Preparing to Return to Kenya
December 3, 2021
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are officially at the end of 2021. What a challenging year it has been, yet the Lord has been with us through it all. Through these challenging times, may we trust the Lord more than ever before. 1 Chronicles 16:11 says “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.” Amen. May this be the desire of our hearts.
We have officially booked our return to Kenya, later this month. We were delayed a little, as I (Nathan) contracted coronavirus last month and had to quarantine. It was not a bad case, for which I am thankful, but there were definite symptoms, such as cold-like feelings, and a lot of lethargy. I had a great decrease in energy upon my diagnosis. Those who have also contracted it probably have had similar symptoms. I had to rest for several days and recover. This was one of the major delays, but I thank the Lord I am strong and healthy again.
Please pray for my wife as she is very stressed right now, trying to remember to pack everything, all the school materials, supplies, and making sure we have everything we need. She does a great job at it, but please pray for all of us, that we would do our best, cross off all our to do lists, and be able to get everything done in a timely manner. The weeks before is always the most stressful, but I hope and pray we get it all done.
Please also pray for this new strand of coronavirus called Omicron. It is already in various African countries (southern Africa), but it will probably be just a matter of time before it makes its way across the continent. We are trusting the Lord to keep us safe and healthy during our travels back, and also while we live in Kitale.
There are always adjustments upon our return, so please pray for us upon our return. There are also many things to do upon our arrival to catch up, so I (Nathan) need prayer that I will get all the major items done upon our return.
We wish you each a great upcoming holiday season. This Christmas, may we enjoy our time with friends and family, but never forget the birth of our Lord and Savior. I will close with Matthew 1:23, which says, ”Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” May God bless you for your heart for missions.
Merry Christmas,
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.
Read more
The Season of Hope
December 1, 2021
Merry Christmas from the Tates, everyone!
This Christmas of 2021 marks the second Christmas marred by a general feeling of world-wide fear and trepidation. For some people, the words “Corona Virus” bring feelings of imminent threat. For others, it is more a feeling of caution but also uncertainty because of the way world governments are dealing with the situation. For some there is fear; for others there is angst. For some there is fear of disease, suffering, and even death; for others there is fear of corruption, oppression, and tyranny. Either way, there is more shared world-wide distress than I have ever seen in my adult lifetime.
I love how the Psalmist in Chapter 4 of the Book of Psalms says to God, “Hear me when I call…You HAVE relieved me in my distress.” David prayed because he was in need of relief, but he talked as if God had ALREADY given it. David assumed it; it was a foregone conclusion to him. He prayed with an expectation of hope. Not a “hope so,” but a “hope KNOW.”
Sometimes I’m not sure what specifically I need – I just know there is this anxiety, this longing…this emptiness that needs filling. This…dis-satisfaction with this world. It’s a longing for Hope – for the end of futility…the end of sin and its effects both around me and in me…the end to brokenness, disease, and death…the end to evil, poverty, and oppression…the end to division, hate, and violence…the end to suffering of all kinds.
But God teaches me through His Word that He has ALREADY relieved me in my distress. He has ALREADY sent His answer – in the greatest, most complete, and most comprehensive manner possible.
IMMANUEL.
GOD WITH US.
JESUS.
God IS the God of all Hope, and this is the Season of Hope because Jesus is our “Hope Know.”
This season especially (right now in 2021) is given to us as a reminder – a refocus.
“Take heart,” Jesus said, “for I have ALREADY overcome the world.” It’s done. It’s finished. Now we are simply waiting for it to work its way through – but it’s done – it’s a foregone conclusion.
All the suffering, the hate, the disease, the oppression, the death – it has ALREADY been dealt the death blow and lies writhing on the ground fighting for its last gasp of oxygen. The answer has ALREADY been given – the healing medicine ALREADY applied. It’s been done in the birth, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus. We long for peace, and the Prince of Peace has come.
So, God, hear us when we call. Have mercy on us. You HAVE relieved us in our distress. Now, fill us with the Peace You have ALREADY provided so we can love others with the love with which You have loved us. Help us be satisfied in our dis-satisfaction, knowing we hope (KNOW), along with all of creation, for the full coming of Your PERFECTED Kingdom.
The King is Coming!
Love,
Julie
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.
Read more
Bro. Mário Rodrigues, Missionary & a Hero of the Faith, Called Home
November 23, 2021
Dear Brethren,
We are home, earthly home, that is. It took us 54 hours. It was raining in all six cities that we went through. It was freezing in Kentucky. It is 80 degrees here in wonderful Cruzeiro do Sul. The trip was an ordeal, but He worked things out. I won’t bore you with the details. We are home! Thanks to all our family and friends who were so gracious to us in this long 3 months away from our home and life work.
We arrived here on Saturday, November 20th. The services at First Baptist Church were just amazing on Sunday. It was so good to hear a church really belt out praises to our wonderful Lord. Our church is known for how well she sings. Not always perfect pitch, but you can hear them! They wanted me to preach, but I declined. We had 4 adults saved, there was one request for baptism and another young woman for membership. Wow! What a homecoming.
On Sunday night one of our missionaries died. Brother Mário Rodrigues, 56 years old, died of cancer. He had been sick for many months and suffered terribly. What a story though. Let me share it with you. When Brother Joe Brandon came to Cruzeiro do Sul in the mid 1920’s, besides founding First Baptist Church (May 12, 1929), he also traveled the rivers with a small group of believers preaching the Gospel. He had a boat called “Peregrino” (The Pilgrim). It had a small inboard diesel engine, which was rare for that remote place and time. Everyone knew about this boat and her crew. On one of those first mission trips Brother Brandon planned to preach at a small village named Porto Walter. This is about 100 miles upstream on the Juruá River. As they approached the riverbank to land, Brother Leônidas grabbed the rope and prepared to jump ashore. Brother Leônidas was one of the original 13 members of First Baptist, a poet, musician and preacher.
However, there was a mob waiting on the riverbank. This mob had been sent by the Roman Catholic priest to prevent any “invasion” by the “crentes”, believers. One of the men in the crowd, wielding a machete, told Leônidas, “If you come ashore, I will chop the rope and chop you.”
Brother Brandon decided to back off and continue on upriver. From then on, the village continued to be sealed off and off limits to the Gospel. That was decades ago. For a long time, I was troubled by this. After much prayer and preparation God made it clear that “enough is enough”. When the time came for us to send a missionary there, Brother Mário Rodrigues stepped up. I personally went there ahead of him to survey the village and get property and a house for his young family. I went with him in 1994 to kick things off. He worked there faithfully for 15 years.
Every morning at 6:00 0’clock sharp the priests and nuns wake the town up with praises to mother Mary on a loud speaker atop the tower of the Catholic church. It was not easy. Plenty of resistance and even persecution. Mário was a mild, softspoken man. He was the most unlikely person to succeed in such a hostile setting. But, greater is He who is in us. Succeed he did. Today the church has over 200 members installed in a big 2 story building right downtown. The church is doing mission work on the river and tributaries. There are 3 congregations with over 100 baptized believers.
Although Mário is a big loss to the kingdom on earth, he is a hero of the faith. I count it a great honor to have known him, worked with him, spent many tearful hours with him and be a small part in the ministry of such a giant.
Well, I must close, but I still have an unusual request that I must make. Bev had cataract surgery on both eyes while we were in the States. They also corrected her distance vision. She couldn’t see much at all far away. They corrected the astigmatism and the glaucoma, too. It was a total success, but it was also very expensive. Our insurance covered a small part of it. We had to cover just over $9,500.00. This had to be paid before the surgery, so we plopped down the ole credit card. We have since borrowed money to cover this. If the Lord should lead you to help us with this, we would be much in your debt.
Oh! And did I mention? It sure is wonderful to be home again! Thank you, Lord.
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.
Read more
God at Work in Friday Night Home Services
November 21, 2021
Greetings to all dear brothers and sisters!
What a wonderful month we have had. God has been working in so many wonderful ways. Can you imagine what goes through someone’s mind when they call you to please pick them up because they want to go to church to be saved, and before it was time to pick her up, she felt bad and was taken to the hospital. The enemy thought he could get in the way. This lady lives about one hour away. It was her daughter who got saved when we had a service in their home. As she reflected on what was preached, the Holy Spirit touched her heart and she wanted to be saved. Pray for this family!
Every Friday night we are having service in different homes and different communities. God has opened so many doors. We are working with the members of the church to get them more involved. Many have shown an interest and are being a blessing. We have had two meetings in the home of a Japanese family. They have a son with serious problem as lightning hit him through his computer. His name is Nelson.
The lady in the middle is the one who wanted to accept Jesus 
Gathered at the home of the Japanese Family
Every Sunday when we are starting our service in the morning, there are many motorcycles that drive by in front of the church really speeding and loud. So, we decided that we were going to have contact with them by giving them free water. Along with the water we are giving a pamphlet with a verse about God being living water and the church information.
Another special situation is an American Jew that has come to visit us. He loves fishing. He has fished here with us 2 times. He said to me once, that he wants to understand about Jesus. This time he has been really moved by the people we are working with, especially one that is 14 that calls us his parents. He asked if he could call us dad and mom. Well, this man said today, “Next time I come I’m going to go to church with you boys even though I’m not a church person.” Pray for him. His name is Mike.
God bless each of you. Thanks for your prayers and support!
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.
Read more
Ministering to the Guarani Indians
November 20, 2021
Dear friends and family,
Since our trip to Brazil last month was a very long one, I thought I would just continue my relating about that trip. As I told you before, we met with many pastors and encouraged them and the other students, but I did not tell you how they were an encouragement to us as we traveled around. The stories that I heard this trip was one of how so many were thankful for the seminary and the training that they have received, and also how they are anticipating the next classes. You can only imagine how this has blessed our hearts to know that we are following God’s will in the continuation of this Seminary.
When we had finished the meetings with the Pastors about the new schedules, we had some extra time, so we went to visit our Pastor friend Valdival and his wife Rosa. They are the Missionaries to the Guarani Indians located near the city or Paraty, just over the state line of São Paulo into Rio de Janairo about 3 hours from Caraguatatuba (the city of our last church plant). We helped minister to this tribe with our Church in Caraguatatuba.
They are a group of Indians who have been placed on a reservation and are very much in need of all the basics: food, clothing, and other life necessities. They live in mud huts or other pieced-together houses (houses that they have gathered bits and pieces from everywhere). The mud houses are made of bamboo and mud and the process takes many different layers with time between the applications. The floors are just dirt, and many are just one room. Electric is furnished by the Government but there is no heat nor air nor running water. Many of the older Indians speak only their native language, but the younger ones also speak Portuguese.
While in our last church there in Caraguatatuba we visited this tribe with our church people and groups from the States, taking them some of those basic needs that I was talking about, and bringing the gospel to them also. We were encouraged to know that 7 of the tribe accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
Here is where Barbara and I need some extra help. We want to purchase Bibles in their native language. We were able to do this a few years back, but there are none of these Bibles left. The wife of one of the women of the tribe said that she was the proud owner of three of these Bibles, but when someone from the tribe sees them, they have begged her to give them one. Needless to say, she has not refused to give two of her stash, but she says that she hides her last one now so she does not feel guilty for not giving it to those who ask. Because these Bibles have to be translated into their language and be special ordered they are expensive. Pray with us to be able to get these Bibles into the Caragua Baptist Church and then into the hands of the Guarani Indians.
After the holidays, we would like to start a fund to purchase Bibles for this tribe. If you or your church would like to help with this purchase, please donate to the Indian Bible fund. We thank you in advance for your help.
As always, we covet your prayers for us in general and for our health and safety as we minister and travel. Miracles happen because of prayers. Also pray for BFM and all who are involved everyone who contributes and all our missionaries. Remembering Philippians 4:6 says pray about everything.
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.
Read more
Souls Saved, Lives Changed
November 20, 2021
Dear Friends,
The expression, ‘very eventful,’ that some of us use to describe a busy period can be a little misleading. All periods of time are filled with events, be they noteworthy or not. I mention this because I was going to start this letter by saying that this past month has been ‘very eventful’, when in fact, every month is, for every person. So, what I will say is that this past month has been filled with some events that were quite noteworthy to us, and we hope to you as well.
The newly ordained pastor, Cledson, and his wife and volunteer leaders took about 40 of our teens to camp this past weekend and the Lord blessed in a tremendous way. Many of the youth were deeply impacted through the daily study of God’s word and the teaching they received. There were six teens who were baptized as followers of Christ at the end of this youth camp.
This last month we also had the privilege of working with one of the Projeto Vida (Project Life) teams in street evangelism. Our Agape team has been called upon to head up a citywide ministry to the homeless. There are many people, including entire families, that are homeless in our capital city. The weather here is generally cool almost year-round and when it gets cold these folks suffer for lack of shelter and warm food. I took three American pastors who came to visit our work out to the minister among those folks who came looking for help. The Lord worked powerfully to convict and save many of these dear people. While some of our team were feeding them, giving them haircuts, a bath and supplying some with shoes, clothing and blankets, we shared the gospel with them and the Lord brought repentance and faith to several. The Agape team leader, Mateus, is doing a fantastic job of following up with those who surrender their life to Christ. Some of them were addicted to cocaine and crack and several have, by God’s grace, gotten their lives cleaned up and have begun new lives living responsibly and drug free. I was so thrilled to see the Lord using me as a translator for these American brothers and know that His grace is never limited by language or bad choices in the past.
One of our friends and Brazilian brothers has been instrumental in a new church plant in a small town not far from the capital. He asked us and the visiting pastors to bring the message to the congregation while they were here. Their services are in a public-school auditorium on Saturday evenings. Since they don’t have a building yet, this allows the pastor to continue to minister at his sending church for the time being and there is no cost to rent the location. This setup also puts the new church in the middle of the community where they want to make an impact for Christ.
The larger building that we thought that we would be moving our church into last month didn’t work out. It was a little bit of an emotional letdown, but we know that the Lord is in control of all things and that this was not something that slipped by Him. We will continue to look, but we are also actively working on how to hold two services and two Bible study hours each Sunday to deal with the overflowing attendance. We pray for the Lord to give us wisdom and guidance through this process of growth plans. We are also thankful that this is the kind of problem that we are dealing with.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and support. Have a great holiday season.
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
Read more
Ministering to Children at URBC
November 10, 2021
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ,
I am super excited about what I will report to you this month. That is because it is all about the ministry at the Chapel and because unlike most of my monthly newsletters it will be entirely positive in nature.
Last month I reported that after a hiatus from worshiping at the Upper Room Baptist Chapel because of Covid restrictions, and because of a short visit I made to the US, we would resume our worshiping and serving at the Chapel. Rebooting, or re-kickstarting might be a better word to describe it though, considering the drop-off we had with the hiatus. But, reboot we have. And things are going well. We obviously still have many challenges facing us as I mentioned in last month’s newsletter. Those challenges will probably never go away. For example, I am still throwing around the idea of implementing an “offering” box so that people can make offerings if the Spirit so leads them. These offerings would entirely be used for charity and goodwill for the impoverished and needy in our community. Offerings are something the people at the Chapel have suggested they need to be doing, but offerings in this culture are so fraught with problems and difficulties that I am really, really torn over implementing it at all. But this is not a newsletter about problems.
One of the things we have implemented with the rebooting of the Chapel is the beginning of a children’s worship / Bible hour. I use the term “we” loosely because although it has been something I have been thinking about and planning for, it has really been started, implemented, and gotten working almost entirely through Julie’s efforts. This was obviously something I could not accomplish on my own as the class meets at the same time as my preaching/teaching time with the adults. So, seeing the great need for a children’s worship hour and seeing the benefits of such a ministry, Julie has made the herculean efforts to get it going. She found a great curriculum that focuses on the truth of the Bible and how that truth points us to God and His Son, to loving God and His Son, and following that truth. After we sing together as a congregation, Julie takes the children to our spare room at the Chapel and teaches them the Bible, teaches them Bible songs, reinforces the lessons with activities, and basically tries to bring these beloved Kenyan children to the feet of our beloved Jesus. And it is working. The children are responding well, and from what I can see love their time in the children’s worship / Bible hour.
You already know the benefits of this ministry, but I would still like to point out just two:
1. Our beloved Kenyan children need to know Jesus, to love Jesus, and to follow Jesus as their Savior and King. This teaching is hard for them to get during the regular worship time / preaching time. Their own worship / Bible time is much more suited to helping them know how the Bible points them to Jesus.
2. Having this children’s ministry will tremendously help the overall ministry of the Chapel. It gives the possibility to families with small children to attend and will help everybody to be active listeners and to actively participate in our worship services. I say this because the culture here is such that children can wander freely and unsupervised during the services (I still remember so vividly one of the first church services I ever attended in Kenya when one little guy was wandering around unattended, walked in circles around the pastor while he was preaching and finally ended up in a corner at the front of the church auditorium where he dropped his trousers and relieved himself on the floor. Nobody did a thing or moved a muscle the whole time to stop him or to clean up after him.)
Want to know how you can pray for this new part of our ministry? You can pray for the beloved children who have been attending: Faith, Esther, Isaiah, Chloe, Una and Emma.
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.
Read more
Two Big Events Divinely Planned
November 8, 2021
Better than steak
Our time Stateside has been full of surprises. I want to share with you two situations where the Lord has made Himself known to us in a tremendous way. We are grateful to the churches that received us during these last couple of months: Faith Baptist Church in Kirksville, MO – Brandon Rhae; New Life Chapel in Glenn Elyn, IL – Sajan Mathews; Living Word Baptist Church in Forrest, VA – Gary Yates & Scott Phillips; Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA – Jonathan Falwell & Tim Grandstaff. Please, continue reading concerning the mighty hand of God. Yes, a spiritual meal with friends is better than steak, and we enjoy being with fellow believers!
Where do we park?
We also had a chance to visit two cousins of mine (David Hatcher and Lydia Reece) and their families. We met at a Chicago zoo/park and later that evening devoured a famous Chicago deep-dish pizza! Thanks for the great Saturday guys.
Refueling
I fully enjoyed being at REFUEL Conference 2021 in Lynchburg, VA. Blessed to be with Jonathan Falwell, Dave Adams, Scott Phillips, Doug Randlett, Matt Wilmington, Rob Wetzel, Charles Billingsley, Tim Grandstaff, Russ Dean, Troy Temple, Jimmy Scroggins, Todd Thomas, and Nick Parsons. It is a free conference for all attendees – sponsored by Thomas Road Baptist Church. There are several “Refuel One-Day” events across the country within the next several months. Pastor friends, you should consider going and taking your team. Plan to attend REFUEL 2022. Visit www.refuel.org. It is sure worth the networking and encouragement. (If you’d like me to go with you to a conference you believe in, please call me. I’d love to go with your team.)
Heavenly Hospitality
Raquel attended the “Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit 2021” in Cincinnati, OH in September. Thanks, Philip DuBarry for connecting her with Gary & Karen Gault for the week. Raquel was blessed by the Sunday night service at Addyston Baptist Church and the pizza dinner with David & Kym Pitman at the Gault home. Nothing beats Southern Hospitality? Wrong! Heavenly Hospitality is much better.
“You mean it is not a hernia?”
In early September, I went to see a surgeon regarding a hernia. I had a hernia surgery back in 2001, in the exact location of the current bulge. I was certain it needed to be redone. Upon visual examination, the doctor requested a biopsy. I went in for a biopsy on September 15. Turns out it was a swollen lymph node – 2 inches in size and growing quickly. The biopsy results came in – it was lymphoma. I was shocked by the news, as was Raquel. The surgeon said it was highly treatable and recommended I see an oncologist. I looked for the best oncologist in the region, but he was booked up to two months out. So, I searched for one with the soonest appointment available – in two weeks. Within the hour, my sister Michelle called and said, “Hey one of the best oncologists in the Chicago area has an appointment open for tomorrow. See if you can schedule it.” He was the exact one who was only available two months away. I logged in and scheduled! In less than 12 hours I was sitting in his office! Praise the Lord!
Over the coming weeks, I ran several blood exams, an MRI, a CAT scan (a Dog Scan), and a bone marrow biopsy. The oncologist proposed a chemotherapy and radiology treatment plan. I accepted and began the process. Raquel and I spoke to each one of the kids as soon as we knew enough about my lymphoma, and what to expect of the side effects during the oncoming months. We knew it would be a hard conversation with our kids. As just recently, Raquel´s best friend (Vanessa) passed away quickly from cancer at the beginning of this year. (Our kids knew Vanessa well and we visited her family in Pennsylvania a few weeks prior.) Everything was going well as I explained to our kids that I was sick with lymphoma. I wanted to explain thoroughly without using the word “cancer”, but knew that I needed to explain that lymphoma is a type of cancer. (Everyone always thinks the worst-case scenario when you use the word. But, Vanessa’s death due to cancer was very real to our kids.) Each one heard and understood everything I said up to that point. Then, I said, “Lymphoma is a type of cancer”. Tears began to flow. I reiterated, told them there was nothing to fear, to trust in the Lord and He would take care of all the details. We pray together daily knowing that our hope is in the Creator. We rest in His providence and provision, daily.
The first step was to install a port-a-catheter. The day before the surgery, I went swimming with my kids – as I presumed it would be my last time to submerge into the water for at least 6 months. (I have two friends who have a port that is exposed externally and have to be very careful with it.) I woke up after the surgery and to my surprise, there was nothing externally. I was elated! I spoke to the surgeon about what I thought I saw. He said, “Oh yeah, you can go swimming in about a week, the port is internal.” Praise the Lord!
On October 22nd, I began the first chemotherapy infusion cycle. Arrived at RUSH University Infusion Center at 7:30 am and was there for 7 hours. Some of the following days were rough, but the Lord has shown His grace. I will undergo chemo and 20 days of radiation – roughly 4 months. The oncologist originally suspected the cancer was in multiple locations. However, after all the scans/imaging and bone marrow biopsy, it was concluded that the Lymphoma is only in one location in my body.
After much prayer, I decided to openly speak of my cancer amongst friends on social media (in English and Portuguese) and request them to join us in prayer. Now, I am sharing in this publication and I ask that you join us in prayer. Earlier in this process, I was keeping it privately. Only family, close friends, and Baptist Faith Missions directors knew of it.
I thank you for the prayers, emails, and phone calls already received.
I want to thank the directors for the decision (over a year ago) to change the BFM health insurance to Cigna Global. We are well covered and medically well assisted through the plan, both Stateside and in Brazil.
Most importantly, I want to thank my Heavenly Father for His provision, and for the LOVE He instilled in you for Missions and for my family.
On October 30, Raquel and I went on a walk at Cantigny Park in the city will live while Stateside – Wheaton, Illinois. We enjoyed a full three hours of talking, praying, and enjoying the beautiful Autumn colors (in Brazil the Fall season is not as evident as it is here). I want to share with you a poem at I wrote that evening.
SURPRISING PEACE
A beautiful day at spectacular Cantigny Park,
Lovely amazing Autumn colors and never dark,
Delighted by the endless cool breezes in my beloved’s warm embrace,
She is the one designed for me, oh my.
Oscillating sunshine splattering on my face,
One Spirit, two people in Imago Dei,
Past abyss placed me in disarray,
How could I deny?
Desperately grateful, I never could repay,
My debt, “tetelestai”,
Oh, overwhelmed, full-fledged Grace.
This Saturday in “Le Jardin” makes three hearts
joined in fellowship rendered from the ultimate sacrifice.
We trust, fully surrender,
At the feet of the Creator in His plan for us.
Whatta Divine!
He placed in us His Holy mark,
Surpassing all human understanding ace,
Sealed in us is His endless, sustaining love,
Unrelenting confidence, trust immeasurable,
We trust in Thine!
He provides, surprising peace.
Judson Hatcher
Wheaton, Illinois – October 30, 2021
“Her inner ear is ossified”
Two years ago, while our kids were traveling by plane under the supervision of an adult friend (we remained in São Paulo), Laura ruptured her left eardrum due to an infection – we did not know of it prior to travel. She went to the emergency care upon arrival in Manaus and the doctor prescribed medication. It just kept getting worse… three days later she went back to the ER. The doctor on call said, “not sure why, but she was given the wrong medicine!” The proper medication treated the infection in due time, but the hole in the eardrum never closed. She has to use an earplug for showers and when near water.
In São Paulo, every ENT doctor stated, “Her inner ear / cochlear canal is ossified. Her hearing loss is eversible’, and the MRI images confirmed the disheartening diagnosis. We submitted it to God.
Upon settling into Wheaton, IL, we took Laura to an Otorhinolaryngology (ENT). Upon first look into the left ear, he said it was likely she could get her hearing back! He referred us to the best ENT surgeon in Chicago. We scheduled an MRI and upon receiving the result: There is NO OSSIFICATION in the cochlear canal! She can get her hearing back with surgery! Praise the Lord!
Laura is 15 years old, and we are allowing her to make the decision regarding the surgery. Since repairing her hearing involves installing a cochlear implant and wearing a small magnetic device attached to the skull – an inch over, behind her ear. Our next step is to visit the cochlear audiologist to field any questions about post-operative body adjustment and the device´s fine-tuning process. It should be about a month still. However, I do think Laura has already decided to install it (originally she said she did not want any external devices). Pray for Laura as she makes this important decision and we guide and support her through this process.
The Future
Between these two big events, we have seen so many amazing things happen that are simply miraculous! The unbeliever might label it as “lucky” or, state “it’s too good to be true”, or “this is unbelievable”, and “This stuff is absurdly, preposterously perfect”. It is! It is Divinely planned. Thankfully, it is real, and we trust the Creator, the great bio-engineer, and chief doctor. We know factually to believe and surrender our lives to the One who holds our future.
Request
Pray for Jonathan & Charis Escote. They are part of our team. We plan to bring them to the States for an intensive training and exposure trip in January 2022. They are ministry team members and we need financial help for their trip. Would you consider giving for them to come to the States? We need to raise 3,000 dollars to cover the cost of this trip.
Grateful always,
Judson & Raquel Hatcher
Contact Info:
Jud & Raquel Hatcher
São Paulo, Brazil
judsonhatcher@gmail.com
(872) 400-6522
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
