BFM Thanksgiving Conference 2026
Join us in
Addyston, Ohio
for our Thanksgiving Missions Conference!
November 16-18, 2026
(Monday – Wednesday)
There will be a Monday evening meal, Tuesday lunch, Tuesday evening meal, and a Wednesday lunch.
Hosted By
ADDYSTON BAPTIST CHURCH
112 Church Street
Addyston, OH 45001
513.941.4897
Pastor David Pitman
Conference Theme
A HEART FOR THE HARVEST
“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.” -Matthew 9:38
Speakers
George Sledd
Jordan Baptist Church, Sanford, Florida
Dan Hillard
Grace Baptist Church, Wyandotte, Michigan
Paul Hatcher
Missionary Emeritus, Brazil
Tim Scott
First Baptist Church, Independence, Kentucky
Isaac Heil
Seventh Street Baptist, Cannelton, Indiana
Steve Wainright
New Life Baptist Church, Lexington, Kentucky
Andy Dixon
New Life Baptist Church, Lexington, Kentucky
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Fruit of Faithful Discipleship & A Wedding on the Horizon
October 6, 2026
Greetings in Christ brothers and sisters,
Thank you for your faithful support. The school year here began about a month ago. So, we are getting back into the typical non-vacation routines. Summer this year has been the hottest and driest that we have had in France since our arrival 27 years ago. It only rained twice in five months and during this period the high temperature most days was over or just under 100 degrees. However, we are thankful that our present home is air-conditioned, which was not the case where we previously lived for 23 years.
About ten days ago two participants in our college group announced their engagement to get married. Timo, the young man, has been coming to church meetings with his parents since early elementary school. Leonie, the young lady trusted Christ and followed Him in baptism about a year ago. She came to Christ through the witness of Roxane, another college student from our church. They met in university engineering classes. Roxane trusted Christ about 4 years ago and is a living light for Christ. When Leonie showed an interest, Roxane began Bible studies with her. Leonie trusted Christ.
We are delighted to have Philip (our son and one of the church pastors) and Amanda (as we say in France “our beautiful daughter”) his wife working with us for 25 years. They have discipled this young couple. Timo and Leonie asked Philip to perform the wedding in April of 2027. We are thankful for God’s many blessings and the joy of seeing these two young adults and others trust Christ and follow Him.
May the Lord richly bless each of you,
Judy and John Hatcher
Contact Info:
John Mark & Judy Hatcher
2 T Impasse de la Picardie
31830 Plaisance du Touch
France
jmhatcher@aol.com
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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Projeto Vida Brings the Gospel Beyond Church Walls
October 1, 2026
Our traveling evangelistic team, Projeto Vida, is on one of the longest-ever outreach trips in its 30-year history. The team left our home base in Curitiba, Brazil, on August 12th. Their return is scheduled for October 25th. The team is composed of 14 young men and women traveling on a small bus carrying all their ministry equipment and their personal baggage. There are two main venues for our outreach with this team: public schools and city squares. After ministering in each school, we ask the school administrators to give us an evaluation form filled out with their feedback on how our ministry impacted them and their school. I have been reading these responses, and I am so thankful to the Lord for what they have shared. On every form, there is only positive feedback, both on the content that was presented and on how our team demonstrated the message with their attitudes and behavior.
At these schools, we also get to interact with the students after our presentations are finished. Many times, students come to speak one-on-one with a particular team member with whom they felt some kind of connection. I believe that this is a work of the Holy Spirit, because it most often leads to an opportunity to share the gospel in a very direct and personal way, often resulting in that student surrendering their life to the Lord. On this present trip, the team has already been in over 15 schools, and they still have three more weeks and 12 more schools to go. What a privilege it is to be a part of what the Lord is doing in taking the message of His grace to so many outside of the walls of a church building.
At our last city square meeting, the Lord provided us the opportunity to preach the gospel to over 500 people in an open-air presentation. On Saturday morning, we offered free community services such as haircuts, blood pressure checks, dental exams, and family counseling. Those who came to this event were invited to return in the evening for a dramatic gospel presentation through skits, personal testimonies, and a preached message. At the conclusion of the message, Pastor Edson extended an invitation to those who heard to surrender their lives to the Lord and to come forward publicly and declare their faith in Him. There were many who did so on this night, and we thank the Lord for His grace and for using our team. Please continue to pray for our team as they complete the next few weeks of ministry travel.
Thank you for your prayers and faithful support of our ministry.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Contact Info:
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Currently Stateside ministering to Brazil
Phone: (813) 501-9328
E-mail: bobbymichael_1@hotmail.com
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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Learning, Settling, Serving: Reaching Quebec with the Gospel
September 26, 2026
Bonjour!
After many months of planning, praying, packing, taking care of paperwork, our family has made it to Montreal, QC and we are beginning to settle into our new home and ministry. We are so incredibly thankful for the many churches and individuals who have taken the time to pray for us, contribute to our move, and have encouraged us along the way. The Lord has been so good to us through the transition.
Over these first few weeks, much of our time has been spent acclimating to life. There have been boxes upon boxes to unpack, new routines to establish, and a new language to learn. Little by little, Montreal is beginning to feel like home.
As we have been adjusting to life, being here has allowed us to see more clearly the great spiritual need that God used to bring us up here.
Quebec has a long and deeply religious history, but not one characterized by a knowledge of the biblical gospel. For generations, the Roman Catholic Church had complete control over Quebec- running the education, healthcare, and political systems, as well as the home life- while proclaiming a sacramental system rather than the Good News of salvation being by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. During the Quiet revolution of the 60’s, the Quebecois rejected the religious establishment and all authority it had over them. When this occurred, you could say they threw the baby out with the bathwater. In rejecting Roman Catholicism, they did not turn to the Scriptures and discover the true Gospel; they rejected any form of Christianity. The result of this is that now you have a society filled with vacant church buildings, reminding them of their religious past, while generations have grown up knowing little to nothing of the Bible or of the Gospel of Christ.
The need here is not merely for people to become religious, rather, it is for them to hear the Good News that sinners can be reconciled to God through the finished Work of Christ.
Recent events have provided a striking reminder of the increasingly secular environment. Quebec has strengthened is law concerning the secular character of the province. As of Sept. 1, religious practices are prohibited in many public institutions, and religious practices (such as prayer) are prohibited on public streets and parks, unless granted special authorization by the municipality.
This is a sobering reminder of the challenge and urgency of the Gospel ministry here.
Our confidence has never rested in favorable conditions given by the culture. The Gospel, during the years of the early church, did not spread throughout the world because the Roman government encouraged it. No, it spread because Christ promised, Mt. 16:18, I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Our confidence rests in Christ.
So please pray for us. Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom as we seek to learn the Quebecois culture and language. Pray that He opens doors for us to minister the gospel. Pray for Grace Church, that we would disciple and raise up leaders to plant other churches all over the city. And pray that, in a place where Christianity is regarded as a relic of the past and is to remain in the past, that many will be made alive in Christ.
Thank you for standing with us, praying for us, and making it possible for our family to serve here. We are excited to see what the Lord will do.
To God be the Glory,
Daniel and Kendle Akers
Contact Info:
Daniel & Kendle Akers
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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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Supporting Trauma-Informed Care for Vulnerable Children in Brazil
We would love to share an incredible giving opportunity with you. Raquel Hatcher serves with ABBA Brazil as a Foster Care Coordinator and Trainer, helping recruit, train, and support foster families through their ministry in São Paulo. This ministry seeks to fulfill Psalm 68:6 by helping “the lonely live in families” and sharing God’s love with vulnerable children and their families.
One of the ways Raquel serves is by training professionals in Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®), a trauma-informed approach that helps children and families heal and thrive. ABBA Brazil has a partnership with Texas Christian University and Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (KPICD). They have been collaborating for several years, and hosted a national conference in 2024 and 2026 to expand training throughout Brazil.
Because of their strong relationship, an exciting opportunity has arisen as TCU and KPICD have offered to partner again to bring TBRI Practitioner Training to São Paulo, Brazil with ABBA’s leadership.
However, a required part of the certification process is the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), and currently no one in Brazil is trained to provide it. To help meet this need, Raquel has been accepted into AAI certification training in Georgia this November, but the cost is very high.
The cost of the training is $3,500, due September 30, plus travel expenses (~$1,500). After much prayer, Raquel believes God is leading her to pursue this training so that more professionals can be equipped to serve vulnerable children and families throughout Brazil.
Would you prayerfully consider partnering with Raquel through a financial gift? Your support will help make this training possible and expand the reach of trauma-informed, Christ-centered care for children, foster families, and professionals across Brazil.
Please also pray for God’s provision, wisdom, and guidance as Raquel prepares for this important opportunity.
“God sets the lonely in families.” Psalm 68:6
To give toward Raquel’s training to help transform the culture of care of vulnerable children in Brazil, please designate “Raquel-AAI” on your offering.
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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Remembering 9/11 and Celebrating God’s Servants
September 9, 2026
Dear friends and family,
This month, as I write the Mission Letter, I remember the tragic occurrence of “9/11,” the terrorist attack on our wonderful country. Although it was only 25 years ago, let’s not forget the lives lost. Remember “9/11”!
I still remember where I was on that day. We were in Warner Robins, Georgia, with one of the pastors in Second Baptist Church, getting ready to return to Lexington, Kentucky, after a weekend of telling about our work in Brazil. Guess what?!? All the planes were grounded, and flights were cancelled. We started calling for car rentals, and none were available.
Here is where SERVANTS come into play. As we had been in three churches that week, the people knew about our dilemma of needing to get back to Lexington, Kentucky. We received a telephone call from one of the couples who offered to drive us back to Lexington. We graciously accepted their offer!
God has AWESOME SERVANTS the world over!!!
Another “servant” I would like to mention is one of our Ph.D. students. He is a missionary to the Jews in São Paulo, Brazil, and if it is the Lord’s will, he will receive his Ph.D. with the next graduating class in August 2027. He is planning to be one of our professors in Bluegrass Baptist Seminary. I am including a picture of he and I at the Bible Baptist Conference, where our Seminary Graduation took place.
We are in the middle of the new semester, and there are four classes being taught: Lexical Hebrew, Theology of Missions, Old Testament Book of Isaiah, and New Testament Book of Revelation. Our professors for these classes are Dr. Derek Coleman and Dr. Raymond Edge.
How AWESOME it is that God puts the right people in the right places at the right time. How AWESOME is the God we serve!!!
Please remember to pray for all our other helpers, pastors, churches, translators, and other people that make this Seminary possible, especially those who give and pray for the Seminary and students.
Remember Barbara and I as we work in the Seminary. Please pray for our health and for our travels.
THANKS TO ALL!!!
In His Service,
AJ and Barbara
Contact Info:
AJ & Barbara Hensley
30524 Mimi St
Sebring, FL 33870-0530
AJ: 859-539-2302 | Barbara: 859-539-1424
ajcaragua@gmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click the yellow “Give” button on our homepage.
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Back in Kenya with New Students & Bold Faith
September 4, 2026
Greetings, Beloved, in the Name of Jesus Christ,
Our son is married, we have left our grandbabies in the United States, and we are back in Kenya. Yes, it is good to be back in Kenya and with Chloe. No, it is not great to be far away from our loved ones back in America. However, I don’t think either Julie or I could deny that Kenya is still where God wants us to be. Julie has started back at Rift Valley Academy, and I have resumed my ministry at Moffat Bible College. I have said goodbye to the students that started at Moffat at the same time as I did and have now graduated. I have greeted and welcomed new students into their first year at Moffat. It is bitter-sweet as things change and life goes on. Beloved, God is in control of all things, He sits on the throne, and we look forward to the return of Jesus and the time He hands the Kingdom over to His Father and God becomes “all in all”, as Paul says.
I am excited about our new crew of incoming students. They have been giving their testimonies in chapel and what excites me is that they all give good testimonies of their faith in Christ but also, they all very much want to minister the gospel and the love of Jesus to their people in their churches and to be ambassadors of Christ to the world. Who could ask for a better desire in the hearts of new, incoming students. I surely cannot. Of course, most of our incoming students come from the country of Kenya, but from a variety of different tribes, languages, and cultures. Two of our new, incoming students come from heavily populated Muslim areas and they themselves are former Muslims. One of these former Muslim students gives this testimony (my summary): “I was raised a Muslim and followed the Muslim religion. I found as I grew older that I was not satisfied with Islam, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe that God could have a Son. I thought maybe I should convert to Christianity, but God is one and He cannot have a son. One day I was in a car with some family members when our vehicle came under attack by armed bandits. I jumped out of the car and fled down the road, running for my life. I prayed: Jesus, if you can get me out of this alive then I will know that You are God’s Son, and I will believe and trust in You alone. I ran and ran with bullets flying all around me. When it became quiet, I knew they had run out of bullets. I just kept running until I was picked up and taken to the police station. There in the police station, I turned in faith to Jesus and confessed Him as my Lord and Savior. Since then, I have been proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior to my friends and family. I want to learn more about Him and go back to my people and tell them about Jesus”. I (Roger) am very fond of that testimony. I like it very much. Another of our Kenya students said, “I want to fill heaven with my friends and family.” We also have a new, incoming student from Ethiopia. His wife is a resident student doctor studying in the Kijabe hospital. He said it wasn’t right for his family to be separated for three years and that God didn’t want that and so he came with her and their children to Kijabe. When he got here and saw that Moffat was in Kijabe he said, “No way! There is a Bible school here. I’m joining right now!”
Another of our new, incoming students comes from Congo. We have had Congolese students before (four of them graduated in 2024) and we are glad to have another come all this way to study the Bible here with us. It really is great, beloved, to be able to minister into the lives of Kenyans, as well as the international students. All of them will be taking the gospel back to their own people and tribes.
Lord, may Jesus reign supreme in the hearts of Your people and may You use them to take Your good news of salvation and redemption to the lost and dying of this world. We praise You for Your goodness, Your mercy, love, grace and forgiveness. We lift Your Name on high!
Blessings to all,
Roger, Julie, & Chloe
Contact Info:
Roger & Julie Tate
Moffat Bible College
P.O. Box 70
Kijabe, Kenya 00220
rojuta@gmail.com
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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Church Family Caring for One Another
July 23, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Summer is here. The last couple of months have been extremely hot and dry. The high temperature for most days has been around 100°F or higher. We are thankful that the house we moved into three years ago is air conditioned. It is also very dry as we have had no rain for many weeks. Twice in the last week we have had fires in fields close to us.
Sunday morning, Laura, one of the ladies in our church, fell and broke her kneecap. She and her husband have two children under the age of three. Amanda, our daughter-in-law, was with the grandmother (in her eighties) on Tuesday to care for the children while Laura was in surgery. Today, Stephanie, a lady from our church that trusted Christ about a year ago, is caring for Laura and the children. Stephanie made a sign-up schedule on the ladies’ prayer group for those who could care for Laura and Samuel’s children in their apartment. Judy and I are very familiar with the blessing and complication of orthopaedic surgery to save the kneecap. Judy went through this same procedure after breaking her kneecap nine years ago.
The church ladies’ prayer group meets once every two weeks for prayer and they keep each other informed about matters that need prayer. This group is an important organ in our church body—women who are passionate about Jesus Christ and being used by Him to help others.
Our Bible studies and services are going well. We are delighted to see the spiritual growth of the believers. Each week, using an internet audiovisual program, Judy and I have a Bible study with a lady who was a “Jehovah’s Witness”. She started reading her Bible independently during the Covid shutdown and has trusted Christ. We have been reading through the New Testament with her and discussing our reading weekly for about three years. It is about a three-hour drive from our home to where she and her family live. We have never met this lady and her family personally, but the Lord willing, it is going to happen soon. They have invited us to come to their home for a meal.
Judy and I are looking forward to the online meeting planned with those who are at the conference at New Life Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky next week.
May God richly bless each of you,
John and Judy
Contact Info:
John Mark & Judy Hatcher
2 T Impasse de la Picardie
31830 Plaisance du Touch
France
jmhatcher@aol.com
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.
Read more
