Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher in Brazil [September 2013]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.
August 28, 2013
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Good COLD morning to you all. Two days ago the temperature was in the nineties. Today, we are shivering with the temperature in low forties. God’s system of air conditioning is unequaled in its ability to change the weather rapidly. During the night, I woke up and Alta was putting another blanket on us. She said, “I am freezing.” While I write this note, the sun is shining brightly and the temperature is rising. I went to the store about 8:30 and Alta is busy cooking some of the things I bought because we are expecting our son Paul to arrive tomorrow in a surprise visit for a few days. What a joy fills our hearts when they come.
WORK IN ASSAI—Brother Daniel is the missionary pastor in Assai. He just called to greet us and to say that two persons with whom we worked and prayed for had been baptized. They are mother, Jirlene, and daughter, Mirela. We praise the Lord and thank Him for His work of Grace in these two lives. Please make the city of Assai a special item on your prayer list. A city of 20,000 population, it is the most difficult place we have ever worked in our entire ministry.
About 15 minutes ago, John Mark called us from France. Our hearts throb with joy when we receive calls from our children. Their work is going well and last Sunday they had wonderful services.
SPECIAL VISIT—While John Mark was on the telephone, Paul was trying to call us. He had just left Sao Paulo and was advising us that he would be here in about five hours. He will visit with us for about five days; what a special treat that will be!
URAI—The work here is going well. Pastor Marcio is doing a good job with the church and the mission points. The Congregation in Sussumo is going very well with a great group of adolescents. The three young people who work there are fine dedicated Christians—Wiler, Jeferson, and Odete. Marcio also pastors the Congregation in the little city of Rancho Alegre. They have services twice weekly. Presently, there is another dedicated brother in the ministry. He is married and they have four children. This week, he and the pastor are visiting two cities to decide where we will begin another Congregation. Praise the Lord for Pastors and people that pray and work for the spreading of the Gospel.
HEALTH—Kathy took me to see the doctor in Marilia. He is a great friend. My heart exam gave everything good. A complete blood exam, also, gave everything as very good. Praise the Lord for His benefits.
Sincerely, by the Grace of God,
John and Alta Hatcher
Caixa Postal 112
Urai, PR, Brazil 86280-000
jhatcher[at]uol.com.br
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Missionary Update: Odali & Kathy Barros in Brazil [September 2013]
- Odali and Kathy Barros have served the Lord in Sao Paulo, Brazil together since 1987. They are currently in the process of transitioning to Manaus to start sharing the Gospel and planting churches in villages along the river.
August 31, 2013
Greetings to all dear friends,
Twenty-seven years have passed since we began our ministry here in Sao Paulo. Looking back, it seems impossible that it has been that long. As we make new plans for our new place of work, we look back and see what God has allowed us to be a part of.
Our ministry with helping needy people, especially children, started in 1987 with a widow and her 5 children. Some of you may remember when we rented a home next to ours for them to live in. Those kids are all grown and on their own. As we come to a close of our ministry here, we were with these children as a new step in their lives took place. We buried the mother last Sunday. What an unusual situation. Our ministry started and ended with the same family. We praise God that she was saved. Her son Rodrigo is one of the teachers here in the Bible Institute.
Ever since I was saved, I have had the desire to work and reach people who lived in villages on the river. Ever since the home was closed and we could not reopen, we have been praying for God to show us what He wanted us to do and where. Last year in July, we had peace about where God wanted us. We then contacted the directors of BFM and informed them of our new plans. We appreciated their prayers for our move.
For the last year we have been getting thing ready for the changes here. One day at a time God has taken care of each detail. We have already started our move. We will be moving back to Manaus, Amazonas where Kathy and I met, got married, and started our work in the ministry. We have already sent to trucks of things. Wow–one can really accumulate many things in 27 years!!! We will be living across the river from Manaus on our land where we had a children’s home also. When we arrive, we will be visiting by road and by river the villages to see how many there are and if they have any Baptist work. We want to make a map of the cities and their sizes and their needs. Since roads have been opened, villages have started on roadsides. We will be using the big bus that we had at the home and we will need to purchase a boat for the river work. We are excited about the change–and what a change after 27 years of having dozens and even hundreds of people in our home every day. God has been good and we have been blessed in our ministry. Through good and hard times He has always been with us and given us the strength that only He can give.
I was saved through the work of a missionary from BFM who visited a village on the river, Bro. Bobby Creiglow. He visited my village once and when he left the village he believed it had not been worth the long trip. Little did He know that God had a purpose in that trip. I was not in the service he held, but my cousins told me about it and I wanted to know more about that God he had preached about.
So when my Grandmother got sick and had to go to Cruzeiro do Sul, I asked to go with her. When our boat arrived at the port, there stood the man that my cousin had mentioned. Not long after I was able to go to the church and hear the plan of salvation and receive God as my Savior. I thank God for those of you who have given so faithfully for so many years and continue to give. May God pour His blessing on your lives.
Please pray for us as we make our move. Everything is just about all packed. Kathy has been working hard to get things packed and things in order that need to be left for the church here. We are taking a couple that will be working with us in the ministry, Gilmar and his wife Lizene. She has worked with us for many years. Gilmar is a young man that came to live in the home and got saved here. We will support them, through the ministry.
Our main emphasis is preaching the gospel and church planting. It is amazing that everywhere you go you will find an Assembly of God church. We also plan on helping the communities in ways such as: education, clothing, health and food.
We would like to go to the U.S. some time in the near future. We applied for our sons’ immigrant visas over a year ago and we haven’t heard anything from the office since we paid all the fees. Please pray that they will arrive soon.
If you would like to know more you can contact us at : odali_kathy[at]hotmail.com.
Love in Christ,
Odali and Kathy
Tito, Jonas and Gabriel
Odali & Kathy Barros
odali_kathy[at]hotmail.com
Blog
Av. Victor Hugo Boaretto S/N
Garca, Sao Paulo 17.400,000
Brasil, SA
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Missionary Update: Mike & Beverly Creiglow in Brazil [August 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.
August 13, 2013
Dear Brethren,
It has been a while. A lot of water under the bridge, many miles traveled and many bridges crossed, too.
In my last letter I told you about the church approving the purchase of the 18 acres for relocation. The approval was the easy part. Getting them to give the money to buy the property, not so much. So far we have paid $75,000.00 of the $250,000.00. I have worked day and night for weeks on this project, but know that the Lord will have to provide the miracle we need. The church has 2 lots in town and we have 4 lots near the school, which are all up for sale. Bev and I put our old house in town on the market, too. I have been working all the leads with business people. Repeated meetings and many phone calls. The Lord knows and will provide. Keep praying with us. Your prayers are very important.
Native missionaries and their families on Friday, August 2, 2013, the first night of their missions conference.
The only break from the routine of these negotiations was a 12 day motorcycle trip through the Andes of Peru. This trip was something that I have wanted to do for years and had been planned long before we knew that the property would be available. Anyway, the guys at church took over the promotion of the first offerings and did a good job while I was away. Pastor Pedro, one of our businessmen, Hudson and 13 others went along. My long time friend and buddy in crazy adventures, Sherman Smith, executive pastor of Sonrise Baptist Church, Clovis, California, was down for this trip, too. There were 2 pickup trucks full of folks and 9 bikers.
The scenery is breathtaking. The altitude is breathtaking, too! We went over 2 mountain passes at over 16,000 feet! Visits to Machu Pichu, Cusco and Lake Titicaca were all and more than I had hoped for. The trip was 2,600 miles, very dangerous and trying. We even got into a snow storm on one pass. It was eye opening in an unexpected way.
The visit to Peru was a vacation, but a missionary will always see places for what they are: mission frontiers. The jungle regions of Peru (East of the Andes) seem to show evidence of the gospel’s presence. The mountains and high plains of central and southern Peru were a shocking contrast. Going through large cities and many, many medium and small towns, my eyes kept looking for churches. Every town has a Catholic church. During the whole trip I only saw 1 Pentecostal church and 1 Mormon church. The people are still living the same religious and cultural paganism of the last 5 or 6 hundred years. Shocking!
19 new members were baptized during the August 4, 2013 morning service at First Baptist Church of Cruzeiro do Sul.
My first Sunday night sermon back at First Baptist Church was from Romans 1:19-23. I showed and mentioned the 3 Inka gods: The Condor, The Puma and The Serpent. We had an overflow crowd. There were 5 professions of faith. I also managed to challenge the church about the need for missionaries to our close neighbor Peru. We already have 2 in the jungle area, but none in the mountains.
We also held our annual missions conference last week. Most of our missionaries were in. The reports were all vibrant and uplifting. On Sunday morning we had baptism and Lord’s supper. 19 new members. Two more saved and 5 more requests for baptism, too. Great conference.
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 [August 2013]
HOW THE GENERAL FUND OF BAPTIST FAITH MISSIONS
SUPPLIES THE NEEDS OF YOUR MISSIONARIES
When you support the General Fund, you are relieving YOUR missionaries from the daily concerns of whether their essential financial needs will be supplied. He no longer has to worry: “Will I receive enough support this month to make the house payment/rent? Pay my bills? Feed and clothe my family? Cover the medical expenses of my family? Do I have commitment from my supporters to help supply the financial needs of the church-planting ministry God has called me to?”
Baptist Faith Missions is a God-called support ministry designed to free YOUR missionaries from the burden of raising their own support for their basic needs so that their time can be spent in focusing on their ministry itself. Sending churches, supporting churches, and individual disciples bear the collective burden to fulfill the charge of the “Great Commission” when Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
This article answers the questions:
“Why should I give to the BFM General Fund?”
“Where do my contributions go?”
“What services do my General Fund offerings provide?”
The BFM GENERAL FUND provides the following BASIC, ESSENTIAL needs of YOUR missionaries.
We call these commitments ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE TRANSACTIONS
(or EMT)
YOUR MISSIONARIES’ SALARY
Many of you who are reading this article have a job that you depend on to provide a regular income for the financial means to meet your living expenses and provide for your family needs. Salary costs for YOUR individual missionary are $1,803.00 each month. The combined salaries for ALL twelve missionaries every month is now over $21,449.00. The TOTAL salary expenditures for your missionaries each year is $257,388.00. (Two Hundred Fifty Seven Thousand Dollars). When you look at your monthly Mission Sheets contribution record, you will notice that some missionaries do not receive enough individual support to cover even their basic salary…let alone the other additional expenses described below – all of which are supplied from the General Fund. The difference between what is given directly to an individual missionary [either undesignated or designated “as needed”] and his basic salary is covered by BFM supporters from the General Fund. NOTE: all contributions to an individual missionary that exceed his salary amount are deposited in the individual missionary’s account for his use.
In hard economic times you expect to see increases in your pay that enable you to cover the increasing expenses of your family’s needs. This past year (2013), by faith, the BFM Directors voted to give a 5% salary increase to your missionaries.
In 2014, pending available General Fund support and “as the LORD provides” through your offerings, BFM Directors would like to be able to approve another 5% salary increase to YOUR missionaries. We can, and will, do this as your contributions to the General Fund supply that increase.
YOUR MISSIONARIES’ HEALTH INSURANCE
Many of you who are reading this pay for your own health insurance premiums either in total or part. You realize how expensive it is, and every year it is more expensive for you and your family. Health insurance premiums for each of YOUR individual missionaries average $1,040.00 each month. The cost for ALLtwelve missionaries every month is currently over $12,478.00. (Twelve Thousand Four Hundred Seventy Eight Dollars each month). The TOTAL ANNUAL health insurance costs for your missionaries each year is over $149,736.00. (One Hundred Forty Nine Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Six Dollars). BFM contributors to the General Fund currently pay the FULL AMOUNT of your missionaries’ health insurance premiums. NOTE: The missionary pays the first $1000 of medical services as a personal deductible – and BFM reimburses $600 of that…again from the General Fund.
As contributions to the General Fund allow, BFM Directors, missionaries, and supporters would like Health Insurance to continue as a fully-paid benefit to YOUR missionaries.
YOUR MISSIONARIES’ HOUSING ALLOWANCE
Each month each of YOUR missionaries receives from the General Fund a housing allowance of $250.00 to be applied toward either rent or house payment.
As contributions to the General Fund allow, BFM Directors, missionaries, and supporters would like the Housing Allowance to continue as a fully-paid benefit to YOUR missionaries.
YOUR MISSIONARIES’ MINISTRY EXPENSE ALLOWANCE
Each month each of YOUR missionaries receives from the General Fund a Ministry Expenses Allowance of $500.00 to help defray the expenses of his Gospel outreach and church-planting efforts.
As contributions to the General Fund allow, BFM Directors, missionaries, and supporters would like this Ministry Expense Allowance to continue as a fully-paid benefit to YOUR missionaries.
YOUR MISSIONARIES’ MISSION SHEETS
Paul, as a New Testament missionary, had the responsibility to carry the Gospel message to the known world of his day. He also had the responsibility to report back to supporting churches and individuals by letter and in person (for example: Acts 14.26-27 & Philippians 4.15-17). Your missionaries have that same responsibility. The Mission Sheets, in both printed and electronic form, give monthly reports of YOUR missionaries’ ministries. Missionary letters describe his activities and needs. Monthly offerings from churches and individuals are reported in the monthly Contribution Record identifying contributors and contributions. This shows where your money goes. It allows you to assess how the needs of YOUR missionaries are being met.
Contribution Terms:
“salary” or “support” – contributions to an individual missionary designated as “salary” or “support” are applied toward the missionary’s monthly salary expense. When they are listed in the Contribution Record in the monthly Mission Sheets, they will be listed without these designations. But, they will go toward supplying his monthly salary. NOTE: if the missionary’s contributions for “salary” exceed his salary amount, then the remaining balance will be deposited in his account as “personal” funds to be used at his discretion.
“as needed” – a contribution designated “as needed” will also be applied toward supplying his salary since his basic salary is the most “as needed” need your missionary has.
“personal” – contributions designated “personal” are NOT used to meet the BASIC, ESSENTIAL expenses of the missionary. These contributions are deposited in the missionary’s account for use at his discretion.
“designated project” – ALL contributions designated for a specific work project, appeal, or need are directed fully to that work project or need.
The TOTAL ANNUAL COSTS of publishing and distributing YOUR missionary’s monthly newsletters is $22,500.00. (Twenty Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars). These services are paid for from the General Fund. Your missionaries are not required to pay for their own ministry newsletters and reports.
YOUR MISSIONARIES’ OTHER SUPPORT ALLOWANCES
Periodically YOUR missionaries will request other benefits we have committed to them from the General Fund “as the LORD provides.” As contributions to the General Fund allow, BFM Directors, missionaries, and supporters would like to continue these benefits to YOUR missionaries.
YOUR MISSIONARIES’ FURLOUGH EXPENSES
YOUR missionaries have the option to return to the States for six months after a completing two years of service on the field or one year after completing four years of service on the field. This is for the dual purpose of spending time with family and friends and giving a status report to supporting churches when requested. You may be aware that this year these expenses exceed $17,000.00 for furlough travel expenses which are paid for from the General Fund.
As your contributions to the General Fund allow, BFM Directors, missionaries, and supporters would like Furlough Travel Expenses to continue in the coming years as a fully-paid benefit to YOUR missionaries.
YOUR MISSIONARIES’ CHILDREN’S EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES
YOUR missionary families may not have the option of sending their children to a free public school. Their options are to home school, pay for private or boarding schools, or even send their children back to the States for education. If the funds are available, a Children’s Education Allowance of up to $1000.00 per school year per child may be awarded. This disbursement is based on a priority of financial need and availability of funds.
As your contributions to the General Fund allow, BFM Directors, missionaries, and supporters would like to continue this Children’s Education Allowance benefit to YOUR missionaries.
YOUR MISSIONARIES’ ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
Of our fifteen Directors, only one is a paid position: the Executive Secretary, Pastor Dave Parks. He receives the same monthly salary as each of our missionaries. He performs the very wide-ranging and demanding responsibilities of handling the day-to-day issues and transactions of BFM. These responsibilities include: daily correspondence with the missionaries and inquiries from supporters; coordination of the elements and processes that go into The Mission Sheets, website, and electronic correspondences; transacting, recording, and tracking the disbursement of all funds to missionary expenses and operational expenses; resolving banking and legal issues that impact the missionaries; documenting and filing quarterly and annual IRS and Exempt Organization returns; and often as a listening ear, giver of advice, and coordinator of resources in meeting the needs of your missionaries. He is a full-time husband and father. He is also the full-time Pastor of Thompson Road Baptist Church. His commitment of attention, time, and energies to BFM goes far beyond the monetary compensation received.
BFM Directors, missionaries, and supporters would like this Administrative Support to continue in the coming years as a benefit to YOUR missionaries.
IN SUMMARY: When you support the GENERAL FUND you are supporting all of YOUR missionaries. Very few churches can fully support all the financial and administrative needs of their missionary. However, whether you are a church or an individual disciple, by partnering together with others and giving as the LORD leads and provides, ALL THE NEEDS OF ALL YOUR MISSIONARIES WILL BE SUFFICIENTLY AND ABUNDANTLY SUPPLIED. And, by the Grace of God, all of our missionaries – along with others who are called into full-time missionary service – will be able to focus without unnecessary distraction on sharing the Gospel and planting churches.
“AS THE LORD PROVIDES” AND LEADS, SUPPORT THE BFM GENERAL FUND.
– Your BFM Council of Directors
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Click here to set up a recurring donation.
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Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [August 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.
August 13, 2013
Dear friends,
We just finished our 34th annual Thanksgiving Conference here in Peru. This year it was held in the jungle town of Pucallpa. The first church we organized twenty-five years ago, Jordan Baptist of Pucallpa, was the host church of the conference. Pastor George Sledd of our home church, Jordan Missionary Baptist Church, came down as the main speaker this year. I had the privilege of translating for him each night. George and I graduated from high school together and later from Bible college together. He has been my pastor for the past twenty-two years. God used him in a mighty way and we saw several come to know Christ as Savior during the week, more than a hundred people reconciling their lives with the Lord, and about fifty making a complete surrender to serve the Lord. There were one thousand three hundred people in attendance from all parts of Peru. It was a wonderful, spiritual time for all that attended.
Pastor George Sledd from Jordan Baptist Church in Sanford, Florida, preached at the 34th annual Thanksgiving Conference, where there were one thousand three hundred people in attendance from all parts of Peru.
My Monday night Pastor’s Study is doing very well. The guys here in Huánuco are very faithful. I am considering the possibility of being able to teach “live” on the internet with a closed group from many of our cities here in Peru. Many of the brethren manifested great interest while we were in Pucallpa. If this works out it will open up an entirely new area of ministry for us. Please be much in prayer with us about this.
Bro. Sheridan Stanton at their 34th annual Thanksgiving Conference in Peru
The Calvary Baptist Mission is doing very well. We have a good lead on a piece of property where we can relocate. Hopefully by my next letter I will have some more news about this. The saints have been very faithful in their service but it is time for us to move to a permanent location. Your prayers are appreciated. 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: AJ & Barbara Hensley in Brazil [August 2013]
The Hensleys have spent nearly 15 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.
Friends and family,
As June wound down and July started we still had the two men from Atlantic Shores Baptist Church, Lonnie and George, and our Brazilian son Edson with us. We continued using this free labor to catch up on the work at the new Church plant (ie: completed laying the tile and grouting it, replaced old fixtures in the bathrooms and the kitchen, installed the kitchen sink, and put the donated appliances in the kitchen with the new cabinets and roll-around islands). We have also put up new fencing around the Church front and painted it. We painted the balcony and separated it to make two Sunday School classes. The children were extremely excited with their room where Pastor Jason and Ryan painted animals all around the walls.
Putting the sign out in front of the church!
Another job that got done this month was getting the sound installed in the Church. We were fortunate to be able to buy an old sound system and a sound board from another Church. But as with all things used, as soon as we got it into the Church, things began to go wrong. But from our experience here in Brasil, it is not what you know but who you know. So we thought of Edi. He was a young man in Garca that was always taking things apart, especially things to do with sound. So remembering this young man, we called him and asked if he could come and help us. It was such a rewarding feeling to see a young man that we had in our care in the Alpha and Omega Children’s Home years ago using what he had learned to help us here in Caragua in God’s work. As Edson was here in Caragua he also helped in the work. It was a double blessing to see the two of them working together here in Caraguatatuba remembering them 17 years ago. Edi is married and making a living installing alarms and Edson is in his 3rd year of vet school. Both of them involved in the Lord’s work in their prospective cities. Thank you Lord for these two young men who You set on the right path. Our Lord is so Awesome!
We have not only done physical labor this month but we have been busy with the Church work also. The ladies had a yard sale and made around 600 Reais which is around 300 dollars. Their plans are to buy the needed supplies for the kitchen. Our youth have also been busy–they did visitation in the neighborhood around the Church and distributed around 800 flyers inviting people to come to Church. We are having on average 50 kids on Sunday mornings and about the same number on Sunday nights (this being more adults). We are so excited about our ministry with the kids. We are seeing lives changed. Here is what one of the ladies here at our Church had to say about the children that come to Church from her neighborhood. She said that she has been noticing that the kids have been getting along better when they are playing. Another thing that she has noticed is that there is less and less use of bad language as they play. The other thing that she told us is that as she has been bed-ridden for two months, during that time the children, from 6 years to 11 years of age, came to pray with her every day. This is what Church and Sunday School is all about, changing lives one at a time. God is so AWESOME.
Street evangelism with some of the youth!
This month we have concentrated mostly on the Church construction but we have accomplished some things at the school property. We have taken an old rusty saw that was given by a friend in Ohio and given it new life. With lots of help from Ernesto, we now have a saw that will enable us to do many things with wood that we were not able to do before. Hopefully next month we will be able to get back to working on the dorm house, but the main thing is spreading the work of the Lord and all these other things will get done in God’s time.
We have had the blessing of Mary, Walmire and the girls being here to visit this month also. We were able to take some time to enjoy the grandkids and their parents. You know we discovered that grandkids are a lot of fun. We have made a decision–if we had known how much fun the grandkids were, we would have had them first.(lol)
I hope you can see through our letters how God is working through us here in Brasil. But if we are not painting a good enough word picture, please come on down and see for yourself. Beware—those who venture into Caraguatatuba, Brasil are never the same. Be prepared for what God will do in your life here in Brasil!!!!! So come on down, your bed is turned down and we have turned on the light on the porch.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara Hensley
ajcaragua[at]gmail.com
Click here to give. | Like them on Facebook. (Their Facebook page has some videos of stuff they have written about!)
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Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [August 2013]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We thank God daily for your faithful support. Thanks also to each of you who from time to time send a card or write a letter to encourage us.
The month of July news begins with the baptism of Samuel, the young man that I mentioned in my last letter. He is the son of Vietnamese parents. His mother was the first to be saved in her family who were Buddhist. She was saved during the Vietnam War and escaped in an overloaded boat that eventually was rescued. There is a church of Vietnamese people that meets on the opposite side from us of the Toulouse metropolitan area. It is made up of people who were saved through missionary work in Vietnam and their children. Their entire service is in the Vietnamese language.
Samuel’s Baptism
Because Samuel had gone to this church with his parents when he was a boy, he wanted to get baptized in front of them as well as our congregation. So, we made arrangements to have a joint service with them and use their baptistry. The pastor asked me to preach before I baptized Samuel. The sermon was in French and the rest of the service was in Vietnamese. This Vietnamese church shares a building with two other churches, one French, one Korean. The building is marked with bullet holes. You may remember the terrorist who killed a number of people in Toulouse last year including several paratroopers and a number of children leaving their Jewish school. He lived just across a one lane street from this church building. When the police tried to arrest him he barricaded himself in and eventually came out firing. He was killed in the shoot out and it left marks on the church building.
I don’t know what language we will speak in the New Jerusalem, but we won’t need buildings, we will all understand each other, there will be no bullet marks or war or terrorists, and we will enjoy the Lord and each other forever! Doesn’t that make what we do the most exciting promising thing that can be done?
So, you continue giving and witnessing where you are. We continue giving and witnessing here. God makes it all happen and enables us to participate. Every place is different and in different places we are at different stages in the process of plowing, sowing, cultivating, watering and reaping. But God receives glory in all of this. This was so clear to me as I read the June Mission Sheet letters. The Radfords and Tates deal with challenges that are partly the result of colonization and God is helping them learn how to be more effective. Mike Creiglow mentioned a city of 8,000 with one Adventist Church and four kinds of Pentecostal churches besides the Catholic Church. Tournefeuille, the city where our primary work is located has a population of 30,000. Besides us there is the poorly attended Catholic Church and a Synagogue that meets in a house. We deal with result of forced falsely called “Christian religion” that spread by the sword and kept kings in power. It is like planting seed in granite. But, our Lord Jesus has chosen us, disciples (not just pastors and missionaries), to be the light of world and the salt of the earth. He uses our life’s witness and our words to make more disciples who in turn will make other disciples. It has been happening for 2000 years and will continue until our Eternal King manifests Himself.
After our last youth meeting at the end of June, the mother of one of the participants requested the schedule for the coming School Year youth meetings so that they could put it on their calendar and not let anything get in the way of the daughter attending. This young lady is Abigail’s friend. Abigail, who was baptized less than two years ago has brought several friends to youth meetings and church services. This is how it works, friends bringing friends.
Last Sunday, a young married man who comes regularly to church services told about his progression in spiritual matters. He, along with many here, was an atheist. His parents were atheist, his brother and sister are atheist. His parents both died before he became a teenager. I asked him, “What did God use to change your mind?” He answered, “My wife and her way of living and Joachim.” He said, “Joachim started out like me, he didn’t believe, but he examined the truth and became a believer and he didn’t go crazy.” Joachim was the first person that was baptized here. This is why we keep plowing the granite!
Thanks for being used by God to contribute so that we can let Light of Jesus shine through us here.
Your fellow servants in Christ,
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher in Brazil [August 2013]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.
August 1, 2013
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We thank you and praise the Lord for your faithfulness in prayers and financial support for many years. Things have certainly changed since our arrival in Brazil in 1955. Today, there are more cars on our short street here in Urai than there were in the entire city of Manaus when we arrived. Praise the Lord, the spread of the Gospel has been widespread, also.
During the month of July we had a few days of very chilly weather; that has passed and now we are enjoying beautiful sunny weather with temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees. Alta and I are well with just a few physical and mental reminders that we are human and reaching an advanced age. We praise the Lord for His goodness to us and for the joy of serving Him here.
PRAISE THE LORD! The small mission in the suburb of Urai, Sussuma, has seven persons to be baptized at the next baptismal service. There are three young people from the Urai Church who work in this Mission: Wiler, Odete, and Jefferson. They are wonderful young people and have been faithful in this work. I am asking you to try to remember their names and bring them before the Throne of God in your prayers.
ANOTHER PRAYER REQUEST–In the Urai Church there is a large group of young people who are in the time of their lives to select a partner for life. This choice is vital for the continuation of their spiritual welfare. Please pray for them in this choice.
OUR PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER–Alta and I are eternally grateful for His blessings on our family: We have two in heaven, awaiting our coming: a baby boy born dead in Faro, and Lynn, our oldest. She left her bereaved husband, Ross, and five children. All are serving the Lord faithfully in special ministries. Paul and family faithfully serving the Lord and planting churches in many States of Brazil. John Mark and family serving Him in France with many doors recently being opened. David, who is pastor, and his wife, Pennie, work in the Chapada Baptist Church in Manaus. Kathy, our youngest, and Odali serve the Lord in Garca, Sao Paulo. We have 15 grandchildren, all of whom serve the Lord in special ministries. We have 26 great-grandchildren, seven of whom have been saved and some of these baptized.
EVANGELISTIC WALKING–Three or four days a week as weather permits I walk a few blocks for the purpose of talking to people about the Lord. The past week I was able to evangelize nine persons; Alta teaches a Bible Class for pastor’s wives the first Monday each month.
Pray for us. Thanks for your prayers and support.
Caixa Postal 112
Urai, PR, Brazil 86280-000
jhatcher[at]uol.com.br
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