This past week was a busy one. On Wednesday I had the privilege to preach in chapel for the missionary children and teens. Missionaries (Steven Benefield, Kounnaro Keo, and Rodney Ruppell) from three different churches in Phnom Penh, and the surrounding area, in addition to the missionaries from our team, have their young people in the chapel service every Wednesday. Some of the church members of Pacific Baptist Phnom Penh, who speak English, also attend the chapel service. We also had a great service Wednesday evening. The place was packed and it was good to see our newfound friend Mora, who works at Coffee Bean, show up for the service.

Please Pray for Mora’s spiritual growth and for the salvation of her co-workers, including Naren.

On Thanksgiving Day, Denise and I had the opportunity to have a nice meal with Brother Dave Board and his family. Mrs. Board made a wonderful meal and we had a great time of fellowship. My wife and I have so much to be thankful for, so very much. While, for the most part, they don’t really celebrate Thanksgiving here in Cambodia, there are those who have been influenced by the missionaries, and do so. Below you will see a picture of two of the good young men of Pacific Baptist Church here in Phnom Penh getting their turkey ready.  Being a city boy from the USA, I had no idea turkey’s had feathers! 🙂

On Saturday, my wife and I had a chance to go out soul winning with the church family. It is always such an eye-opener for those of us from America to walk the streets of Phnom Penh and to enter the “homes” of the folks who call this home. They are dear people. They are hospitable people. They are fun people. Yet, they are a people who live in dire poverty-both physical and spiritual. I had the opportunity to go out with Man (pronounced Mon) and Veasna, while my wife had the chance to go out with Samantha. Of course, not knowing the language, I was the silent partner. We met a young lady (20 years old) named Lote. She was very interested in knowing more about Jesus and the Bible. Man’s wife later went by and spent about two hours with her. From what I hear, she had lots of questions. Saturday afternoon also included a men’s and teen boy’s prayer meeting, just like back home. Good crowd of men and teens there to share blessings and pray for God’s intervention in their lives, the lives of others, and for the ministry. Below are a few pictures I took while visiting.

Please pray for Lote’s salvation!

Sunday was a very busy and blessed day. The day started with the morning service (8:00 – 10:00 AM), then the Children’s Ministry (10:45- 12:00 PM). It was good to see Mora, from Coffee Bean, show up for the service again on Sunday. A short break and then out to another village for a time of canvassing and soul winning (1:00 – 2:30 PM). I even had the opportunity to share the Gospel with an adult man named Sok-Lee. Oh, yes, someone interpreted for me.  While Sok-Lee did not get saved, he listened very attentively and also took two different Gospel tracts from us. There was a great crowd and a great spirit in the evening service (5:30 – 7:30 PM). As I have mentioned previously, the ministry here so much reminds me of our old days in Long Beach when Pacific Baptist Church was known as Cambodian Baptist Church. We have so many young people here who have a love for the Lord, for His Word, and for His work. It appears that many of them are adopting us at their grandparents. I guess that’s what happens when you are our age. This is the next generation!

Please pray for these young people to continue to grow in their faith and their commitment to Christ!

Thank you for your prayers.

Our first weekend here was such a blessing; being able to, once again, be a part of the services here in Phnom Penh was exhilarating. What a joy to see so many, especially young people, coming with a hunger for the Lord and His Word. The ministry here reminds me so much of the early days at Pacific Baptist Church when she was known as Cambodian Baptist Church. Thankful for the great work that was started in Long Beach over 26 years ago by my brother that has extended into three different countries in Southeast Asia with plans to one day go to China.

Please pray for God to use us in Cambodia, even as we are adjusting and adapting to a new country and culture!

One ministry that we are seriously pondering and praying about is reaching the young college age students here in Phnom Penh. There’s a boatload of them. There are two things that many of these young people have in common. They want a better life than their parents had and they want to learn English. May God use us to bring them the love of Jesus, salvation, and, a better life than they might have had outside of Christ. Please pray with us to have the wisdom and creativity to reach these dear young people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His love. Dave and Debbie Board and my wife and I spent a couple hours at a coffee shop with Mora, who recently trusted Christ, and a few of the other employees. We had a great time and see so much potential!

Being “back in the saddle again,” here in Southeast Asia and the 1040 Window, I am once again reminded of the great need for more laborers who are willing to leave the comforts and conveniences of America to bring the life, the love, and the light of Jesus Christ to such a dark part of the world. You can’t walk down the streets or drive down the roads without having your heart touched by the great need. Seeing both the physical and spiritual poverty that is just a way of life here is gut wrenching. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to see the various brief videos on our site I encourage you to do so.

 https://carrithelight.wordpress.com/media/

 Please pray for more laborers for Cambodia and the other 68 countries in the 1040 Window!

 As we mentioned in our previous update, the next five weeks will be very busy, with my wife and I travelling much. After taking these first few days trying to get somewhat settled down in Cambodia, we are flying into the “restricted” nation in which we served. Along with getting together with the team we led for 15 months, we will be preaching for three different congregations and teaching some. We will also be going into Thailand and be preaching twice for a two day meeting with four or five different churches from two countries. From there we will fly into Bangkok and our three teams, sent out of Pacific, will be getting together for a few days of teaching and training. We sincerely covet your prayers!

Please pray for God to use these different opportunities to exalt Christ and edify His church in these countries!

Well, after spending a few months here in the states reporting what God has done, as well as the next step in our journey with Jesus, we are back in Southeast Asia. We arrived yesterday and are gearing up for the next step. Exciting!

Please pray for God to use us in Cambodia, even as we are adjusting and adapting to a new country and culture!

Our time in the states was a blessing. We had the chance to spend time with the family, including our fourteen grandchildren. Saying goodbye, as always, especially with family, was difficult, but it is good to be “back in the saddle again” and on the field. While in the states we had the opportunity to be in so many churches. I think, as of my last count, over 40 different churches. I had the opportunity to preach and teach every week somewhere in America. The journey continues and we are excited!

Please pray that the many folks who we were able to preach or teach for, as well as the many who we sat down with and counseled will seek the Person of Christ and the purpose of Christ, especially in regards to worldwide missions!

The day before leaving the country, as I did on a regular basis while in the area, I visited with my brother (Pastor Joe Esposito). It was a great visit, he was very responsive. Thank you for praying for him, his wife, and the kids. You can check Mary’s update concerning that visit by clicking on the link to your right “Pray for Pastor.”

Please continue to pray for my brother, his family and Pacific Baptist Church!

The next few weeks will be very busy, with much traveling. My wife and I will take a few days to try to get somewhat settled down in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and then we will fly into the “restricted” nation in which we served. Along with getting together with the team we led for 15 months, we will be preaching for four different congregations and teaching some. We will also be going to Thailand and be preaching twice for a two day Men’s Meeting with four or five different churches from two countries. From there, we will fly into Bangkok, and our three teams sent out of Pacific will be getting together for a few days of teaching and training.

Please pray for God to use these different opportunities to exalt Christ and edify His church in these countries!

I just wanted to take a moment here to thank all of our family and friends for your faithful prayers and financial support. My wife and I are debtors, not only to the Lord Jesus Christ but to you. Thank you for being concerned with us for a lost and dying world and, above all, for loving the Lord Jesus enough to be a part of His worldwide cause, especially in the 1040 Window!

Dear Praying Friends

In one week my wife and I will be heading back to Southeast Asia! While our first tour was spent in a needy and “restricted” nation, our next phase in our journey with Jesus in the 1040 Window will be assisting our team in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We are extremely excited about the opportunity and the privilege to do so. We are looking forward to being in the midst of what God has, is, and will be doing in the country of Cambodia. God has done some very special things in Phnom Penh over the past few years, and for this we are grateful.

Please pray that my wife and I get adjusted quickly to the country and the culture, as well as the work in Phnom Penh!

While here in the states, it was our privilege to be in over 40 churches–most of these were supporting churches–a few missions’ conferences, and we had the opportunity, not only to report what God is doing in and through our lives, but what He is doing, and what He desires to do in Southeast Asia, and possibly China in the near or distant future through the various teams sent out of Pacific Baptist Church. It has been a joy to talk to so many folks whom God has been stirring their hearts about the 1040 Window in general and Southeast Asia and China more specifically. I just received this email the other day. What a joy to hear things such as this:

Mr. and Mrs. Esposito,

I cannot say thank you enough for the impact you have had on my life. I am a student at West Coast and have spoken with you while you were here both times. Yesterday, I committed to teaching overseas in the 10/40 Window and wanted to let you know. There will be one more laborer over there soon. China or bust!

Kimberly

Please pray for Kim and the countless others whom God has stirred about worldwide missions and the 1040 Window!

While in the states one of the blessings (bittersweet) was the opportunity to be able to visit frequently with my brother (Pastor Joe Esposito), who has now been hospitalized for over 13 months. I visited with him just about every day, but Sundays when in Southern California. Below you will see a picture of my younger brother Jimmy, my brother Pastor Joe, and me together recently.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Joe Esposito, his wife Mary, his children and grandchildren, as well as the Pacific Baptist Church family!

This past Sunday was a great day. I had the opportunity to teach in my nephew’s adult Sunday school class. My lesson was on suffering. There are many in his class, including him and his mother, who have suffered much in recent days. Afterwards, I had the chance to preach in our Khmer ministry’s service. This is always a treat, they are fantastic people. On Sunday evening I preached a message, “Why China?” It was the last time I will preach at Pacific Baptist and try to encourage and challenge the church family to “Keep the Dream Alive.”  I think I can honestly say that hundreds responded to the invitation with 20 or more saying they were willing to “GO” if God would allow them.

Please pray that Pacific Baptist Church will continue to be a sending agency for Southeast Asia and, Lord willing, in the future for China and other countries in the 1040 Window! 

Dear Praying Friends

My wife and I had the pleasure of attending the Missions’ Conference at Lancaster Baptist Church the last week of October. What a great experience it was to be with our friends Pastor Paul Chappell and his wife, their staff, their church family, the schools, and the college. There is a missions’ fervor in Lancaster that is seldom seen, and for this, we are grateful. I was so thrilled to talk to so many of the college students who have felt the tug of God, not only to go to the mission field, but to different areas in the 1040 Window. I had three different WCBC students (two young men and one young lady) who came up to me and said that God had used our time with LBC two years ago to stir their hearts to go to the 1040 Window. Praise The Lord! I also had the opportunity to spend much time with a young man named Phillip whose family is from the “restricted” nation in which my wife and I served for 15 months. We were so pleased to hear that God is leading him to go back to that country to serve.

Please pray for the many young people in Bible Colleges all over America who God is stirring to go to “the uttermost parts of the earth,” especially the 1040 Window!

In less than three weeks, my wife and I will be boarding a plane and returning to Southeast Asia. We are looking forward to getting back on the field, and praying that God will use us. We are looking forward to working alongside our team in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and to continue to work indirectly with the dear folks in the “restricted” nation in which we served. Two weeks after flying into Cambodia, I will fly back into that “restricted” nation and spend about two weeks with them preaching and teaching. Can’t wait to get back on the field!

Please pray for my wife and I as we adjust to a new country, a new people, and a new work!

 

We spent the whole day, October 12, with the New Testament Baptist Church in Hartford, CT (Pastor Stoddard). We had a great time  with these dear folks. My wife and I flew back into California on Monday, October 13. On Tuesday and Wednesday I had the awesome privilege to attend the Missions’ Conference at Liberty Baptist Church in Newport Beach (Pastor Dwight Tomlinson).  My wife and I are so excited for our youngest daughter Joy.  Lord willing, she will be leaving for Cambodia at the end of January or early February. Although she is not going on deputation, she is prayerfully seeking some financial support. To my knowledge there are three churches and a couple of individuals who have pledged their support. Joy had the privilege to be a part of the Missions’ Conference at Liberty Baptist Church in Newport Beach, CA. It was so thrilling to be able to attend some of the conference with her. How much better does it get than this? Our youngest– a part of a missions’ conference! Even more exciting to know that she is following the Lord’s leading to Southeast Asia. If you are interested in supporting her, even for the smallest amounts (little is much when God is in it), please do let us know. Check out this brief video below. You will be blessed:

Please pray for Joanna Joy Esposito as she gets ready to journey with Jesus in Southeast Asia!

Immediately after spending a few days at Liberty Baptist Church, my wife and I headed for Central California. We had a real nice time there. We even had the chance to babysit three of the grandchildren for a few days. Of course, my wife did most of the babysitting. Now that’s a full-time job! I preached twice Sunday for my son-in-law in Orange Cove.We are heading to Southern California tomorrow. I am looking forward to teaching and preaching at the college (PBBC) on Wednesday and then getting a chance to hear Eddie Ray (missionary to China), who is in the states for a couple of weeks, preach and teach at Pacific Baptist Church and the college on Thursday and Friday. Immediately after chapel we, along with Pastor Dwight Tomlinson, will get together for lunch. Really looking forward to the time of fellowship and hearing more about what God is doing in China.

Please pray that God will bless the sessions with both Brother Ray and me at Pacific Baptist Bible College!

We are looking forward to being a part of Lancaster Baptist Church’s Missions’ Conference beginning Saturday. Pastor Chappell has been a friend for many years and Lancaster Baptist is a very missions-minded church.  Lord willing, my wife and I will be returning to Southeast Asia to join our team in Phnom Penh, Cambodia sometime in mid-November. The Cambodian people are such a needy people, and our team in Cambodia is doing such a wonderful job. God has blessed in so many ways. We are so very excited about the privilege of working alongside the team in Phnom Penh. If you have not read their most recent update, I highly encourage you to do so. Only one way to describe what is going on in Cambodia: “Exciting!” Below are a few pictures from Cambodia.

Please pray for the work in Cambodia and that God will send more labourers to this needy country!

Almost immediately after returning to Southeast Asia my wife and I will fly to the “restricted” nation in which we served for 15 months and do some preaching and teaching over a two week period of time. This will be a wonderful opportunity to have a bit more influence over the dear folks we spent serving while living there for fifteen months. Below are a couple pictures from our time in this country.

 Please pray that God will, even now, begin to prepare hearts for those we will be ministering to in this very needy country!

The past week or so has been very busy and very blessed!

What a joy it was to be able to fly in from the east coast to be a part of the Missions’ Revival for Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach, Pacific Baptist Church of Maywood, and Pacific Baptist Bible College. Altogether, I had the opportunity to preach for the two churches a total of six times, the college twice, and the joy of teaching on missions for six hours in the college. The three-fold emphasis was the 1040 Window in general, and Southeast Asia and China more specifically.

As many, if not most of you know, my brother Pastor Joe Esposito had a burning passion to send a team to China. In fact, the last words his children ever heard him say before he was rushed to the hospital on October 3, 2013 were “China or Bust.”

It was one year ago this week when my brother was hospitalized. Only by the grace of God did he survive a ruptured AVM, but he remains in the hospital to this day. It was about two hours after I opened up our Missions Conference in Long Beach (PBC flew me from SE Asia for the conference) that my brother was hospitalized. The primary emphasis of last year’s conference, in addition to Southeast Asia, was the country of China. Concerning his passion for China his wife writes:

It was hard to pinpoint a specific time for the birth of the China Dream. Pastor had for many years posted large maps of ethnically diverse cities in CA for church planting targets, and a map of Asia on our bedroom wall. He had marked China as one of many destinations for sending teams. I believe Monterey Park was a part of making the dream for China seem a reality to Pastor.

Just as God put Pastor at 5050 Sheridan in Chicago (while a student in Bible College) so many years ago where the burden for the Khmer people was birthed and led to Pacific Baptist Church, and eventually Team Cambodia, Thailand, and L” – I believe, as did Pastor, God provided the church building for starting the Monterey Park Church in one of the greatest Chinese populations.

As Pastor used to say, sort of a Polaroid picture – the vision for China God had snapped years earlier and which was represented by a map on the wall – little by little developed into a great burden for a team to China. It seemed to be so obvious to him – we would start Team China, and there in the Monterey Park area more laborers would be born. It just made sense to him – God led us there, provided a building right where the Chinese folks were.

During the time leading up to last year’s missions conference – the burden for China grew and grew. Pastor had such a great desire to share the dream and burden with the church family. China became such a passion to him, and really the main emphasis of the conference. Never before did Pastor Esposito have such an intensity and sense of importance as he did for last year’s conference. He really believed that God was going to do something extraordinary – as we have talked about him saying multiple times “it was a God thing”.

Of course, the opening night of the Missions Conference was the last opportunity Pastor had to share the burden that God had placed on his heart – and only briefly before his AVM ruptured causing a severe bleed and stroke. While on the platform that night I believe he was already bleeding as he told me on the walk home of a severe migraine and loss of vision. As we entered the door, he didn’t sit down to fellowship with his children, as he would normally do following a service. The children showed him his favorite L” coffee Bro. Esposito had brought. He tossed it to one of them and said the last words my children heard him say, “China or Bust” and he headed upstairs. Within a very short time he stumbled down the stairs holding his head in pain, and I rushed him to the ER.

About a week ago, Brother Johnny came by to see Pastor. He left, but returned a few minutes later with China stickers he had asked Bro. Vong to print – “Don’t let the dream die”… and he showed them to pastor then handed them to me. He immediately walked back out and I stood by Pastor and looked at him and tears rolled down his cheek. That was the first time I had seen more than a single tear. Though he can’t speak, I personally believe the burden burns within … and if he could speak he’d say, ‘China or Bust’ ‘Don’t let the dream die!’”

What a testimony! It is often difficult to tell exactly what God is doing and why, but we are all believing that God has allowed this “tragedy” to take place for His glory and for the good of many. Could the country of China be a part of the many? Only time will tell!

Please continue to pray for a miracle in my brother’s life, and pray for his dear wife, eight children, two grandchildren, as well as the Pacific Baptist Church family. And pray that the dream to send men and women to China will continue to live on!

This past Sunday I had the privilege to preach at Faith Baptist Church of Bakersfield. In recent days my dear friend of 30 years, Pastor Joe Grande, resigned to take a church in Missouri. My time with the FBC family was their first without their pastor. We had a great day in Bakersfield.

Pray for the Faith Baptist Church family as they are seeking God’s choice for their next pastor!

A few days ago, while visiting my brother Pastor Joe in the hospital, I showed him a sticker that has a picture of Southeast Asia and China on it. The sticker also has the words “Don’t Let the Dream Die” and “China or Bust” on it. These words refer to my brother’s dream of seeing a team sent to China and some of the last words he ever said prior to being hospitalized: “China or Bust.” Soon after I left the hospital my sister-n-law Mary sent me a text with the following words: “When you showed him the sticker and walked out, it was the first time I saw multiple tears roll down his cheek.” A day or two before that I had asked my brother if he had remembered saying, “China or Bust”? With a few blinks he replied, “Yes.” I also asked him if he still wanted the church to “push China”? Again, with a few blinks, he replied, “Yes.”

Please continue to pray for a miracle for my brother. Pray for his family. And pray that God will raise up more laborers for the 1040 Window, and specifically China!

On Wednesday evening I had the opportunity to open up the Missions Emphasis for the Spanish Ministry of Pacific Baptist Church in Maywood. Brother Bruce Mejia and my niece Sarah Esposito are doing a great job with this ministry. PBC of Maywood is a church plant of my sending church and God has blessed it immensely. Next Wednesday evening I will open up the Missions Emphasis for the English members of PBC Maywood.

Pray for the Spanish members of PBC (Maywood) that God will help them to come to grips with the importance of worldwide missions, especially the great need in the 1040 Window!

The highlight of the evening came after the service. A woman, who was visiting for the first time, had a few questions for me. One thing led to another, and eventually I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with Christine and she trusted Christ!

Pray for Christine to grow in her newfound faith and pray for her adult son Richard who also had a chance to hear the Gospel but did not respond!

Tonight I will be preaching at Harbor Light Baptist Church in Wilmington. Early tomorrow morning I will be flying to Connecticut and will be spending the weekend with Pastor Michael Peslak and the White Oak Baptist Church family for their Missions’ Emphasis weekend. Early Monday morning I return to California and have a busy week planned. I will be teaching and preaching at Pacific Baptist Bible College, preaching twice for Pacific Baptist of Maywood and three times for Pacific Baptist of Long Beach.

Please pray that God will bless these different opportunities to preach and teach at four different churches and the Bible College. Pray that God will speak to hearts about praying, giving, and going to the great harvest of the world!

As expected, my trip to Napa to be with the Hopewell Baptist Church family and their extremely “sedate” (yeah, right) Pastor Mike Ray was quite a fun experience. Anytime you spend two days’ worth of quality time with Pastor Mike Ray, it’s an experience. We had a wonderful service on Wednesday evening. The crowd was great, the spirit was wonderful, and the folks were fantastic. I preached, the altar was packed, and then we showed my video presentation. It was a great service. After the service someone–I have no idea who–handed me a note, which I put in my pocket and did not read for a few days. The note, among other things said, “Your message was such a blessing tonight. I walked through the doors broken and broke down and your message was so very encouraging. ….” Praise The Lord!!!

On Thursday morning, I headed down to meet up with my wife at my daughter and son-in-law’s home in Orange Cove, California. I even brought her a dozen roses. She was a happy camper! After staying in Orange Cove for two days we headed to SO. CA. On Sunday we were in two different churches, including First Baptist Church of Long Beach. First Baptist Church is not only one of our supporting churches, but they have been our dear friends for well over 20 years. I had the opportunity to meet their new pastor. The church seems to be doing extremely well, and for this we praise The Lord!

Please continue to pray as God allows my wife and me to be a blessing to various churches on our travels!

While I was not able to be in attendance, Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach celebrated their 26^th anniversary. I am sure it was a bittersweet experience especially for my brother’s family. So very grateful for the legacy of Pacific Baptist Church and my brother Pastor Joe Esposito. God has done some wonderful things through that ministry that continue on even today.

Please continue to pray for Pacific Baptist Church, my brother (a miracle needed), his family, and all of the ministries in Long Beach!

On Monday I had the opportunity to preach at Pacific Baptist Bible College. I preached a message “Dreaming Big and Living Radically for God.” It appears that God moved and for this I am grateful. I will be teaching two sessions and preaching again on Friday on the same topic.

Please pray that God uses this time with the PBBC students to inspire some future dreamers for God!

 It is so exciting to hear the tremendous reports from the restricted nation in which my wife and I served for 15 months. Our team is doing extremely well. In fact, God is doing some really good things there. The picture below is of a Monday evening prayer meeting after the evening English classes. They are praying for God to use them to reach their fellow students, as well as other nationals in this needy country.

The church, led by a national pastor [see picture below], that I had the opportunity and privilege to serve alongside of while in the country recently had three more new converts baptized. The small Bible Institute is going forward in training a handful of young men for the ministry. I am grateful that in recent days, because of sales from our books, we were able to send $500 to the country to help the Bible Institute, in addition to sending another $175 to barnabas1040.com.

Please continue to pray for our team in this restricted nation as well as the three different IB churches led by national pastors. Pray for God’s provision and protection for the nationals in this restricted nation!