Nine years’ ago (March 14, 2013), my wife and I landed in Southeast Asia (Phnom Penh, Cambodia) and started a new journey in life. After nearly thirty years of full-time ministry in the United States, we had entered this new phase of life and ministry as missionaries in Asia.

We had left our five children, 12 grandchildren (that number has increased to 29 now), our home church (Pacific Baptist Church) of 18 years, a wonderful position as an Assistant Pastor, Vice-President of Pacific Baptist Bible College, School Administrator of Pacific Baptist School, and the Pastor of our Filipino Ministry and stepped a whole new world.

We have spent the past nine years in living and serving in two communist countries (over 5 ½ years in these two countries), along with the countries of Cambodia and Thailand, along with doing some ministry in Indonesia and Myanmar.

My wife and I are very grateful for your continual prayers and consistent financial support over the past ten years (one year deputation). God has blessed in so many ways, but we could not be here, nor stay here if it weren’t for the grace of God and the generosity of God’s people!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR DENISE AND ME AS WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE LORD’S LEADING WHILE SERVING HERE IN ASIA!

Valentine’s Festival

Every year during the week of Valentine’s Day, thousands of Hmong and Thai people arrive in a small village called Phu Chi Fa. For the past eight years or so, our team here in Northern Thailand has used this as an opportunity to pass out thousands of tracts and share the gospel with those willing to listen. This year we passed out over 7,000 tracts, had the chance to personally share a clear presentation of the gospel with 35 men, women, and young people, and had 14 people bow their heads and trust Christ. I was even given the opportunity to preach the gospel for 15 minutes from the platform. It was great to see so many folks listen attentively to the message.

We are thankful for those of you that prayed for this special outreach and that God blessed the three days of ministry on top of the mountain!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL BRING FORTH MUCH FRUIT FROM ALL THE SEED THAT WAS SOWN DURING THE VALENTINE’S FESTIVAL!

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day has become a popular holiday here in Southeast Asia over the past few years. This year, for many of the folks that I have been teaching what the Bible has to say about “Marriage and the Family,” it also became a wonderful opportunity for them to teach many

others about “Marriage and the Family.” We have heard so many good reports from our friends and fellow laborers that went out of their way and conducted special Valentine’s Day Fellowships and/or had special Sunday services the day before Valentine’s Day to encourage God’s people to have marriages and families that honor Christ. 

PLEASE PRAY THAT THE TRUTHS OF GOD’S LOVE AND OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, INCLUDING OUR FAMILIES, WOULD PERMEATE THE HEARTS AND LIVES OF THE BELIEVERS HERE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!

OUR ADOPTED DAUGHTER
While living and serving in one of the two communist countries that my wife and I lived in we had the privilege to have four Hmong teen/college age girls live with us. Their names were Bounmee, Pachu, Pachua, and Mai. We love all four of them dearly. Bounmee married Adrian Torres, one of our fellow team members and now lives and serves in the country of Cambodia. Pachua and Mai are still enrolled in the School of Ministry I had the privilege to start and oversee.

Pachu graduated from our School of Ministry and has now been serving as a missionary in the northern part of the country for over a year. She is serving alongside a dear pastor friend of ours. She has been such a blessing over the past year or so. She is teaching women, children, and teens the Bible. Along with this, she is teaching some of them how to use the computer, how to play the guitar, and some of them how to read their language. Illiteracy is a severe problem in this part of the world!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PACHU AND HER CHURCH FAMILY TO CONTINUE TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THEIR PART OF THE COUNTRY!

PASTOR “B’s” Ministry

While living and serving in the Creative Access Nation for almost 4 ½ years, one of the men that we had the opportunity to influence is named “B.” He was one of my wife’s English students and I had the opportunity to teach him the Bible on many occasions. He is now pastoring and has been for the past five years.

Just prior to the COVID crisis his church was averaging about 30 or so, which by the way is tremendous in this part of the world, but during the pandemic his church doubled in attendance (despite four different lock downs, the last being 27 weeks), he saw dozens saved and baptized, and started two new village ministries. The vast majority of this was the result of him and our Bible

students reaching out to the poor, the needy, and the helpless and meeting their physical needs and spiritual needs. We are grateful to God for the opportunity to partner with them and to sit back and watch God bless!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR “B,” his family, and the ministry!

New Students

We are excited about three of our young ladies, from two of our village churches, which will be learning English in the city at a school run by a missionary. Learning English will help them to get better jobs in the future. One of the girls, Maixiong, is the daughter of Cherchou who I have been discipling for the past 26 months. Maixiong was in my wife’s Discipleship Group for close to two years before we got locked out of the country. We love Cherchou and his family. We are helping the girls, and we are praying that God will keep them safe in the city and help them to continue to grow to be the young ladies God desires for them to be. Will you pray with us?

Samaritan’s Compassion

As we mentioned in our last Prayer update, things have opened up quite a bit here in Southeast Asia over the past two months. That being said, the need to give a helping hand to the poor, the needy, and the helpless, especially those that have been affected by two years of lockdowns and restrictions is still very real. And, for this reason, we are extremely grateful that we can still partner with our friends and fellow laborers in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR A HANDFUL OF CHURCHES THAT HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN UP SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION!

As always, Denise and I want to thank you for your continual prayers and consistent financial support over the years, but above all, we thank you for your love and friendship!

Your Missionaries in Asia,
Johnny and Denise Esposito

The pictures above and below are of our dear friend, Pastor S, which spent more than a year imprisoned, baptizing eleven new converts. He is a longtime friend and fellow-laborer. We, along with Dwight Tomlinson and Barnabas1040 have supported and prayed for him and his family for more than two years. He is a faithful servant of Christ who is overseeing more than a dozen house churches and travels the country teaching and training local church pastors and church leaders. We are grateful for many of you that have prayed for him and his family and have helped us to support them financially, especially while he was in jail.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THIS PASTOR, HIS FAMILY, AND HIS MINISTRY TO CONTINUE TO BEAR FRUIT!

 
Getting Back to Normal

We are so excited! Things are finally beginning to open here in Southeast Asia. Thank you for praying for us these past two years. It has been a difficult two years, to say the least. The pictures below are of one of our churches in one of the villages. After four different lockdowns (including the last one for 27 weeks), they were finally able to have in-person services. Most of the folks have returned, but as you well know some are still sitting out with COVID concerns. Two weeks ago, they had five saved and baptized six. We are so grateful for KX and LX’s faithfulness and fruitfulness and for those of you that are praying for them regularly!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR KX, LX, AND THIS DEAR CHURCH FAMILY AS THEY CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRIST WHERE IT IS SO DESPERATELY NEEDED!

School of Ministry

Speaking of KX and LX not only are they doing a fantastic job with the church they started about five years ago, but after Denise and I left the country, and because of COVID restrictions were not allowed to return, they have done a wonderful job running our School of Ministry in the village. Praise the Lord, because we have dorms (houses) for the guys and the girls, we never really had to close the school down and classes have been going on four days a week for the entire time. I am so thankful that I have been able to continue instructing our students weekly online. Right now, I am teaching them on “Marriage and the Family,” a much-needed topic over here. They are loving it! I am so grateful for students that are not only gaining a head knowledge of the Bible but are taking what they learn to the harvest fields.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY KX, LX, AND FOR OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY IN THE VILLAGE!

Pastor K and Bible Students in the City

I am thankful for the opportunity to also continue to teach the other half of our students (we had to split them up in two separate locations when COVID hit), led by Pastor K. It is one of the highlights of my week, for sure. We are going through the Book of Ephesians and just so happen to have been stuck in Ephesians 5:21-6:4. Yes, “Marriage and the Family.”

Like our students in the village, Pastor K and these students are not only easy to teach, but they apply that which they have learned in the ministry, and they are ZEALOUS FOR SOULS! Just this past weekend they had six people trust Christ. Very seldom does a week pass that they do not have someone trust Christ. A new church that they started recently (a direct result of Operation Samaritan’s Compassion) is growing much.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR K, HIS FAMILY, THE CHURCH FAMILY, AND THE BIBLE STUDENTS!
 
Back Together Again, finally!

As I mentioned above, things have opened here in most of Southeast Asia. Our church family, which had not met in-person for almost ten months is finally gathering in-person on Sundays. Can someone say, “Amen”? Of course, ten months of not meeting together in-person and with some still concerned about COVID, not everyone has returned, but we are just rejoicing that we can meet in person. On Sundays, I am preaching a series of messages on “A Kingdom-Minded People” from the Book of Matthew and on Wednesday’s I am teaching through the Book of Colossians. Unfortunately, our Wednesday Bible study is still on-line.

PLEASE PRAY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GATHER TOGETHER AND THAT OUR NEW BUILDING GETS UP BEFORE LONG!

The New Children’s Ministry

Now that things are opening, we can slowly start to return to some semblance of normalcy. We have just started a new Children’s Ministry in one of the villages. Tom, Sue, Jui, Denise, and I are instructing the children and teens in English and using it as an opportunity to get to know the young people, build relationships with them, help them with their future, and have the opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with them. We have about twenty-four young people attending, and I believe all but four (children/teens of our church members) are unbelievers.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO COME TO CHRIST AND THIS MINISTRY TO BEAR FRUIT THAT REMAINS!
 
New “BUS” Route

As we mentioned in our previous update, we have a new Team Member. His name is Jui, and he is a graduate from our School of Ministry back in the Creative Access Nation where Denise and I lived and served until COVID locked us out. I also mentioned in our last update that Jui is fitting in extremely well and has been a huge blessing already. We are all so incredibly grateful that the Lord allowed Jui to join us!

Well, Jui has just become our second official “Bus” Captain. Brother Tom Sutrick has been a “Bus” Captain for years faithfully picking up children, teens, and adults from our village and bringing them to the services. Jui will be running a route from another village. Space is limited (we do not have a real bus), but it is going to be a blessing to see some new folks attending the services.

PLEASE PRAY FOR JUI AND THIS NEW MINISTRY!

Long Time Friends Return

This past Sunday we had a tremendous service. Because of a rainstorm both the night before and just prior to the service, we ended up meeting at Tom and Sue’s house. After the service, a handful of us went out for a time of food and fellowship.

Another blessing related to our new “bus” route, it was a blessing to have six new visitors, including two women and their husbands. The two women grew up in the village where our church family gathers. From what I understand, it had been at least a year since they had attended (partially because they live in another village thirty minutes away). It was truly a wonderful day!

PLEASE PRAY KIA AND LUE AND THEIR HUSBANDS TANG AND MO TO CONTINUE ATTENDING THE SERVICES!

Children’s Home

Denise, Jui, and I had the opportunity to once again go and minister at the Hilltop Rong Ber Baptist Children’s Home. It is always a blessing to spend a day or more with these young people. We had a Volleyball Tournament, various crazy games that Jui came up with, a pizza and ice cream party, and a service. During the service I challenged them to be thankful, to be prayerful, and to live lives of compassion. We sure do appreciate Brother Chris and his staff. They are doing a tremendous job loving these young people!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR BROTHER CHRIS, THE STAFF, AND ALL OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE HILLTOP RONG BER BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOME

 
My Teaching Schedule

I absolutely love preaching, teaching, and discipleship (whether it be one-on-one or in a small group format). And to be honest, I am doing a lot of it right now. I am discipling nine different men and a married couple. I am teaching two sets of Bible college students and doing a Married Couple’s Class, along with our Sunday morning and Wednesday evening services here in Chiang Khong. All that to say this, I could use much prayer in this matter.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES I HAVE TO SOW THE SEED AND THAT GOD WILL BRING A GREAT INCREASE!

Samaritan’s Compassion

While the COVID numbers are dropping and things are slowly getting back to “normal,” the needs are still all around us and we are grateful that we still have a handful of individuals and a couple of churches that have given generously over the past two months so that we can continue to be a blessing to the poor, the needy, and the helpless. Many dear folks have been fed, medicine and clothing provided, as well as some more construction work done for those in need, including an outdoor restroom for a church family.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR GOD TO PROVIDE THE FUNDS, TO KEEP THE FERVOR, AND FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BRING FORTH FRUIT FOR THE NATIONALS FROM THIS MINISTRY!
 
As always, Denise and I want to thank you for your friendship, your faithful prayers, and consistent financial support for these almost nine years that we have been on the field. We could not be here but by God’s grace and your generosity!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

Greetings to all our family, friends, and faithful supporters. Denise and I pray that you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. We did! We also celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary the day after Christmas. We are grateful for the grace and goodness of God these past 40 years, and I am grateful for a wonderful wife that has followed me around the world.

The two pictures above are of our dear friend and one of the men I have been discipling (leadership development) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These pictures are of Pastor Z and two of his recent baptismal services. In the past month or so, he had a total of fifteen baptized. He is doing an excellent job. He has started seven churches and for many years now, he continues to oversee all seven of them. We are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of his ministry and for Dwight Tomlinson and Barnabas 1040 partnering with us in supporting his ministry. Lord willing, soon, we will do some more training of his other leaders. PLEASE PRAY WITH US ABOUT THIS!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR Z, HIS FAMILY, HIS CHURCH FAMILY AND THE OTHER SIX CHURCHES THAT HE IS OVERSEEING!

NEW CONVERTS AND PERSECUTION

A few months ago, Kong and his wife trusted Christ. Tom has been discipling them weekly online (they live in a creative access nation) for the past few months immediately after our online service which they join weekly. Kong’s brother-in-law, Neng Zay and his wife trusted Christ about a month ago. Neng Zay and wife, Zia, need much prayer. They have already started receiving serious persecution. In fact, their property has been confiscated. We rejoice to hear that he is standing despite the trials and troubles that have come his way as a baby Christian.

PLEASE PRAY FOR KONG, MAI, NENG ZAY, AND ZIA TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN CHRIST AND TO ENDURE THE PERSECUTION THEY HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING!

NEW BUILDING

We are praising the Lord that the new building project in the village is now in full swing. Well, at least the first phase of the building project is in full swing. Tom, Sue, and our folks in the village are working hard to get it up and running. This is hard and tedious work, and it will take a while for the building to be complete, but it will provide a place to meet as soon as the church family is allowed to gather in person.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE BUILDING PROJECT AND FOR THE VILLAGE CHIEF TO ALLOW OUR FOLKS TO MEET IN PERSON!

CHIANG KHONG DISCIPLESHIP

Our Discipleship Group (meeting with five men now) here in Chiang Khong has now been meeting for about five hours a week over the past four months and the growth in the men is very apparent. We are back to in person meeting after being forced to go online for a short while. It is a blessing to have Jui with us now and to have Pastor Z join us online (He’s from a creative access nation). One of the highlights of my week.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THESE GOOD MEN (TOM, TZER-CHANG, JAY, JUI, AND PASTOR Z)

CHILDREN’S HOME

Our team here in Chiang Khong, Thailand held a Christmas Play, a time of food, fun, and fellowship, a time of passing out Christmas gifts for the children, teens, and staff, and a special service for the Children’s Home. My wife and I stayed over an extra day, and I preached another two times for them and the church family, along with treating the young people to a Pizza Party. Folks in Southeast Asia, especially the young people, love pizza, but seldom have a chance to have any. We had such a wonderful time. So did they. Brother Chris baptized four teen girls after Sunday morning’s service!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE HILLTOP RONG BER BAPTIST CHURCH AND CHILDREN’S HOME!

A NEW TEAM MEMBER

Jui, who is one of our graduates from our School of Ministry (back home), has recently joined our team here in Thailand. Along with teaching Jui as one of our students, I have had the opportunity to disciple Jui over the past three and a half years, and he was my assistant for two years while my wife and I were living and serving back home. If you will remember, in a recent update, I mentioned that Jui was heading to Ukraine to serve with our missionary friend, Derek Thomas; well, God closed that door and opened the door for Jui to join us here in Thailand. We are grateful that we are already seeing God bless Jui and his contribution to the team here.

PLEASE PRAY FOR JUI’S TRANSITION HERE IN NORTHERN THAILAND!

SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION

During the months of November and December, along with our faithful laborers here in Southeast Asia, we were able to feed, clothe, provide winter coats, and pass out Christmas Care Packages to multiplied hundreds of children, teens, and adults in three different countries. As a result of this, multiplied dozens have trusted Christ and many new believers were baptized.

I received these two reports just a few days ago. Please keep in mind, these are just two of the many different men and a handful of different ministries that OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION (with your help) has been assisting:

A WORD FROM A CREATIVE ACCESS NATION: “Thanks to Brother Esposito who inspired this program and assisted us. Thanks to my spiritual son, David, who helped administer funds; And thanks to all of you who gave generously. May our Lord reward you accordingly. Over the past six months, the salvations (below) from our partner churches are for ‘food evangelism’ only. (The churches have other ministries that reach souls for Christ.)

1025 packages of food delivered, approximately 3,000 people fed, and 142-salvations.”

By the way, during the month of December they had fifty trust Christ and twenty-five of these were baptized!

A WORD FROM BACK HOME: “During the months of November and December our two churches have seen thirty-one people trust Christ and 40 baptized, including twelve last week. The majority of these are people that we have helped to meet their physical needs during COVID.”

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION AND ALL OF OUR FELLOW LABORERS THAT ARE MEETING BOTH THE PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE HURTING AND THE HELPLESS!

CHURCH FELLOWSHIP

Our church family here in Chiang Khong has not been able to meet for in-person services for a long time and had not met together for a time of fellowship since last April, but a handful of us were able to meet (in a different village) for a wonderful time of food, fun, and sweet fellowship. It was a blessing to be able to see some folks that I have not seen (in person) for almost three years now (the last time I was here to preach and teach). We had such a wonderful time, and it was so needed!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR VILLAGE TO “OPEN UP” SO WE CAN GATHER IN PERSON AS A CHURCH FAMILY!

BIBLE COLLEGE CLASSES

Of course, as I have mentioned many times in the past, one of my favorite times of the week is Wednesday and Friday mornings. This is when I am teaching our Bible students back home. Denise and I love and miss these students. Prior to COVID, we all met in one location, but the students are now in two separate locations being led by Pastor Kampai and Pastor Kong. It was a blessing to be able to buy some more tools for our students so they can learn a trade, as well as build a new church building. Denise and I were able to help both groups of students to have a nice Christmas Party just prior to the term ending. As of the middle of December, both sets of students are on a small Christmas break. Both groups will be returning to classes over the next two weeks.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR BIBLE STUDENTS AND THE NEW TERM COMING UP!

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY CLASS

As I mentioned in our previous prayer update, a little over two months ago I started teaching some of our married couples here in Chiang Khong, as well as a few couples from back home. Again, we are forced to have these classes on-line, but they have been a tremendous blessing. I believe it is becoming my favorite time of the week. Do not tell our college students or the men that I am discipling that I said so. As I mentioned before, this is such a needed emphasis in this part of the world, and we are already beginning to see “fruit.”

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR MARRIED COUPLES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND MARRIAGES IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD!

As always, Denise and I want to thank you for your friendship, your faithful prayers, and consistent financial support for these nine years that we have been on the field. We could not be here but by God’s grace and your generosity!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

• 

• 

The pictures above are of my wife and I, along with the Sutrick’s and other members of our team here in Thailand together with the staff, teens, and children of the Hilltop Rong Ber Baptist Children’s Home in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Children’s Home

It was a blessing for my wife and I, along with four other adult members, and a few teens from our team here in Thailand to spend an entire weekend at a Children’s Home. While we no doubt, were a blessing to them, they were a far greater blessing to us. It was a very wonderful weekend for everyone involved. I had the privilege to preach four messages on faith from Hebrews 11-12, and the rest of our team-taught classes, taught memory verses, and played lots of fun games with the child.

• 

• 

• 

Wednesday Evening Married Couples/Family Class

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE STAFF, CHILDREN, AND TEENS OF THE HILLTOP RONG BER BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOMEAND ALL ORPHANS AND NEEDY YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!

One of the most exciting new ministries here in Northern Thailand is our Married Couples/Family Class. I am teaching 9-10 married couples on “Marriage and the Family.”

Anyone that has ever lived or served in this part of the world, knows that this might very well be THE GREATEST NEED in the churches here in Southeast Asia. In fact, as my fellow-laborer, missionary Dave Board, upon seeing my Facebook post about teaching this class commented with these following words: “Probably the most important discipleship that needs to be done in our part of the world.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE MARRIED COUPLES CLASS AND ALL OF THESE COUPLES TO GROW IN THEIR LOVE FOR GOD AND FOR ONE ANOTHER!
 
English Tutoring

Another new ministry here in Northern Thailand is English Tutoring. Of course, we are in the very early stages, but we recently had a day of interviewing and testing the potential students.

Lord willing, we will be able to use this new ministry with a two-fold purpose. First, we can help some of our people, especially young people to learn the English language, which will help them greatly in the future. Secondly, we can use this as an opportunity to meet and build relationships with unsaved young people and give us the opportunity to share the Gospel with them.

PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WILL BE SENSITIVE TO THE LORD’S LEADING CONCERNING ENGLISH TUTORING AND THAT GOD WILL USE IT FOR HIS GLORY AND FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS!

New Road & New Building

A couple weeks ago, we started the initial stages for our new building. The first stage is to get a road up and going to enable folks to be able to reach the property. Lord willing, the new building will be ready to use within the next six months. Hopefully, we will be allowed to meet in person by then. 

• 

• 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE BUILDING PROCESS AND THAT WE WILL BE ALLOWED TO MEET IN PERSON SOON!

Food and Fellowship

To be honest, there isn’t a whole lot of in-person action going on here in Chiang Khong and/or the surrounding villages because of COVID and various restrictions, but it was a blessing for us to be able to have some food, fun, and fellowship with some of our team here. Others are still locked in their village. Maiver (green blouse) made a great meal, my wife and Sue taught everyone how to play UNO with some HUGE UNO CARDS that my mother-n-law gave us while we were on furlough. Everyone had a great time.

PLEASE PRAY THAT THINGS WILL OPEN UP SO WE CAN DO A LOT MORE OF THESE KIND OF FELLOWSHIPS!

Bible Students & Discipleship

My online discipleship (now ten men in five countries) and teaching our Bible students is still going very well, and for this, I am grateful. I am looking forward to these countries opening their borders so I can begin to, once again, travel back and forth. We are very excited that our Bible students are not simply learning the Bible, Computer Skills, English, and How to Play a Guitar, but also our men are learning how to do Construction Work and/or Carpentry Skills. Many of our Ladies are learning how to make and sell pastries. These skills will help them immensely in the future.  

• 

• 

• 

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DISCIPLESHIP, COLLEGE CLASSES, AND THESE SPECIAL CLASSES!

Helping a COVID Ravaged Village

For almost two years now, my wife and I have been allowed to help many National pastors in Southeast Asia to be a help and a blessing to the poor, the needy, and the helpless, but it has always been from a distance. A few weeks ago, my wife and I had a chance to be personally involved, rather than from a distance. Our team here in Thailand had the chance to help another village here in our area that has been ravaged with the COVID virus. Needless to say, the Village Chief was very pleased! 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE HURTING PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND ECONOMICALLY DURING THIS COVID CRISIS!

“Operation Samaritan’s Compassion”

This past month has been a busy and blessed month. The Lord has allowed us to help in numerous villages, most of them either ravaged with the COVID virus or lock downed because of the COVID virus. We have also helped to provide three cancer patients with much needed pain medicine, bought a month’s worth of rice and gifts for all the children and teens at the Children’s home, and provided winter jackets for over 200 children.

Just this last week, at least ten people trusted Christ and four of these were baptized from one new village as a direct result of “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion,” National pastors, and our Bible students teaming together to help the poor, the needy, and the helpless.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION TEAM TO CONTINUE TO BE A BLESSING TO THE POOR, THE NEEDY, AND THE HELPLESS!

As always, my wife and I would like to thank you for your prayers, your financial support, your friendship, and your love for the two of us and the ministries that God has entrusted into our care!

For HIS Glory,
Johnny and Denise Esposito

The pictures above are of our church family here in Northern Thailand before the COVID virus, the COVID restrictions, and the COVID lockdowns struck. Needless to say, the past 18 months have been as difficult, if not more difficult, for most here in Southeast Asia as it has been for most around the world. So, doing “church” is looking a bit different now that’s for sure.

Yet, God is still building His church here in Southeast Asia, and for this, we are grateful!

My wife and I have been back in Asia now for just over seven weeks and we are so very grateful. Thank you for praying for us to be able to get back “home.”  Of course, those seven weeks included our two-week Quarantine in Bangkok, Thailand. We have now been able to call Chiang Khong, Thailand “home” for over a month, and we are grateful. Such a beautiful city, such a great need, and so many potential opportunities for service in the future.

It has been a blessing to meet with Tom, Tzer-Chang, Jay, and Pastor Zone twice a week for a total of between five and six hours of Discipleship/Leadership Development. On Tuesdays, we are dealing with the topic of “The Importance of Walking with God: Prayer and the Bible.” On Thursdays, we are dealing with “Leadership Lessons from the Life and Letters of Paul.”

Unfortunately, as a result of my traveling over the past two weeks because of the necessary meetings for our one year visa, and a few of our guys being quarantined because of COVID, we have had to meet online the past two weeks, but it still has been a tremendous blessing and we are grateful.

Despite the present restrictions, Tzer-Chang still had the opportunity to share the gospel with the four men below. While they did not trust Christ, they were very open. Please do keep Brother Tom, Tzer-Chang, Jay, and Pastor Zone in your prayers! 

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DISCIPLESHIP/LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS HERE IN CHIANG KHONG. PRAY THAT WE WILL ALL GROW IN OUR PASSION TO KNOW, LOVE, AND SERVE CHRIST HERE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!

Regrettably, though the COVID numbers have improved vastly here in Thailand over the past few months, we are still unable to meet in person as a church family. Therefore, we are still doing on-line services (for over six months now), but we aren’t quite as tech-savvy as back in the States. We have a Sunday service and a Wednesday service; both are online, and of course, the services are in the Hmong language. While my wife and I don’t understand the Hmong language, we thoroughly enjoy gathering with God’s people – even if it’s online. It’s an absolute joy to see the smiles on their faces and have their testimonies interpreted for us!

PLEASE PRAY THAT OUR SERVICES AND THE SERVICES OF SO MANY OTHERS HERE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA WILL BE IN PERSON SOON!

My online discipleship sessions with four men in Cambodia, three men in Laos, one man in Central Thailand, and one man in China are going extremely well. So are my teaching sessions with our Bible students in both the city and in the village. I have sent the pictures of these men and their families in a previous update, but thought I would send them once again. 

Unfortunately, most of these dear folks are still in COVID lockdowns and it has been making life a bit interesting, and unfortunately, for many quite discouraging. And yet, God has been faithful and the Christians and churches are still going forward in their faith.

Please do keep Kosal, Vannak, Man, Tangsue (Cambodia), Soubin (Laos/Thailand), Kong, Jui, Cherchou (Laos), Richard (China), and their families in prayer.  

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE NINE MEN THAT I AM PRESENTLY DISCIPLING ONLINE, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY STUDENTS!

With the many needs in the countries of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam we are grateful for all of you that are praying and have given towards “Operation Samaritan Compassion.” While I am no longer in the States and unable to present the ministry to our supporting churches, the needs are still great, in fact, in some places, greater than ever before.   We are praying, and ask that you pray with us, that God will continue to touch many hearts of folks back in the States to continue to give for this worthy and needy cause.  

In recent days, I received two very encouraging messages from an email from Vietnam and one text message from the country of Laos, concerning Operation Samaritan’s Compassion. Please read and rejoice:

“For those of you that have generously contributed to this program, for those of you that have prayed for us during the lockdowns in Vietnam. Thank you!”  

According to his email, over the past four months they have helped 1,030 people with food packages and 32 of them have trusted Christ.

“In the past year, we have helped more than seventy families (multiple times) in two different villages, and as a result 23 people have trusted Christ.”  

There are so many other reports I could share with you but we simply don’t have the time or the space. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING AND GIVING!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE GREAT PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS HERE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!

While in Chiang Mai, Thailand (part of our visa journey), Denise and I had the chance to meet up with Soubin. He is from Laos and was a part of our ministry there. He is presently residing in Thailand and attending school. I have been discipling Soubin now for two years, he is like a spiritual son to me. My wife and I love him, his wife, and his two daughters, and the son that is on the way. Over the past almost 19 months, our discipleship has all been online due to my being in the States and/or us being separated by miles. It was a joy to sit down face-to-face and enjoy some good Thai food and great fellowship.

PLEASE PRAY FOR SOUBIN AND HIS FAMILY!  

I have a special prayer request for those of you that are praying for us. Jui (pictured above interpreting for me) is a fine young man. Jui has been saved about six years, I have been discipling him for about four years, he was my assistant for two years in Laos, he is a graduate of our School of Ministry, and he now has the blessed opportunity to go and serve the Chinese and Ukranian people in the country of Ukraine), as well as continue to be trained by another missionary (Derek Thomas).

But as you know, it is going to cost money to send him and keep him there. We are looking for Christians who are willing to pray and to start supporting him monthly. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HELP? If so, just shoot me a text or an email!

My wife and I would like to thank you all for your friendship, your love, your prayers, and your giving, which is enabling us to be where God wants us to be and do what God wants us to do.
 
Your missionaries in Southeast Asia,
Johnny and Denise Esposito

The picture above is a baptismal service back “home” where 19 folks that had trusted Christ were baptized. The pastor is one of our former students. He was a student in Our English Learning Center, and I also had the privilege to teach him the Bible while he was attending Bible College. It is so exciting to see how God is still moving, even during the COVID Crisis and the various restrictions that have come down the pike.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE FOLKS TO STAY FAITHFUL TO CHRIST!

It’s been a long, arduous journey, but we are finally back “home.”  Well, not all the way “home,” but just about as close as you can get. We are in Thailand, the country where my wife and I lived and served prior to the Pandemic is still “locked down,” and more than likely will be for a while. 

As we mentioned in our previous prayer update, we will be living and serving alongside our team members in Chiang Khong, Thailand, and as I have mentioned in a previous updates, in addition to our new responsibilities in Thailand, I will continue discipling nine men online, as well as teach two sets of Bible college students online.

• 

• 

PLEASE PRAY FOR US WHILE IN OUR QUARATINE, AS WELL AS DURING THE TRANSITION TO THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY!

Nearly every Sunday morning, while in the States, I would wake up to texts and pictures from back “home.” It is always a great way to start my morning and a wonderful reminder that despite all the struggles of the past year-and-a-half, God is still on His throne, Christ is still Lord, the Spirit of God is still moving, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. Here are just a few of the pictures from last week.

• 

• 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE CHURCHES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA THAT ARE ABLE TO MEET IN PERSON AND FOR THE CHURCHES THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO DO SO!

One of the church plants back home recently had their first Ladies’ Fellowship and from what I have been told and from what I had the opportunity to see, they had a great time. The interesting thing about this fellowship is that nearly every one of the ladies and teen girls is a first-generation Christian that has been saved less than six years.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE DEAR WOMEN TO SHINE BRIGHTLY FOR CHRIST AND FOR KONG AND LILEE AS THEY LEAD THEM!

Over the past month, God has blessed the efforts of OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION as our folks have helped so many, especially in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. We want to thank you for praying and giving. Check out this message I received from Vietnam a week or so ago:

“These ‘total lockdowns’ are now supposed to last until September 6th. … So far 277 total food packages have been delivered. Salvation tracts have been given and people been told of the love of Christ. 27 recipients of the food have received eternal Bread of Life.”

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION TO BE A TOOL IN THE HANDS OF GOD TO MEET PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF MANY!

As always, my wife and I would like to thank you for praying and giving to us and the ministries that God has entrusted into our care. We also want to thank you for being extremely patient while we were “stuck in the States.”

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

 

What is the “Breaking News”?

Of course, as you know, my wife and I were scheduled to have a short five-to-six-month furlough, and like so many other things, unfortunately, COVID changed all of that for us. We have now been in the States for almost fifteen months. 

I am grateful that we have been able to stay busy (travelling and preaching here in the States, raising thousands of dollars for the poor, the needy, and the helpless of Southeast Asia, teaching 22 School of Ministry students in two different locations, and discipling eight different men in three different countries). Needless to say, my wife and I have been blessed in so many ways!  

Here’s the Breaking News:

Lord willing, and if the proverbial “creek doesn’t rise,” nor the COVID numbers in Thailand, my wife and I will be heading back to Asia on Tuesday, August 10. Regrettably, we still cannot go back to Laos. They are still closed, and because of COVID restrictions, will likely be closed for quite some time.  

In lieu of this–after two weeks of quarantining in Bangkok–my wife and I will be relocating, at least temporarily, in Northern Thailand to work with our fellow team members, Tom and Sue Sutrick. They have asked us to assist them with a few projects. 

It looks like I will be discipling (leadership development) two of Tom and Sue’s men in Thailand. In addition to this, we will be helping them, at least in the beginning stages, to start a School of Ministry as we did in the country of Laos. Lord willing, Denise will be working with some of their young ladies and possibly teaching English as a second language!  

In addition to the above, I will continue teaching the two different groups of School of Ministry students online (Laos) as well as continue discipling the eight men online (Laos, Cambodia, and China) while we are in Thailand.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS NEW PHASE IN OUR LIFE AND MINISTRIES

We are in the middle of the Summer Term for our School of Ministry/Bible College students. It’s been a great term. I am going through and teaching the Book of Matthew for the students in the village and have been teaching on both “Prayer” and “The Call of God” for the students in the city. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE BIBLE AND THEIR LOVE FOR THE LORD!

As I have mentioned repeatedly, over the past year or so, it has been a tremendous blessing to be able to invest in the lives of these eight men and their families pictured below. It has been especially helpful for them too, as almost all of them have been locked down and prohibited from having in-person services at various times. I am so thankful for the blessing of meeting with these men on a weekly basis.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Despite eight weeks of not being allowed to meet in person, it has been very exciting to see one of our churches growing leaps and bounds in recent days. Kong, Lilee, and our School of Ministry students are doing a tremendous job despite very difficult circumstances.

• 

• 

• 

• 

While the incoming funds for “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion” has slowed down quite a bit since the COVID numbers in the United States have been going down, the needs in countries like Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand have not. 

In fact, the COVID numbers have been going up in Southeast Asia, thus the need for helping folks is greater than ever. Notice the words below from an email I received from a missionary in Vietnam just a week or so ago:

“Covid in Vietnam has caused many to go hungry. There are stores with no food.

There are prohibitions for street vendors. There are long lines at stores that do have food. There are no government programs for food stamps or QE monies handed out.

So many of the poorest, with no relatives, are starving.

Pastor Sang, Pastor Davit, Pastor David and Pastor Samuel have been taking food baskets to the poor and hungry in their areas.”

After we sent him $500 a couple of days ago, here’s his reply:

“One food basket here costs us 250,000 dong, or about $12.  The staples in that basket can feed one person for almost a month, if used sparingly. $500 equals 11.5 million dong.  Dividing that by 250,000 dong means that we can help 46 people to make it through the next month. Thank you for your mercy and your prayers.”

In the past thirty days, we sent $1,000 to the country of Laos, $500 to the country of Vietnam, and another $450 to the country of Cambodia to assist with various needs.

• 

• 

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BRING FUNDS IN TO MEET VARIOUS NEEDS AND THAT MANY WILL COME TO KNOW CHRIST THROUGH THESE DEEDS OF LOVE!

As always, Denise and I would like to thank you for your continual prayers and your consistent prayer support. We covet your prayers as we begin this new phase of ministry!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny

PS PLEASE DO PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS US WITH THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO COVER ALL OF THE EXPENSES FOR THE TRIP BACK, THE QUARANTINE,  AND THE RESETTLEMENT IN THAILAND! 

The picture above is a group of the children that live in the village where half of our School of Ministry students live. We are grateful that despite the present lockdown, Kong, Lilee, and our students were still able to do something special for the local children for International Children’s Day. 

As always, this past month God has been very good!

It has been a blessing this past month to continue to travel and report to our sending churches, disciple four men in Laos (Kong, Jui, Soubin, and Cherchou), two men in Cambodia (Kosal, Vannak), and another man in China (Richard), teach our 20 Bible students, and continue to funnel financial support to four different countries in Southeast Asia. 

• 

• 

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR EACH OF THESE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR MINISTRY AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO WORK IN AND THROUGH THE LIVES OF ALL INVOLVED!

As far as helping folks back “home,” via OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION, this past month we were able send financial aid to help see a baby born, a new believer that passed away unexpectedly, buried, helped with hospital expenses for a National pastor in Vietnam that was in a serious accident, assisted two very poor families do some much-needed repairs on their humble huts, and help two house churches start the building of new facilities that will house the pastors and their families, as well be a meeting place for the church family. 

• 

• 

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO HELP THEM AND PRAY THAT OUR FRIENDS ON THIS SIDE OF THE PACIFIC WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE TO HELP OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PACIFIC!

Denise and I are so proud of our adopted daughter Pachu. She lived with us for 18 months and then served for another year as our Ladies’ Dorm Supervisor before graduating from our School of Ministry. For the past few months, she has been doing missions work in the northern part of the country.  She is teaching children, teens, and adult woman the Bible, as well as teaching some to read, teaching computer, and giving guitar lessons.

PLEASE PRAY FOR PACHU AS SHE CONTINUES TO SERVE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY!

As many of you know, our field back “home” is still locked down and, to be honest, it doesn’t look like it will be opening soon.  In lieu of this, and Lord willing, and if the details work towards our favor, we will be temporarily relocating in Thailand and working alongside our team in the northern part of the country. 

 
Again, Lord willing, along with working with the church there, Denise and I will be assisting Tom and Sue Sutrick to start a School of Ministry much like the one the Lord allowed us to start in our former location.  More than likely, if government restrictions will not prohibit, I will be teaching the Bible and my wife will also be teaching English. Of course, we are hoping that this will be temporary, but we are completely trusting the Lord to guide our steps, open doors that no man can close, and yes, even close doors that no man can open.  
 
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR US DURING THESE VERY INTERESTING TIMES AND PLEASE PRAY FOR GOD TO OPEN THIS NEW DOOR!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise

• 

• 

The pictures above are from two of the three locations that our annual Youth Conference was held this year. Covid has changed everything, including the way Youth Conference was conducted this year. Instead of one location for 15-20 churches to gather, this year our folks met in three different locations.    

God blessed in so many ways in the new format, and for this we are extremely thankful. Along with lots of good preaching, food, fun, and fellowship, we even had folks saved and baptized during this year’s Youth Conference.

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOUR PRAYERS FOR THIS YOUTH CONFERENCE. GOD HAS SURELY ANSWERED! 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 

PLEASE PRAY THAT THE MANY DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE AT THE VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THIS YEAR’S YOUTH CONFERENCE WOULD STICK AND BRING FORTH MUCH FRUIT IN THE YEARS TO COME!

As most of you know, much of Southeast Asia has seen a spike in COVID infections and deaths over the past month or so. As a result, much of Southeast Asia is “locking down” once again, which, of course, means folks can’t work and in many cases are unable to care for their families.

Denise and I, along with our folks back “home” are grateful for the many Christians and churches that have been praying and giving for our ministry “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion.” Over the past year, amid the COVID CRISIS, when the poor are hit and hurt the most, with your help, we have been able to help many.   

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND FOR YOUR GIVING TOWARDS OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION!

The pictures below are just a handful of the folks that we have been able to help because of your prayers and your giving!

• 

• 

• 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE POOR, THE NEEDY, AND THE HELPLESS AROUND THE WORLD IN THE MIDST OF THE COVID CRISIS!

We covet your prayers as we are still stuck here in the States. As we have mentioned often, I am grateful for the technology of the day that enables both my wife (3 women) and I (six men) to continue discipling folks back “home,” as well as teach our Bible College students two days a week.  

WE ARE SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INVESTMENT, YOUR PRAYERS, AND YOUR GIVING THAT ENABLES US TO DO THIS AND SO MUCH MORE!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO BECOME WHAT GOD DESIRES FOR THEM TO BECOME AND DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO DO!

We are so pleased to announce that our pastor friend that had been incarcerated over the past 13 months is now home with his family, church family, and friends. We want to thank you for praying and, in some cases, giving to help his family over the past year through Operation Samaritan’s Compassion!

As always, Denise and I, along with our many friends back “home,” want to thank you for your prayers, your giving, your love, and your friendship!

Johnny and Denise Esposito 

The 61 year woman (Hoa) pictured above lives in Vietnam. She recently trusted Christ soon after “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion” was able to send her some financial help. We are grateful for her pastor (David) and his wife for loving her enough to help her physically and spiritually and we are thankful for all that have given to help the poor, the needy, and the helpless.

PLEASE PRAY FOR HER SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

The past five weeks have been awesome to say the least. God is good all the time, but there are times that seem to be better than others, and over the past five weeks, especially regarding the ministry, God has been especially good!

Now, don’t get me wrong, there have been many a burden and we have been very busy, but amidst the busyness and the burdens of life, WE HAVE BEEN TRULY BLESSED.  In fact, we have been blessed beyond measure!

Our folks back “home” have absolutely stepped up to the plate in so many different ways, and we are so very grateful to God, for each of them for their labors of love, and of course, for your prayers and financial support! 

Of course, along with the regular ministry duties of discipling six men about twelve hours a week, teaching two sets of Bible College students twice a week, traveling all over the country preaching, teaching, and reporting to our supporting churches, over the past month, GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD WITH OUR “OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION” MINISTRY!

As most of you know, OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION was birthed during the COVID CRISIS that has shaken much of the world. It is a ministry that has enabled us to send thousands of dollars to poor families and struggling churches to help to alleviate some of the economic anguish that has been the result of COVID-19. 

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE CHURCHES AND THE CHRISTIANS THAT HAVE HELPED ECONOMICALLY AND OUR FOLKS BACK “HOME” FOR DOING THE HARD WORK AS SOLDIERS FOR THE KING AND HIS KINGDOM!

Over the past 4 weeks, through OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION, God has allowed and enabled us, along with many others, to help about 30 poor and needy families, help one of our sister churches to start the building of a new hut for an extremely poor family (church members), as well as help a National pastor to start the building of a  modest home (cost about $3,000) for him and his family, help with the funeral expenses of two different funerals, helped to assist the soon delivery of a child, treat  about 10 or 12 factory (sweat shop) workers to a wonderful night out, help another extremely poor family caring for their paralyzed son, buy crutches for the crippled, and continued to support the family of a pastor that has been incarcerated for over 13 months now!   

• 

• 

• 

We are so very grateful that over the past ten months or so, “OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION,” led by many of our National believers, has not only been able to help folks physically, but have had the opportunity to see many saved and baptized as a result of this ministry, your giving, and your prayers! 

It has been amazing to see how many people have been saved and baptized the first three months of this year. In four different churches that we have helped to start and/or establish, we have had 20 saved and another 20 baptized over the past three months. That is not to mention the handful that have been saved and baptized in two other churches that we are working with indirectly. God has been good! 

• 

• 

• 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THIS MINISTRY AND FOR THE SOULS THAT HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY!

As always, my wife and I want to thank you for your love, friendship, faithfulness in praying and giving to support our ministry in the 1040 Window and more specifically in Southeast Asia!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise

PS If you or your church family would like to help us and our National believers to help others by way of OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION, please feel free to contact me.