Returning to Brazil!

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

September 5, 2017

Dear Friends,

Charlene and I super excited to be returning as active missionaries to Brazil after 1½ years of “missionary emeritus” status. We maintained constant interaction with our ministry partners in Brazil throughout the period and continued to forward all funds to their designated purposes, but now we will be returning to live and minister in the field and we are thankful to God for calling us back.

We have been praying for direction on how to be the most effective we possibly can be when we return and we feel that God is giving us some clear strategies. One of the most important lessons that we have learned, though, is that God is more interested in our staying attuned to His leading on a day by day basis than He is in our big plans. Initially, we intend to assist the churches that we established before we left, if they need help. I will almost certainly be going out with our evangelistic teams, Projeto Vida, into unreached areas to share the gospel in the public schools and parks and pray for guidance from the Lord about where to focus on new church plants.

We have several challenges in going back which present us with opportunities to see God’s hand at work. The first is that, when we left, we needed to get rid of all our home furnishings and now we’ll need to replace them. Our house in Brazil is being rented out and is under a contract until the end of November. Also, our first grandchild is due to arrive around the same time. Of course it will be hard for us to move away so shortly after his arrival, but we know the Lord will give us the strength to focus on making His name known to the lost. Thirdly, we’ll need to purchase a vehicle almost immediately upon our arrival. Your prayers for us about these challenges will be greatly appreciated.

In the meantime, if you or your pastor would be interested in us visiting with you personally before we return to Brazil, please contact us at any of the numbers above.

In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser

Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Stateside 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
Give: Click here to give.


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Preparing to Return to Kenya

Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.

August 31, 2017

Dear praying friends,

Another month has come and gone, and we are nearing the end of 2017. This year has passed so quickly, and is a reminder of how short our lives are here on earth compared to eternity. May we serve faithfully while we can, and serve God by serving others. This update will share current happenings in Kenya and our plans.

Thanks so much to each one of you who prayed for us in regards to the election earlier in the month. You never know how an election will go. The one last time passed fairly peacefully, but the one before that was followed by much unrest in the country. We felt the wisest and safest thing to do was to wait until the election was over before considering our return.

All in all, the election passed fairly peacefully, although there were small pockets of unrest in the larger cities. There were thousands of police who were deployed all over the country to help with any unrest our violence, so the country was well prepared. Even as I type this, the election winner has not officially been declared yet. The results are being challenged and an official winner is to be announced this weekend. We don’t think any major unrest will happen at this time, but we still request prayer for peace in the country and that people will accept the results without resorting to any violence. God is in control and we trust in Him. Psalm 56:3 says “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.”

We feel it is safe to return at this time and we plan to return to Kenya in mid-September, Lord willing. Please pray for us as there is still a lot to do, with packing for two years, as well as trying to remember everything that needs to get done. It can be a stressful time, but we are thankful for those who help us with all the details as we pack up and return.

Please pray for us and the transitions ahead. It is always emotional to leave our country, and familiar things to us, but we are following where God leads, trusting Him each step of the way. Lord willing, I will give a more detailed update next month. We appreciate each of you, who give sacrificially, pray for us, or assist us in any way. You are a blessing. Please note our field address for correspondence.

Serving Him,
Nathan and Carrie Radford

Nathan and Carrie Radford
Furlough Address:
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya, East Africa

For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.


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Every Disciple is a Missionary

Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”

Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”

August 31, 2017

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The news from Southern France is good. Participation in the Sunday meetings has been good. This coming Saturday, September 2, will be the first youth meeting for the new school year. It has been a great blessing to have Philip and Amanda and our grandchildren serving with us. What great missionaries they are. Our Granddaughters have been very effective in reaching their friends in the public schools where they attend. Their parents have done and continue to do a great job in encouraging the girls in their walk with Christ and have been great examples as they reach out to their neighbors, co-workers and others with whom they have formed relationships in their community.

Our passion is to make disciples and every disciple is a missionary. This is how the Gospel impacted lives in the first decades following the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Jerusalem on Pentecost. Note Luke’s inspired words, “And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (emphasis is mine) Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. (Acts 8:1-4) Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. (Acts 11:19-21)

Judy has completed the therapy following her kneecap surgery but continues to work hard at getting full normal use of her leg. We walk in the neighborhood and exercise at the YMCA in Evansville. In these two activities, we have been able to make many contacts and have had many good conversations. Judy is now meeting weekly with a lady she met who needs Christ. They are studying through the Gospel of Matthew.

Peggy is doing better. One of the blessings we have is to participate in a Bible study she has with a couple in her home. The lady trusted Christ after being in a Bible study with Peggy for over a year and a half. She has followed the Lord in baptism. The husband is very interested. Just since we have been here the study has gone through the two letters from Peter and is now in first John.

Thank you for your faithful participation in the ministry in France and the continued support as we serve here while waiting to return to France.

Rejoicing in Christ, John and Judy

Temporary Address
John and Judy Hatcher
1901 Shepherd Dr.
Evansville, IN 47715
jmhatcher[at]aol.com

Field Address
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com

Click here to donate to BFM.


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News & Reports – September 2017 [Online Edition]

The Online Edition of the September 2017 BFM News & Reports is now available at the link below. Read how God is working through the lives of our faithful missionaries and continue to pray for them. [Click here to read BFM News & Reports – September 2017]


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2017 Thanksgiving Missions Conference

64th ANNUAL THANKSGIVING MISSIONS CONFERENCE
November 13-14-15, 2017
New Hope Baptist Church | Dearborn Heights MI
Pastor Terry Adkins

“…how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.” Acts 14:27

For directions to New Hope Baptist Church or information on lodging, please contact: Pastor Terry Adkins (313)562-5579 or pastorterrynewhope@yahoo.com

PLEASE NOTE AND PLAN TO ATTEND EACH SESSION: since this is a MISSIONS CONFERENCE in the interests of the Missionaries who are supported through Baptist Faith Missions, we are making every effort to present every one of our missionaries, especially those whom you have not seen or heard in-person over the past year. They will either be present and preaching in person or we are making arrangements to stream and project a personal visit with them via Skype.

MONDAY EVENING, November 13th
5:00 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Music
6:45 pm Singing
7:15 pm Message: Pastor George Sledd, Jordan Baptist Church, Sanford FL
8:00 pm Singing
8:25 pm Message: Missionary John Mark Hatcher, Tournefeuille, FRANCE

TUESDAY MORNING, November 14th
9:15 am Music
9:30 am Singing
9:45 am Meet Your Missionary via Skype: Missionary Judson Hatcher, Sao Paulo, BRAZIL
10:15 am Meet Your Missionary via Skype: Missionary Roger Tate, Kitale, KENYA
11:00 am Break
11:15 am Message: Missionary AJ Hensley, Caraguatatuba, BRAZIL
12:00 Noon LUNCH

TUESDAY AFTERNOON, November 14th
1:30 pm BFM Advisory Meeting. Everyone is welcome. Please attend and feel free to ask any questions you might have about BFM or OUR MISSIONARIES.

TUESDAY EVENING, November 14th
5:00 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Music
7:00 pm Meet Your Missionary via Skype: Missionary Mike Creiglow, Cruzeiro do Sul, BRAZIL
7:30 pm Singing
7:45 pm Message: Missionary Bobby Wacaser, Curitiba, BRAZIL
8:30 pm Meet Your Missionary via Skype: Missionary Odali Barros, Iranduba, BRAZIL

WEDNESDAY MORNING, November 15th
9:45 am Music
10:00 am Singing
10:15 am Message: Pastor Sheridan Stanton, Berea Baptist Church, Hiddenite NC
11:00 am Singing
11:15 am Message: Pastor Mark Pyles, Grace Baptist Church of Fairborn, Fairborn OH
12:00 Noon LUNCH


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Ministries Thriving in Multiple Communities

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.

August 17, 2017

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We praise God for each of you. We pray all is well with each church and each family. We are doing great. God has blessed the work and protected us each day.

The ministries are doing well and growing. The mission in the community of Multirão is doing great and growing. We have a group of 3 couples that work there. They had never done this kind of church ministry. It is exciting to them working and the work growing. The work had lots of children and now the parents are coming! So exciting to see God at work!

The work where Kathy has a club is growing. We were praying about finding a place to buy or build. They use a family’s porch, and the space is getting small. We have an average of 50. Well last month, talking to a friend, he mentioned that his church in the USA wanted to build another church, and would I know who needed one!?  I gladly said I do know someone, my wife and I! “Well,” he said, “please send me some pictures of the work there and I’ll send them to my church.” Well they have already given us an answer. All we need to do is buy the land. We have a little house in the city near us that we are trying to sell. Pray that it will sell!

The work at the mother church is growing. And each day, more of the members are getting involved. This Saturday we are having a festival to bring people from the communities near us to visit the church. We live in an area that is like farmland. People live scattered out. Also, many people do not have transportation. Since we have a bus, we pick up people for church.

All our work requires us to drive a lot each week. Therefore, we have a need for good transportation. We drive approximately 200 miles a week just going to church services. Please pray that God will provide the finances so we can get newer transportation.

Thanks for your love, support and your prayers! God bless each of you!

Love, Odali & Kathy Barros

Odali & Kathy Barros
Caixa Postal 1
Iranduba, Amazonas 69.415.000
Brasil, S.A.
odali_kathy[at]hotmail.com
Blog

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Blessed by Group of Men from Durbin Memorial

The Hensleys have spent nearly 20 years serving in Brazil. They have established a church in Caraguatatuba and mission points throughout the city. They have also recently started a seminary to train pastors.

August 15, 2017

Friends and family,

I would like to write one letter without having to say that something has gone wrong with one of our vehicles but this month is not going to be that month. This time it is Barb’s car—it is the wheel bearings and it is running hot and leaking oil. The tropical climate could have something to do with the hot problem and the speed bumps are the culprit for the leak. Long story short, we will fix the cooling system, replace the wheel bearings, and repair the leak…just another month (old cars are old cars).

This month we have had a group from Durbin Memorial Baptist Church with Pastor Russell Zik. What a blessing these men were for us. The Indian ministry was greatly blessed by this group. They purchased food baskets for the reservation. This time, instead of putting the food in baskets, we just divided the food into stacks. This way thirty families could receive the same thing.

These Indians do crafts so sustain themselves, so they depend upon visitors to purchase their items. We did not disappoint them, everyone made purchases. This tribe, although they live near other people, they live very primitive. Some live in just simple bamboo huts, one room, with an open pit for cooking in the middle of the room. We were able to visit in two of these homes. Taking the food gave us entrance to the homes where we prayed with these families and personally gave them their food. This is quite an eye-opening experience. This always leaves everyone remembering just how truly blessed we are. This tribe serves many different gods—but over the past five years we have seen seven of them come to know the one and only true God as their personal Savior. AWESOME!!!! The chief is one of those who now knows Christ as his Savior.

Talking about the Chief, he had requested that we bring him a guitar and he specified the colors to be BLUE and YELLOW. With the help from the group from Central Baptist Church in Paris, they were able to get the guitar to this group and we took it to him. He was totally surprised when we presented this guitar to him. Now here is an amazing fact about this Chief: he is 116 years old. He is now moving around slowly and this time he had to sit in a chair while we were presenting the guitar to him, but he is still active in the tribe. He and the others around him loved the guitar. They were excited to receive the guitar as the one they had had only few strings and it could not be tuned for them to make presentations in the city.

This group was an all men group. I especially had a great time as three of this group were firemen and we had worked together for the Lexington Fire Department. We spent many late nights talking about old times.

On Sunday, these men taught all the Sunday school classes except the small children. Then on Sunday night Pastor Zik brought the message. What a blessing!

These men came to work and work they did. They finished laying the floor tiles in the upstairs and it is beautiful. They were able to do some painting also to finish some projects that we had not been able to get to. The church building is really coming alive. How AWESOME is the God we serve!

Thanks Durbin Memorial Baptist Church and especially Pastor Zik, his father Bob Zik, Ron Logan, Charlie Davis and Bob Hendriks.

As always if you are thinking about a mission trip give us a call and come on down.

You will never know just how much Barbara and I appreciate your prayers and financial support. Without you and BFM, we could not do the things that we do here in Caraguatatuba, Brazil.

In His service,
Aj and Barb

Aj and Barbara Hensley
ajcaragua[at]gmail.com
Click here to give. | Like them on Facebook.


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Amazing Demonstrations of God’s Power at Work

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

August 4, 2017

Dear Friends,

In their mission travels this past month, Projeto Vida experienced some amazing demonstrations of God’s power at work through them. One of their first stops was at a school that invited them back a year after their previous work there. Back then, there was a boy who was known as the biggest trouble-maker of the school and community who sought to disrupt the outreach efforts of Projeto Vida during their gospel skit presentations. Now, a year later, they found out that the boy has trusted in Christ and has been baptized and is growing in his relationship with the Lord. He told them that he had heard the truth of God’s love through them and that he wanted to be forgiven and become a part of God’s family. His teachers confirmed that he had indeed become a different kid since their last visit.

Another great report was from a young lady who had gotten involved in drugs and had caused much anguish and turmoil in her home. Her behavior had become so bad that her mother had gotten discouraged in her parenting and had become a drug user herself. During the gospel presentations, this girl was convicted of her sin and came forward to repent and surrender her life to Christ. She shared with the missionaries that she was very concerned for her mother’s salvation. The missionaries encouraged her to go to her mother to ask for her forgiveness and to pray for her to trust Christ like she had just done. I pray that this lady will also come to Christ.

Zoe, our American teen missionary, has arrived in Brazil and hit the ground running. She was super excited because shortly after her arrival there was a major evangelistic event in Curitiba, her field base, where she participated in street corner evangelism with the Projeto Vida teams. She is also getting the exciting chance to learn how to do fire-breathing and fire-eating feats in order to draw crowds to hear the gospel in public parks and squares. Zoe will be learning Portuguese quickly now that she is totally immersed in Brazilian culture and is obligated to hear and speak the language every day. Pray that, soon, Zoe will have the privilege of winning her first convert to Christ through her own use of Portuguese rather than speaking through an interpreter.

Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and support.

In Christ’s love,
Bobby Wacaser

Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Stateside 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
Give: Click here to give.


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