End of January 2026 Update
Houston, we have lift-off!”
After months of feverous planning, we’ve launched MissionzHeart Bible Training in Cambodia!
(Frankly, we didn’t have much choice!)
You see, the people we trained to go out, make disciples, and plant churches, did just that…and suddenly they’ve got dozens of new believers looking to them for instruction and leadership…and they have NO TRAINING! Even among pastors, fewer than 10% have ANY Bible school training because it just isn’t available.
(I know this is hard to imagine when there is SO much on the internet, YouTube, and websites…but all of it is in English. There is almost nothing written and printed in Khmer, Cambodia’s language…we even have to send to Thailand to get Bibles!)
So instead of waiting until we get back to Cambodia, we’ve started training 50 believers NOW over Zoom, people who are already hip-deep in ministering and clamoring for PRACTICAL help they can use this week as they obey God’s call on their lives. This isn’t “get prepared TO go” type of training…this is “on-the-job AS you go” hands-on, practical ministry.
Now, to do this, I personally have had to learn far more about ring lights, webcams, HDMI cables, hubs, tripods, US-A, B, & C data adaptors, microphones, Zoom, bandwidths, video editing, virtual backgrounds, cloud recording, Khmer translating, Otter summaries, ChatGPT/Perplexity, and YouTube permissions than I ever dreamed of (or wished for)…and my grasp is pretty “iffy.” Those 12-year-old TikTok influencers make it look SO very easy! For lack of a better resource, I’ve had to consult ChatGPT whenever a technical problem flummoxes me (and there have been many!). I’m not going to lie; sometimes a "smidgeon" of my frustration has bled into my conversations. I realize I may be losing my sanctification when Chat suggests, “Slow down, Joan. Breathe. You’ve worked hard and done a lot today. What about taking a break and trying again tomorrow?” What cheek!!!
But all the angst is rewarded at midnight when the screen lights up, and fifty connections are in the Zoom waiting room, anxious to learn the Word of God and how to serve in the Kingdom! We’re so, so grateful for this opportunity! We continue to pray for more partners in this new project, as we need to supply internet data for most of the leaders’ phones (most don’t have computers) so they can participate…they are THAT desperate. If God speaks to your heart about this ministry, please visit our website (in the comments) to partner with us.
And while we labor here, our teams continue in the Dominican Republic, Thailand, M_______, and Cambodia, making disciples who make disciples and planting churches.
And what about our grandbaby, you may ask? Well, sad to say…he (gasp!) CAUGHT HIS FIRST COLD! It has been a toss-up who suffered most…Mom, Dad, or Judah! His breathing, sleeping, and nursing were so compromised by thick mucus that the dreaded “snot-sucker” had to be employed. This required a two-parent effort, resulting in blood-curdling protests and violent thrashing from the victim, and near-tears from his tired and heart-sore parents. Oh, that we could suffer for babies instead! But this too shall pass. Otherwise, Judah continues to progress as he should (far ahead of schedule, our daughter assures us…he rolled over at 11 weeks!!!) and charms us with his delightful smiles and fabulous hair.
Many of you support us through your prayers and ask us for our concerns: Please pray…
1) For wisdom and God’s favor as we reach out to new donors, write grants, and seek additional funds for the Pastoral Training Project,
2) For leading from the Holy Spirit (now that we’ve completed our prison ministry training), as to how we can bring hope to the inmates,
3) For divine guidance as we establish short-term Small Groups here, focusing on disciple-making, until we return to Cambodia,
4) For continued health for us, for our team, for our family…and especially our congested grandbaby!
“Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” Psalm 2:8