What a blessing it was to be able to teach at Pacific Baptist Bible College via FaceTime. In one of PBBC missions classes this semester they are having different missionaries from our three teams in Southeast Asia teach. I will be teaching four times this semester, including during their “College Days.” We teach at 1:00 AM our time in Southeast Asia. So the challenge isn’t so much to keep the students awake during the lecture but the instructor. 🙂 My first two lessons are entitled, “Why Missions? Why Me?” I have been told from back home that the response to part one of the lecture was great. I am grateful that my brother Pastor Joe had a vision to reach the world and the vision continues today in spite of the fact that he is still hospitalized!

Please pray for the students of Pacific Baptist Bible College as God continues to work in many of their hearts about the possibility of going to the mission field!

As I have mentioned in a few previous updates my language tutor is named Abraham. He was given that name after trusting Christ. Abraham was already saved when he started tutoring me, but he had drifted from the Lord. So for the past few months we have split our language learning time in half and I have been discipling him. Three weeks ago Adrian and I started meeting at Abraham’s house for a time of Bible study. It is primarily a time to disciple Abraham, his wife, and his brother-n-law, but we had a few visitors for our first Bible study. We are taking the first few weeks to emphasize the importance of the Bible.

Please pray for spiritual growth for Abraham, his wife, and his brother-law Vayy and that God will bless our time together!

One young man you have heard me talk about much over the past year has been Kosal Sann. For over a year now I have been meeting with him at least once per week. Last week he married a wonderful young lady named Phalley. The wedding ceremony was great and I had the privilege to give the challenge to the couple. The reception was special. It was great to see Kosal’s unsaved father Pheap attend the reception. Pheap is still a Muslim and has had very little interaction with the family since disowning them a little over four years ago when they decided to follow Christ.

Please pray for Kosal and Phalley’s life together as a married couple and for his father’s (Pheap) salvation!

When my wife and I left for the mission field three years ago we had ten grandchildren. We just recently were blessed and our 16th grandchild was born. My daughter Jessica and her husband Pastor Joshua Aquino just had their fifth child. Little baby Emma had a healthy delivery and is a joy, not only for her parents and grandparents, but for her four siblings.

My daughter Joy and I visited Beijing China and stayed with one of our dear friends who has been in the country over 17 years and is doing an amazing work in a very difficult place. He specifically asked me not to post any names or any pictures of his ministry online, so unfortunately, we will only insert a few general pictures below. Of course, the purpose for our going to China was to continue to do research about the possibility of bringing a team, sent out of our church, to this country. It was a very helpful and beneficial visit to say the least!

China (1.4 billion people) is often referred to as an Atheistic country; the largest country in the world. It is referred to as an atheistic country for a good reason. Unlike any other country that I have ever visited, including Communist Laos, China and the Chinese people seem to be an extremely non-religious people. Unless of course, you refer to “atheism” and/or “materialism” as a religion!

One of the most peculiar things about China, at least Beijing, is that you will find very little, if any, signs of religious belief–of any kind–in the public sector. You see no temples or altars. No monks or priests. You see nobody bowing to a statue or burning incense. And I surely saw no church but the illegal one that I attended for a mid-week and Sunday service.

WHEN THE COMMUNISTS OVERRAN THIS COUNTRY IN 1949 THEY DID A THOROUGH JOB OF ERADICATING RELIGION, AT LEAST IN THE PUBLIC ARENA!

China is a country of 1.4 billion people (about three times more people than the United States) with 150 cities of over one million people (the United States has only nine). Depending on what statistics you read,  only about 3-5 percent of the population professes any form of “Christianity.” This would include Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Roman Catholics, mainline Protestants, and just about any sect that would claim to be “Christian.” In America, 77 percent of the population claims to be “Christian.”

Yet, there are only somewhere around 50 Independent Baptist churches in the entire country. At the same time, Los Angeles county (with it’s ten million people) would more than likely double the number of churches that the entire country of China has. I know for a fact that the State of California (with its 38 million people) has well over 350 Independent Baptist churches. What a painful disparity in where the laborers are located!

Please continue to pray for God’s wisdom concerning this matter of sending a team to China and that God will raise up the men and the women who are willing to go!

We thank God for your prayers and financial support. We couldn’t be here without you.

For His Glory in the Nations,

Johnny, Denise, Joy, and Sue

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to spend the entire day (13 hours) visiting in the Chom Kha village and the Psa Thrict village. That evening I had the opportunity to preach for the folks in our Psa Thrict church. This church is about 60% Cham (former Muslims) and 40% Khmer. It really is an amazing work and God seems to be expanding it’s outreach on a weekly basis.

While visiting in the Chom Kha village, I had the opportunity to lead Hong and his wife Sokim to Christ. For the past few months our folks from the Psa Thrict church have been sharing the Gospel with them, but the Lord allowed Man and I the privilege to see them trust Christ. I guess that’s what you call “entering into another man’s labours” (John 4:38), which I have seen often here. Thankful for those faithful laborers, from our churches, who paved the way for Hong and Sokim’s salvation by faithfully sowing the seed.  PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF HONG AND SOKIM!

After visiting with Hong and Sokim, Man and I headed over to get ready for a time of Bible teaching where San would be teaching a few of the new converts in the Chom Kha village. Just before the teaching started we had the opportunity to share the Gospel with the 19-year old grandson of Pun (the first to be saved in this village), and praise the Lord, Sala trusted Christ. Again, while I witnessed to him and Man interpreted, this young man had been witnessed to and prayed for in the past. We just “entered into another man’s labours,” and were thankful for the opportunity!    PLEASE PRAY FOR SALA’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

It was a blessing to sit in, even if I didn’t understand what was being said, on the Bible study with a handful of new believers while San was teaching them the Bible. While San taught the adults and teens Kam was teaching a handful of children.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE NEW BELIEVERS OF THE CHOM KHA VILLAGE!

After the time of Bible teaching, Man and I went and visited a woman who is dying of hepatitis. She is forced to live outside of the family’s house. Her daughter told us that the doctors have said, ‘THERE IS NO HOPE!’ While it may be true that on this side of eternity there is little or no hope for her. She has trusted Christ and better days are ahead for her, and she’ll be the first to tell you so.

After a great lunch served by our Cham folks, Vannak and I went to visit a few of his relatives. First, we visited a few of his relatives who are believers, and then a few who are not believers, and who have in the past, persecuted him and his family for their faith. It was a great visit. I was shocked to find that his great grandmother was a woman that I had met some five years ago on my initial trip here to Cambodia. I remember that visit like it was yesterday. It so moved me that her picture went with me all over America while I was on deputation. God used grandma Nas, along with others in the Cham village, to stir my heart to leave the comforts and conveniences of America to try to make a difference in the lives of those in the 10/40 Window.

PLEASE PRAY FOR GRANDMA NAS’ SALVATION AND FOR OTHER CHAM FOLKS WHO HAVE YET TO TRUST CHRIST TO DO SO! 

What a privilege it is to preach for the Psa Thraict church. It’s always a joy to preach for them. They are wonderful people, they love preaching, and boy do they love to sing. In addition to many congregational songs, I think they had four specials. 🙂 It was a blessing to have Hong and Sala, who had trusted Christ earlier in the day, in the service. Sokim couldn’t come because she had to take care of her sick mother-in-law. I preached from 1 Samuel 14 on Jonathan and his armor-bearers great victory over the Philistines and the armor-bearers words to Jonathan, “Do all that is in thine heart.” The message was very simple. Delight yourself in the Lord and his word and he will place his desires in your heart and then just go do it. God really moved in the service!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS THE PSA THRICT CHURCH FAMILY!

On Sunday evenings I am teaching a small group of folks whose first language is English, needless to say, it’s a small group. It’s been a blessing. It has especially been a blessing to have Wanita and her cousins Isabelle and Vanessa meet with us. This past Sunday was a real blessing as Isabelle and Vanessa shared their testimony of salvation. I had the privilege to lead them to Christ about six months ago at the very table they were sharing their testimony. What made it especially sweet was this was on my 39th spiritual birthday. A great reminder that we are “saved to serve.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR WANITA, ISABELLE, AND VANESSA’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND THE SALVATION THEIR MOTHER!

Two or three weeks ago, Vannak and I had the privilege to share the Gospel with Srey Neit (21-years old) and her sister Lynn (15-years old). They live in Steung MeanChey. On that day Srey Neith trusted Christ, Lynn did not. If you will remember, we mentioned this in our last update and asked for you to pray for Lynn’s salvation. Well, this past week, Vannak and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel once more with Lynn while Srey Neit was reading some Christian literature we gave her, and she trusted Christ.  

PLEASE PRAY FOR LYNN AND SREY NEITH’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND THEIR MOTHER JAN’S SALVATION! 

In just a couple of days Joy and I will be flying to Beijing, China. We will be there for ten days to meet with an American missionary and survey his work. God has blessed him mightily in the 15 or so years he has been there. This is one of two trips that I will be making to China in the next four months. The purpose for both trips is to continue the pursuit of Pacific Baptist Church sending a team to China sometime in the near future. Please do pray for God to bless this trip and to give us, as well as the leadership of Pacific Baptist Church, wisdom concerning China and a future team.    

Denise, Joy, Sue, and I, once again, want to thank you for your investment in eternity, for your investment in our ministry here in Southeast Asia through prayers and financial support, and for your faithfulness to Jesus right where you are!

Johnny

 

As many of you know, last week we had a near tragedy. One of Vannak and Samantha’s twins, Annabelle, fell down a flight of stairs in her walker. They had to rush her to the hospital on the back of a moped. Unfortunately, that’s how things are done here, more often than not, in this part of the world. Kosal held her unconscious little body in his arms as they took the 10-minute trip from the house to the hospital. And, while the first night looked very disheartening, God was merciful! Annabelle, after about four days in the hospital, is now home. Praise the Lord!

PLEASE PRAY FOR ANNABELLE TO HAVE A FULL RECOVERY FROM HER FRACTURED SKULL!

In previous posts we have mentioned a young lady named Lynn and her mother Jan. We have asked you to pray for their salvation, and we ask that you would continue to pray for their salvation. While Vannak, Sue, and I (primarily Sue) have been working with Lynn and her mother, we recently had the opportunity to meet her 21-year old sister Srey Neith. Srey Neith, along with Lynn and Jan, visited a Sunday morning church service and on a visit to their house a few days later as Vannak and I shared the Gospel with Lynn and Srey Neith, Srey Neith trusted Christ. Unfortunately, about half way through the Gospel presentation Lynn was called away to assist some neighbors with some work!

PLEASE PRAY FOR SREY NEITH’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND FOR LYNN AND JAN’S SALVATION!

In the past few posts we have mentioned Phat often, who trusted Christ about two months ago. We have been discipling her on Tuesdays. She recently had a baby and when I asked them what the baby’s name was, they replied with, “He has no name yet.” That is very common here in Southeast Asia. They wait until after the baby is born, often a few days or even weeks, before naming them. What they said next shocked Vannak, Sue, and me. They asked us to pick a name for him. So we helped them pick a name. His name is Joshua. Needless to say, it’s a huge step for a new Christian in this Buddhist country to give their child a “Christian” name.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PHAT’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH, HER HUSBAND SAMNAN’S SALVATION, AND FOR BABY JOSHUA!

Other than ministry in Steung MeanChey, my favorite time of the week is when I have different men over my house for a time of accountability and discipleship. On Saturdays, I am with Chaay. On Mondays, I meet with Zeng, Sen (Tom), Ra, and Man. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I am with Both. On Thursday evenings, I meet with Kosal. I also find time for discipleship with my language tutor Abraham a couple times a week.

I have been meeting with Kosal for just about a year now. His spiritual growth has been very exciting. I think he would be the first to admit to you he had plateaued in his Christian life and had become somewhat stagnant. For pretty much most of the past year, he has been faithful to do his assigned Bible reading (along with his personal Bible reading), memorize a few verses each week, and read countless books that I have given him. While meeting with him in recent weeks it has been a blessing to hear him talk about what God is doing in his life and to hear of his greater desire to go and share the gospel with others. As I mentioned in a previous post, Kosal and Phalley will be getting married January 23!

PLEASE PRAY FOR KOSAL’S CONTINUAL SPIRITUAL GROWTH, PRAY FOR HIS AND PHALLEY’S WEDDING, AND NEW LIFE TOGETHER!

It is such a blessing to have my daughter Joy and niece Susanna here with us. They are such an asset to the team here. They work with the children, the teen girls, and the single girls, along with teaching English, Joy goes twice a week to one of the village ministries, and Sue helps quite a bit with the music here. Of course, as you know, we have folks over our house for meals on a regular basis and they lead the way in our “hospitality” ministry, not to mention that they, along with my wife, cook some really serious meals for us.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS JOY AND SUE AND THE PEOPLE THEY ARE INFLUENCING FOR CHRIST, AND THAT MANY OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE INSPIRED BY THEIR EXAMPLE, AND SURRENDER THEIR LIVES FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IN THE 10/40 WINDOW!

Sixty years ago, last week, five men (Jim Eliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Yourderian) literally gave their lives for the cause of Christ. All five men were attacked and speared by a group of Huaorani warriors. The news of their deaths was broadcast around the world and Life magazine covered the event with a photo essay.

The death of this men galvanized the missionary effort in the United States, sparking an outpouring of funding for evangelization efforts around the world. Their work is still frequently remembered in evangelical publications, and in 2006 was the subject of the film production End of the Spear. Several years after the death of the men, the widow of Jim Elliot, Elisabeth, and the sister of Nate Saint, Rachel, returned to Ecuador as missionaries with the Summer Institute of Linguistics (now SIL International) to live among the Huaorani. This eventually led to the conversion of many, including some of those involved in the killing. While largely eliminating tribal violence, their efforts exposed the tribe to increased influence from the outside.

While they were students together at Wheaton College, Ed McCully had written an impassioned letter to Jim Elliot describing how the Lord was compelling him to be a missionary. Ed was in law school and working as a hotel night clerk, but was unsettled in his heart about his decision to become an attorney.

While he was walking and praying one morning, the Lord unmistakably sharpened the focus of his life to a single point. In the letter Ed wrote: “Jim, I have [only] one desire now – to live a life of reckless abandon for the Lord, putting all of my energy into it. Maybe he’ll send me some place where the name of Jesus Christ is unknown.”

Five years later, Ed confirmed his heightened fervor for the desperately lost Waodanis in a simple statement scribbled in the margin of his journal: “I’m willing to give my life for a handful of Indians!” And a few days later, Ed McCully and his four friends did. Five good seeds fell into the ground and died on January 6, 1956—and the crop began to spring up. 
Who or what are we willing to live and die for?

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL RAISE UP MANY MORE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL ALSO SAY, “I have [only] one desire now – to live a life of reckless abandon for the Lord, putting all of my energy into it. Maybe he’ll send me some place where the name of Jesus Christ is unknown.”

Denise, Joy, Sue, and I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continual prayers and consistent financial support!

My wife and I, along with Joy and Sue, would like to wish all of our family, friends, and faithful supporters a “Happy New Year.” While 2015 was a great year for all of us here in Southeast Asia, we are definitely trusting God for an even greater 2016. And we covet your prayers toward that end!

The day prior to my returning from the “Creative Access” nation our church in Phnom Penh held a special Christmas Play during our “Celebration Service.” While I wasn’t able to be there, Denise, Joy, and Sue were, and they said it was a super blessing. As always, there was a great crowd and more visitors than usual. It was a blessing to hear that many of our teenager’s parents came to see them in the play. I am sure that was a special blessing for them!

To be blessed, and to see and hear one of the many Christmas specials (“I heard the bells on Christmas Day”) from the service just click the link below.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day from carrithelight on Vimeo.

Brother Vannak, one of our national leaders, had the privilege to preach for the service. I am sure it was good. He loves the Lord, he loves his people, and he is a great communicator of truth.

It was good to hear that Phat, who Vannak and I led to Christ about a month ago, and her husband Saman came to the service. Just a few days ago Vannak and I stopped by their house to visit and to our surprise the baby had been born.  When we asked what the baby’s name was they said he was not given a name yet and asked if we would name him.

Please pray that God will bless the seeds that were sown during this special service, pray for Phat’s spiritual growth, and the salvation of her husband!

I returned to the country on Monday afternoon and less than three hours later my wife and I along with sixteen other couples from our church loaded up and went on a Couple’s Christmas Activity. We had a great time with fellow missionaries and with our local people. For them, it was a very special evening, not something they get to do very often. It was good to see the nationals having a good and godly time with their spouse.

Please pray for our couples and for our families. A Christian home is a totally new concept for these folks, but they are growing in their understanding of it.

After 10 days out of the country, it was a blessing to get back on the streets in Steung Mean Chey.  As I have mentioned in the past, my favorite day of the week is Tuesday. On Tuesdays, we load up in a tuk-tuk at 7:00 AM and head to Steung Mean Chey. Vannak, Sue, and I visited together for about an hour. During this short period of time we were able to share the Gospel with a few folks and even had one 21-year old young man, named Kjav, trust Christ. We also spent about 20-30 minutes with Phat encouraging her in her new faith. Sue and I then went with Man for another hour-and-a half. He wanted me to meet two different men; one a soldier and the other a university professor named Sokreth. I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with both men, with Man interpreting. Neither of them trusted Christ but they were both very open! It was also a real joy to spend some time with Lynn and her mother Jan. Sue has been working with Lynn for awhile now and Lynn attended a service recently, as well as one of our Teen Girl’s Fellowships.

Please pray for Kjav’s spiritual growth and Lee, Sokreth, and Lynn and her mother’s salvation!

On Christmas Eve morning the ladies made omelettes with everything imaginable stuffed inside to go along with biscuits and gravy. It was great! That evening we had a few of the ladies over for an evening meal, while I went out with a couple of the guys. All in all, it was a great way to spend Christmas Eve.

On Saturday, along with a great day of visiting, we had five college age young men over our house for supper and a few games of UNO. These young men are all lost. Man and I have been working with them over the past few months. They seemed to enjoy the food and learning how to play UNO, and Kosal shared his salvation testimony with them.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL OPEN THESE MEN’S HEARTS AND THEY WILL TRUST CHRIST!

On Sunday evening, while sitting in the service, I noticed that one of good our teenage girls named Srey Lech had a picture of my brother’s family in her Bible. A reminder to pray I’m sure. It is a blessing, not only to work with young people who love Jesus, but young people who are also committed to praying for spiritual leaders, even ones they don’t know personally.

Please continue to pray for my brother (Pastor Joe) and his family!

Again, Denise, Joy, Sue, and I would like to wish you a Happy New Year and thank you for your prayers and support!!!

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.