No matter where we live or who we are, God sees us, and He knows every detail of our pain. We live in a broken world with unexplainable anguish that invades our lives like an intruder bent on stealing valuables — our lives, purity, health, hope, future, and more. Paul wrote, "creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay." (Romans 8:22) Our hope as Christians is that this is temporary. "For all creation is waiting for that future day...." (Romans 8:19) It is coming, but until then, be strong and courageous. Charles Spurgeon, a well-known preacher, author, and evangelist, suffered from depression and gout. Often, he would have to take time off to deal with his ongoing pain, sometimes traveling from London to the south of France to recover. Yet, he kept on going and finished well. Remember...

Suffering is Not a Sign of Weakness: Spurgeon’s struggle with gout often left him bedridden for weeks. Despite this, he continued his ministry through dictation, writing, and delegating responsibilities.

Physical Weakness Brings Spiritual Strength: Spurgeon’s suffering deepened his dependence on God. Pain enhanced his preaching, adding empathy and depth through personal experience.

Rest and Renewal are Important: Spurgeon often retreated to Mentone, France, for rest and recovery. These times of refreshment allowed him to return to ministry with renewed energy.

Shared Leadership is Crucial: Though physically weakened, Spurgeon’s church continued to thrive because he empowered others to lead. He built a strong team of elders and deacons who carried the ministry forward.

Leaving a Legacy Beyond Pain: Despite his affliction, Spurgeon’s ministry left an indelible mark. His sermons and writings continue to impact millions today.

God will give you the strength you need.

Jim Smith

President, Pacific Church Network

2025 Gathering

We are excited about our upcoming CB Global meetings on the island of Guam on October 3-5, 2025. Bayview Church, a longtime member of Pacific Church Network, will be hosting the event. You may now officially register for the gathering to let us know how many will be attending and what type of accommodations you are interested in. We are still working on pricing and hotels. A schedule for the weekend can be found at our CBGlobal.church website.

If you need an invitation letter for your visa application, please email us at laura@pacificchurchnetwork.com.

As many of you know, on Friday, March 28, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook Myanmar, with the epicenter near Myanmar’s second-largest city of Mandalay. It damaged the city’s airport, buckled roads, and caused the collapse of hundreds of buildings along a wide swath down the country’s center. CB Global has two ministries in Myanmar, and both Pastor Go and Pastor Timothy have reported that they are safe; however, the country is currently reeling. Despite the horrific natural disaster, military jets bombed seven towns shortly after the earthquake, making life unbearable for some people. Pray that God will touch this country with his love and peace.

A missionary church planter shared how the recent earthquake has impacted him and the Christian community in Naypyitaw. Below is his report.

Impact of the Earthquake on Churches and Believers in Naypyita:

Affected Churches

1. Little Flock Baptist Church – The church building’s foundation has developed three severe cracks. It has shifted 1.5 feet to the south and sunk 4 inches into the ground.
2. Chin Baptist Church, Naypyitaw – The building has sunk approximately 6 feet into the ground, with extensive damage to both the church and its residential quarters.
3. Myanmar Baptist Church, Pyinmana – The front section of the building has sustained damage.
4. Grace Baptist Church, Lewe – Multiple cracks have appeared on the walls. While the damage is not catastrophic, the structure has become unsafe for habitation.

Note: Most NGOs in the area operate through religious monasteries (pagodas), meaning that aid rarely reaches non-Buddhist communities. 

WORLDVENTURE GIVES A HAND

From Peter Dodd: The Myanmar Earthquake is the first emergency in our new roles as the WorldVenture Global Directors for Asia and the Pacific. Debbie and I are looking forward to joining everyone in Guam in the fall! WorldVenture has created a Good Sam Myanmar Earthquake Relief fund, which is now publicly available. Please note the special relief landing web page: www.worldventure.com/helpmyanmar. Please feel free to share this link with others.

Pictured above are pastors Yonatan Juárez (left) and Arcadio Sorto (right) in El

Salvador. Yonatán is a young pastor who is active in providing theological and biblical training. Along with three men in his study group, they are planting a church close to Chalchuapa, El Salvador. Pastor Arcadio is planting a church in the town of San Juan Opico, El Salvador. Jim Smith and Emilio Núñez recently met with them in El Salvador to discuss what CB Global is doing. We thank God for the men He is training to build His church. Please pray for these men as they do the work God has called them to do.