PalavraFest, Sharing in Schools & Parks, Headed to Rio

Bobby and Charlene Wacaser have served the Lord as church planters in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, since 1985.
October 1, 2019
Dear Friends,
You may remember that I wrote how Charlene and I teach English as a second language in order to gain an opportunity to reach people who wouldn’t ordinarily come to a church service. We continue to do that and we are truly getting those opportunities. She and I teach different age levels and we both have English students who now come to our church services as a result. One of my students, a twelve-year-old girl, has also started bringing her entire family of six to church on Sundays. Our art teacher has also been able to draw several of her students to our worship services. This ministry is time consuming and requires effort, but the results that we are seeing make it worthwhile.
In our discipleship efforts at our base church we engaged in what we call, “PalavraFest,” translated, “WordFest.” This three week long event is pretty challenging for anyone, but especially for new believers. To complete the challenge, each person must read the Bible books of 1st Samuel, 2nd Samuel, 1st Kings, 2nd Kings and 2nd Chronicles completely. Also, they must memorize the 4th and 5th chapters of James and, additionally, they must study and fill out a prepared Bible study guide that requires approximately 30 minutes of study per day. We are in the middle of our third week of “WordFest” right now and I am very thrilled that around 60 percent of the congregation has kept up with all the challenge’s requirements. One of the greatest joys to me is to see how excited everyone is at our meetings as each one recites the verses they memorized to one another and discuss the details of the Bible texts that they read during the week! Our aim, above all, is to encourage our church members to study and practice God’s word so that they will be better equipped to love and serve Him.
This past week I traveled to the interior of the state of São Paulo to meet together and minister with our team of evangelists. We shared the gospel in several public schools as well as in two city parks. I can’t think of any activity in life that gives me a greater joy than to share the gospel in a venue like a public school or park. In the town of Tatuí, I spoke to a group of around 300 high school students and shared my testimony of how I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. As I spoke, I looked around the crowd and could see many who were crying as God used me to communicate His love and mercy. I believe that several of those who heard the gospel also surrendered their hearts to Christ. In the schools, we aren’t permitted to ask the students to come forward to proclaim publicly their faith, but very often, some of the students come to talk to us individually to share how they felt God speaking to them through us. Like I said, I can’t think of any greater joy than that!
In a week, our team will be packing up to head out again to 2 different states of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul. Both locations offer some daunting challenges. In Rio de Janeiro, the drug use and crime rate are very high and our team is at constant risk. We are confident that God is sending them and that He will protect and use them. In Rio Grande do Sul, there is a very high percentage of demon worship and ritualistic sacrifices of animals, grains and alcoholic beverages in nearly every public square. It is sad to see how blind the people in this state are to the grace of God. They are desperately in need of the gospel and we are praying that the Lord will use our efforts there for the salvation of many. Please remember to pray for our ministries.
Thank you for your faithful prayer and support.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Rua Laudelino Ferreira Lopes, 279
Sobrado 1, Novo Mundo
81050-310 Curitiba, PR. Brasil
Phone: 55-41-99899-2333
bobbymichael_1[at]hotmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online
Read more
URBC Driven Out of Its Location

The Tate Family has served the Lord in Kitale, Kenya since January 2008. Their main ministry is church planting.
September 27, 2019
Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ,
Upper Room Baptist Chapel has been driven out of its location. We have been meeting in a building in town for the past year. October 21st is our one-year anniversary, but we will not make until then before we will in a different location.
During the month I was in the States taking Amy to college the directors of our building invited another church to move in across the hall from our church (and doesn’t charge them rent either). The door of this other church is literally four feet away from the door to our room. When I returned to Kenya, I promptly experienced the problem firsthand. When we gathered to worship on Sunday the church across the hall was playing music on their speakers and it was so loud, we could not hear each other in our room, even when we were yelling at each other. I knew I would have to try and solve this problem as soon as possible. I met with the caretaker of the building and requested a meeting with the other pastor. The other pastor did not even show up to the meeting even when he promised to attend. When he finally did show up to one of our scheduled meetings the suggested solution from the caretaker and the other pastor was that we, the Chapel, change our meeting time from 10am to 8am. I was not happy with this suggestion. I felt like the other church should alter their times because we had already been meeting in our room for almost a year. The other church has refused to make any changes and the unbearable noise has continued without any change as well. The directors of the building do not seem to care that this conflict is ongoing, and they refuse to take up our cause. It is my opinion that the directors want to drive us out in order that the other church can take over our room (since I spent a lot of money making our room nice). I have taken the matter to the people of the Chapel. We have met together many times to try and find solutions to this problem. We are approaching any solutions to this problem with the following Biblical principles: 1) Do everything out of love, 2) Glorify God in everything you do, 3) Let the world see your good works and glorify the Father through you, 4) Don’t let desires cause wars among you, 5) Allow yourself to be defrauded before “going to court” and 6) Let each of you think of others before yourselves. The bottom line is that I am trying to teach my people that we do not want to let the world see us fighting with another church. We would much rather “be defrauded”, as Paul says it, than to harm the Kingdom of Christ by fighting with other Christians, even if we think those Christians are not acting very Christ-like.
Taking these principles in mind, plus the fact that the directors of the building seem to be against us and we cannot get any change from them, the people of the Chapel have unanimously decided to find another place to worship. And, almost immediately upon making this decision, we were able to locate a place. Starting on the first Sunday in October we will be meeting at the school facilities of Milimani Christian Homeschooling Community, the school which Julie helped get started and now ministers as head-teacher. All of the directors of the school are our good friends and two of them are also weekly attendees at the Chapel. I believe the Lord has already blessed us by providing us with this new venue and I believe he will continue to bless us ongoing because we are trying to glorify Him above everything else. Beloved, the building where we have been driven from is not a big deal. The money invested in the other room is not a big deal. The opposition we are faced with is not a big deal. Meeting to worship under a Mango tree while trying to sort out the conflict is not a big deal. But, glorifying God IS a big deal. And this is what I want my people to do above anything else.
I know that not everybody will agree with our decision. Many might wish us to fight for what we consider our rights. I understand that. I get it. But please consider these things: 1) This is a very delicate situation, 2) The Chapel is a new mission work that we do not want to see Satan destroy, 3) I am a foreigner and alien in this country, 4) God does not want to see his people fighting, 5) God will bless those who follow his ways, and, 6) God is still in control of His Kingdom and this world. We will try and continue to trust in Him. Finally, rest assured in the fact that we have lost no attendees of the Chapel over this matter, nor over the decision we have made. The decisions were unanimous, and all are happy with them and are excited to see what God will do with us in the future.
Blessings to you all,
Roger, Julie, Amy, Josiah & Chloe
rojuta[at]gmail.com
Visit their blog!
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Evangelism, Discipleship, Sharing Life Together

Jud and Raquel Hatcher serve the Lord in São Paulo, Brazil. They are part of the “SeedFactory” church planting initiative, which is a movement to plant churches in all 26 Brazilian capitals. Since 2006, 43 churches have been started in 5 states.
September 21, 2019
Dear friends,
We have had a great month. Keep reading.
FAMILY
This week Sarah is participating with her school team in a Basketball Tournament in Brasilia (the nation’s capital). The teachers and students are staying in host homes of the organizing school. We were excited to hear of the news for Sarah to join the team in this trip – Sarah was elated. It is a great opportunity to connect with new people and for her to shine the light during the games. Sarah’s team won the game this morning and classified to participate in the finals this afternoon. They travel back to São Paulo tonight. I am sure to hear about all the details of the trip on our way back from the airport later on tonight.
All of our kids are doing extremely well in school – Report cards show mostly “A”s. Going to school is definitely a highlight for our kids and we are extremely grateful that our children are experiencing an incredible academic and athletic life at the Pan American Christian Academy in São Paulo City.
MINISTRY
The Maria Virginia Baptist Church officially voted and approved a new pastor this month (I suggested his name as a candidate). I have enjoyed serving this beloved church as their interim pastor. I will continue in this capacity until the new pastor arrives in January 2020.
Imagine Baptist Church is doing well. We had a great dinner party last Thursday evening. Raquel decided to make tacos and taco salad. The majority of them had never eaten Mexican food before. Doing life together is an important part of this ministry. There is a lot of sharing about life’s difficulties, joys and how Christ guides us through each situation. It is a blessing to see how the Lord is working in the lives of all these people.
Hope Baptist Church is always fun, not that it does not have its challenges. Over the last few weeks, we were able to get a toilet bowl and a kitchen sink donated for a needy family. They were so grateful to receive the items.
Several evangelistic events occurred throughout the month with many decisions. We had a one-day women’s conference and next month we have a big youth gathering. We are currently in a teaching series in 1 John. It is interesting to see how so many people are engaging in talking and asking questions. There are 11 people currently being discipled with the book “Oneness with God” written by my uncle David Hatcher.
TRAINING
Our musical training is moving right along. Vocalists and instrument players are improving. Everyone loves the musical growth.
Tomorrow we have an all-day children’s ministry training seminar. Raquel is leading the sessions. She is ready and excited. We start with a hearty breakfast at 8am and dive into the content at 9am.
Grateful always,
Judson Hatcher
Judson & Raquel Hatcher
(859) 544-9040
judsonhatcher@gmail.com
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Click here to give now.
Read more
Your New BFM Logo

We continue to make new on-going commitments to reach every person in our present generation with the message of the Gospel and to promote the interests of the missionaries whose support is administered through Baptist Faith Missions.
Sometimes that may mean adapting our most primary means of communications to reach the widest audience possible and make the deepest immediate impact possible.
So, we have re-branded our logo. Here it is. We hope you have noticed it, and if you are reading this at all, we hope we have engaged your interest.

Logo Evaluation Team
Before I tell you about how this logo came about, I want to recognize just a few of those who were most instrumental in its inception. When we started this process, we selected a Logo Evaluation Team. These team members would collaborate together to come up with a new visual ID and representation of BFM. Here they are:
- Lauren Pyles // pylesdesign.net : graphic arts designer and composer-in-chief [she is a member of Grace Baptist Church, Fairborn OH]
- David Pitman: he is pastor of Addyston Baptist Church, Addyston OH, and a Director of BFM
- Phillip DuBarry: he is Associate Pastor of Addyston Baptist Church
- Doug Brook: he is a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Bellbrook OH
- Sarah Wainright: she is a member of New Life Baptist Church, Lexington KY – and has served for the recent several years as our Media Services coordinator [website, Facebook, Twitter, newsletter, et al]
- Then lastly [and leastly], Yours Truly, Dave Parks: I served as a corresponding liaison between Lauren Pyles who was doing the designing and composing and the other members of the Logo Evaluation Team who were doing the evaluation, critiquing, and selection of the logo development as it progressed through its various stages and came together in the form we are presenting to you now.
Each and all of these team members are gifted and experienced in visual graphics and imagery in their own vocations and fields of communications, and their input was invaluable. And each one is faithfully serving in their respective local churches. I am so grateful to God for making each of them available for this ministry and for their willingness to serve as they did. We all served in the spirit of the promise God made in Exodus 31.2-4a: “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works…”

Here, then, is how we arrived at YOUR NEW BFM LOGO.
We wanted a logo/brand that would meet these criteria:
- it would identify BFM by name in the logo icon
- it would portray also BFM’s purpose and mission
- it would be bold
- it would be simple
- it would be easily interpreted
- it would be unique and distinctive, one of a kind
- it would be interesting and intriguing
- it would be instantaneously recognizable
- it would command curiosity and pique interest – make people go “hmmm…”
So,
- we went back to our nickname and short-hand moniker: ‘bfm’ That’s what we all call our missionary fellowship. For all these years, we’ve been known as ‘bfm’
- then, we saw an opportunity for a graphic icon in the opening of the ‘b’ – to help us graphically portray our mission and activity: “What kind of ‘bfm’ are we?”
- so, we inserted the four points of a compass into the ‘b’ to emphasize our commitment to obey Jesus’ worldwide Great Commission mandate…
– And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…” [Mark 16.15]
– “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” [Matthew 28.19]
– “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” [Acts 1.8]
– we are asking our Lord Jesus to fulfill that world-wide missionary outreach through the missionaries who partner with BFM - the arrow that is pointing East is actually breaking out of the ‘b’ to signify forward direction, motion, and dynamic activity – as does also the forward-leaning slash and “Baptist Faith Missions” – we are praying to Jesus Christ that He will use us to “send out laborers into His harvest…” [Matthew 9.38]
- even the form of the arrow we have chosen is the common icon for ‘send’ – you probably click or tap on this kind of arrow numerous times a day
- this is in keeping with BFM’s purpose: “Baptist Faith Missions assists Baptist churches to send God-called missionaries to fulfill ‘essential Great Commission church-planting missions’ in the nations of the world”
- even the primary colors we have chosen have significances – besides just being visually attractive
bfmnow.org
We have also changed our URL and website address to the simpler: bfmnow.org. The previous URL still works also: baptistfaithmissions.org – but the shorter address will be easier to remember and to enter.
Re-vamped website soon to launch!
And, speaking of our website! We are beginning in earnest also to totally re-vamp and re-build our website. But, we wanted to roll out our re-branding first since our website will be built around the new logo’s visuals and graphics. Keep coming back to our website and we’ll be letting you know when we launch it also!
@bfmnow is the tag and handle for our Facebook and Twitter accounts. You will be seeing @bfmnow or BFMnow across our platforms. This is our commitment to you to keep you updated with frequency and immediacy with what we are doing and what is going on in BFM now! And, we also want to express the urgency of the Gospel message our missionaries are communicating in the fields of service where they are ministering. We are asking you – if you haven’t already – to ‘like’ our Facebook and Twitter posts, follow us on Twitter, and share/retweet freely what we are posting about our missionaries’ activities.
Whatever day it is, it is always a bfmnow day!
And, whatever time of the day it is – it is always bfmnow time!
Read more
Discipling Emmanuel in Milimani

Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
September 5, 2019
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and passed, and we are now nearing the final months of 2019. There is much to update about, and various prayer requests. We thank the Lord for each of you, and you are such a blessing.
Our girls are still faithfully attending the new Christian school in Milimani, where we live. They are really enjoying it and making many friends. The school is very good for them, as it keeps them active and busy, and gives them many projects. They also have homework, which keeps them busy. This has helped greatly with the much-needed socialization we have prayed for over the years.
There is a prayer request that we have currently for our girls. Another family has just arrived in Kitale and has children that make great playmates for our daughters. They are currently pursuing their work permit, which you must have to legally stay in the country. They are currently on visas, so would you please pray with us that their work permit would be granted soon, without any issues? They would be a great addition to the Kitale group of missionaries. We are praying for them, and would appreciate anyone else to pray about this as well. God is in control, and we trust Him. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” God will work it all out for His good and glory.
I (Nathan) am continuing to disciple Emmanuel in Milimani, where we stay. Emmanuel has been a very good student and a big blessing. He has been very busy with his job, and makes time to study the Word of God. One of the main things I am searching for is younger Kenyan men who are employed, to train to go out and reach others. I plan to teach him soon on Inductive Bible study, where he can study the Word of God for himself. I use the model of Ezra, who studied the Word for himself, practiced it, and went out to teach others. Ezra 7:10 says “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” Please pray for Emmanuel and his continued spiritual growth.
I am also continuing to teach at Annex prison. We recently studied about Abraham and Isaac, and the great test of faith that Abraham faced. We learned of Abraham’s complete faith in God, and how God blessed Him for his obedience. How difficult it must have been to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to God, yet Abraham never wavered in his faith. There are so many lessons from Genesis 22, which I did my best to teach to the prisoners. I like Genesis 22:14, which says “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” I think of Jehovah jireh – “The Lord will provide.” As Abraham obeyed in faith, God did a miracle – he provided a ram caught in the thicket. God will provide for us also, as we step out in faith and obedience.
We thank each of you so much for your sacrificial giving, prayers, and encouragement. We will be sure to keep you updated.
Until next month,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Opportunities Arise as You Walk with Jesus

Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
September 3, 2019
Dear Co-Laborers in Christ,
I am sitting in the glider on David and Dulce’s porch listening to the cicadas. God’s wonderful creation even in its suffering state is absolutely amazing. Judy and I had the enjoyment of time with our grandchildren while David and Dulce celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary. We were able to come to Chicago to spend time with our children and grandchildren because Peggy, Judy’s sister is doing much better. Thank each of you for your prayers on her behalf.
In Evansville, Indiana, this past month we also spent time with Philip, Amanda and our granddaughters from France. Our oldest grandchild, Abigail, began her first year studying to be a Physical Therapist. We will certainly miss her as a missionary in France, but God continues to guide her as He does each of us giving her the privilege of being His light at the University of Evansville. Philip and the rest of his family are now back in France.
Sometimes an opportunity to share the light of Jesus comes when we least expect it. The following incident that took place this Spring near our home in Tournefeuille is an example. Judy and I were on our daily trek when we came alongside a young lady who was walking her dog of a rare breed. We commented on the beauty of her dog and ask her about its breed. She mentioned that she had seen us out trekking before. This led to a conversation about where we were from and her volunteering that she had been to New York and was impressed by the multi course meal that she ate there. I was impressed, considering the fact that meals in France usually have many more courses than American meals.
Her features led me to ask if she was of Italian descent. You know, New York, big meals… She then said that she was Jewish and was in New York visiting distant relatives at the time of a religious holiday. This led to discussion of Judaism. She told us that her family was non-practicing but that her mother named her Elliana because God answered her prayer to have a child. This led to a brief discussion of the beauty of her name and the God who loves. It also stirred my heart to prayed repeatedly about our next contact with this young lady and that she would come to trust Christ.
While in the US, Judy and I trek in parks. As we cross people or walk along beside them great opportunities arise. We have had the opportunity to witness, to fellowship with believers, hear the testimonies of others. God is always at work.
So, let us all walk with Jesus this month… and the next … and the next.
Your fellows on this journey,
John and Judy
John Mark & Judy Hatcher
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online
Read more








