News & Reports – September 2021
The Online Edition of the September 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.
Read more
Seeing Stress in the States
September 3, 2021
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ,
My, what turbulent times we all live in these days.
Most of you probably don’t know this but as I write this I am currently in the United States. I made an unplanned visit here for a month, mostly for personal reasons—to visit family and to attend to some issues I felt could use my assistance. My trip is now winding down and by the time you read this I will probably be back in Kenya with Julie and Chloë.
Being here in the States has shown me something: People all around the world are stressed. I’ve known for some time that the people in Kenya are stressed, after all I live with and around them. Now I know that the people of the United States are also stressed.
I’ve noticed that some are stressed about Covid and the possibilities of contracting the disease.
I’ve noticed that some are stressed about the economy and the downturns it has taken.
I’ve noticed that some are stressed about politics and the political status of the country.
I’ve noticed that you’re kids are stressed about returning to school, and wearing masks, and being sent home for being exposed to Covid, etc.
I’ve noticed that you’re very concerned about events in Afghanistan.
I’ve noticed that many of you are stressed about the constant state of flux and change.
I’ve noticed that a lot less people are attending church services on a weekly basis.
In short, I’ve noticed a lot of little changes from the last short trip I made to the United States 2 years ago. Yes, I’ve noticed. But, no, I am not lecturing you. I love you all and feel much compassion for your stress, your anxiety, and your concerns. And because of this, I plan on doing something when I return to Kenya.
Normally, I express in my newsletters the way that you can pray for the Kenyan people. If you’ve read any of my newsletters I know that you’ve seen many prayer requests like this. But this time around, when I return to Kenya, I’m going to gather together the believers that attend the Chapel in Kitale and we are going to pray specifically for you, you believers in the United States. Will that be OK with you, to have a few followers of Christ on the other side of the world, in a different culture, using a different language, praying for you? We are going to pray that God be with you, that you feel the presence of God in your lives daily and in a special way during these turbulent times. We are going to pray that God bless you with all spiritual blessings. We are going to pray that the love and grace of God shower down upon you. We are going to pray that you trust God and accept his will in your lives in all things. We are going to pray that when you are stressed and anxious that the peace of God would envelope you. We are going to pray that God would work in your politics to bring about his glory and your good. We are going to pray that your love for others would grow and grow.
This is different, I know, because normally I ask that you pray for us. However, this time we are going to pray for you. I hope you are OK with this.
Blessings to you all,
Roger, Julie & 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
Partial Lockdown in Kenya
September 2, 2021
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now at the end of summer and beginning the school year. It seems like the summer months just flew by, and now we are in the later months of 2021. It is hard to believe the school has already started. May we remember the students, teachers, and parents during this challenging year with coronavirus. We pray that all will be safe and healthy. We hope this finds each of you doing well and we thank you so much for your interest in missions around the world.
Please continue to pray for Kenya and the coronavirus. Our understanding is that there is a partial lockdown in the country now, with religious gatherings meeting in a limited capacity. There is also an extended curfew, which has been going on for months. Kenya is now getting some of the vaccines shipped to them from overseas, so please pray that the vaccines will get into the right places quickly and prevent the virus from spreading further. We trust the Lord in all these things and know He is in complete control.
Jeremiah 32:17 says “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” Also, Psalm 121:2, ” My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” These verses remind us that our help comes from the Lord, and that nothing is too hard for Him. When we are going through challenging times, such as this past year, may we get into the Word and remind ourselves of the great promises of God. He will be with us and take care of us. May we trust Him always.
I (Nathan) am continuing to travel and report on the ministries in Kitale, Kenya. Please pray for me as I travel, for safety, as well as good meetings in the churches. So many of you have asked how you can pray for us, encourage us, etc. We are so thankful to each of you and your heart for missions. We could not do this without you and we are so thankful for your support and encouragement.
This month marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington. May we be mindful of those who lost their lives on that tragic day, and keep the families in our prayers. Also, for the brave responders who perished in the efforts to save others. How we need to keep America in our prayers, for safety, freedom, and for the people to remember the Lord. In closing, I love Psalm 20:7, which says “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” Amen. We will keep you updated.
Until next month,
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
God’s Hand in the Amazon Jungle
August 28, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings from the Amazon jungle! We hope and pray that each of you are doing well and being blessed. Thank God we are doing well and blessed! We know that so many families have been affected through this virus that is in the world. We pray that God will comfort and strengthen each one.
Things here around where we live and work have been pretty calm. Thank God the ministries we do are almost all back to normal. The services we have in homes are back and going to the homes that want us to come. We had service last week in a home of a brother of one of our church members. He had a motorcycle wreck over a year ago and was having problems with his broken leg, but through all these problems he accepted Christ as Savior. He can’t wait to be able to come to church to be baptized.
We also are still working with some men from the “Project Life” which have had problems with addictions. Pray that we can help them continue to be encouraged to not go back to their addiction and keep God as their focus.
On Sunday morning we have been having Christian growth studies and music classes. Now we are going to have a class to train those who want to serve in the ministry, preaching, visiting and reaching out to the communities. Pray that God will touch the hearts of those in the church who can help in these areas.
This young man grew up at Alpha & Omega Home in Garca.
He now helps in Ubim’s ministry.
Teens helping with the kids in Ubim
The work in Ubim continues doing well. Pray with us that God prepare someone who could take that ministry full time. There is so much that can be done there. There are lots of young people there and there is nothing for teens to do there. Like everywhere else, there are drugs.
We are involving some of the teenagers that have been coming since they were kids. It is so great to see them helping!
The difficulty in these areas is that people don’t all live close and many don’t have transportation, so there is a need to go where the people are. Pray that God will touch the hearts of more people so we can reach more people.
We have been working with 2 teenagers in our home. One was through the church and the other one is from a place where I went to catch fish. The teen would help me catch them and I brought him to our house a couple of times. Later he asked if he could come and stay a few days. Where he lives is the street of the drugs. Well, he came for a few days! And he is still here! Now he calls Kathy and I mom and dad. He says he doesn’t want to go back home because he doesn’t want to go into drugs. Praise the Lord. But the interesting thing is that after the 2 teens met each other, they found out they were cousins!! Pray for them that they can grow and reach their families!
Love in Christ,
Odali and Kathy
Father’s Day. The tallest is their son Jonas. The others have adopted Odali & Kathy as parents…and they have taken them in as their children! 
Service at the home of David, the man with a broken leg.
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
Healing Grace and Souls Saved
August 27, 2021
Dear Friends,
Charlene and I got a message from our daughter, Jessie, early in August telling us that she had COVID. She had been working at camp with a group of youth from her church the week before. Several members of her team had contracted COVID about the same time as she. Charlene and I have both had the virus, so we know it is a serious illness, but we both recovered quite well and were expecting that Jessie would do the same. After a week of Jessie getting sicker and being admitted into the hospital, Charlene and I decide that we should travel to Tampa, Florida to give our daughter some moral support. We wouldn’t be able to visit her in the hospital, but she would know that we were near. The day we arrived in Tampa, Jessie’s doctor called me and told me not to lose hope, that there were still a couple of things that they could do to try to help her. We didn’t even know that she was so sick that we should lose hope in the first place! The doctor made it very clear that Jessie was struggling for life. After getting off the phone with the doctor, Charlene and I nearly lost it. We cried like we have never cried before. Our baby girl was hanging in the balance of life and death and we weren’t even aware of it. In my prayer immediately after this call, I confessed to the Lord that I trusted completely in Him and that I knew that, before Jessie was my girl, she was His girl. I did also share with the Lord that I didn’t feel like I was ready for Him to take her home yet. I asked Him for mercy and healing grace. After our personal prayers, I contacted our sending church’s pastor, Darrell Messer, and the executive secretary of Baptist Faith Missions, Dave Parks, and asked them to spread the news of Jessie’s condition with everyone they could. I also contacted my church in Brazil and our ministry volunteers from Projeto Vida and asked them all to pray earnestly for Jessie’s healing. Folks, let me say to the Glory of God, He began immediately to bring healing into Jessie’s body. The very next morning, Jessie’s doctor called me again and told me that she was improving quickly. The next day she messaged me to say that if she continued to improve at the rate that she was improving that she would be released from the hospital in two to three days. It wasn’t two to three days, the next day she was released to go home. She was given some medicine to continue taking at home, but she never went backward after those prayers began to be offered on her behalf. Six days after the doctor first told me how sick Jessie was, she was already home from the hospital and back to work! Our God is an amazing God. He hears and He answers prayer. We know that He would still be God and He would still be good if He saw fit to take Jessie on to heaven, but we are extremely grateful that He had mercy on us, her parents, to heal her and give her more opportunities to serve Him here in this world. We praise His Name! We know that some of you heard of Jessie’s condition and prayed for her healing, and we want to take this opportunity to thank you for your earnest and effective prayers.
We are also happy to share that our evangelistic outreach teams are being able to get back into the public schools and parks here in Brazil. This past week they ministered in a small town about halfway across our state toward Paraguay. The Lord blessed and there were over 20 professions of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Many of those who surrendered to Christ had never heard a clear presentation of the gospel. The team’s volunteers were amazed at how the Lord used them to minister to people who felt hopeless. We pray that the doors of opportunity will remain open and that no more lockdowns will interfere with being able to get into the public schools and town squares with the message of God’s love.
We serve a mighty and good God, and we are grateful. Thank you to those who pray for us and give so that we may continue to serve Him here in southern Brazil.
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
Two Seminary Classes Planned for October
August 24, 2021
Dear friends and family,
With all the things going on in the world, we all need to stay focused on the main thing: Jesus Christ our Savior, and how we can help others by teaching them about Him.
So, let’s talk about the Seminary and the progress we have been making in Brazil. We had plans made to go in October to have our first face-to-face classes in almost two years but AGAIN the COVID has interrupted our plans. But thanks to the internet and ZOOM, even though the trip has been called off, the classes are going to go on. We will be having the two classes as planned, just in a different venue. We have used the motto of the Marines: Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome. Dr. Derek from Lexington and Dr. Edge from Texas will be giving their lectures online. God is so AWESOME in every circumstance. He provides a way if you are faithful to wait on Him.
Pray for these professors, the translator, and the Brazilian pastors that are participating. These Brazilian Pastors are challenged spiritually, financially, and physically. The registering will begin on the 4th of October and will last for two weeks. Pray for the class to be full of open minds and willing spirits.
I am going to include two pictures of one of our biggest classes to graduate with certificates of completion. This was the first four classes that was offered by Bluegrass Baptist Seminary. Just to show that despite all the drawbacks, God has been and still is working within the Seminary.
There is a song that has spoken to me during this time. It is called “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be.” It makes me even more determined in my mission to “train Pastors and reach Brazil for Christ”. Pray for us to not lose our vision of reaching Brazil through the Bluegrass Baptist Seminary.
Thanks to Baptist Faith Missions for the support that keeps us going during these difficult times. And thanks to the prayer warriors who constantly pray for us. It is because of all of you that keeps us doing our job of reaching Brazilians for Christ.
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
Praying for Salvation
August 16, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our hearts are touched by the news that some of your families are touched by death and illness. It underscores part of our text from the message to our congregation yesterday, “…now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” We are daily reminded that we live in a dark world, but need to live in the reality of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world and our Eternal life.
Yesterday, a young lady from our congregation sent a text just as service was beginning. “Sorry, I can’t be with you. I found out yesterday that I have Covid.” This eighteen-year-old is the only member of her family who has trusted Christ and she was to leave today to go to Lyon to begin university studies. She is the daughter of neighbors and began coming to Sunday School about the time she started grade school. As she entered her teens, she made a public profession of faith and followed the Lord in baptism.
Let me set the scene for another event yesterday. One of our members has a husband whose parents, professing atheists, died when he was quite young. He had no Christian background. Two children were born to this couple and he, along with his family, regularly came to church. Considering his refusal to place his faith in Christ, his attendance for eight years was unusual. He had a good relationship with the men of the church, and we all prayed for his salvation. About two years ago he posted a note on the church communication site letting everyone know that he would not be coming to church anymore and did not want anyone to approach him about it.
Yesterday, I about fell off my feet as I was greeting people and saw this “I’m not coming anymore…” man walking from his car to the house. Would you pray with us for …oan..’s salvation?
A week ago, Judy and I drove about a 1000 miles round trip to St. Malo to spend a couple of days with a couple, members of our congregation, who moved to Brittany a couple of years ago. They are nearly our age. We had a good visit and were happy to hear that they are considering starting a church in their home. Please pray for God to give Dennis and Marianne God’s wisdom about this.
Thank you for your interest and support. May our Lord’s blessings be evident to you today.
In His Grace,
Judy and John Hatcher
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.
Read more
Homecoming Celebration & Encouraging News from Mission Works
August 4, 2021
Dear Brethren,
Although technically it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, the Amazonian summer is here. We have had bright blue cloudless skies for days. The river is at its lowest and the muddy Juruá River has turned to a deep green color. We have had temperatures in the mid 60’s at night and early morning. Usually only gets up to lower 80’s during the day. Nice!
With the pandemic subsiding and good weather things have picked up at church. We have a homecoming service every year in late January or early February. This year, because of the virus we did not have one. Well last Sunday we had our homecoming service. We had 559 in the morning and 440 at night. Those add up to 999. I don’t know what I would do to the member that stayed home and kept us from reaching the 1000 mark for the day! Now these numbers a still way below our normal attendance, but are still very encouraging. We served lunch for everybody up on the third floor terrace of the annex. A really good day overall. We added 4 new members, too.
Our 2 youth groups (15-24 year olds and 25 and older) are back in full swing. Our nursery is now open, too. The “tweens” will start back next Sunday. Andrew had a special activity for the teens out at the new church property last Saturday. They had a bonfire and roasted hotdogs. There were over 180 for a chilly evening of Bible study and worship under the Southern cross. Again these numbers are only about 50% of normal, but still really good considering where we were just a couple of short months ago. Children’s activities will return in early September in a very limited fashion.
Although I have not been able to visit as much of our mission work as I would like, we still are getting great reports from our missionaries all around the region. The work among the Hunikuin on the Breu River is a very bright spot. They have outgrown their great house (holds about 100) and are gearing up to build a new building. I have promised them the aluminum roofing for a building that should seat a couple hundred.
Recently the federal government expelled the missionaries of New Tribes Mission from among the Marubos on the Ituí River north of us in the State of Amazonas. Fortunately we have 2 members of our church who are full blooded Marubos and have moved back into the tribe in 2 different villages. We are going to put them on as our missionaries. The feds will not be able to expel them!
During the month of July I did most of the teaching and preaching. I had a series to do that was much needed. That is all finished up now. I also had a ton of jobs to do on the building and was able to finish those projects as well. Now Bev and I are getting ready to make a trip to the States. We had planned to go last year and hoped to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary while there, but we all know how that turned out. Now we have several urgent health issues to try to get taken care that have only gotten worse with the delay. We are scheduled to leave Cruzeiro do Sul tomorrow afternoon. We will have to go all the way to São Paulo before heading north to the States. For now that is the only way to get to the US. It is going to be a long grueling trip, so pray for us.
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
