2010 THANKSGIVING OFFERING GOAL: $100,000
At the time of this writing [first of February, 2011], we have received $59,199.07, including your THANKSGIVING OFFERINGS received during January.
GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF YOU WHO HAS GIVEN TO THIS OFFERING.
If you have not given a personal offering yet, please do so as the Lord gives you Grace to give! No offering is too small. No offering is insignificant.
You can give your offering designated to BFM THANKSGIVING OFFERING through your church, or you can send it directly to our Treasurer for THANKSGIVING OFFERING. Baptist Faith Missions, c/o George Sledd, P.O. Box 471280, Lake Monroe FL 32747.
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2011 SPRING CONFERENCE DATES
2011 SPRING CONFERENCE DATES
Please be marking these dates and plan to attend our 2011 SPRING MISSIONS CONFERENCE hosted by Thompson Road Baptist Church, Lexington KY on April 11, 12, 13.
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PLEASE HELP US GIVE OUR MISSIONARIES A RAISE!
WILL YOU HELP US GIVE OUR MISSIONARIES A RAISE?
We know you want to. We believe you are willing to help us all work together to make this happen.
We have been urgently appealing for the consistent increase of our monthly General Fund offerings for the past 4 years especially. Last month, in my FaithWorks report, I included this paragraph: “But, we haven’t increased our missionaries’ very modest salaries or ministry expense accounts in years because we continue to struggle just to maintain our status quos.” I made that statement to illustrate and emphasize just one of the on-going needs we have in our General Fund.
Every time we Directors conduct a business meeting, the question comes up: “Can we give our missionaries a raise?” By a “raise,” we mean increasing the amount of personal salary we commit to them BY FAITH on a monthly basis.
WE HAVE NOT RAISED THEIR SALARY IN 10 YEARS! In 1999, we increased their salary from $1337.00 to $1485.00. In 2000, we raised it again to $1633.00. Then, in 2001, we upped it again to its present amount, $1717.00. We have struggled to maintain our current General Fund disbursements for the past 10 years as we continue to appeal for increased offerings.
LET ME HASTEN TO SAY THIS: we understand very well that YOU ARE GIVING WHAT IS BEING GIVEN TO THE GENERAL FUND – and every month, we bless God for each one of you. From the perspective of human stewardship, YOU are the ones who are supplying the needs that are presently being met on behalf of our missionaries.
But, the reality remains, that before we can responsibly commit the additional funds to increase our missionaries’ personal salaries, WE MUST INCREASE OUR MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS.
We would love to increase our missionaries’ salaries to $2000.00 per month, or about 16%. That is still much less than every one of them needs to catch up with the ever-escalating cost of living and the ever-decreasing value of the dollar against their local currencies. And, we would also probably discover that this amount is still considerably less than most missionaries receive who raise their own support funds.
That monthly salary increase to $2000.00 would mean an additional $283.00 disbursement per missionary times 12 missionaries = $3396.00 additional commitment per month. Multiply that monthly commitment by 12 months, and we will need to give an additional $40,752.00 per year to make this “raise” work.
We know that times are tough right now for everybody. If you are giving all you can, God knows that – and we continue to bless God for your faithfulness. If you can commit to increase your offerings to our General Fund in any amount, ALL OF US COMMITTING TOGETHER CAN DO THIS FOR OUR MISSIONARIES!
1 Samuel 25.17 | Now therefore, know and consider what you will do….
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UPDATES CONCERNING MARIE BRATCHER
SISTER BRATCHER IS NOW WITH THE LORD
We received this message from Asa Mark Bratcher on Saturday, 5 February
Dear Loved Ones, Prayer Partners, and dear brothers and sisters in Our Savior:
Yesterday evening at 10:39 pm, my dear mother, Marie Moore Bratcher, went to meet her Savior. She took a turn for the worse yesterday morning. She was well cared for, and went to glory very peacefully. The funeral will be tomorrow, Sunday at 3pm. Pray for us, certainly our temporary loss is Heaven’s permanent gain. She was a faithful servant of her Lord, and her sufferings have ceased. What a Savior!
Asa Mark, Lucia, Harold and Stephen
You may correspond with Brother Bratcher through these means:
physical address: Rua Francisco Jose Furtado #2 | Bairro de Sao Francisco | 69.079-200 Manaus, Amazonas BRASIL
home phone number: 011 55 92 36112331
email [via Asa Mark]: harold_bratcher@yahoo.com
Any designated love offerings for Brother Bratcher will be deeply appreciated. There are considerable expenses from her extended hospitalization and medical services and funeral expenses. You may send them to BFM’s treasurer @ Baptist Faith Missions | c/o George Sledd | P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe FL 32771. Be sure to designate your offerings for HAROLD BRATCHER LOVE OFFERING
REPORTS AND UPDATES CONCERNING MARIE BRATCHER
12/27/2010
Dear All,
A wonderful New Year of 2011 to each of you. Please pray for Mom as last week she came down with bronchitis, and swelling of her legs. Finally convinced them yesterday to let us take her to the emergency room. She was there from 9:30pm to 4am, this morning. The doctor ran several tests, and said she had pneumonia in the beginning stages. She was medicated, put on an IV, inhalation, etc. and released. Picked up her medications, and she is better this morning, but still not out of the woods, and needs your prayers. They are celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary today. Thanks.
In His Service, Asa Mark and Lucia
1/4/2011
Dear All Loved Ones, Friends and Family:
Today on my 55th Birthday, would like as a great gift my mother’s recovery from pneumonia. She had improved a bit, with the medication and doctor’s visit. The swelling of her legs had gone down. Then early Monday morning she took a turn for the worse. We had to call the ambulance to take her to the emergency room, and then she was admitted to the hospital. They tried 3 times to insert a feeding tube without success. I am on my way to the hospital now and will keep you informed. Please continue with your prayers.
In His Service, Asa Mark and Lucia
1/5/2011
Dear Loved Ones, Family, Friends and Prayer Partners:
I just returned from the hospital where Dad and I were able to visit Mom. She is being treated very well. She looked and sounded better. It is hard for her to speak because of the feeding tube. The Doctor said she has to stay there for 7 days, and then by God’s grace she will be able to walk out. Continue to pray that his words may be truly prophetic. He also said she should have never been released 8 days ago when we took her to the emergency room. Thanks for all the prayers, and notes of encouragement that so many have sent.
Also, many thanks for the many birthday wishes.
In His Service, Asa Mark, Lucia and Harold Bratcher—
1/9/2011
Dear Loved Ones, Family, Friends, Praying Partners and all who love Marie Bratcher:
I was waiting to return from the hospital to give you an update on Mom. I just returned from there, was the only visitor this pm, and was saddened by her condition. She may be a little bit better as to the coughing, but her body is full of those red sore spots. A couple broke out on her arm, started bleeding and had to be bandaged. She doesn’t want to eat hardly at all, and just wants to sleep. I finally aroused her enough to recognize me, asked how she was and she said, Sleepy, and went back to sleep. The lady from her church staying with her, said there were a couple of big sores, on her back. I had taken an egg shell mattress the Dr. had requested, so I hope it helps. The Dr. said these conditions are normal, but it is very disheartening. I know you are, but please continue to pray for her and for my Dad, who misses her tremendously. We had lunch today and it was not the same without Mom. The Bratchers in Brasil need your continued prayers. Thank you.
Asa Mark Bratcher
PS Forgive me for not writing all of you personally who have sent so many notes of encouragement, but I will do so soon. Thanks for all of these, I am passing them on to Dad, and he is so grateful.
1/10/2011
Excerpted from Harold Bratcher’s January Mission Sheets newsletter
Dear Brothers of the Blessed and Sisters of the Savior:
Once again we greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ from the land of eternal summer. By God’s grace we are able to once again greet you. The city of Manaus and the whole state of the Amazonas are hot but wet! We are now in the rainy season and almost every day it pours! This MS month began December 5th and ends today, January 10th.
Since Sunday night the 26th of December, Marie has been suffering, weak with the flu, and then pneumonia. I of course, have been sad and lonely but amazed by God’s faithfulness with friends, or more friends than we realized we had. That night, Bro. Raimundo Braz, who drives us to church in his taxicab, after the evening service when I preached, took us to 28th of August hospital. There, Marie was admitted to the emergency room. She received emergency care, but was released at 4:30am, Monday. Asa Mark took her home, bought her medication, and an inhalation machine. She has not been alone since. On Thursday, we took her, (Asa Mark, Francisco Chagas, and I) to the Prontocord Hospital, where she was given a check up by one doctor, and I by another. Both doctors prescribed many exams, which we did there, at a cost of over $1,000. Marie temporarily improved but then started to get worse. So we took her to the 28th of August Hospital where she was admitted as a patient and is still there. Asa Mark took me this afternoon to visit her, and she seemed a bit improved, but still a long way from total recovery. At this time, there is no word on when she will be released. I hope by Thursday, but still believe in Romans 8:28.
Once again, we ask you to pray for Harold and Marie Bratcher. We thank each of you who sent us Christmas cards and are praying for us. Marie’s sickness has caused us to get behind in our letter writing, but Asa Mark is constantly sending you updates by e-mail.
18 January 2011 | Tuesday
|
Dear Loved ones:
I have been having internet connection problems. I had to come to an internet place to send this update. Needless to say, we have been running. I just returned from the hospital and talked to a Dr. that was there to evaluate Mom´s condition because the hospital Doctor is requesting a complete colon exam because of internal bleeding. She said right now Mom would not be able to have the exam because of her overall weakened condition, but maybe soon. They are suspecting, but this only a suspicion at this time, that the rectum cancer she had 25 years ago may have returned. So please continue to pray for her. Needless to say, we are scared, but know without a doubt that her days are in the Lord´s hands. Will send an update as soon as she is able to do the exam. Please continue to pray for us.
In His Service, Asa Mark and Harold Bratcher.
Monday | 24 January 2011
Dear Loved Ones in the Lord:
Just a quick update on Mom. She had a rough weekend, very tired and unable to expel the liquid that comes from her lungs. But Saturday night, improved quite a bit. She is alert, even able to eat a bit, and not coughing as much. I am on my way to the hospital now to take Dad for a visit. Continue to pray for her, as the Doctor told me on Friday that is a long process and will take time due to condition, age, medical history, etc. She as been in the hospital 3 weeks. The colon exam will not be able to be made now, but the bleeding has stopped for which we are thankful. Thanks for your prayers, e-mails, and concern. Also please pray for my mother in law, Lucilia, that has a serious exam of her legs in a few hours, to try to restore circulation. She is diabetic, and has been in another hospital since Thursday. I spent Saturday going from one hospital to the next, but pray both of these faithful Lord´s servants will improve greatly very soon. In Him, Asa Mark Bratcher
Monday, 31 January 2011 | from Stephen Bratcher
Dear family friends & loved ones,
I covet your prayers as I am scheduled to fly down to Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil on Wednesday of this week, the Lord willing. I plan to return on March 10, the Lord willing. Mom has been in the hospital for four weeks. I have just received word that she is able to move her arms, and has limited movement in her legs. The doctors have not yet released her because of the sores on her back. She continues to show fatigue, and at times she speaks out in both Portuguese and English, due to the various medications that she is on. I have been informed that Dad is counting down the days to my arrival. He appreciates your continued thoughts & prayers. May the Lord richly bless you & yours, Stephen |
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Newsletters | December 2010
NATHAN AND CARRIE RADFORD | DECEMBER 2010
December 1, 2010
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and passed, and we thank the Lord for the opportunities He gives us to serve Him, and also for His faithfulness and provisions. What a blessing it is to be able
to serve the Lord, and may we ever be mindful of and available for the opportunities that we
have to serve. This update will share ministries as well as family news.
It is hard to believe that we are now at the end of 2010 and in the Christmas season. We trust
that each of you had a great Thanksgiving holiday with your friends and families. May we never forget the reason for the season, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. One of my favorite verses concerning Christmastime is Matthew 1:21, which states “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” We wish each of you a great Christmas with your friends and families.
In family news, we thank the Lord for the good development of Carrie’s pregnancy. She is due in February, and we ask you to please continue to pray for her and the development of our child. Please pray that all continues to go well without any complications, and that the baby would be born healthy. We are trusting the Lord for all of this, and thank you so much for your prayers. Also, please continue to pray for us as a whole family, and also for McKenna, who is growing and developing so quickly. We are so proud of her. I have attached a recent family photo of us to this prayer letter.
I have been busy lately, making a missions DVD of our ministry, contacting churches, doing correspondence, and attending a missions conference in Michigan. We thank the Lord for the conference, our mission board of directors, and also for the hospitality and love that we felt when we attended. A big thank you to Pastor Adkins and New Hope Baptist Church, as well as all who worked hard to prepare meals, work with the children, and serve in other ways. We greatly appreciated it.
Lord willing, we will be receiving our current missions dvd soon, so if you would like one, please let us know and we will send you one free of charge. Also, if your church would be interested in having us come, we can be contacted at the following phone number: 814-688-4703 or by email at: naterad@yahoo.com We would love to speak with you and we appreciate your interest in missions across the world.
Please also keep the ministries in Kenya in your prayers in our absence, the Rafiki ministry, annex prison, and hospital ministry. We would appreciate your prayers for each work and ministry, and we miss the people there. Please continue to pray for these works as they continue while we are home on furlough. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, the Bible says “Pray without ceasing.” What a challenge this is, as so many times in our busy schedules we find it hard to find a time to pray and talk with the Lord. Charles Spurgeon said “Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom. If you may have everything by asking in His Name, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is.” What a great statement and challenge for us to pray.
We wish each of you a great holiday season and we appreciate each of you for your interest in missions. Each one of you who prays for us, comes to visit the ministries, or sacrificially supports the ministries, are a great blessing to us. Thank you for being mindful of missions across the world in Kenya, and may God bless each of you, as we could not
do the work without you.
In Kenya,
Nathan and Carrie Radford | 315 College Street | Youngsville, PA 16371
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd | Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
SHERIDAN AND ANITA STANTON | DECEMBER 2010
Mailing Address:
Sheridan and Anita Stanton | Apartado Postal 140 | Huanuco, Perú | South América
Vonage phone: 859-514-0929
sestantonperu@hotmail.com – Sheridan
arstantonperu@hotmail.com – Anita
November 30, 2010
Dear friends and family,
We are back in Huánuco recuperating after a trying month of medical interventions. We returned to Lima on Monday 8 for Anita to have some dental work done and then on Friday 12 she had her left foot operated on. Those things we had planned but what followed was something only God could have planned!
What happened? On Wednesday 17 of November (just two days after bringing Anita out of the hospital from her foot surgery), I had a case of “transitory global amnesia”. I do not remember anything about that day until about 6:00 that evening. I always get out of bed before Anita and according to her when she got up, she found me walking around the rental apartment in a state of confusion. She asked me several questions that I could not answer, but should have. She called the doctor and they arranged for me to go to the emergency room. Anita said that I kept asking her “where are we going” and “why”, the whole time. I do not remember getting out of bed, going to the hospital, the CT scan of my brain (yes I do have one!), or the seven hours we spent in the emergency room before they admitted me into the hospital for “observation.” Remember, she was supposed to be staying off her foot and keeping it elevated after her surgery but she spent the entire day sitting in the emergency room telling me every five minutes where we were and why. I also kept asking her why her foot was in a cast every few minutes. Bless her heart, it is a good thing she loves me so much!
The Cause. After an MRI scan they found evidence of two small “mini strokes” in the lower left part of my brain; one was new (the event of that day) and the other was older (we have no idea when it occurred). They first thought the cause was probably cholesterol and blood pressure related, but after having a cardio Holter test, they discovered the severe arrhythmia of my heart. When the rhythm of the heart gets out of sync it can cause small blood clots to travel through the blood stream; in my case going to the brain and stopping the flow of blood to a very small area. This condition is hereditary from my Stanton gene pool.
What now? They have me on a very expensive blood thinner, arrhythmia medication, blood pressure and cholesterol meds. The arrhythmia meds seem to be working. For a guy who is not used to taking medications this is the hardest part. I will have the Holter test done every few weeks to make sure they get the right dosage. If these meds do not work then I will need a pacemaker implanted sometime down the road. Driving or playing tennis is out of the question for a few weeks until they are sure the meds are working. Anita and I thank you for the calls and emails but mainly for your prayers. Please keep praying for Anita’s foot to heal quickly and for me.
Praise to God! Yes, we spent Thanksgiving in a rental apartment in Lima thanking God for having us in Lima when this happened to me. The medical care is much better in the capital city than in our quaint little town of Huánuco in the Andes Mountains. We are so thankful for all of you and your words of love and concern. Our loving Father always takes care of HIS own; what a blessing to be a child of God! Now we are looking forward to a quiet Christmas together here in Huánuco. Usually this time of year, Anita decorates everything and we have several parties and meals for the children and poorer folks of our churches. However, his year we must take it easy. We will be doing something for the folks here but just not as much.
More praise! We had two young adults saved at the Calvary Baptist Mission during the month of October and one young man trusting in Christ as his Savior this past Sunday night the 28th. I am starting a discipleship class for several new members on Saturday 4th; I am really looking forward to this.
We also have located a piece of property for the Calvary Mission and are waiting for the owner to get her papers in order for the sale. We have the money for the purchase of this property but if anyone would like to help us with funds for building a proper meetinghouse, we would be very thankful. Our Lord is always so good to us and HE always provides. This letter is getting too long, Anita and I thank you again for your love, prayers and concern for us. Hope you all enjoy the holiday and have a very merry Christmas! Until next month.
In HIM by HIS grace, Sheridan and Anita Stanton
BOBBY CREIGLOW | MISSION REPRESENTATIVE
Dear Brethren,
After a long time of relative inactivity, I am able to say along with the missionaries, I have been very busy since my last letter.
The first weekend I was with Brother Harold Draper and Seventh Street Baptist Church, in Cannellton, Indiana, where I preached both services, and visited, with Brother Draper, some of the sick.
I returned home for a few days before going to Harrisburg, Illinois to be with Brother Art Donley and Bible Baptist Church. I preached all services Sunday and Wednesday, I also witnessed Brother Donley baptizing two young ladies on Sunday . Thursday I traveled to Kirksville, MO to hold a short meeting for Faith Baptist Church from Friday through Sunday morning. At the close of the morning service, a young man made his profession of faith, in Christ. After a very good lunch in the fellowship hall of the church, Pastor Glenn Archer, his wife Judy and I started the long trip to Dearborn Heights, Michigan to attend, and speak at the Thanksgiving Conference, hosted by Pastor Terry Adkins and New Hope Baptist Church. It was a very good conference, and I am sorry for those who missed it.
After the conference in Michigan, I always spend a few days in central Ohio visiting relatives, before returning home. On my way home Brother David Parks called me, asking me to preach the message that I had preached at the conference, for Thompson Road Baptist Church on Sunday night, which I was happy to do.
Last Sunday or Monday we received notice that a dear personal friend, and long time friend and supporter of Baptist Faith Missions, Elder Darrill Hashman, had passed away, and I was honored to be invited to serve as pallbearer. Betty and I had stayed in the home of Brother Darrill and Sister Sally many times, and now I trust that Sister Sally will find comfort and sufficient grace, from the Lord, to carry her forward.
While in West Virginia for the funeral I was welcomed into the home of Elder Mike and Sister Eileen Richardson, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their gracious hospitality.
In His Service,
Bobby D. Creiglow
615 Lane Allen Rd.
Lexington, KY 40504
606-309-2025
bob4bfm@insightbb.com
BOBBY AND CHARLENE WACASER | DECEMBER 2010
December 8, 2010
Manoel Valdomiro de Macedo, 2281
81170-150 Curitiba, PR Brasil
Ph: (813) 436-9980
E-mail: robertmw@brturbo.com.br
Dear Friends,
We spent most of 2010 in the USA and so that makes us even more grateful and amazed at what God has accomplished since we’ve returned to Brazil. The evidence of His power at work in and around us leads us on to greater faith and confidence than ever before. We know that what He has done and is doing could only be accomplished by Him. The greatest joy we sense is in being giving the privilege to be His ministers of grace and love in this corner of the world.
This week we had to purchase more chairs for the increased number in attendance at our services. We will be pretty tight trying to fit them into the limited remaining space, but this type of “inconvenience” is very encouraging. This weekend we will be baptizing 7 new followers of Christ. One new convert, Lucy, a widow who lives in a house provided by her son, is suffering intense trials from him. Besides his constant display of contempt for her newfound faith, he has threatened to kick her out of his house if she insists on continuing in this “religion”. He is an agnostic and is trying to pressure her to renounce Christ if she wants to continue receiving assistance from him. Some of our church members have taken it upon themselves to see that she lacks for nothing as she seeks to follow Christ with her whole heart. We know that it is the presence of Jesus in their lives that gives them this attitude, because none of them are well-off financially.
There will be a little bit of relief on the crowded meetings at the beginning of 2011. We have found an available lot where we’ll be building the facilities for our new church plant. Charlene, our son, Brennen and I, along with five or six other members are busy meeting folks in the neighborhood of the proposed new church. Today we will sign the paperwork on the property and last week I met with the building contractor to draw up our plans for legal authorization to build. The Lord has guided us step by step in the process of launching this new work, so we trust that He’ll bless and give us much fruit there for the fame of His name. Charlene and I sold our cars a little more than a year ago to give the funds so that our mother church could purchase property for more spacious facilities. For reasons that God alone knows, our church was not able to obtain that property, but now we will be able to use those funds to begin the construction on our new church plant. My co-pastor will now become senior pastor of Bible Baptist Church and I will be the pastor of the new mission.
We are expecting great things of the Lord in the new year of 2011. Thank you for your prayers and support on our behalf.
In Christ’s love, Bobby, Charlene and Brennen Wacaser
AJ AND BARBARA HENSLEY | December 2010
Dear friends, Somehow it just does not seem as though it is time for the Christmas season, but it is here and I’m going to just have to go along. At home in the States I hear that it is COLD. Here it is in the 90´s and the air is heavy. We have been having rain, so with a lot of help –maybe I can see the rain as snow and get into the spirit. Have an AWESOME Christmas season.
This month has just flown by. Barb and I have been taking a “Bible Counseling ” course in São Paulo. It has been a year long course and will be well used as the course was totally based on biblical principles for counseling. It was intense but we received our certificate of accomplishment this past Saturday.
Church is going very well with lots of work, both physical and spiritual to be done. We have had several teenagers accept Christ as personal savior—AWESOME. With this we have lots of work to do. That’s what it is all about. Construction is going at a slow pace at Church. Mostly because we have lots of projects that need to be accomplished but don’t have the financial resources to accomplish them.
Sometimes the needs have to be prioritized; for example, we need Sunday School chairs and tables. And these could double in use for breakfast for the children on Sunday morning. We need 12 tables and 50 chairs. We also need 4-6 more Sunday School rooms. We have 3 rooms and the rest of us are sitting outside. This so far has not been a problem even though we have been having lots of rain.
Speaking of rain, tonight during the service it came a “chicken drowner”. The noise was so loud we could hardly hear the message. This is because the roof is tin and we need a suspended ceiling which would give some insulation for the sound and also for the heat. This morning service was held in somewhere around 90 degrees temperature on the outside and on the inside also (pix included notice everyone fanning). This is just another one of the needs we have for the Church building.
We also need some flannel graphs for the Sunday school teachers. You know what it is like starting from scratch; you don’t have anything, so you just improvise until you can get the necessary things for you to use. We know that we are on the winning side because with our Lord on our side we cannot fail.
With our Church being in the beginning phase we are being Awesomely blessed. Please pray for us, all the workers, and the new members. Your prayers are our key to a successful new Church plant.
If you get tired of the snow and cold, just know that you have an open invitation to come on down and sweat with us. Your bed is turned down and there is a mint on the pillow.
In His service, Aj and Barbara
JUDSON AND RAQUEL HATCHER | December 2010
Dear friends,
Visiting Michigan
November was a great month. We visited a different church every weekend and made new friendships. One of our highlights this month was participating in the Thanksgiving Missions Conference at New Hope Baptist Church, Dearborn Heights, MI. It was a true encouragement to our hearts. Especially, to our children! Sister Sue Jones (Bro Bob Jones’ wife) had our three children in the kid’s conference. They absolutely loved it! Each of them also received a Bible as a gift. As for us, it was a real treat to listen to great preaching from Bros. George Sledd, Denny Herndon, Jonathan Turner, Nathan Radford, David Pitman, Bobby Creiglow, Gary Harrah & Bob Jones. We were blessed to stay in Bro. Paul & Sister Jo Anne’s home during the conference. The food served at the conference was superb! It was good to meet & talk to Bro. John Lybrook of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Oldtown, KY, Bros. Bill Brooks & Tim Summers of Twelve Ryan Baptist Church, Warren, MI, and Bro. Matt Brooks of Grace Missionary Baptist Church, Temperance, MI. We also had an unexpected surprise. My Great Aunt Neree Wood, along with my 2nd cousin Dr. Bob Wood and his wife Sharon Wood came to hear the presentation on Brazil. We had a good visit, although very short. I am so glad they got to come!
The Sunday prior to the conference we were at Lake Road Baptist Church, Flint, MI with Bro. Doug Armstrong. Sure was exciting to meet the folks who were just baptized a few weeks prior. Our time in Michigan was a real joy. Thanks to all who received us.
Thanksgiving Day
We were grateful to being with Bro. Steve Wainright and his family for Thanksgiving Day. We had an enjoyable day of eating, talking, laughing, discussing Scripture and playing some games.
Family Moment
Here is a funny family moment. A few weeks ago as Sarah (5) and I were reviewing here Bible verse for school she mismatched one of the words in their verse for the name of the book. So, this is how she said it: “No man can serve two Matthews.” Masters 6:24. When I pointed out to her of her mistake we both had a good laugh, particularly because she has a cousin called Matthew. As a result of this fun moment she hasn’t forgotten it, & says it’s her favorite Bible verse.
New Work Plans
Pray for the mission works in Manaus, throughout the North and Northeastern Brazil that each location will continue to grow through Evangelism & discipleship. Also, pray as plans are in the makings to start a new work in Teresina, the capitol city of Piaui state. Greater Teresina is populated with almost a million people and has traditionally Catholic roots. Pray for leadership, timing, location, finances & the people to be reached with the Gospel.
Grateful always, Judson Hatcher
JOHN AND ALTA HATCHER | December 2010
John and Alta Hatcher | Caixa Postal 112 | Urai, PR BRASIL 86280-000
November 9, 2010
Dear Friends, Greetings in the Name above all names. In all things give thanks. Sometimes, this is easier to do than at other times. Psalm 22.1 is a prophetical cry of Jesus on the cross: “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me…I cry in the day time, but Thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent…But Thou art Holy…” It is a wonderful thing to know that Jesus was tried and tempted in all of the ways we are. And, having won the battle for us, He is ready and willing to help us when we cry. But, whatever the test, He is Holy.
As old age takes charge of our lives, we are constantly aware of the need to spread the Gospel to those who have never heard. The command of our Lord to go into all the world and preach the Gospel and the cry of the rich man in hell crying for someone to go and tell his five brothers to trust the Lord to escape the torments of Hell cause us, to the best of our ability, to tell the Gospel each day to those who are lost. People must hear, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Paul wrote to the Ephesians praising God for all the spiritual blessings in heavenly places we receive through Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 1.13, he makes it plain: we believe after we have heard the word of truth. Oh, Father! Send workers…the harvest is great and ready, and the harvesters are few.
NEW BUILDING IN ASSAI. The constructor of the prefabricated part has drug his feet, but says that all the parts are built and ready to be set up. Maybe next month we will have better news. If anyone would like to have a part in this construction, your help would be appreciated. Alta and I still go to Assai each Sunday morning for service in the home of Maria, a widow. Her son, Edson, had surgery for cancer in the liver. Pray for him. The surgery took nine hours. He is not saved.
ALL WORKS GOING WELL. In this area of the State of Parana, we have permanent works in: Cornelio Procopio, Santa Terezinha, Leopolis, Congoninhos, Sertaneja, Nova Fatima, Rancho Alegre, Assai, Urai, Sussumo. Our seminary is in Cornelio Procopio and is doing well.
Please pray for us, the work in general, the new building in Assai, and for our health.
God bless you, John and Alta Hatcher
MIKE AND BEV CREIGLOW | December 2010
Michael D. Creiglow | Caixa Postal 24 69980 | Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre Brazil
December 8, 2010
Dear Brethren,
There is way too much to report, but I will give you at least a little of what has been happening.
Hudson and I went up river 3 weeks ago. There was enough water in the river as far as Thaumaturgo (200 miles). From there on up it was LOW. We did a lot of dragging the boat through rapids, over sand bars and over logs. We even stopped along the way to help others drag their boats. Our intention was to go as far as Tipisca in Peru for the dedication of the building there. We got to the 60 mile point, with still 60 miles to go and had engine trouble. We had a bent prop shaft. We limped back down stream to Thaumaturgo. Once there I was able to take the thing apart and straighten out the shaft. The rains that we had hoped for did not come though, so we had to turn around a return to Cruzeiro do Sul. We were still able to visit other works though. There were no professions of faith, but the works at Matrinxã, Thaumaturgo and Triunfo are all well.
After a few days of rest (while working non stop) Hudson and I headed up the Moa River. We were undecided about which boat to take, not knowing the level of the river. We could go in the aluminum canoe with long shaft tail motor (very slow) or the little jon boat with 20HP outboard. After talking to some folks who had just come from up there and, of course, praying about it, I decided on the 20HP. This would be faster, but require deeper water. It was relatively smooth as far as República. From there on up to the mountains it was challenging, to say the least. We made it though. The rains did come on this trip! On the 4 legs of the trip we got caught in 3 of those nice tropical rains. Torrential rain, lightening and thunder. This has produced a nice little cough that just won’t go away. We spent most of our time with the congregation at the mountains. We were able to make brief visits to the works at República and São Salvador. At São Salvador they are near completion of a new brick building. At República they have done repairs are gearing up to have the congregation from Serra come down stream to be with them over the holidays. We are close to starting the new building at Serra (mountains) do Moa. They have been after ne to deliver the roofing that I promised them, but they still don’t have all of the lumber ready. We are very close though. We had really good services. They asked a lot of questions during services and even some in the following days. The rains brought the river up a little, so our trip downstream was much easier. Sure am glad the Lord gave me wisdom to take the right equipment for this trip.
Many, many years ago when I was first called to preach (1966) I started a ministry at the penitentiary. The church has continued this ministry. We have 2 teams that alternate every Saturday afternoon from 3:00PM to 5:00PM. I had not been out to visit and preach there for a long time. During that break between river trips I made that visit. We built a chapel out there, but after a rebellion that happened a few months ago the agents moved us back into the old prison complex. There were deaths and escapes during that rebellion, so it was very bad and I understand why the agents want us in a more controlled environment. We hold services in an inner court surrounded by cells. This one building could hold 70 prisoners, but has 130! It is very third world. Probably like some of the things you see on TV, but this is the real thing. We had a great service. Several of the inmates have been saved. They sing their hearts out. Afterward they surrounded me and had a ton of questions. One of the guys even had a question about one of my TV messages from 6 months ago! Wow. The guards eventually had to pull me out after our time was up. Now here is the bad news. The government built a brand new maximum security complex. After the rebellion the inmates literally run that. The guards only go in there once a month, heavily armed and in huge numbers to round up knives and other weapons. We are not able to get in there to preach to those guys. There are 250 of them! Now I was not aware of this and it is bothering me. I am praying and wracking my brain for a way to get the gospel to them. Help me pray about this.
Well there is much more news. I have visited other works, but there just isn’t space here to tell you about those. Maybe later.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.
In Christ, Mike Creiglow
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November 2010 Newsletters
JOHN AND ALTA HATCHER.OCTOBER 2010
John and Alta Hatcher | Caixa Postal 112 | Urai, PR – BRASIL 86280-000
Dear Friends,
This has been a great month spiritually, but not so great physically for me. Alta, also, has some dental and gum problems. Praise the Lord, they have been solved and she is feeling better.
On the 13th of September, we flew to Manaus to be with our sons and their families for a few days and to attend the Workers Conference at the Chapada Baptist Church. This Conference was held as part of the festivities celebrating 50 years of existence as a church.
Our son, David and his wife, Pennie, are the spiritual leaders. This church was the first one we had the privilege to begin in Brazil. The church has had several good pastors and the Lord has blessed through the years.
The church has just built a new building which will seat about four thousand people.
From September 22 to 26, the Chapada Church held a Conference for training workers in different areas. There were 100 pastors who attended from eighteen States of Brazil. On the 50th Anniversary of the church, there were more than four thousand people present.
We praise God for His blessings on His work through the years. The Chapada Church has fourteen churches and missions in Manaus and other States. Our hearts were filled to overflowing with praise for our Lord.
Will you take a moment now to praise Him for goodness and blessings? It is your work, also.
Continue to pray for the new building at Assai. The builder of the prefabricated structure is dragging his feet. Pray that he will complete the structure soon.
Old age is not just creeping up; it has got us. But, we are still telling people that Jesus saves and trying to get a work started in the needy city of Assai. We need your prayers.
In His Love and Grace, John and Alta Hatcher
MIKE AND BEV CREIGLOW | November 2010
Michael D. Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24 69980
Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre Brazil
November 3, 2010
Dear Brethren,
In my last newsletter, there wasn’t room to report on one of my trips up river, so here is that report and then some.
In the middle of September, I made a visit to Porto Walter. This town is about 100 miles up the Juruá River.
Last year we moved a new missionary couple there to take over the work. Alexandre and Rejane had 3 months of extra training here at First Baptist before we moved them. The work is finally taking off.
Getting there this time was very difficult. The river is still very low and for that reason I had to go by myself. It took three hours longer than normal. Almost twice as long. It worked out though and the visit was great. We had good crowds in all services. In fact on Friday night the building was full. On Sunday morning I baptized 15 people.
Then just a couple of weeks ago I went back to help them celebrate the sixteen years that we were finally able to get in there with the gospel. The trip this time was much easier as the river had come up 3 or 4 feet.
That makes a huge difference. It only took me 4.5 hours this time. Still more than normal, but lots better than almost 8 hours! The first night it was raining and the lights were out for most of the service. In fact, the electricity went off just as I got to the pulpit and came back just as I finished. I had to preach using just my flashlight and swarms of big flying ants had come out because of the rain. There were hundreds of them crawling all over me, including my face and in my mouth. I have a ton of these stories to go into my memoirs, so let’s just go on with the narrative.
The next 3 services we were back to the 21st century. We had the building full for 2 of these services. On Sunday morning I baptized another 10 people.
We are trying to get the church at Lagoinha to come back into closer fellowship with the other churches in the area. They had called their former pastor from an interdenominational seminary down in south Brazil. He had completely isolated them and stopped all mission work. Although I sent many invitations for him to come to our preachers meetings, he never showed. I never even go to meet him before he fell into adultery and was gone. Now they have called one of our local guys. He and some of my guys got together and started planning a service at the village centered around the government land office a few miles past the church location. They asked me to do the preaching. Our 2 churches worked together to set up equipment and do all the visitation/invitations. The service was on a Friday night. Bev was able to go with me. It rained big time just before services. We still had over 150 people present. Hopefully this will be the spark that will get the church there excited about missions again. We hope that they will establish a permanent preaching point at the Sede (pronounced “seh”-“gee”), as the village is called.
Some of our men have opened a new work at a place up river called Luzeiro. It is a village between 2 of our other works. For years there were just a couple of houses. Since a dirt road has been put in and electricity, the place has grown to a full fledged village. During the summer they have been going there on motorcycles. In a few more days they will have to fall back on boats. There have been several professions of faith already and the attendance has averaged 70.
Things are going great at First Baptist, too. The last 2 Sundays we had 7 saved and several requests for baptism. Last 2 Sundays the building has been packed in the 8 o’clock service. This past Sunday we did not have our 6:00PM service because of the presidential election. The polls closed at 6:00PM and many of our members and others had to work.
By the way, our new president is a former non-repentant communist terrorist. Back in 1969, she participated in the kidnapping of the American ambassador to Brazil! She is also pro-abortion, for gay marriage, and anti-American, anti-free press, and is still a strong socialist, with all the economic baggage that goes along with that. Many of you probably suspect that the US government is leaning toward socialism, but you are still several miles “right” of us here in Brazil. I’ll pray for you if you’ll pray for me!
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.
In Christ, Mike Creiglow
ODALI AND KATHY BARROS | November 2010
Dear Brother and Sisters,
We are doing great and hope that all of you are also being blessed of the Lord. Joy comes through serving our Savior and not in how we feel. Knowing that God is faithful to us each day should bring joy to all of us. If God were to give up on us for just a few seconds we would be in total despair. What a wonderful God we have the privilege to serve.
Here in Brasil there is a day dedicated for the children like there is for father and mother’s Day. It is on October the 12th. We had a special day for the kids Sunday afternoon from noon to 6 pm. We had 150 kids under 13 yrs old. There were about 60 more people 14 yrs. and older. We put ribbons with their names on all the kids 13 and under. Also we wrote their names on labels that were later put on bags with treats for the scavenger hunt. At the end of the day the kids had to hunt for the bag with their own name on it and not take any one else’s. What a challenge!!!! Well actually that went pretty well. I believe there were only 3 or 4 that we did not find. We had many parents that came with their children. Had 2 mothers that came and asked me if the could come to church with there kids. I told them that not only could they come but that they actually should come with their children. That coming to church as a family was very important. We had all kinds of activities. Our church has lots of young adults. The games that we used were made by the youth. Every one put effort in their work and the results were great.
We had hot dogs, pop corn, cotton candy and fresh juice for every one. Of course that always goes over well. Eating is every ones favorite hobby. Before the hunt we gathered every one to give the instructions on how the hunt was going to be. But before we did that we sang some songs and them the youth did a drama of the prodigal son and then I shared the gospel with all those there.
On that day we had several adults to come with their children. After all was finished, those from the church and those who live here with us at Alpha and Omega played some ball and just had a great time of fellowship. It was a great day and God gave us an absolutely gorgeous day. The weather could have not been better. Enjoy the pictures. I even got dressed as a clown.
We have had 3 mothers that have been coming with their children since that Sunday. Our desire is that we can get more and more parents to come with their children. Most of these people are just Catholics because they were born in those families. So they have no beliefs at all, they just live life as it comes and strive for material and earthly gain. This coming week is Memorial Day here. We have planned a special dinner. Each member of the church must bring at least one visitor. Two weeks ago I asked each member in church to write the name of at least one person that they were going to try to bring to the dinner. Each person invited is going to have their name at the table setting along with the person who invited them. We are anxious to see what is going to happen. It seems as though most every one is working hard to get their visitor to come. The goal is to bring new people that have not been to any of your churches services and dinners.
Something exciting is happening in our church. Here in Brasil music is not taught in school like it is in the U.S. So there are very few people that play instruments. A pastor friend of our told us about a teacher that went to his church and was teaching the kids at his church. We contacted him and he said he would come to our church also. WOW! He just asked for money to pay for his gas. We could not ask for any thing more. We have some studying piano, guitar, bass, drums and voice lessons. He is a great teacher and has every one really excited about learning.
We praise God for this opportunity that he has given the members of our church. Our three boys are also studying. Our son Gabriel, who already plays drums in church, is learning how to read music also. Tito is taking guitar lessons and Jonas drums. The oldest student is Mrs. Fatima, and she is learning bass. We were totally surprised when she asked take bass lessons, especially since she is very quiet.
Thanks for your prayers and support.
May God bless each of you and your families.
In Christ, Odali and Kathy Barros
BOBBY CREIGLOW | Mission Representative | November 2010
November 2, 2010
Dear Brethren,
Upon my move to Lexington, it seems there has been no end to the contacting, and the paper work to take care of all of the transitions with banks, insurances, utilities, etc. I think I have contacted most of them, and am now in the follow up process, to make sure that all has been taken care of. Today I was able to acquire the services of a doctor, and my first appointment will be next week, on November 10.
Before leaving Science Hill, many months ago, I planned and set in motion the seventh annual Missions Conference, for First Baptist Church, where Brother Ed Massey is pastor. The conference was held from Monday through Thursday during the last week of October, and in my opinion every thing went very well, with very good preaching from, Missionary Ernest Lawson, Missionary Judson Hatcher, Pastor David Pitman, and Pastor David Parks.
I will be on the road traveling during the month of November visiting Seventh Street Baptist Church, Cannelton, Indiana, Bible Baptist, Harrisburg Illinois, Faith Baptist, Kirksville, MO. The Thanksgiving Conference, New Hope Baptist, and visiting family in Ohio, before returning home. After that I do not plan to make other long trips, but will always be available to serve wherever the Lord would be pleased to use me.
In His Name.
Bobby D. Creiglow
615 Lane Allen Rd.
Lexington, KY 40504
(859) 309-2025
bob4bfm@insightbb.com.
NATHAN AND CARRIE RADFORD | November 2010
November 10, 2010
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and passed so quickly, and we are now near the end of the year 2010. It seems that time goes so quickly, and Lord willing, soon we will be in the year 2011. May we ever be mindful of the opportunities that the Lord gives us to serve Him and to be mindful of the time we have to give our lives in service to Him. This prayer letter will give a current ministry update, a family update, as well as share prayer requests.
It is great to be back in our home country of the United States of America. Although we miss the people of Kenya and the ministries there, we are also happy to be home and get to spend valuable time with friends and family, as well as those who pray for us and sacrificially give to support us. Each of you are such an important part of the ministry in Kenya and we thank the Lord for you. We could not do it without your help. The Lord has provided a place for us to stay in West Virginia beginning in January, as well as a vehicle and the majority of the furnishings. We wish to thank each of you for your assistance, as it has really helped us in the transition back to our home country and getting settled in for our furlough. May God bless each of you who have assisted us in any way with our furlough needs. Thank you for being so mindful of the needs of missionaries. Philippians 4:19 says “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” What a precious promise from the Word of God this is, that we can trust Him to provide for our needs.
Please continue to pray for the ministries in Kenya in our absence. The ministry in Rafiki is continuing presently through a Kenyan that was trained in the Bible Institute and who had gone repeatedly to Rafiki to minister there, so we ask you to pray for him and the people there. They are continuing independently of me in any way, and I am sure this is a test of faith for them, so we ask you to pray for them, that they would be indigenous and stand on their own in my absence. This is a challenge, as the country is dependent, but prayer would be much appreciated for this ministry as I am now in the States for an extended period of time.
Also, please continue to pray for the other ministries, both the annex prison and the hospital ministry, in our absence. We wish to thank anyone who has come personally to see these ministries firsthand, sent supplies to be given to the ministries, prayed for or financially supported the works. May God bless each of you so much. We will keep you updated.
Please also continue to pray for Carrie and the pregnancy, as she is due the second week of February 2011. So far, all is progressing well, for which we thank the Lord. What a blessing children are and we ask you to pray that this new one would also continue to develop well in the womb. 1 Samuel 1:27 states “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:” We thank each of you for continuing to remember the new little one in prayer as well as for Carrie and her health during the pregnancy.
Please also pray for us and our health as we have both individuals and churches to visit while are home. Please also pray for the vehicle, that it would do well traveling and not have any major maintenance issues. Please also pray for me as I begin to contact churches and pastors, that the Lord would lead and guide us in these endeavors. I plan to send a DVD of our ministry out soon, so please also pray that these will all arrive well without any problems where they are designated to go.
In closing, during this Thanksgiving season, may we ever be mindful to be thankful of the many blessings that God has given us. There are so many things to be thankful for, such as family, health, the Lord’s provisions, and opportunities that He gives us to serve Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” We wish each of you a great Thanksgiving holiday as well as Christmas holiday next month. May God bless each of you. Please note our new address in the States.
Serving in Kenya,
Nathan and Carrie Radford | 315 College Street | Youngsville, PA 16371
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd | Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
JOHN AND JUDY HATCHER | November 2010
John and Judy Hatcher
November 10, 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord. We Hope the Thanksgiving Conference has proved a blessing to all who attended. We appreciate New Hope Baptist Church for their hosting of this annual conference.
The Lord continues to bless the work here. One of the main events of the past month was Vacation Bible School. Though the attendance was not as high as we have had in the past because some families were out of town, the fourteen children who came did not miss a day. This made it possible to have good continuity. Four of the children who attended had never been in Sunday School or Vacation Bible School in the past. The mother of two of these new children came with her children two days and showed quite an interest. She said that she plans on coming to Sunday Services.
The theme for the Bible Study this year was “Jesus said, I am the … Bread of Life…Resurrection and the Life…Good Shepherd…Light of the World. The missionary story was a history of missions in the Amazon. This revolved around Francisco Santiago the first believer under the ministry of Joseph F. Brandon, the first missionary with Baptist Faith Missions. Francisco Santiago was the pastor who baptized me. The children were enthralled by the pictures of the Amazon.
We want to again express our thankfulness to the young folks of Concord Baptist Church who gave part of the their Vacation Bible School offering for the support of the Vacation Bible School here in France. It is important for children to realize that they can serve the Lord.
The five Bible studies and the children’s club are going well as are the Sunday services.
There is a new couple that has been coming regularly on Sundays who were just blessed with the birth of their first child. The mother professes to be a believer but not the father. However, this young man expresses an interest and we hope that he will soon trust the Lord.
Thank you for your faithful support. May the Lord richly bless your service where you are as well.
Your servants for Christ sake, John and Judy
BOBBY AND CHARLENE WACASER | November 2010
November 11, 2010
Rua Manoel Valdomiro de Macedo, 2281
81170-150 Curitiba, PR. Brasil
Ph: (813) 436-9980
E-mail: robertmw@brturbo.com.br
Dear Friends,
There is a little saying that I use quite often when speaking to people of the circumstances in which they or we find ourselves: “If you’re not dead or in hell, then you have reason to give thanks.” I know that I am constantly receiving God’s grace, but as the holiday of Thanksgiving comes around this year, I am all the more conscious of just how gracious the Lord is to us. Our health is great. My children know and love the Lord. My wife and I are happily married and have been for 30 years. We are privileged to be a part of one of the most godly and biblical mission organizations in the world. We are blessed to have been called of the Lord to serve Him fulltime in evangelism and church planting in maybe the most receptive nation in the world. With the advance of the internet, we have been able to connect with and share the gospel with old friends that we haven’t seen or heard from in over 30 years.
Was there ever a generation or individuals as blessed as we? Yes, Lord, I am giving Thanks! You deserve it and so much more.
Our new church planting team met again this past Monday to discuss our next practical steps for launching our new work. Each team member (or married couple) is working at trying to meet new friends in the neighborhood and getting them interested in beginning a home Bible study until we have a facility (house or building) large enough to hold a congregation. Charlene and I were at the home of a family last night and we were very well received. They show a lot of interest and we pray that they will be the first to come to Christ in this new work. The other team members have said that they are meeting with folks also and they are hopeful that some will soon become followers of Christ.
Projeto Vida, our itinerant missions ministry is out in full force into three different states and won’t return until just before Christmas. One team is working in the public schools of some of the roughest neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro. Rio has some very beautiful natural attractions such as its beaches and mountains, but at the same time, it has some of the saddest and dangerous living conditions in the world. Our team there is in constant need of prayer and God’s provisions. We are so thankful that the Lord has given us the privilege of seeing hundreds of Rio’s citizens come to saving faith in Jesus Christ and made a part of a local Baptist church there.
I spoke with Guilherme, the child prodigy, this past week about our plans to have him visit and learn at the Creation Research institutions this coming winter. We are trying to get all the needed arrangements made so that he and his mother (he will be 15 years old when he travels) will not run into any major hindrances. They must get visas, airline tickets, land travel and lodging and eating funds. Please consider giving so that this young man may have the opportunity to be exposed to in-depth science based on Biblical principles and return to Brazil where he will certainly be instrumental in shaping what is taught to this generation of youth. Guilherme’s intelligence has been recognized nationwide and I believe his profound command of true science from a Biblical worldview would greatly help support the spread of the gospel in Brazil. If you feel so led to give, please label your offering “Wacaser/Guilherme.”
Our next report should come out around the time that our daughter, Jessie, will be arriving from Florida to visit with us here in Curitiba, Brazil. We are so proud of her. It has been nearly two years since she left home to go study in the USA, and we have heard and seen how she has grown in Christ and remained faithful in her walk with Him without daddy and mama’s oversight. She has also led several of her new friends to Christ and in true discipleship. Thank you, Lord! Nothing could make our heart more glad.
God bless you who pray and give so that we may live and serve in this corner of the harvest field.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby, Charlene and Brennen Wacaser
AJ AND BARB HENSLEY | November 2010
Hello Friends,
And the work goes on…….! What on AWESOME God we have. It is just great how things come together. With our new work it seems there is a never ending list of “things-to-do”. But, it is a wonderful problem to have. We have just about got the interior of our building inhabitable and having the appearance of a Church. We have completed the pulpit and painted the walls, tiled the floor, arranged a sound-control area, put our name on the front of the building. We are fixing a kitchen, and next week we will install our permanent entrance doors. And along with all this you can imagine the mess that goes with “on-going” construction and renovation. Hey, I’m not complaining, I’m rejoicing! Continue to pray with us as the new work progresses.
We have already had our second baptism and are planning a date for our next one. How blessed we have been with growth. We are averaging in the high 70 and low 80. We are praying about buying more chairs. We only have 100 and have space for over 200.
You know I just love bragging on the Lord and how He works in our lives and the life of our Church. Not only is all this work going on in the Church building but we have started a house Church on Tuesday nights. This work is going AWESOMELY. We have met in this neighborhood for 4 weeks and have had in attendance the first week 20+, second week 20+, third week 44, and fourth week 31. And just this past week we started a children’s Bible study on Saturday afternoon, and we had around 25 in attendance. It is just great to see the children’s interest in learning more about the Bible and hearing Gods word. During the week we have discipleship two nights in our home. Also other members are doing the same in their homes.
I’ve been talking a lot about the new work but lets not forget our training school. I have been working with 4 young men (boys) in the school. We are doing some woodworking and working in the key shop. The boys working with wood are anxious to have class every day but I can only have class two days per week. The locksmith training is every day of the week for half the day. Lots of young boys here are interested in learning a trade and we are able to make a difference in a few young lives. One of our four boys just was suspended from our school because of behavioral problems in regular school. Not only are we teaching life skills but they are learning other things such as attitudes, Church attendance, to have good grades at regular school, respect for others and other disciplines. These young men need to be a productive member at Church at home and in the community. I am working with two of the young men and they are really opening up about their lives and family problems.
With all of this going on what are some of our more urgent prayer requests? First off we need a bus!!! Here a good used bus runs about $30,000 dollars. Also we are holding Sunday School classes outside and this means that we need more class rooms. We are trying to keep all of this in prospective as this building is rented. We need property for our future so we can build our own Church building. And as we are looking to that end we have been looking for lots. We have had a petroleum company move into our town so that means that prices have gone up on many things but not the salaries of our people. But that means that the price of land has sky rocketed. So you can see that purchasing land is a dream (a great prayer request) but nothing is impossible for our God.
Well I will hush for now but will just say “U-all come”! Come on dawn and see and experience a new work start, see the love and excitement and how the Lord i8s working in such an AWESOME manner. Continue to pray for us. And THANKS for your financial support and prayers. Without your help this work would not have this success.
In His service,
AJ and Barbara
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Mission Sheets | Newsletters.October 2010
CHAPADA BAPTIST CHURCH, Manaus BRASIL - THEN AND NOW
JOHN AND ALTA HATCHER.OCTOBER 2010
John and Alta Hatcher | Caixa Postal 112 | Urai, PR – BRASIL 86280-000
Dear Friends,
This has been a great month spiritually, but not so great physically for me. Alta, also, has some dental and gum problems. Praise the Lord, they have been solved and she is feeling better.
On the 13th of September, we flew to Manaus to be with our sons and their families for a few days and to attend the Workers Conference at the Chapada Baptist Church. This Conference was held as part of the festivities celebrating 50 years of existence as a church.
Our son, David and his wife, Pennie, are the spiritual leaders. This church was the first one we had the privilege to begin in Brazil. The church has had several good pastors and the Lord has blessed through the years.
The church has just built a new building which will seat about four thousand people.
From September 22 to 26, the Chapada Church held a Conference for training workers in different areas. There were 100 pastors who attended from eighteen States of Brazil. On the 50th Anniversary of the church, there were more than four thousand people present.
We praise God for His blessings on His work through the years. The Chapada Church has fourteen churches and missions in Manaus and other States. Our hearts were filled to overflowing with praise for our Lord.
Will you take a moment now to praise Him for goodness and blessings? It is your work, also.
Continue to pray for the new building at Assai. The builder of the prefabricated structure is dragging his feet. Pray that he will complete the structure soon.
Old age is not just creeping up; it has got us. But, we are still telling people that Jesus saves and trying to get a work started in the needy city of Assai. We need your prayers.
In His Love and Grace, John and Alta Hatcher
JUDSON HATCHER.October 2010
Dear Friends,
In this months letter I’d like to share with you an opportunity I had of sharing Jesus to a man. I also want to tell you about some of the places we’ve been to preach and present the work in Brazil. If you’d like to have us come to our church or home, call me on my cellular phone at (859) 317-1192, or email me at judsonhatcher@gmail.com. An opportunity to serve is what we pray for!
Frantic Search
I have prayed the Lord would allow me to meet and witness to Brazilians who live in the States. As a result, one day when I was pulling into a parking space at Walmart I saw a car with a license plate with “BRZL” on it. As I was getting the kids out of the car a man walked up to the “BRZL” car. I approached and briefly spoke with him. He was from Portugal and his wife from Brazil. He saw my kids and said he had a 4 year daughter who was on vacation with his wife in her home town. We didn’t speak much and went our ways. After a few minutes inside the store, the Portuguese man returned to the store and frantically began searching for me. Once he found us, he handed me a note with his name “Miguel” and phone number. He then said “I really need a friend, could you call me sometime. Actually, my wife left me and took my daughter. She tricked me into signing a consent form for our daughter to travel with her on vacation. A month later she called from Brazil and said they wouldn’t be returning. I have not seen them in two months. I don’t have friends here & need someone who understands Portuguese to talk.” I shared Christ with him and have called him several times. I pray he will come to Christ soon. Please, pray for him.
These last few weeks the Lord has allowed us to visit several churches. We are grateful for the opportunity to share what God is doing in Brazil.
Thompson Road Baptist Church in Lexington, KY. Bro. Dave Parks and the church folks were very loving and caring. It was a real joy to be with them. As you know, Bro. Parks is the executive secretary of BFM. He has personally been a blessing to us in many ways, but especially in loving our children. The kids always look forward to seeing him.
Bluegrass Baptist Church in Lexington, KY. Bro. Donavan Stewart invited us to come share with them. Bro. Donavan and I have become good friends. His wife and kids have also been good friends to my wife and children. He is also the Lexington, KY Police Chaplain. He has introduced me to several of his friends at the LPD and to other pastors.
Bible Baptist Church in Harrisburg, IL. Bro Art Donley is the pastor there and is also on the board of directors of BFM. Upon our arrival at the church we received a big, loving, enthusiastic bear hug! What a loving man. It was a real joy meeting the folks at the church. This was our first visit with them. The kids loved playing in the gym and the toys in the fellowship hall. Bro. Art Donley has already invited us to come back.
Bluegrass Baptist School in Lexington, KY. Bro. Steve Wainright is the interim principal. He was instrumental in getting our daughter Sarah enrolled at the school this year. I also studied here during my kindergarten and 7th grade. Bro. Steve invited me to speak for chapel again. I enjoy speaking to the students for they are always so attentive. This is the school my aunt Lynn (Hatcher) McGary started in the 1969 at Fellowship Baptist Church as printed in the BGBS Beacon of 1976.
Over the next few weeks we look forward to being at:
- First Baptist Church, Science Hill, KY (Bro. Ed Massey)
- East Keys Baptist Church, Springfield, IL (Bro. Dan Hillard)
- Faith Baptist Church, Kirksville, MO (Bro. Glenn Archer)
- Calvary Baptist Church, Richmond, KY (Bro. Bobby Greene)
- New Hope Baptist Church, Dearborn Heights, MI (Bro. Terry Adkins)
It is such a blessing for us to be in the States and to serve the Lord as missionaries in Brazil. Thank you for your prayer and financial support. We are grateful.
We still have many dates available. If you’d like for us to come to your church and present the work in Brazil, please contact me at your earliest convenience.
Grateful always, Jud Hatcher
(859) 317-1192 | judsonhatcher@gmail.com
PAUL HATCHER.October 2010
Dear friends,
National Pastors’ Conference This month we had our annual meeting with missionaries and pastors. 11 states and 17 area mission works were present with us here in Manaus. We scheduled our event so that these men could also participate in the Chapada Baptist Church home coming and conference (This is the church my father John A. Hatcher started 50 years ago.) We had good fellowship and encouragement.
Churches are all growing and looking forward to implementing the vision.
Red Tape To no surprise, the enemy is at large and strategizing to make life harder on churches to function. The government has just added an “Annual Church Permit” for churches to function. Congregations must renew the permit yearly in order to perform weekly meetings and activities within the licensed year. Basically, this adds more red tape for churches.
Presidential elections Brazil has a multiparty political system. Elections were held just recently, but none of the candidates received over 50% of the votes. If a single candidate does not receive over 50% of the vote, a run off election occurs. At the end of November the two most voted presidential candidates from the 1st round will be on the ballet for Brazilians to choose a new president. Pray for all that are in authority in government. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 “1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;’
Family News As a result of the Chapada Baptist Church home coming several family members flew into Manaus. We had a small family reunion during this time and present were John & Alta, John & Judy, David & Pennie, Odali & Kathy. We had a fabulous time as a family. It is very encouraging to see how the Lord has led us and our families to serve Him in so many parts of the world.
Pray for Michael Samples. He will have to undergo gallbladder surgery.
Paul & Wanda Hatcher
HAROLD BRATCHER.OCTOBER 2010
Rua Francisco Jose Furtado 2, São Francisco, Manaus, Amazonas, 69079-200
Brazil, South America. 011-55-92-36112331; harold_bratcher@yahoo.com
October 11, 2010
Dear Brothers of the Blessed and Sisters of the Savior:
Once again we greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ from the land of eternal summer. By God’s grace we are able to once again greet you. The city of Manaus and the whole state of the Amazonas are hot and dry! The river has set a record low! This MS month began September 9th and ends today, October 11th. During this period, I preached 5 sermons and heard 7. Sunday night the 26th of September, an eight year old boy made a profession of faith. Anderson do Espirito Santo’s father is not a believer. His mother is a faithful and active member of the 24th of March BC. His two older sisters are also faithful members. His twin sister, Amanda has not made a profession. Pray for Anderson, his parents and his three sisters.
During the same period I heard seven sermons preached by six different preachers. Most of the six were laymen. One of the sermons was preached by Pastor Mickey Hyder of the David’s Fork Baptist Church. He preached his message in English and Dr. Asa Mark Bratcher translated his message into Portuguese. Five of Bro. Mickey’s members were present at the 24th of March BC where I serve as pastor. The six of them had arrived from Lexington, Kentucky the day before. The six visitors visited us, Marie and me at our home the day they arrived and the day before they left. Also we were blessed with the presence of a faithful member of the New Jerusalem Baptist Church in the interior, Elizete Ribeiro da Silva, who spent three nights with us.
Once again, we ask you to pray for Harold and Marie Bratcher because we grow less wise and weaker as the days are going by.
“Now concerning the collection”, we encourage you, readers of the MS to not forget the regular funds, the car fund, and last but not least, the Harold Bratcher funds. We thus encourage you with the promise of I Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know, that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” We thank all of you who have contributed to the regular fund and to our designated funds.
Please continue to pray for us that we will be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Also pray for Asa Mark’s mother in law Sis. Lucilia, who has been in the hospital for two weeks. She has diabetes, among other ailments. We thank all of you. May the Lord Bless you is our prayer. We love all of you in the Lord.
Yours in the Service of the Savior: Harold and Marie Bratcher.
A. J. HENSLEY.OCTOBER 2010
Dear friends,
I no sooner turn around and another month is gone. But that’s OK because it gives us a chance to look back to see what has happened and lets us plan for the future.
This has been one of our most active months here in Brasil. Between funerals, ministry, discipleship, and construction it is just AWESOME what is getting done here.
Our new mission Church is going AWESOME. For about 3 weeks straight, we were averaging in the 80`s; however we have slowed somewhat to the mid 70`s. We are planning a baptism on the 24th of this month. We have between 20 to 30 candidates for baptism. How AWESOME He is!!!!!!
The discipleship we are doing is really taking from our schedules; however, the results are worth it all. When your students come and ask how can they better study the Bible, it just makes you want to jump for joy. Don´t tell anyone –but I can´t remember when I have had so much fun.
We have a couple that we are discipling and their backgrounds are opposite. He was raised in another denomination, and she was raised without any Church background. They are growing with leaps and bounds. He is knowledgeable in the Bible and she is not. To watch them grow in the Lord is amazing. He is wanting to work more in the Church, i.e., driving the Church van and working at the Church when he is not working his own business. (He installs air conditioning and works on appliances). And she is like a sponge, the more she learns the more she wants to know. He is in his late 40´s and now he is calling me Dad.
When you are starting a new mission there are always many needs and this time is no different. One of our greatest needs is transportation. Our van is doing more than double time work and still we need help with the transportation. This said, maybe this helps you understand that one of our primary needs right now is a bus. A dependable bus will run around $35,000 dollars or more. With the exchange of the dollar falling every day it will probably cost more. Pray with us for this need.
About the building that we are renting for our Church services: it is a warehouse and property which includes 3 rooms and one bath. The main structure (the warehouse) opens into the area that is between it and the 3 rooms and one bathroom. We are remodeling the warehouse to be the meeting area and the 3 rooms are serving as Sunday School rooms. We had to take the small kitchen area and make it into a second bathroom. Now we don´t have a line at the door of the one bathroom door. Now like all good Baptists, we are in need of a kitchen. We are now using a 2 burner gas camp stove and the refrigerator sits alongside it. And it is always cool in the makeshift kitchen as it all sits outside And with the rate of growth we are having we also need more Sunday School rooms.
At this time I am looking at how I can meet these needs but building temporarily because we are renting the area and someday will move to a permanent home. At that time we will want to take as much of the things we are building with us as possible. Building temporary will allow us to dismantle and take them with us. I can not put a cost on this construction until I have done some more research.
Another need that we have is a sign on the front of the building so that people will know where we are congregating. These are just some more things for you to pray with us about.
Here in Brasil we have Childrens Day and it is a holiday that is celebrated greatly as they love their children, as a matter of fact it is celebrated more than Christmas. So Yesterday our Church had Children´s Day at Church. We were blessed with 105 children and 55 parents and workers.In town one of the bus services loaned us a bus to pick up the children. This just showed us how much we need a bus of our own. Imagine bringing all those children to Church each Sunday.
You may be thinking why do they need so much help, do the Church members not help? Yes they are helping but our folks here are just everyday folks and here in Brasil the minimum wage is about $307 dollars a month. So the tithes and offerings is paying the rent and utilities and we need help with the other things. Thanks to you folks we are able to do much more and will continue doing with your help.
Thank you each and every one for reading and listening. What an AWESOME God we serve. And Thanks one more time for your continued financial and prayer support. Also for your support for Baptist Faith Missions because without them we would not be serving here in Brasil
In His service, AJ and Barbara Hensley
NATHAN RADFORD.OCTOBER 2010
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and passed, and it is now near the end of the year 2010. Time seems to pass so quickly, and may we ever be mindful of using the opportunities that the Lord gives us to serve Him, in whatever way He leads us. This update will share family news as well as ministry updates.
In our family news, a few weeks ago, we made the difficult decision to allow Carrie to return home a few weeks early due to her pregnancy and health concerns. There are so many health issues here that can seriously affect a pregnancy, and so after discussing and talking about the options, we both felt and decided it was best for her to return home early. It has been difficult to serve here single for a few weeks, but given all the circumstances, we felt this was the wisest decision, and others have gone home as well during a pregnancy. I am happy that Carrie and McKenna have had some quality family time with her parents and others, as they do not get to see them very often being on the mission field. That is one of the major challenges of missionary life, being separated from friends and family. So, we thank the Lord that Carrie’s pregnancy is continuing well and that she is getting good reports. Please continue to pray for the pregnancy and the health of the baby.
In the work at Rafiki, I would appreciate prayer, as the work has had many challenges. I have mentioned before the dependency aspect here, and it really does affect ministries, and brings challenges. I have heard of similar experiences from other missionaries, so I know these challenges are not unusual. From the beginning, I have worked hard to lay a foundation of dependence on the Lord and trusting the Lord. We would covet your prayers that the Lord would send faithful people who desire the Word of God and desire to stand on their own and depend on the Lord only. This is one of the elements in indigenous church planting – that the people stand on their own. I am continuing to be faithful to teach and preach the Word of God, and trust God for the results. Please pray that those remaining would have a desire to trust the Lord only and rely on Him. God knows all of this and we would appreciate your prayers for this work. God is faithful and I trust Him each step of the way in this ministry. The Word of God has power to change lives. One of my favorite verses about the Word of God is Hebrews 4:12, which states “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Please keep this ministry in your prayers.
The annex prison is continuing well. We are now almost completed with the course “Firm Foundations – from Creation to Christ.” The men seem to be responding well to the teachings and learning much from the Word of God. The Lord has provided some faithful men who want to hear and receive the Word of God, and have open ears and hearts to receiving the truth of the Bible. This has been such a blessing. The chaplaincy of the annex prison have also been very cooperative and worked with me well, so I appreciate this so much as well. We appreciate so much each one who prays for, financially supports, or has come personally to see this ministry. Thank you for having a part in this ministry, where so many of the men feel forgotten, both by their families and society. May God bless you for your heart for missions.
I am getting ready to depart Kenya later this month, so I would appreciate your prayers for me personally, that I would get all done here that is necessary. Leaving for several months is a lot of work and there are many details to cover, so I would greatly appreciate your prayers that I would get all done that needs to be done before leaving. I, as well as the rest of the family, am looking forward to seeing you all and spending time with you.
Again, thanks so much for your prayers and sacrificial giving to missions. We could not do this work without you. May each of us give our lives in service to the Lord, wherever He leads and directs us. I will leave you with the challenging words of D.L. Moody, who said “Let God have your life – He can do more with it than you can.” Please take note of our new address in the United States. God bless you all.
Nathan and Carrie Radford
315 College Street
Youngsville, PA 16371
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd | P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
MIKE CREIGLOW.OCTOBER 2010
October 6, 2010
Dear Brethren,
A week after the trip up river to visit the work at Porto Walter, I made a quick visit to Rodrigues Alves. Our missionary, Edson Lopes and I did some more work on the construction of the new church building there. The present building is pretty big, but is not big enough for the Sunday evening crowds. Their original plan was to incorporate the old building into a larger new one. My visits there lately have been to try to convince them that they should just go ahead a build new and bigger than they had planned. Their first and biggest problem was going to be having a place to meet once they started the reconstruction. Then even when finished they would have taken up valuable Sunday school space that would have to be built eventually. Well now they already have the foundation in for a bigger building than they had planned. Also the new building will be facing the main street, whereas what they had intended to do would have put the front of the new auditorium on a side street. Now they are all excited and on their way.
Another week later Bev and I went to be with them on a Sunday morning. We had a pretty good crowd of about 70 people. I was not able to stay for the evening service, but hey have an average of a couple hundred. We held a baptism service, too. Ten were baptized.
Speaking of baptisms… We had out monthly baptism service here at First Baptist Church. This month I was the pastor selected to perform the baptism. We added 39 new members. We also had the Lord’s Supper, which was conducted by Pastor Dauro. Dauro is my son-in-law, married to my youngest daughter Crissy. This was in the morning service and we had just under 500 present.
We have had several professions of faith. We even had 3 during a Friday night prayer meeting. Most of the time we don’t have a formal invitation. When we do, it is usually in the Sunday afternoon and night services. This may sound a little strange to most of you, but the Holy Spirit brings around those who are saved.
During the last few days of September we had a group of around 60 workers go to Manaus with us. Over 30 of these were from First Baptist Church. Last October David Hatcher, Paul Hatcher, Bobby Wacaser, Milton Fielding, Hershael York and I met in Manaus to fellowship, fish and make plans. David agreed to take on the idea of a nation wide conference for independent Baptists to rally around our common doctrinal position, learn from each other, encourage one another and create a little identity. The Chapada Baptist Church (now Nova Baptist since their relocation) was getting ready to celebrate their 50th anniversary. David kicked off the celebration with a 3 day conference. Most of the conference was practical workshops. There were pastors and missionaries from all over Brazil. I don’t exactly how many states were represented, but almost all had a few workers. There were over 120 pastors and missionaries. I know that one of the workshops that I taught had almost 600 students. The expected crowd for the final service was 5000. I’m not sure, but I bet they made it! David, his fellow pastors and members of Nova Igreja Batista pulled off the best conference I have ever been to in my life. I don’t think any Baptist group in Brazil has ever had this kind of turnout for a conference. There have been evangelistic campaigns that drew people from all over and in large numbers. This conference was the most professionally done, most practical, best spirit, and (why not just go ahead and say it again) biggest conference ever in this country. Congratulations and thanks: Nova Igreja Batista.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.
In Christ, Mike Creiglow
JOHN MARK HATCHER.OCTOBER 2010
John and Judy Hatcher
October 8, 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
A week ago, we arrived back to France from Manaus, Brazil. This trip was a wonderful blessing in many different ways. The opportunity to be with the two churches of which I was a member during the years of my childhood and youth was wonderful.
I was saved during the time my parents, John and Alta Hatcher were serving the Lord in Manaus in the Tabernacle Baptist Church. Dad, had started a mission out of Tabernacle church in an outlying part of Manaus. A taxi would take us close and then we would walk through a wooded area to arrive at the little wooden building with a palm roof. The area was known as Chapada. Chapada Baptist Church was organized September 25, 1960. Having been baptized into the Tabernacle church earlier that year, I had the privilege of going to the front and signing my name on the constitution.
On September 26, 2010, Chapada Baptist Church, in their fourth building which is on a much larger property, celebrated 50 years of existence. There were 4,000 people present. Most of these were members of the church. So far this year they have had 450 baptisms. Their new building is paid in full. You may be asking yourself, “Why do we support them through Baptist Faith Missions? The answer is, “You don’t!” This church has not received outside help in over 44 years. It has had a number of pastors. David Hatcher, my younger brother and also a founding member has been its pastor for 10 years.
Chapada Baptist Church has started numerous churches and has many missions. None of these get support from the U.S.A. It is an example of the value of your investment in the service of the Lord. The church held a conference just prior to the birthday with participants from about 2 thirds of the states of Brasil. About 100 churches were represented. The purpose was to encourage outreach.
I was baptized by Francisco Santiago, one of the first disciples saved under the ministry of Joseph F. Brandon, the first missionary supported through Baptist Faith Missions. Tabernacle Baptist Church was one of several churches started by Francisco Santiago and Chapada is one of the many churches started out of Tabernacle. To God be all the glory.
Keep reaching out!
In France, we thank God for all He is doing.
His Servants in France, John and Judy Hatcher
ROGER TATE.OCTOBER 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings from East Africa.
Transitions, transitions, transitions. We are certainly in full fledged transition mode now. Let me explain why.
First, a transition in ministry. After a long three years since we left the States we are now prepped to make this transition. I have been working with the three churches and the pastors since I arrived in Kenya. We have been working mostly with them to try and bring them to a point of self-governance, self-sustenance, and independence. The first of these was fairly easy as each of the churches wanted to be self-governing. That transition happened a long time ago. The self-sustaining has been a little forced on my part and so has the independence. I have taught them what I think they needed to know to be independent and I have helped them along the way in reaching for that goal. And finally, I decided it was time for them to be independent whether they wanted to or not. They were ready and able, not just willing. I had a sit down talk for three and a half hours with all three churches on a recent Sunday morning and basically told them they could not continue to rely on the missionary to support their ministries, hold their hands, make their decisions and provide for everything they want and need. It was a hard lesson for them but one which they needed to accept. No, I didn’t just drop them. We have been working towards this point for a long time and I will be available to advise and counsel them if they wish, but the ministries are now completely in the hands of the Kenyans. I have given them their liberty and freedom to follow the Scriptures and the leading of the Holy Spirit as they see best. I pray that they will do just that instead of looking for other “sponsors”. Some in the meeting asked if they could look for new “sponsors” and I asked them why would they want to now that they are free. Unfortunately, this is the mindset in Kenya and the churches will never grow up if they continue with this mindset. Pray that the Holy Spirit would lead them to continue to maturity in their new found liberty! Thankfully, this change will also free me up to do more church planting ministries when I return to Kenya in 2011.
Second, a transition in houses. The owner of our previous house, the International Mission Board (Southern Baptist Convention), was renting that house to us for the past couple of years at a very good monthly rate. However, the IMB has decided to sell their houses that they have held in Kenya for more than half a century. They informed us that they were going to sell our house and would sell it out from underneath us even while we were in the States on furlough. This put us in a bad predicament and a lot of uncertainty. After much prayer and deliberation we decided to move to another house before heading home on furlough so that we could have a certain and fixed house to return to. The last couple of weeks has been spent mostly getting the new house fixed up to our liking and moving out from the old house. We couldn’t find a lot of boxes so the process was: Pack a little, move a little to the new house, unpack a little, take the boxes back to the old house and start over. I think we are finally moved in to the new place. We thank the Lord for providing this place for our family to live in when we return to Kenya in 2011.
Third, a transition in continents. As I write this, Julie and the kids are preparing to leave for the U.S. They will leave Kenya on October 17th, so by the time you get this letter they will already be home. They are having to come home early especially to help Emily with some very serious personal issues that she is facing right now. Missionary life for a teenager can be extremely difficult sometimes and she is in need of spiritual and emotional “filling-up”. I will be remaining in Kenya until December as originally planned in order to shut everything down that needs to be shut down for while we are away.
Please pray for our family in these many transitions, especially for my children, as transitions of this magnitude can be very stressful on them. We are all trusting that God will continue to take good care of us and rain his mercy and grace upon us at all times.
Until next month, beloved.
May God’s peace and joy be with you.
For the glory of God in East Africa,
Roger & Julie Tate (and Emily, Amy, & Josiah)
SHERIDAN STANTON.OCTOBER 2010
Dear Friends,
Greetings from the beautiful town of Huánuco, Peru, nestled in the Central Andean Mountains, 6300ft above sea level. Peruvians call Huánuco the town with the best climate in the world. Those of you that have visited with us know that it is true!
Our national missionaries are all reporting blessings from the Lord, souls saved, and the truth of God’s Word being taught. Here in Huánuco at the Calvary Baptist Mission Church we had several trust in Christ as their Lord and Savior also. I only baptized two in September because some other candidates had extenuating circumstances that prevented their being baptized; one with his leg in a cast, another traveled and one young lady’s parents would not give permission. Our Monday night Bible class gets more interesting each week. Many times I teach by playing the part of “devil’s advocate” in presenting heretical doctrinal points of view and have the pastors try and refute it with the truth. These men of God really enjoy learning this way, as it makes them dig deeper and deeper into God’s Word for understanding of why we believe the way we do. However, I must admit that at times the anxiety level runs quite high in these classes. I remember one of my college professors, Pastor Berlin Hisle, also enjoyed this method of teaching. I learned a lot sitting under his tutelage. Thank you all, for allowing me to have the joy and privilege of serving the Lord here in Peru. Our great God continues to bless in all areas of our lives and ministry.
Speaking of blessings, my wife, Anita, had surgery on her right foot on September 20th. Now this may not sound like a blessing to most of you, but for years, she has suffered from bunions, Morton’s neuromas and hammertoes, on both of her feet making it more and more difficult each year to walk and now it has become possible for her to have the necessary surgery. She should have had surgery years ago but just kept putting it off, until now. Her foot has four different surgical incisions, two screws holding the bones of her big toe together, a six-inch pin (looks like a carpenter’s finishing nail) still protrudes from her second toe about half an inch, and her foot is in a cast until October 25th. For long distances, she rides in her wheel chair but usually she can get around with her walker. Her foot is healing up nicely and she is very anxious to be able to walk again like a normal person without pain.
The next day after her surgery, while in the hospital, her dental bridge came lose. This meant an additional trip to a dentist where we discovered the bridge cannot be restored and she needs a new one. Sooooo she had two root canals done and work on the new dental bridge await us when we return to Lima the first week of November, just a few days before we repeat the entire process when her left foot will be operated on for the same problems. Therefore, my friends, the blessing is that when all this medical work is over my dear wife will have the most beautiful smile while she walks around without agony.
On October 5th Anita was able to travel back to Huánuco by plane and we are rejoicing to be home again serving our Lord and enjoying the best climate in the world! We want to thank those of you that have prayed for her during this time and say thanks for the special offerings some of you have given to help us with the extra expenses incurred in these medical procedures. Please keep praying that she will continue to heal properly. For those of you that know Anita, you know she is not used to sitting down and she is definitely not used to me cooking and waiting on her. So remember to pray for me as well, that I will not cook something that will make her sick! She is doing her best to teach me how to cook without losing patience, because I am a very slow learner! Pray for us.
Danyluz Presentacion, the young girl I wrote about in my last letter that has ovarian cancer, continues undergoing chemotherapy in Lima at this time. She will be receiving her last treatment on Friday, 15 October. She appears to have responded well to the chemotherapy and Anita and I wish to thank so many of you that gave special offerings designated for her expenses while she struggles through this trial in her life. Enough funds have come in to cover the cost of her housing expenses and many of the “extra incidentals” as well. Thank you again for your love and concern for this wonderful, young, child of God. Until next month.
In HIM by HIS grace, Sheridan and Anita Stanton
ANITA STANTON UPDATE ON HER FOOT SURGERY | 18 October
Hi, again, to all of you!
Well, today was the day to remove the 6″ pin, and my hubby/doctor/nurse, did a fine job!! It hurt only a little, but I had psyched myself up so much before starting that I felt sick. Amazing what nerves, stress and worry do to us!!! Anyway, it came out just fine. That toe had been hurting me since Saturday and I think it was telling me that it was time to remove the pin.
I was able to soak my foot in warm water and then we began the process of trying to clean the dead skin off. Since I have never had a procedure to call for a cast and dressing for a month, I was amazed at how much skin needed to be cleaned off. Anyway, it looks better, still needs more soaks and cleaning, but little by little.
We re-wrapped my foot with clean gauze and a new bandage, but I will be able to remove this in order to soak my foot. I had to reapply the cast for daily use for another week. Right now the cast is basically helping to relieve pressure on the big toe where the bone was cut and 2 screws were placed. Next Monday will be 5 weeks out of surgery and the doctor said I could begin to walk on the foot then.
From the looks of the foot now, I will need the 3 weeks to recuperate its use before having surgery on the left foot.
We plan to return to Lima around Nov. 8. I will have to spend about 3 days with the dentist before having surgery.
I was hoping to do the “turkey trot” by Thanksgiving, but looks like I will miss that this year. Hopefully I will be ready for some Christmas activity!
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and notes of encouragement.
Love, Anita
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You can now give to our General Fund by electronic check via the ‘DONATE/SUPPORT’ tab here on our website.
Some of you have asked about the capability of contributing also by credit card. We are working on making that option available to you also. But, your offering will be reduced by the amount of the transaction fee the credit card processing companies charge. Those fees will vary from one card to another, but are usually in the 3% range.
So, let’s say you give a gift of $10,000.00 to the General Fund via of your credit card, the card issuer may charge up to $300.00 to make the transaction. We would still bless God for the gift, but it may be published as something like $9,700.00 instead of $10,000.00. Just be sure we didn’t skim it.
Giving by e-check is not costing us anything because the same webguys who are hosting and maintaining our website also own the company that transacts the checks. So, they are not charging us for the service. They love the Lord and missions. Thanks, Jason and Nikki Estes at http://JREVirtualArchitect.com
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