On Saturday’s I go soul winning with either Vannak or Man. More often than not, I go with Man. Last Saturday Man and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with these five folks pictured below. Four of the five had never heard the Gospel, or even of Jesus. They were heading back to their home province within a few hours of our meeting with them. In other words, they were heading back to one of the nearly 14,000 villages with no Gospel witness in Cambodia. Man and I were thankful to have the chance to share Gospel with all of them and leave them with some literature to read in the future.

Please pray that God will take the words that we shared with these dear folks and bring them to a place of salvation!

Last Sunday I had the awesome privilege to preach at our two village churches. It was a long day, over 14 hours, but it was an extremely blessed day.  I had the privilege to preach three times. Actually four, if you count the hour-and-half of preaching/teaching on the tuk-tuk with three of our Cham men. I preached twice for our Cham (former Muslims) people and once for our church in Prey Bang. It was a real treat to see the tuk-tuk unloading with over 20 adults (including one blind adult man), teens, and children to come and hear the Word of God preached. I even saw one motorbike pull in with five people. It’s legal here!

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I recently read an article about the drought here in Cambodia. While those of us in the big city, who are a bit better off (the average Cambodian makes less than $1.50 per day), haven’t really felt the effects of it–other than the extreme heat–those in the outer provinces and various villages throughout the country have definitely been effected. While reading the article and seeing a few pictures (including the one  below), I was reminded once again, not only of a literal drought that the country is temporarily going through, but the spiritual drought that this entire country is experiencing, and has been experiencing for hundreds of years. Like the young boy seeking water, but finding only polluted water, the people of this country–if we don’t bring them the water of the Word–will have to settle for the muddied waters of Buddhism, atheism, or paganism. These dear people so desperately need Jesus!   
Please pray that God will continue to send men and women to countries like Cambodia in the 1040 Window that are experiencing a spiritual drought!

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It’s been quite awhile since I mentioned this, but the church here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia reminds me so much of our home church in Long Beach. This is especially true of those early days of our home church. While you today may know our home and sending church as Pacific Baptist Church, when my brother (Pastor Joe) started the church over 27 years ago it was called Cambodian Baptist Church. In those early days, while the church was reaching many people for Christ, both young and old alike, we were definitely reaching more young people than we were older folks. If you had visited the church in those early days, you would have seen a lot of children and a lot of teenagers. You might have been tempted to call us a “teenie-bopper” church, as one woman did after visiting a service years ago. In those early days of the church we found that it was difficult to reach the older Khmer folks. Very difficult! So after much prayer, and some really good counsel, Pastor Joe started to focus his attention on the next generation. Yes, those “teenie bopppers.” It all started with a dream God had placed in my brother’s heart some 27 years ago. That God-given dream became a strong godly desire and led to a dogged-determination to reach and train the next generation for Christ. Little by little the vision became clearer and clearer. God blessed in a miraculous way!

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It’s been awhile since I have mentioned this in an update, but I want to thank those of you who continue to pray for my brother, Pastor Joe,  his dear wife, and the rest of the family. I had the chance to FaceTime Pastor Joe and Mary the other night. While my brother has made much progress the past 21 months, he still needs a miracle. His wife Mary, the rest of the family, as well as the church family are very grateful for your prayers, your words of encouragement, and acts of kindness during this trial.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Joe’s recovery, for encouragement, and strength for his wife Mary, and the children!

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The Lord is definitely meeting with us during my eight day trip back to the “Creative Access Nation.” I am with our team sent out of Pacific Baptist Church in Long Beach for two Sundays, the midweek service, and four evenings of special Bible teaching. I am filling in for Brother KT while he is in the states with his daughter at the ACE Convention.

We had a wonderful Lord’s Day here. All three services, as well as next Sunday services, I am teaching on Paul’s Passions. On our first Sunday together, we dealt with the topics “Paul’s Passion that Christ would be Pre-eminent in His Life and Ministry,” “Paul’s Passion to Live for that which was Eternal,” and “Paul’s Passion to Continue to Grow in His Knowledge and Love for Jesus.”  Next Sunday, Lord willing, we will continue with “Paul’s Passion to Continue to Grow in His Knowledge and Love for Jesus,” along with “Paul’s Passion to Reach the Lost” (especially those in the unreached areas), and “Paul’s Passion to Disciple Men for Christ.”  During our special sessions Monday – Friday we will be considering “The Importance of Prayer in Paul’s Life.”

While the group here may be few in number there is much potential. Another small group has merged with them for the time being. Between the two groups they have a handful of young people who are growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and it was very apparent after spending a week with them they want to go forward for Christ in the midst of the difficult circumstances here in this country.

Please pray that God will bless these times we have together and raise up a handful of passionate and praying people here in this country!

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As always, recent days here in Phnom Penh have been extremely busy and blessed beyond measure. Our visitation efforts in Steung Mean Chey are really beginning to show some exciting results. In the past two weeks, just from Vannak, Adrian, my niece Sue, and my time visiting on Tuesdays, six brand new adults have visited our services. Three of them returned for a second visit. Also, over the last two weeks it has been a blessing to have Pov and her 22-year old daughter attend our service. At one time, they were faithful members of another church in Phnom Penh for over ten years. Apparently, something happened and they have been out of church for the past four years.

Pov with her daughter Srey Leak

Please pray for Pov, her husband (I haven’t met him yet), and their daughter Srey Leak to get back on track and in church!

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Things got going as soon as I returned from my trip out of the country. On Sunday I took Phalla, Nissa, Man, his wife Kanha,  and Joy, out for lunch right after the morning service. Phalla is one of the university students we have been working with who is a new Christian and I also have been discipling. Nissa is his girlfriend who wasn’t saved yet, but attending a few services and has also been over our house a few times. A few days later Nissa asked Kanha if she could come over and learn more about salvation and Kanha led her to Christ!

Joy, Kanha, Nissa, Phalla, and Man

My wife and Kanha with Nissa (on the far left) with one of her friends Srey-Leak (on the far right)

Please pray for Phalla and Nissa’s spiritual growth!

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This past week or so was an extremely busy and blessed one. As most of you know, I flew into the “Creative Access” Nation where my wife and I served for 17 months when first arriving in Southeast Asia two years ago. On Sunday morning I preached twice for a Filipino congregation in the capital city. God really did move in a special way! This is the church that Denise and I, along with the rest of our team, were a part of for Sunday mornings when we were in the country. I was blessed to be able to preach every Sunday morning for these folks while we were based in the country, and they have a special place in my heart. I love the pastor (Aaron Inventor), his family, and I love the people dearly!

Preaching for our Filipino friends in Creative Access Nation!

Please pray that God will continue to use this church to be a lighthouse in a nation that has less than 2 percent of it population profess to be a “Christian!” 

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My wife has just returned from the states. She flew back to be with my daughter Jessica, who was recovering from surgery, and assisting my daughter-in-law Hannah, who just had our 15th grandchild. She was greatly missed that’s for sure. While my wife has been gone, my daughter Joy and niece Susanna have done their best to pick up the slack and have been a great help and blessing to me.

My wife just arriving back in Phnom Penh!

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