The picture above is at the airport in Guangzhou, China. Needless to say, they are taking this COVID-19 situation serious. Nearly every one of the airport employees were wearing a hazmat suit.

It’s so hard to believe that it was less than three weeks ago that we sent out our Seven-Year Anniversary Prayer Update.  A lot has happened in the past three weeks and it’s been a long three weeks that’s for sure!

As we mentioned in our previous update, Denise and I were planning on taking our first furlough in about three years beginning the middle of May. Well, that changed after we received notifications from the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in our given country stating that, in lieu of the COVID-19 pandemic, if we planned on leaving the country any time in the near future we needed to leave soon. After pondering and praying about it for a few days, we booked a flight, said goodbye, and headed back “home.” We have been in the States now for a little over a week. Lord willing, we will be returning back to our place of ministry in 4-5 months! 

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR STAY IN THE STATES TO BE AS FRUITFUL AS POSSIBLE UNDER THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES!

As it is in the United States, the country where my wife and I are presently serving is on an almost complete lockdown. Most of this has taken place either just prior to our leaving the country or right after we left. All the schools and the universities are closed. No meetings with over ten people. Nearly every International flight has been cancelled. Very little travel allowed, even within the country. Yet, we are glad to report, whether in Asia or America, God is still on His throne, His word is still going out, and His work is still being done, even if it’s being done in a different form or fashion. Pastor Kong and his wife have taken the “bull by the horns” since our departure and they are doing a tremendous job under trying circumstances. They are giving themselves, at this time, to discipling our dorm students (who are stuck in the city), translating Christian materials into the Hmong language, and even attempting to “live-stream” services despite limited resources (see picture below).

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEAM BACK “HOME,” AND ESPECIALLY KONG, LILEE, AND JUI AS THEY LEAD THE TEAM DURING THESE TRYING TIMES!

A few weeks prior to leaving for the States, Jui, and I flew to Cambodia. I was scheduled to preach for a “Leadership Conference,” as well as for our Team and the church in Phnom Penh. I suppose you can guess what happened. Yes sir! Everything was cancelled in lieu of the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, the trip wasn’t a total waste, Jui and I were able to spend time with some of our Team Members and some of the dear folks that God allowed my wife and I to influence during the two years that we lived and served in Cambodia. I was also able to take Jui to visit the “The Killing Fields.” Always a sobering reminder of the depravity of man without God!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEAM AND THE PEOPLE OF CAMBODIA DURING THIS TIME!

We definitely love and miss all of the folks that God has entrusted into our care. We thank God for their hunger and desire for the word and work of God. The pictures below are of our School of Ministry students taking their Midterm (three weeks ago) and afterwards praying for their country and the world during this time of “crisis.”

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO CONTINUE TO HUNGER AND DESIRE THE THINGS OF GOD!

A FEW ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

(1) PRAY FOR WISDOM FOR OUR GOVERNMENT IN THE U.S. AND THE GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD DURING THIS TIME OF CRISIS!

(2) PRAY FOR MISSIONARIES AND NATIONALS IN ASIA AS THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE MIDST OF THIS CRISIS!

(3) PRAY FOR OUR TEAM IN THE “CREATIVE ACCESS” NATION TO HAVE THE WISDOM AND THE POWER TO SERVE DURING THESE DAYS!

(4) PRAY ESPECIALLY FOR KONG, LILEE, AND JUI AS THEY LEAD OUR TEAM FOR THE MOMENT!

(5) PRAY THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN BACK “HOME” IN 4-5 MONTHS AND BE ABLE TO REPORT SOME WHILE WE ARE HERE IN THE STATES!

As always, Denise and I simply want to say, “Thanks for your prayers, your friendship,  and,  of course, your financial support over these many years, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE THESE.” May God continue to bless you and yours!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

The picture above is my wife and I arriving in Southeast Asia seven years ago today. We left family, friends, and everything familiar to us in Los Angeles on March 14, 2013 (see picture below) and arrived in Cambodia. We would spend two weeks with our Team in Cambodia before flying to our destination in the “Creative Access Nation” in which we have lived and served for nearly four years now (two separate tours). Along with our time here in this country, we also spent a two-year tour with our Team in Cambodia, and another ten months living and serving in China. In addition to this, we have spent much time ministering in Thailand, and sometime in Indonesia and Myanmar. Yes, the Lord has been gracious!

Over the past seven years we have given ourselves to doing the work and assisting others (our three teams, other missionaries, and Nationals in six different countries) as they do the work on this side of the Pacific and bringing awareness to the great need in the 1040 Window on your side of the Pacific Ocean.

We are grateful for all that the Lord has allowed us to do, but more importantly, we are thankful for all those that God has allowed us to influence for Christ and the cause of Christ the past seven years. People have been saved, baptized, discipled, pastors and church leaders have been trained, and churches have been planted, and we are thankful to have been able to have a small part!

FROM A “CREATIVE ACCESS NATION”

We are extremely thankful for all of you that have been faithfully supporting us these past seven years, and in some cases, for over eight years now. We are even more grateful for your prayers and your friendship. We could never thank you enough for all that you have done and all that you mean to us!

FROM THE COUNTRY OF THAILAND

While we never know what the future holds, we absolutely know Who holds the future, and we are confident that God will continue to guide and direct our steps for His glory and for the good of others, as long as we are “surrendered” to His leadership. With your help and by God’s grace, we will continue to assist folks over here and make aware the great needs over on your side of the Pacific.

FROM THE COUNTRY OF CAMBODIA

When Denise and I left Los Angeles in March of 2013, we left behind five children (four were married at the time) and seven grandchildren. Well, the family has grown a bit. Our youngest child, Joy, got married and we now have 26 grandchildren (21 biological). Most of the grandchildren are pictured below. Of course, in the past seven years we have “adopted” quite a few Asian children and grandchildren!

Lord willing, my wife and I are looking forward to seeing them all in May, as we return to the States for a short furlough. We surely covet your prayers concerning the furlough and for the work here in Asia. If any of you would like to have us in to give a report of God’s many blessings please let me know as soon as possible. As of now, it looks like we will be in the States between the middle of May until the middle of September!

FROM A “CREATIVE ACCESS NATION”

As always, Denise and I simply want to say, “Thank you for everything. Your prayers. Your friendship. And, your financial support over the years.” May God continue to bless you and yours!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.” – Hudson Taylor

 

The picture above is one of our grandma’s (75 year’s old) on her way to be baptized. She had absolutely no idea at all who Jesus was, or what Jesus had done, until she reached the age of 72. Soon after Kong started a church in his village, grandma trusted Christ and was finally baptized, along with five others, on this past Sunday. The route to the baptism service and back was a bit tricky to say the least, but they all were willing to take it for Jesus. As we have mentioned often in previous updates, Kong and his wife Lilee (both students in our School of Ministry and fellow Team Members) are doing a wonderful job in their village. God has been so good!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR KONG, LILEE, THEIR TEAM, AND THE CHURCH FAMILY IN THEIR VILLAGE! 

TEAM RETREAT

Every two years Team Southeast Asia gets together in Bangkok for a Team Retreat. Our teams from Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos get together for a week of worship, preaching, teaching, food, fun, and lots of fellowship. It’s always a great time. We are thankful for the vision that my brother, Pastor Joe, and Brother Dave Board had for a Team being sent out of Pacific Baptist Church in Long Beach, CA. to reach the unreached of Southeast Asia. For the past nine years or so, we have had former members of Pacific Baptist Church reaching the lost and discipling the saved in these three countries. I believe more than 600 men, women, and children attend one of the many different services in these three countries every Sunday. I am going to guess 90 percent (probably more) of them were not saved prior to our Team Members arriving in Asia.  My most sincere apologies, Sara and Neatly Vong and their rather large tribe, Adrian Torres and his wife Bounmee, and Jay and Heidi Chang are not in the group picture above, but they are all doing a great job in their respective fields. God has been so good!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR THREE TEAMS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!

SCHOOL OF MINISTRY

We are looking forward to a great Spring Term in our School of Ministry. We presently have 20 full-time students and two part-time students. Fourteen of these are our own and eight of them are from a sister church here in the capitol city. This term, I am teaching three classes, “1 Corinthians,” “Bible Doctrines: The Doctrine of Christ,” and a class I am really excited about “The New Testament Ministry and Minister.” My wife and I also spend one hour a week with our students for a time of discipleship and accountability. I can honestly say, this is my favorite time of the week. God has been so good!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY STUDENTS!

DISCIPLESHIP WITH SOUBIN

I am spending two days a week discipling one of our good men named Soubin. He and his wife, along with their two daughters, have been faithfully attending our services for over nine months now. Unfortunately, he will be leaving the country soon for some schooling and vocational training. We will miss him greatly, and, at the same time, I thank God for the opportunity to influence him over the past nine months. God has been good!

PLEASE PRAY FOR SOUBIN, HIS WIFE, AND THEIR CHILDREN!

PASTOR KAMPAI’S GRADUATION SERVICE

Over the past nine years or so, even before coming to Asia as a full-time missionary, I have preached countless times for my dear friend, Pastor Kampai, as well as taught in his Bible Institute. Over the past two terms, eight of his students have been learning with us  in our School of Ministry three days a week. Recently, I had the privilege to preach, once again, for his Graduation Service. They have had only two Graduation Services over the years, and I have had the privilege to preach both of them. I know the three young men that graduated very well. In fact, all three studied with us this last term. God has been so good!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR KAMPAI’S GRADUATES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CHRIST AND THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IN THIS COUNTRY! 

PREACHING FOR BANGKOK BAPTIST CHURCH

One of the great joys that I have had here in Asia over the past seven years is to be able to preach in many different churches in many different countries. Over the past seven years, I have had the privilege to preach in different churches in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Myanmar, and Indonesia. While every culture and every church  is different, they all have a common love for Christ, God’s word, and a desire to reach their people with the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a blessing to be able to preach on two consecutive Sundays for Pastor Badua and the Bangkok Baptist church in Bangkok, Thailand. Pastor Badua and his family have been in Bangkok for over twenty years now. Great church family. Great Pastor and family. The picture just below is actually from one of the first times I preached for Pastor Badua and his church family. God has been so good!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR BADUA AND THE BANGKOK BAPTIST CHURCH TO CONTINUE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THIS NEEDY CITY OF OVER TEN MILLION PEOPLE!

Denise and I want to thank all of you from the depths of our hearts. We want to thank you for your prayers and financial support the past seven years or more. May the Hand of God be upon you and yours!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

The picture above is the Mekong River, which is less than a two minute walk from our house. Some of the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises I have ever seen in my over sixty years of living are from this very location. This picture is a constant reminder to me of the great darkness that covers this part of the world – including the six countries this river flows through. And yet, the light of the glorious gospel shines in the midst of the darkness. We thank God for allowing us to be a small part of bringing the light here and we thank you for holding the ropes back home as we do!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR US AS WE DO WHAT WE CAN WITH GOD’S HELP, AND YOUR PRAYERS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT, TO LET HIS LIGHT SHINE IN THE MIDST OF THE DARKNESS!

DISCIPLESHIP CULTURE

One of the things I am most grateful for is to watch a “discipleship culture” being birthed here over the past two years since our arrival from China. It is such a blessing to have our core folks discipling others (children, teens, and adults) either one on one or in small groups. My wife has two discipleship groups and I am presently working with one discipleship group with ten men and discipling two other men personally. God has been so good to work in hearts and lives in all of these groups, and for this we are thankful!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DISCIPLERS, THOSE BEING DISCIPLED, AND FOR THE DISCIPLESHIP CULTURE TO CONTINUE HERE!

SELC

Our new English term began three weeks ago, and despite being short a few teachers and classes, the term is doing very well. While we have fewer students than last term we are having a great start to the term and we are grateful to God and a great team for the great start. Once again, my wife is having different classes over our house for food and fun once a month. I am thankful to God, my wife, and Lilee for the great work being accomplished in our school!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR ENGLISH SCHOOL!

VILLAGE MINISTRIES

Our village ministries are doing very well, and we thank the Lord and our various workers for what is happening. Whether it is teaching English, preaching services for adults, teens, and children, discipleship, soul-winning, or various activities, we are seeing a beehive of godly activity and it is producing godly results. In the village that Kong is pastoring, they have had 3 saved and seven baptized over the past few weeks – including two ladies in their 70s and another woman in her mid 30s. In the other village, two have trusted Christ and are waiting to be baptized. We are so very grateful for what God is doing in these two villages!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR TWO VILLAGE CHURCHES! 

SUNDAY AND EVENING SERVICES

As we have mentioned in previous prayer updates, our Sunday evening and Wednesday evening gatherings are a great time of sharing blessings, worship, a time of feasting on God’s word, and a time of team building for our Team and our School of Ministry students. This past Sunday we even had a handful of visitors – including two of our own that are serving in another church about 30 minutes away – and just a great time of food, fun, and fellowship to go along with our weekly worship and teaching!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR SUNDAY AND WEDNESDAY EVENING SERVICES!

VALENTINE’S DAY

Over the past few years, the country where we live and serve has actually picked up on a few American holidays, including Valentine’s Day. Now, it isn’t quite the same as in the States, at least not yet, but it’s picking up a little steam. My wife and a few of our “adopted daughters” used this as an opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ to some of our Buddhist neighbors. They went around the village handing out candy, flowers, and homemade Valentine’s Day cards. We did the same type of thing at Christmas time, and like the Christmas give away, this was a great experience!

PLEASE PRAY THAT THESE SMALL DEMONSTRATIONS OF LOVE WILL EVENTUALLY OPEN DOORS FOR THE GOSPEL AND BEAR FRUIT UNTO EVERLASTING LIFE!

YOUTH CONFERENCE

Our annual Youth Conference, or should I say, Youth Conferences, is right around the corner. We are presently in the planning stages. Over the past five years, we have held the conference in Thailand and we will normally have between 12-15 churches and well over 200 young people in Thailand. Last year, we actually held one in our country also for the Hmong young people. We will be doing the same this year. We are very excited about the Hmong Youth Conference. After meeting with Kong, Lilee, Jui, and Pachu to guide the planning, I have now turned it over to them to do all the planning. They are excited!

PLEASE PRAY FOR BOTH YOUTH CONFERENCES!

HMONG YOUTH ACTIVITY

We are so grateful for Kong, Lilee, and Jui and their love for their people, especially the young people of this country. The pictures below are from a recent Youth Activity they put together for some of our Hmong young people, as well as the young people from another Hmong church about 40 minutes from us. They had a great time of food, fun, and fellowship!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE! 

As always, my wife and I want to say thank you for your investment in our lives and all those that God allows us to influence on this side of the Pacific Ocean. We are grateful for your prayers and financial support, but above these, we are grateful for your friendship.

Your Missionaries to Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

 

Denise and I pray that you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are also praying that you, along with us, will have a blessed 2020 for the glory of God and the good of a needy world. This past year was such a great year, and, of course, this can be attributed to the grace of God and the goodness of people like all of you. Thank you for giving your “selves” and your “stuff” to Christ and for the cause of Christ “around the corner” and “around the world.” We could never thank you enough!

The picture above is of our English School students watching a video about the true meaning of Christmas along with a presentation of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Needless to say, most of them were very attentive. Keep in mind, nearly every one of these young people have grown up in homes that have been followers of the Buddhist religion for hundreds of years, if not more. We are so thankful for the opportunity to be a witness in such a needy place and thankful that you are partnering with us!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL WATER THE SEEDS OF THE GOSPEL THAT WERE SOWN BY WAY OF THIS VIDEO!

SELC End of the Term Party

Our End of the Term Christmas Party for our English school was awesome to say the least. In my opinion, our best “Term Party” ever to go along with probably our best term ever. What better way to end such a great term than with a Christmas Party, along with the video of the true meaning of Christmas. My wife, Lilee, Jui, and others on our Team did a fantastic job planning for the special night. So much fun. So many memories. This was also Justin’s last day with us before returning back to Cambodia. It was a blessing to have him here for four months. We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord Jesus and the young people of this country!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR ENGLISH STUDENTS TO COME TO A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Team Christmas Fellowship

It was a blessing to have a special Christmas Fellowship for our college students and our Team Members, along with their families. We had a great night of food, fun, and fellowship. We even played the infamous “White Elephant Gift Exchange” – a first for most of them. Again, thankful for my wife, Lilee, Jui, Kong, and a few of our college dorm girls for making it happen. It was also nice to have missionary Eddie Ray and his wife visit with us for a few days and they were able to be with us for the party. Of course, with his size, he stuck out like a “sore thumb” at the party, and his humor was much appreciated by our folks. We also were blessed to have him speak for our Team on Sunday evening. We can never thank God enough for our Team, especially the National believers that give 110% to the cause of Christ in this country!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR TEAM AND OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY STUDENTS TO CONTINUE TO SERVE GOD FAITHFULLY IN THIS NEEDY PLACE!

Preaching for Christmas Service

It’s always a pleasure to preach for our dear friend Pastor Kampai, but it was a real pleasure and privilege to preach for his recent Christmas service. Despite the fact we had no electricity, it was a tremendous experience for all. The place was packed. The spirit was sweet. The congregational singing was glorious. The response to the preaching was awesome. Ten adults trusted Christ! One of the many blessings of the day was the many factory workers (i.e. sweat shop workers) that were in attendance.  All ten of those that made professions of faith were from one of the factories. God is not only able, He’s awesome. So very thankful for the opportunity to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to these dear factory workers and see ten of them make a profession of faith!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR KAMPAI AND HIS CHURCH FAMILY!

Sikhai Children’s Christmas Party

Brother Koumaly, who is visiting with us for about six weeks, along with Lilee (yes, Lilee again) and a few of our School of Ministry Students (yep, same ones) hosted a Christmas party for the children in our village. There was plenty of food, fun, and lot’s of love to go around. The children and a few of their parents had a wonderful time and had a chance to hear the Christmas story and the Gospel too. Keep in mind, all of these children, teens, and adults are Buddhists that have no concept who Jesus is or why He came. Very thankful for the Thongdy’s love and faithfulness for over nine years now in this country!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN OUR VILLAGE!

Passing out Christmas Brownies

My wife and a few of our School of Ministry girls, especially one of our adopted daughters (Pachu), were a special blessing to many in our village. They made and passed out dozens of homemade Christmas brownies. They also gave a small Christmas gift (basket) to our village chief. The folks in our village definitely  liked the brownies, but not nearly as much as they  appreciated the  love shown by my wife and the girls. My wife and I love and thank God for our “adopted” Hmong daughters and their heart for Jesus and the people of their country!

PLEASE PRAY THAT THESE VARIOUS DEMONSTRATIONS OF LOVE WILL LEAD TO THE SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST FOR MANY IN OUR VILLAGE!

Christmas Service in Kong’s Village

Kong, Lilee, and a few of our School of Ministry students had a busy Christmas weekend. They had a special Children’s Service on Saturday with homemade Hmong pizza and were busy all-day Sunday hosting a Christmas service for the church family and for some of our folks from our other village ministry, as well as quite a few visitors. There were over 100 in attendance. We are so thankful for Kong, Lilee, Mai, Malia, Xaylee, and Jee and all that they do for the people of this village!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR KONG, LILEE, AND THEIR CHURCH FAMILY!

Denise Getting Hurt

My wife and I were supposed to go to Thailand over the Christmas break to check on the possibility of having laser eye surgery. Unfortunately, the Lord had different plans for us. My wife tripped over a cracked curb while we were running to catch a bus and had to get a boatload of stiches and wear a brace for two weeks. In a sense, she was under medical “house arrest” for two weeks, so we will have to try again in January before the new terms start. I am thankful that the injury wasn’t more serious than it was and that she is getting much better!

PLEASE PRAY FOR DENISE’S COMPLETE RECOVERY!

As always, Denise and I want to thank you from the depths of our hearts for your faithful prayers and financial support not only this past year, but over the past seven years (or more). May the Lord bless you and yours in 2020!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

The picture above is of the good men (and one wife) that I had the honor to teach and preach for while on my week long trip to Myanmar. We spent two long and blessed days together.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE COUNTRY OF MYANMAR AND THE MANY THAT ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN WITH THE HELP OF GOD TO REACH THEIR NATION FOR CHRIST!

Along with our typical day-by-day ministry here, I had the opportunity to spend seven days ministering in Myanmar. I had the privilege to preach and teach for a two-day Pastors/Missionaries/Church Leaders Retreat, preach for a thriving Bible College, preach for a small  Children’s Home, and preach in one of many house churches represented by these good men. While with the pastors, missionaries, and church leaders for the two days (about 20 hours of teaching/preaching), I taught on “Being a Disciple and Reproducing Disciples.” The men absolutely devoured the truths of God’s word. Needless to say, it was an unbelievably awesome trip!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN DURING THIS TRIP!

My host, while in Myanmar, was Pastor Paul Van Hre! He is a Chin believer that, along with his three brothers (Timothy, Daniel, and Abraham), has given his life to Christ and the cause of Christ in the country of Myanmar. Over the past 22 years, they have planted 45 churches, started a thriving Bible College and a Home Missionary Training Center, a Children’s Home, and have been involved with much Bible and Bible curriculum translation work. God is definitely using this man and his brothers, along with many that they have reached and discipled for Christ. Just spending time with them on a few long was wonderful for rekindling vision in my own heart.

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR PAUL, HIS BROTHERS, TIMOTHY, DANIEL, AND ABRAHAM!

On this trip, I was also representing Brother Dwight Tomlinson and Barnabas1040.  As many of you know, a few years back, my dear friend, Pastor Tomlinson, resigned his church in Newport Beach, CA and he and his wife Gayle moved to China and have been used greatly by God in the 1040 Window, especially in Southeast Asia, particularly in raising support for National Pastors, church planting, and other various Gospel related projects. In the same way that they are making a huge impact in our country, they’ve made a huge impact in Myanmar!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR BARNABAS1040 AND THE MANY NATIONAL PASTORS THAT THEY ARE PRESENTLY SUPPORTING!

While I was in Myanmar, my wife and the rest of our Team celebrated the Hmong New Year with our Hmong sisters and brothers. I heard they had a tremendous time. We thank God for our Hmong brothers and sisters. God is using so many of them to make a difference in this country. See if you can find my wife in the pictures below! 🙂

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HMONG BELIEVERS IN THIS COUNTRY TO CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CHRIST AND THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!

Normally, we try to have a “Celebration Service” every three months, but the logistics of doing so is becoming more difficult as time goes by and as two of our village congregations are growing much. It’s been about six months now since our last “Celebration Service,” and I thank God for the good crowd, the good spirit, the good music, and as always, the great response to the preaching of God’s word. All of this despite unusually cold weather. It was nice to have Brother Koumaly Thongdy  with us at the service. He’s visiting with us for about six weeks before heading back to the States. Please continue to pray for him and his family, especially Sommer!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ALL THREE OF OUR CONGREGATIONS AND THE VILLAGES THEY REPRESENT!

It’s hard to believe that our School of Ministry Fall term is just about over. Final Exams in two weeks. It has been a privilege and pleasure to teach these young men and women the word of God the past eighteen months. This term has been really special. I have especially enjoyed teaching our students how to study their Bibles and it looks like this will be very helpful for them for years to come. Between teaching the Bible and our College Accountability/Discipleship Groups, both my wife and I are honored to be able to influence these students 9-15 hours per week!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY STUDENTS AND THEIR UPCOMING FINAL EXAMS!

Denise and I want to say, “Thank you, God bless you for praying, giving, and loving, and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”

Your Missionaries in Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

 

 

It’s so hard to believe we are in the middle of October and less than 90 days before we enter a new year. God has been so good to my wife and me and the ministry we are a part of here in this communist country. It is only by God’s grace and goodness and your generosity that we are able to be where God wants us to be and do what God wants us to do. We both thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

The picture above is my wife and her Saturday Village Teen Girl’s Discipleship Group. My wife has been discipling them now for well over a year and it is beginning to pay huge spiritual dividends. Nearly every one of these young ladies is not only faithfully reading their Bibles daily and memorizing scripture on a weekly basis but are now assisting in different areas of ministry. Grateful for a wife who loves the Lord and the young people here!

PLEASE PRAY FOR MY WIFE AND THESE GIRLS!

Much of mine and my wife’s time and resources, as well as our ministry’s resources are invested in this very village mentioned above. For more than a year and a half now, Jui and I, have been going to this village once or twice a week and my wife has been going weekly. We have had the opportunity to build relationships, preach, teach, disciple, mentor leaders, teach English, and help to see a strong church established and pastored by a National pastor. This past week my wife and our School of Ministry girls put together a Ladies’ Fellowship for the Ladies and Teen Girls in the village. They had a great time and my wife had the privilege to speak for them. Again, we thank God for your prayers and support that have enabled this to happen!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS VILLAGE MINISTRY TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND EXPAND TO OTHER VILLAGES!

In recent days, I gathered up a report of salvations and baptisms from the summer months from the seven different Hmong congregations that I have the chance to be a part of, either directly or indirectly (by training their pastors and church leaders). To God be the glory, we had 30 people saved and 24 baptized. Now, that might not sound too impressive to those of you in the U.S., but here in our context, that’s huge. That’s God!

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL SEVEN OF THESE CHURCHES AND FOR GOD TO CONTINUE TO BLESS THEIR EFFORTS TO REACH THE HMONG PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY!

As I have mentioned in previous Updates, nearly every month I go to another one of our village ministries to teach and preach. Because of security issues, they make me spend the night in a little guesthouse on the other side of the river and pick me up in the morning. I always enjoy spending the weekend with them. Kong, his wife Lilee, and four of our School of Ministry girls are doing a great job in this village. Kong, Lillee, the girls and my wife and I are grateful for your prayers and for your giving!!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS VILLAGE MINISTRY TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND EXPAND TO OTHER VILLAGES!

God has blessed us with a record enrollment in our English school. We have 67 students this term. My wife is doing a great job overseeing the school. Of course, she has some really good workers in Jui, Justin, and Lilee.

Now that our English classes are in session, my wife has different classes rotating  for a time of fellowship at our house. They are having the time of their lives and experiencing Mexican food for the first time. It’s a great time of bonding with the students and, Lord willing, opening doors to share the gospel with them in the future!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR SCHOOL AND OUR STUDENTS!

It was a blessing to be able to fly to Cambodia for a few days and meet up with one of our supporting pastors, Pastor Joel Kobernat, and a few of his good men. We had a great time catching up and even doing a little bit of ministry. Crosspoint Baptist church is a church that is making a difference in their Jerusalem and has a heart to make a difference around the world. So very thankful for their church family covering the cost of my flight and the hotel!

It’s so hard to believe that we are already more than half way through our School of Ministry’s Fall Term. This past week our students took their Midterm exams in all three classes (Genesis, Romans, Bible Doctrines) and they all did extremely well. We are so very grateful for the opportunity, the privilege, and the awesome responsibility that we have to train up these future laborers for the harvest here in this country.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY AND OUR STUDENTS!

The picture below is the famous Mekong River. My wife and I live about 200 yards from the river. Every day, at least a couple times a day, I walk along this river to pray, to exercise, or simply for a time of walking with my wife.

From China to Vietnam, the Mekong River is the lifeblood of Southwest China and Southeast Asia. It flows through six different countries: China’s Yunnan Province (47 million people), Myanmar (54 million people), Thailand (68 million people), Laos (7 million people), Cambodia (15 million people), and Vietnam (95 million people). That’s just under 290 million people that can be found in these five countries and China’s Yunnan Province.

The need in these countries is great; China’s Yunnan Province 3-5% professing “Christian;” Myanmar 7% professing “Christian;” Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos less than 2% professing “Christian;” Vietnam 8% professing “Christian.” Of course, most of these professing “Christians” in Vietnam are Catholic!

PLEASE PRAY GOD WOULD SEND LABORERS TO THIS NEEDY PART OF THE WORLD!

Denise and I, along with our church family here, want to say, “Thank you and God bless you for praying, giving, and loving.”

Your Missionaries in Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

“We must not treat the Great Commission as the Great Suggestion.”

The above picture is a picture of five of the precious children from one of our village ministries. While I was walking and praying, they sought me out. I think it had something to do with the candy in my pocket. My wife and I, along with the rest of our Team, are grateful for the opportunity to work with the children, teenagers, and college age young people in this country.

This country is a very “young” country, with the Median Age being 23 years old. Compare that number with three other countries we have served in: The United States (38.1 years old), Thailand (37.7 years old), and China (37.4 years old). In other words, there’s a lot of potential for the future and for Christ here!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE US WISDOM ON HOW TO BEST SERVE THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNIST COUNTRY!

We had a tremendous summer, but, as you well know, summer has come and gone. God has been so good to us and for this we are grateful! Two weeks ago, our new Fall Term for our School of Ministry opened its doors. We presently have 16 young men and women representing five different tribal groups enrolled in our school and training for the ministry. Praise the Lord, we even opened up a Ladies’ Dorm! We presently have six dorm girls and they are all a real blessing!

What a privilege it is to teach these hungry students. I am presently teaching three days a week (Genesis, Romans, Bible Doctrines), along with spending an hour each week in a Discipleship Group with the men, while my wife meets with the ladies. We are so very grateful for Pastor Joe’s original vision, for Koumaly Thongdy’s desire, for Brother Tomlinson and Barnabas1040’s faithful financial support, and for your prayers and financial support that enable us to operate the School of Ministry and train future laborers!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY AND OUR STUDENTS!

So very thankful to God for the Team He has brought together here! A little over two weeks ago, we had the privilege to conduct our Team Orientation. Normally, we conduct Orientation in the Fall and the Spring, and it’s usually three or four days long. This year, we had to keep it at two days. It was a blessing to have Brother Koumaly Thongdy with us for one of the two days. As always, it was a great time for bonding, learning, and encouraging one another. We are very excited about our Team and what God has in store for us over the next few months and years.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEAM TO BE USED BY GOD TO REACH THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY!

Not only did our School of Ministry open its doors this month, but our English School just opened its doors last week. We rejoice in the Lord that we are able to have a school and influence many young people for good and for God. We presently have seven classes and 62 students. I believe that might be a new record. If not a record, very close to one.

As you know, the Thongdy’s are back in the States indefinitely because of their daughter’s health issues (please continue to pray for them), and because of this, we are offering one less class than we did in the Spring.  And yet, we have the same amount of students that we had in the Spring. We are very grateful to have Justin Keo teaching two classes for us this term. He’s doing a great job!

My wife and I have known the Keo family before Justin was born. In fact, before his parents were married. We all served together at Cambodian Baptist/Pacific Baptist in Long Beach, CA for many years prior to coming to the field. Justin and his family are fellow Team Members with our Team in Cambodia. They have been serving there for about eight years.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS OUR ENGLISH TERM AND THAT OUR STUDENTS WILL COME TO A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

If you keep up with our regular Prayer Updates, you know that for the past year we have been in a time of transition and have been making a lot of changes that would enable us to reach more people, train more people, and SEND MORE PEOPLE. We are thankful to God for another change that we made recently, which is turning out to be a huge blessing for so many and definitely helping us to reach, train, and SEND MORE PEOPLE.

All of our people – including my wife and me – are now serving in one of five different congregations (actually seven congregations if you count our School of Ministry students that are not a part of our church family) on Sundays. Nine of “our own” college students are serving in these different congregations on Sunday mornings. Needless to say, they are a tremendous blessing and making a huge difference for good and for God in these different congregations. They are serving in so many different ways. They preach and teaching for adults, teens, and children. They are discipling men, women, and young people. They are leading singing, organizing and leading choirs, and the list goes on.  We are praising God for what He is doing in and through the School of Ministry students and these congregations. I am positively convinced that this is exactly what  my brother, Pastor Joe, envisioned for this ministry and this country!

Our Team, our college students, and a few other folks gather together on Sunday evenings for a time of worship, a time of testifying of God’s goodness during the weekend, and a challenge from God’s Word. This past Sunday we had a sweet time of  worship and fellowship around the Lord’s Table. We also meet on Wednesday evening for a time of Bible study. We are presently going verse-by-verse through the Book of James!

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OF THESE CONGREGATIONS AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE HANDS-ON TRAINING OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING!

So grateful for faithfulness of our fellow Team Members, Tom and Sue Sutrick. It was great to hear that this Hmong woman below, Mrs. Kong Meng, from Chiang Khong, Thailand trusted Christ yesterday. I have had the chance to share the Gospel with her twice over the past few years, as have Tom and Sue on numerous occasions. She’s always been very open to listen, but hesitant to believe. Thank God, yesterday, she took that step of faith.

PLEASE PRAY FOR MRS. KONG MENG’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND HER HUSBAND’S SALVATION!

As we mentioned in our last Prayer Update, we thank God for the blessing of having our daughter Joy and her son, Aaron, along with two of our other grandchildren, Abby and Josiah, visit with us here in Southeast Asia for three weeks. At the same time, it was sure hard to say goodbye to them as they headed back home.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO KEEP THEIR EYES FOCUSED UPON CHRIST AND THEIR HEARTS FIXED ON THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!

My wife, Denise, and I are so very grateful for all of our family, friends, and the many churches that support us with their prayers, encouraging words, and financial gifts. As we have said often, we couldn’t be here or do what we are doing with God and you.

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

 

The picture above is our grandson, Josiah, “dreaming” of driving one of our Team’s Tuk-tuks, after we took a group of the Bible college and teen girls from Phnom Penh, Cambodia out for some pizza. All of the grandkids seemed to love riding in the Tuk-tuks, but only Josiah dreamed of driving one! 🙂

Chiang Khong, Thailand

Two or three times a year, I travel northwest to Chiang Khong, Thailand to spend a week with our team in the mountains of Northern Thailand. My purpose for these trips is to be an encouragement to Tom and Sue Sutrick and their church family, as well as, Jay and Heidi Chang. On nearly every one of these trips I also take 3 or 4 days to teach Hmong pastors and church leaders from across the Mekong River. These men and their wives are always hungry for the Word of God.

Regrettably, on this trip, our 3-day Conference had to be canceled for security reasons. My wife and I were definitely sad that the conference was canceled, but this gave us a chance to spend much more time preaching, teaching, and soul-winning with Tom and Sue and their church family!

PLEASE PRAY FOR TOM AND SUE AS THEY SERVE THE HMONG PEOPLE OF NORTHERN THAILAND!

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

After spending a week with our Team in Thailand, my wife and I flew into Cambodia and spent eight days with our Team in Cambodia. My wife and I lived and served with our Team in Cambodia for two years, therefore, along with our Team, we have many dear friends. Of course, anyone who is familiar with the work in Cambodia can tell you it is nothing short of miraculous. By God’s grace, Brother Dave Board, the rest of the Team, and the Nationals are doing a fantastic job!

We also met up with my daughter Joy (who served with us in Cambodia for 15 months and flew in to meet up with us), and a few of our grandchildren. 🙂 So, in addition to preaching and/or teaching five times,  going soul-winning, and spending some quality time with some of the folks we had the chance to disciple and work alongside while we were living and serving in the country, Denise and I  also had some grandma and grandpa time with the kids!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEAM AND THE NATIONALS SERVING IN CAMBODIA!

Combined Missions’ Conference in a Creative Access Nation

As you know, we serve in a communist country. Nearly everything we do is under the radar. Needless to say, it presents quite a few challenges. We just did something that, to my knowledge, has never been done in our country. We held a Missions’ Conference! It was actually a Combined Missions’ Conference with at least nine different churches participating. It was hosted by our dear friend and fellow-laborer, Aaron Inventor and his church family!

In addition to speakers from our country, we had speakers from four different countries. It was a real blessing to have our dear friend of many years, Dwight Tomlinson with us for the week. Brother Tomlinson is the Founder and Director of Barnabas 1040, a ministry that raises support for National Pastors in the 1040 Window. Barnabas 1040 now supports over fifty National Pastors in 14 different countries, including seven from our country!

All I can say is it was a great week!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN IN THIS MISSIONS’ CONFERENCE AND THAT THE NATIONAL BELIEVERS WILL GET A HEART FOR THE WORLD!

End of the Summer Term School Party

Our Summer Term for our English School was fantastic! We had such a good time, and it ended with a bang with our End of the Summer Term Party. Nearly every student was in attendance, there was plenty of food, fun (including a dunk tank), and fellowship, or bonding with the students.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR ENGLISH SCHOOL TO BE A PLACE WHERE THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINES BRIGHTLY, FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR STUDENTS, AND FOR THE UPCOMING FALL TERM!

As always, my wife and I would like to thank you for your prayers and financial support. All that God leads and allows us to do is the result of His grace and your goodness!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

 

My wife and I want to thank all of our family, friends, sending church, and the many churches that are partnering with us in our work here in Southeast Asia. As always, God has been good. The past month has been busy, blessed, and bountiful for sure.

The picture above is Kong and seven young people that he had the privilege of baptizing a few weeks ago. Kong is one of our Student of Ministry students, who is also pastoring a church that he planted a couple years ago in his home village.

Along with being a full-time student in our School of Ministry, Kong and his wife are doing a great job in their church plant. Over the past three months, they have seen eleven people trust Christ and fourteen people baptized. These kinds of numbers are totally unheard of in this country. He and his wife Lilee, along with our “adopted” daughter Mai, are doing a great job discipling their young people.

As I mentioned in a previous update, Kong has also recently started a new ministry in another village about thirty minutes away from his present church plant. As of now, they have a Saturday evening service once a month and three times a month Kong picks them up early in the morning for worship at the church plant in his village!

PLEASE PRAY FOR KONG, LILEE, AND MAI AS THEY MINISTER TO THE HMONG PEOPLE IN THESE TWO VILLAGES!

The past month has been a wonderful time for our ministry, as well as a bit trying to say the least. In the past thirty days, the Thongdy’s have had to return to the States for a season. Their daughter Sommer has had some health issues for nearly a year, and they were unable to get an answer on this side of the Pacific. We thank God for Koumaly and his family and their faithfulness in this country the past seven or eight years!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE THONGDY’S, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMMER!

One of our sweet young ladies, Pachoua, lost her mother recently to a motorbike accident. We are grateful for our church family here in the Capital city and our two church plants, especially many of our Hmong men who traveled about ten hours and sacrificed financially to support and assist the family during the funeral. Pachoua has now moved in with my wife and me, Pachu and Mai. So, she officially replaces Bounmee who recently got married as one of our “adopted daughters” living here with us.

PLEASE PRAY FOR PACHOUA (far left), HER FATHER, AND YOUNGER SIBLINGS!

For missionaries, visa issues are often a “thorn in the flesh,” but especially in a “Creative Access” nation, which is communist. 🙂 My wife and I are having some visa issues and have for the past few months, but Lord willing, it will be resolved over the next week or so!

PLEASE PRAY WITH US ABOUT OUR VISA ISSUE!

As we mentioned in our last update, it has been a blessing to have Josh and Jason Board with us for a short time this summer. Jason just returned to Cambodia a few days ago. Josh will be with us until the end of our English Summer Term. Mary Hem, one of my former students from Pacific Baptist School and Pacific Baptist Bible College, a young lady my wife and I love dearly, is with us for three weeks. It’s a joy to have her volunteering to teach for us.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE THREE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE GREATLY USED OF GOD IN THE FUTURE!

In the past month, we started our Summer Term for both our English School and our School of Ministry. We thank God for a good start in both of them. It’s a pleasure and a privilege to be able to teach the young people here the English language, thus bettering their life in the future, and using the school to build relationships with the young people, often having them over our house for food and fun. It is also a tremendous privilege and pleasure to be able to teach hungry hearts the word of God. This term we are offering Ephesians, the Book of Acts 2, New Testament Survey 3, and both Men’s and Women’s Discipleship!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR ENGLISH SCHOOL AND SCHOOL OF MINISTRY

Speaking of our School of Ministry, it is good to have Souphan and Sen back with us. Souphan was saved and baptized in our ministry about four years ago. Sen is like a daughter to us, she lived with my wife and me for 17 months in the past. The two of them were married about three years ago, have been serving in Thailand, recently had a baby, and have returned home. Souphan was attending Bible classes in Thailand and is now attending Bible classes here.

PRAY FOR SOUPHAN, SEN, AND THEIR NEWBORN BABY!  

Pastor Lee Seng, along with pastoring a congregation of about 40 people in a village about thirty minutes from the Capital city, in which we have partnered together, is still working very closely with six other churches that he has started in the past. I was blessed to be able to teach the pastors and church leaders from all six of these churches all day about a month or so ago. He and his church family, with assistance from Barnaba1040, are presently in the process of building a small building that will be used for church services and Bible training of pastors and church leaders. Over the past three months, Pastor Lee Seng and his ministry have had one family trust Christ and get baptized!

Over the past 14 months, on Saturday mornings, my wife and I, along with two of our School of Ministry students have been going to the village where Pastor Lee Seng’s church plant is located. We teach the children and teens both English and the Bible.

Jui, one of our School of Ministry men, and I have been going to the village on Thursday evenings to have a “Children’s and Teen Bible Study Night.” We will have anywhere from 25-30 (as many as 40) children, teens, and adults in the service. Along with our desire to teach the word of God to these young people, our primary purpose for doing this is to help to train the Hmong men how to work with their young people. This is a great need here!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR LEE SENG, THE FOLKS IN THIS VILLAGE, AND THE HMONG CHURCH LEADERSHIP!

As we have mentioned in previous updates, once a month we have a special service with a pastor friend of ours from Thailand. Pastor Pradit teaches in a small Bible college that actually has had a few of our young people attending. It’s always a special service when he comes. This last weeks service was no exception. One of the many blessings was the six former prisoners (four men, two women) that were in attendance that trusted Christ, while in prison, through Pastor Pradit’s Prison Ministry. They are all out of prison now and faithfully serving Christ!

PLEASE PRAY FOR GOD TO USE THESE FOLKS FOR HIS GLORY! 

T.J. and Kham Slayman, our fellow team members, also left for a furlough recently. We thank God for their impact and influence over the many years here in this country. They just have a special gift for working with people, especially the Hmong people. We had a special “going away” service their last Sunday here. It was a wonderful time of food, fun, and fellowship. Lots of tears being shed too!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SLAYMAN’S AND LAMPHAN WHILE THEY ARE IN THE STATES!

My wife and I are so grateful and would like to thank you for your consistent and continual prayers and financial support. The Lord knows that anything that is being accomplished here is the result of God’s grace and your goodness!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito