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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE PICTURES BELOW ARE BLURRED FOR SECURITY REASONS!!!

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

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

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

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

A FEW ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

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

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

Johnny and Denise

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

 

The picture above is the famous Mekong River. I took this picture on our recent trip to the “Creative Access” nation that my wife and I lived and served in for 17 months. We lived about 300 yards from the river.

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

For nearly five years now, my wife and I have lived and served in three of these countries (China, Cambodia, and Laos), we have also had the opportunity to assist our team in Thailand on a few occasions (I will be there at the end of this month), and we have had the opportunity, on one occasion, to minister in Myanmar. Other than Vietnam, none of these countries have more than five percent of their population professing to be “Christian.” Vietnam has nine percent professing to be “Christian,” but most of those would be Catholic. There’s a great need for more laborers in these countries.

PLEASE PRAY THAT THE LORD OF THE HARVEST WILL SEND MORE LABORERS TO THIS PART OF THE WORLD!

Near the end of December, my wife and I travelled to the “Creative Access” nation where we served our first 17 months in Asia. We were there for a week. Our primary purpose for being there was to meet with our team and discuss the possibility of our relocating there for a season to assist with discipling young leaders, possibly starting a Bible Institute/Ministry Training Center, and a few other tasks that would enable the ministry to move forward, reach more people, and nurture the folks they have. Our secondary purpose for going was to attend the wedding of two of our young people. It was a great wedding too, even if a few cows tried to “crash the party.” 🙂

WE COVET YOUR PRAYERS ON THIS POSSIBLE MOVE!

While there, my wife and I celebrated my birthday, Christmas, and our Anniversary. Our team even surprised us with a Birthday/Anniversary Celebration during a Christmas Eve celebration for the church family!

As always, while in this country, I had the privilege and joy to speak for our team, as well as for another church that I have been preaching at for seven years (even prior to surrendering to go to the mission field).  My wife and I also treated the factory workers of this church family to an early Christmas dinner – Pizza!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE VARIOUS MINISTRIES IN THIS CREATIVE ACCESS NATION AND THAT THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN WILL BRING FORTH FRUIT!

As I mentioned in our previous update, the weather here has been cold, but the work of God and the fellowship of His people has been warm and sweet. It is such a joy to be able a part of what God is doing here-even if it may only be for a short season.

My wife and I love these folks and I am enjoying meeting with a few of the men on a one-to-one basis weekly, to be able to teach a handful of the men every Tuesday, to occasionally preach for our main services (we are having the Nationals do 75 percent of the preaching), to teach the teens a couple times a month, visit the sick and dying, and have folks (saved and unsaved) over our place on a regular basis. In fact, we overdid it this past week. We had folks over five-of-seven days. My wife is a super blessing! 🙂

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE OUR MINISTRY HERE TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THIS CITY OF SEVEN MILLION PEOPLE, PROVINCE OF 47 MILLION PEOPLE, COUNTRY OF 1.4 BILLION PEOPLE, AND EVENTUALLY AROUND THE WORLD!

A FEW ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for God’s presence, power, provision, and protection in our lives.
• Pray for Peng Li Mai who has terminal cancer
• Pray for God to bless our six present house groups (potential future churches).
• Pray for those in leadership here at the church as we are beginning to train our folks including our leaders to disciple others.
• Pray for Zhang Lun, Li, Richard, Andy, Peter, and Liu Hong (and their wives), as God continues to mold them into the men and “leaders” that He wants them to be here in China.
• Pray for a few of our single young ladies (Cubie, Lily, Aslyn, and Christine).
• Pray that God will help us to reach more teens and faithfully disciple the teens we have at the moment.
• Pray for Maggie and Hu Ying’s salvation!
• Please pray for our teams in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.
• Pray for my upcoming trip Thailand (end of January) to be with our team for a time of ministry and fellowship.
• Pray for Dick and Trish Baucum to have a fruitful furlough.
• Pray for our ministry in Laos, as we consider assisting them in developing a discipleship ministry and culture and starting a Bible Institute.

Denise and I want to thank you for your continual and consistent prayer and financial support. We also want to thank many of you for taking the time to read our update and praying for the specific needs. We love and thank God for you all!

“The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.” – Missionary Henry Martyn

The couple pictured above can occasionally be found in our neighborhood begging, which is kind of rare, it’s not allowed in China. Every time I see them, and others like them, not only do I give them something, but I am reminded, not only of the immense physical needs in this part of the world, but the great spiritual blindness in this part of the word!

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

In the past few weeks, it has been cold–really cold–in our part of the country. My wife and I lived and served in Southern California for over 25 years prior to coming to Asia. Then we spent another four years in Southeast Asia (Laos and Cambodia) where any time it gets under 75 degrees they get the winter coats out. So, weather in the low 30s, and an occasionally dip into the mid-20s, is just a bit different to say the least!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE US AND OTHERS TO BRING THE WARMTH OF HIS LOVE TO THIS PART OF THE WORLD!

One of the different ministries that I enjoy assisting with is teaching our teens on Sunday. This too, is a bit different than our ministries in Long Beach, Laos, and Cambodia where we were overrunning with teenagers. Here in China, it’s a bit different. For many different reasons, we have few teens, but it’s always a blessing to be able to teach them. We are going through the Gospel of John and they seem to be enjoying it!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL NOT ONLY GIVE US MORE TEENS, BUT THAT WE WILL BE FAITHFUL TO INVEST IN THE TEENS THAT HE HAS GIVEN US!

We now have five small groups spread throughout our city of seven million people. We have another one starting soon. All but one of these groups are made up primarily of believers from our church and the intention is that someday in the future they will become indigenous churches. One of the groups is a Bible study at, of all places, a Karaoke business. During the lunch period, anywhere between 15-20 of the over 200 employees gather in an office for a time of Bible study led by one of our men named Li. Nearly all of those attending are lost without Christ. The few who know Jesus, have been saved through this ministry.   I had the opportunity to teach for them recently. It was a real blessing! I taught from Luke chapter 2 on the reason we celebrate Christmas!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS LI AND THIS MINISTRY THAT HE LEADS!

While our ministry is in a time of transition, and we are trying to let our national men do the majority of the preaching on Sunday morning, I still have the opportunity and privilege to preach once every four-to-five weeks, and it’s always a joy and a blessing. Two weeks ago, I had the chance to preach on the “Humility of Christ” as it related to the Christmas story. The Lord really moved during the service!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR GOD TO MOVE IN OUR OUR SUNDAY SERVICES AND FOR ALL OF US TO WALK IN THE HUMILITY OF CHRIST!

One of my favorite times of the week is Tuesday afternoon. On Tuesdays, a group of our men meet for a time of prayer, teaching, and a time to deal with church business. I have been, for some time now, teaching on “Being a Disciple and Reproducing Disciples.” Too be honest, it’s sort of a new concept for many of the guys, but they have a real desire to be men who disciple others and to see the church become a discipling church. The last two weeks, my wife made a special meal for the guys. Needless to say, they were happy campers!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE THESE TUESDAY MEETINGS TO GROW ALL OF US IN THE AREA OF BEING A DISCIPLE AND REPRODUCING DISCIPLES!

As we mentioned in previous updates, one of the ministries we are committed to is simply having folks over our apartment on a weekly basis. We have believers, as well as unbelievers over for a meal and fellowship. In recent days, along with having Liu Hong over every Tuesday evening, we have had a group of our folks from our church family over for food, fun, and fellowship and two unbelievers named Maggie and Hu Ying and their daughters.

It was a blessing to share the Christmas story and the Gospel with Maggie and Hu Ying. Neither of them had ever heard either the Christmas story or the Gospel before. They seemed very interested!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE THESE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE FOLKS OVER OUR HOME TO LOVE, REACH, AND TEACH FOLKS!

While we surely miss being with family back home for Christmas, it was a blessing to be a blessing for some of the locals here during the Christmas season. Denise did a great job wrapping gifts for a few believers and unbelievers alike.

It was also a blessing for us to take a few of the single girls out for an early Christmas meal after a Sunday service just prior to leaving for our tip to Laos. These are sweet girls who love Jesus and are faithful to the work of the ministry here. So, if you are a single guy and looking for a good wife just give me a call! 🙂

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SINGLE ADULTS TO STAY FAITHFUL TO CHRIST AND THE CAUSE OF CHRIST AND TO NOT BE CAUGHT UP IN THE MANY DISTRACTIONS THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER!

While I was not able to be there (in Laos at the time), our church family put on a wonderful Christmas play and one of our good men preached a great message on the story of Christmas. I was told there were over 240 in attendance with at least twenty first time visitors.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SEEDS OF THE GOSPEL AND CHRIST’S LOVE THAT WERE SOWN DURING THE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SERVICE TO BRING FORTH FRUIT! 

A FEW ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for God’s presence, power, provision, and protection in our lives.
• Pray for God to bless our five present house groups (potential future churches) and the new group Liu Hong will be leading soon.
• Pray for our time of transition here as a church family.
• Pray for those in leadership here at the church as we are beginning to train our folks including our leaders to disciple others.
• Pray for Zhang Lun, Li, Richard, and Peter (and their wives), as God continues to mold them into the men and “leaders” that He wants them to be.
• Pray for Maggie and Hu Ying’s salvation!
• Please pray for our teams in Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia.
• Pray for my upcoming trip to Thailand (end of January) to be with our team for a time of ministry and fellowship.
• Pray for Dick and Trish Baucum to have a fruitful furlough.
• Pray for our ministry in Laos, as we consider relocating for a season to assist them in starting a Bible Institute.

Again, my wife and I want to thank you for your continual and consistent prayer and financial support. We also want to thank many of you for being a tremendous blessing during our time of need. We love and thank God for you all!

Johnny and Denise Esposito

“We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first.” — Oswald J. Smith

Well, as you can see in the picture above, we are back in Asia. Can you find me in the picture? 🙂 After getting a health clearance from the vascular surgeon and the neurologist, we immediately headed back “home” to Asia. And, may I say, “It’s good to be back!”

The past three months have been “trying” to say the least. Between our granddaughter going to heaven in September and my having a mini-stroke in October, we have been busy dealing with unexpected and unpleasant circumstances. Denise and I are both grateful for the many prayers, emails, phone calls, and text messages during these trials. As always, God has been good and gracious during the trials and so have God’s people, both in the United States, in Southeast Asia (Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand) and China!

Of course, it’s been good to be “back in the saddle” again. God is doing some amazing things here in China. It was a blessing to be back in our services, our Monday evening Men’s Leadership Meeting, and our Tuesday time of teaching the men who are leading the ministry here. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH AND OUR ATTEMPT TO PLANT MORE CHURCHES IN THIS CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE!

While I was not able to go, a team of nationals from our church here went to the southern part of our province and spent a week teaching and training some believers from four different rural churches. Five days of teaching (8 hours per day) and two days of practical ministry.  Most of the people they were training were from the Miao and the Yao people groups. Both people groups are considered Unreached People Groups (less than 2 percent professing any form of Christianity). From what I hear, God moved in a very special way. PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE DEAR MIAO AND YAO PEOPLE AS THEY ATTEMPT TO REACH THEIR PEOPLE FOR CHRIST!

It has been a blessing to have a few folks over our house for food and fellowship. We try to do this once or twice a week. Sometimes our guests are unbelievers and at other times believers, but we use the tool of hospitality to reach and teach people. Leo (pictured below) is meeting with me on a weekly basis. It’s a time of accountability, Bible study, and we always give him a good meal. PLEASE PRAY FOR LEO AS HE IS GETTING READY TO START A NEW HOUSE GROUP IN A FEW WEEKS!

Barry and Joy (both doctors) are dear friends of ours. They were a tremendous help when I had my mini-stroke. I have no idea what we would have done without them. They are fairly new Christians. They have a heart for God and desire to use medicine as a tool to reach the rural people of this country. PLEASE PRAY FOR BARRY AND JOY AS THEY PURSUE CHRIST AND THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST FOR THEIR LIVES!

Of course, while we were in the States to deal with my medical issues, I had the opportunity to preach a few times for our church, teach in Sunday school, and preach for the college. As always it was a blessing PLEASE PRAY THAT THE MESSAGES WE PREACHED AND THE LESSONS WE TAUGHT WHILE IN THE STATES WILL BRING FORTH FRUIT!

Just before my wife and I headed back to China, our co-laborer in China, Dick Baucum (pictured above) arrived in the States for a short furlough. He had a chance to meet my brother Pastor Joe for the first time. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR JOE AND HIS WIFE MARY!

A FEW ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray for God to bless our five present house groups (potential future churches) and the new group Leo will be leading soon.
• Pray for our time of transition here as a church.
• Pray for those in leadership here at the church as we are beginning to train our folks – including our leaders – to disciple others.
• Pray for Zhang Lun, Li, Richard, and Peter (and their wives), as God continues to mold them into the men and “leaders” He wants them to be.
• Pray for Jack, Maggie, and Hu Ying’s salvation!
• Please pray for our teams in Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia. 
• Pray for my upcoming trips to Laos (December) and Thailand (January) to be with our teams for a time of ministry and fellowship.
• Pray for Dick and Trish Baucum to have a fruitful furlough.
• Pray for our ministry in Laos, as we consider assisting them in starting a Bible Institute.

Again, my wife and I want to thank you for your continual and consistent prayer and financial support. We also want to thank many of you for being a tremendous blessing during our time of need. We love and thank God for you all!

For HIS Glory in the Nations,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

 

Our trip to the “Creative Access” nation, as always, was tremendous! I had the opportunity to preach four times for our team in the capital city, as well as one time for another church that I have preached for many times over the past four years. In addition to preaching five times, I also taught another four days, which included an extensive Question/Answer Time, for our team’s leaders and upcoming leaders.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL WATER AND BRING AN INCREASE TO THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN WHILE IN THIS “CREATIVE ACCESS” NATION!

I also had a chance to make a few visits in a village outside the capital city and meet some precious Hmong folks. The Hmong people are wonderful people. And the children are absolutely adorable. Our teams in the “Creative Access” nation and Thailand are reaching many Hmong people–young and old alike!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEAMS TO CONTINUE TO REACH THESE DEAR HMONG FOLKS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE VILLAGES!

While in the “Creative Access” nation, my wife and I sort of adopted a homeless girl and her father. Just about every evening, either she found us, or we looked for her. We would give her and her father a little bit of money, food, and water. Her name is Nout! On our last night before leaving the country and heading back for China, Jui and I had to hunt her down before finding her. In fact, I had to pray and ask God to help us find them. All I can say, is God answers prayer. We brought her and her father a meal fit for a king and his princess. They were happy, and so were we!

PLEASE PRAY FOR NOUT, HER FATHER, AND THE MANY POOR AND NEEDY IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD!

This “Creative Access” nation where my wife and I lived and served for 17 months has a population of about seven million people with less than two percent of the population professing to be “Christian.” Sixty-five percent of the country is Buddhist and about thirty-four percent Animist. There are 132 different people groups in the country and 111 of these are considered Unreached and many of them are Unengaged, which means NO ONE IS TRYING TO REACH THEM!

Both the picture at the beginning of this update, as well as the picture above are just a couple of the many pictures I took of Buddhist monks during our trip. In the capital city, there are over 300 Buddhist temples. And each of these temples has more monks – probably three times as many – than there are IB missionaries in the entire country.  As I mentioned above, my wife and I served with our team in this country for 17 months and we can honestly say we love the country and we love the people. While with our team, our primary objective was to assist them in moving forward with God and on to the next step in their ministry. God is doing some awesome things in and through our team.

PLEASE PRAY FOR KOUMALY AND DARATH THONGDY, OUR TEAM, AND FOR MORE LABORERS IN THIS NEEDY COUNTRY!

Immediately upon returning to China, we got busy with the task at hand here. Our ministry here is in a time of transition. We are focusing much attention on discipling and training up nationals, not only to eventually take over this ministry here, but also to plant new churches in this city and this province. Our church service on Sunday was jam-packed with a wonderful spirit, a fantastic testimony by a young lady named Christine, and my wife and I had the opportunity to teach a few of our teens!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR SERVICES AND USE OUR PEOPLE TO REACH THEIR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND CO-LABORERS WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!

Our Tuesday Men’s Discipleship and Training time has been changed from Tuesday afternoons to Monday evenings to open it up to a few more men who cannot make it during the afternoon hours. More than anything else, this is a time of instruction and preparation for some of our most committed men. While we had a few men missing this past week our time together was very helpful!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE THESE MEN’S MEETINGS TO RAISE UP MORE SPIRITUAL UNDERSHEPHERDS WITH A HEART FOR CHRIST AND THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!

It is also a blessing to see our relationship with Maggie and Hu Ying growing. Neither of these ladies are saved, and in fact, Maggie (in her mid-30s) told us she knows only one Christian. Denise and I had a chance to go out to eat with them and give a few gifts for Maggie and her daughter recently!

PLEASE PRAY FOR MAGGIE AND HU YING’S SALVATION!

I just started meeting with Li Huang (Leo) on a weekly basis for a time of discipleship. He has known the Lord for a while, but is just getting back in church and serious about God. This past week we had him over for his first taste of Mexican food. Needless, to say, he was one happy camper!

PLEASE PRAY FOR LI HUANG’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

The brief video below is one of the over 500 tribal groups that can be found in the country of China. While out for a walk, I had a chance to take a few pictures of them, as well as this short video.

As always, my wife and I want to thank you for your consistent financial support and your continual prayers for us, our teams in Southeast Asia, and the work here in China!

Johnny and Denise

“I believe that in each generation God has called enough men and women to evangelize all the yet unreached tribes of the earth. It is not God who does not call. It is man who will not respond!” ― Isobel Kuhn

A few days ago, was the fourth anniversary of the day that my brother, Pastor Joe Esposito, was hospitalized. Over the past four years, I have spent literally dozens, possibly hundreds, of hours with my brother either in his hospital room or via FaceTime from Asia. It has been a miracle to see how far he has come thus far, but he’s still hospitalized, and he and his dear wife Mary, could still use your prayers. We are grateful for all God could accomplish in the past, and continues to accomplish to this day, through his life and ministry. We are also grateful for Pastor Steve Meyers, the staff at Pacific Baptist Church, Pacific Baptist Bible College, and Pacific Baptist School, along with missionaries in China, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand who are doing their part to “Keep the Dream Alive.”

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR JOE AND HIS WIFE MARY!

As most of you now, my wife and I returned to the States for three weeks to be with our son Joshua and our daughter-n-law Hannah. Our granddaughter Hope died in the womb a few hours before birth. Denise and I were in the States for 23 days and I did Hope’s funeral service. It was the most difficult thing I have done in 35 years of ministry!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR JOSHUA AND HANNAH DURING THIS TIME!

While in the States, along with trying to be a blessing to Josh and Hannah and their four children, I also had the opportunity to preach/teach for Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach (11 times), Pacific Baptist Church of Monterey Park (5 times), Pacific Baptist School (4 times), and teach four days of a Missions’ Intensive at Pacific Baptist Bible College, as well as preach in college chapel three times. The vast majority of these messages were during PBCLB and PBCMP’s Missions Conference!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL WATER THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN DURING OUR THREE WEEKS IN THE STATES!

We Also Covet Your Prayers for the Following:

(1) Please continue to pray that we will learn the language well enough to be able to get around and function while we are here in China!

(2) Please continue to pray for God’s favor and blessings upon the church and the missionaries (Dick and Trish) that we are presently working alongside of in China!

(3) Please continue to pray that God will open doors of ministry here in this city, throughout the country, and throughout Asia in the coming days, weeks, and months!

(4) Please continue to pray for Barry and Joy to get more involved with the things of the Lord!

(5) Please continue to pray for our Tuesday meetings to continue to go well and lead to many people eventually getting saved, discipled, and churches planted!

(6) Please pray for our ministry trip this week in Laos as we challenge our team (who are doing a fantastic job) to go forward and even further for God!

(7) Please pray for Peng Ling Mei (health) and her husband Huang (salvation)!

Once again, Denise and I want to thank you all for your continual and consistent prayers, as well as your faithful financial support. All that we are able to do is simply by God’s grace and because of the goodness and generosity of God’s people.

Johnny and Denise Esposito

“The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.”— Missionary, Henry Martyn

Many of you know that a few days ago, my son Joshua and his wife Hannah’s baby, Hope, died and went to heaven. Needless to say, this is a difficult time for the two of them, for their four other children, and for the rest of the family, including grandpa and grandma! We will be flying to the States for the Memorial service and to be with them for a few weeks. We definitely covet your prayers for Joshua, Hannah and the children at this time. The phrase “Grateful for the HOPE of heaven” has taken on an added meaning to us because of our granddaughter Hope’s passing!

PLEASE PRAY FOR JOSHUA, HANNAH, AND THE CHILDREN DURING THIS TIME! 

I just returned from an eight-day ministry trip in Indonesia with Brother Tomlinson and his son-n-law Matt. We had a wonderful time! It’s amazing what God is doing in this country that is 83% Muslim. We were in four different churches and two different Bible Colleges. And, as always, we went to be a blessing, but the Indonesian people were a far greater blessing to us than we to them. God really is doing something special in this, the largest Muslim country in the world. I had the privilege to preach the last service before we left Indonesia. Four adults made professions of faith!

It’s good to be back in China! We had a great time of discipleship training last week. God seems to be moving in hearts already. Can’t wait until our next meeting. Of course, we won’t meet with them for a few weeks because we will be in the States. It was a blessing to have two doctors (Barry and Joy) sit in with us. Lord willing, they will be eating over our house soon. I think they are bringing a couple more doctors with them!

I had the privilege to preach for last week’s midweek service (“Mistakes Parents Make”) and our Sunday service (“Biblical Stewardship”). One thing about living and serving in this part of the world, it isn’t long before you find out that these people are just like our folks back home and have the same struggles. The response to both messages was great!

It was a blessing for my wife to speak for a group of ladies here in China this past week. Another missionary here in the city, who I have preached for in the past, invited her to speak and she had a wonderful time, and I am sure she was a blessing. While my wife was teaching and fellowshipping with the ladies, the missionary and I, along with his son, had a wonderful meal and great fellowship at a Muslim restaurant down the street!

It was a real joy to be able to have Lee and his wife Yang Shou (pictured below) over our house for a time of food, fun (UNO), and fellowship. This couple has suffered much in recent days in the loss of their child. It was great to see Yang Shou back in a church service this past Sunday. I know it was difficult for her, but she worshipped the Lord with the rest of her brothers and sisters in Christ!

We have made a new friendship with a lady who is actually a member of the church we are assisting, but she hasn’t been in church for a while. Her name is Peng Ling Mei (pictured below) and she is dying of cancer. As soon as we found out that she is in a hospital not far from our apartment, we have made it a habit of going to visit her and her husband just about everyday. We even bought her a small stuffed puppy that she has named Chocolate. Peng Ling Mei is saved and she’s on her way to heaven, her husband Huang is not. Please pray for her husband’s salvation. And pray for a miracle in her life!

In a previous post we mentioned Maggie and have asked you to pray for her salvation. We were supposed to get together for supper at her house this week, but because we are going back to the States, it had to be rescheduled. Yet, she insisted on coming by and visiting with us before we left. We had a wonderful time. Please pray for Maggie’s (pictured below) salvation!

What a blessing to be able to preach in two communist countries and one Muslim country all in a matter of two months. Who would have thought that God could use an old sinner like me to go to these dark and difficult places to make a spiritual dent for His glory and the good of others. Not me, that’s for sure!

We Covet Your Prayers for the Following:

(1) Please pray that we will learn the language enough to be able to get around and function.

(2) Please pray for God’s favor and blessings upon the church and the missionaries (Dick and Trish) that we are presently working alongside of

(3) Please pray that God will open doors of ministry here in this city, throughout the country, and throughout Asia in the coming days, weeks, and months.

(4) Please pray for Barry and Joy to get more involved with the things of the Lord!

(5) Please pray for our Tuesday meetings to continue to go well and lead to many people eventually getting saved, discipled, and churches planted!

(6) Please pray for our upcoming trip to Laos (October)!

(7) Please pray for Peng Ling Mei (health) and her husband Huang (salvation)!

(8) Please pray for Maggie’s salvation!

(9) Please pray for future laborers, not only from Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach, but from all over the world, to come to this needy part of the world!

My wife and I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support!

Just doing what we can to keep the dream alive,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

That look you get when someone starts a conversation with you in Mandarin and you have absolutely no idea what they are saying, but they think you do!

After nearly a month here, my wife and I are starting to get a adjusted to our new “home” in China. Unlike our time serving in the countries of Laos and Cambodia we really don’t have a whole lot of interaction with folks who can speak any English, other than a handful of folks who attend the church we are working with, (who just so happen to speak English), and two ladies who work at a local restaurant/store near our apartment. We have definitely had a some very interesting experiences trying to communicate with folks. Between funny experiences on the street, in restaurants, our first experience riding the bus alone, and having to pay for the same hat twice at Walmart, we have a boatload of funny, and at times, embarrassing, “China Experiences” that we could share! 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR TRANSITION HERE IN CHINA! 

The summer months bring a unique experience here where we are located. There happen to be a few camps going on, and we have had the opportunity to meet some of the folks putting on the camps. It was a real blessing to meet men from the USA, along with a national who is from here. They were conducting, of all things, a Flag Football Camp. In fact, the group from the USA conducted 11 different camps in 11 different cities over a one month period. I also had the opportunity to meet another group that was conducting an English Camp. They specifically asked me not to post any pictures. Of course, both of these groups were using the camps as a platform to share the love of Christ to the Chinese people.

Our church, along with another church, worked together to hold a camp in the southern part of our province. I believe there were over 230 young people attending the Camp. While I was not there, quite a few of our folks were there, and I heard really good reports!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN IN THE VARIOUS CAMPS TO BRING FORTH FRUIT UNTO EVERLASTING LIFE!

It was a blessing to meet “John,” well, that’s his English name. He’s 22-years old, from Afghanistan, and is here in the country learning Mandarin for one reason. So, he could go back home and work alongside missionaries from China who are trying to reach the Afghan people.

PLEASE PRAY FOR JOHN AND OTHERS LIKE HIM WHO ARE BEING TRAINED TO GO TO THE DARK, DIFFICULT, AND OFTEN DANGEROUS PLACES IN THE 1040 WINDOW WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!

I have had the opportunity and privilege to preach/teach a few times since arriving back in the country. As always, it has been a blessing to see the attentiveness and responsiveness of our folks here. Our folks seem to have a real desire to grow in the love and service for Christ!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE MY PREACHING AND TEACHING TO SAVE SOULS AND STIR THE HEARTS OF HIS PEOPLE HERE IN THIS COUNTRY!

In our last Update, I mentioned meeting a young lady named Maggie who spoke English. She was the first person that I had a chance to meet in public who spoke English. My wife and I invited her and her husband over for a meal. Praise the Lord, she came. But she didn’t come alone. She came with four other adults and four children. We had a great time and my wife cooked up a wonderful meal for the eleven of us. Lord willing, this will be the beginning of a new relationship that will allow us to share the Gospel with folks who don’t know Jesus!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SALVATION OF JACK, MAGGIE, AND THE OTHERS WHO WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING OVER TO EAT AT OUR APARTMENT RECENTLY!

It was a real blessing to be able to teach a group of our teens recently during the 9:00 AM hour on Sunday. One of the most “different” things here in China compared to Southeast Asia is how few young people there seem to be compared to the older generation. You can see this on the streets, as well as in the church. So, we are looking forward to doing what we can to influence the “Next Generation” at our church!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE US TO BE A BLESSING TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THAT WE WOULD REACH MORE YOUNG PEOPLE!

While we have limitations here because of not knowing the language and various restrictions, one thing that my wife and I can do is to open up our home to those who know the Lord and those who do not know the Lord. Hospitality matters, it does makes a difference, and the good thing about it is anyone can do it. It’s been a joy to have three groups of people over our apartment just this past week alone. Not only did we have the unsaved folks over, as mentioned above, but it has been a blessing to have some fellow Christians and co-laborers over for food and fellowship. So very grateful for my wife’s servant spirit!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE OUR APARTMENT TO BE A PLACE WHERE THE LOVE OF CHRIST CAN TOUCH THE LOST AND SAVED ALIKE!

As I mentioned recently, in my “Over a Cup of Coffee in  China,” it was a real blessing to have the opportunity and privilege to teach for two hours on discipleship, and why we need to start new small groups around the city. I will teach again next week, and again the week after I return from Indonesia. Lord willing, we will meet at our place weekly, and a few of us will rotate in teaching and on various topics.

Arriving on the field at the age of 56, and then arriving in China at the age of 60, there’s always that nagging voice within that speaks to you, asking, “What are you going to be able to do for Christ in this place and at your age?”

GOOD QUESTION! 🙂

I am grateful that the Lord has seen fit to use us in a small way in such a needy part of the world. Of course, it’s an honor and a privilege to serve Christ and the cause of Christ anywhere, and at anytime, but there’s just something very sweet about knowing you are making a small dent where the need is so great.

If God can use us to inspire and possibly set a fire in the hearts of a few young missionaries, with long lives ahead of them, and a handful of nationals who know the language, the culture, and the hearts of their people, it will be worth it all!

Both Denise and I want to thank you for your faithful financial support and your continual prayers for our ministry here in Asia. We couldn’t be here without your labor of love!

Johnny and Denise

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” — C.T. Studd

The picture above is a huge statue of Buddha that oversees one of the villages in the mountains of Northern Thailand. The country of Thailand is 98% Buddhist and they desperately need the Lord!

Before being hospitalized, my brother, Pastor Joe, had a desire to reach not only Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, but Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), and the country of China. His desire was to get a team as close as possible to the Golden Triangle that would be used to train nationals to reach all of these countries for Christ. Our trip to spend time with the Chang’s and Sutrick’s brought back so many wonderful memories and emotions!

Our seven-day trip to the northern part of Thailand was a blessing. It was a real joy to be able to spend quality time with Tom and Sue Sutrick. They are amazing people to say the least. They were simply retired “laymen” who, after 20 something years of working with the Hmong refugees in Wisconsin, became burdened for the Hmong people of Thailand and a “Creative Access” nation. They packed up their basic necessities and moved to Northern Thailand and became a part of our team sent out of Pacific Baptist Church. They have now been living in a village up in the mountains of Thailand for the past six years!

PLEASE PRAY FOR TOM AND SUE SUTRICK AS THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE THE HMONG PEOPLE IN THAILAND!

While in Chiang Khong we had the chance to go soul-winning on three different days and preach for the Sunday services of Siam Baptist Church, as well as their Midweek service. In addition, I had the opportunity to teach for three days and three nights for their church workers and a handful of Hmong church leaders from across the border from a “Creative Access” nation. And, of course, I had a wonderful time playing with the Hmong children!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SIAM BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY AND THE DIFFERENT MEN AND WOMEN WHO CAME FOR THE INSTRUCTION ON THE GREAT COMMISSION AND DISCIPLESHIP!

One of the special blessings I had, was the opportunity to meet up with a man who I had witnessed to six years ago. While Tom and I were sharing the Gospel with a husband and wife he just popped out of nowhere. Here’s the kicker, he came up to me and said, “I remember you told me Jesus was knocking on the door of my heart. I still haven’t let him in.” I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with him once again.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE MANY OTHERS WE HAD THE CHANCE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH WHILE SOUL-WINNING IN THE VILLAGES!

It was also a blessing to be able to spend some time with Jay Chang. Jay is a former Hmong refugee that was reached on my brother’s bus route while my brother and I were still students attending Bible college. Jay and Tom, along with their wives, started Siam Baptist church about six years ago. Tom now oversees the church, while Jay has since branched out and is doing the work of an evangelist going from one Hmong village to another. He is also overseeing two small Hmong congregations that do not have a pastor and teaching a few days every other week in one of the villages. We are grateful for his zeal for the Lord and for his interpreting for me most of the week in Northern Thailand!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR JAY AND THE WORK HE IS DOING AMONG THE HMONG IN THAILAND, LAOS, AND VIETNAM!

Denise and I arrived in China, our new home on Friday, August 14. And, all I can say is, “We aren’t in Kansas anymore!” 🙂 The city we now call home (at least for awhile) has about seven million people, and while there are definitely foreigners here, we haven’t seen many in the part of town where we live. In fact, the first week we were in town, I saw none, Denise claims she saw two older ladies walking down the street. I personally think that was just some wishful thinking. 🙂 I did finally meet a young Chinese lady named Maggie who spoke some English. I thought I was in heaven!

As we mentioned previously we will be working alongside of Dick and his wife (picture below blurred for security reasons). They are longtime missionaries in both Hong Kong and Mainland China. God has been using them and their people to do an amazing work here. We look forward to learning from them and assisting them here for a season.

PLEASE ADD TO YOUR PRAYER LIST OUR NEW CO-LABORERS IN THE MINISTRY DICK AND TRISH! 

It was a blessing to be able to spend some time with some of the church folks, and quite a few teenagers, both saved and unsaved, on the second day we were in town. I had a chance to be able to speak to them. I taught them how to use the Wordless Book. One young teenage girl named Emily trusted Jesus after we shared the presentation!

PLEASE PRAY FOR EMILY’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

Our first Sunday here the auditorium was packed to overflowing. Not only was the main auditorium packed, so were the two overflow sections. It is really amazing to see what God is doing among the Chinese people. And, we look forward to seeing what God has in store for the future!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS THE WORK HERE IN CHINA AND DO WHAT ONLY HE CAN DO THROUGH HIS PEOPLE HERE!

As always, my wife and I want to thank you for your consistent prayers and financial support. We could never do what God has called us to do without Him and you. Thank you for partnering with us in this worthy endeavor!

Johnny and Denise

“If I had 1,000 lives, I’d give them for China.” – Hudson Taylor

Our last four days in the “Creative Access” nation were busy and blessed. I had the opportunity to teach four more days of Bible Institute for our team, which had as many as 28 in attendance. Of that number, eleven were church leaders from a few villages five hours away. It was a blessing to teach these men. I also had the privilege to preach for our team’s Midweek service and my wife had a chance to sub for her old English class!

Just before leaving the country my wife and I were joined by Brother Dwight Tomlinson and his wife Gayle. The Tomlinson’s are longtime friends and fellow-laborers in this part of the world. Brother Tomlinson came to meet with a few of the national pastors supported by Barnabas1040. He also had the opportunity to preach and teach while here in the country!

While taking a walk, Brother Tomlinson and I had the opportunity to meet a few Monks and carry on a conversation with them. One of the Monks was a young man named Kun, he’s been a Monk for four years now. He speaks English well and wants to continue learning. I offered to pay his way for a term at the school our team operates. Please pray that he will attend the school, hear the Gospel, and trust Jesus as his Savior!

PLEASE PRAY THAT OUR TIME IN THE “CREATIVE ACCESS” NATION WILL BRING FORTH FRUIT THAT REMAINS!

Our first week in Thailand (Bangkok and Mae Sot) were spent with our dear friends Dwight and Gayle Tomlinson. The four of us spent time with missionaries Brother Montes, Brother Badua, and Brother Angeles, along with a handful of Burmese national pastors. Brother Tomlinson and I had the opportunity to preach for three Burmese congregations. Two of these congregations were on the Thai side of the border and one was on the Myanmar side of the border. They were all a blessing, but it was a real joy to preach for the congregation in Myanmar. As Brother Tomlinson noted, these believers were James 2:5 Christians!

PLEASE PRAY THAT OUR TIME WITH DWIGHT AND GAYLE TOMLINSON, THESE MISSIONARIES, AND NATIONAL PASTORS WILL BRING FORTH FRUIT THAT REMAINS!

The picture above is Bangkok, Thailand. This is a city of 10-12 million people. Somewhere between 95-98 percent of the people in this city and the country of Thailand are Buddhist people who desperately need the Lord!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO SEND LABORERS TO THIS CITY AND THIS PART OF THE WORLD!

My wife and I thank you for your prayers and faithful financial support. Please pray for our last week of this six-week ministry trip in Southeast Asia prior to returning to China. We are in Chiang Khong, Thailand and look forward to much opportunity to serve with our team sent out of Pacific Baptist Church!

Johnny and Denise Esposito

“Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell.” — Missionary C.T. Studd