Recent Events
Update on Mike Foster's Trip to Cambodia
(NOTE: Update on Community Baptist Church in Cascade, MI follws this report below.)
As we left the States, we had no idea what kind of an adventure we were embarking on. Before we arrived in Cambodia, we had a forced layover in Seoul, South Korea that was scheduled to last about 13 hours. Due to head winds and normal airport delays we ended up having only ten hours, but we were still able to meet a missionary and take a quick tour of Seoul. Brother Meyers met us at the airport and graciously took us to several places so we could see what South Korea was like.
Before I left my heart was burdened for this needy country. As you may know, South Korea witnessed some moves of the Lord many years ago leading to a strong Christian presence in the country. However, since that time the Christians in that country and missionaries from ours have not kept up with the growing population. In speaking with the missionary, he informed us that there were probably only 20 independent, Fundamental Baptist missionaries in the whole country. My heart cried out for this needy area as we viewed high rise after high rise apartments. The remarkable thing is that the country is ripe for the picking. People are open to listening to the gospel and I believe many would be saved if they could hear a clear presentation of the gospel. Please pray for the needy country of South Korea.
That evening we made the trip from Korea to Cambodia and arrived on 
Saturday evening at 10:00 PM. Dr. Johnson met us at the airport and we were taken to his home where we rested for a few hours before the busy Sunday we were involved in. Sunday morning I went with Dr. Johnson to a new church about five miles from the Vietnam border. We crossed the river away from civilization to a strip of land between the Mekong and Bassac Rivers. After taking a harrowing moto (motor scooter) ride, we made it to the church building where we had a sweet service with the new Christians there. What a blessing to be in a small fledgling work.
After the service we headed back for Phnom Penh for the beginning of the revival conference. During the services God worked in a tremendous way and many got right with God and others were saved. What a blessing to see God’s people stirred and then respond in obedience.
The next morning I woke up early burdened about the trip I was going to take to Vietnam. The Lord led me to ask for the salvation of 30 in that village, and then for the salvation of all those who came to hear the gospel. Later that morning we attended the Bible institute meetings and went back to the Johnson’s home for lunch. We prepared for our journey down to the Vietnam border, had prayer and then left on motos for a three to four hour ride deep into the interior.
As we left Phnom Penh to head south to the Vietnam border, I was a bit concerned about what events would lay ahead. Traveling overseas is always a challenge, but it seemed as though I was facing the biggest challenge of my life. There was fear in my heart, not about the moto ride, but about the possibility of preaching to the villages of Vietnamese and Cambodian people. We rode a couple of hours south to a village where we turned off and headed toward the Bassac River. Our destination was a Vietnamese village on the Vietnam and Cambodian border. As we crossed the river on a wooden fairy boat, a young man named Ming Long approached me and asked if he could practice his English
on me. I agreed and we began to speak back and forth the best we could. After a few questions I asked him if he knew what a “sin” was. Through the translation of my interpreter, Siphan, we were able to explain what a sin was and then began to share the gospel. We continued the conversation on the banks of the Bassac River and a few minutes later, he received Christ.
After dropping Ming Long off at his house, we proceeded south to the Vietnam border where we met with the teacher in a Vietnam village that is the target area for Dr. Johnson starting a church. The village is made up of Vietnamese people so the language was Vietnamese, which Siphan was able to translate for me. We proceeded to the main man in the village’s house (who is a teacher) where we sat on his wooden floor and asked him for an audience to speak with his people about Jesus. Dr. Johnson is particularly burdened for the salvation of this teachers’s soul and I was able to give him a gospel witness. When I was sharing it with him, it seemed as if his eyes glazed over and he tuned me out completely giving a complimentary grunt from time to time proving he was still alive. For a supposed catholic, this was very unusual. After speaking for a few minutes, he agreed to let us have a gathering of 30 people (consistent with the Communist gathering sizes in Vietnam and China). We went back to the hotel we were staying in and prayed for a while that evening.
The next morning we went back to the village at about 9:30 and arrived at the schoolmaster’s house. He gathered the 34 people together that attended the meeting and we began to speak about the gospel. I started in Genesis and went through the gospel stopping periodically to make sure they understood what we were saying. Throughout the message, I was interrupted by the teacher who stood behind me and tried to block what I was preaching. Obviously, he did it in Vietnamese so I didn’t know what he was saying. However, Siphan knew it and since I kept going, he did too.
At the end of the explanation I asked if they understood (which they did) and if they believed (which they did.) I then instructed Siphan to lead any who would like to be saved in the sinner’s prayer which he did. However, before they prayed, the teacher stood up and forcefully reminded them of their idols back home and the dangers of forsaking their traditions. Despite the opposition, we were excited to see all 34 say they received Jesus Christ that morning! The teacher has invited Siphan to come every Thursday and hold a Bible study so they can have a church in that village. Praise the Lord!
That afternoon we headed back to the river and on the way, we did some personal soulwinning. Along the rough roads, we came across a wayside station that had a couple of houses nearby. There was a small gathering of people there and we again preached and explained the gospel to the Vietnamese that lived there. They listened attentively and 15 more said they wanted to accept Christ!
We did some more witnessing in another village where people were not as receptive and then we headed back to the hotel for the evening. I was so tired that night that I ended up going to bed at 8:00, which I have not done since my childhood, to my knowledge. The next morning, though I was up very early ready for the day.
We had prayer and then made our way to Ming Long’s village, which is Cambodian. We went directly to Long’s house where we were greeted by his mother. We went up to her house and sat on her floor for a long time and explained the gospel to her. She bowed her head and accepted Christ. Meanwhile, one of the other men with us went across the street the Long’s sister and she got saved as well. Before we left to head back to Phnom Penh, we saw five more trust Christ in that village.
We went back to the conference in Phnom Penh and testified of the power of God and saw six or seven more saved during the service. We praise the Lord for such a profitable time and for the harvest of souls that were reaped during the week.
On Thursday, June 12th, we visited the killing fields where Pol Pot murdered thousands of people. What a sobering way to end our visit to Cambodia. However, it did remind us of the reality of the short time we have here on earth. This too could happen in the United States if we are not careful. These atrocities happened when, from pressure put on the president to give into the “Peace” movement in our country, we pulled out of Vietnam. Pol Pot took power and senselessly murdered 4 million Cambodians. Again we see the failed attempts of people to run a country using Communism, which never works.
We did leave on June 12th and made it home the next day without any problem. When I got home a pastor asked me how my trip was and then asked, “Did you leave part of your heart there?” The answer to that question is an emphatic, “Yes!” God worked in such incredible ways in answer to our prayers. Sometimes we say that God does that which we can’t explain. However, it shouldn’t be a surprise to us when He answers our prayers and gives us the things that we ask Him for. I, for one, am convinced that God can still answer prayer and give us the petitions that we desire of Him.
Update on Community Baptist Church Plant in Cascade, Michigan
Sunday: The First Day - 30 In the Service. Praise the Lord!
Community Baptist Church opened its doors on Sunday, May 4, 2008; twenty one came for Sunday School and thirty came for the morning service. Six visitors were in the morning service. That evening sixty five were in attendance. Faith Bible Church in Lake Odessa assisted with the church plant and did a wonderful job helping with the music, ushers, and nursery workers. Pastor Albert Zito from Columbiaville Baptist Church (Pastor Bob Carson’s son-in-law) preached a great message about the Bible and the foundation of the local church. There were visitors that returned from the morning service.
Monday: Five Churches Represented!
Yes, there were five churches represented in the service on this night. Over seventy nine people came to be a part of the service with three or four more from the area. Pastor Doug Jackson preached a great message about the Gospel and spreading it with compassion. What a blessing to see so many pastors come be a part of this service.
Tuesday: Eleven Visitors Present!
On this night we had sixty people come with eleven visitors from the area. Two more churches came to be a part of the service. One church in particular drove over two hours to provide some special music during the service. Dr. Earl Jessup preached that night on the role Christians play in the church and our responsibility to be right with God. The Lord blessed and we were thankful for the many that came that night from the community.
Wednesday: Reproducing Church Joins the Meetings!
Every meeting there is generally a night that is lower in attendance than other nights. This was the lower night with the attendance around forty five. However, it was very special to have three churches represented in the service. One was Trinity Baptist Church in Flushing, MI, and one was the church they helped start a couple of years ago in Ludington - Gospel Light Baptist Church. Gospel Light Baptist Church is doing very well, and it was a blessing and encouragement to have a reproducing church, and the church they reproduced, represented in the service. One lady came back to visit and Pastor Bruce Love (Pastor Carson’s pastor from Bensalem, Pennsylvania) preached a wonderful message about the way the church should be made up. It was a smaller service, but the Holy Spirit was present.
Thursday: Pastor Bob Carson Lays Out a Vision!
Pastor Bob Carson preached on this night and laid out his vision for what he would like to see the Lord do in the community of Cascade, Michigan. There were about sixty five in attendance with four churches represented. God is going to do some great things in the years ahead with the Community Baptist Church; please pray for Pastor Carson that God would enable him to take this work forward. Throughout the week we had about thirty five visitors come from the area to visit. The participation of other churches for this project was a great blessing. On one Saturday almost 200 people came from different churches to help distribute John and Romans.
More Recent Update on Cascade, MI
The Community Baptist Church has continued to have visitors from the area on a consistent basis. The last two Sundays in June they have had two people come to know Christ during or after the services. They are going forward and are excited to see the church beginning to take off. They have had attendances from the low teens to over 20 in recent weeks. Praise the Lord for what He is doing in Cascade!