Is It Worth It?

by Joe Esposito

My wife was walking from our house to our church for the evening service, when she was overcome with shock when she saw our garage literally blow-up. The fire investigator said it was arson and believes someone threw a bomb onto the roof of the garage. Why would someone do this? I was in the back of the church making letters for our church sign when I heard shots from the alley behind the church. I looked and saw a Mexican gang member empty the six shells from his gun hitting one of our boys in the leg. I rushed over to stop the bleeding until the ambulance arrived. Why would someone do this at a church? The phone rang and I answered it and a voice on the other end said, “Phin is in the hospital, he has been shot.” Phin is one of our teen boys. Why would someone do this? One of our Sunday School teachers was taking his boys home after church one Sunday when they heard shots, right before seeing the bullets hit the door of his van. Why would someone do this?

All of these and many other stories are the challenge God has given to us to reach the inner city for Christ. God has given me a love for the Asian gang members in Long Beach. This has brought opposition from rival Hispanic gang members. Is it worth it? Is there fruit that remains? Can God use converted gang members for His glory? The answer to all of these questions is YES.

God has done exceedingly, abundantly above all I can ask or think. Our second grade boys' Sunday School teacher was almost kicked out of our church for writing gang signs on church property about 4 years ago. Our sixth grade girls' Sunday School teacher was a runaway girl when I found her for her mother at a park. She is going to Bible College this fall. Our fifth grade boys' teacher was saved through our Basketball Ministry. He has spent time in jail and was heavily involved in gangs. Our P.A. man, Phin Ath, was in a gang and shot before getting right with God. I first met Sam Seng in jail. He is now one of our ushers. God has revitalized him and his family. Our nursery director was a runaway and is now a sweet Christian young lady. One of our new Sunday School teachers was a 15-year-old runaway living with a 27-year-old man when God pulled her out of her miry pit. I could go on but time will not permit me to tell more of God’s saving power.

At the present time, we have 25 teens (most of them are former gang members) in Christian boarding homes. Many of their lives are being changed and some are planning on going to Bible College when they graduate from high school. The challenge of working with undisciplined, rebellious, inner-city Asians is very exciting. God has done what I could never have imagined with these young people. We thank God for the blessing of seeing lives changed by His power and love. Please pray that we will draw nigh to God in this miracle ministry.

Joe Esposito is a BIMI missionary. He and his wife, Mary started Cambodian Baptist Church in Long Beach, California.