CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA!

The last ten days have been extremely busy and very blessed. My wife and I arrived in the “Creative Access” nation on Saturday evening, December 12. The next day I had the opportunity to preach three times for two churches.

Monday through Wednesday I had the opportunity to preach or teach six more times for one church, some national pastors and missionaries, for some Bible college students, and for a group of young ladies who work in a local factory.

Thursday through Sunday I had the opportunity to preach or teach for our team a total of six times. Koumaly, Darath, T.J. and his wife Kam, Sen, and others are doing a wonderful job here in this country. In spite of the difficult context here, God is blessing in a wonderful way. While it is a difficult task they are reaching new people, seeing new converts grow, and their young people have a real desire and hunger for the Word of God.

PLEASE PRAY THAT THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN DURING THIS TEN-DAY TRIP WILL BRING FORTH FRUIT!

While I was in the “Creative Access” nation the Fabros family made a trip to Hong Kong and Mainland China. They, along with a handful of others, are praying about the possibility of relocating to China some time in the near future if the Lord will open the door. We had the opportunity to FaceTime while they were in Mainland China. To be honest they were a bit nervous. They were there by themselves, no contact person whatsoever. Edgl speaks a little bit of the language, but they were like ducks out of water. I commend them for this small step of faith to go and consider the possibility of serving the Chinese people.

My daughter Joy and I will be flying into China at the end of January to spend ten days with a missionary who is located in Bejiing. We will also be meeting up with a young man from our church named Chris Ayala who has surrendered to go to China. He’s also dating my daughter Joy! Lord willing, I will also be flying into another part of China either in March or May. Both of these trips are to seek counsel and guidance about the possibility of one day sending a team to China. WE DEFINITELY COVET YOUR PRAYERS!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL HAVE HIS WILL AND WAY CONCERNING THE POSSIBILITY OF A FUTURE TEAM BEING SENT OUT OF PACIFIC BAPTIST CHURCH TO CHINA!

Again, Denise, Joy, Sue, and I would like to wish you, your families, and your church families a very Merry Christmas from the part of the world that has no understanding that Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA!

By the time you get this update my wife and I will either be in the “Creative Access” nation or getting ready to go. We are looking forward to a blessed and extremely busy ten days there. I will be preaching for three different churches, as well as some special training and instruction for some Pastors, Bible College students, some factory workers, and for Brother Koumaly, T.J., and our team in the “Creative Access” nation. It’s always a blessing to be with these dear folks!

PLEASE PRAY FOR GOD TO BLESS OUR TRIP AND THAT THE SEEDS THAT WILL BE SOWN WILL BRING FORTH FRUIT!

About 8-9 months ago Sochea trusted Jesus Christ. If you will remember she was led to Christ when Man and I started working with a few university students and a young lady named Nissa invited her to church. About two weeks after she trusted Christ she found out she was expecting, she told her boyfriend and he dumped her. God has used our family, as well as the church, to be a real help and a blessing to her. I would like to announce that baby Joel was born just a few days back.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR SOCHEA, HER BROTHER CHANTA, AND BABY JOEL!

A few weeks ago, in our November 21 update, we requested prayer for a young lady from Steung Meanchey named Phat to accept Christ. I have some really good news for you, your prayers were answered. Phat trusted Christ a little over a week ago, and Vannak and I have been doing our best to disciple her.

PLEASE PRAY FOR PHAT’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

On Tuesday’s when Sue and I, along with a handful of others, go to Steung Meanchey my daughter Joy goes to one of our village ministries. This past Tuesday Joy had to stay in Phnom Penh to help care for some business regarding Kosal’s upcoming wedding so she ended up visiting with us. Joy and Sue are tremendous with the children and Joy is really beginning to get the language down. She can at least carry on a conversation. They had a great time with the children, while Vannak and I were sharing the Gospel and/or discipling Phat. They also took some time to visit with a young teenage girl named Lynn that Sue has been working with and visited with Grandma Bouenseng.

PLEASE PRAY FOR LYNN’S SALVATION AND GRANDMA’S HEALTH!

Like you, I am so thankful for men and women that God uses in our life to ground and guide us. One of the men, and there have been many, that God has used to get me to the place where I was willing to surrender myself to leave America and go to Southeast Asia was missionary/evangelist Gil Anger. He pastored in Australia for many years. Yes, he’s an Aussie! He’s now a missionary serving as an evangelist to the world. Brother Anger preached for one of our Missions Conferences at Pacific Baptist Church and taught a Missions Intensive at our college about six years ago. We sat and ate meals together, had coffee together, and just talked about the great need of the world. It was a joy to be able to spend a little time with him this week. I went to hear him preach for missionary Tom Johnson. Both before and after the service we had a great time of fellowship. A few days later we had lunch together. It was a real treat!

I have mentioned Chy in a couple of my previous updates. He is a Cham man and a former Muslim. He was one of the first Cham to be saved years ago when Dave Board first came to Cambodia. I just started meeting with him, at his request, on Saturdays. We will meet for an hour-and-a-half on a weekly basis, as long as I am in the country. Fortunately for me, Chy speaks English well. 🙂 He actually teaches English in a local school. Chy has a real hunger for the Word, a desire to grow in Christ, see his family honor Christ, and to be used to reach his people for Christ.

PLEASE PRAY FOR CHY AND HIS WIFE, KIMLANG’S, SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND THAT GOD WILL USE THEM TO REACH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR JESUS!

Prior to his returning to Canada for a few months, and my returning to the States for nine weeks, John Kruce and I had been meeting on a weekly basis. Ally his wife finally trusted Christ while I was in the States. We had John and Ally over for a nice meal a few days ago. It looks like we are going to try to start meeting together once again on a weekly basis and that both of them will be attending a small English Bible study I will be teaching in January.

PLEASE PRAY FOR JOHN AND ALLY’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

For 18 years, while at Pacific Baptist Church and Pacific Baptist School, I coached our basketball teams. I loved it! I haven’t coached for about five years and have only attended maybe 3-4 games since “retiring” as our coach. Some of our missionaries here in Phnom Penh actually played for me when they were students at our school. They love basketball! Every Tuesday they bring a group of our national teen boys and men to play for a few hours. This week we conducted a 3-hour basketball camp for the teen boys. I had the privilege to assist Bounna Has and Sara Vong with the camp. It was fun and I think a fruitful time for the teen boys. I am thankful for all the work that Bounna put into it.

Denise and I, along with Joy and Sue, are so grateful for your prayers and financial support. We are here because you pray. We are here because you give. We are here because you care!

Thank you!!!

We do ask, once again, for your prayers as Denise and I travel to the “Creative Access” nation, and we ask that you continue to pray for my brother, Pastor Joe. He and his family have had a rough two weeks! 

KOSAL’S ENGAGEMENT PARTY! if you have followed our updates for long you have read much of Kosal. He is one of the men that I have been discipling for almost a year now. He is actually the first Cham (former Muslim) to be saved over ten years ago and is greatly instrumental in many Cham coming to Christ. Well, he just got engaged to Phallay. I had the opportunity to be at the service. It was special!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS COUPLE TO HAVE A LOVING MARRIAGE THAT HONORS CHRIST AND REVEALS HIS LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE TO THE CAMBODIAN PEOPLE!

SATURDAY VISITATION! As always, Saturday visitation was a blessing. It has been a tremendous blessing to be able to share the Gospel with 28 different people the past three weeks. And, while only one has made a profession of faith, I sense that there are definitely others that are very close to making a decision for Christ. It was nice to drop in on Sony and find my wife, Sue, and Debra Keo there discipling her. It was a joy to be able to share the Gospel with four adult ladies and two teenage girls at one house. They were very open!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE MANY PEOPLE WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUINTY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS!

JUST PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR BANGKOK FOR OUR TEAM SOUTHEAST ASIA TEAM RETREAT WE HAD OUR CELEBRATION SERVICE! This is something we do every six weeks or so, it is always a special blessing. Our three churches and various villages get together for one huge service. There are always testimonies, many different specials from the different groups, and of course, the preaching of the Word. This past Celebration Service we even had a baby dedication!

WHAT A SPECIAL JOY IT WAS FOR OUR THREE TEAMS TO GET TOGETHER IN BANGOK! Altogether, children included, we had 45 folks gathering for five days of fellowship, team building, and instruction. It was a great time!

Monday and Tuesday were days of rest and relaxation. Some family time and an opportunity to spend time with our fellow team members from Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia. Wednesday and Thursday were full days of prayer, field reports, and some great instruction. I had the opportunity to teach four times. I had the privilege to close the sessions on Friday with a much-needed lesson on “The Family.” To be honest with you, as far as I am concerned, the most valuable teaching we had all week came by way of one of our national men from Cambodia. Vannak did a tremendous job teaching us missionaries how to better serve the nationals (without offending them).

Friday was a half-day of instruction, lunch, and an activity. We had a great time together at a place called “Art in Paradise.” What a fun place. We had a great time! Check out just a few of the many pictures we took while we were there below.

PLEASE PRAY THAT ALL THREE OF OUR TEAMS HEAD BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS WITH A RENEWED VISION AND A REKINDLED FIRE TO REACH MORE PEOPLE FOR CHRIST!

MY WIFE AND I, ALONG WITH JOY AND SUE, STAYED OVER A FEW DAYS AND VISITED GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH IN BANGKOK!   It was a joy to be in a special service with the Grace Baptist Church family. The church is over 45 years old and Pastor Kiatisak and his dear wife have been serving this church for 37 years. One unexpected blessing of being at Grace Baptist Church was the opportunity to meet Brother Charlie Holmes and his wife Lourdes. She came to Thailand as a single young lady about 40 something years ago and God has used her mightily. I had heard much about her from others when I was in Laos and/or preaching at churches or conferences in Thailand. She was instrumental in assisting in the starting of over 25 churches–as a single young lady. Her and her husband have seen many others started since they got married. Of course, we had a tremendous meal after the service!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY TO BE GREATLY USED OF GOD IN BANGKOK AND SOME OF THEIR VILLAGE MINISTRIES!

My wife and I, along with Joy and Sue, want to once again thank you for your prayers and financial support. May God bless you and yours this Christmas Season!!!

For HIS Glory in the Nations,

Johnny Esposito

Over the past two Saturdays, Man and I have had the opportunity to share the Gospel with quite a few young men in their late teens and early twenties. They have been open and attentive but have yet to trust Christ. They are having a difficult time grasping the truth of the Gospel. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to make our words real to them and that they would turn from their idolatrous ways to Christ!

PLEASE PRAY FOR GOD TO USE OUR WITNESS, BOTH IN WORD AND DEED, TO SEE THESE YOUNG MEN COME TO CHRIST!

It was a real blessing to be able to share the Gospel with Grandpa Va this past Saturday. He is in his late 80’s and has tuberculosis. Apparently, various members of our team in Phnom Penh have shared the Gospel with him in the past, but he had never trusted Christ. What a joy it was to be able to see him trust Jesus as his only hope for heaven.

PLEASE PRAY FOR GRANDPA VA’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH, HEALTH, AND HIS WIFE’S SALVATION!

On Thursday evening, Sunday morning, and Sunday evening I had the privilege of preaching for our Cham and Khmer folks in Psa Traach. I love spending time with them. They are such an inspiration. Many of these dear people, especially the Cham, have suffered serious persecution in the past because of their stand for Christ. I preached a three-part series from Micah 6:8 and God moved in all of the services. After the morning service we traveled about 50 kilometers to the Dol village for a new Children’s Ministry we recently started. During the almost 2 hour trip to Dol, two of our Cham men who were in the back of the tuk-tuk with me asked if I could teach them the Bible. So we had a Bible study on the back of the tuk-tuk covering a wide range of topics.

Upon arriving at the Dol Village we received word that our other tuk-tuk had broken down. So Brother Touch Keo picked up all of the children–all 61 of them–and we had a great time with the kids. Chai did a great job teaching them from Ephesians 2:8-9. I had so much fun with them. Especially, when I had them guessing my age. One child guessed 92 years old. 😦 But a few of them guessed my age as less than 20 years old. 🙂 There’s nothing quite as fulfilling than to be able to bring a few moments of joy to these children.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE OUR TEAM THAT COMES TO THE DOL VILLAGE TWICE A WEEK TO BE ABLE TO REACH MANY FOR CHRIST!

Over the past two weeks it has been a blessing to visit again the area called Steung Meanchey. We have mentioned it often in our updates, including our last update. Just before I returned from the States our team that goes to Steung Meanchey on a weekly basis started visiting in a new area. It has been a joy to meet so many new people, to share the Gospel with so many who have never heard, and in many cases have not heard of Christ, and to play with the children. It was also a blessing to spend some time teaching Thia and encouraging Grandma Bouenseng. There are so many poor and needy people and children in this country and many of them can be found in Steung Meanchey. Of course, they have many needs, but their greatest need is salvation!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THIA’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH, HER HUSBAND NEE’S SALVATION, PHAT’S SALVATION, AND GRANDMA’S HEALTH!

A few days ago, I got together with my friend Abraham. You’ll remember him, I am sure, from previous updates. He was teaching me the language–or at least trying to -and I was discipling him just prior to going back to the States. We will start meeting together a couple times a week as soon as I get back from the TEAM SOUTHEAST ASIA ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP in Bangkok next week.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ABRAHAM’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

Last night, as with every Friday night, our Teen Boys and our Teen Girls had their weekly meetings. Two weeks ago I treated the girls to some pizza, last night it was the teen boys turn. Like American teens, the majority of the teens here in Phnom Penh love pizza. They were happy campers when they saw the pizza arrive. I am grateful for all of our workers who give of themselves and their precious time to serve these young people. One of the keys to reaching this city, and this country, for Christ is to reach the young people. Our ministry, much like our home and sending church, is committed to reaching and teaching the next generation!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEENAGERS AND FOR OUR TEEN WORKERS TO BE USED OF GOD TO REACH MANY FOR JESUS CHRIST!

On Sunday morning, while traveling two hours for a full day at two different villages, I had these thoughts running through my mind and I thought I would share them with you:

As we are passing through village after village, it is so hard for me to comprehend, not only the physical poverty that has so many in this nation in a stranglehold but also the spiritual poverty. Less than 2 percent of these people “profess” to be Christians (in America it’s 77%). We are passing by one Buddhist temple after another. Of course, we do not pass by one church, at least that is visible to the naked eye, nor will we. Not only are we passing by temples, but also countless altars and idols.

Most of these people have never heard the Gospel, and unfortunately, most of them will live their entire lives and die without having ever heard the Gospel. To make matters even worse, a great majority of them have never heard, nor will ever hear the name of Jesus with an understanding of who He is.

I see so many lonely faces. I see so many sad faces. I see so many people who need Jesus!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE 4.5-5 BILLION PEOPLE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD WE KNOW AS THE 10/40 WINDOW!

Thank you for your continual prayers and financial support!

Johnny, Denise, Joy, and Sue

 

Well, I am back in Southeast Asia. I arrived on Friday afternoon and, as much as possible, got back in the swing of things immediately. On Friday evening I went up for a few minutes and checked on our Teen Girl’s Fellowship, as well as the Teen Boy’s Fellowship. So grateful for a church that emphasizes the next generation, not simply from the pulpit but in everyday life. Kanha, Joy, and Sue are doing a wonderful job with our teen girls. Vannak, Man, and Kosal are doing a great job with our teen boys.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEEN WORKERS AND OUR TEENS AS GOD CONTINUES TO RAISE UP THE NEXT GENERATION OF SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST HERE IN CAMBODIA!

On Saturday, Man and I went soul winning together. It was great to see Sony and her children. Good to have them in church on Sunday and again on Wednesday evening. We also went by to visit Wanita and her cousins. They have been out of church for quite sometime, not by choice, but it was great to see them in church on Sunday and have them go out with Denise, Joy, and Sue. From what I understand they had a wonderful time!

PLEASE PRAY FOR SONY’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND THE SALVATION OF HER HUSBAND, AS WELL AS WANITA, ISABEL, VANNESA, AND BASIL TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN CHRIST IN SPITE OF THE MANY OBSTACLES!

On Monday evening it was good to have Mora over our house. She has been saved for a little less than a year. It was good to see her bring her Bible and ask many really good questions. Our time together was a good reminder of how difficult it is for folks here in this Buddhist country to get saved and make a stand for Christ.

PLEASE PRAY FOR MORA TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN HER FAITH AND TO BE USED TO REACH FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR CHRIST!

On Tuesday we went to Steung Meanchey. Too be honest with you my favorite time of the week is visiting in Steung Meanchey. Lord willing, sometime in the near future, we will start a church in this needy area that has been infiltrated with NGO’s and Humanitarian help, which I am grateful for, but it is in desperate need of the Gospel!

Vannak and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with about twelve adults and/or teens. Ten of the twelve had either never heard the name of Jesus even once, or if they had, the name Jesus meant nothing more to them than the name “Johnny” or “Jeff.” I am very thankful for Sue and Lynn Keo helping with the children while we share the Gospel with unbelievers and teach the Bible to Christians.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF STEUNG MEANCHEY AND FOR THE WORK GOD DESIRES TO BE DONE!

Tuesday afternoon and evening I resumed my discipleship sessions with a couple of our guys. On Tuesday afternoon I met with Both, and that evening I met with Kosal.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE TIMES THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEND WITH OUR MEN TO BE FRUITFUL!

On Wednesday, after our normal early morning prayer meeting, staff meeting, and a chapel service in which I preached, Denise and I headed to Coffee Bean to get together with Naren. We have mentioned her often in our blog updates. Naren is the one who had never SEEN, nor HEARD of the Bible until I pulled one out at my house during one of the times we had her over for supper. Denise and I had a wonderful time with Naren. We had the chance to sit down and talk with her for quite a while; encouraging her in some trials she is going through and, once again, shared the Gospel with her.

PLEASE PRAY FOR NAREN’S SALVATION AND FOR HER MOTHER’S HEALTH!

On Thursday I had the opportunity and privilege to preach for our Cham (former Muslims) congregation. There was a great crowd in attendance, great congregational singing, great specials (four of them),  and a great response to the preaching. I preached the first of a three-part series from Micah 6:8.  Looking forward to preaching for them again this coming Sunday for the morning and evening services.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE CHAM PEOPLE TO REACH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AS WELL AS OTHERS IN THEIR AREA!

Concerning my first time back in Steung Meanchey on Tuesday. I have to be honest with you, being back in the impoverished Steung Meanchey after nearly three months in the States was like a cold slap in the face. Below are a few excerpts concerning poverty in the 10/40 Window lifted from my book “Peeking Through the 10/40 Window: Why it Matters to God and Why it Should Matter to Us”:

By any measure we are the richest people ever to walk on the planet earth. Furthermore, at no time in history has there ever been greater economic disparity in the world than at the present. While the average American lives on more than $90.00 per day approximately one billion people live on less than one dollar per day. And 2.6 billion (40 percent of the world’s population) live on less than $2.00 per day!

Today more than a billion people in the world live and die in desperate poverty. They attempt to survive on less than a dollar per day. Close to two billion others live on less than $2.00 per day. In other words, almost half of the world lives on less than two dollars per day. That is nearly half of the world struggling to find food, water, and shelter with the same amount of money that I spend on fries for lunch. More than twenty-six thousand children today will breathe their last breath due to starvation or a preventable disease.

If God’s people, especially those in the prosperous West, could “think deeply about the problem of poverty through biblical glasses,” I am convinced, not only would we be far more willing to lend a helping hand for the physical needs around the world, but we would also see more people reached with the Gospel of Christ.

Deuteronomy 15:10-11, “Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. ¹¹For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.”

It is good to be back home. It is good to be back in Southeast Asia doing the work of the ministry. We couldn’t be here without you. Thank you for your continual prayers and financial support!

Johnny, Denise, Joy, and Sue

Greetings in Christ! It seems as if it has been ages since my last update, but in reality it has been about three weeks. I have been very busy and the Lord has surely blessed in these past three weeks. I am typing this update as I sit and sip coffee. In less than 18 hours I will be jumping on a jet and heading back home to Southeast Asia.  It’ll be nice to be back home after nine weeks, 13 different churches, and three Missions’ Conferences here in the States. It has been a blessing to represent Christ and the cause of Christ in the 10/40 Window during my brief visit here. It has also been a blessing to spend time with family (especially the grandchildren) and friends, but it’s definitely time to get back to Cambodia!

PLEASE PRAY FOR A SMOOTH AND QUICK TRANSITION ONCE I RETURN TO SOUTHEAST ASIA!

Over the past three weeks, I have had the opportunity and privilege to be with the Sierra Hills Baptist Church and Pastor Billings for three services, a four-day Missions’ Conference at the Shenandoah Bible Baptist Church (Pastor Corey Bane), Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach and Pacific Baptist College once again, and Bible Baptist Church of National City (Pastor Larry Obero).

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SEEDS THAT WERE PLANTED AT THESE CHURCHES AND THE COLLEGE WOULD BRING FORTH FRUIT FOR GOD’S GLORY!

I was especially blessed to be a part of the Missions’ Conference in West Virginia. The conference theme was “10/40 Window: Window of Opportunity.” All six missionary couples are in, or going to the 10/40 Window (China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines) and the keynote speaker Ken Fielder has a ministry translating the scriptures for unreached people groups. His messages were both refreshing and challenging!

IT IS EXCITING TO SEE THAT THERE IS A BIT OF AN AWAKENING AMONG CHURCHES CONCERNING THE 10/40 WINDOW, BUT THERE IS STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE!!!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP THE AWAKENING GOING!

It has been a tremendous joy and blessing to see how many folks are not only buying my book “Peeking through the 10/40 Window: Why it Matters to God and Should Matter to Us” (Liberty Baptist and Shenandoah Baptist both purchased 100 copies and passed them out at their conferences), but are ACTUALLY READING IT and being blessed, inspired, convicted, and challenged in doing so. That’s why I wrote it!

While in Southern California I visited my brother in the hospital just about every morning, except for Sundays. I usually drive to a Starbucks not far from the hospital and spend 2-3 hours, with headphones on listening to Classical music, reading my Bible, working, posting, etc. until the hospital opens. I have done this the past two years while in the States. The employees here have become like family. I have invited them to church, given them Gospel tracts, and told them who I am and what I do. A couple of the employees are Christians and have expressed to me the desire to one day take a missions trip, which of course, I have encouraged them to do. I gave a few of the employees, including Janet and Britney, a copy of my book. Recently, I entered Starbucks and Britney asked me if she could get another copy of the book. Apparently, someone had taken the copy I gave her. Of course, I gave her another copy!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE THE BOOK TO INSPIRE MANY TO PRAY FOR, GIVE TOWARDS, AND EVEN GO TO THE GREAT HARVEST FIELDS OF THE 10/40 WINDOW! 

I want to thank all of you for “holding the ropes” for my wife and me, as well as for Joy and Sue.  We couldn’t be in Southeast Asia without your faithful prayer and financial support. And we definitely couldn’t make any sort of impact in the lives of others without you.

 

Three weeks from yesterday I will be heading back home to Cambodia. By the time I leave the States I will have been here for nine weeks. Nine long weeks! Definitely looking forward to going home. Sure do appreciate your prayers for me during this trip!

Last Wednesday I had the chance to be with Pastor Neal Holmes, his assistant Brother Kent Black, and the Mountain Vista Baptist Church in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Pastor Holmes has been a dear friend of our home church and mine for many, many years. The service was a blessing. Just a few hours prior to the service, I had the chance to meet Chanda and Savy. They are both from Cambodia and we had a great time of fellowship. THEY WERE SO EXCITED TO FIND SOMEONE WHO LIVED IN AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH CAMBODIA.

I also had the opportunity to share the Gospel with them, give them a tract, and invite them to the service. While they did not attend the service that evening, I do pray that the seed that was planted will bring forth fruit unto life eternal!

PLEASE PRAY FOR CHANDA AND SAVY TO TRUST CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR!

The day after returning from my trip to Arizona I (along with a handful of folks from Pacific Baptist Church that are seriously considering going to China) had the privilege to meet with Brother Tomlinson and missionary Dick Baucum. Brother Baucum has been in Hong Kong and/or Mainland China for over 30 years. The eight of us met for about two hours talking about China, the possibility of Pacific Baptist Church sending a team to China, and getting as much “wise counsel” from a “grizzled veteran” as possible.

Just a few days later I had the privilege to meet Peter and Peggy Li and their two daughters. The Li’s are a sweet family. They were saved in China under Brother Baucum’s ministry and have been in the States for about nine years. They have a burden to see the people of China come to Christ. Peter told me that as far as he can remember, not only had he never heard the Gospel prior to his wife meeting the Baucum family, but he does not think he had ever heard the name of Jesus prior to his wife trusting Christ!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE 1.4 BILLION PEOPLE OF CHINA AND FOR A FUTURE TEAM TO BE SENT TO CHINA OUT OF PACIFIC BAPTIST CHURCH!

This past Saturday through Tuesday was Missions Conference time at Liberty Baptist Church of Newport Beach. The theme for the conference was “Impact the World.” Great theme and a worthy goal that’s for sure! It was a huge blessing to be with former Pastor and dear friend Dwight Tomlinson and Liberty’s new pastor, and longtime friend, Ryan Thompson. On Saturday evening Pastor Thompson interviewed all of the missionaries. Along with Brother Tomlinson and his wife Gayle, who recently resigned the church to head up Barnabas 1040 (barnabas1040.com), there were missionaries that are heading to Sri Lanka, Kurdistan (Northern Iraq), Indonesia, myself, and two church planters heading to Los Angeles to plant churches.

The Saturday evening interview and all of the services were a real blessing. The food and fellowship was tremendous. On Sunday evening I preached and shared many pictures from Cambodia, Thailand, and the country of Laos. On Tuesday evening, I shared the burden for reaching China, along with our five-minute video about China.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY AND THE DIFFERENT MISSIONARIES WHO WERE AT THE CONFERENCE TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR PART IN IMPACTING THE WORLD FOR CHRIST!

I have six more churches and one more Missions’ Conference over the next three weeks and then I head back to Southeast Asia.  I sincerely appreciate your prayers during this last leg of the trip!

For HIS Glory in the Nations,

Johnny, Denise, Joy and Sue

In the past few days I have received a few pictures from Phnom Penh that remind me of the wonderful things that God is doing in Cambodia. My wife sent me a picture of Debra Keo discipling Sony. Vannak sent me a picture of our teen boys who had the opportunity to get away for a few days for revival and refreshing, and Adrian Torres posted on Instagram a picture of some of our folks riding a tuk-tuk to church from Steung Meanchey.

I am so thankful for a ministry that not only emphasizes sharing the Gospel with folks and seeing them trust Christ, but a ministry that is committed to discipling converts. I am also grateful to be a part of a ministry that recognizes the importance of training up the “next generation” for Jesus Christ. I am also very appreciative for a ministry that is committed to going after the poor, and especially the poor children.

Last, but not least, I am grateful for all of you back home who are enabling us to share the Gospel, disciple converts, train up the next generation, and pursue the poor with the same passion our Lord Jesus exhibited during His earthly ministry!

WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT YOU!!!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO USE OUR TEAMS IN CAMBODIA, THAILAND, AND THE “CREATIVE ACCESS” NATION TO FOLLOW IN JESUS’ FOOTSTEPS AS FISHERS OF MEN!

As I mentioned in my previous update, I have been extremely busy meeting with couples, single men, and single women who truly believe that God might be leading them to someday serve in the country of China.  It has been a real joy to sit down with men and women alike who are considering leaving the comforts and conveniences of America, leaving their family, their friends, their future ambitions, and financial security to step into the “unknown” with Christ!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE MANY WHO ARE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING SERVING IN CHINA!

On my last day in Long Beach, just prior to leaving for Arizona I had one more opportunity to preach in chapel at Pacific Baptist Bible College. I preached a message on “Considering the Poor.” We had an unbelievable response to the message and we thank God for it! Immediately after the chapel service I met with students who believe God might be leading them to the mission field. Half of the student body attended the meeting. I took some time to give them some “pointers” that might be helpful as they consider this matter of worldwide missions.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE AT PBBC TO HAVE A PASSION, NOT ONLY FOR CHRIST, BUT FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST AROUND THE WORLD!

It is always a joy to be with the Harvest Baptist Church in Daly City, CA. Pastor Winiel Pechardo started the church about six or seven years ago. He was actually sent out of my home and sending church (Pacific Baptist Church in Long Beach). He was our Filipino Pastor for over five years at PBC. He is doing a great job in the San Francisco area. In recent days, eight of their folks have surrendered to go to the mission field. Praise the Lord!

I jumped on a flight Wednesday morning, preached for him that evening, and flew back to Southern California the next morning. We had a great service and, as always, the fellowship was sweet. So many of their folks, not only purchased copies of my new book, but many just gave money to “help the poor.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE FOLKS OF HARVEST BAPTIST CHURCH AND PRAY FOR MRS PECHARDO WHO WAS ACTUALLY IN THE HOSPITAL WHILE I WAS THERE!

This past Sunday I had the privilege to spend the entire day with Pastor Moffitt and the Sun Valley Baptist Church in Phoenix, Arizona. We had a great time. I preached for them three times. There was a tremendous response to the messages. One of the real blessings, and there were many, of my time with them, was having the opportunity to meet Angela and her two children. They are from, of all places, China. They have only been in the States for a little over a month. They don’t know Jesus yet, but they have been attending the services.

Please pray for Angela and her children to be saved!

My wife and the girls went to Coffee Bean recently to visit with Narin a few days ago. You will remember she is the young lady we have been working with for almost nine months now. We have had the opportunity to have her over our house many times. We have shared the Gospel with her. We have given her much Gospel literature. Unfortunately, Narin has yet to trust Christ! My wife was trying to set up a time Narin could come over our place. Sadly, she does not have one day off during the month of October.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR NARIN’S SALVATION

For those of you who follow my updates, another couple that you are well familiar with are Nee and Thia. They live in Steung Meanchey. We have been working with them for well over six months now. Thia trusted Christ recently. Nee is very open, receptive, and has lot’s of questions. In the picture below, they were being taught by Vannak and had sent greetings to me all the way from Steung Meanchey!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR NEE’S SALVATION AND THIA’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

I will be preaching this evening at a church in Sierra Vista, Arizona. I head back to So. California tomorrow. Friday morning, I (along with a few potential missionaries to China) have an important meeting with a man who has been serving in China for over 30 years. Then I will be with Pastor Dwight Tomlinson (barnabas10.com), Pastor Ryan Thompson, and the Liberty Baptist Church in Newport Beach from Saturday thru Tuesday for their annual Missions’ Conference.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO BE FRUITFUL FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!

My wife and I, along with Joy and Sue, want to thank you once again for your faithful prayers and support. Thank you for holding the ropes back home!

 

 

For the third year in a row I have had the privilege to fly back to the States from Southeast Asia and preach for the Pacific Baptist Church’s Mission Conference/Revival and teach a Missions’ Intensive at Pacific Baptist Bible College. It is a great joy, privilege, and an awesome responsibility to do so.

Of course, two years ago my brother flew me in from a “Restricted Access Nation,” to open the Conference on that Thursday evening, and just a few hours later he was having emergency surgery to keep him alive. We are grateful that he is making progress. I have visited my brother many times since arriving in the States. Whenever I talk to him about our team in Cambodia, the “Creative Access Nation,” and Thailand, or the possibility of sending a team to China his eyes light up!

Please continue to pray for my brother, his wife Mary, the rest of the family, and Pacific Baptist Church!

I preached a total of nine times (eight of those were missions’ messages) over a two week period of time for Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach and Pacific Baptist Church of Monterrey Park, taught a three day intensive at the Bible College, as well as preached in College chapel, and taught and/or preached three times for Pacific Baptist School. In addition to this, I have been busy meeting with men and women who are seriously pondering this vital matter of the mission field, especially those who are considering going to China!

Please pray that God will use this past Missions’ Conference/Revival to stir many hearts to pray, to give, and to GO to the uttermost parts of the earth!

The week prior to our Missions Conference/Revival I had the privilege to be with two really good churches. On Sunday morning I was with my dear friend Pastor Kirk Beard and the Parkway Baptist Church family (Hemet, CA). On Sunday evening I was with the Victory Baptist Church (El Cajon/Lakeside, CA) both of these churches were a blessing.  I preached a total of three times with a tremendous response from many!

Please pray for the many who had their hearts stirred during the services that God will bring lasting change for His glory and for the good of others!

While at Victory Baptist Church I had the privilege to meet a woman named Helen and her daughter Nelly. Helen is originally from Iraq (10/40 Window) and is a devoted servant of and witness for Jesus Christ today. She came to the United States when she was 25-years old. After the service on Sunday evening she told me that she had never heard the word “salvation” until she came to the United States. Think about that for a moment. Let that truth sink deep into your heart! Helen lived the first 25 years of her life in darkness, without hope, and without help and very little chance to “hear” the gospel. Folks, this is our calling. This is our commission. This is the challenge for the church of Jesus Christ in the 21^st century!

Please pray for the dear people in the 10/40 Window, especially those in the Middle East who are walking in darkness, despair, and death with very little help or hope!

One blessing of being in the States for two months has been the opportunity to see the grandchildren some. My wife and I have 15 precious grandchildren and they are all under eight years old. 🙂 A real treat that I had in recent days was the opportunity to go soul winning and tract distribution with Hannah, my five-year old autistic granddaughter. We had a great time and she loves leaving Gospel tracts on people’s doors. She calls them “Jesus papers.”

We have mentioned Sony and her family in previous updates. In recent days my wife had the chance to meet her. I believe Debra Keo and my wife will be discipling Sony soon. Sony was baptized a few days ago. Sony, like so many people in Cambodia cannot read. She has a desire to grow in Christ. She has a desire to read the Bible, but she is unable to do so. We recently got her an MP3 Player with scripture and sermons on it. Not only is she listening to it, but from what I understand her lost husband is listening also.  This is something we do for many who cannot read or those who are ill and shut in. If you are interested in giving towards this needy area (MP3 Players) and ministry please do let me know.

Please continue to pray for Sony’s spiritual growth and health, as well as her husband’s salvation!

I also had a chance to take some, but not all, of my grandchildren out for a time of fun and pizza. On the trip to Chuck E Cheese Pizza, I got misdirected by Siri and got lost. It was frustrating for me, but I finally found my way. Someone has said, “The only thing worse than being lost is being lost and no one is looking for you.” This is the dilemma for so many people in our world today, but especially in the 10/40 Window!

As most of you know, my most recent book just came out. It is called “Peeking Through the 10/40 Window: Why it Matters to God and Why it Should Matter to Us.” All profits from the book will be used to help the poor folks in Cambodia. Nearly every day we are faced with tremendous needs with people we serve or people we meet. I received this email from one of our good men a couple of days ago:

When my wife picked up your 1040 book I started reading it during services and did not pay any attention to you. When we got home I stayed up and read the whole thing. I listened to your Thursday message on the church website so don’t despair. I am shocked by the 1040 statistics. I did not realize just how bad the situation is. I am sure that holds true for the majority of the people who are living comfortable lives. You really did an excellent job on explaining what the situation is really like and it makes me appreciate what the missionaries are doing and if I was 10 years younger I would be going back. I will continue to support the 1040 as best I can. I know that the greatest gift you can give our Lord is an unsaved soul.

Please pray that God will use this book to inform and inspire many about the great need in the 10/40 Window!

As most of you know, I flew into the States recently and will be here for two months. I will have a full calendar. As of now, I am scheduled to be in 13 churches, 3 Missions’ Conferences, and will be teaching a three-day Intensive at Pacific Baptist Bible College called “Discipleship and Missions.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR MY TIME IN THE STATES TO BE FRUITFUL!

I arrived in the country on Thursday evening and less than 36 hours later, on Saturday, my niece Sarah (Pastor Joe’s daughter) was married to one of our assistant pastors (Bruce Mejia). The most exciting thing about the wedding was that my brother was able to attend the wedding. What an emotional time it was to have Pastor Joe wheeled down the aisle holding his daughter’s hand to present her to Bruce. Of course, this was the first time my brother has been anywhere off of the hospital property for nearly two years and the first time he has been in the church since that dreadful night October 3, 2013.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR MY BROTHER’S RECOVERY, FOR HIS WIFE, THE REST OF THE FAMILY, AND FOR GOD TO USE BRUCE AND SARAH MEJIA FOR HIS GLORY!

The following day was Pacific Baptist Church’s 27th anniversary! Regrettably, my brother wasn’t able to make this special event. Just over 27 years ago, my brother and his wife Mary, along with their first-born Joseph, started Cambodian Baptist Church. The name of the church was later changed to its present name of Pacific Baptist Church.

God had placed a dream in my brother’s heart years before, while still a student in Bible College, to reach the Cambodian people. The dream, which was birthed in North Chicago, led my brother to Long Beach (an amazing story right there) to start a church and has now been responsible for a thriving church in Long Beach, another one about twenty miles away in Monterey Park, and missions teams in Cambodia, Communist Laos, Thailand, and possibly, in the near future the country of China!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PACIFIC BAPTIST CHURCH TO CONTINUE WITH THE MISSIONS FERVOR OF THE PAST!

As always, it was a real joy to be able to spend a weekend with my dear friend Pastor Art Maricle, his family, and the New Hope Baptist Church of Santa Rosa. I had the opportunity to preach for them three times on Sunday. I preached messages on “Dreaming Big for God,” “Compassion Makes a Difference,” and per Brother Maricle’s request, on Sunday evening I preached a message called “Lessons We Have Learned.”

This message, again per the pastor’s request, was about lessons we have learned the past two years since my brother’s illness. I asked my brother’s wife Mary and his eldest Joseph, to give me a few lessons they have learned, and I added a few of my own. While the Holy Spirit moved in all three services; the evening service was special, not to mention, emotional!

While my time here in the States is primarily about the Father’s business, reporting the great things God is doing in Southeast Asia, and getting the word out about the 10/40 Window, we are also finding time to be with the grandchildren. Now, that’s always a blessing! Two of my grandchildren, Hosanna and Bella, started K-4 just this week. They are all growing up so quickly!

I SINCERELY COVET ALL OF YOUR PRAYERS DURING THESE TWO MONTHS IN THE STATES!

 As most of you know, for many followers of Christ in Southeast Asia and other parts of the 10/40 Window, persecution is a daily occurrence. In fact, it’s a way of life. The three teen boys pictured below (Sron, Bundit, and Sophea) have stood for Christ and because of their stand they were all kicked out of their homes in Phnom Penh. We mentioned Sophia’s testimony in our last blog update. Eventually, Bundit was forced to go back home to harsh beatings. He continues to serve Christ in spite of it!

It is good to hear that Sony is remaining faithful in her stand for Christ in spite of persecution from family and friends. Since Man and I had the opportunity to win her to Christ over a month ago, she has been faithfully attending the services

Please continue to pray for Sron, Bundit, Sophea, and Sony to stand true to Christ amidst the persecution! 

Thank you for your prayerful support of our ministry in Southeast Asia!!!