Sharing Jesus in Bible Studies & English Chats
October 15, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We hope you are enjoying the Lord’s blessings. This week has been busy as we have started some new meetings and are getting back in the groove of the school year schedule. Our Sunday meetings continue to be held in person with some joining us by internet.
The restart of Bible Studies in Mazere this week went very well. We are studying through the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Philip and Amanda are restarting Bible studies in the home of a church family in the city of Cugnaux. A couple of other weekly Bible studies are also held. Small group meetings are a very effective means of communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ to seekers and helping those who trust Christ to grow up in Him. This has been our primary method of outreach to adults since we arrived in France.
The first Youth meeting of this school year is tomorrow evening. The Lord has enabled us to communicate the Good News to many Middle School and High School students through these meetings.
This week Judy and I also began meeting with three ladies who want to practice speaking English. We have found this to be a great way to connect with people in order to tell them about God’s offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ. One of the ladies in the present group is an acquaintance made on our trekking path. Each time we crossed the friendship grew. When she expressed a desire to work on English to be able to communicate with a possible future son-in-law who is Australian, we offered to meet with her for English chats.
Another participant was a kindergarten teacher for our granddaughters years ago, sang in the community choir in which I (John) sang and “by chance” (another way of saying “divine appointment”) we crossed her (while trekking) as she was going to sign up for English improvement classes at the local community meeting house. She decided to cancel the English improvement classes and meet with us! She brought a friend who also sang in the community choir.
Please pray with us that God will open hearts to Jesus for eternal life and help us all to keep growing up in Jesus.
Your sister and brother in Southern France,
Judy and John
Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher@aol.com
Present USA phone 1-812-416-1033
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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Waiting on Passport Renewals
October 5, 2021
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now into the latter months of 2021. While there have been so many challenges this past year with the coronavirus pandemic, it still seems the year has gone quickly. This month holds two important dates for our family, with me (Nathan) turning one year older on the 21st, and my wife and I celebrating our 17th anniversary on the 16th. What a blessing my wife has been to me over the years, and may God give us many more years together to serve on the mission field.
Please continue to pray for Kenya at this challenging time of coronavirus. Things are continuing, but in a limited capacity. My understanding is that religious gatherings can still meet, but at 30% capacity of what they were meeting at. So, there are still obvious restrictions. I am sure you still have to wear masks in public, as well as sanitizing as you go around town. Please pray for all missionaries and servants in Kenya at the present time, that the Lord would watch over them and protect them. As we go out and come in, wherever we are, God is watching over us. Isn’t that wonderful? Psalm 121:8 says, “The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” Amen. May we trust God as we go out and come in, even with the challenges of this pandemic.
My wife is staying busy with homeschooling our daughters. She is doing well this year and our daughters are both doing well. They are absorbing the materials well and progressing in their studies. Our daughter McKenna is doing a new math program and is catching on quickly. Camille is also doing well, and of course I am thankful for my faithful wife for investing so much time and energy in teaching them and preparing them well in their studies.
We are nearing the end of our time of furlough and would ask that you would pray for us. I (Nathan) still plan to share, preach, and present the ministries in Kenya as God opens the doors. We are still waiting on our passports to be renewed, so this is a big prayer request at this time. Our paperwork has been submitted and we are waiting for the renewals. God is in control and we trust in His timing. We are waiting on the Lord and seeking His will.
I will close with Lamentations 3:25, which says “The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.” In our times of waiting in our lives, may we seek Him with our whole hearts. He is good and faithful. May God bless each of you for your heart for missions. We will keep you updated.
Blessings,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
naterad[at]yahoo.com
Furlough Address
1126 Smith Street
Milton, WV 25541
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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Opportunity to Reset
October 8, 2021
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ,
Cause and effect.
Cause 1: Over the past year and a half we have had a number of what I’ll call Governmental Covid Restrictions placed on religious institutions, including churches. The way this works is this: The government gets concerned about Covid cases, or the rise of Covid cases and as a result it shuts down cross county travel, institutes a curfew, and places serious restrictions on churches. Sometimes they say churches cannot meet, other times they say children under 12 and people over 59 cannot attend, or they say that less than 50% of a building’s seating capacity can be used. During these times of restrictions people oftentimes fear going to church. These restrictions often last a month or two before the government lifts them at which time people start trickling back to church. Then, after a month or two the government gets concerned again and the cycle repeats all over again.
Cause 2: I visited the States for a month.
Effect 1: Because of the above reasons our attendance at the Chapel has dwindled considerably. I suppose this is to be expected. It is difficult for a small church group of people to survive such circumstances.
Effect 2: We have an opportunity to press the RESET button on the ministry, to do some things differently and to implement some changes that need to be made. Of course, I’m not going to change the basic things I started the Chapel for in the first place. I still plan on making the teaching and preaching Biblical and simple, directing the people to love and follow Jesus. I also still plan on keeping the worship simple and heartfelt. These are things seldom found in churches here in Kitale. Thus, the great need for an institution like the Upper Room Baptist Chapel. But, pushing the RESET button means we can implement a children’s ministry to make attending easier for families of children. We can also implement more first-century like fellowship – eating together, sharing together, and helping each other. Also, we can implement what is oftentimes called “Outreach”. I don’t want to call it that or even to think of it like that because “Outreach” usually focuses on “bringing people to the church”. I want the people of the Chapel to simply be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community, serving others in our community and showing them the love of Jesus. And, I don’t want them to do it to “bring people to the church” but simply because we love Jesus, love others, and want to show them the love and heart of Jesus.
So, we get to press the RESET button. Opportunity or challenge? Probably both.
Blessings to you all,
Roger, Julie, and Chloe
CONTACT INFO
Roger & Julie Tate
P.O. Box 96
Kitale, Kenya 30200
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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News & Reports – October 2021
The Online Edition of the October 2021 BFM News & Reports is available at the link below. Read how God is working through the lives of our faithful missionaries and continue to pray for them.
*Remember you can click on any headline to view the post/story on our website.
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Good News from the “Orelhão” on the Peruvian Border
September 27, 2021
Dear Brethren,
Greetings from the Blue Grass State. Bev and I left Cruzeiro do Sul on August the fifth. After a brief stay in São Paulo, we went to visit Pastor Pedro and family in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. He is finishing up his doctorate and will soon be returning to Cruzeiro. We had promised to visit them and since we had to go to the far end of the country to get to the States, we spent a few days with them. While there I preached at Trinity Baptist Church where Pedro’s family serves.
Once Stateside we stopped in Florida to visit the Hatchers. So good to see John, Paul and Wanda. Also got to see my aunt Evelyn, Dad’s only remaining sibling. Didn’t get to see my Dad for several weeks, because he and Lois had been exposed to “the bug”.
We have been all over the country visiting family and friends. Spent a great week with Adam and the girls in Napa, California. Got to visit Paul and Brenda Creiglow (some of their kids and grands, too) in San Diego. Got to visit good friends Jim and Cris Johnson and Ken and Lydia Palmer, who we had not seen in 10 years in Reno, Nevada.
It has been refreshing to attend services all over the place. So far, we visited Calvary in Missouri where Bev’s brother is member. We were privileged to host Pastor Randy and 4 of his men a couple of years back. Attended First Baptist of Juneau, Alaska! Was at Adam’s church in Napa Valley, Grace. Have visited Emmanuel here in Lexington where our daughter Monica is member and teaches a Sunday School class. Got to be at Buck Run one Sunday morning. Hershael and Tanya York are friends from way, way, way back! They treated us to Honduran lunch and a ton of great memories and fellowship. Last Sunday preached at New Life. Thanks Pastor Steve. Dad is a member there.
Things seem to be going great down home. We are having well over 400 in all services. The men just held a retreat at our camp, Salém, with over 150 present.
Now, before I go, let me share something strange and wonderful. One day my phone rings here at Monica’s house. It was our missionary at Foz do Breu on the Peruvian border. He tells me that the river is finally coming up and wants to know when I will arrive. Now he knows that I am in the States, but it is simply unbelievable that I could talk directly to one of our most remote outposts from here in Kentucky! Let me tell you a little about the work there and José Costa, our missionary.
I was the first person to preach the gospel in that distant village back in 1966. It took a long time to establish a permanent work, 30 years to be exact. José’s dad, Senhor Roceno, was one of the first to be saved. Brother Roceno had a big family. Most of the boys were alcoholics. All of them had odd nicknames. One is “Papel” (paper). Another is “Tatu” (armadillo). José’s nickname is “Cobra” (snake). Well José Cobra got saved and with a few years of teaching is now our missionary. Our church supports him with $400.00 a month. He is also paid by the federal government to measure the rainfall and river level every day. But beyond this he is also responsible for the one and only satellite telephone booth in the whole region! Thus, he can call me even when I am in Kentucky. That phone booth is called “orelhão” or “Big Ear”. When you see the picture, you will understand why.
Bev and I are taking care of some health issues and getting rested for the next phase of our ministry. Prayer for our treatments and recovery.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.
In Christ,
Mike Creiglow
CONTACT INFO
Mike & Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
69980 Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre
Brasil, SA
mdcreig@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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Heading to Brazil to Encourage Pastors & Churches
September 23, 2021
Dear friends and family,
The tickets have been purchased and if all goes well with the COVID test that has to be taken because of international travel, we will be headed to Brazil on the 7th of October. Please be in prayer for this trip and for the churches we will be visiting.
Our trip to Brazil will be two weeks before the classes will begin so that we can visit the churches and encourage the pastors and their workers. Many of the churches have been affected by COVID and are now afraid. We just want to encourage them and help them with their fears and anxieties.
The classes will be starting on the 18th of October and will be held by Zoom. Dr. Derek and Dr. Edge will be the professors and the classes will be “Biblical Proclamation” and “Theory of Evangelism and Discipleship”.
The pastors in Brazil are facing the same problems we have here in the States. They are doing as required: social distancing (picture of the seating in Caraguatatuba Baptist Church), mask wearing, and sanitizing of the seating. And with doing all that, some are still afraid to return to church. Even with the vaccine being available and the restrictions being lifted, the people are still hesitant about returning to church. This is also affecting the seminary. FEAR! So, just to help us and them to remember Who is in control and therefore not place our faith in institutions, structures or people, but in God, we will be making this trip. He is steadfast and forever! In Him we must put our FAITH. He is an AWESOME God!!!!
However, their financial problems are much more prominent than what we are experiencing here. So, I am telling all our readers about this because we all need a little pick-me-up at times. So, we are offering scholarship assistance to help with the cost of the classes and materials that they will be needing. Many of our students in the rural areas will be gathering together to assist the Zoom classes as not all of them have a computer. So, this month while you are praying for these students and the classes maybe you would consider sending an offering designated to their class costs and their travel expenses.
We would, as always, like to thank everyone for their support of us and BFM with your prayers and financial giving. We are able to minister to the Brazilian pastors and through those pastors, to the people of Brazil. God is greatly using the Bluegrass Baptist Seminary for His honor and His good there in Brazil. What an AWESOME God we serve.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
CONTACT INFO
AJ & Barbara Hensley
592 Emery Court
Lexington, KY 40505
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 here to donate to BFM online.
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Using Friend’s Boat for River Mission Trips
September 23, 2021
Greetings to all of you who have been a blessing in our lives and ministry! We thank each one of you for your prayers and support! May God continue to bless each of you!
We are doing well, and God has blessed us with health and protection from any harm. In the area that we live, there have been some problems with 25 prisoners who had escaped from prison. They were attacking cars and also stealing in homes, but things have calmed down. Praise the Lord!
The services at the church and the missions are back to normal, and more of the people are coming back.
We are excited that next month we are going to have a special day like we used to have four or five times per year before the virus appeared. October has a day that is called Children’s Day. We are going to take advantage of the date and have a special event. We will be bringing kids and families from around the area and mission points. We will have a special service for the kids with puppets.
We have a friend that has a boat that he has offered to be used for missions on the river. This coming weekend he has invited me to go with his church on a mission trip of 3 days to the Village of Gapoaçu. Looking forward to this trip and it will be exciting to plan others. There are many villages that can only be accessed by boat.
We are finishing the baptistery at the church. We always had baptism on the riverside, but it is somewhat of a problem getting everyone there. So, we decided to finish it. Soon we will be having baptisms there. There have been several saved. Praise the Lord!
God bless each of you!
Love in Christ,
Odali and Kathy Barros
Contact Info:
Odali & Kathy Barros
Iranduba, Amazonas
Brasil, SA
odali_kathy@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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Praying for a Young Teen to Stay Faithful to His Savior
September 22, 2021
Dear Friends,
I just came home from a visit with a 19-year-old young man who is reaping some results of bad choices. In case he or a friend reads this report, I will refrain from printing his name. In my conversations with his mother, his grandmother and with the young man himself, I can understand a lot of the factors that contributed to his getting onto the wrong path in life. His father has been a drug addict most of the son’s life and his parents eventually divorced and he has been without a father present in the home for several years. I had this young man as a student in my English classes a few years ago and I discovered that he is very intelligent and has a captivating personality. What I see in him is a lot of potential, but a lack of self-discipline and a lot of pent-up anger. Instead of applying his intelligence and natural charm to a constructive lifestyle, he has made a series of terrible choices. To assuage his anger about his absent father and lack of the nicer things in life, he chose to use marijuana and other drugs. His habit increased but his income didn’t, so he resorted to another horrible choice, to sell drugs to afford more. He got caught by the police and went to prison. His sentence was 5 years.
I had shared the gospel with him when he was my English student and, while he was in prison, he began to read the Bible vigorously. The Lord had mercy on him, and he came to a saving relationship with Christ. His behavior and his attitudes changed, and he was released from prison for good behavior after five months of serving his five-year sentence. He is on probation and must use an ankle monitor, but at least he is not still behind bars. My visit this morning was occasioned by a plea from his grandmother, who is a member of my church. She had started to see her grandson begin to make some bad choices again and she’s afraid that he’ll end up back on the same terrible path he was on before. I had a great conversation with him, and I believe that the Lord used me to help him work out some practical steps for him to avoid the pitfalls that led to his earlier situation. The great difference now is that he is a true child of God through faith in the Lord and he has the presence of the Holy Spirit to empower him to make right choices and to hold to them. On a very practical level, I am going to go and pick him up and take him to church this weekend to meet some dedicated youth that will be glad to befriend him and help him leave behind those bad habits and develop healthy new ones. As you think of him, please pray that he stays faithful to his Savior.
All praise to God, the COVID cases have nearly disappeared from our area and this has led our schools to have regular in-person classes again. Our evangelistic teams are getting invitations from several schools to come and minister to their students and staff. I know this sounds odd for public schools, and it is. The main reason this is happening is the work of the Lord, of course. On the human level, our strategy is helped by having “insiders” in some of the schools. Last week was one such case. A member of my church is one of the assistant principals and she presented to the head principal proof of our team’s track record of working with students who were unruly and problematic before, but who became well-behaved and cooperative after our evangelistic program in their school. We are excited that our team is getting more and more of these opportunities. Our volunteers are thrilled that they are again able to share the gospel nearly every week with hundreds of students and their school staff.
Please keep us in your prayers as we seek to honor the Lord with the opportunities afforded us. Thank you for your concern and faithful prayers on our behalf.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Contact Info:
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Rua Laudelino Ferreira Lopes, 279
Sobrado 1, Novo Mundo
81050-310 Curitiba, PR. Brasil
Phone: 55-41-99899-2333
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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