Pray for the McGarys
We sadly report that Ross McGary went to be with the Lord Monday, December 2. He had suffered a massive stroke a few days ago, from which he never recovered here. Ross is son-in-law to John and Alta Hatcher. His wife, Lynn, went to be with the Lord in 2009. Ross is also brother to Wanda Hatcher. Pray for their children, and for all of the family members during this time of their need of the Grace of God.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27
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Pray for the Archers
GLENN ARCHER
Bobby Creiglow and Dave Parks visited with Glenn Archer on Monday, December 2. We so much enjoyed our time together. We re-visited many of our past fellowship experiences together. We rejoiced in the promises of God’s Grace, the Hope of the Gospel, the Glory of the Presence of God [both here and now and forever], and sang songs together. Brother Glenn is very weak from the progressing effects of his Pulmonary Fibrosis, which is both incurable and irreversible. He is on maximum-level oxygen-assist 24/7. The only way he can breathe with any degree of comfort now is laid back in a recliner with his feet elevated. Even if he tries to sit upright, he has to gasp and blow for breath. Any movement, activity, or exercise exhausts his supply of oxygen. He has to be wheeled in a wheelchair from one room and location to another in their apartment. He got up to go to worship this past Sunday morning, and couldn’t make it even to the door to step out to the car which Judy always pulls up for him right outside their door. I know you are praying for him – and also for Judy – and that you will continue to do so. You may correspond with them via email – but Glenn’s response to you will depend upon his daily strength. glennarcher0[at]gmail.com
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
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Missionary Update: The Radfords on Furlough from Kenya [December 2013]
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.
December 2, 2013
Dear praying friends,
It is now the end of 2013, and 2014 is quickly approaching. It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. It seems that it was just days ago that we were serving in Kitale, and the time has passed so fast. How we need to serve God with the opportunities that He gives us, before the opportunities pass us by. John 9:4 gives us this challenge: “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” May we serve God while it is still day and He gives us the opportunities.
We wish each of you a great holiday season. May we not forget the true reason for the Christmas holiday, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is easy to get wrapped up into many other things during this time of year, but may we remember His birth and celebrate it this season.
I am happy to report that our final need, the need for housing, has been supplied. We thank each of you who have prayed for us, offered to assist, or tried to help in any way that you could. We greatly appreciate it. We trusted the Lord to provide, and He is so faithful. Psalm 89:8 states “O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto Thee? or to Thy faithfulness round about Thee?” What a faithful God we serve. Now we ask you to pray for us in this upcoming furlough time of traveling, reporting to churches, and trusting the Lord. It will be challenging, as my wife is involved with homeschooling, but we trust in Him at all times.
We are thankful again to each of you so much for all that you do for us. In these times of economic challenges, we know that you give sacrificially to the Lord’s work in Kenya. We cannot say thank you enough. To those who pray for us faithfully, we greatly covet your prayers and we cannot say thank you enough. To those who have a heart for missions and His work in Africa, we cannot say thank you enough. You are all such a blessing and we thank the Lord for you. If any of you would like to schedule a time to come to your church to present the ministries in Kenya, I can be reached at: naterad[at]yahoo.com. I would love to talk with you if you would be interested.
Lord willing, we will be in the States until the beginning of June.
Have a great Christmas holiday with friends and family and also a great 2014.
May we serve Him faithfully until He comes. God bless you all.
Serving in Kitale,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
315 College Street
Youngsville, PA 16371
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Missionary Update: The Tates on Furlough from Kenya [December 2013]
The Tate Family has served the Lord in Kitale, Kenya since January 2008. Their main ministry is indigenous church planting.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The season in which we celebrate the birth of our Lord is now upon us. Lights are being displayed on houses. Festive music plays on radio stations and in all the stores. Black Friday money has already been spent. Church choirs prepare for cantatas while children are preparing their plays and memorizing their lines, all of which will revolve around the baby Jesus. Holiday food will be consumed in mass amounts: Turkey, ham, cookies, fruitcake, punch, dressing, sweet breads, etc. It is a great time to be in the United States. We always look forward to spending Christmastime in America if possible. I love the joy of the season.
Christmastime in Kenya is much different. Not as much joy. Holiday food consists of everyday fare like ugali (corn meal) and sukumawiki (cooked greens) or for the more fortunate, an anemic chicken. I have yet to see a children’s play. There is no such thing as Black Friday. Lights are non-existent and festive music rare. All of these things are simply not part of the Kenyan culture in Kitale. And yet Christians in Kenya are able to celebrate the exact same thing that Christians in America celebrate, namely, the coming of the Messiah, the coming of the Savior, the coming of the King.
As I progress through this holiday season I want to keep in mind what we share in celebration with the churches in Kenya and the churches where other BFM missionaries are found in Peru, France and Brazil, and the churches all around the world. That common thread through them all is the entrance of our Savior and our King into this world.
In furlough news, our travels have taken us to numerous states. We have reported on our Kenyan work in:
Ohio: Emmanuel Baptist in Bellbrook (Pastor Darrell Messer), Cornerstone Baptist in Cincinnati (Pastor Jonathan Gordon), Covenant Baptist in Dayton (Pastor Kelvin Benton), Union Baptist in Union (Pastor Bruce Winner)
West Virginia: Calvary in Hurricane (Pastor Jeff Hurst), Mt. Calvary in Charleston (Pastor Jesse Waggoner)
Kentucky: Emmanuel Baptist in Salyersville (Pastor Mark Campbell), Emmanuel Baptist in Oldtown (Pastor John Lybrook)
Michigan: Grace Baptist in Holly (Pastor Bob Hopkins), Lake Road Baptist in Clio (Pastor Doug Armstrong), New Hope Baptist in Dearborn (Pastor Terry Atkins)
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for loving us. Thank you for your churches that you have established in America, in Kenya, in Peru, France and Brazil, and all around the world. Thank you that they continue to proclaim your truth and your name on earth. Thank you for empowering them with your Holy Spirit to accomplish your purpose of spreading your kingdom to the ends of the earth. I pray that you would strengthen your churches that are called by your name. I pray that they would be kingdom minded. I pray that they would shine your light and your love to this lost world. I ask that they would stand firm on the truth in your word. I pray that through your churches you would receive honor and glory and praise. Amen.
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)
rojuta[at]gmail.com
Visit their blog!
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Missionary Update: Mike & Beverly Creiglow in Brazil [December 2013]
Mike and Beverly Creiglow have served the Lord in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil together for 40 years. 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.
December 2, 2013
Dear Brethren,
The first higher waters of the new rainy season have arrived. The river came up a little in early November. Hudson, Manuel and I made a visit to our work at Porto Walter. This trip had been planned a couple of months in advance, but we were not sure which boat we would go in. The Lord sent enough water for me to go in my bigger boat, one with a top on it to keep us out of the sun and rain. It was smooth sailing with no sudden encounters with stumps or sandbars.
The building was packed for all 4 services. Hudson took the boat on up river for a couple of days to visit 3 other preaching points. There were 2 professions of faith at Novo Horizonte. Meanwhile, back at Porto Walter we had 4 more saved. We also had the biggest baptism service in the history of the work there. I baptized 26 on Sunday morning. Our missionaries there are Alexandre and Rejane. They are doing a great job.
Mike Creiglow baptized 26 people at Porto Walter, the biggest baptismal service in the history of the work there.
Also, in November I visited 2 of our chapels here in town. The first visit was to Cruzeirinho. This is our work on the west side of town. They are still in their wooden building, but are to start a new brick building early next year. The other visit was to Avenida São Paulo. This is on the north side of town. They, too, are doing very well. Right now they are putting in the ceiling and soon will be putting AC in the main auditorium.
Since we are packed out on Sunday night at First Baptist Church we decided to let the chapels start having Sunday evening services. We have still had mostly capacity crowds on Sunday night. It has now been 2 months that we did this change. So far we have had just 2 services with a few empty seats in the balcony of the home church. I have gotten so used to seeing the building completely full on Sunday night over the past 20 years that this new phase seems strange and a little scary to me. Gotta fill those seats!
We have works on the North, South, East and West sides of town. Not too long ago we added 2 more chapels. One is on the other side of the Juruá River and the other on the Northeast side of town in a neighborhood called Centrinho. Both of these already have property. Miritizal, across river, has already started their building. Foundation and slab are finished.
Bro. Creiglow helped build the first truss for the church at Guajará that is currently bursting at the seams in their old building.
Bev and I went to visit the congregation at Campinas. Luiz Alberto and Alcinete take care of this work. They have had some opposition from within over the past couple of months, which I have tried to help them with. We have met a number of times to walk them through the problems. Seems to be under control. One of the original members from when the work was first started is feeling threatened now that the work is finally taking off. They have outgrown their wooden building and will be starting a big brick building soon. There were over 200 present for the Sunday night service. They had almost that many in the morning.
Last week I visited the work at Guajará 5 times. Now that there is a road there I have been able to go just to work during the day. I have been helping them with the next stage of their new building. They are bursting at the seams in their old building. This week I built the first truss for them. Their carpenter will take over from here.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.
In Christ,
Mike and Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil 69980
mdcreig [at] hotmail.com
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FaithWORKS Report [November 2013]
PRAY AND PRAISE in this issue…
- ODALI AND KATHY BARROS – PRAISE GOD for the people God continues to save in the church in Garca and for the smooth transition of leadership there. PRAISE GOD for the opportunities the Lord has given them to minister to Haitans who are working in the vicinity and for providing a French interpreter for them to witness to them. PRAY that the Lord will continue to give them guidance and provision for their transition into their new ministry.
- HAROLD BRATCHER – PRAISE GOD for providing them with a new home in Lexington KY where they are now living. PRAY that the Lord will continue to give him joy and a fruitful ministry in this season of his life. NOTE his new address on his newsletter.
- JOHN AND ALTA HATCHER – PRAISE GOD for the moving tribute Brother John gives to his dear wife, Alta – and all the missionary-wives. PRAISE GOD for them…and for the missionary children and families they have given to the Lord and His Kingdom.
- JOHN AND JUDY HATCHER – PRAISE GOD for the numbers of French people the Lord has given them to witness to – and saved. PRAISE GOD for the testimony of the sister the Lord has brought to them from another city and PRAISE GOD for His marvelous Providences that direct our paths and steps through life. PRAY for the family of the troubled believer who took her own life.
- JUDSON AND RAQUEL HATCHER – PRAISE GOD for the effective services and outreaches of Active Baptist Church. PRAY that God will give them wisdom and direction in their need to relocate their worship and ministry location. PRAY that God will give them hope, peace, and joy in their family’s sorrows they have suffered.
- NATHAN AND CARRIE RADFORD – PRAY that God will preserve and maintain the churches and outreach ministries in Kenya during their absence. PRAY that God will provide them with housing while on furlough. Read their newsletter for the specifics of their needs. PRAY that the Lord will give them wisdom and strength for their travels visiting with family and churches.
- SHERIDAN AND ANITA STANTON – PRAISE GOD for the visitors they have been receiving from the States. PRAY that God will provide their need for finances to complete the construction for the new Calvary Baptist Mission.
- ROGER AND JULIE TATE – PRAY that God will give them wisdom, patience, encouragement, and strength for all the challenges they will be facing and adjustments they will making during their furlough time here in the States.
- BOBBY AND CHARLENE WACASER – PRAISE GOD for the growth of the leaders God is raising up under their ministry. PRAISE GOD for delivering them from many adversities. PRAY for the upcoming ministries and for Bobby’s complete healing from his recent surgery.
THIS MONTH’S UPDATED REPORT…
WE CANNOT OVER-EMPHASIZE OUR MISSIONARIES’ NEEDS FOR BOTH INCREASED MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS – AND A VERY GENEROUS THANKSGIVING OFFERING!
Most of you are aware that the way your missionaries’ support offerings are administered through Baptist Faith Missions is that they are not required to spend months or even years doing deputation work and raising their own support funds. When a sending church asks Baptist Faith Missions to help them support their missionary – when the missionary is approved for support – Baptist Faith Missions makes certain financial commitments to them to supply their living and ministry needs – always with the understanding that we will disburse those commitments ‘as the Lord supplies’ the necessary funds.
All of those commitments are supplied from the GENERAL FUND. If the offerings are given to the General Fund, then we disburse those commitments to the missionaries. If the offerings are not given to the General Fund, then we don’t…we can’t…disburse what we do not receive.
When we don’t receive in General Fund offerings what we have committed to give the missionaries, then we reduce the amounts of those commitments by the same amounts we have not received. It is really that simple…and that painful!
I am writing now just after making the missionaries’ November support disbursements. We incurred a significant deficit in our General Fund offerings for November. So, what I had to do was proportionately divide up the deficit in funds not received [$4076.15] and reduce each missionary’s monthly support deposit by that amount. [Actually, the amount of the General Fund deficit from October’s offerings was $7475.79 – but we supplied $3399.64 from carried-over funds given for our Founders Day offerings back in June-July.]
Just ask any of our missionaries
how seriously these reductions impact them and their ministries –
and they can tell you!
We are asking each Giving Friend who loves and supports our missionaries to ask the Lord: “How much can I increase my monthly offerings to the GENERAL FUND?” If you are not giving to the GENERAL FUND, please know that the best way you can be sure your missionaries’ needs are being fully supplied is by giving generously, regularly, and faithfully to the GENERAL FUND. Otherwise, we will have to reduce the commitments we have made to them by the same amount we do not receive.
We heartily invite you to join us for the 59th Annual Thanksgiving Missions Conference in the interests of BAPTIST FAITH MISSIONS.
November 25-27, 2013
New Hope Baptist Church
Dearborn Heights, MI
Pastor Terry Adkins
Conference Theme: “Redeemed How I Love to Proclaim It” – Psalm 107:2-3
A full post with details can be found here.
For directions to New Hope Baptist Church and/or information on lodging please contact:
Pastor Terry Adkins | (313) 562-5579 | pastorterrynewhope[at]yahoo.com
THANKSGIVING OFFERING
Please be making your plans to give as generously as the LORD enables you to our upcoming Thanksgiving Offering. We encourage EVERY friend of our missionaries to be a GIVING FRIEND!
Pastors, will you be willing to announce and promote the Thanksgiving Offering in your church – and encourage your people to give to it? Our missionaries’ needs continue to be great and the Thanksgiving Offering is essential to providing those financial commitments we have made to them.
We continue to struggle every month just to maintain the commitments we have made to our missionaries – but we want to do so much more than just MAINTAIN. We want to INCREASE and ADD TO the provisions of their needs.
And, remember – you can give your Thanksgiving Offering either through your church’s offering, or by mailing your personal check to our Treasurer, or by giving online through our website www.baptistfaithmissions.org ‘Donate/Support’ tab.
Click here to make a one-time donation.
Click here to set up a recurring donation.
Block these dates and plan to attend…
2014 BFM WINTER MISSIONS CONFERENCE
January 19-22 | Sunday-Wednesday
PARK RIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH, Gotha FL [Orlando-area]
“LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS”
For more details, contact Pastor Ben Glover
BentonGlover[at]aol.com | 407.719.9861
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Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [November 2013]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru since 1983. Their main ministry is church planting and they have helped establish churches all over the country. Sheridan also works to train pastors and Anita works with the ladies’ ministry and developing children’s material.
November 8, 2013
Dear friends,
October was a very busy month for the Stantons here in Peru. I mentioned in my last letter being with the Central Baptist Church of Jauja, so I won’t go into details there; just that it was a great meeting where the Lord moved in the hearts of so many.
A group from South Carolina came to do some exploratory mission work and delivered some equipment for new endeavors.
On the 10th we received a small group of five from Columbia, South Carolina. These dear folks came down to some exploratory mission work up in the mountains about two hours out of Huánuco. We had the privilege to house them and feed them for the week they stayed with us. Anita and I enjoyed their fellowship very much. This group was also able to bring down a good supply of Bibles and also some of your video equipment we will be using for taping our Bible Institute Classes.
On the 15th I traveled to Lima to receive Pastor David Pitman and his dear wife Kimberly. For the first several days, they got to see some of the natural beauty of Peru. Then we flew to Huánuco where they were a tremendous help to us in our ministry. Pastor Pitman preached many times while here and also taught my Monday night Pastor’s class. Sister Kim also taught Anita’s Thursday Ladies Bible Study. We worked them pretty hard while here, and they were such a great blessing to us. The folks here are already asking when they will return to Peru!
The Stantons were blessed with a visit from the Pitmans!
On the 20th we were blessed to baptize two more into the fellowship of the Calvary Baptist Mission. This work is growing and showing good signs of spiritual maturity. The Pitmans also helped us decorate and prepare for a wedding I performed on the 26th.
I mentioned in my last letter that we had finally bought a piece of property for this work; attached are some pictures of the property being cleared. Next week we start construction. After all the estimates have come in we are still short about twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00).
A few churches shared with me while on furlough last year that they were happy to help us with the building cost. I told them I thought we had enough to buy the property and get it under roof. I was wrong! So I’m asking all of you to pray about helping us with this endeavor. The saints here are giving special offerings and donating a lot of the labor cost, but we still need help to get it under roof. When times are tough is when God’s people shine the brightest!
Until next month.
Being “in Christ” by God’s grace,
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Peru
South America
(614) 500-8823 – Internet Number
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
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Missionary Update: Harold Bratcher on Permanent Furlough from Brazil [November 2013]
Harold Bratcher served the Lord in the Amazon Valley for 52 years from July 15, 1959 through December 29, 2012. His dear wife, Marie, faithfully served with him for 51 years until her death in February 2011. The Bratchers organized over 20 Baptist churches and many other missions in Brazil. He is now on permanent furlough in Kentucky, still in the service of the Savior.
November 8, 2013
Dear Brothers of the Blessed Lord and Sisters of the Savior:
Once again we (Asa Mark and I) greet you not from the Amazon Valley of Brazil, South America, but from our permanent cool 48 degrees and cloudy Kentucky home where the sun is not shining bright right now. We thank The Lord that we were able to move to our new home in Lexington, Kentucky, in the Hamburg area, off Polo Club Blvd, close to the new Costco, on September 23rd. Notice our new address below. We praise The Lord from whom all Blessings Flow. We appreciate the 8 months we were able to live at the Mission House on 1012 Balsam. It was a blessing to us. Thank you, BFM.
This Mission Sheets month began September 10 and finishes today. During this period I heard 12 sermons, or Bible studies. Besides attending services at our home church, David Forks Baptist Church in Lexington, Bro. Mickey Hyder, pastor, we attended the 223rd anniversary service of the Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, also here in Lexington. We also attended the Linden Street Baptist Church in Richmond, Ky where my sister in law, Deane Cruise, is a member and Bro. Michael Barnes is pastor. We also had the privilege of visiting with Bro. Doug King, Bro. Bobby Greene, Bro. Greg Doss, and Sis. Ann Burris in our new home. We have also each Saturday been able to visit and have brunch with my brother Charlie and his family in Frankfort, Ky.
Tomorrow we will be traveling to Owensboro, Ky to have lunch with my sister in law, Jodie Bratcher, on our way to Morganfield where we will preach at the Northside Baptist Church, dear Bro. Jim Adams, pastor. Please pray for his wife, Linda, who has terminal cancer. Then Monday The Lord willing, we will drive to Paducah, to attend the Pastor’s Conference and Session of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Then two weeks later, we are looking forward to the Thanksgiving Conference, I am scheduled to be the second speaker on Tuesday morning, the 26th of November. Looking forward to speaking and seeing many of you there.
I hope to continue to be a blessing to and see many of you during this final month of the first year of my permanent furlough. I would like to report and thank each of you who have supported us during these past 55 years. The Lord permitting, until next month, when I will write my final letter to the Missions Sheets, before January 1st, when I will be officially retired after 55 years of service in Brazil, through Baptist Faith Missions. To God be the Glory, for these glorious years, and the over 40 churches that we have started and helped during those years.
Yours in the Service of the Savior,
1950 Falling Leaves Lane
Lexington, KY 40509
(859) 806-9827 cell
harold_bratcher[at]yahoo.com
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