
# **Keep the Dream Alive**

# _"The Story of One Man's Dream and a Plea to Keep it Alive"_

### Johnny Esposito

Copyright 2016 © by Johnny J. Esposito

Pacific Publications

All Rights Reserved

ISBN: 978-0-9715521-8-0

Cover Design by Sara Vong

Digital Book Developer: Michael Taylor

Printed in the USA by

FBC Publications & Printing

Fort Pierce, FL 34982

www.fbcpublications.com

772.461.6460

**_Pastor Joe Esposito_**
**_Foreword_**

It has been my privilege to be associated with the Independent Baptist Movement for more than 4 decades. I have seen our churches and pastors in just about every conceivable situation. I have served God as a church planter, American pastor, and a foreign missionary. Through the years I have been privileged to know some of our finest Christian servants, but I have never met anyone with any more of a passion for getting the gospel to the world than Johnny Esposito.

Johnny is more than just a friend to me, although he is certainly that, he is an inspiration. His love for Christ and for the lost, especially those in the great unreached parts of the world, is amazing. He and his wife Denise have made great personal sacrifices to do their part in reaching the lost in the 10/40 Window.

In his latest book _Keep The Dream Alive_ , Johnny makes a compelling and passionate appeal to continue the vision of reaching the nations of the 10/40 Window which was first given to his younger brother Pastor Joe Esposito.

This book is a must-read, not only for every member of Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach, California, but for everyone who desires to see our Lord's Great Commission fulfilled in their lifetime.

**\- Dwight Tomlinson,**

**Missionary and Founder & Director of Barnabas 1040**

**_One of the village churches in Cambodia._**

**_A Word from Pastor Meyers_**

I've had the privilege of knowing Pastor Esposito for the majority of my life, starting as children together and then working on his staff for him for 25 years. His zeal for the Lord and souls as a new Christian led to my salvation.

Bro. Esposito's book is an accurate and motivating description of Pastor Esposito's vision for Pacific Baptist Church and the role he envisioned it to fill in reaching Southeast Asia, and particularly the country of China.

As well as a moving look into Pastor Esposito's vision, it is informative as to the great need that lies before us. Thank you for the reminder of the vision and the challenge to "keep the dream alive."

**_\- Pastor Steve Meyers,_**

**_Pacific Baptist Church,_**

**_Long Beach, CA._**
**_A Word from Joseph Esposito_**

We grew up with a visionary, and it was great! From family altar, to family outings - my dad ate, drank, woke, slept, and lived the vision that the Lord gave to our church and our family. And he did this without leaving his family behind. We were blessed to have been included in almost every part of the vision. When we sat around the table, we talked about the vision. When we went out to eat, we dreamed out loud about the vision. When my parents walked and talked, their conversations included the vision. When we were on vacation, the vision inevitably came up, and became a family-wide discussion.

My dad's passion and zeal for God's vision was contagious, and so much so, that though it's been almost three years since he's been able to talk about it, the vision lives on - in our family, our church, and around the world. That's the kind of man he was, and I'm honored to have been in his home as we watched God's vision begin to unfold. Might the dream birthed by God be kept alive for generations to come.

**-Joseph Esposito, Assistant Pastor,**

**Pacific Baptist Church,**

**Long Beach, CA.**
**_Father's Day_**

_The words below are from a Father's Day card/email sent by Susanna Esposito to her father on Father's Day 2016. Susanna has been serving the Lord in Phnom Penh, Cambodia for the past year-and-a half._

Dear Dad,

Happy Father's Day! So many things have been going through my mind the last couple weeks thinking of Father's Day. Sometimes I wonder why God allowed me to be the one to have such a great dad! I want to thank you so much for being the awesome dad you have always been!

Being here in Cambodia and visiting Laos, Thailand, and China has reminded me how much of a huge vision you had. That is the first thing I would like to thank you for. Your vision for our family, your vision for our church, your vision for our city, state, and country, and your vision for the world. I bet years ago you didn't know that because of you listening to God speak and being brave enough to catch a vision, a 90-something-year-old grandma near death will be reached for the gospel before going into eternity. I'm not sure if she would have ever heard of Jesus if it wasn't for your vision. Today we had almost a hundred children in the poorest area of Phnom Penh come to hear about Jesus- even right after the storm. And after, some having to practically swim through the sewage water just to hear more about Jesus. I know that those precious children would not have had a chance at eternity with God if it wasn't for your vision and listening to God. Right now I'm standing on the roof of the church and thinking of all the people that were here at church tonight. Thinking of each and every one of their faces.... Almost none of them would have been saved if it weren't for your vision for the lost and for the world. A few weeks ago, Bro. Board asked the church, how many of you love Pastor Joe? All raised their hands. He then asked, how many of you pray for Pastor Joe every day? Again, they all raised their hands. Almost every time I make a visit to a church member I see your picture hanging on their wall to remind them to pray for you. They all have pictures of you in their Bibles also. YOU are making a difference in so many lives and I want to thank you for your vision, love, and example!

Thank you for not only being a visionary, but also just being a great father. Thank you for loving us kids so much. Thank you for always being the dad that every other dad would look at in amazement and maybe sometimes in envy. Thank you for having time for us. Thank you for purposely spending time with us. Thank you for the so many fun times we always would have. Whether it was playing a game throwing toilet paper rolls in the air and seeing who could catch the most faster, or playing football with us, or just taking walks with us, and sitting on the sofa talking to us.... Thank you for seeing each of us as a different person who had different needs and trying your best to help us with them. Thank you for being the best dad in the world.

Thank you for loving Mom like Christ loved the church. I know that I want to marry a man just like you one day.

And thank you so much for your perseverance. Whatever you do, you always show us that quitting is not an option. I remember that night you went into the hospital when Uncle Johnny told us that the doctors said you would probably not live through the night. I remember crying out like a baby to God; praying that you would have the same perseverance that you have always had. And you did. Thank you for trying your best to go with whatever new thing Mom or the doctors put you up to, to try to help you improve. I know that if it weren't for your perseverance you would not have come this far. When we were in China, we were all talking about how one day when you are better, we are all (you and Mom and all the kids and our families) going to go on a huge trip to all the different countries we have churches in or will have churches in. One day. We all can't wait!

Daddy, I pray for you every day and there are still people around the world who I have met who know about you and are praying for you. I hope you have a great Father's Day. I love you!!!!!

Love,

**_Sue_**

PS. Can't wait to spend lots of time with you in November and December!

**_Pastor Joe Esposito_**

**_and his wife Mary._**
**_Testimonies from Missionaries in Southeast Asia_**

It has been my privilege to serve alongside Pastor Esposito since 1990 when our family moved from Iowa to Long Beach with the goal of reaching Cambodians for Christ. One of the factors that compelled us to relocate to California was his vision and willingness to think outside the box. In 2003, Pastor Esposito commissioned our family as missionaries to Cambodia. In those days there was no missions team and, frankly, there was no real dream for world missions. In fact, we were the first key family to be sent out of Pacific Baptist Church as missionaries. I clearly remember our conversations with Pastor of how we felt we were simply laying the ground work for a future generation of missionaries that would be called and sent out from Pacific Baptist. During our first term on the foreign field, I believe that God began a work in Pastor's heart that has resulted in seeing many missionaries sent out from Pacific Baptist Church to the 10/40 Window. Today the gospel is being preached and disciples are being made in the _"uttermost parts of the earth,"_ in part, because of the dream that God gave Pastor Esposito and the willingness of the church to participate in that dream.

**–** **Dave Board, Overseer of Team Southeast Asia, Team Leader of Team Cambodia, former Staff Member of Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach, CA.**

To put it on paper how much Pastor Joe Esposito means to me and how he has influenced me over the years - becoming a Christian, attending Christian school and college, hearing the call to preach, and later, the call to return to Southeast Asia as a missionary and reach my people with the Gospel, would take more than one or two paragraphs.

I met Pastor when I was still a teenager. He taught me to put God first in my life and showed he was willing to live by what he preaches. Years later, God brought us back together and I learned and saw his passion about the mission field and his devotion to be like Christ, his love for his wife, children, and his church families. He came with his wife and my wife and I to the mission field to survey where we would start the work, and it continues today. I hope that I can be as compassionate and have a broad vision like he has taught. I'm blessed to have such a friend like him. Now that he has handed me the torch, I hope that I will be more like Christ, have a passion for missions, and care for souls like he does. **Keep the Dream Alive!**

**\- Jay Chang, Missionary to the Hmong People in Southeast Asia**

We had been praying about going to Thailand to reach the Hmong for about 10 years. We did not know how to get there. We had never gone to Bible School, had no mission board and our age was up there (58 and 54). But one day, Pastor and Mrs. Jay Chang came to meet with us. Pastor Jay said his pastor, Pastor Esposito, wanted them to find someone to partner with them to reach the Hmong in Thailand. We were so excited and very interested and immediately started praying about it. Pastor Esposito wanted to meet us and so we went to meet him. We shared our inadequacies and Pastor Esposito had only encouraging words. Pastor Esposito was our answer to prayer –God used him to bring us to Thailand where we love serving the Lord. It has now been 5 years!

**\- Tom Sutrick, Missionary presently serving in Thailand**

Pastor Joe Esposito is one of the most influential men in my life. He has uniquely made an impression on me; and it is accurate to say that if it weren't for his influence, I would not be where I am today. There were many facets of his example that have persuaded me to live for and serve God with my life: his commitment to God, his focus on the family, his longevity and faithfulness in service, his vision and drive to reach people, and his challenge for me to reach my own people with the Gospel. I can clearly remember my meeting with him as I was starting deputation to go to the mission field. He encouraged me to have a spirit of excellence and again challenged me to make sure that if I'm going to do it, to go "all out." Over 210,000+ miles traveled and having visited over 200+ churches later, we are now in the field of Cambodia and helping " **Keep the Dream Alive."**

**–** **Sara Vong, Missionary presently serving in Cambodia and former Staff Member of Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach, CA.**

I thank God for Pastor Joe and his leadership. As a senior in high school, I came to our church (then called Cambodian Baptist) to play basketball. I wasn't interested in God, but Pastor would preach week after week, and God used the preaching to convict me of a need of a Saviour. Six months later, I received Christ as my personal Saviour. I grew so much under Pastor's leadership and preaching. Eventually, I transferred from junior college to Bible college. Pastor always believed in me and that gave me the courage to step out by faith. He hired me on staff only after two years of being saved when I told him God wanted me in the mission field. Though initially he had doubts, he eventually agreed that this was God's will. I thank God for his leadership and how God used him to reach us Asians in America. If it hadn't been for him, my family and I would not be in the mission field today. I am thankful the dream continues today in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand!

**\- Koumaly Thongdy, Missionary, Team Leader presently serving in a** **"** **Creative Access** **"** **Nation, and former Staff Member of Pacific Baptist Church in Long Beach, CA.**

It was in February 2010, my wife and I surrendered to God's call for our lives to serve the people of Southeast Asia. God used Pastor Joe in a vital way to get our attention and in persuading us to see and think outside the box. As a teen, I saw his love and passion for people, especially those of Southeast Asian descent. From there his vision only grew, which had such an effect on me personally. As a Bible college graduate, he reached out to me with patience, kindness, and encouragement as God used him to see and follow my calling to reach the uttermost.

We have been serving in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, since April 2012 and I can honestly say that "sweeter gets the journey every day." We praise God for Pastor Joe, his family and Pacific Baptist Church for their love, sacrifice, and partnership in reaching the 10/40 Window with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

**-Bounna Has, Missionary presently serving in Cambodia and graduate of Pacific Baptist School in Long Beach, CA.**

God used Pastor Esposito's example to influence my wife and me in the ministry in so many different ways: a spirit of excellence, vision and passion for the lost, balance between family and ministry, involving people in ministry, and to always be growing as a leader.

Before I joined Pacific Baptist Church and met Pastor Joe Esposito in August of 1996, I was just a Bible College student and a Bus Captain serving God in the Bus Ministry. Under Pastor Esposito's leadership, I learned a great deal in working with the teenagers in the Public School Ministry and the adults in the Cambodian ministry. Pastor was always wise and prudent in knowing where to involve faithful Christians in areas of ministry where they could best serve God. The invaluable experience that I gained at Pacific Baptist has greatly assisted me in reaching the people in the country of Cambodia.

Because of Pastor's vision of reaching the lost in Southeast Asia and his emphasis on the need of people from that area to return back to their country, God opened the door for my family and me to join Team Southeast Asia in 2008. Currently my wife and I, along with our children, are missionaries working with our Team in Cambodia. Pastor Esposito's passion for the lost and his desire to always do more for Christ has inspired my family to do likewise in working with the people in Cambodia.

It is amazing to see that most of what we do here in Cambodia is an imitation of what Pastor Esposito did at Pacific Baptist Church! We hope and pray that the vision that God gave Pastor will continue on with our children and our churches in Southeast Asia.

**\- Touch Keo, Missionary presently serving in Cambodia**

I have been attending Pacific Baptist Church since I was a teenager. One of the reasons I kept going to church after I got saved was because of Pastor Esposito's preaching. As a new believer, his preaching was easy to understand, he always had a way of putting the "cookie on the bottom shelf," and he had a way of challenging us to "dream big" and "do big things for God!"

Having been under the ministry of Pastor Esposito for over 20 years, I can honestly say that I've learned so much about having a godly marriage and family, how to train my kids to seek after God, how to have a daily walk with the Lord, and to be faithful in serving God.

Because of his love for God and people, Pastor Esposito has obeyed the Great Commission by sending out people to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It is a joy for my husband and me and our children to be sent out of Pacific Baptist Church and Pastor Esposito serving God in the country of Cambodia.

**\- Debra Keo, Missionary Wife presently serving in Cambodia**

I have been a part of Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach under Pastor Joe Esposito since 2005. Growing up through my teen years, I always appreciated how Preacher had a genuine love for people. No matter the person, he could see the potential they had for God and would encourage them to reach it. His preaching greatly impacted my life and many key decisions I made as a young adult can be contributed to his leadership. It was because of his council I decided to go to PBBC for four years.

The most valuable lesson I learned under his preaching as a teenager was to dream big for God. This was an emphasis he ingrained and inspired within me and my peers. As a young lady still training for ministry, these words are but a moiety of the appreciation and gratitude I have for Pastor Joe Esposito and his influence in my life. I pray that God would use my life to help others to dream big for God as Pastor Joe taught me.

**\- Michelle Hardesty, former Staff Member of Pacific Baptist Church in Long Beach, CA. presently serving in Cambodia**

****

Pastor Esposito is a man of God and I would not be where I am without his influence and example in my life. I stand here today serving on the mission field of Cambodia for 4 years. I'm ecstatic of the fact that I get to serve God in the center of His will in a foreign land. Pastor is a man with a vision to help reach the world for Christ. His passion to serve God has immensely helped to catapult many missionaries to the 10/40 Window; specifically, Southeast Asia.

I can recall countless times when Pastor would say that the will of God is like a Polaroid picture, the longer you serve him the clearer it gets. As a team member here in Cambodia, I am seeing those very words come to pass in my own life and the lives of the many people who have trusted Christ and are living for Him. The task is before us and it is one of my goals to **"Keep the Dream Alive."**

**\- Adrian Torres,**

**Missionary presently serving in Cambodia and former Staff Member of Pacific Baptist Church in Long Beach, CA.**

**_Team Southeast Asia in Bangkok_**
**_Preface_**

After a couple of years of _"wrestling with God"_ about the great need around the world, especially the 10/40 Window, and what I should do about it, another year on deputation, and over 2 1/2 years on the mission field in Southeast Asia, I finally wrote a book that had been on my heart for quite some time. The book was just something I felt compelled to do, and, if I didn't, that gnawing sense of _"you should be writing"_ wasn't about to leave me.

As I mentioned in my book _Peeking Through the 10/40 Window: Why it Matters to God and Why it Should Matter to Us,_ it was a book that I really felt must be written. Someone has said, _"If there's a book that you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."_ Another has said, _"When genuine passion moves you, say what you've got to say..."_ And, still another has penned these words, _"Write what should not be forgotten."_

Unfortunately, after sending the manuscript in to be edited, I had an uneasy feeling. I felt like something was definitely missing from the book. I couldn't pinpoint it but something was definitely missing from the book. I went ahead and had them edit and print a few hundred copies for me to bring along as I travelled in the states over a two-month period of time.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that there were at least three things missing from the book _Peeking Through the 10/40 Window: Why it Matters to God and Why it Should Matter to Us._

First of all, I should have had more personal illustrations and stories from our over two years on the field. This will have to wait for a future book I am afraid!

Secondly, I should have had some of my brother's (Pastor Joe Esposito) story in the book. He is the one that God had inspired in the early 1980's to reach the _"unreached peoples"_ of Southeast Asia. It is because of the dream that God had placed in his heart over thirty years ago that I am typing these words from Southeast Asia. I have been encouraging my brother's wife, Mary, who has been an unbelievable testimony of God's grace the past two years, to write a book. For now, she will assist with this book; but I am convinced in the near or distant future she will write more about God's dealings in her life and her husband's.

Thirdly, I should have had a more specific plea and challenge for men and women to take the baton to reach the nations in the 10/40 Window, especially Southeast Asia and China. Sadly, for the past three years, my brother's voice has been silenced. While there has been miraculous progress in my brother's life the past two years, for which we are rejoicing, his voice still cannot be heard.

Therefore, the dream that God laid upon Pastor Joe's heart, at the present time, lies in a hospital bed in Orange County, California. If God will permit, I would like to be his voice for the time being. Thus, the purpose behind this book _Keep the Dream Alive_!

**_Pastor Joe Esposito in the hospital giving a "thumbs up" for China!_**
**_Introduction_**

As I mentioned earlier, over the past two years or more, I have been encouraging my sister-in-law, Mary, to write a book about my brother, Pastor Joe Esposito (his dream and his dilemma) and the story of what God has been doing in their lives since October 3, 2013, when my brother was hospitalized. For those of you who may not know, my brother, only by the grace of God, survived a brain aneurysm and emergency surgery. He was in a coma for well over a year-an-a-half. Over the past year or so Pastor Joe has been making some progress - actually miraculous progress - for which we are thankful. He still has a long way to go. We still covet your prayers!

This book, _Keep the Dream Alive,_ is the story of a young man who got a glimpse of a dream over 30 years ago, while a student in Bible College, for an _"unreached people group."_ Over the years, along with pursuing the Giver of the dream, he pursued that dream with a passion.

In this book, you will read about a young man who became burdened for the Cambodian people. A people who at the time, were refugees from the Communist takeover in the country of Cambodia. This Communist takeover resulted in a genocide that led to nearly one-third of the country being killed by the ruthless Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge regime.

You will also read in this book about a young man who sacrificed much for the sake of these refugees, first in Chicago, Illinois, then on the West Coast in Long Beach, California. As a result of his sacrifices, along with the sacrifices of his dear wife Mary, their children, and others along the way, who shared this burden and assisted in this work, many Cambodian people were snatched from the grasp of Satan and came to know the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

You will also read in this book how Pastor Joe's dream expanded over the years. While it may have started with a small group of Cambodians and other refugees from Southeast Asia in North Chicago, it didn't stop there. This dreamer found himself in Long Beach, California, where over 40,000 of the refugees from Cambodia had relocated. But, the dream didn't stop in Long Beach. God eventually worked in Pastor Joe's heart and the heart of others who shared the burden for the people of Southeast Asia. Pacific Baptist Church (formerly Cambodian Baptist Church) eventually sent a team of missionaries to Cambodia, then another team to Thailand, and another team to a _"Creative Access Nation"_ also located in the 10/40 Window and Southeast Asia. Yet, the dreamer was not finished dreaming.

**_He just kept on dreaming!_**

You will also read in this book how over the past few years, prior to Pastor's Joe's illness, God began to stir his heart for the souls of the 1.4 billion people of China.

**If I can, let me say from the very outset, there were many dreams and desires that God had laid upon my brother's heart. God placed a dream and a desire in his heart to plant fifty churches in California before he went to Heaven. God placed a dream and desire in his heart to build a regional center for training up the next generation of laborers for Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. Of course, there were others also such as what he often referred to as a "** **multi-generational" vision–the raising up of a godly seed for good and for God! But this book is dealing primarily with one dream and one desire that had burdened his heart, possibly above all others, just prior to being hospitalized, and caused him the say, "** **CHINA OR BUST!"**

Lord willing, in this book we will also challenge you to see the need, not only in Southeast Asia or China, but for the entire 10/40 Window, where nearly two-thirds of the world's population can be found. The vast majority of them have not only never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but have yet to hear the sweetest name known to man – the name of Jesus!

**But once again, the primary focus of this book will be on the country of communist China, the great need to get the Gospel to this needy country, and a plea for us to give ourselves, which includes our material resources and manpower, to the cause of reaching the dear people of China!**

Throughout this book, especially in the earlier chapters (Ch. 1-3), I have included a few small **_"Did you know?"_** sections. These are brief _"eye openers"_ concerning the great need around the world in general, and more specifically in Southeast Asia, and the country of China.

**_While at first, this book would appear to deal with one man's dream; that is not the case at all. This book deals with the desire of God Almighty to reach the nations of the world._**

Our prayer is that this book and Pastor Joe Esposito's life will inspire the reader to dream big and dream big for God, and to seek to know what he can do for the sake of the countless hundreds of millions who stumble in darkness with very little hope of ever seeing the glorious light of the Gospel!

**Matthew 28:18-20,** And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

**Acts 1:8,** But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

**Revelation 5:9,** And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

**Revelation 7:9,** After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands ...

**_Celebration Service in_**

**_Phnom Penh, Cambodia._**

**_Chapter One_**

**_"China or Bust"_**

My wife and I had only been in Southeast Asia serving in a _"Creative Access Nation"_ for about seven months when I received the email from my brother, Pastor Joe Esposito, asking me if I would be willing to come and be a part of their annual Missions Conference. The conference was in just a few weeks. From what I learned later, my brother had been praying for a surplus of money to be able to fly Dave Board, our team leader in Cambodia, and me to the states for the conference. We would do all of the preaching and teaching for both Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach and Pacific Baptist Church of Monterey Park. I immediately replied back to my brother via email. I told him that I would be honored to come and prayed that I could somehow be a blessing to him and our church family.

To be honest with you, I was a bit shocked about the invitation. First of all, at the time I had only been on the field for seven months. Add to it the fact that we were in a _"Creative Access Nation"_ where everything goes at a much slower pace, we hadn't really _"turned the world upside down."_ Secondly, I knew our home church was strapped for finances and that they had been for awhile. They were in the midst of a huge building campaign and every penny counted. Of course, at the time, I did not know he had been praying for extra money to fly us in.

I excitedly started preparing for the trip, which was only a few weeks away. I looked forward to preaching and teaching for our folks in both churches and for our Bible college students. I looked forward to spending time with family and friends, especially with my five children, and our grandchildren. I missed them all so much. I also started to contact a few of my supporting churches and would be with them to give a report of what God was doing.

The primary emphasis for the 2013 Missions' Conference was China. Over the past few years God had enlarged Pastor Joe's vision - a vision that started over 30 years ago while we were still students in Bible college and had really expanded over the past decade. The vision had expanded from the Cambodian people in Chicago to the Cambodian people in Long Beach, California. Then about 10 years ago, the dream began to stretch across the Pacific to the country of Cambodia. My brother wasn't content with a team in Cambodia. He just kept dreaming. Pastor Joe just kept dreaming about other countries in Southeast Asia. After Cambodia, it was Thailand, and then after Thailand it was a _"Creative Access Nation."_ Our church put together a team for each of these three countries in Southeast Asia and it was called _"Team Southeast Asia."_

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**Southeast Asia consists of eleven different countries with a population of over 630 million people. In Southeast Asia, you will find over 1,800 different people groups and 39% of them are considered "unreached people groups." According to Joshua Project, over 50% of the people who live in Southeast Asia would be considered "unreached peoples." Compare that with less than 3 percent of the total population of North and South America considered "unreached People."**

**Other than the Philippines, Southeast Asia is overflowing with "unreached," and in many cases, "** **unengaged" people groups who need for someone to answer the Great Commission's call to "GO."**

**Included in Southeast Asia are three countries where Pacific Baptist Church has sent teams as a part of Pastor Joe's dream to reach the "unreached" of Southeast Asia. The countries include Cambodia, Thailand and a "Creative Access Nation."**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW, what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!!!**

Yet, my brother just kept on dreaming. Next on his list were the 1.4 billion people of China. I first caught drift of the **_"China thing"_** while I was serving in the _"Creative Access Nation."_ My brother had hinted to our team about the possibility of us moving further North to be closer to, and to work with, our team right across the border in Thailand about four-to-five hours from the China border.

The Missions' Conference in 2013 was all about China, whether those of us in the three Southeast Asian countries liked it or not. God had been stirring in my brother's heart for some time, and his desire was that God would help others to catch the vision and the same dream during this Missions' Conference in 2013.

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**China is a country of 1.4 billion people. That is almost five times the size of the United States of America. The "unreached" population of the country of China is just under 186 million people. Depending on what statistics you believe, somewhere between 3-5 percent of the population professes to be "Christian." To put that in proper perspective, 77.5 percent of Americans profess to be "Christian."**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW, what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!!!**

I arrived in Los Angeles about noon on Wednesday, October 2. I was scheduled to open the Missions' Conference the next evening, Thursday evening, October 3. As soon as I was able to get Internet access, I shot my brother an email and let him know that I was in town and looking forward to opening the conference the following evening. I will never forget his reply. _"Coach (my brother always referred to me as 'coach'), glad you're here. This is a GOD THING!"_

**GOD THING?**

I wasn't used to hearing my brother use that term. It was something I might say, but not Pastor Joe. Seemed a bit strange, but I shrugged it off. Thursday night, the opening night of Missions' Conference, was a blessing. The music, as always, was great. Being with my family and our church family was special. My being able to preach and share the burden that God had placed on my heart for the 10/40 Window was a privilege and a pleasure. That evening I preached from Matthew 9:35-38, a message, _"Praying to the Lord of the Harvest about the Harvest."_ God moved in a special way. The response of the people was tremendous. To God be the glory!

**Matthew 9:35-38,** And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

After the service, Pastor and I were outside shaking hands and talking to folks. We exchanged just a few words. I once again thanked him for the privilege of preaching. He thanked me for my willingness to come and for the message itself. My daughter Joy and I left the church premises. I was still suffering a bit of jet lag and was looking forward to getting a good night's sleep before a busy day the next day. It was probably about 9:00 p.m. when we left the church property. Somewhere around 9:30 p.m., maybe 10:00, my daughter and I received a text message from someone on our church staff and were told that my brother had been rushed to the hospital and it sounded very serious.

I can still remember it like it was yesterday. My first thought was, _"This is why I am here! I'm not here for the Missions' Conference. I am here for my brother, for his family, and for the church family."_ And, now for the past few years, looking back with hindsight, I can see that God orchestrated my being there to help _"Keep the Dream Alive."_

To be honest with you, much of the next few hours is like a fog. My daughter and I immediately rushed to the hospital. After being there for a while, my sister-in-law, who was still in the emergency room with my brother, had my nephew Joseph come and ask me if I could go to their home and do what I could to calm their children down. While the hospital was only a few minutes from my brother's house, the ride seemed to take forever. I was trying to think what I was going to say to his children who were trying to deal with this unexpected tragedy. Their father, who at least to their knowledge, was in the prime of his life and in great condition, was in critical condition at a hospital just a few miles away, and no one was sure if he was going to make it through the night!

Among many other things, I later found out that some of the last words my brother said to his family just before being rushed to the hospital were, **_"China or Bust!"_**

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**There are at least four-to-five times (probably more) as many independent Baptist churches in the State of California (30 million people) as there are in the entire country of China (1.4 billion people)?**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW** , **what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!!!**

Pastor Joe Esposito–who as a Bible college student some 30 years ago, started dreaming about reaching _"the unreached"_ people of Cambodia and had watched that dream grow to the _"unreached peoples"_ of Southeast Asia–was not only dreaming about sending laborers to the harvest fields of China, he was determined to do so. If you know anything about my brother, Pastor Joe Esposito, once he was determined that God had spoken, he was going to see it happen or die trying!

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**The country of Cambodia, a nation of nearly 16 million people, has less than two percent of it's population professing any form of Christianity. More than 85 percent of Cambodia's 14,000 villages are without a Gospel witness.**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW, what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!!!**

While it was almost three years ago, October 3, 2013, is still fresh in my mind. It seems like it was just yesterday. For Mary, for his eight children, and for the Pacific Baptist Church family, October 3, 2013, is a day they will never forget. Yet, as I have done often over the past few years while standing by my brother's bedside at the hospital, or FaceTiming him from Southeast Asia, I can't help but wonder, will we also remember his words, **_"China or Bust!"_** Or will we let the dream die slowly but surely?

**Proverbs 29:18,** Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Over the next couple of days, after my brother's surgery, the family and the church staff faced a dilemma. Should we continue with the Missions' Conference or not? It was a sticky situation for sure. My brother's family, including his wife and me, along with our staff men, all felt Pastor Joe would want the conference to go on. I was scheduled to preach Sunday morning. The first message after my brother was hospitalized I changed my original message - a typical missions' message - and preached a message called, _"Don't Let the Dream Die."_ In the message I went all the way back some thirty years right to October 3, 2013 when my brother uttered the words, **_"China or Bust."_**

Of course, the message was a challenge for our church family to take the baton and run with the vision or dream that God had laid upon my brother's heart. In other words, to **_"Keep the Dream Alive!"_** Thus the purpose and title for this book!

From reaching the _"unreached"_ and _"unloved"_ Cambodian refugees in North Chicago to sending teams to three Southeast Asia countries the dream was now China. The dreamer was still dreaming big dreams for God.

So on October 3, 2013, some of the last words uttered by my brother, Pastor Joe Esposito, prior to being rushed to the hospital, were **_"China or Bust"_** _;_ and a few days later, on Sunday, October 6, 2013, I preached a message during our Missions' Conference entitled, _"Don't Let the Dream Die."_ This, along with the phrase, **_"Keep the Dream Alive"_** have become catch phrases at Pacific Baptist Church and with many of our friends nationwide.

Again, thus the purpose for this book!

****

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**Living in the rolling hills of south central China are the approximately 1.4 million precious people known as the Northern Dong. Less than one in 1,000 (that would be about 0.0007 percent of the Dong people) believe in Jesus Christ; the rest are living with no hope. Since they have no written language, reaching the largely illiterate Northern Dong people will require that the Gospel be shared orally.**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW, what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!!!**

**Keep the Dream Alive!!!**
**_Chapter Two_**

**_The Birth and Expansion of a Dream_**

As his wife Mary notes, " _While still a student in Bible college, Pastor Joe came across a high rise building in North Chicago known as 5050 Sheridan (the street address). He often told of standing in the cold, snowy Chicago winter watching barefoot Cambodian children come in and out without jackets, some even without shoes. He saw them as a people who no one seemed to care about. His heart broke for those dear people, and the dream/burden began._

_He had a desire to go to Cambodia – but found it to be a Communist nation and closed to missionaries. Of course, if he knew then what he knows now, he would have found a way into the country! Apparently, it wasn't God's time yet. God needed to call and prepare laborers for the harvest there. HE needed to change some of the circumstances there in Cambodia itself as well before a work could be done."_

Mary remembers, _"In the meantime, my husband began bringing many of these Cambodian folks to church. He found it hard to keep them on a traditional bus route due to the cultural differences. He eventually received permission to begin an Asian bus route that led to the start of the Oriental Ministry of First Baptist Church of Hammond, which still exists today over thirty years later. Amongst the riders were Hmong people,_ _Laotian, Khmer (Cambodia_ _n), Vietnamese people, and others. He tailor-made the route specifically for the Asian people. He recruited a 'bus mom' to bring chicken weekly and others to bring rice. Weekly, a cup of rice and chicken was given out to the children. He led key young men from each ethnic group to lead those who were the same. My husband led his leaders to love and lead people, and thus, multiplied the ministry."_

Those were amazing days for my brother and his ministry to the refugees from Southeast Asia. His _"Asian route"_ grew tremendously and was one of the most consistent routes of all of the church's over 100 routes. When other routes were "down," the _"_ _Asian route_ _"_ tended to stay consistent whether it was summer, fall, spring, or winter. Compassion and consistency were two trademarks of this route and its workers, which trickled down from their bus captain, Pastor Joe!

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**Nearly all of the over 13 million Hui and 11 million Uyghur of China are Muslim. Less than 0.01 percent of these 24 million people profess to be Christian.**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW, what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!!!**

From that bus route came Ge Chang, who is presently missionary to the Hmong people in Thailand with our own Team Southeast Asia. Two of the Cambodian men reached on this bus route eventually went on to pastor churches. Chorvy, the wife of our missionary to Cambodia, Kounaro Keo, was reached on Pastor's bus route. (Kounaro is a member of and missionary sent out of Cambodian/Pacific Baptist Church.)

Pastor Joe never saw anything as an isolated incident, but everything as part of a bigger picture. He envisioned what God would do down the road. He lived his life that way, with both the future and eternity in view, and he did what he could to encourage others to do so also.

Missionary wife, Chorvy Keo, recently while on furlough and at the hospital visiting Pastor Joe, said, _"Brother Joe"_ often told her she'd one day reach her own people for the Lord. (Keep in mind he was telling her that not long after her family barely escaped the killing fields!) Chorvy said that that always stayed in her heart. As Mary notes, _"My husband believed that God was_ _writing a story – he believed in destiny._ " And that was surely true for his life, his family, and our church. There was always a much greater picture. It was the **_"Vision"_** he tried to impress deep into our hearts time and time again. And he believed that God strategically developed our church for this very purpose–to send many laborers to Asia in the future.

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**B inzhou, China is a city of 3.7 million people in the northern part of Shandong Province. That's about the size of Los Angeles. Less than one of every 400 people who live in this city, known for its economic and industrial development, know Christ as their Savior. That would figure out to be 0.0025 percent of the population!**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW, what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!!!**

While still a student in Bible college, Pastor Joe researched and found a course on cassette to learn the Cambodian language. I believe it was put together for Harvard or Yale to train the military. He began to listen to it during any available time that he had. Before long, he was able to converse with the Khmer people better.

After Pastor Joe found out that he could not go to Cambodia, God revealed to him while doing some research, that Long Beach had the largest Cambodian population in the world, outside of Thailand and Cambodia itself. And, of course, he didn't believe it to be a coincidence that Long Beach was also his hometown. What is interesting is that before leaving Long Beach for Bible College, he had never heard of Cambodians living in his hometown. The refugees had immigrated there while he was away in Bible college!

It might be helpful to note here the reason why these refugees from Southeast Asia came to America.

Immediately after the end of the Cambodian Civil War (1970–1975), a massive genocide took place. The mass killings are widely regarded as part of a broad state-sponsored genocide, also known as the Cambodian genocide.

Analysis of 20,000 mass grave sites by the DC-Cam Mapping Program and Yale University indicate at least 1,386,734 victims of execution. Estimates of the total number of deaths resulting from Khmer Rouge policies, including disease and starvation, range from 1.7 to 2.5 million out of a 1975 population of roughly 8 million.

The Communist Khmer Rouge regime arrested and eventually executed almost everyone suspected of connections with the former government or with other foreign governments, as well as professionals and intellectuals. Ethnic Vietnamese, ethnic Thai, ethnic Chinese, ethnic Cham,Cambodian Christians, and the Buddhist monkhood were the demographic targets of persecution. As a result, Pol Pot has been described as _"a genocidal tyrant."_ Martin Shaw described the Cambodian genocide as _"the purest genocide of the Cold War era."_

Ben Kiernan estimates that about 1.7 million people were killed. Researcher Craig Etcheson of the Documentation Center of Cambodia suggests that the death toll was between 2 and 2.5 million, with a _"most likely"_ figure of 2.2 million. After 5 years of researching some 20,000 grave sites, he concludes that, _"these mass graves contain the remains of 1,386,734 victims of execution."_ A UN investigation reported 2–3 million dead, while UNICEF estimated 3 million had been killed. Demographic analysis by Patrick Heuveline suggests that between 1.17 and 3.42 million Cambodians were killed, while Marek Sliwinski suggests that 1.8 million is a conservative figure. Even the Khmer Rouge acknowledged that 2 million had been killed—though they attributed those deaths to a subsequent Vietnamese invasion. By late 1979, UN and Red Cross officials were warning that another 2.25 million Cambodians faced death by starvation due to _"the near destruction of Cambodian society under the regime of ousted Prime Minister Pol Pot,"_ who were saved by international aid after the Vietnamese invasion.

Thus, America was flooded with refugees fleeing for their freedom and for their lives. Because of this, many were able to also find freedom in Jesus Christ. And Pastor Joe _"just so happened"_ to be in the right place and right time for God to use him to reach many!

After graduation and a year on staff at the college, Pastor and his wife Mary, along with my wife and I, took a small detour to Florida to help start a church there.

As Mary relates, _"Outwardly, it looked like an opportunity of a life time. My husband often told of going to Dr. Hyles to let him know that he was resigning from his position in the college in order to go be assistant pastor. He later realized that he didn't ask counsel, but rather informed Dr. Hyles. He tells how Dr. Hyles replied, 'If you have any doubts, come back and see me.' (Dr. Hyles had a policy of not giving unsought counsel.) He often shared with me how he was afterward filled with doubt."_

Again, as Mary notes, _"We both reflect back that neither of us felt a peace about it – and no doubt the Holy Spirit was trying to lead us to the Asian people, but we were following what LOOKED like a good opportunity. Needless to say, things didn't go so well there. I believe we were both depressed and unhappy. We believe that we were out of God's will, and we were not happy there. We informed the pastor that we were going to return to Indiana so that I could participate in my college graduation there, then go on deputation to begin a Cambodian church. We waited until the pastor felt it was a right time for us to leave (not wanting to make the same mistake twice of not being properly under our pastor's authority nor having gotten wise counsel)."_

Interestingly enough, my brother and his wife located a large city even in Florida with a small Cambodian community. They drove quite a distance to begin to meet with a family who would teach them the language. That helped encourage both of them in the vision.

In May of 1987, my brother and his wife went to candidate school at BIMI, and went on deputation to get some support to start Cambodian Baptist Church in August of 1988. Not many pastors believed in the vision – but thankfully there were a few who did, and we praise God for them. The newly relocated refugees had no money, and it would take time for a church like this to support itself. They went forward anyway. Pastor Esposito mowed lawns, and his wife managed apartments to make ends meet until the church was able to be self supporting.

The church began with a handful of older Cambodian folks and dozens of young people. The older people were limited, but did all they could, and were a tremendous encouragement in the early days. However, the work with the young people is what began to flourish. Those young people would soon grow up and become laborers for the harvest fields there and eventually abroad.

God led the church to what the _USA Today_ called, _"The most ethnically diverse tract in the nation."_ Pastor always said in this circumstance and every other – " _It's not a coincidence; but part of God's plan for us_."

Then, as Pastor believed, it was God who began to expand the vision and the purpose of the church. We changed the name of the church from _Cambodian_ Baptist Church to _Pacific_ Baptist Church. Through soul winning and our Khmer people inviting family and friends of all nationalities, the church grew little by little to become a multi-ethnic church. Pastor Joe believed that God could use these people in church planting in those ethnic areas; that they could reach people who, in turn, could go reach their people abroad. However, the church never has lost its highly Asian crowd.

**Pastor Joe believed that this was God preparing us to eventually send some to South East Asia in the future!**

God began to bring folks to Long Beach who had a burden and believed they could serve the Asian community: Bro. and Mrs. Board, Touch Keo (Southern Cambodian), Ge Chang, etc. Eventually, Bro. Dave Board felt the burden to go to Cambodia. Upon a return, the team concept was developed. Later many others would begin to join the team there. Sara and Neaty Vong were saved and grew up at Cambodian Baptist/Pacific Baptist, as did Samantha Taing. Later, God allowed contact with others – such as a retired couple from Wisconsin named Tom and Sue Sutrick.

As Mary relates, _"Finally the dream of going to Cambodia from so many years before was/is being fulfilled there in an unbelievably miraculous way - just not as Joe would have done it: God's way, God's time....and how much better is HIS way!"_

Pastor Joe wasn't afraid to challenge anyone to step out by faith, take a risk, and " _go for it_." He just believed it could be done and someone needed to do it.

Through an amazing series of events, Pastor Joe found out about the country of communist Laos. At the time, as it still is, Laos was a "closed" country. As far as most of us were concerned, this meant you just couldn't get in the country. Of course, as we all know now, with God, there are no closed countries. God is very good at opening "closed" doors!!

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**Laos is a country of just under seven million people. Less than 2 percent of the population professes to be "Christian." In the country of Laos there are 136 different people groups and the vast majority of these (85 percent) are considered "unreached." Even more tragically, many of these tribal groups are considered "** **unengaged,** **" which simply means no one is even trying to reach them with the Gospel!**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW** , **what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!**

One of our young couples, Koumaly and Darath Thongdy, after almost two years of deputation preparing to go to Cambodia,...and scheduled to leave for Cambodia in ten days...received a shocking phone call from Pastor Joe. My brother asked Koumaly, who happens to be Lao, if he would prayerfully consider changing plans and going to Laos. That's exactly what the Thongdy's did, and they have been in Laos now for five years. And God is blessing their ministry big time!

**_That's just Pastor Joe for you!_**

Like a Nehemiah of old, Pastor Joe would see a need, sense that God wanted us to somehow meet the need, and he'd just find a way. Often his way of meeting the needs seemed a bit unorthodox, but as it is often said, _"The proof is in the pudding!"_

Pastor Joe preached very often in services about _"going."_ It wasn't just a missions' sermon to him, but the underlying purpose for which God had raised up our very unique church! He referred to Christians of old, such as the Moravians, that would send large percentages (actually 10%) of their folks to the mission field, and that was his desire for Pacific Baptist Church. He talked about not only having missionaries in those countries, but also multiplying ministries – like Pacific Baptist Church Phnom Penh – starting churches and of revival taking place in those countries. Pastor often dreamed about, and talked about, seeing not just a few people saved, not just a few churches started, but actually seeing a _"_ _movement_ _"_ started. He dreamed of a _"_ _movement_ _"_ that would impact great parts of these countries.

Through a series of events, God miraculously showed us a place to plant a church in Monterey Park, which is only about 20 miles from our church in Long Beach. It just so _"happened"_ to be in a very highly populated Chinese community. In those early days, Pastor Joe would challenge the few Chinese folks, who became the backbone of our Chinese ministry in the early days of the church plant, to go back to China to reach their own people. Of course, most of them had come to America with an intent to never return. However, Pastor Joe didn't believe God would lead us there and to them without a future plan and purpose.

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**The Shui (shway) is an unreached people group of Guizhou province, China. They live in villages of about 200 people or 45 families on average. The Shui people are a friendly people and love to entertain visitors. They are isolated from all realms of society and are self-sufficient in every area of life. The population of the Shui is small compared to many other minority groups in China, running somewhere around 444,250. Less than 1 percent of the Shui people are Christians.**

**Jiangxi Province today contains one of the smallest percentages of Christians out of all of China's provinces and autonomous regions. Located in Jiangxi Province is the city of Fengcheng. In 1912, the China Inland Mission opened a station in Fengcheng. But, by 1922, the missionaries reported only 80 Christian converts in the city. Today, Fengcheng remains an unevangelized**  
**city with only about 1 percent of the population claiming faith in Jesus Christ. Over 75 percent have never heard the Gospel or the name of Christ. Yet God wants to bring a harvest of souls in Fengcheng, and make this city a true "harvest city."**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW, what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!!!**

Pastor Joe never believed what we were presently doing was enough in any area. He had several maps on his office wall of California (indicating areas with the purpose of reaching and training laborers to go) as well as maps of Asia. He envisioned what God could and would do through us at Pacific Baptist. He often pulled down the maps and highlighted, divided, and strategized how we could reach people all over Asia.

Pastor and his wife took a trip with Bro. Ge Chang and Bro. Thongdy to Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Upon returning from the trip, he came back and took down maps and began to mark a strategy to reach further – including China. One specific spot that he felt could be a center and reach into three places from a home base. He looked at this strategic spot known as the " _Golden Triangle_ ," where we could very easily reach into four countries (Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand) in Southeast Asia, and also go north to reach into China.

After God led us again in ways Pastor believed directly to be a part of the continuing story of God's plan – to Monterey Park – in a heavy Chinese area, he felt it was just one more piece in the puzzle of God's plan.

**_The burden for China began to grow!_** __

Pastor prayed, planned, prayed, and planned some more. He even talked to his children, about going to China the following year – though this never transpired because he went to the hospital before they had the chance to take such a trip.

Pastor Joe wanted the young people of Pacific Baptist to have hearts that were soft for the mission field, and had decided years before that senior trips would be to Southeast Asia rather than amusement parks, etc. He did this in hope that the trips should make a difference in their lives, something of eternal value and to stir up their hearts for the world. But this trip to China that he was planning would be the first. He wanted his entire family to make that trip to China – and they talked about it often.

As Missions Conference 2013 neared, Pastor Joe felt it was time to share the burden of China in a greater way. As Mary his wife notes, _"In all the years I have known him, never had I seen such an intensity, and determination and belief that something was of God. He said multiple times – this is a 'God thing.' He talked about it for a long time in advance – and planned and prayed."_

Of course, he opened the conference that night with an emphasis on China. That night Pastor and his wife walked home together. Mary retells that evening, _"He mentioned having a migraine, but mostly talked of this being of God and the good night we'd had to open the conference. Upon arriving home – he always would sit with our children and talk of the blessings of the service, but this night the children showed him Laos coffee my brother-in-law had brought back for him, and he tossed it back to one of them and said, **'China or Bust'** and turned and headed_ _up the stairs. And those are the last words our children heard him say."_

Just nine days before that dreadful evening when Pastor Joe was hospitalized, he passed out _The Challenge of Missions,_ written by J. Oswald Smith in 1959. Mary remembers, _"I've thought a lot about this. He had talked with me about it as well – and how he could see the reality of the Spiritual battle. It was an allegory of Satan and his demons strategizing on keeping the gospel out of unreached places. One thing that stood out in the book was a statement about Cambodia being unreached at the time – that there wasn't one Christian there. NOT ONE it said..."_

As Pastor's wife Mary concludes, _"Now just think what God has used us to do there in Cambodia, along with the countries of Laos and Thailand! And it's continually multiplying. Just as my husband had dreamed it would. And now, what can God do in China through us? My husband often talked about that."_

**_Keep the Dream Alive!!!_**

**_Bible Conference in Thailand!_**
**_Chapter Three_**

**_There's a World to Reach!_**

The phrases, _"Don't Let the Dream Die"_ and _"Keep the Dream Alive,"_ of course refer to the dream and desire that God had laid on Pastor Joe's heart a few years ago, prior to his being hospitalized.

Again though, this isn't simply about one man's dream for his life, ministry, and the purpose God had for the church he pastored. **Far more than that, this is about God's desire for His people to reach a lost and dying world, even to the uttermost parts of the world, and especially among the unreached peoples of the world, and even in the most difficult and dangerous places in the world.**

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**That of the over 16,000 different people groups worldwide, 6,671 of these people groups, or 3.1 billion people, fall into the category of "unreached people groups." The vast majority of these are found in the 10/40 Window!**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW, what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!!!**

Again, for Pastor Joe, the dream started in North Chicago while he was still a student in Bible college. It started when God began to stir his heart about the thousands of Cambodian refugees as they began to flood into the area of North Chicago where he had a Sunday school bus route. This dream for Pastor Joe was enlarged and expanded over the years after he started Cambodian Baptist Church in Long Beach, California. This eventually became Pacific Baptist Church. The dream really expanded and Pacific Baptist Church eventually sent teams of missionaries to Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos.

As we mentioned earlier, a year or two before my brother was hospitalized, God started working on his heart about the 1.4 billion people in the country of China. The last words out of his mouth – at least the last words his children ever heard him say prior to being rushed to the hospital on October 3, 2013 were, **_"China or Bust!"_**

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**T here are 150 different cities in the country of China with a population of one million or more. The United States only has nine. The five largest cities in China are Shanghai (23 million), Beijing (19 million), Guangzhou (17 million), Shenzen (12 million), Tianjin (11 million), Dongoun (8 million).**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW, what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!!!**

While Pastor Joe was not a missionary and had never served on a mission field, he definitely had a missionary's heart. From those early days in Chicago and even before that, until the day he was hospitalized, both his words and deeds reflected the heart and the spirit of a missionary.

It has often been said that a missionary is one who hears the sounds of pagan footsteps on their way to a Christ-less eternity echoing in their mind. I think this would be true of my brother!

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**_"Someone once said, 'When we think of a world without Jesus we think, for the most part, they have REJECTED HIM. The greatest tragedy is not that they have REJECTED HIM, it is that they have NEVER HEARD OF HIM!'"_**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW, what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!!!**

As we have mentioned previously, this book is about far more than one man's dream and the desire to keep it alive. This book is about God's desire to reach the unreached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As one author noted:

One-third of the planet's population, over two billion people, has never heard the gospel. And of that number, over 50,000 die daily, separated from God forever. As has been said, one definition of a missionary is someone who never gets used to the sound of pagan footsteps on their way to a Christ-less eternity. The sounds of those footsteps echo in their minds and haunt their waking dreams. One should not go driven by the need alone, but God often uses the need as a starting place to awaken us to His call.

Again, like Nehemiah of old, Pastor Joe saw a **_GREAT NEED_** and he knew that he was serving a **_GREAT GOD_** ; therefore, he was willing to get behind a **_GREAT TASK_** – the task of bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the 10/40 Window in general and Asia more specifically!

One compelling vision that has burned within the hearts of a few men and women in every generation has been that of a world that was lost without Christ, with little hope, and little help.

• _These were men and women who went against the stream of current and popular opinion, even popular opinion in the church of their day!_

• _These were men and women who chose to leave the comforts and conveniences of home, the safety and security that was available on the homeland, to venture by faith, with Jesus, to foreign lands among foreign people._

• _These were men and women who left father, family, friends, future ambitions, financial security, and everything that was familiar to them, and by faith entered the frontlines, and in many cases, deep behind enemy lines, for Christ and the cause of Christ._

• _These were men and women who saw what others did not see, heard what others did not hear, and felt what others did not feel._

• _These were men and women who willingly served where others would not serve, loved those that others would not love, gave what others would not give, and in many cases, they gave the ultimate sacrifice for Christ and the cause of Christ. They are numbered with the martyrs of the ages._

What compelled these men and women to leave it all, give it all, for a people who were different than they?

Of course, these men and women saw the great need. Their hearts grasped the facts that many choose to ignore. These were men and women who wanted to make a lasting impact for good and for God!

In spite of the fact that there have been men and women throughout the ages with a burning desire to get the Good News out to those who need it the most and have the opportunity to hear it the least, the number of those who have been burdened enough to try to make a significant difference has been extremely small.

**_The willing laborers have always been few in numbers!_**

The scriptures remind us, _"Where there is no vision, the people perish ..."_ Today, there are countless multitudes perishing because we lack a vision for the world, especially for that part of the world known as the 10/40 Window.

As we mentioned in our book, _Peeking in the 10/40 Window: Why it Matters to God and Why it Should Matter to Us_ , of course, the people who are lost in the 10/40 Window are not _"more lost"_ than your neighbor or family member who does not know Christ. But, they are _"unreached"_ in the sense that they have not had an opportunity to hear the Gospel. The issue is not their _"lostness,"_ but their access to the Gospel. People can be _"unevangelized"_ without being _"unreached."_ There are people in the United States who have not heard the Gospel by their choice.

**_Most people living in the 10/40 Window could not learn about Jesus even if they wanted to!_**

**_These are "unreached peoples" who have little, if any, access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!_**

Here we are almost 2,000 years after Christ gave His disciples the Great Commission, and yet a great majority of the world has yet to hear the Gospel. In many cases, these people have yet to hear the name of Jesus even once. I like what one author had to say concerning this:

_It is hard to imagine why we still have not reached one-third of the people in our world with the Gospel. In 1896, in Atlanta, Georgia, a man was working in his laboratory mixing together water, flavoring, and sugar. He invented a drink that he called Coca-Cola. It cost him about $70 to develop and market his product that first year and he only made about $50. To be $20 in the red in 1896 was a tough financial loss. Nonetheless, he continued to sell his product. A few years later they developed a process to bottle the drink so that people could enjoy it at home or on picnics and the popularity grew. Today, 112 years later, 94% of the people in the world recognize the Coca-Cola logo and product. In 112 years, we can reach the world for profit's sake, but we cannot do it for the glory of God in 2,000 years._

As one author noted:

_When will the concept of unreached peoples become intolerable to the church? What will it take to wake us up to the dearth of the gospel among the peoples of the world? What will it take to stir our hearts and lives for men and women whose souls are plunging into damnation without ever even hearing of salvation? This cannot be conceivable for people who confess the Gospel. For if this Gospel is true, and if our God is worthy of the praise of all people, then we must spend our lives and mobilize our churches for the spread of Christ's love to unreached people groups all around the world. Jesus has not given us a commission to consider; He has given us a command to obey. That command involves sacrifice on all our parts. If we have this much access to the Gospel in our culture, and there is this much absence of the Gospel in other cultures, then surely God is leading many more of us (maybe the majority of us) to go to those cultures. If God calls us to stay in this culture, then surely He is leading us to live simply and give sacrificially so that as many people as possible can go._

Those three initial questions he asks above are powerful. They are questions that we need to seriously consider. They are convicting and challenging or at least they should be. He asks,

_1. _ _When will the concept of unreached peoples become intolerable to the church?_

_2. _ _What will it take to wake us up to the dearth of the Gospel among the peoples of the world?_

3. _What will it take to stir our hearts and lives for men and women whose souls are plunging into damnation without ever even hearing of salvation?_

**DID YOU KNOW?**

**T hailand is a country of just over 68 million people with more than 67 million of these people considered "unreached" peoples. Less than 2 percent of the population professes any form of "Christianity." More than 85 percent of the Thai people are Buddhist. Because of the difficulties in reaching the Thai people, Thailand has often been referred to as a "Missionary's Graveyard."**

**NOW THAT YOU KNOW, what will you do about it?**

**PRAY, GIVE, GO!!!**

There are over 2 billion people in the world –most of them in the 10/40 Window – who have not only never heard the Gospel but in many cases, have never heard the name of Jesus even once. Many of them will go their entire lives without ever meeting a Christian. Are our hearts stirred over this great _"dearth of the Gospel among the peoples of the world?"_ And, if so, what shall we do about it?

This same author continues with the following words:

_And whether we stay or go, we have no choice but to counter culture. If we stay, then we must recognize that sacrificing pleasures, selling possessions, and shaping our lives around getting the gospel to unreached peoples in the world will inevitably and unavoidably go against the grain of a culture that constantly beckons us to seek more pleasures, attain more possessions, and spend our lives around what will bring us the most comfort in this world. Moreover, if we go, then we must realize that these people groups are unreached for a reason: they are difficult and dangerous to reach, and the cost of reaching them will be steep._

Another author noted,

While Christians choose to spend their lives fulfilling the American dream instead of giving their lives to proclaiming the kingdom of God, literally billions in need of the Gospel remain in the dark.

We find these words in the book _Revolution in World Missions_ :

The United States, with its 600,000 congregations or groups, is blessed with 1.5 million full-time Christian workers or one full-time religious leader for every 182 people in the nation. What a difference this is from the rest of the world, where more than 2 billion people are still unreached with the Gospel. The unreached or "hidden peoples" have only one missionary working for every 78,000 people, and there are still 1,240 distinct cultural groups in the world without a single church among them to preach the Gospel. These are the masses for whom Christ wept and died.

These are sobering, if not sickening words!

We can stick our heads in the sand and turn the other way while trying to deny the truth of these piercing words. Or, we can ask God honestly and humbly to forgive us and seek His will about what we can do regarding this great neglect in regards to the Great Commission.

It is often thundered from our pulpits, **_"Keep the main thing the main thing."_** The question that must be asked is _"Are we keeping the main thing the main thing?"_ Can we possibly say that we are keeping the main thing the main thing when so much of the world has yet to hear?

There is a world lost without Christ, and a vast majority of that world is _"unreached"_ and often _"unengaged"_ to our shame.

While the vast majority of those that have had a consuming desire to reach the lost that lived outside of the borders of their homeland were cross cultural missionaries, there have been some who have stayed back home for different reasons that were consumed with _"the cause"_ of reaching the world for Christ.

One notable illustration would be Oswald J. Smith. The great burden of Oswald J. Smith's Christian life was to see the lost come to the Lord. He was well known for the motto: _"We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first."_ and _"No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once."_

It was also Smith who often said, _"The supreme task of the church is the evangelization of the world."_ In his book, _The Challenge of Missions_ , Smith wrote:

This leads me to say that every church should spend more on missions than it spends on itself. That is only logical. If we believe that world evangelization comes first, then we should invest more money in the regions beyond than we use for ourselves here at home.

My friend, those are powerful words from a pastor of a local New Testament church! We find these words in the same book:

Years ago I asked our auditors, through our treasurer, two questions. First, "How much did we spend on ourselves last year?" After they had examined the books I got the answer. "Dr. Smith," they said, "last year, you used $53,000 on your work at home." Then I asked my second question, "How much did we send to the foreign field? How much was raised for missions?"

Again I got the answer. "Last year, you gave $318,000 to missions." "Fine," I said, "that is the way it always has been and that is the way it should be." And if the time ever comes when the officials of The Peoples Church decide to spend more here at home and less on missions, they will get my resignation without a moment's hesitation.

Smith offered himself several times for missionary service, but his frail health prevented his acceptance. He was deeply disappointed, but that definitely did not keep him from making a huge impact around the world. He determined in his heart that God could still use him to make a difference in the world, and God did. He said, **_"If I can't go myself, I will send someone else."_**

The travels and ministries of Smith multiplied. During his lifetime, he made 21 world tours promoting evangelism and world missions. One of the results of his visit to the Baltic countries was the establishment of a Bible School in Riga Latvia for the express purpose of training national missionaries. Their success in evangelizing their own people proved the value of using nationals to Smith.

While leading his expanding congregation in a program supporting over 500 workers worldwide, Smith was instrumental in challenging others to follow his example.

Faith figured prominently in Smith's life, so his approach to financial giving was called _"The Faith Promise Offering."_ He felt that most Christians would respond to a promise between themselves and God. They would be asked to make it in complete dependency that God would undertake. He was known for saying, _"Cash isn't needed. In dependence upon God, I will endeavour to give. No one will ask you for it - it's between you and God."_ Then he would call to sing _"Step Out in Faith"_ as the money envelopes poured in with financial gifts. Sacrificial giving was encouraged as well as early habits of giving something regularly, no matter how small. Second or third gifts were called envelopes of repentance. Smith was also known for saying, _"I know people who have two pairs of shoes!"_ People often _"gave up"_ something to give to world missions.

While I am surely not going to claim that my brother, Pastor Joe Esposito, was an Oswald J. Smith, I am not sure if there ever was another; but Pastor Joe is definitely one of those men who God kept back home in the States but was consumed with sending men and money to the _"uttermost parts"_ of the world.

**_My brother's dream and his desire was that God would use him and the Pacific Baptist Church to make a spiritual dent in the 10/40 Window in general and Southeast Asia and China more specifically._**

As we close this chapter, let us once again hear from Oswald J. Smith concerning this matter of the Great Commission and our failure to fulfill it:

When Jesus left His disciples, nearly two thousand years ago now, He gave them but one task; namely, world evangelization. I can imagine Him talking to them something like this: "I am going to leave you and I will be gone for a long time. While I am absent, I want you to do just one thing. Give this Gospel of Mine to the entire world. See that every nation, tongue, and tribe hears it."

Those were His instructions. That was the one thing He told them to do, and they understood Him perfectly. But what has the Church done during the years He has been absent? Have we carried out His orders? Have we obeyed Him? As a matter of fact, we have done everything else except the one and only thing He told us to do. Jesus never told us to build colleges, universities, and seminaries, but we have done it. He never told us to erect hospitals and asylums and homes for the aged. He never told us to build churches or to organize Sunday Schools and Youth for Christ Rallies, but we have done it. And we ought to have done it, for it is all important and worthwhile. But the one and only thing that He did tell us to do, is the one and only thing that we have left undone. We have not given His Gospel to the entire world. We have not carried out His orders.

...

What, then, is the most important work of the hour? It is to carry out our Lord's last orders. It is to give His Gospel to the unreached tribes and peoples of the world. That, my friends, is more important than anything else. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). By this, and this alone, we must judge all spirituality, all Bible knowledge, all doctrinal and theological discussions. If we are truly spiritual, if we are real Bible students, if our doctrines are scriptural, we will put world evangelism first; we will give, and give liberally, to missions. **All our Bible knowledge, all our spirituality, all our doctrinal standards are nothing but make-believe unless we are putting first things first.**

There is definitely a world to reach for Christ. Men, women, and young people are lost without Christ. We have been given the mandate to **_"GO."_**

Beginning in our Jerusalem, onto our Judea, and Samaria, unto the uttermost parts of the world.

**_We must go!_**

**_Church in Laos._**

**Keep the Dream Alive!!!**
**_Chapter Four_**

**_Why Southeast Asia and China?_**

For the past six years we have had teams sent out of Pacific Baptist Church in Long Beach to Cambodia (6 years), Thailand (5 years), and Laos (5 years). All three of these teams are experiencing the blessings of God. People are being saved, baptized, lives are being changed, and churches have been planted. As far as Southeast Asia is concerned, Pastor Joe wasn't satisfied, first with Cambodia, and then Thailand and Laos. He dreamed of sending teams, especially those trained in Southeast Asia, into other countries of Southeast Asia, especially into the countries of Vietnam and Myanmar.

**Why Southeast Asia?**

A legitimate question and one worth pondering. Of course, Southeast Asia is located in the 10/40 Window. In the 10/40 Window you have the neediest people in the world, both spiritually and physically. And in Southeast Asia you find some of the neediest of the needy.

Let's talk about the countries of Southeast Asia for a few moments. There are eleven countries found in Southeast Asia with a total population of over 630 million people. Over 325 million of those people are considered _"unreached people groups."_ That would be 51 percent of the population. There are over 700 different _"unreached people groups"_ found in Southeast Asia, and many of these are not only _"unreached,"_ but _"_ _unengaged."_ When we say _"_ _unengaged,"_ we are referring to people who have absolutely no one trying to reach them.

**_No one!_**

If you were to take the Philippines and East Timor out of the Southeast Asia equation, the numbers would be daunting. Let's just consider six of the countries found in Southeast Asia and their _"unreached"_ populations.

**Country Population Un. Population % Ev. Christian**

**Indonesia** 254 million 161 million (64%) 3.8%

**Thailand** 67 million 66 million (99%) 0.5%

**Myanmar** 54 million 45 million (84%) 5.0%

**Malaysia** 30 million 16 million (52%) 3.3%

**Cambodia** 16 million 15 million (99%) 1.6%

**Laos** 7 million 6 million (82%) 2.3%

**Totals 428 million 309 million (72%) Less than 4%**

If we compare the above numbers to the United States of America, it is absolutely shameful.

As bad as America has drifted from her Judeo-Christian moorings over the past few decades, still 77 percent of the population claims to be _"Christian"_ and 27 percent of them consider themselves to be _"Evangelical Christians."_

According to the book Beyond Megachurch Myths, there were 320,000 Christian churches in America in 2007. (Some have claimed the number of "Christian" churches in America exceeds 450,000.) Of these U.S. churches, 1,250 were megachurches with an average weekend attendance of 2,000 or more.

Add to this, Christian radio, Christian television, Christian bookstores, and the such, compared to Southeast Asia, the United States of America has it "made in the shade."

The amount of manpower and money going to the nations for the sake of the Gospel, compared to the great need, is embarrassing at best!

**Why China?**

Of course, then the question comes, "Why China?" I mean, when you think about the question, it is a legitimate one. There are 69 different countries in the 10/40 Window and nearly every one of these nations has a desperate need for the Gospel. To be honest with you, some even more so than China.

• _Why not **India**? They have 1.2 billion people with, well, about 2% of these professing to be Christian._

• _How about_ **_Indonesia_** _? They have 250 million people and the vast majority of them are Muslim._

• _How about **Pakistan** (180 million)? Less than 2% of the population professes to be Christian._

• _How about **Bangladesh** (160 million)? Less than 2% of these profess to be Christian._

• _How about **Vietnam** (91 million)? Only 8% of these profess to be Christian and 7% of these "Christians" are Catholic, who are more than likely trusting their works to get them to Heaven._

• _How about_ **_Iraq_** _(33 million)? Somewhere between 3-4% of these profess to be Christian and again, the vast majority of these would be Catholics._

• _How about_ **_Afghanistan_** _(30 million)? Less than 1% of these people are professing Christian._

• _How about **Nepal** (28 million)? Less than 1% of these are professing Christian._

• _How about **North Korea** (25 million)? Less than 1% of these are professing Christian._

Of course, the list could go on and on and on.

Any one of these countries - all of these countries listed above - along with many other countries, especially those in the Middle East, are in desperate need of the Gospel. In most of these countries (all of them found in the 10/40 Window), it is illegal and very difficult for a missionary to enter, Christians are being persecuted on a daily basis, and in almost every case, the church has been forced underground.

**So again, "Why China?"**

Again, there are those who might ask, "What's the big deal about China?" "Why the big push to get laborers into China?" "Isn't your Jerusalem keeping you busy enough?" "Isn't Pacific Baptist Church already stretching itself enough in the countries of Thailand (65 million people), Cambodia (15 million people), and Laos (7 million people)?" "Isn't Southeast Asia and its 630 million people a big enough harvest field for one church to try to labor in?"

And the questions go on and on. "Why wasn't Pastor Joe and Pacific Baptist Church content with reaching their Jerusalem, their Judea, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand?" "What compelled Pastor Joe in the midst of the busyness of overseeing a church in Long Beach, California, and another one in Monterey Park, California, a huge building program in Long Beach, a Christian school and a Bible College, and three teams' teams in Southeast Asia to consider sending a team to China?"

And, of course, "What are you all thinking?"

**"Why China?"**

Let me take a few moments to briefly state a few reasons for a man or a woman who might be contemplating the mission field, yet is not sure where to go and is open to all potential options. Here you go:

_(1) _ _China is the most populated nation on planet earth._

_(2) _ _Other than India, no country in the world h_ _as anywhere close to the number of "unsaved," "unreached" and "unheards" (those who have never heard the gospel) as the country of China has. It's not even close!_

_(3) _ _China borders at least 13 other countries, including India (1.2 billion people), Pakistan (180 million people), Russia (142 million people), and North Korea (25 million people)._

_(4) _ _China is within "striking distance" of all 68 other countries in the 10/40 Window, including the most difficult countries in the world to reach – those in the Middle East._

_(5) _ _Because of over sixty years of communist rule, there is not the same religious "stronghold" in China that you will find in the other countries that I have listed above._

_(6) _ _Because of this same communist rule, there is a definite void in the hearts of the people of China._

_(7) _ _China opened the doors to the West; and because of this, the younger generation is more open to "new ideas" than possibly the older generation had been._

_(8) _ _With the technology revolution, which China has bought into, the Chinese people, especially the young people, whether the government likes it or not, is being influenced by the West._

_(9) _ _As one author has noted, the Chinese people have the characteristics of industry, frugality, tenacity, physical vigor, and intellect, which, once they turn to Christ, can be used for the furtherance of the Gospel around the world._

_(10) _ _The Chinese people are willing and able to go all over the world, even to places that the average white American will not and cannot go. Therefore, they represent a huge potential missionary force!_

Of course, another really good reason for considering China, especially if you are a member of Pacific Baptist Church, is because your church and your pastor believes it is the will of God to send a team there.

**Let's Talk About China**

**_China is the largest country in the world with 1.4 billion people._**

This enormous number represents almost one out of every five people alive in the world today. This number isnearly three times the size of the United States of America and double the size of all of Southeast Asia combined!

The country of China has 150 cities with over one million people. The U.S. has only 10. China has 14 cities with a population of five million or more. The United States has only one (New York City 8 million people). The six largest cities in China are **Shanghai** (23 million people), **Beijing** (19 million people) **Guangzhou/Foshan** (17 million people) **Tianjin** (11 million people), **Shenzen** (12 million people), **Dongoun** (8 million people).

Four of the top ten fastest growing cities in the world are found in China (Shenzhen #2; Beijing #4; Guangzhou/Foshan #7; Shanghai #8).

Concerning the potential in China, a few years ago I read the following words:

Asia is the greatest theatre of the Twentieth Century. It is going to witness the mightiest movements, politically, socially, educationally, and spiritually, of any continent of the world. It may be questioned whether any other continent, in any other century, has had take place upon it what we shall see unfold upon the Asiatic continent, even in our own generation. . . . We shall witness the greatest triumphs of Christianity. . . . China has impressed me more than any other nation I have visited. . . . The Chinese have the characteristics of the great races of the world: industry, frugality, patience, tenacity, great physical vigor, great intellectual power, independence, and conservatism. These are the great qualities which have marked off the great races of the world, and the Chinese possess them in a wonderful degree. . . . We must first evangelize the young men, and secondly, make them an evangelizing force. . . . It is beyond all question that the one thing, and the only thing, that can uplift and regenerate China is the Gospel of Christ. What people have such remarkable staying power, such large capacity for work, such patient endurances of hardship and suffering! Surely God has a special purpose in preserving the integrity of this nation for four thousand years. . . . The qualities which have made the Chinese such efficient agents of evil will make them, under the transforming, directing, and energizing power of the Holy Spirit, one of the mightiest forces for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God. Their influence is destined to be increasingly felt far beyond the limits of the Middle Kingdom. The more we reflect on the strong traits of this people, the more we are impressed with what Napoleon said: "When China is moved, it will change the face of the globe."

The words of Napoleon, "China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world," are not only powerful words; but it would appear that the way things are shaping up in the world, they might very well be prophetic!

Apparently, those words were spoken after Napolean became the Emporer of France. It is said that in 1803, prior to him becoming the emporer, while pointing at a map of China, he said, "Here lies a sleeping giant (lion in other versions), let him sleep, for when he wakes up, he will shock the world."

**_Wouldn't it be just like our God to use China, of all nations, to "shock the world" for Christ!_**

China's geographical location, the character of her people, and their willingness to move to other places in the world to work, make China a ripe place and the Chinese people a ripe harvest field and future labourers to reach into the rest of the 10/40 Window, especially the Middle East!

**_We are talking about unlimited potential here!_**

**_Pastor Joe's family dressed up for Missions' Conference, three days after Pastor was hospitalized._**

**_Me, Preaching in China._**
**_Chapter Five_**

**_What Shall We Do Now?_**

In this book, it has been my sole intention to help the reader to learn and understand some of the dream that God had laid on Pastor Joe's heart for Asia and to get a peek at the great need prevalent in Southeast Asia and the country of China. The men, women, and children who live in the 10/40 Window, in Southeast Asia, and China so desperately need God, and they need for God's people to dream big things for God to bring the Gospel to them.

As you know, God uses people like you and me to meet the needs of the poor and the needy, the lost and the despairing. That is God's plan. It is and always has been the way God gets the task accomplished. He uses people like you and me.

If the task of the Great Commission will be accomplished, it will be accomplished because God's people – that's you and me – make a deliberate decision to obey their God, give their lives, and sacrifice their resources for the cause of Christ in a lost and dying world.

**There's no other way!**

If the hungry are to be fed, if the naked are to be clothed, if the homeless are to be given shelter, if the sick and the dying are to be brought to health, and if the child who has been given over to the sex-trade industry is to be set free, God's people – that's you and me – will have to sacrifice some of their comforts and conveniences, and in many (yes, many) cases, be willing to leave their comfort zone in the land of prosperity and give themselves to a cause that is greater than a bigger house, a new car, a season pass to Disneyland, a three-week vacation, and their 401k.

**There's no other way!**

O Lord Jesus, put a love for the world in our hearts. Help our eyes to see what you see. Fill our hearts with compassion, and break our heart with those things that break your heart!

What can we do? How can we make a difference in such a needy part of the world? The need is so great, while at the same time, you and I are only one. It is important that we keep in mind that while we can't do everything, we can do something and we must. We must for their sake and for Christ's sake!

As someone has said, "Becoming a Christian is optional. But once you decide to ask Jesus Christ to take control of your life, involvement in world missions is no longer optional."

Of course, our Lord made it very clear that if we love Him with every fiber of our being, we are also to love others [Matthew 22:37-40]. We cannot say that we love God and yet not love others. Impossible! Loving others with the love of God would include loving others who look differently than we look, who talk differently than we talk, and who live differently than we live. This would include loving the Muslim, loving the Buddhist, loving the Hindu, loving the Animist, and loving the atheistic communists in the country of China. God loves those who are enslaved in darkness in the 10/40 Window in general, and more specifically in Southeast Asia, and China, and so should we.

If we love folks the way that God loves them, we are going to want to meet their needs, beginning with their greatest need, the need of salvation. This is where the Great Commission comes in.

**Matthew 28:18-20,** 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

**Acts 1:8,** 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Oh, if we could only see the world through the compassionate and caring eyes of our Lord Jesus. If we could only allow our eyes to affect our hearts as we peek at a lost and dying world that is found in the 10/40 Window, and more specifically in Southeast Asia, and China. Take some time to ponder and pray for those who have little hope of ever hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

**Matthew 9:36-38,** But when he saw the multitudes he was moved with compassion on them ... Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

If only God's people in the West would look at the over 1.5 billion Muslims – the vast majority of them in the 10/40 Window – who are lost without Christ – with hearts of love and compassion that will move us to do something about it.

If you and I would only look at the over one billion Hindus who are lost without Christ – the vast majority of them in the 10/40 Window – with hearts of love and compassion that will move us to do something about it.

If we would only look at the over 800 million Buddhists who are lost without Christ – the vast majority of them in the 10/40 Window – with hearts of love and compassion that will move us to do something about it.

If we would only look on the hundreds of millions of animists who are worshipping the spirits or the hundreds of millions of atheistic communists who are worshipping man and man's accomplishments, that are lost without Christ – the vast majority of them in the 10/40 Window – with hearts of love and compassion that will move us to do something about it.

Add to this, there are countless millions who are following Shintoism, Sikhism, Shamanism, Judaism, Taoism, and the countless other false religions found in the 10/40 Window. Oh, Lord help us to see the world as you see it!

**If we would only take time to ponder and pray about and for the almost 1.4 billion people in the country of China and the 630 million people in Southeast Asia – the vast majority of whom are lost without Christ and have very little chance of hearing the Good News UNLESS WE ARE DETERMINED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, possibly we can become dreamers too!**

God has a purpose for each and every one of our lives. It is good to keep in mind that God's purpose for our lives is tied in with God's eternal purpose and the Great Commission. As one author noted,

Meaning, purpose, and significance are found only by aligning our lives with God's purposes, in lives committed to following Jesus Christ. That bears repeating: The meaning, purpose, and significance of our lives are found only by aligning our lives with God's purpose, in lives committed to following Jesus Christ. ... If we are ever truly going to find purpose and meaning in our lives, we first have to rise above the trees to rediscover the forest— we have to understand what God is doing in the world and how we fit in. ... God didn't create any extras meant to just stand on the sidelines and watch the story unfold; he created players meant to be on center stage. And you will feel fully complete only when you discover the role you were born to play.

The same author writes,

Affluent, comfortable, and distracted Christians today seem to have lost the fire to change the world. The work of God's kingdom lies unfinished, and God's people seem to have lost their sense of purpose in the world.

What we need today are some men and women, some young people who are willing to risk it all to change the world, and if not the world, the world for one who is lost without Christ.

Most of us who have been saved for any length of time, know (at least with a head knowledge) what the needs are. We know what the spiritual and physical needs of the world are in our day. In this day of advanced technology, there is no excuse not to know. Most of us have heard the sermons, we have watched the missionary presentations, and we have either read articles, blogs and/or books, watched on television or online about the great poverty, hunger, and sickness around the world. For the most part, it isn't that we don't know, but in far too many cases it boils down to us simply not caring. As we wrote in our book, Peeking Through the 10/40 Window, the problem more often than not is not ignorance, but indifference!

Why is it that so few of us (the numbers are startling) are willing to share the Gospel even within our own communities? Is it because we don't know these people are lost without Christ and are on their way to spending eternity in a place called hell?

Or is it because we don't _really_ care?

Why is it that so few of us are willing to reach out our hands and help the poor and needy, even in our own communities? Is it because we don't know that these people have physical needs?

Or is it because we don't _really_ care?

Why is it that so few of us (these numbers are also startling) are willing to share the abundant blessings that God has entrusted into our care as stewards to see people saved, discipled, churches planted, and physical needs met at home and abroad? Is it because we don't know about the needs? Is it because we don't know what the Bible says about our responsibility to be good stewards of our time, talents, and treasures?

**Or is it because we don't _really_ care?**

Why are so few of God's redeemed people giving to the cause of Christ around the world? These numbers are not only startling, but also very, very sad. Is it because we don't know about the great need around the world, especially in the 10/40 Window, including places like Southeast Asia and China?

**Or is it because we don't _really_ care?**

Why are so few willing to **_"GO"_** and leave the comforts of home to bring the "wonderful words of life" to those who have NEVER heard? Is it because we don't know that there are parts of the world that have very little, if any, access to the glorious truths that we hold dear and near?

**Or is it because we don't _really_ care?**

Why are so few willing to do something about the vast physical needs around the world, especially in what we refer to as the third-world countries, and even more specifically in the 10/40 Window, China and Southeast Asia? Why is it that we, who have been given so much, seem to be willing to give so little to meet these needs? Is it because we haven't seen the starving children in Africa and India? Is it because we haven't heard of the orphans around the world?

**Or is it because we don't _really_ care?**

I know these are extremely hard words for us to swallow; but if we would get on our knees and ask God to do a thorough search of our heart, I am afraid many of us would find this to be true.

**Psalm 139:23-24,** Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Again, I know these are harsh words. I don't like to hear them, I prefer to drown them out, and often do. The Bible makes it fairly clear that what we know and believe should determine how we behave. It is not just enough to talk about the needs around the world, starting in our communities. It is not enough to preach about them. It is not enough to read about them. It is not enough to simply know. As God's people, we are commanded to do something with what we have heard with our ears, what we have seen with our eyes, and what we know to be true. If we don't, Jesus says we are foolish and the love of God does not dwell in our hearts and lives.

**Matthew 7:24-27** Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

**1 John 3:16-18,** Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

In fact, James makes it clear that our faith is not demonstrated by what we know or what we say, but by what we do.

**James 2:14-18,** What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

In my previous book, we looked at the spiritual needs of the 10/40 Window in great detail. We looked at the physical needs in the 10/40 Window. In this book we have focused primarily on Southeast Asia and the country of China. Between China and Southeast Asia, you have two billion people. And the vast majority of them are lost without Christ. We have taken our peek. We have pondered one man's dream.

Now, it is time to do something about it. There is absolutely no time to put it off. The harvest fields of the 10/40 Window are waiting for the laborers.

**John 4:35,** Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

**What Can We Do?**

**Let Me Offer a Few Practical Suggestions:**

(1) **We Can Be Better Informed!** I would encourage every reader of this book not to stop with reading this short book, but to go ahead and read a few more books that will inform, inspire, and instruct you concerning the great need in the 10/40 Window, Southeast Asia, and the country of China. Check out Joshuaproject.net and become an informed Christian.

(2) **We Can Pray!** Be faithful to pray to the Lord of the harvest about the harvest. Ask God what part you should be playing in the great harvest fields of the 10/40 Window in general and either Southeast Asia or China more specifically. Pray for labourers to go to the 10/40 Window, Southeast Asia, and the country of China. Pray for the missionaries who are presently serving in the 10/40 Window, Southeast Asia, and the country of China. Pray for the persecuted church in the 10/40 Window, Southeast Asia, and the country of China. Pray for God to raise up nationals to reach their own people in the 10/40 Window, Southeast Asia, and the country of China. Pray for the necessary funds to find their way to the 10/40 Window, Southeast Asia, and the country of China!

(3) **We Can Encourage!** God can use you and me to be an encouragement to those who are on the frontlines, and in many cases, deep behind enemy lines. Missionaries on the field are just like you, they are just like me. They are made of the same stuff we are made of. They become lonely. They miss home. They miss family and friends. They often feel out of place, especially in the first few years while trying to adjust to a new culture. At times, they become discouraged. At times, despair sets in. We can encourage them by keeping in touch. Shoot them a text or an email. It will mean the world to them!

(4) **We Can Give!** God has blessed most of us in America with an abundance of wealth. It's been given to us not to spend or to waste, but to invest in the kingdom of God. As one author wrote:

God gives his people material wealth for the sake of the world's spiritual worship. That is, he blesses his church with riches for the sake of reaching the nations. He gives a bountiful wheat harvest for the sake of a bountiful world harvest. In other words, we are blessed to be a blessing. For Christians in the West, so many of us blessed beyond the wildest dreams of just about anyone in history, this wealth is not a curse but a blessing—unless we do not use it as God has designed, for the global advance of the gospel. ... We seek the provisions of God but neglect His purposes. And in holding onto those provisions, we halt the advance of His kingdom, which Jesus teaches us to pray for and to pursue.

(5) **We Can Go!** This is where the "rubber hits the road." God is looking for men and women, young and old, who are willing to leave their father, their family, their friends, their future ambitions, their financial security, and all that is familiar to them, to bring the light where it is darkest – the 10/40 Window and places like Southeast Asia and the country of China!

To be honest with you, yes, this book was written to encourage folks to pray and give towards the cause of missions, especially in the 10/40 Window, and even more specifically, for the cause of Christ in China. But more than this, I wrote this book believing that God wanted to use it as a tool to express, yes, the dream of my brother Pastor Joe Esposito when he said, "China or Bust," but even more so, to express the heart of God for men and women to lift up their eyes and look upon the fields that are already white unto harvest, to cry out to the Lord of the harvest asking Him what He might have them to do about China, and then to say, with Isaiah of old, "Here am I Lord, send me."

My hope and prayer is that God has used this book in some way to convict, challenge, and, above all else change the hearts of many who have taken the time to read it. There's a world that is lost without Christ – beginning in your Jerusalem, and extending into the darkest places in the 10/40 Window, and even more specifically for the countries in Southeast Asia and the country of China.

**_China_**
**_A Few Words About My Brother - Pastor Joe Esposito_**

What do you say about a man who you grew up with? Your younger brother. The brother who played baseball, football, basketball, army and cowboys and Indians with you. Yes, even the one you argued with and occasionally fought with. What do you say about your younger brother, who, prior to our coming to Christ, followed me into a life of "gang-banging," and after Christ, followed me into a life of service for Christ?

After my being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, we lived together as bachelors with two other committed Christian young men. God had used me to see them come to Christ and I had discipled them (the best I knew how at the time) while at Fort Lewis, Washington. Our apartment became known as the "Jesus Apartment." We used it, along with our time, talents, and treasures, to reach people for Christ.

God used my brother in an amazing way in those days to see many of his public school friends come to Christ and come to church. In fact, at times, whole rows were filled up with his lost friends from Jordan High School in Long Beach.

He always had a heart for, and a gift of, working with people, especially young people!

We left for Bible College together. We were in the same dorm room during our first year in college. Oh, those were exciting days! During our first semester, my brother was in the Youth Ministry and I was in the Bus Ministry. After much persuasion, I eventually talked him into "getting right with God" and joining the Bus Ministry. We served as division leaders for the Bus Ministry at the same time. He married one of my bus workers. We served on staff together at First Baptist Church of Hammond before leaving together to assist in planting a church in the deep South.

After a not-so-good experience down South, we both headed to California and started different churches. After a few years, I once again joined my brother; and we worked together for the next 18 years at Cambodian Baptist Church, which later became known as Pacific Baptist Church in Long Beach, California. Long Beach was our old _"stomping grounds"_ for the devil. Now God was using my brother and his family, my family, and many others to see people leave the clutches of Satan for the Savior.

In many ways, along with Pastor Steve Meyers (who also grew up with us), I became my brother's right-hand man. We had a unique relationship. Older brother serving younger brother for the cause of Christ. God blessed in so many ways. We balanced each other. I served in many capacities as one of my brother's assistant pastors. I was the school administrator for nearly the entire 18 years I was with him. I had the honor of starting Pacific Baptist Bible College and, along with teaching in the college, served as the Vice-President of the college for the first seven years of its existence until I resigned to go on deputation. For the last nearly year-and-a-half, while at Pacific Baptist Church, I did almost all of the preaching/teaching for both of our churches (Long Beach and Monterrey Park) for the mid-week services. I also was privileged to preach often on Sunday evenings and occasionally on Sunday mornings.

All that I was able to be involved with and do, of course, was by God's grace and was greatly inspired by my brother – Pastor Joe. He had an uncanny ability of working with different types of people and helping them to reach their full potential. My brother was a visionary and he refused to see obstacles but saw any obstacles as opportunities for Christ!

There are very few, if any, brother relationships that I know of like mine and Pastor Joe's. As I already mentioned, it was a unique relationship, to say the least. I watched my brother grow, as he watched me grow. We spent countless hours talking and counseling one another. We watched one another make mistakes and by God's grace keep going forward for Christ.

My brother, now pastor, helped me so much to become more patient with people. God gifted him with a patience for people like very few men I know. He had a way of loving the unloveable and believing in those no one else was able to believe in. Oh, he got burned a time or two (actually more than a time or two), but God also raised up many men and women for His glory through the ministries He had entrusted into my brother's care.

My brother wasn't just my brother. He wasn't just my younger brother. He wasn't just my co-laborer for Christ, and he wasn't just my pastor. He was my best friend!

The following words–a Thanksgiving Dedication–were typed by me on Thanksgiving morning in 2013. This would have been about six weeks after my brother Pastor Joe would have been hospitalized. Of course, at this time and for another year or so, he would remain in a coma.

Friends,

It's Thanksgiving morning here in South East Asia. They don't celebrate thanksgiving here, but this evening we will have a thanksgiving fellowship with our students, and Lord willing, share the thanksgiving story with them. Tomorrow, our team, along with a few other missionaries, will celebrate Thanksgiving together. As I mentioned yesterday, I have so much to be thankful for.

But this morning, I thought I would share with you something that I am so grateful for that is weighing a bit heavy on my heart, as with many of you.

**Today, I am thankful for Joe Esposito!**

(Those of you who are members of PBC, please forgive me, I will be referring to Pastor Joe as Joe. You see, during this time, my relationship with him as a brother is far more important to me than our relationship as pastor/church member. I am sure you understand!)

I am thankful that God gave Joe Esposito to me. God gave Joe to me as a younger brother, a dear friend, a co-laborer, and he was my pastor (and boss) for almost 18 years. Sort of sad, how we have to wait until tragedy strikes to really think some of these things through!

I am 56 years old; Joe was a part of my life for about 53 of those years. I can remember him as a baby. He was a cute one with that olive-colored skin of his. I always was a bit jealous of it. We were really close brothers.

I can remember us playing together as children. We played sports, we played army, we played cowboys and Indians. All the stuff that brothers do, we did! Joey, that's what we used to call him, used to follow me around, and no doubt, I was always "bossing" him around. I can remember, like it was just yesterday, convincing Joey, as a 4 or 5-year-old, that our father was the one and only Santa Claus and had a toy-making shop in a hidden cave below our apartment. Concerning dad being Santa, he believed every word I said.

As we got into our teen years, unfortunately, he followed me into a life that was heading in the wrong direction quick, fast, and in a hurry. We won't even go there!!!

About 36 years ago, the Lord saved me, and for this, I will be forever grateful!

It wouldn't be long before my brother got saved (or possibly reassurance of his salvation). I can remember conversations we had on the phone as I was trying to disciple him from Fort Lewis, Washington. I can remember when I finally was discharged from the military. Joe and I, along with two others who came down from Fort Lewis with me, got an apartment together. It became the JESUS hangout, Chick-tract rack and all.

**We were crazy! But we were crazy for Christ!**

We started attending church together. Joe started reaching some of his buddies from Jordan (actually most of them were dropouts) and before long, we were filling the pews at Gethsemane Baptist Church with unsaved and unreached young people. Most of them, if not all of them, were Joe's unsaved buddies!

Some of you remember the Captain Caveman story and the crowded Volkswagon stories!!!

I think (to be honest with you my memory isn't what it ought to be) he helped me as I coached a flag football team at a park, and we used it as a platform to reach young people for Christ!

Without going into all the details, it would take far too long, but eventually Joe and I went off to Bible college together; and we were even roommates our freshman year. I can remember coming home from work in the early hours of the morning and Joe would be on his knees next to the bed. Funny, more often than not, he fell asleep that way! Joe could sleep anywhere and at anytime! We won't talk about his sleeping in church and college chapel!!!

Joe and I were just so different. I had the big mouth; I was major ADD. I was always looking for a fight. Joe was quiet and reserved and definitely not looking for a fight! We were like night and day, water and oil, but we both had something in common, we loved Jesus and we wanted Jesus to use us to help others. We both especially had a burden for young people, specifically young people who were not from Christian homes. I guess they reminded us of our past!

I got in the bus ministry first. Joe was a youth worker. I used to give him the hardest time about that. He eventually joined the bus ministry. He became a great bus captain and division leader. Within a few years, he started reaching Cambodian children and started a route specifically for them. He also was instrumental in starting the Oriental Ministry at FBC of Hammond.

After my wife and I got married, Joe moved in our basement. That's where younger brothers belong. Lol!! I can remember him learning the Cambodian language. WOW! What a task!

It wasn't long before I was hired on staff in Hammond; Joe was hired the next year.

I can remember when our father was murdered; there was Joe and I on the plane together, flying from Chicago to Los Angeles, only to arrive too late.

After serving in Hammond for a bit longer, off to Florida we went together with a few others, including our wives, and Brother Steve and Miss Alma Meyers to help start a church. We won't talk about Florida. Far too depressing!!!

Eventually, I left Florida and started a church in So. Cal. Joe left Florida about a year later and started Cambodian Baptist Church. What an interesting ministry. In fact, without going into details, we both had interesting ministries; and they both revolved primarily around young people, troubled young people at that!

Again, our differences were quite apparent, but we still both loved Jesus and wanted to make a ference in the lives of others, especially young people. And my brother was so committed, not only to his Lord, but to the cause of Christ!

Joe was willing to sacrifice, for so many years he and his family lived like paupers. I can remember a time when he and Mary had about 20 ex-gang banging teen boys living with them. That was just Joe!

He loved Jesus and he loved people!!!

As the church grew, Joe's love for people, especially young people and specifically troubled young people, never waned. He used to drive me nuts with his constant patience with some of the most troubled kids we ever had.

Joe loved Jesus, and he loved people!

I remember about 20 years ago, coming to visit my brother, and to be honest with you I wasn't sure what to do. My wife and I were ready to leave the church we were pastoring and didn't know where to go or what to do. I asked Joe if he would mind if we came and became a part of the Cambodian Baptist Church family for six months or so while we waited on the Lord for new direction. Those six months morphed into 18 years!

**Talking about the grace of God and a miracle!**

How many brothers do you know serving together on a church staff? How about this one: how many older brothers do you know serving as an assistant to their younger brother? To make matters more stressful, how many older brothers with a cantankerous personality like mine do you know serving as assistants to their younger brother?

I am going to guess, NOT MANY!!!

That is a tribute to Joe and his patience. Other than my wife, who has had to put up with me for over 30 years, no one has had to put up with me like my brother did. I would love to know how many times he typed up a letter of resignation **for me** (in other words, firing me) over that 18-year period of time!

Over the 18-year period of time that I served on the staff of Cambodian/Pacific Baptist Church, while we were still very different (but we still both loved Jesus and people), we grew very close laboring together and serving our Lord together.

So much more can be said, but we will leave it with these last few words. Joe, thank you. Thank you so very much!!!

*Thank you for loving Jesus for these past 30-something years.

*Thank you for loving others these past 30-something years.

*Thank you for being the best little brother anyone could possibly ask for these past 53 or so years.

*Thank you for being more than a brother but a friend.

*Thank you for allowing me to work alongside you at CBC and PBC.

*Thank you for allowing my children to be a part of the staff of PBC.

*Thank you for being a wonderful husband and father for all to see.

*Thank you for loving, nurturing, and guiding your family these past 30 years.

*Thank you for staying faithful to one church for over 25 years.

*Thank you for seeing what others did not see (vision).

*Thank you for being a really good example for all of us!!!

Joe, while we don't know what the future holds, we do know Who holds the future; and we are looking forward with faith and anticipation to your full recovery. But regardless of what the future holds, we will stay the course because we know that's what you would do and what you would encourage us to do.

We will love Jesus, and we will love people!!! Joe, we are praying for a miracle. But while praying, we are just thankful for all the years we had together!!!

-je

_Pastor Joe and Mary Esposito_

_on their wedding day!_
  *[PBC]: Pacific Baptist Church
  *[CBC]: Cambodian Baptist Church
**_Pastor Esposito's Bio_**

Pastor Joe Esposito was born in Chicago, IL on September 23, 1960. He graduated from Jordan High School in Long Beach, CA in 1977. He graduated from Bible college in 1985 with a degree in Pastoral Theology. Pastor Esposito founded Cambodian Baptist Church, now known as Pacific Baptist Church, in Long Beach, CA on August 28, 1988. Pacific Baptist Church has a school of about 200 students, as well as a Bible college that will usually have 45-50 students preparing for future service for Christ - many for the mission field. In 2010, Pastor, along with the membership of PBC, started the Pacific Baptist Church of Monterey Park.

Mrs. Joe Esposito was born in Lakewood, Colorado, May 9, 1965. She graduated from Faith Baptist School in Bourbonnais, IL in 1983. Mary graduated from Bible College in 1987. Joe and Mary have been blessed with eight children: Joseph, Timothy, Sarah, Susanna, Daniel, Joanna, Benjamin, and Nathaniel and three grandchildren (and two more on the way): Mary Jane, Joseph III, and Abigail.

His six adult children (Joseph, Timothy, Sarah, Susanna, Daniel, and Joanna) are all presently serving the Lord full-time. Susanna has been serving in Cambodia for a year-and-a-half and the others are all on staff of Pacific Baptist Church in Long Beach, CA.

Pastor's children, and especially his wife, have had an exemplary testimony and have been a tremendous blessing to hundreds, if not thousands, as they have walked through their father's illness the past almost three years!

_Pastor Joe and his family._

**Keep the Dream Alive!!!**

  *[PBC]: Pacific Baptist Church
