BFM Spring Conference 2016

Spring Conference 2016

56th ANNUAL SPRING MISSIONS CONFERENCE
in the interests of BAPTIST FAITH MISSIONS
April 25, 26, 27  |  2016
Hosted by THOMPSON ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
320 Thompson Road  |  Lexington KY 40508
Dave Parks, Pastor-Teacher  |  859.223.8374  |  daveparks@twc.com 

CONFERENCE THEME:
“Every disciple…a disciple-maker!”
Matthew 28.19

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Monday Evening
5:00 – 6:00  Supper
7:00   Praise
7:20   Message: Hershael York, Pastor, Buck Run Baptist Church, Frankfort KY
8:00   Praise
8:20   Message: Todd Burus, Executive Pastor, Thompson Road Baptist Church, Lexington KY

Tuesday Morning
9:30   Praise
9:45   Message: Judson Hatcher, Missionary to Brazil supported through BFM
10:25 Break
10:35 Message: Philip Dubarry, Associate Pastor, Addyston Baptist Church, Addyston OH
11:00 General Seminar / Workshop
12:00 Lunch
1:30   OPEN FORUM FOR Q & A / SUGGESTIONS AND ADVICE
5:00 – 6:00  Supper

Tuesday Evening
7:00   Praise
7:20   Message: Aaron Karr, Pastor for Missions, Calvary Baptist Church, Hurricane WV
8:00   Praise
8:20   Message: Kevin Ridder, Pastor, Bible Baptist Church, North Vernon IN

Wednesday Morning
9:30   Praise
9:40   Message: Michael Jackman, St Clair Shores MI
10:20 Praise
10:30 Message:  Bobby Wacaser, Missionary to Brazil supported through BFM
11:10 Break
11:20 Message:  Steve Hall, Hope Baptist Church, Fairfield OH
12:00           Lunch
5:00-6:00     Supper

Wednesday Evening
7:00   Praise
7:30   Message: Paul Hatcher, Missionary to Brazil supported through BFM         


TRAVEL DIRECTIONS
GPS ADDRESS:  320 THOMPSON ROAD, LEXINGTON KY 40508

FROM SOUTH ON I-75: Get off at Exit 104 (Athens-Boonesborough). Turn west toward town. You will be on Athens-Boonesborough Road / Richmond Road Extension. As you approach Lexington, the road will become Richmond Road around Jacobson Park. Continue straight into Lexington. Richmond Road will become Main Street. You will pass the Rupp Arena / Lexington Convention Center on your left. Turn left at the next traffic light. This is Jefferson Street. Turn right in the middle of the overpass bridge onto Manchester. About one mile down Manchester, turn right on Thompson Road and come to the top of the hill.

FROM NORTH ON I-75 OR EAST / WEST ON I-64: I-75 and I-64 merge for a few miles on the north/northeast side of Lexington. Come to Exit 115 on 64/75. This is Newtown Pike (State Route 922). Turn south toward Lexington. Follow Newtown Pike until you come to Main Street. Go straight across Main Street onto Oliver Lewis Way.  Turn right at the next traffic light onto Manchester / Old Frankfort Pike. Follow Manchester about one mile. Turn right on Thompson Road and come to the top of the hill.


CHILDREN’S MISSIONS CONFERENCE SESSIONS

KenyaMapEvery year we conduct sessions for the children [age 4 through grade 5] who attend our Conference services.  My wife, Debbie, conducts these learning and activity sessions.  Each year, we focus on a particular nation of the world, highlighting its culture and customs along with their need for the Gospel and opportunities to take the Gospel to those peoples.  Our Children’s Center is always set up with crafts and activities which engage the children’s attention and interests in the missions lessons.  This year’s Missionary focus will be on KENYA.


—All the Details—

Download the Full Program: PDF | Word doc
Schedule
Conference Theme
Conference Offering
Travel Directions
Accommodations Info
Children’s Sessions
Conference Graphic
Conference Recaps
All Spring Conference Posts


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The Challenge of Missions (Part 5) by John A. Hatcher

THE CHALLENGE OF MISSIONS
John A. Hatcher
Chapter 5
[click here for previous chapters]

MISSIONS IS ABOUT GOD’S SON

Missions is about the position and the eternal work of the Son of God. Although the persons of the Trinity have just been discussed, it is necessary to speak more about the work of the Son. He has preeminence in all of God’s plans and purposes. In mission work, He must occupy the very same position of ­preeminence. God has determined that Jesus shall have preeminence in all things. A study of the first chapter of Paul’s letter ­to the Colossians will be of great benefit.

Missions is proclaiming to the world the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the eternal benefits offered to all who will receive His pardon and submit to His Lordship. “For by Him were created all things, that are in Heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church: “who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.” Col. 1: 16-18. Forsaking family and friends, sacrificing all material ambitions, doing good to men, and even dying signify nothing unless Christ is exalted.

Many means and motives have been used to promote mission service and stewardship: the illiterate, the sick, the en­slaved of vices, the hungry, the dirty, and the dying. All these can successfully motivate service and giving without the mention or even belief in Jesus Christ. Real missions must follow the purpose of the Father and the Holy Spirit—­to exalt the Son.

Real missions must follow the purpose of the Father & the Holy Spirit--to exalt the Son. (1)

Jesus must be exalted for the Father has so determined. Paul wrote that the Christian’s growth: his wisdom and spiritual understanding, his fruitfulness, his strength for patience and longsuffering, his thanksgiving to the Father, his inheritance with the saints, and his deliverance from the powers of darkness are benefits received from the Son. Col 1:9-13

Jesus must be exalted for He is the image of the invisible God. He is the firstborn of every creature; He has the first place in every aspect of God’s work and dominion. All things were created by Him and for Him. He is the final and perfect revelation of God—He has first and final place in revelation.

He is the first to have overcome sin and the power of Satan. He is the first to have raised from among the dead. He is the first to come from and return to heaven. He is the first one born of and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He is the Sustainer of all things. He alone has the power and ability to stand between God and man. He is the person and message of reconciliation—the daysman of whom Job (Job 9:33) had not heard, Who puts His hand on God and on man—reconciling the sinner to the Holy God. What Grace! What a message!  What a privilege men have to carry it to the ends of the earth!  That is what missions is about!

In His exaltation Jesus is the head of the body, the church (generic). Idolatrous men carry their adored images and idols through the streets of many lands. They carry them on their shoulders to exalt, to praise, and to manifest their adoration, though their gods are dumb and dead. The churches of Jesus Christ have the privilege to exalt Him. He has redeemed them by His Blood.  They are the heirs of His Kingdom. The church must carry the message of Jesus Christ on its shoulders to the ends of the earth. The processions of the wicked praise their idols; the church must walk in continual procession proclaiming the praises of Jesus. God is glorified in the church through the (Eph. 3:3) ages by the exaltation of Jesus Christ. God’s Son is what missions is about.

J.A. Hatcher
[Click here to view all “The Challenge of Missions” posts by John A. Hatcher]

Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence. They now reside in Florida where they continue to share the Gospel with everyone they meet.

 

 

John A. and Alta Hatcher

15905 Mercott Court
Clermont FL 34714
229-529-8497
jhatcher1925[at]gmail.com

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Mission Sheets: March 2016 [PDF version]

Get your advanced PDF copy of the March 2016 Mission Sheets at the link below!
BFM Mission Sheets – March 2016

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Missionary Update: AJ & Barbara Hensley in Brazil [March 2016]

The Hensleys have spent nearly 20 years serving in Brazil. They run a vocational school and orphanage in Caraguatatuba and have also established a church and mission points throughout the city.

March 11, 2016

Dear friends and family,
We are back in Brasil and enduring the heat. My health is showing sign of improvement each day. We will be here in Brasil until the middle of August and then return to the States for radiation for 30 days. Continue to pray for my recovery and toleration of the treatments. God is in control and He is AWESOME!!!

I have had more time than usual to think recently and it is hard to believe that this year Barbara and I will complete 20 years on the mission field. We came after my retirement from the Lexington Fire Department. It is unbelievable what you can accomplish in retirement. Actually it is AWESOME! I truly feel that I am one of the most blessed men I know, to have been able to have served on the Fire Department for 23 years, take an early retirement and then to have served the Lord in Brasil for 20 more years as a Baptist Faith Missionary. My work for the Fire Department was to rescue lives from fire and my work for the Lord, though it is similar, is many times more important. Here in Brasil we preach the Word and save lives from a burning Hell. AWESOME is not a big enough word.

What a God thing—a true calling from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is hard to express how exciting it is and has been to be here in Brasil—seeing lives transformed and works established and so much more done for the Lord.

Now I want to tell you about some hard dirty work. Sunday a week ago our Church building was flooded. We had a “chicken drowned” and one of our downspouts broke loose at the gutter connections (this is inside of the Church building upstairs)—and while the storm raged, the winds came, and the rain came down. This was at the very ending of the church service and we noticed that the ceiling was beginning to drip right where we had one of our new speakers. This was due to the fact that we have not had the funds to stucco the outside wall, so rain penetrated the wall and began to flood the downstairs. Some of the ceiling was damaged and the sanctuary got a good dousing of water. While this was happening, some thought it wise to check the upstairs because we have not put all the windows in and they thought that some water might have entered there. But to their surprise, it was not just a little water but it was past ankle height because of the gutter letting all the water from the roof enter the top story. So everyone jumped in to help and there was lots of water pushed to the stairs and down to the first floor and then out the door—all the while some of the men were taking a bath under the downspout trying to get it back into its place to take the water out of the building instead of inside of the building. Through it all God was AWESOME!!! The only damage was to the one speaker and the dropped ceiling on one side of the room. It could have been so much more. One positive thought: we did not have to clean the church that week. (lol)

I would like to explain to you the unfinished wall outside of the church. We can only build and repair as our finances permit. So this is a BIG prayer request: “money to finish the outside of our building”. We only need about $2,500.00 to 3,000.00 to finish it. We have had an unusually long and continuous rainy season. It is not so bad as long as it doesn’t rain and have strong winds at the same time. When this happens we have to live at the church. But what is life without a few challenges?

We are looking forward to the Seminary next month. We will be completing the 4th semester and looking forward to a graduation in the coming months. Continue to pray for the students and the Churches they represent.

Because of my health we thought it time to call our Brazilian pastor. The church voted and we called Walmir Quaresma. He and his family will be assuming the pastorate on the 13th of March. Barbara and Jenny Thompson went and worked 4 days packing their house and then when the move got here, PJ and Jenny were a great help in the getting it off the truck. Thanks PJ and Jenny for your help with this and many other works here in Caragua. This couple has been here helping us for 3 months. We have an apartment just for these kind of missionaries. You too could do this kind of missionary work here with us. Pray and come on down. Let us know if you would like to visit the work here in Caraguatatuba.

Your bed is made and waiting for you. Come on down!!!

In His service,
Aj and Barbara

Aj and Barbara Hensley
ajcaragua[at]gmail.com
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Missionary Update: Mike & Beverly Creiglow in Brazil [March 2016]

Mike and Beverly Creiglow have served the Lord in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil together since 1971. In addition to pastoring First Baptist of Cruzeiro do Sul, Mike builds his own boats and frequently travels up and down rivers to share the Gospel with those who have never heard.

March 9, 2016

Dear Brethren,

Have you ever heard of saints Cosmas and Damian? Probably not, but here in Brazil they are very important. The twins were, according to tradition, born in Arabia in the 3rd century, but later lived and worked in Syria. They were doctors. Their most famous miracle was to transplant a leg. Again this is all from Roman Catholic tradition. They were martyred during the Diocletian persecution. Today they are the patron saints of doctors and nurses.

In Brazil, however, the veneration goes well beyond the usual. They have also been absorbed by the main spiritist groups, such as Candomblé, and are the protectors of children–mainly twins. The oldest standing church building in Brazil is dedicated to them, built in 1535.

One more story about them was that they never took money for their services. One day though a lady that had been healed by one of the brothers made 3 cakes for him. The other brother found out about it and was furious. He said he would never be buried with his brother. When they were finally killed, on the same day, cooler heads prevailed and they were buried side by side. The idea was that they were twins, had worked and died together and should not be separated even in the grave.

A few days ago I was visiting some of our works on the upper Juruá River. I spent a week 300 miles upriver, across the border in Peru. Our missionary in Tipisca, Peru is José Maia and family. There are 4 Indian tribes in the region. We are trying to preach the gospel to all 4. So far we have made some good progress among 2 of the tribes – the Ashaninka and the Kaxinauá. One of the first converts among the Kaxinauá is a 20 year-old girl named Damiana.

Here is Damiana’s story. She trusted Christ during one of José Maia’s visits to her village on the Breu River. The Breu is a tributary of the Juruá River and is also the border between Brazil and Peru. She later came to live with our missionaries. Here are a couple of impressive traits of this young woman. Although she is 20 years old, she is still single. Most Indian girls her age are already married and have 10 kids. Then, even more impressive: she speaks Spanish, Portuguese and, of course, Kaxinauá. Damiana is a twin. Her sister’s name is Cosma.

The twins: Damiana and Cosma

The twins: Damiana and Cosma

That is no mere coincidence, but has its own backdrop. Why would Kaxinauá twins be named Cosma and Damiana? Their dad was a little white boy who had been taken in by the Indians. He grew up in the tribe, but stayed there and married one of the women. Besides Cosma and Damiana, the couple has a bunch of other kids. Some of the boys even have beards! Beyond the racial mix there is also a cultural and religious mix in the tribe.

One such crossover is a popular myth that sprang from the Saint Cosmas and Damian story. Many people along the rivers here believe that if twins are born they must be named either Cosme e Damião (if they are boys) or Cosma and Damiana (in case of girls). Why? If you don’t name them with the saint names one of the twins will drown and thus the twins will be separated. So now 2 Indian girls are named Cosma and Damiana. The latter is now saved and the other is reading her Bible day and night. We are praying that she will trust Christ soon along with all of her tribe.

Damiana's baptism in Tipisca, Peru

Damiana’s baptism in Tipisca, Peru

Recently José Maia took her back to the tribe for a visit. He asked her if she would have the courage to translate a very aggressive message to the tribe. She said that she could talk directly to the children and women, but wasn’t sure about the men. José Maia wanted to go ahead and tell them that the only God is Jesus Christ and that the jiboia (boa constrictor) is not god. He started preaching and she stepped up and started translating no matter what the cost. Everyone listened carefully and are still listening. Many of them came out to Tipisca while I was there and were present at Damiana’s baptism service. Pray that all will trust Christ. The door is now wide open to this tribe. Hopefully Cosma will receive Jesus next and the twins will be truly inseparable.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.

In Christ,
Mike Creiglow

Mike and Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil 69980
mdcreig [at] hotmail.com

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Missionary Update: The Wacasers in Brazil [March 2016]

Bobby, Charlene, Jessie, and Brennen Wacaser have served the Lord as church planters in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, since 1985.

March 5, 2016

Dear Friends,

It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord provides opportunities to make Him known to others on a personal basis. I’m still not great at it, but I am learning to look around me as I live life day by day to see where God is opening doors for me to share His love. This week’s opportunity came in what seemed on the surface to be a mistake on my part. We have been living in our neighborhood for several months and early on, we met a Christian family who lives a few houses down. They have several teenaged blond haired boys. As I was coming home and was several blocks away I saw a blond teenaged boy walking down the street toward our home. I assumed that he was one of our neighbor’s kids, so I stopped to offer him a ride the rest of the way home. As I began talking with him I realized that he was not their son, so I apologized for my mistake and started to drive away. He called out to stop me and asked if I really would give him a ride since he was still quite a way from his home. When I told him that I would he got into my car. His name is Cody. On the way to Cody’s house I found out that he had been suspended from school for what, he said, was a false accusation of vandalism; putting glue in the teacher’s seat. I knew I only had a few minutes with Cody, so I used his suspension, whether his fault or not, to begin sharing how the Lord had found me in my youth, when I was a vandal (and worse) with the love and forgiveness that only Jesus can give. I told him that God loved us, and despite our sins, truly wants to have an intimate relationship with Him. I didn’t presume him to be guilty of vandalism, but I did want to share with him that the Lord sent His Son Jesus to save us from all sin if we will just believe and surrender to Him as Lord. Our ride was short, but I continue to pray that God will use the message I shared with Cody to plant a seed which will eventually bear fruit to the glory of God in his salvation.

Gratefully, my dad still doesn’t have any pain. God continues to answer the prayers of many to bless both him and us, his kids. We can see that he becomes feebler as each week passes. He is sleeping approximately 22 hours per day and even in his hours awake he is often confused. Charlene and I will be leaving to go to Brazil for 2 weeks starting tomorrow and we are hoping that he can endure until we return. Please pray for him about this, if it can please the Lord.

As I mentioned, Charlene and I will be leaving tomorrow to go back to Brazil for two weeks. We will serve as hosts and translators for a group of 40 youth from Brandon, Florida. Our outreach teams, Projeto Vida, are getting geared up to receive and assist us in getting the gospel to several public schools during Spring Break. We expect to be in about 8 public schools during in one week’s time. Please pray that the Lord will open the hearts of many to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior and that He will also protect the group from spiritual and physical harm.

I’m looking forward to our next letter when I expect to report the results of this trip and of the many conversions to Christ that we hope to see from these efforts.

In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser

Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Furlough Address:
3912 Casaba Loop
Valrico, FL 33596

Field Address:
Rua Laudelino Ferreira Lopes, 279-1
Sobrado 1, Bairro Novo Mundo
81050-310 Curitiba, PR Brasil
Phone: (813) 481-7007
Cell Phone: (813) 727-6405
Email: bobbymichael_1@hotmail.com
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Missionary Update: Odali & Kathy Barros in Brazil [March 2016]

Odali and Kathy Barros served the Lord in Sao Paulo, Brazil together from 1987-2013. In late 2013, they transitioned to Manaus in Northern Brazil to start sharing the Gospel and planting churches in villages along the river.

March 4, 2016

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We pray that all of you have had a great start to this year of 2016. We are all doing well and rejoicing in what God is doing in the ministry here. We had camp for the first time. We had a good group that came and stayed three days. Others who had to work came different times during the camp. We made it a family camp this time to help everyone get acquainted and just have fellowship. Every one enjoyed it so much we are already planning another one.

03 March 2016 OKB 1 There are several small communities close to the church where I pastor. Since they are so close we have started a bus route to bring them to church. We started this month. We thank God and Paul Hatcher for giving us the buses to use. There are many people around the area that do not have transportation. We have a group that does visitation on Saturday afternoon. Pray that those who come will trust the Lord as Savior and for safety as they are brought to church.

We are also training some of our youth to help in the Sunday School and the different kids clubs we have in the different communities.  Also I am sending different men that have shown an interest in preaching and helping with the mission points. A very interesting thing has happened here in our ministry that Kathy and I have not experience anywhere else. Most of the time and in most churches the women complain that the men don’t want to help. We have the opposite here. The young men as well as the married men all help. Wow!

03 March 2016 OKB 2We thank each one of you who faithfully pray and support our ministry. May God bless each of you. Your love, prayers, and support are important to us. We are thankful. Please continue to pray for those that work with us here and for those being saved—and that God would keep guiding us as we reach out to those around us.

Love,
Odali & Kathy

Odali & Kathy Barros
Caixa Postal 1
Iranduba, Amazonas 69.415.000
Brasil, S.A.
odali_kathy[at]hotmail.com
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Missionary Update: Philip & Amanda Hatcher for John Mark & Judy in France [March 2016]

Philip, Amanda, and their four daughters.

Philip and Amanda Hatcher for
John and Judy Hatcher

March 1, 2016

Hello from Plaisance-du-Touch!

As John and Judy are currently in Florida with John’s parents, we’re taking the opportunity to share with you where we see God working. As a family with 4 girls in grades 5 through 9, much of our activity is centered around young people.

We continue to be encouraged by the level of enthusiasm of the teenagers who come to our monthly youth evenings (attached picture). We usually have somewhere between 12-15 kids and the majority of them come from unchurched families. Their active participation during the Bible study shows a real hunger for the truth. Please pray with us for the salvation of these friends and classmates of our daughters.

Amanda has been leading a Bible study for college-aged girls from our church. Since November, they have already finished the book of James and are into 1 Peter. We’re very excited to see their interest and commitment to studying the Bible during this very busy time in their lives.

Teenagers at the monthly youth meeting

Teenagers at the monthly youth meeting

Besides these regularly scheduled ministries, we also have numerous unscheduled opportunities to touch the lives of the families around us. Amanda’s piano students come and go every week. We often have extra kids in our home during the lunch break from school, (which is 2 hours and 15 minutes!) and a young neighbor surprised her mother when she started praying at meals. Hosting study sessions for school projects is a great way to build bridges with middle-schoolers. God has even used our dog and a sprained ankle to deepen our relationship with the family who lives behind us.

This is our daily prayer – that we may live such good lives among our neighbors and friends, that they may see our good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

Encouraged in France,
Philip and Amanda,
Abigail, Nathalie, Camille and Emily

—-
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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