After spending three weeks in the States, it was great to be back “home.” Of course, it is good to be back with my wife, our team, and our people. At the same time, it is heartbreaking to, once again, see the bondage of those with whom we are here to love, serve, and with God’s help reach with the Good News of Jesus Christ!

PLEASE PRAY FOR US HERE IN THIS “CREATIVE ACCESS” NATION AS WE BRING THE GOOD NEWS TO THOSE WITH SO LITTLE HOPE OR HELP!

Praise the Lord! We recently started our new English term and presently have 57 students. I think that might be a record enrollment, if not, close to it that’s for sure. It’s a blessing to be able to teach the young people, build relationships, and use the school as an instrument for opportunities to share the Gospel with some of them. I am grateful for my wife and the Thongdy’s (Koumaly and Darath) willingness to teach our six classes.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE US AND OUR ENGLISH SCHOOL TO REACH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR CHRIST!

As I mentioned above, I had the privilege to make a very brief trip to the States. During this time, I had the honor of preaching the Missions’ Revival of Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach and Pacific Baptist Church of Monterey Park. As most of you know, my brother Pastor Joe, started both of these churches. We had wonderful services and a great time of fellowship at both churches.

Pastor Steve Meyers and his staff are doing a wonderful job with Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach, the college, and the school. Pastor Kyle Beck, one of my former college students, is doing a great job at Pacific Baptist Church of Monterey Park!

I also had the privilege to teach a one-week Missions’ Intensive at Pacific Baptist Bible College. The Intensive was called, “Unreached People Groups Around the World and Around the Corner.” It’s always a blessing to teach young people and try to convey the great need to reach out to the Unreached People Groups in our world. I also had the privilege to preach in college chapel three times. It’s always a blessing to be with the college. I was the Vice-President of the college for its first seven years of existence and definitely love this place. My nephew, Joseph Esposito (pictured below), is doing a great job with the college.

It was also a great blessing to have Go Oishi with us during the Missions’ Revival at Pacific Baptist of Long Beach and one day in the college. He is pictured above with his wife playing instruments for our church service. Go is a graduate of our college and is on his way to serve as a missionary in Japan. Years ago, he surrendered to serve as a missionary while I was preaching at his home church in Michigan!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL WATER THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN AT THESE TWO CHURCHES AND THE COLLEGE DURING MY TIME IN THE STATES!

The day before leaving the States, my dear friend Pastor Ryan Thompson of Liberty Baptist Church in Newport Beach and I got together for a time of food, and fellowship and afterwards, we went to visit my brother, Pastor Joe. It was the five-year anniversary of his being hospitalized. Just as Pastor Thompson was getting ready to head back to work, my brother grabbed his hand, almost as to say, “Don’t leave me!” It was an emotional moment for all of us, to say the least. We thank God for all of the progress that has been made and, of course, pray for more.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR JOE AND HIS WIFE MARY AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY THAT GOD HAS SET BEFORE THEM!

This past Sunday, a day after I returned from the States, two of our three congregations gathered together for our “Celebration Service.” Normally, we meet together once a month to worship, partake of the Lord’s Supper, preaching and teaching of the Word, fellowship, and a wonderful meal. Due to circumstances beyond our control we had to cancel the August Celebration Service. So, it was a real joy to gather together this past week. It was a wonderful Sunday!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ALL THREE OF OUR CONGREGATIONS AS THEY SEEK TO REACH THEIR PART OF THE HARVEST FIELDS IN THIS COUNTRY!

It was great to be able to sit in on our English classes, once again, and to give a few of the students in my wife’s two classes some souvenirs from back home-actually, from East Los Angeles. Needless to say, they were happy campers!

It’s been a blessing, over the past two months, to see six different people trust Christ from one of our village ministries. Their names are Yin, Yiang, Chure, Hod, Zuen, and Manivang. This is the ministry that Kong and Lilee started and oversee, and they are doing a wonderful job in loving and reaching people.

PLEASE PRAY FOR KONG AND LILEE AND THESE NEW CONVERTS!

ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please continue to pray that we have the love, power, and wisdom of God as we continue to serve in this part of the world!
2. Please continue to pray for our Fall Term at the English school!
3. Please pray for our School of Ministry Fall Term that begins next week.
4. Please continue to pray for the salvation of Quamsay, Bpum, Grandma Peng, Pone, his wife, and a host of others we are working with.
5. Please continue to pray for both of our village ministries to continue to reach new people and grow the people that they have!

My wife and I want to thank you for your continual prayers and your consistent financial support. Whether it’s preaching the gospel to the lost, teaching and discipling the saved, assisting missionaries and National pastors, having our lost neighbors over for supper, teaching village children the Bible and English, visiting the widows in their affliction, visiting the sick in the hospital, or just visiting the hurting in a village, WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!

Johnny and Denise

“The task of reaching every people group is no small thing, but the problem isn’t in the amount of people groups who are unreached; it is in the amount of people going to them.” – David Markham

The picture above is a grim reminder of the many trials and tragedies the people in this part of the world experience, and with very little help to recover after the fact. Many are familiar with the terrible flooding that has taken place this summer in the country of India, but few know of the flooding that has devastated many parts of the country where we presently reside and serve!

One of the multiplied thousands who was affected by the flooding is our dear friend, Pastor Lee Seng. Brother Dwight Tomlinson and the Barnabas1040 ministry, which he oversees, presently support Pastor Lee Seng and his ministry. In the past ten years or so, he has started six churches in this difficult country, and is presently co-laboring with us, pastoring a brand new village church, and he teaches in our School of Ministry. His home village was flooded and he lost everything on his farm. We are thankful for Brother Tomlinson and barnabas1040.com and their willingness to help this dear brother and his family to recover everything that they lost!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR LEE SENG AND FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE FLOODING HERE!

A couple weeks ago, about fifteen of our ladies and teen girls crossed the border and attended a Ladies’ Conference hosted by our dear friend Pastor Pradit and his church family. They were blessed beyond measure and helped immensely. We thank God for opportunities such as this, as rare as they are, for our folks to be stretched in their faith and grow in their love for Christ and others!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR LADIES TO BE THE PROVERBS 31 WOMEN GOD IS CALLING THEM TO BE!

For ten months my wife and I labored in China, prior to relocating to the “Creative Access” nation where we are presently assisting our team. We love China. Last week I had a chance to return to China to preach and teach. I was with the Living Water’s Baptist church that was started by a missionary friend and former co-laborer of mine (Dick Baucum) nearly twenty years ago. The church is presently pastored by a good man, a Chinese national, Pastor Bob (last name withheld for security reasons). I met Bob a little over two years ago, while preaching in a “Leadership Conference” in China and we had been trying to work it out for me to come since then. Praise the Lord, we were finally able to make it happen!

I had the blessed opportunity to preach six times and teach Sunday school during a three-day period (Friday–Sunday). My theme for all of the messages–including the Sunday School hour–was “Growing in Christ!” God moved miraculously. It was amazing to see God move in our midst, to see the tears, and a spirit of revival among the people.

For five of those sessions, we had two other churches join us. Both of these churches are church plants of Living Waters Baptist Church. We are grateful for these men and women who are laboring for Christ in a difficult field that is becoming more difficult by the day.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE COUNTRY OF CHINA, FOR THESE THREE CHURCHES, AND FOR GOD TO BRING FORTH FRUIT FROM THE SEEDS SOWN WHILE I WAS WITH THEM!

Jui is one of our fine young men. He was saved four years ago, just a few weeks before we left this country for Cambodia. A little over four months ago, Jui gave up a good paying job and career ambitions to serve God full-time. He is presently assisting me in many capacities–including serving as my full-time Interpreter. One of his responsibilities is to work with our young people, and he, along with a few others, is doing a tremendous job. This last week, while I was in China, Jui had one of our Monthly Teen Activities, and from what I understand it went very well. We are grateful for our young people!

We officially ended our summer with a two-day Team Training. We had a wonderful time of teaching, fellowship, and, of course, some really good food. Brother Koumaly Thongdy, my wife, and I all taught two sessions each. My wife officially takes over as the English School Administrator this week, so she taught a practical session on the school itself, and a great session on “Loving Young People.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEAM TO WALK IN HUMILITY AND TO WISELY SERVE CHRIST AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY!

Over seven years ago, Koumaly and Darath Thongdy came to this country after being asked by my brother Pastor Joe Esposito to do so. They have faithfully served here and loved the people of this country for these seven years now. Recently, they returned after a short and well-deserved furlough to the States. Anyone who knows the Thongdy’s know that they are some of the most kind and generous people in the world. For the first few days, after returning, they stayed busy going from place to place and delivering gifts from the U.S. and Canada. We are grateful they are back!

PRAY FOR GOD’S BLESSING ON KOUMALY, DARATH, SOMMER, AND HUDSON!

As I have mentioned in previous Updates, one of our village ministries, which is led by a young man named Kong and his wife Lillee, is doing very well. God has been moving! In fact, over the past 5-6 weeks at least six adults have turned to, and trusted Christ as their Savior. This past week was a special blessing, Kong’s Language teacher (he is from a different ethnic group) from when he was 13-year’s old, trusted Christ as her Savior!

PLEASE PRAY FOR MANIVANG TO GROW IN HER NEW FOUND FAITH!

As the summer draws to a close, I would like to say, it’s been a tremendous blessing to have different folks visit with us this summer, including four from our home and sending church, and another young lady from Illinois, named Ericka. Pacific Baptist Bible College students, Sammy Tith and Isaac Pechardo, spent nearly two months with us, along with nine days with our team in Cambodia. They sacrificed much – including their jobs back home – to be with us and they were a tremendous blessing to our folks here.

PLEASE PRAY FOR SAM AND ISAAC AND OTHER YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN LIKE THEM WHO ARE CONTEMPLATING A FUTURE ON THE FIELD FOR GOD! 

ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please pray for our Fall Term at the English school!
2. Please continue to pray that we have the love, power, and wisdom of God as we continue to serve in this part of the world!
3. Please continue to pray for the salvation of Quamsay, Bpum, Grandma Peng, Pone, his wife, and a host of others we are working with.
4. Please continue to pray for our full-time Bible college students (Kong, Jui, Lamphan, Bounmee, Lilee, and Pachu) to continue to grow in their faith, their love for Christ and others, and their dedication for the cause of Christ!
5. Please continue to pray for both of our village ministries to continue to reach new people and grow the people that they have!
6. Please continue to pray about a possible move our English school might make in the near future!

My wife and I want to thank you for your love, friendship, prayers, and financial support. Whether it’s preaching the gospel to the lost, teaching and discipling the saved, assisting missionaries and National pastors, having our lost neighbors over for supper, teaching village children the Bible and English, visiting the widows in their affliction, visiting the sick in the hospital, or just visiting the hurting in a village, WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!

Thank you,

Johnny and Denise

“While we understand that not all will ‘GO’ to the uttermost parts of the world, all who claim the name of Christ and have experienced the wonderful grace of God in their lives, must be a part of this great undertaking of which we call missions.”

-Johnny Esposito, Peeking Through the 10/40 Window

 

My wife celebrated her 29th birthday once again this year! 🙂 Our church family surprised her with a small party just before a recent Midweek Bible Study/Prayer Meeting. I am so grateful that a loving heavenly Father gave me a loving wife, wonderful mother and grandmother, and the perfect helpmeet for a missionary. Denise does so much, not only for me, but for our ministry here in this country, and all over Asia. I definitely would be lost without her!

The last few weeks have been so very busy! In addition to our various ministries, we have had the privilege to host a few of our Team Members from Cambodia. Former students of mine from Pacific Baptist School/Pacific Baptist Bible College, Michelle Hardesty and Adrian Torres, both spent about a week with us.

We also had Kosal and Phalley with us for four days. While my wife and I lived and served in Cambodia for two years, Kosal was one of the many men that I had the privilege to disciple. We had a wonderful time with Kosal, his wife, and their precious daughter Abigail!

It has also been a real blessing to have two of our young men (Isaac Pechardo and Sammy Tith) from Pacific Baptist Church and Pacific Baptist Bible College with us for the past month, they will be with us for another three weeks. I have known these young men since they were small children, and they too were former students of mine at Pacific Baptist School. Isaac and Sam have been a real help here in the school and in various aspects of our ministry.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR TEAM IN CAMBODIA AND THE DIFFERENT YOUNG MEN FROM LONG BEACH WHO HAVE VISITED US HERE RECENTLY!

It is amazing what God is doing through Kong and Lillie in Kong’s village. As we have mentioned previously, Kong started the work a little bit over two years ago and God is blessing them tremendously. Recently Pachuo, one of the Hmong young ladies who is living with us,  started helping them with the children on Sundays.

Two weeks ago, a young man named Dean trusted Christ. A week ago, not only did they have a great day, but they had a miraculous day. Grandma Jua, who had been without physical sight for three months and spiritual sight for over fifty years, attended their service and received both her physical and spiritual sight. She trusted Christ and is spending a week with Kong and Lillie here in the capital city!

PLEASE PRAY FOR KONG, LILEE, AND PACHUO AS THEY LABOR FOR THE LORD IN THE VILLAGE!

Our two most recent “Celebration Services” have been very special. Worshipping Christ in song, partaking of the Lord’s Supper, testifying of God’s goodness, and receptive hearts during our time of teaching have made the days very memorable. There is nothing quite like hearing the Nationals testify of God’s goodness and grace in their lives.  Along with many others, one of our good ladies, named Champa, who just so happens to be disabled, testified of God’s goodness since trusting Christ and her gratitude for the love of God’s people. It was such a touching testimony, folks were talking about it for days. In our most recent “Celebration Service” we had 96 people in attendance. God is good!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR THREE CONGREGATIONS AND THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO USE THEM TO REACH THEIR VILLAGES FOR CHRIST!

We are grateful for the opportunity and the privilege to work with our School of Ministry (Bible College) students. Their hunger for the word of God, their desire to serve God, and their overwhelming burden to reach their people is humbling and convicting. We recently had our Mid-term Week and I am happy to say, “Everyone did so well!”

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY STUDENTS!

Our Sunday services, Midweek Services, and Small Groups have been going very well. On Sundays, I have been teaching, for ten weeks now, on “Growing in Christ.” On Wednesday’s, for about the same amount of time, I have been teaching a series, “Lord, Teach Us to Pray.” I am especially excited about the Teen Small Groups led by Jui and Bounmee.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SERVICES AND OUR SMALL GROUPS!

Every Sunday, immediately after our Small Groups, we have a huge meal. It’s a wonderful time of fellowship, and let me assure you, the food is great. And every week, the same group of girls wash the dishes for us. Two weeks ago, I treated them to some ice cream at Swenson’s. It was a first for four of the girls and we all had a good time!

PLEASE PRAY THAT THESE YOUNG LADIES WILL GROW TO BE THE WOMEN GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO BE!

Another of the many blessings since our last Update a few weeks ago, was the privilege to once again preach and teach for another church not far from here. I have mentioned this pastor and church many times, in the years gone by. I have been preaching for them and teaching in their Bible college for seven years now. He was the first National IB pastor in the country. A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to preach for him and his folks once again. My wife and I taught split sessions for the men and the women. Of course, as always, they were extremely receptive. The vast majority of these folks are factory workers (think “sweat shops”) and don’t have much of a “life,” so they always look forward to us coming. As always, it was a great time, and, as always, they were a tremendous blessing to fellowship with!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR KHAMPAI, HIS CHURCH FAMILY, AND THEIR BIBLE INSTITUTE!

ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please pray that we have the love, power, and wisdom of God as we continue to serve in this part of the world!
2. Please pray for the salvation of Quamsay, Bpum, Grandma Peng, Pone, his wife and a host of others we are working with.
3. Please pray for our full-time Bible college students (Kong, Jui, Cher Chou, Lamphan, Bounmee, Lilee, and Pachu) to continue to grow in their faith, their love for Christ and others, and their dedication for the cause of Christ!
4. Please pray for both of our village ministries to continue to reach new people and grow the people that they have!
5. Please pray for our upcoming Ladies’ Fellowship in Thailand (August 13-14)!
6. Please pray for my upcoming meetings in Hainan, China at the end of August!
7. Please pray for our English School’s Fall Registration, which begins at the end of August!
8. Please pray about a possible move our English school might make in the near future!

As always, my wife and I want to thank you and your church family for your continual prayers and financial support for our ministry here in Asia. God has blessed in so many ways, and He has used you to be a great part of the blessing!

 

“Reaching remote unreached people groups is the most urgent and important mission. It is his great commission, and that mission is worth giving our lives for.” – David Markham

 

Those who know my brother, Pastor Joe, know him to be a visionary – a man of many dreams for good and for God. Prior to being hospitalized, one of the many dreams within the heart of Pastor Joe was to see our teams in Laos and Thailand work together in the area known as the Golden Triangle (where Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar intersect). The purpose was to train nationals from Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and potentially Myanmar to reach their prospective countries, and eventually reach into Southwest China (Yunnan Province).

Over the past year-and-a half I have had the privilege to work together with our team in Thailand in training Thai and nationals from a “creative access country” on three separate occasions, and it looks like I will be with them again in January.  This week was a special blessing because five of our team members from “the country we currently serve in” joined us for the special meetings of training pastors and church workers. And, it was a tremendous blessing.

Pastor Joe would have been so excited to see what God was doing this week. AND NO DOUBT, PASTOR JOE WOULD HAVE GIVEN US ALL A BIG THUMBS UP!

It really was a wonderful week! We had meetings with their teens on Friday evening, soul winning on Saturday, Sunday services, and three days of teaching sessions and preaching services Monday – Wednesday. Fellow team members from “the country we currently serve in” (Kong, Lillee, and Bounmee) pictured below were a special blessing to the folks we were training.

It was also a blessing to have two of our young men, including my nephew Ben (Pastor Joe’s son), from Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach spend a week with us in “the country we currently serve in” and another week with us in Thailand.  They fit in real well, especially in Thailand. They were great with the kids, and Ben even won and adult man to Christ!

One of the many blessings of the week was this couple below. He’s a pastor and the two of them rode a motor bike 16 hours one way to spend the week with us. Much of their time traveling was in the rain too. Now that’s what I call hungry for the word!

It’s always a blessing to be able to spend time teaching and fellowshipping with pastors and missionaries. It’s a special privilege and joy to be able to spend time with the men pictured below. They pastor in very difficult places, and have to deal with extremely difficult situations, but they do it with the joy of Christ. One of these men actually pastors seven churches. Imagine that!

PLEASE PRAY THAT THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN DURING THIS WEEK OF MINISTRY WILL BRING FORTH FRUIT!

ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please pray that we have the love, power, and wisdom of God as we continue to serve in this part of the world!
2. Please pray for our full-time Bible college students (Kong, Jui, Cher Chou, Ken, Lamphan, Bounmee, Lilee, and Pachu) to continue to grow in their faith, their love for Christ and others, and their dedication for the cause of Christ!
3. Please pray for our two village ministries to continue to reach new people and grow the people that they have!
4. Please pray for our upcoming Ladies’ Fellowship in Thailand (August 13-14)!
5. Please pray for my upcoming meetings in Hainan, China at the end of August!
6. Please pray for our English School’s Fall registration, which begins in the middle of August!
7. Please pray about a possible move our English school might make in the near future!

As always, my wife and I want to thank you for your continual prayers and financial support for the ministry here in Asia. God has blessed in so many ways, and He has used you to be a great part of the blessing!

Johnny and Denise

“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”

The picture above, of course, is my wife Denise. Over the past five years she has become quite good at shopping in many different situations and circumstances. God blessed me with a wonderful woman who has been a great helpmeet all of these years, but especially here on the mission field.

One of our first tasks, after arriving in the country, was to plan and conduct a two-day Team Orientation. To say the Orientation went well would definitely be an understatement. It was a wonderful time of bonding and casting vision. I taught three sessions, another one of our team members spoke twice, and two others spoke once each.

WE COVET YOUR PRAYERS THAT GOD WILL EMPOWER AND ENABLE US AS A TEAM TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASK BEFORE US!

On Friday mornings I am presently meeting with six of our young people, along with a young lady named Ericka who is interning with us from the States. Our goal during this time together is basically two-fold: (1) to personally help these young people to grow in their faith and relationship with the Lord, and (2) to see these six young people start discipling one or two others before the summer is over.

PLEASE PRAY FOR KONG, JUI, LAMPHAN, LILEE, BOUNMEE, AND PACHU AND OUR TIME TOGETHER ON FRIDAYS!

Three weeks ago we started classes in our School of Ministry. We presently have eight students and our classes are held Monday – Thursday from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. On Monday, one of the National pastors is teaching a class on “Galatians and Ephesians.” On Tuesday, I am teaching “Bible Study/Bible Teaching Methods.” Wednesday, I am teaching the “Gospel of Matthew,” and on Thursday, I am teaching a course called “Being a Disciple and Making Disciples” and another course, for men only, “Principles of Biblical Leadership.” My wife is teaching on Thursdays also, a “Christian Womanhood” class. We are excited about the opportunity to invest in the lives of these young people!

WE COVET YOUR PRAYERS FOR THE SCHOOL OF MINISTRY AND FOR OUR STUDENTS!

Koumaly and Darath Thongdy, who are presently on a short furlough during the summer months, started our English school here seven years ago and have faithfully guided it over the years. The school provides us a reason to be here.  Yet, more than that, it gives us an opportunity to meet and build relationships with folks we never would have had a chance to meet. And yes, some of them actually get saved. Our school also offers us an opportunity to help the locals to better themselves for the future. We are excited about the Summer Term that just started and look forward to the upcoming Fall Term.

WE COVET YOUR PRAYERS FOR THE SCHOOL AND OUR STUDENTS!  

We presently are blessed to have ministries in two different villages. In both of the villages we have seen churches planted. Both of these works are pastored by national men. And, for this we thank God! God is doing some amazing things in both of these villages, but especially the village that Kong and his wife Lilee are overseeing.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS THESE VILLAGE MINISTRIES AND THE TWO MEN WHO OVERSEE THE WORKS!

Our most recent Celebration Service (combined service) was great! It was a true blessing to have all three churches gather together for a time of worship, teaching, preaching, and some wonderful food. We are grateful for all that God is doing and thankful for the opportunity to occasionally gather together!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR THREE CHURCHES AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO FAITHFULLY SERVE IN THEM!

For over seven years now (even before coming to this part of the world as a missionary), I have been preaching for a dear friend and local pastor, and teaching in his Bible Institute. Over the past few years, I have added something special. His ministry is filled with factory workers, male and female, and as often as possible, I try to spend an evening with them. We gather together for a time of food, fun, and fellowship, as well as teaching the Word of God. It was a blessing to meet with them two weeks ago!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE FOLKS TO BE USED BY GOD TO REACH THEIR PEOPLE! 

We have so many young people here. In fact, our ministry is overrunning with young people. So many of them are growing in Christ and have a desire to serve the Lord with their lives. Recently, we started having occasional “Friday Teen Nights” to encourage and edify the young people. This ministry is totally run by our National young people and led by a young man who is my assistant. His name is Jui and he is doing a great job!

It’s always a blessing when our ladies have the opportunity to gather together. Recently, our ladies had a Ladies’ Fellowship. While I wasn’t there :), I was told they had a great time of food, fun, and fellowship. My wife had a chance to speak for the ladies on being “Rooted and Grounded in Christ.”  While the ladies were together, I took a few of the men and teen boys out for some pizza. And, yes, we had a great time too!

As always, my wife and I would like to thank you for your faithful financial support and your consistent prayer support. We are here, doing what God has led us to do, by His grace and your generosity!

Johnny and Denise

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is.                                     Missions exists because worship doesn’t.”

 

For those of you who follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or FaceBook, you will be very familiar with the sight above. This is an everyday occurrence for me as I go on my prayer walk. These are just a handful of the Monks from one of over 300 Buddhist temples in our city. The sad reality is that the vast majority of the people in this part of the world are in bondage to the religion of Buddhism. Oh, how desperately we need more laborers here.

PLEASE PRAY FOR MORE LABORERS FOR HARVEST FIELDS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA!

Immediately after last month’s wonderful Youth Conference in Udon Thani, Thailand, my wife and I flew into Cambodia and spent a week with our team and “family” and friends there. It is absolutely amazing what God is doing in Cambodia!

Of course, as many of you will remember, my wife and I served with our team in Cambodia for two years. It always good to go back and be with folks we love dearly and see all that God is doing. And, He’s doing a lot!

I also had the opportunity to preach and teach a few times, as well as do a quite a bit of soul-winning and visitation while in Cambodia. Denise and I also spent a lot of quality and fun time with our family and friends.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR TEAM IN CAMBODIA AND THE MILLIONS OF LOST SOULS IN THAT COUNTRY!

After our trip to Cambodia, my wife and I took a few days off for our anniversary and went to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Our anniversary is actually in December and we had this trip planned then, but we had to cancel it. So, this was actually a belated anniversary “get away” for the two of us. So grateful for a wonderful (and patient) wife! 🙂

We had a wonderful time. We also had a chance to meet up with some missionary friends, and I had the opportunity to preach for missionary Jay Ballou and his church family.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THAILAND. THE NEED IS SO GREAT; LABORERS ARE SO FEW!

We are now getting settled into our new home in the “Creative Access” nation where we previously served with our team for 17 months. It has been a blessing to already begin preaching, teaching, discipling, serving in one of our village ministries, meeting with potential School of Ministry (Bible College) students, and preparing for the beginning of our School of Ministry, along with just trying to get “moved in.”

Our recent Mother’s Day service was such a blessing. We had a packed house, a wonderful spirit, and the folks were attentive as I taught during the Sunday school hour for the teens and preached in the main service. Honoring the mothers is something a bit foreign over here, so it was a special treat.

PLEASE PRAY FOR US AS WE GET SETTLED INTO OUR NEW “HOME” AND INTO THE VARIOUS MINISTRIES WE WILL BE DIRECTLY WORKING WITH AND OVERSEEING!

Things get really busy beginning this week. As if they weren’t already! 🙂 Along with preaching four times a week for the next month or so, teaching nine hours a week in our School of Ministry (Bible College), meeting with seven of our young people (college students) weekly in a Discipleship Group, sitting in and observing our English classes a few times a week, I will also be overseeing all of our ministries. This week my wife starts teaching in the English school and will be teaching a Christian Womanhood class in the School of Ministry.

We definitely covet your prayers!

Denise and I want to, once again, thank all of you for your prayers and financial support. All that we do is because of God’s grace and your generosity!

Johnny and Denise Esposito

“We must be global Christians because our God is a global God!”

I want to thank you all for praying for our Youth Conference in Udon Thani, Thailand. The group picture above will give you a good idea how many folks attended the three-day conference. We had at least 245 people in attendance for the services, representing 15 different churches.

It was a blessing to see so many young people in the services, to see so many pastors and missionaries praying together and preaching together. I had the opportunity to preach three times, teach a special session for the Hmong young people, and teach another session for the missionaries and the pastors.

As most of you know, my wife and I recently relocated to assist our team in a “Creative Access Nation.” We are looking forward to discipling a few of the young men and women, assisting in training of the national leadership here, and getting a Bible College/Institute started.

Of course, I will be doing a lot of preaching and teaching here. This is especially true over the next few months as Koumaly and Darath Thongdy will be leaving for the summer months on a short furlough. I have already preached a few times since arriving and, as always, it’s been a privilege and a joy. 

Of course, our last week in China was bittersweet. I had the chance to teach the men one more time, teach in our KTV Connection Group, preach in our Sunday service, as well as quite a few emotional “goodbye meals” with many of our dear friends.

The video below is a temple that is located about fifty yards from our front porch. A great reminder why we are serving in this part of the world!

My wife and I thank you for holding the ropes back home,

Johnny and Denise

After hearing an account of the spiritual needs of India, the secretary of the meeting remarked: “There is a gold mine in India, but it seems almost as deep as the center of the earth. Who will venture to explore it?” “I will venture to go down,” said Carey, “but remember that you must hold the ropes.”

The above picture was sent to me by one of our men in China while I was in the States. I believe it is a picture of a grandfather and his grandchildren. My initial thought when seeing this picture was this, “Someone will be leading the youth in Asia into the future; who will it be?” Lord willing, it will be men and women of faith, men and women committed to the Gospel of Christ and the Christ of the Gospel!

The picture below is of four young ladies (Aries, Xi, Lu, and Lily) who were in our service this past Sunday.  They all have one thing in common, other than being Chinese of course. All four of them were led to Christ by someone in the West, or someone from the West. One became a Christian while attending school in America. One, while attending school in Australia. Another, while attending school in England. And the last young lady, was led to Christ by a foreigner from Germany here in China.

There might be a lesson here for us about the need in this part of the world! 🤔

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY THAT GOD WILL SEND MORE LABORERS INTO THIS PART OF THE WORLD!

March 16 marked five years for my wife and I serving in the harvest fields of Asia. It has been a tremendous blessing for us to serve with our team that serves in a “Creative Access” Nation, as well as our team that is serving the precious people of Cambodia, and now for the past nine months we have had the privilege to serve here in the country of China. Along with winning people to Christ and discipling believers, our heart’s desire is to be a help to missionaries and national leaders in the 10/40 Window, as well as getting the word out about this part of the world on the other side of the Pacific!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR MY WIFE AND ME AS WE SERVE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD AND TRANSITION INTO ANOTHER “CREATIVE ACCESS” NATION!

It was a blessing to be back in the States for two weeks. During this time, I taught a four day Missions’ Intensive at Pacific Baptist Bible College, as well as preached in three of their chapel services. I also had the opportunity to preach in three different churches–including three times for our home and sending church (Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach).

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE THE PREACHING AND THE TEACHING TO BRING FORTH MORE LABORERS FOR THE HARVEST FIELDS OF THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY THE 10/40 WINDOW!

I also had the privilege to preach for the service when Pacific Baptist Church voted Pastor Steve Meyers in as the pastor. As most of you know, my brother, Pastor Joe, started the church and pastored it for over 25 years prior to being hospitalized. This was an emotional evening for many of us. We thank God for Pastor Meyers and his wife Alma. They have done a wonderful job the past 4 ½ years filling in for my brother. And we expect them to continue to lead the church forward for Christ and the cause of Christ “around the corner” and “around the world.” Both my brother, Pastor Joe, and Pastor Meyers, and their families have been a wonderful testimony of God’s grace and have faithfully served Christ for decades.

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR MEYERS AND PACIFIC BAPTIST CHURCH, AS WELL AS PASTOR JOE AND HIS FAMILY!

While on this short trip to the States, I was blessed to be able to see my two newest grandchildren (Eliza Jade Aquino and Aaron Christopher Ayala). That’s twenty grandchildren now, with one more on the way. But then again, who’s counting? 🙂

One of the areas of ministry at our church here in China that God is using mightily, especially in helping to nurture our folks in their faith are our Connection Groups. As of now, we have six Connection Groups. These groups are intended to connect our folks to God, to one another, and with a lost and dying world, and we are seeing this take place on a weekly basis. Lord willing, a few of these groups will one day become churches. This past week, we had a wonderful time with one of our groups and even had two brand new visitors!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE OUR CONNECTION GROUPS TO REACH AND TEACH MANY FOR CHRIST! 

This past Saturday a handful of the folks from our church here in China had an “Easter Outreach” for the Children. While I wasn’t there, I have been told and have seen many pictures that verify they had a great turnout and a wonderful day!

HE IS RISEN!

Are there any words sweeter in the English language? This past Sunday was Easter/Resurrection Sunday. I preached a message entitled, “The Resurrection of Christ and the Revival of His People.” The auditorium was packed, the spirit was sweet, and the response to the message was tremendous. Afterwards a handful of us went out for a traditional Chinese lunch. The food and fellowship was great!

In less than two weeks, Denise and I relocate to assist our team in a “Creative Access” Nation. My primary responsibilities will be to assist in getting a Bible Institute/Bible College started, discipling national leaders, and overseeing the work while Koumaly Thongdy is on a short furlough.

Less than a week after arriving, I will be speaking for a Youth Conference hosted by our team. I will have the privilege to preach three times, along with teaching one session for  Pastors, Missionaries, and Church Workers .

We sincerely covet your prayers for this conference. We are expecting between 15-17 churches and some 300 people to be in attendance, and are praying for a real moving of God!

PLEASE PRAY FOR  US AS WE SEEK TO ASSIST OUR TEAM IN THE “CREATIVE ACCESS” NATION AND FOR THE YOUTH CONFERENCE IN THAILAND!

My wife and I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support. We couldn’t do what God has led us to do without dear friends like you.

Johnny and Denise

 

“I will go anywhere, provided it be forward.”
― Missionary David Livingstone

 

When you visit a Mc Donald’s in the country of Thailand, you will be greeted by a Ronald giving the traditional Thai greeting. In just over thirty years. McDonald’s has went from one location to over 200 locations in Thailand, including over 100 in Bangkok alone! They plan on opening another 200 locations by the year 2020. Sounds like they have a vision for Thailand’s 69 million people (less than 2 percent professing to be “Christian”).

The question is, “Do we?”

Every year, for the last 3-4 years, our teams from the “Creative Access” Nation, which we will soon be returning to, Thailand, and Cambodia have met in Bangkok for a week-long time of refreshing fellowship, and of course, great teaching from different members of our various teams. I had the opportunity and privilege to teach two different lessons: “Leadership that Glorifies God” and “Discpleship with the End in Mind.”

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD CONTINUES TO USE OUR TEAMS AND THE NATIONALS WE HAVE SEEN GOD RAISE UP TO REACH SOUTHEAST ASIA AND EVEN BEYOND!

This year, we had the privilege of also having our dear friend, Dwight Tomlinson and his wife Gayle with us. Brother Tomlinson is the founder of barnabas1040.com This a wonderful ministry, which raises support for national pastors. They presently are supporting 28 pastors in 12 different countries and 3 different Bible Colleges in the 1040 Window. Barnabas1040 is presently providing support for four men that I have had the opportunity to invest some into their lives.

If you are looking for a good investment for eternity and the 1040 Window, I would encourage you to prayerfully consider Barnabas1040.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE TOMLINSON’S, WHO ARE SERVING IN CHINA, AND FOR BARNABAS1040! 

I arrived in Bangkok one day early to preach for my dear friend and fellow laborer, Enrile Badua, and his church family (Bangkok Baptist Church). It was the last Sunday of their Missions’ Emphasis Month. I taught on “Right Attitudes on Prosperity and Possessions” during the Sunday School hour. And I preached a message on “Investing for the Master and the Mission” during the morning service.  Brother Badua has been in Bangkok for 17 years and has a wonderful ministry!

PLEASE PRAY FOR BROTHER BADUA, BANGKOK BAPTIST CHURCH, AND THAT THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN DURING MY TIME THERE WILL BRING FORTH FRUIT!

As I have mentioned in many of our updates, one of my primary responsibilities and privileges has been to disciple a few of our men individually and in a group setting. In the group setting, it has been more of a time of leadership development and discipling future disciplers. It has been a wonderful experience and I will always cherish these times together and will miss these men greatly!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR MINISTRY AND THESE MEN IN CHINA!

It was a real blessing to have three dear friends visit with us for a few days on their way to the Philippines for the Spiritual Leadership Conference of Asia. I have known Pastor Ryan Thomson and Assistant pastor Doug Mc Mains for many years. I have only known Tom Chapman, who is planning on moving his family to this part of the world in just a few months to serve the Lord, for about 4-5 years. All three of these men are wonderful servants of Jesus and have a heart, not only for the Lord, but for the lost. We had a wonderful time together and Pastor Thompson preached a powerful message on the Great Commission!

In just over a month, my wife and I will be relocating to the “Creative Access” Nation where my wife and I served for a year and a half, to assist in leadership development, discipling men, and starting a Bible Institute/Bible College. I flew down for a week and met with Koumaly Thongdy, preached for them a few times, and looked at the place where my wife and I will be living.

In the picture above, you will see a young man named Kong interpreting for me. Kong was saved a little bit over two years ago and surrendered to serve in the full-time ministry while listening to a message I preached at a Bible Camp in Thailand almost two years ago. Just a few weeks later, he started a ministry for teens and children in his home village about an hour-and-a-half a way from where he is presently living. God is using him and his new bride in a very special way in reaching the Hmong people, especially those in his home village.

PLEASE PRAY FOR KONG AND LILEE AS GOD USES THEM TO REACH THE HMONG PEOPLE!

While in the “Creative Access” Nation, I also had the opportunity and privilege to preach for another dear friend and fellow laborer, Brother Jamin Rodero. Brother Jamin and his dear wife have been in the country for ten years and he has planted, or helped to plant five different churches around the country. As always, it was a great service and they had a lot of food after the service.

PLEASE PRAY FOR BROTHER JAMIN AND HIS MINISTRY!

In previous Updates, we have asked for prayer for Peng Li Mai. She trusted Christ a couple of years ago, but for the past year or so has basically been bed-ridden with cancer. A couple weeks ago, Peng Li Mai went to heaven and I had the opportunity to speak for her funeral service. It was an honor, but it was also definitely different. Let’s just say they do funerals a bit different over here than back home. None of her family knows the Lord, so they did get a chance to hear the Gospel.

Just a few days after my wife and I arrive back in the “Creative Access” Nation,  I will be preaching, for the fourth time in the past five years, the annual Camp in Thailand. Yes, the same Camp that Kong surrendered to serve in full-time ministry in two years ago.  It’s always a blessing, a great encouragement, and a time where anywhere from 12-15 churches from two different countries gather together for a lot of great preaching, food, fun, and fellowship. This year’s emphasis is the youth. I am especially looking forward to having my nephew, Pastor Joe’s son, preach with us!

WE COVET YOUR PRAYERS FOR THIS UPCOMING CONFERENCE!

My wife and I thank God for all of you. We are grateful for your prayers, your words of encouragement, and your faithful financial support!

Johnny and Denise

“Sympathy is no substitute for action.” — David Livingstone, missionary to Africa

Just before being hospitalized, my brother (Pastor Joe), had a dream of two of our teams working together in the area known as the Golden Triangle. This is an area where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos converge at the Mekong and Ruak Rivers. Pastor Joe’s dream was to use this area to reach into these three countries, and eventually into China. While in Thailand recently, I had the opportunity to visit the actual Golden Triangle.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE THREE COUNTRIES AND THE MEN AND WOMEN–INCLUDING OUR TEAMS–THAT ARE LABORING IN THEM!

I had the privilege and the joy to spend ten days with our team in Northern Thailand. Jay and Heidi Chang, and Tom and Sue Sutrick are serving in the mountains and working with the Hmong people. This is a very special place for me. It was in these very mountains about seven years ago that God gripped my heart. Not only for these people, but for the many different people groups in the 1040 Window. It was here that I said to God, “If you could use me in a small way to reach one of these dear precious souls, I am willing to come.”  And, now almost five years later, here we are serving in Asia!

Tom and Sue Sutrick are my heroes. They really are! Neither of them ever attended Bible college. No ministry training to speak of, just two people who love Jesus and love people–especially the Hmong people. A simple lay couple for their entire lives, they both retired early to work with the Hmong people back in Wisconsin. And, in their late 50s, they packed everything up and “retired” to the country of Thailand to work with the Hmong people. They have been serving in these mountains now for about six years!

While in Thailand, I had the privilege of preaching for their church family eight times, and taught for three hours a day for a three-day Pastors’ and Church Workers’ Conference. In addition to Tom and Sue and their church workers, we had 10 men and two women come from a “Creative Access Nation” across the border for the teaching and the preaching. Grateful for Brother Jay interpreting for me during the special sessions. God really did bless in a miraculous way. On the last day, just prior to me preaching the closing message, tears of rejoicing were flowing and testimonies were given that caused me to tear up!

I also had the privilege of sharing the Gospel with ten different people while soul-winning in Tom and Sue’s village. While no one trusted Christ, they were all very receptive.

As I have mentioned previously, my primary focus, while here in China, is discipleship. Specifically, discipling and assisting with the training up of some of the men who are, and will be leading this congregation in the future, as well as possibly planting new churches in this city, province, and other parts of the country in the future.

Our Connection Groups are doing very well. I had the privilege and pleasure to visit and observe two of them this past week. On Wednesday, I visited our CG led by Li (Lee) that meets weekly at a secular business (KTV). God is doing something special with this group. Including Li and myself, we had 19 in attendance and 10 or 11 of them are unbelievers. Great opportunity to plant the Gospel seed. In recent weeks or months, three of them (Zhang Su Li, Li Ruchang, and Hu Li)  have trusted Christ. Two more women (Lu Yan Zhu and Chen Jing) are very close to getting saved.

On Thursday, I was with Liu Hong’s CG. Including latecomers, I think we had 15 in attendance and we had a wonderful time of food and fellowship, as well as a great lesson from Colossians chapter one by Liu Hong. He is doing a wonderful job leading this new group.

THE PICTURES BELOW ARE BLURRED FOR SECURITY REASONS!!!

As I mentioned in our previous Update, most of the preaching and teaching is being done here by the National men. Our heart’s desire is to see them take this work over in the near future, as well as plant a few new churches in this city. I did get the chance to preach this past Sunday. Our church theme for 2018 is “Loving Christ is Obeying Christ,” and I used that as a springboard to preach on the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. The title of the message was “For The Sake of The Gospel.” It was a call for God’s people to come out of a spirit of complacency and be willing to leave their comfort zone. After the service, a handful of us went out for a time of food and fellowship!

We had a wonderful time of fellowship at one of our brother’s new home. I had the privilege to share a short message and pray for Zhang Lun, his wife, and their new home. Zhang Lun did not trust Christ until he was in his early 30s, and like so many others here, he had never  heard the Gospel until he was over 30 years old. In fact, he had never heard the name of Jesus Christ-at least in a tangible way-until he was in his late 20s. He and his wife love Jesus and are pillars in the church family here. 

After the service on Sunday, one of our dear and faithful members asked if Li and I would go to her home to pray for it. This sister has an amazing testimony. She was saved 24 years ago at the age of 46. She was led to Christ by another woman who had spent time in prison for her faith and who’s son was executed for his faith!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PERSECUTED BELIEVERS HERE IN CHINA, AS WELL AS OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE 1040 WINDOW!

A FEW ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Please continue to pray for God’s presence, power, provision, and protection in our lives.
• Please pray for us concerning recent “religious” restrictions that went into effect on February 1.
• Please pray for Tom and Sue Sutrick and the two village churches they serve in Northern Thailand. 
• Please continue to pray for God to bless our six present house groups (potential future churches).
• Please continue to pray for those in leadership here at the church as we are beginning to train our folks including our leaders to disciple others.
• Pray for Zhang Lun, Li, Richard, Andy, Peter, and Liu Hong (and their wives), as God continues to mold them into the men and “leaders” that He wants them to be here in China.
• Please continue to pray for a few of our single young ladies (Cubie, Lily, Aslyn, Christine, and Theresa) to become the young ladies God intends for them to be.
• Please pray for our KTV Connection Group to be used by God to bring many souls to Christ. 
• Please continue to pray God will help us to reach more teens and faithfully disciple the teens we have now.
• Please continue to pray for Maggie and Hu Ying’s salvation!
• Please pray for Lu Yan Zhu and Chen Jing’s salvation!
• Please pray for Zhang Su Li, Li Ruchang, and Hu Li spiritual growth!
• Please continue to pray for our teams in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.
• Pray continue to pray for Dick and Trish Baucum to have a fruitful furlough.
• Pray continue to pray for our ministry in Laos, as we consider assisting them in developing a discipleship ministry and culture and starting a Bible Institute.

My wife and I would like to thank you for your continual and consistent prayer and financial support. And we sincerely thank many of you for taking the time to read our update and praying for the specific needs. We love and thank God for you all!

Johnny and Denise

“Is not the commission of our Lord still binding upon us? Can we not do more than  we are now doing?” — William Carey