Springtime Joy and Gospel Fruit in France
March 23, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Hope you are having a good start to spring. I always enjoy the spring flowers of God’s wonderful creation. This week we have enjoyed beautiful sunny days and delightful evidence of God at work in the lives of His children. This doesn’t mean that all is a piece of cake, but it underscores the Fruit of the Spirit of God at work in and around us.
Judy and I took a quick trip to Paris on the TGV to celebrate our 53rd wedding anniversary on March the 3rd. We spent a couple of nights, visited a museum, walked 10 miles and returned home the next day on the TGV. God has blessed us wonderfully with good health and a wonderful family and many fellow believers beyond what we could have imagined when we first met.
God keeps opening doors and we are very grateful for the privilege of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, seeing folks come to Christ, growing in the Lord and becoming sharers of the Good News. Making connections is an important part of this process. On our daily walk this morning we encountered and spent a few minutes getting acquainted with two different ladies who live in our town. This happens often and is one of the ways God gives us new connections.
We continue to have Bible studies in 6 different locations. In the various locations we are going through Joshua, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, and Acts. Discipling also involves counseling and it delights us to see growth in believers and the way they begin seeking and following God’s will though prayer, application of Scriptures, and leadership of the Holy Spirit in them and Christian brothers and sisters.
Thank you for participating with us.
In Christ in France,
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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Planting Seeds in Rocky Soil
February 21, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today we are enjoying the sunshine. It has not snowed here as it has where many of you live, but we have had rain nearly every day for weeks. The local rivers have risen and there is flooding in a lot of areas.
This morning, we were able to have our weekly Bible study with the former “Jehovah’s Witness” who lives two and a half hours west of us. The family has been without electricity and internet service due to the intense storms. We were not able to have studies for a couple of weeks. We just completed the Letter to the Romans and will begin the study of 1 Corinthians next week.
Last night we had a great College and Career’s meeting with nine of this age group. Philip and Amanda host it in their home. It is exciting to see the passion for Christ in the lives of these young adults and the way God is using them to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and disciple those who trust Him.
A couple of weeks ago we were invited to have dessert at our neighbors’ home along with an older couple that we have known for years. The neighbors are a young couple with a couple of preschool children that moved here from Paris about a year and a half ago. The questions of why we came to France were raised which led to a active discussion. The younger lady declared immediately that she was an atheist as did the older man. The young husband declared that his grandmother who took him in and reared him when he was abandoned by his widowed mother was at the top and God was somewhere below that. The older lady said she was confused and had a lot of questions. It is rocky soil, but God can clear the rocks.
It is great to have you as partners and we ask that you pray for these lost people and for us to be used by God to touch them. Nothing is impossible with God!
Sharing the Good News of Jesus in France,
Judy and John
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
Missionaries in France Share Christ’s Mercy Across Nations in a Broken World
January 15, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I woke up at about 4 am this morning thinking about all the people dying in Iran. This led me to pray as I lay in the dark for all these needy people who are dying without Christ slaughtered by a system pretending to represent God. I also prayed for needy people around the world who are suffering at the hands of humans. We all need Christ.
Tonight, we will be having Bible study in the home of a man born in Iran which includes a couple about my age who escaped from Iran in 1986. This is the lady who lost her oldest sister to death just over a month ago that I mentioned in our last letter. They grew up under the Iranian “Persian” king who claimed to be a descendant of the King who married Esther. The Lord enabling us, tonight before study we will pray for those they know and do not know in Iran.
One of the Bible studies we have on Saturdays is with a lady who grew up in Communist Albania and was later led astray by those who call themselves the “Jehovah’s Witnesses”. She was a bit frustrated with the shenanigans of the local government’s abuse of the people where her mother still lives. This lady has clearly placed her faith in Christ.
This afternoon the Bible study is online with southern Germany where there are many memorials of the Holocaust led by the Nazis. Hitler promoted his takeover as a protection against the Communist who were attempting to take over Germany. We live in a broken world where there are “wars and rumors of war”. Our God and Savior saved us sinners to be His light to all people.
Tonight, we are studying the salvation of Saul/Paul who said of himself, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16)
Pray for us, saved sinners, that Christ will show His light through our presence here.
Thank each of you for your support and the special gifts for Thanksgiving and Christmas to celebrate the coming of our Lord.
May God richly bless you and use His light in you to touch people where you live.
John and Judy in France
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
Mourning Loss and Finding Hope After 4 Deaths Across 3 Countries
December 12, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you for your participation with us in service of our Savior in Southern France. During the last two weeks our lives and the lives of many of our friends have been touched by death; four deaths in three different countries. On the first of December a close friend of a lady who has participated in the Bible study in Mazère died. As far as we know this individual died without Christ.
Two days later S—, an Iranian lady who has come to our L’Union Bible study with her husband since it began, lost her oldest sister who was like a second mother to her. This sister lives in Iran, which makes contact with them a bit difficult. S— was very sad, but could not go to Iran to be with her extended family. She and her husband escaped Iran in 1986. He is a very kind man, but was sent to prison twice in Iran for political reasons. They have actively participated in the Bible study since it began about 4 years ago. He always reads the text we are studying in advance. This couple knew nothing from the Bible or about Jesus being the Savior when they first started coming. As far as I know, neither one of them have personally placed their faith in Christ, but they are very interested. Please pray for them to put their faith in Christ.
On the same day that this lady died in Iran, a close friend and our spiritual sister, Pat Thomas died in North Carolina, USA. She and her husband, Ken Thomas, arrived in southern Indiana in 1978 and became great friends and teammates of ours in the service of the Lord. Ken was pastor of Grove Baptist Church and they were wonderful active servants of the Lord as they compassionately touched lives and made disciples. We will miss Pat here on earth but look forward to being reunited with her in heaven.
Four days later the hostess of our Bible study in Mazère communicated with us about the death of her daughter-in-law’s mother. We were passively acquainted with Jean-Daniel and Jacqueline’s son and his wife. I was very surprised to receive a call from the son a day or two later asking if I would be able to preach the funeral of Isabelle, his mother-in-law. She and her husband were believers and members of a “sectish” church not too far from where we have the Bible study. They had left the church because of its “off the wall teachings”, but Isabelle was well known for loving people and sharing the good news. I preached the funeral yesterday. Isabelle and her husband Jean-Paul had 5 adult children and 6 grandchildren. This loving family and many friends were at the outdoor funeral in the cemetery. It lasted and hour and they wanted me to clearly present the gospel. We connected with many people and are looking forward to how God will touch the lives of those who were present. Some indicated that they wanted to contact me and discuss spiritual matters. Please pray with us for the gospel to reach the many individuals touched by these four deaths.
May God richly bless and encourage each of you.
Your fellow servants,
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.
Read more
Much to Be Thankful For
November 17, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we have so much for which to be thankful. You are on our thanksgiving list and I would like to share with you other things for which we are thankful as we review the past year.
Judy had cataract surgery on both eyes in March and there have been no complications. She is delighted with the improvement in her eyesight.
God has brought a number of new people into our congregation and meetings in various locations. Several have trusted Christ and are growing in the Lord and spreading the good news to those around them. About three weeks ago Léonie, who trusted Christ recently and is the only believer in her family, followed the Lord in baptism. She gave her testimony telling how Roxane was used by God to lead her to Christ. Roxane has been a believer for about three years and is actively having Bible studies and sharing the Good News of Jesus with her acquaintances. We met a number of Léonie’s friends who came to witness her baptism and several of these are seeking spiritual answers.
Yesterday I received a text message from Patricia, the mother of Maxime telling about his enjoyment of the youth Bible study. He is the young man I mentioned in the newsletter last month who was taught by Judy in children’s classes in Mazère nearly twenty years ago. It is exciting to see God at work in the lives these young adults who are in University studies or beginning their careers.
A new couple participating in Campagne-sur-Arize are in their thirties and seem to enjoy the Bible study.
Paul, my brother, supported by many of you for over 40 years as a missionary in Brazil, has responded wonderfully to the bone marrow transplant he received a few months ago. He has been declared free of leukemia. God brought him through this difficult and painful procedure. We are very grateful along with his family for what God has done for him.
Judy and I are enjoying good health and are able to continue reaching out to those who need Christ. In the past few months God has enabled us to become acquainted with a number of people in our neighborhood. We enjoy the fellowship of those who serve along with us in the kingdom of our Lord and Savior.
Have a great Thanksgiving celebration!
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
God’s Promise, God’s People: A Rainbow of Redemption Across Generations
October 22, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As we were driving back from the pharmacy this morning Judy said, “Look at the rainbow.” Looking up at the sky before us I saw a beautiful rainbow.” I love this manifestation of God. First, it reminds us of the promise made to Noah, but it is also a demonstration of God in the world He created. We are here to communicate the rest of the message. God is love and God the Son came into the world to save us, give us new life and make us eternally His children united with Him.
It is wonderful to see God at work around us. This weekend Leonie is following the Lord in baptism. God used Roxane to touch her life and bring her to Christ. You may remember us mentioning Roxane in previous letters. She came to Christ through the witness of a High School friend’s mother. Since trusting Christ, she is very committed to knowing God through the study of His Word and is passionate about sharing the Good News with others through Bible studies. We are delighted to see God at work in this new generation.
Maxime came to the youth meeting for the first time last Friday. Judy taught him and his sister children’s classes in Mazere many years ago. He is now completing a Master’s program. We had only seen him a couple of times in a number of years; however, his mother has trusted Christ and is on fire for the Lord. She is an active participant in the Bible study in Mazere. She asked me about the youth meeting Bible studies expressing Maxime’s renewed interest in the Bible. He came to the last youth meeting and displayed a great interest.
So, we praise our Savior for what He is doing here and thank you for your regular participation with us.
Your fellow servants of Christ,
Judy and John
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
Still Sowing, Still Reaping—God Gives the Increase
September 20, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The privilege to be proclaimers of the Good News of Jesus Christ and servants of our Savior in making disciples is a wonderful blessing. Yesterday, Douceline, a hostess of Bible studies in Mazere for many years, sent me a message with the photo I have included. The gentleman in the picture was at the Museum where she works. He and his wife were present at the location to celebrate the wedding of their friends.
As soon as he spotted Douceline, he approached her to speak to her. She texted me, “I did not recognize him and then he told me who was.” I would not have recognized him either. Darrell Messer, you might recognize him. He was the teenager that translated for you at the Mazere Bible Study. He is now married and has two sons and two daughters. The family is active in a church in another city.
This young man’s mother brought him and his sister to Bible study faithfully for several years. I often think of this mother and her children as we drive in to the city for our regular Bible studies. Paula, the mother in this family, was saved before she moved from Angola to France. Douceline met her at the library/museum and invited her to the come to the Bible study and bring her children for the kid’s class that Judy taught. When they were older, they joined the adult Bible study. The seed that you helped sow is still bearing fruit!
Judy and I enjoy working with plants, but spiritual seed sowing and cultivation is much more important. Below is a picture taken a week ago at the Bible study in the city of Campagne-sur-Arize. The four children in the picture are being taught around the dining room table as the adult study takes place in the living room… still sowing the seed with your help and through the power and presence of the Lord!
Joyful moments!
Your fellow servants of Christ,
Judy and John
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
Surprising Connections, Lasting Fruit: God at Work in Mazère
August 16, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It is always good to have unexpected, good surprises. This was the case at the Mazère Bible study three days ago. We expected the attendance at this meeting to be low because we knew of some who were away from their homes and because a major storm hit us on the road on the way to Mazère. About the time we arrived at the home of Jean-Daniel and Jacqueline news came through another participant that Florian, the young man I mentioned getting baptized in my last letter, was going to be a bit late. However, when he arrived just a few minutes late, he was accompanied by his mother and his girlfriend.
His mother had come from her home in the Island of Reunion to attend his baptism and had met several members of the study. The girlfriend showed a great interest in the Bible Study. Afterwards, I asked her about her spiritual life, and she excitedly explained how she was thrilled to have understood and trusted Jesus Christ as her Savior three years ago. She expressed to another lady in the study how much she enjoyed it and then sent a message to the group indicating how wonderful she thought the meeting was and thanking everyone for the good reception she received. She is from Dunkirk (far north of us) and has only lived in our region for about a year. She met Florian on a hike with mutual friends. This is the way it works. Every day we have encounters. Often these encounters lead to spiritual life and fellowship.
The day before the above-mentioned study, one of the participants contacted me about her son coming to youth meetings at our home. He moved to our area for university several years ago. When he was just a boy, his mother brought him to children’s classes taught by Judy during the Mazère meetings. Patricia, the mother, trusted Christ several years ago as she had regular Bible studies with Douceline, the young lady who hosted the meetings for many years. Patricia met Douceline at the library and museum where she works. Patricia is relatively quiet, but passionate about her faith in Christ.
Disciples of Jesus bringing others to their Savior.
What a blessing to be a branch of the vine, Jesus!
Your brother and sister in France,
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
