able to share the Gospel with Nuen’s wife Sokha. While Nuen, his wife Sokha, and Phanney have not yet trusted Christ we are believing God for their salvation!

This past Sunday I went out visiting with Brother Adrian. We were able to share the Gospel with two men, named Perun and Tang (hope I have that spelled right). While neither one of them trusted Christ, they both are very open. Perun’s wife and daughter were murdered during a home invasion in a village outside of the city. He is a broken man who so desperately needs Jesus, not only for comfort but for salvation!

Another woman, who lives in the same general area of Steung MeanChey as those named above is Sophat. Vannak and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with her. Again, she didn’t get saved either, but she was very open. As with the others, we will be going back to visit her and share with them the love of God!

PLEASE PRAY FOR NUEN, SOKHA, PHANNEY, PERUN,  TANG’S, AND SOPHAT’S SALVATION!

It was a real joy to be able to host the Single’s Small Group this past Sunday evening. Bounna and his wife Thy work with these precious folks and are doing a great job, but are in the States for about a month. We had a great crowd, lots of fun, and I taught on “Three Potential Pitfalls for Singles.” It seemed to go over well!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS BOUNNA AND THY AS THEY MINISTER TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE! 

About two months or so ago, Vannak and I were privileged to lead Samaat to Christ. Since that time, we have been sharing the Gospel with his 25-year-old son, Sokcheat, as well as with his wife, another son, and a daughter. Sokcheat has been very open and receptive. He has even attended our church services the past two weeks with his father.

PLEASE PRAY FOR SAMAAT’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND SOKCHEAT’S SALVATION!

Recently, while Vannak and I were sharing the Gospel with Sokcheat in Steung MeanChey. I noticed through the corner of my eyes a Monk going from house to house. I was able to quickly take the first picture below. This was about 50 feet from where we were sharing the Gospel with Sokcheat.  About a week or so later, while sharing the Gospel with some of Sokcheat’s other family members, I was able to take the second picture below. This sad scene took place less than 10 feet from where we were sitting and sharing the Gospel. Good reminders why we came to this part of the world!

PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF CAMBODIA, SOUTHEAST ASIA, AND THE REST OF THE 10/40 WINDOW TO COME TO A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST!

It was a blessing to recently have the opportunity to share the Gospel with one of the mothers of one of our teen boys named Alec. At one time, Alec was very faithful. In recent months, he has drifted from the Lord and from the church. Please do pray for him! Yet, his mother Leak was very open as I shared the Gospel with her for well over an hour and Grace Ortiz interpreted for me. Her daughter, Srey Neath, is deaf. When I asked Leak if she understood that she was a sinner she said, “Yes! That’s why I have a deaf daughter.” 😦 Of course, I explained to her that her having a deaf daughter had nothing to do with her being a sinner!

PLEASE PRAY FOR LEAK’S AND SREY NEATH’S SALVATION AND FOR ALEC TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD AND GET BACK IN CHURCH!

Please do pray for my upcoming trip to Guangzhou, China, my trip to Laos, and our trip to the States. I will be in Guangzhou for only four days checking out the city as a potential place for a team from Pacific Baptist Church. I will be in Laos for over two weeks. I will be preaching for three churches and doing a lot of teaching for two different Bible Institutes. Definitely covet your prayers!

My wife and I, along with the girls, and the rest of our team here in Cambodia, want to thank you for your prayers and financial support!

Our trip to China was such a tremendous blessing! My wife and I arrived in China on Monday evening. The four-day Leadership Conference started on Wednesday evening. I think there were at least seven different churches represented with 90-100 men and women in attendance for the evening sessions and about fifty adult men for the morning sessions. God moved in a very special way. Thank you for praying!

FOR SECURITY PURPOSES THE PICTURES OF THOSE WHO SERVE IN CHINA WILL BE BLURRED!!!

On Tuesday, the day before the conference opened, my wife and I, along with the host missionary made two visits. Our first visit was to a lady dying of cancer. Her and her husband have a great testimony of coming to Christ at an older age. He was in his early fifties when he trusted Christ because of the testimony of some co-workers and a family friend who lived in Australia continually sowing the Gospel seed with them over the phone. His wife is a former Buddhist, while he is a former die-hard communist. Basically he said to us, “For 27 years, Karl Marx was my prophet.” Thank God this is no longer the case. Jesus is now his Prophet, Priest, and King!

Our other visit was to another elderly woman who was sick in the hospital and whose daughter is a member of the church. She had eaten some poisonous mushrooms. We had a great visit. We were an encouragement to her, as were many of the members of the church have been. After our visit with her apparently she told her adult daughter, “I want to become a Christian.” She came to church on Sunday, mentioned to me that we all (the Christians) seemed like a family, and I had the opportunity to share some with her that we were a family in Christ,  and eventually the host missionary shared the Gospel with her and she trusted Christ. Two other women trusted Christ after the service also!

On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evening my dear friend Brother Dwight Tomlinson, of barnabas1040.com, and I preached back-to-back, and God moved in a very special way. During the morning sessions on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, a missionary from China (“A Vision for the Family“), Brother Tomlinson (“A Vision for the Church”), and I (“A Vision for the World”) taught special sessions for the men only. We also had some good Q/A time during the morning sessions. On Sunday Brother Tomlinson (“Christ is All You Need“) and I (“A Listening Ear and a Burning Heart“), once again, preached back-to-back. After lunch, we had a 2 1/2 hour Q/A Session on “Marriage, the Family, and Singleness.” It was great!

As I have already mentioned, God moved mightily, both during the conference and during the Sunday services. Many hearts were stirred and many decisions were made. I think I can honestly say that dozens of men surrendered their lives to do whatever God wanted them to do and go wherever God wanted them to go. I have been receiving text messages and emails for the past 4-5 days from folks testifying of what God did in their lives during the conference!

Thank you for praying!

On one of our visits, prior to the conference, we had the opportunity to see a woman, who works construction, carrying 60 pounds of ceramic tile up five flights of stairs. Such is the plight of a woman working in the construction field! Yet, far worse than this, is the terrible load of sin that these dear folks have to carry if they don’t know Jesus, and especially in a country such as this, and other countries such as this, in the harvest fields known as the 1040 Window, where there seems to be little hope in sight!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Please pray for all of those who made decisions in China!
• Please pray for our new work in Steung Meanchey that God will continue to bless it and we will be able to get the church started!
• Please pray for Sokcheat, Jan, Sambath and his wife Srey Mohm to trust Christ!
• Please pray for my trip to Laos the first week of September to preach and teach for our team in the capital city, as well as for two other churches.
• Please pray for our trip to the States in mid-September to preach for our Missions’ Conference, teach a Missions’ Intensive, and report to some of our churches.

**If you are interested in having us come in and share what God has been doing in Southeast Asia, as well as what the Lord is doing concerning us bringing a team to China, shoot me an email.

• Please pray that God will use the book called, Keep the Dream Alive: The Story of One Man’s Dream and a Plea to Keep It Alive. Lord willing, it will be available when I make my trip to the States. This book will deal some with my brother’s life and ministry and his dream to reach China with the Gospel!

My wife Denise, the girls, and I would like to thank you for your continual and consistent prayers and your financial support. We couldn’t be here without you allowing God to use you!

We pray that you all had a wonderful Fourth of July. What a privilege we have all had to be born in a land where we have been given the freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our conscience. Our hearts are broken and our prayers go out to our homeland in lieu of recent tragedies that have taken place after July 4.

Of course, the Fourth of July is not a holiday in this part of the world, but most American missionaries do celebrate it. Our team here in Cambodia went on a boat ride, had plenty of food, and some great fellowship. All of us are grateful for your prayers!

Our ministry, especially the Children’s and Teen Ministry in Steung Meanchey, is doing extremely well. While the ministry is less than two months old, we are seeing 75-90 teens and children come each week. Just last week Vannak and I, while soul-winning (we go soul-winning during the Teen and Children’s Ministry) were able to sign-up 12 brand new teens and children for the service. They followed me to the location. But they weren’t the only one’s following me, as you can see in the picture below. 🙂

Please continue to pray for our ministry in Steung Meanchey!

It is also a blessing to see that through this new ministry we are even seeing adults trust Christ. Just a few days ago Man had the opportunity to share the Gospel with Phanny and see her trust Christ. Vannak and I had the chance to share the Gospel with her a few weeks ago, but she did not get saved. Phanny, even as a lost woman, was bringing 10-12 children every week to the Children’s Ministry in Steung Meanchey!Please pray for Phanny’s spiritual growth and for her husband’s salvation!

It is also a real blessing to see a few of the new converts growing in Christ. Vannak and I take some time weekly to go by and teach Sonboun and Samaat. You will remember, Sonboun trusted Christ a little over two months ago and Samaat trusted Christ three week’s ago.

Please continue to pray for Sonboun and Samaath’s spiritual growth!

On various occasions in the past, Vannak and I have had the opportunity to share the Gospel with Jan. We have had the privilege to lead her two daughters (Srey Nieth and Lynne) to Christ. Last week, we shared the Gospel with Jan once again. While she did not trust Christ, it was very apparent that the Holy Spirit was working. While we were sharing the Gospel with her, she had mentioned that Lynne needed a bike to go to school. Later that day, we surprised them with a new bike.

Please pray for Jan’s salvation!

On many previous updates and/or IG posts in the past, I have asked for prayer for a man named Sambath and his wife Srey Mohm. A few days ago my wife and I took them to lunch and for some Dairy Queen (this is something they have never had the opportunity to do) and I shared the Gospel with them. They did not trust Christ, but I am praying that they will soon. Please pray with me!

Please pray for Sambath and Srey Mohm to trust Christ!

It’s always a blessing to have visitors from the States. Grace Ortiz’s father is visiting us from Los Angeles. He will be here for about a month.  He has a real heart for God and a heart for souls. It has also been a blessing to spend a little time with two young ladies from La Verne, California, Renae and Ember have a love for Christ and a heart for the mission field.

Please pray that God will use this trip to Cambodia and the trip to Nepal for the girls to accomplish his purpose in their hearts and lives!

It’s always a blessing to be able to teach the Bible on Fridays to Abraham and his family. For the past few weeks, Pastor Tho (a national pastor here in the country) has been coming with me. To be honest with you, I think he is enjoying it more than the others. This last Friday we had a good crowd. There was my wife, Pastor Tho  and I, along with Abraham, his wife Rohm, her brother Vay, Abraham’s nephew Jia, and, of course, little David. This last Friday was Vay’s last time to meet with us. He leaves this weekend for South Korea for employment. This is common in Cambodia. For the Khmer people employment in South Korea is like a new lease on life. After the Bible study and a personal challenge from me for Vay, he requested prayer, saying, “Please pray that God will help me to be  a Nehemiah in Korea.” It brought tears to my eyes and moved everyone in the room.

Please pray that God will continue to bless this Bible study at Abraham’s house and that God will use Vay as a Nehemiah in South Korea!

As we have mentioned in our last two updates, there are four additional things that we sincerely covet your prayers about:

• First of all, please pray for our upcoming trip to China to preach for a Leadership Conference. We leave for China on Monday.

• Secondly,please pray for our trip to Laos the first week of September to preach and teach for our team in the capital city, as well as for two other churches.

• Thirdly, our trip to the States in mid-September to preach for our Missions’ Conference, teach a Missions’ Intensive, and report to some of our churches.

**If you are interested in having us come in and share what God has been doing in Southeast Asia, as well as what the Lord is doing concerning us bringing a team to China, shoot me an email.

• Fourthly, please pray that God will use the book called, Keep the Dream Alive: The Story of One Man’s Dream and a Plea to Keep It Alive. Lord willing, it will be available when I make my trip to the States.This book will deal some with my brother’s life and ministry and his dream to reach China with the Gospel!

My wife Denise, the girls, and I would like to thank you for your continual and consistent prayers and your financial support. We couldn’t be here without you allowing God to use you!

For HIS Glory in the Nations,

Johnny Esposito

 

 

 

Our “Celebration Service,” which we hold every 6-8 weeks is always a great and tremendous blessing. We always have great music from many different groups in our ministry, great testimonies, as well as great preaching. We always have a good size crowd in attendance. We almost always have over 250 folks that will show up from our three churches and various village ministries. And we almost always have a good amount of folks baptized. This past “Celebration Service” wasn’t just a tremendous blessing, it was just “awesome.” I believe we had over 300 in attendance, we had 22 people baptized, and one of our fine young national men, San, preached a message “Faith without Works is Dead.”

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR THREE CHURCHES, AS WELL AS OUR OTHER VARIOUS MINISTRIES!

What a blessing it was to have Pastor Chris Chadwick and his daughter Judith visiting with us from the States. He is the pastor of Canyon Ridge Baptist Church in San Diego, California. Of course, it’s always a blessing to have guests here with us from the States, but especially those who have a heart for missions and are so supportive of your ministry. We are grateful that they made Phnom Penh, Cambodia one of their stops on this missions trip!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS PASTOR CHADWICK, JUDITH, AND THE CANYON RIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH IN SAN DIEGO!

It was great to be able to resume our Bible study at Abraham’s house. I enjoy meeting with Abraham, his wife Rohm, and her brother Vay on Fridays. The past Friday Pastor Tho, a pastor here in the country, also was a part of the study. He has thoroughly enjoyed the study, the time of fellowship, and time of prayer. I am praying that Pastor Tho will have his heart knit with this family and be able to take them further in the Lord than I ever could. Vay is leaving the country soon. He will be going to Korea to work. This is extremely common here. Please keep him in your prayers!

PLEASE PRAY FOR ABRAHAM, ROHM, AND VAY’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

It was also a blessing to have Bounmee visiting with us from Laos. She is a sweet, young Hmong lady. She is a member of our church in the capital city of Vientiane, Laos. Over the past six months or so, our own Adrian Torres and Bounmee have become “close friends.” We had her stay over our place for almost two weeks. She jumped right in and was involved with many of the different ministries here and shared a wonderful testimony a few times, including at our “Celebration Service.”

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS BOUNMEE, USE HER TO REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, AND BLESS THE WORK IN LAOS!

God continues to bless in Steung Meanchey. It is such a joy to see what God is doing. People are being saved, attending church services, and being baptized. It was a blessing to see Professor Suk Rut (77-years old) baptized this past Sunday during our “Celebration Service.” It was a joy to visit with him last week and see the joy of Christ on his face and have him ask me questions about Moses and the Passover. Not bad for a man who has been saved just a couple of months. It was also a treat to have Grandma Sonboun – who Vannak and I had the privilege to lead to Christ about two months ago – get baptized during the “Celebration Service.” Her love for Christ is inspiring!

During our Sunday afternoon soul-winning and “Children’s Ministry” in Stueng Meanchey Kosal and Both had the privilege to lead Chaay to Christ. Shortly afterwards Chaay walked over to me and started talking to me (his English isn’t too bad), and he too demonstrated a real joy. He was very excited about getting saved. Praise God for what is going on in Steung Meanchey!

PLEASE PRAY FOR SUK RUT, SONBOUN, AND CHAAY’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

What a blessing it was for Man and I to see Hok Wa trust Christ recently. One amazing story here. Man and I had shared the Gospel with him a few times. Man had given him an MP3 player with Bible Preaching/Teaching and Question/Answer Sessions in the Khmer language on it. Man and Sinath, another one of our good national men and possibly one of our best personal soul-winners, even went by a time or two to share the Gospel with him. On the day that Hok Wa trusted Christ we literally had to navigate through raw sewage, decaying wood, rusty metal, and rusty nails to get to his shack. But it was worth it all after we spent nearly an hour and a half with him and he bowed his head and trusted Christ! He and his wife attended church the following day. Praise the Lord!

PLEASE PRAY FOR HOK WA’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND HIS WIFE’S SALVATION!

As we mentioned in our last update, there are four additional things that we sincerely covet your prayers about:

• First of all, please pray for our upcoming trip to China to preach for a Leadership Conference in the middle of July.

• Secondly, please pray for our trip to Laos the first week of September to preach and teach for our team in the capital city, as well as for two other churches.

• Thirdly, our trip to the States in mid-September to preach for our Missions’ Conference, teach a Missions’ Intensive, and report to some of our churches.

**If you are interested in having us come in and share what God has been doing in Southeast Asia, as well as what the Lord is doing concerning us bringing a team to China, shoot me an email.

• Fourthly, please pray as I attempt to finish the book called, Keep the Dream Alive: The Story of One Man’s Dream and a Plea to Keep It Alive. Lord willing, it will be available when I make my trip to the States. This book will deal some with my brother’s life and ministry and his dream to reach South East Asia and China with the Gospel!

My wife Denise, the girls, and I would like to thank you for your continual and consistent prayers and financial support. We couldn’t be here without you allowing God to use you!

For HIS Glory in the Nations,
Johnny Esposito

As we mentioned in our previous updates, Grandma Sonboun and her daughter-in-law Navy trusted Christ about two months ago. Sonboun has been faithfully attending church services since being saved. Vannak, Sue, and I are visiting them on a weekly basis and teaching Sonboun the Bible. Last week as we arrived, we heard preaching coming from the MP3 player that we had given her. Very exciting to see her desire to grow in Christ. Lord willing she will be baptized this Sunday!

PLEASE PRAY FOR SONBOUN’S AND NAVY’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

We are thankful that we have had the opportunity to share the Gospel with many of Sonboun’s family members and friends while visiting with her. Two week’s ago, Vannak and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with her daughter Dtai. She was very open and extremely receptive. She hasn’t trusted Christ yet, but we surely anticipate her trusting Christ sometime in the near future. Definitely covet your prayers concerning Dtai’s salvation!

PLEASE PRAY FOR DTAI’S SALVATION!

As always it is a tremendous blessing for me to go to our Psa Thrict church once a month. We normally leave between 6:30-7:00 AM and return about 8:00 PM. It’s always a long and tiring day, but a it’s also a fruitful and fulfilling day. The folks in Psa Thrict, many of them former Muslims, are faithful. They love soul-winning, singing, and scriptural preaching. After sharing a short devotion with them about 12 of us went out to bring the Gospel to 3 or 4 different villages. Also, Kam, Tom, and Phalley conducted a children’s ministry.  Later that afternoon I had the opportunity to preach for them for their mid-week service. Great response to the preaching as always!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR SAN AND HIS CHURCH MEMBERS IN PSA THRICT TO CONTINUE REACHING OUT TO THE MANY VILLAGES THAT SURROUND PSA THRICT!

While soul-winning in one of the villages Vannak and I had the privilege to share the Gospel with Chuen and his wife Vuen. We have shared the Gospel with them previously, as have a few others from the Psa Thrict church. What a joy it was to see them both trust Christ. The first words out of Vuen’s mouth after trusting Christ were, “We have a 16-year old daughter who hasn’t trusted Christ yet.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR CHUEN AND VUEN’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND THAT THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS WILL GET SAVED!

You’ll remember that about two months ago, Vannak and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with, and see Sok, his wife, and daughter Chon Ly trust Christ. Sok and his wife have been very faithful to church, and for this we praise the Lord. Lord willing, they will be baptized this coming Sunday. This past Thursday, while in Psa Thrict and the surrounding villages, we had the opportunity to meet with them, teach them some scripture, as well as share the Gospel with their son-n-law Dara. While he did not get saved on Thursday with us, he did attend church on Sunday and trusted Christ the following week when Vannak and another one of our men named Ra visited him. Praise the Lord!

PLEASE PRAY FOR SOK, HIS WIFE, DARA, AND CHON LY’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

Last week was an unbelievable day in Steung Meanchey. On Sunday afternoon alone, Vannak and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with eight adults (including the grandfather pictured below) and three teenagers, with a boatload of children listening in. Last Sunday afternoon, our new Children’s Ministry (in spite of serious rain, flooding just an hour earlier, and lot’s of mud) had somewhere between 80-90 children and teens. Of course, this is not counting those who listened in from a distance and there were quite a few of those also. Thank you for your prayers for this ministry, they are making a huge difference!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN’S AND TEEN MINISTRY IN STEUNG MEANCHEY, AS WELL AS THE DOZENS OF ADULTS WHO HAVE TRUSTED CHRIST!

I love working with our nationals, especially our young men. They have such a zeal for Christ and the cause of Christ in the world, but especially in this country. Recently, I had the privilege to be in a meeting with Man, Vannak, and Kosal. These are three Cham brothers who are literally on “fire for God.” I could take much time to share how much of an encouragement they are to me. The meeting was about the future of the ministry in Steung Meanchey. Adrian Torres was also a part of the meeting. It was a very exciting meeting. God is going to do something special with these young men. Actually, he already is! And He is going to do something special in Steung Meanchey!

PLEASE PRAY FOR MAN AS HE LEADS THIS MINISTRY AND VANNAK, KOSAL AND ADRIAN AS THEY LABOUR ALONGSIDE OF HIM!

While making some visits in Steung Meanchey last week there were two things that took place, almost one right after the other, that were a vivid reminder why missionaries leave their families, friends, future ambitions, financial security, and all that is familiar to them to “GO” to far off distant lands. First, as we see regularly, a handful of Monks chanting and a young man bowing before them, and secondly, as we visited Grandma Rouen (my first time visiting her), we walked in on her as she was reading her Bible. Her’s is a bittersweet story. She’s saved and baptized. She loves Jesus. She even reads her Bible. But during the Pol Pot regime four of her children (between the ages of 10-12) and her husband were murdered. So glad someone was willing to come to this needy land and bring the Gospel to dear ones like Rouen who were not only lost spiritually, but also in despair physically and emotionally.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BRING MEN AND WOMEN TO THIS PART OF THE WORLD TO BRING THE GLORIOUS LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL!  

There are four additional things that we ask that you to pray for: 

• First of all, please pray for our upcoming trip to China to preach for a Leadership Conference in the middle of July.
• Secondly, please pray for our trip to Laos the first week of September to preach and teach for our team in the capital city, as well as for two other churches.
• Thirdly, our trip to the States in mid-September to preach for our Missions’ Conference, teach a Missions’ Intensive, and report to some of our churches.
• Fourthly, please pray as I attempt to finish the book called, Keep the Dream Alive: The Story of One Man’s Dream and a Plea to Keep it Alive. Lord willing, it will be available when I make my trip to the States. This book will deal some with my brother’s life and ministry and his dream to reach China with the Gospel!

Denise, Sue, Michelle, and I, along with all of us in Phnom Penh, want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers and financial support. We couldn’t be here and we sure couldn’t accomplish what God is allowing us to accomplish for the cause of Christ in this part of the world without you!

Johnny and Denise Esposito

 

 

 

 

We have often heard the phrase, “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work.” This is something that we are witnessing here in Cambodia. God is doing some miraculous things in this country, and for this we are extremely grateful. Whether it is the home church here in Phnom Penh, our church in Psa Thrict, our church in Prey Bang, the various ministries in Steung Meanchey, Prek Pnou, Chom Ka, Elephent Den, or the other different villages where we have been allowed to have a presence, God is moving!

We are grateful to God and to you for your faithful prayers and financial support! 

As always, the ministry in Steung Mean Chey has been a tremendous blessing. It is good to see recent converts like Grandma Sonboun and her daughter-n-law Navy, growing in Christ. Vannak, Sue, and I are going to Sonboun’s house every Tuesday to teach them the Bible.  We also had the opportunity to share the Gospel with a young couple named Panha and Chan. They were very open and have promised to come to church and asked us to come back and share more with them.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR SONBOUN AND NAVY’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH, NAVY’S HUSBAND’S SALVATION, AND PANHA AND CHAN’S SALVATION!

It is always a blessing when visiting Steung Meanchey to visit grandma Boueng Sen. Last week while Vannak, Michelle, Sue, and I visited her, she said she prayed for Vannak and I almost every day. She did admit though, that she forgets our names. She said when she prays from me, she asks God to bless the bald man.

PLEASE PRAY FOR GRANDMA BOUENG SEN’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND HEALTH! 

About a month ago or so Nuen, who also lives in Steung Meanchey trusted Christ. She has a desire to grow, but unfortunately she just started working and her schedule not only keeps her from attending church, but also from us being able to teach her during the day. We just so happened to catch her at her little shack a few days ago. She was home because the baby was sick. We had a great time teaching and encouraging her.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL DO WHAT WE CANNOT DO TO HELP NUEN GROW IN CHRIST!

Over the past two weeks, in Phnom Penh, it has been a blessing for Man and I to have the opportunity to share the Gospel with ten different adults, including an adult man named Tha and his aunt, and another adult man named Sonbo and his mother. When we met Tha it was his first day in the city. He had just moved here from a far away village. He actually spoke fairly decent English. Sonbo’s mother was literally begging us to help Sonbo. Apparently, he has a drug and alcohol problem.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THA AND HIS AUNT ALONG WITH SONBO AND HIS MOTHER’S SALVATION!

It was also a blessing to be able to visit Sony. If you will remember, Sony trusted Christ about ten months ago. She started attending church. She was baptized and had a sincere desire to grow in Christ. Unfortunately, various circumstances have kept her out of church for quite some time now. She is one of the poorest people that I have ever personally known. Her situation is beyond comprehension. She definitely needs much prayer! While we were in her shack we were not only able to encourage her to get back in church but share the Gospel once again with her mother and a neighbor. Praise the Lord, her and the children were in the church services this past Sunday for the first time in a long time!

PLEASE PRAY FOR SONY AND HER FAMILY!

It has been a blessing to have Srey Gee attending services recently. Over a year ago, Vannak and I were visiting her on a regular basis. She had been out of church for quite sometime, got married, and had a baby. My wife and I had her and her husband, along with Vannak and Samantha over our house to have a meal. We thought we were making progress to get her back in church, then they moved! Recently, they moved back in the area and Vannak has been able to get her back in church. Vannak has also shared the Gospel with her husband and this past Sunday he attended the service for the first time.

PLEASE PRAY FOR SREY GEE’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND FOR HER HUSBAND’S SALVATION!

It has been a real blessing to have George Ospina and James Rall visiting with us the past few weeks. George is a graduate of Pacific Baptist Bible College and James will be a senior in the fall at Pacific Baptist School. They, along with a handful of others, met up with me while I was in China on my last trip.  The two of them have been here in Cambodia for the past two and a half weeks. God has really been working in their hearts. Not only has this place been a great blessing to them, but they have been a tremendous blessing and fantastic testimony!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL HAVE HIS WILL AND WAY IN GEORGE AND JAMES’ HEARTS!

It has also been a real blessing to have Michelle Hardesty join us in recent days. Michelle is another graduate of Pacific Baptist Bible College and a long time member of Pacific Baptist Church. Lord willing, she will be with us at least a year and then we will see what God has in store for her future. She has jumped right in and is as busy as a bee serving Jesus in Phnom Penh, Steung Meanchey, and Psa Thrict.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED AND MICHELLE EDIFIED DURING HER STAY IN PHNOM PENH! 

What can a man say about his wife of 34 years. What a pleasure and a privilege it is to be married to a Proverbs 31 woman. She has been a wonderful helpmeet, a fantastic wife, tremendous mother, and a beyond superb grandmother (16 grandchildren and one more on the way). In addition to her other responsibilities, my wife, along with Srey Nech (who Joy did a top notch job discipling), recently took over a few of the girls from Joy’s former Saturday Evening English Class. Michelle got a handful also! I know my wife will do a great job teaching English to the girls. She taught for nearly the entire time while we were in Laos.

PLEASE PRAY FOR DENISE, SREY NECH, MICHELLE, AND SUE AS THEY NOT ONLY TEACH ENGLISH BUT MENTOR THESE YOUNG LADIES FOR CHRIST! 

My wife, Sue, Michelle, and I, along with the rest of our team here in Cambodia, would like to thank you for your consistent and continual prayers and for your financial support of the work here.

Johnny

 

 

Friends,

Last Friday evening around midnight, after spending two weeks in China, I arrived back home in Phnom Penh. After a long trip, it was good to be home. More about China in a few moments.

On Saturday, during our regular soul-winning time in Phnom Penh, Man and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with Sophek and her mother Chanthy. We also had the chance to share the Gospel with two deaf sisters as one of the sisters grandson did the interpreting. They were attentive. Just not sure how much they understood. Lord willing, Grace Ortiz (who works with our deaf folks) will be able to go by and visit them and give them a clear presentation of the Gospel!

PLEASE PRAY THAT ALL FOUR OF THESE LADIES WILL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOSPEL AND BE SAVED!

Later on Saturday afternoon, during the Men’s Prayer Meeting, I got word that Yay Loan trusted Christ. Many have shared the Gospel with her over the past few months, including Vannak and me a few weeks ago. I requested prayer for her in one of our most recent updates. Thank you for praying! A couple of our faithful Cham men went by, as they do on a weekly basis, and were privileged to see her trust Christ. PLEASE PRAY FOR YAY LOAN’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

On Sunday, after a great service that was jam-packed with people, including many new visitors, we went soul-winning in Steung Mean Chey. Yay (grandma) Nuen Yen (77 years old) trusted Christ after Vannak and I shared the Gospel with her for nearly an hour and a half. Unlike most Khmer folks, she was fairly familiar with the Gospel. Right after leaving her we shared the Gospel with a 25-year old young man who had no clue who Jesus is, what Jesus did, nor why he died and rose again. He had no idea what sin was and had never heard of heaven or hell!

PLEASE PRAY FOR GRANDMA’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

On Monday, during my discipleship with four of our Cham men, one of them shared a great blessing. He said that Sok and his wife have been faithfully attending services and even came to the Marriage Class Saturday evening with Brother Dave Board. Their 35-year old daughter Chon Ly attended church service for the first time this past Sunday. About four weeks ago Vannak and I had the privilege to lead all three of them to Christ. Thankful for San and the many others who paved the way for their making a decision to trust Christ!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

My 14 days in China was blessed to say the least. Of course, in our last update I filled you in on the Missions’ Conference and the tremendous blessing it was. I had the opportunity to preach five times for the conference and we had two great Question/Answer sessions. In addition, during that first week I had the privilege to preach for a new house church in the same city.

PLEASE PRAY THAT THE SEEDS OF GOD’S WORD SOWN THAT WEEK WILL BRING FORTH FRUIT!

The last seven days were spent in two cities up north. During this time, in which I met up with some folks from our home/sending church (most of them my brother, Pastor Joe’s children), we had the opportunity to talk to four different missionaries, visit one of their church services, and spent time at a university with some of the staff talking about the possibility of enrolling in their language school.

PLEASE PRAY THAT THIS TRIP WILL GIVE GREATER CLARITY TO PACIFIC BAPTIST CHURCH CONCERNING THE POTENTIAL OF SENDING A TEAM SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE!

Concerning the great need in China I thought I would share a few statistics with you:

• China is the largest country in the world with 1.4 billion people. Nearly three times the size of the United States.
• The country of China has 150 cities with over one million people. The U.S. has 10. China has 14 cities with a population of five million or more. The United States has one (New York City 8 million people).
• The six largest cities in China are Shanghai (23 million people); Beijing (19 million people); Guangzhou/Foshan (17 million people); Shenzen (12 million people); Tianjin (11 million people); Dongoun (8 million people).
• We had the chance to be in two cities that would probably rank in the top ten. Kunming (7 million people) and Dalian (6 million people).
• Four of the top ten fastest growing cities in the world are found in China (Shenzhen #2; Beijing #4; Guangzhou/Foshan #7; Shanghai #8).

Think about this for a moment: If you take just the cities listed above you would have nearly 115 million people. And to our knowledge, if you’re lucky, you might find 20 independent Baptist churches. That would be one church for every 5.5 million people!

The church in the southern part of the country where I preached the Missions’ Conference gave me a few gifts including a small banner that says in old traditional Chinese “Bless China” and a picture of the map of China that says, “Pray for China.”

While I was in China I received this precious email from Barbara Tinsman. Her and her husband are members of one of my supporting churches.

Hi Bro. Johnny,

KloeJoy Xiaojing is now 6 years old, we were blessed to be able to adopt her from China and bring her into our family in May 2011. Her Kindergarten class has been talking about missionaries and KloeJoy was so excited to tell her whole class that she knew a missionary! His name is Bro. Johnny and he is going to China and she is going to be a missionary and go to China to work with Bro. Johnny! We are so thankful that she has you as her idol!! Thank you for all you do!!!!

The Tinsman’s

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DEAR PEOPLE OF CHINA TO SEE THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL!

My wife, Sue, Michelle (more about her next update), and I once again want to thank you for your prayers and financial support. We couldn’t be here were it not for folks like you!

 

 

I thought I would send a quick and brief update out before my two-week trip to China is over. My first leg of the trip, which is a seven-day stay, is in a city of seven million people in the southern part of the country. This particular Province is one and a half times more populous than my home State of California.

So far our first leg of the trip in China (location withheld for security purposes) has been awesome, to say the least! After a “terrible day” of flying on Friday the 13^th, my wife and I, along with Kosal settled in. On Saturday evening the Missions’ Conference began. The theme for the Missions’ Conference was “GO FORWARD ON YOUR KNEES.” These were the words that Hudson Taylor once told fellow missionary to China Jonathon Goforth when he was planning on going to a difficult place to bring the Gospel. Great advice from a great man to another great man who God used to do a great work!

After a wonderful time of food and fellowship, I preached a message from Luke chapter 9 called, “YOU FEED THEM,” Part One. What a tremendous response to the message. In fact, The missionary (name withheld for security purposes) said they had never had a response to a message like they did on Saturday evening. 

Sunday morning, Kosal gave a testimony and taught the adults during the Sunday school hour while my wife and I were upstairs with the teens and the children. I was told his testimony and teaching was very touching. We had a great time with the kids!

During the morning service, after some really great music by the adult choir and a children’s choir, I preached a message that I have preached dozens of times from Luke chapter 10 called, “I SAW SOMETHING!” Again, the response was amazing. There were tears all over the auditorium!

After a brief meal, we returned to the church for an early afternoon service. Another great crowd, especially for a service immediately after lunch. This is traditionally time to take a nap in Asia. I preached “YOU FEED THEM,” Part Two from Luke chapter 9, and once again, the response was tremendous. Again, there were tears evident all over the auditorium.

We had a wonderful special service on Tuesday night. Great crowd showed up for an off night. Not an easy thing here with their work schedules and the traffic.  My wife taught the ladies (“Let God Write Your Story”) and I taught the men (“The Reality of Hell: Changes Everything”). We taught for 40-45 minutes and then followed it with a a 45-50 minute Question and Answer Session.  They were asking some really great questions.  Some were even asking about going to the mission field!

On Wednesday evening my host missionary and his wife took us to another small, fairly new house church that was started by a missionary sent out of the Philippines. He has been working with university students. He goes to the university campus a couple times a week and has an English corner, which helps the locals to use their English in a conversational manner. We had a great meal and time of fellowship and then I had the opportunity to teach them from Matthew 7:24-27 on “Wise or Foolish Man?”

After a few meetings today with nationals, this evening I will close my time here in the southern part of the country by preaching my last message for the host church. Tomorrow, I head up to the northern part of the country for seven days (meeting up with a group from our home and sending church). We will be in two different cities during that time span. My wife heads back to Cambodia tomorrow morning!

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING AND PLEASE DO CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP!

I did want to say something about the ministry in Phnom Penh. They had a tremendous Friend Day service this past Sunday. I believe they had 25 brand new visitors in attendance. At least two of mine and Vannak’s friends attended the service. Grandma Sonboun, who trusted Christ a few weeks ago, and her daughter Navy came.  Vannak and I had just shared the Gospel with Navy a week ago and she was so close to trusting Christ then, but she did not. I was just informed by Vannak that he and Joshua Board were able to lead her to Christ Tuesday!

PLEASE PRAY FOR NAVY AND SONBOUN’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

 

As always, the opportunity to go soul-winning in various villages around our church in Psa Thrict and to be able to preach in our Psa Thrict church was an immense blessing. Soul-winning was tremendous. Vannak and I were able to share the gospel with many. We saw three adults trust Christ and two others were about as close as you could possibly get without actually trusting Christ.

Kean Sok, his wife, Lan Yun and their 35-year old daughter, Chon Ly, all trusted Christ after Vannak and I spent over two hours with them sharing Christ. I was so moved as Chon Ly with tears in her eyes asked, “I am poor, I can’t read (common problem here). I can’t go to church (family issues). How can I know God?” After explaining to her that God loves the rich and poor alike, the educated and the illiterate alike, and that he loves those in the village just like he loves those in the city, Chon Ly and her parents bowed their heads and trusted Christ.

PLEASE PRAY FOR LAN YUN, CHON LY, AND KEAN SOK TO GROW IN THEIR NEWFOUND FAITH

I also had the privilege of teaching one of our faithful men named Pun and his family for about an hour, as well as sharing the Gospel with his wife Yay Loan. She was so close to trusting Christ. Both Vannak and I believe she will get saved soon! We also had the chance–by divine appointment–to share the Gospel with a 22-year old mother named Srey Mohm. It was very apparent that the Holy Spirit was working in both of these lady’s hearts.

PLEASE PRAY FOR YAY LOAN AND SREY MOHM TO TRUST CHRIST!

While Man and I were sharing the Gospel in Phnom Penh recently we came across a woman who is 102 years old. We had the opportunity to share the Gospel with her along with a few others who were listening in. Unfortunately, she couldn’t see either of us very well and she was having a very difficult time hearing us. One just has to wonder, “Has she ever heard the Gospel before?” “Has anyone taken the time to share the greatest love story known to mankind with her?” “Is it too late for her to hear and understand the Gospel message?” PLEASE PRAY THAT SOMEHOW, SOME WAY, THIS POOR WOMAN (AND OTHERS LIKE HER) WILL UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL AND TRUST CHRIST!

The past two weeks of soul-winning in Steung Mean Chey have been wonderful.  For the past two weeks Vannak and I have had the privilege to share the Gospel with Grandma Saboun in great length. This past Tuesday we were privileged to see her bow her head to trust Christ as her Lord and Savior! We have also had the opportunity to share the Gospel with five or six others in Steung Mean Chey including Phat’s mother Sone. While Sone did not trust Christ, she was very open and attentive.

While soul-winning in Steung Mean Chey, we handed a few tracts to a group of people. One of the elderly ladies, no doubt looking at me (the white guy), asked us if we would take two small children. They are orphans. She has been caring for them but is looking for someone to take them off her hands.  That’s just how it is in this part of the world!

PLEASE PRAY FOR YAY SONBOUN’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND FOR YAY SONE’S SALVATION!

We have often mentioned the extreme poverty here in Cambodia and occasionally have referred to the children begging on the streets! Recently, my wife and I, while on our way to the market were approached by a young boy who was begging. As is our custom, we gave him a bottle of cold water, some candy, and some money. He looked at us with a gleam in his eyes and said, “Thank you!”   PLEASE PRAY FOR THE POOR, ESPECIALLY THE POOR CHILDREN OF CAMBODIA WHO DON’T SIMPLY NEED A HAND OUT BUT NEED CHRIST!

Recently, I had the privilege to FaceTime my brother Pastor Joe. I try to do it weekly. It’s always a blessing and when he hears about what is going on in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand or China his eyes are almost always fixed on me and he will usually have a huge smile. In spite of his physical issues, Pastor Joe is still a missions’-minded man!

As I was getting ready to hang up my brother whispered a prayer, “Father, thank you for letting me talk to my brother.” And, then in reply to my saying, “I love you,” he shot back with an “I love you too!” After hanging up, I sent him some pictures from my day in the various villages, and according to his wife Miss Mary, he said, “Looking at those pictures got me excited.”

Thank you very much for praying for Pastor Joe, Miss Mary, and the rest of the family!

My wife and I are looking forward to our trip to China in just a few days. I will be in three different cities. Kunming, Beijing, and Dalian. The primary purpose of this trip is to meet with some men and continue to explore the possibility of our sending a team to China in the future. While in China I will be preaching five times for a friend’s Missions’ Conference and his mid-week service. My wife and I will be joined by Kosal on this trip and he will have the opportunity to teach Sunday school and share what God has done in and through his family here in Cambodia because a missionary was willing to come.

Recently, I have been reading the book “Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission,”–great book by the way–which was written by his son (also a missionary in China). I thought I would share these words from the book with you:

Recalling an experience, the pain of which could never be forgotten, Mr. Taylor went on to tell of a Ningpo convert who, full of joy in his new-found faith, had inquired: “How long have you known this Good News in your country?”  “We have known it a long time,” was the reluctant answer; “hundreds of years.” “Hundreds of years,” exclaimed the ex-Buddhist leader, “and you never came to tell us!”   “My father sought the Truth,” he added sadly, “he sought it long, and died without finding it. Oh, why did you not come sooner?”

Someone has said, “The Gospel is Good News” only if it gets there on time!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TRIP TO CHINA!

My wife, Joy, Sue, and I are extremely grateful for your prayers and financial support!

Johnny Esposito

SPECIAL EDITION

“Tell the students to give up their small

ambitions and come eastward

to preach the gospel of Christ.”

After a brief word about our most recent trip to Thailand and Laos, I would like to take the rest of this update to share with you a little about the importance of young people surrendering their lives to Christ and the cause of Christ in the world and about some of our young singles who are serving here in Cambodia.

As I mentioned in our previous update, our trip to Thailand and Laos was unbelievable. I had the opportunity to preach four times at the camp in Thailand, another four times in Laos for two different churches, and teach another 25 hours for the Bible Institute. Only time will tell, but I do believe that many life-changing decisions were made during our 11 days in Laos and Thailand.  Many of the young people were talking about serving God full-time and reaching, not only their own people, but going to other places in the 1040 Window such as China.

Thank you for praying!

  

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW THAT WE SENT TO MY BROTHER PASTOR JOE FROM OUR TRIP TO LAOS AND THAILAND!

Thai-Lao Trip April 2016 (6715BB23-EC70-456F-9D54-40C6BF39CD42) from carrithelight on Vimeo.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL BRING A GREAT INCREASE TO THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN DURING OUR 11 DAYS IN THAILAND AND LAOS!

Surrounded by so many young people, between the ages 18-25, I was reminded of the words written by missionaries Jake Taube and Mark Tolson over ten years ago in their book On the Edge:

 “Until we have young men and young women of God who are willing to do anything necessary to see God’s name glorified, there will be no city-taking. Until there is a generation willing to suffer, willing to bleed, and willing to die for the glory of God, there will be no conquering of the land God has promised us. We may watch walls fall and doors open, but it is our hearts that determine whether or not the cities of this world will be taken. … What will make the difference for the fulfillment of the Great Commission in this generation? It will be nothing less than the mobilization of student leadership towards God’s worldwide purpose. Only when students realize that God has a powerful plan for their life and abandon their own small dreams, plans, and passions will this world of 6.5 billion people be reached. Only when students cast their aspirations and goals onto the altar of commitment to Christ will China, now at 1.3 billion inhabitants, be evangelized.  The message of the need of China must be proclaimed to this new generation. Over a billion souls hang in the balance. We bear a command from our Savior to go into all the world, carrying the Gospel of His death, burial, and resurrection. The question is given to this generation, ‘Who will go for us?’ (Is.6:8) What can be done to raise up a generation of Christian students for China? What can American students do?   The students of America must be mobilized to the harvest fields of China. No other group in the world has the opportunity for so much training, so much financial power, and so much life ahead of them. Francis Xavier said, ‘Tell the students to give up their small ambitions and come eastward to preach the gospel of Christ.’”

With the above words in mind, I would like to introduce you to a few young people, singles, who have given their all to Christ and the cause of Christ:

Grace Ortiz has been in Cambodia now for nine years. She grew up in Hillside Baptist Church in Los Angeles and came here to the country not knowing a soul and with very little support. For the past two years she has been serving with our team here in Phnom Penh. Her main focus at the moment is working with the deaf in Phnom Penh. She is currently enrolled in the Cambodia Sign Language (CSL) Interpreters Training Course at the Maryknoll Deaf Development Center. In addition to this, she is able to soul win, visit, teach, and disciple the deaf in areas surrounding Phnom Penh: Steung Meanchey, Toul Tom Pong, Boeung Trabek, Chbar Ampou, and Chomroeun Phal.

She is also currently working with 5 saved deaf ladies to create/teach signs that relate to Bible vocabulary and scriptures that are separate from the Buddhist religion. Once a sign is created or taught, it is drawn and recorded as a new sign and kept to be taught to other deaf who attend our church services.

As of today,  God has used Grace and our deaf ministry to see eight deaf Cambodians accept Christ as their Savior. Many other deaf Cambodians have attended our church services on several occasions but have not yet made decisions to accept Christ. Grace has had as many as 17 deaf in one of our services.

She has also been given the privilege, with special talents from God, to interpret during our church services and small group teachings. She is still studying CSL and please pray that the Lord will continue to use her to win more deaf to the Lord.

Adrian Torres grew up in Pacific Baptist Church and graduated from both Pacific Baptist School and Pacific Baptist Bible College. Soon after graduating from PBBC, Adrian came to Cambodia with absolutely no support. He has been here in Cambodia for three years and is a vital part of our ministry here. He works full-time in a private school here in Phnom Penh to support himself.  He is a tuk-tuk captain and brings about 20-25 poor children to church every week. He is involved with other different soul-winning ministries, teaches English to teen boys on Thursday, assists me with a Bible study on Friday afternoons, works with our Teen Boy’s Ministry on Fridays, preaches to 20-25 teenagers every Sunday, and oversees the church finances here. 

Sue Esposito also grew up at Pacific Baptist Church, graduated from Pacific Baptist School, and Pacific Baptist Bible College. She is my niece and Pastor Joe’s second eldest daughter.  She has been in Cambodia for just over a year now and her favorite time of the week is when we go to Steung MeanChey, one of the poorest areas in Cambodia. Sue is able to go with one of the ladies and they disciple and teach the Bible to recently saved ladies there, and also share the gospel with the lost.

Sue is also very involved in our Music ministry. She is a part of our ladies’ choir and our English choir. Every Wednesday she has the opportunity to play for our children’s choir practice. They do such a great job! She also gets to play piano for our teen girl’s music group in addition to our English Bible study group on Sunday nights.  The teen girls come over on Fridays for a weekly Bible study, which includes a time of games, singing, and sometimes crafts.  They also have a small group of young single ladies who come over to our house for a Bible study also. They teach from different subjects in the Bible that will help the girls to grow in the Lord.  Every Saturday evening Sue enjoys teaching some of our girls English. They do many different things to help them get some teaching experience also. Each week the girls have the opportunity to learn a Bible verse in English. Soon the girls will be teaching new English songs also. 

Joy Esposito is my daughter. Of course, she grew up at Pacific Baptist Church, graduated from Pacific Baptist School, and Pacific Baptist Bible College. She served on staff at Pacific Baptist School for two years, teaching elementary-aged students, until volunteering to come to Cambodia to serve. She came to Cambodia with only a few hundred dollars’ support. Like her cousin Sue, Joy is involved with the Ladies’ Choir, the English Choir, she works with the teen girls, she teaches English to the teen girls, has a Bible study with a few single ladies, and she personally disciples Sokchea and Srey Nich. She has been used by God in a mighty way in these two young ladies lives. Joy has also been working in one of our village ministries for almost the entire time she has been in the country. On Tuesdays, she leaves the house at 6:30 AM and does not return until 6:30 or 7:00 PM. On Saturdays, she leaves at 6:30 and returns about 1:00 PM. Both Joy and Sue are extremely helpful around the house, especially when we have guests over, which is quite frequently! Joy will be leaving Cambodia soon. She was recently engaged to Chris Ayala, another one of our graduates. The two of them, Lord willing, will be serving the Lord in the future in Asia.

We thank God for these three young ladies and for Adrian. They left their family and friends to come to a country that desperately needs the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You might say, “Much of what they are doing in Cambodia they could do back home in the United States.” Yes, this is true!

HERE’S THE DIFFERENCE: THERE ARE PLENTY OF FOLKS WHO CAN FILL THOSE SLOTS IN AMERICA. OUR CHURCHES HAVE PLENTY OF YOUNG PEOPLE. BUT THERE IS NO LINE OF FOLKS WAITING TO SERVE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD!

May God continue to call, and  may young people respond to the call, to go to the uttermost parts of the world to bring the glorious Gospel of Christ where it is needed most and where the laborers are few!

Denise, Joy, Sue, and I thank you for your continual prayers and consistent support!