Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [June 2012]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making,”
Dear Co-Laborers,
We thank God for the blessings He has showered on us during the past month. You are among those blessings. Your faithful giving enables us to continue doing the work God has called us to do. Your prayers make us effective. The Sunday meetings in Tournefeuille have been well attended and there is evidence of growth in those who are believers. The Bible studies in various locations are also doing well with interested participants.
About half of the attendees in the Bible studies and Sunday meetings have not professed faith in Christ. It is encouraging when we notice their interest in spiritual matters, especially when they ask questions which indicate the Spirit of God is at work in their hearts and the Word of God is having an impact on their thinking. This has been the case this month with some of those who have not yet made professions of faith.
Attentive listeners in a children's class at Tournefeuille
We have also had a number of opportunities to present the Good News in contacts outside of regular meetings. This is very important and usually results from a long term commitment to the process that starts with making contact and continues with the training of disciples after they have publicly committed their lives to Christ. Activities involved take place in this sequence:
- Look for opportunities to make new acquaintances.
- Spend time with people with whom we become acquainted
- Listen to people in order to know them and build up credibility to get a valid hearing for the gospel.
- Converse with people about God, His Word, and the Good News in Jesus Christ.
- Pray continually during all of these steps since we can do nothing. It is Christ Who works through us.
- Read and study the Bible with those who show an interest. We usually begin studying through the Gospel according to John.
- Continue to study the Word of God with those who make a profession of faith helping them discover and put into practice the commands of Christ. This includes Baptism and participation in the assembly of believers using the abilities that God has given each one for the good of the body of believers and a witness to non-believers.
A number of important activities are on the books for the next couple of weeks. They will be history by the time many of you read this letter. Those who received the news electronically can pray for the upcoming Youth meeting, Ladies day, and Gospel concert. Please pray for Yoann, the husband of one of the believers. He attends regularly and needs Christ.
Your team mates for Christ in France,
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [May 2012]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making,”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We hope this finds you enjoying the Lord’s blessings. Thanks for your faithful support. We have had good church meetings during this month with a good attendance. Several of those who come are not believers. The believers seem to be growing in the Lord.
My brother Paul and his wife, Wanda were here for a 10 day visit. This was their first time to come to France. We enjoyed immensely the opportunity to converse about the things of the Lord. It had been many years since we had been able to do so. Paul spoke to our congregation one Sunday and also to the youth in the young peoples meeting. None of these young people have made a profession of faith but we see indications that the Lord is at work in the hearts of some of them. Once there are young people participating, if they feel loved, they will bring their friends. We are thankful for the open door that God is giving us with this age group.
We now have adult Bible studies on-going in the Book of the Revelation, Luke, I Timothy, John (3 different studies), Ephesians, and another which is topical. Our goal is to help believers grow up in Christ as they study God’s Word and put it into practice in their lives.
French people tend to spend a lot of time outdoors. Sunny weather and longer days give us many opportunities to visit with people and this opens doors to share the gospel. One of our neighbors organizes a neighborhood potluck dinner at the beginning of each summer and this will happen again this year. As we eat with folks, they are often inquisitive and open to hearing about our faith in Christ. We would be grateful for your prayers concerning these contacts.
Yesterday, the citizens of France elected a new president. In a few weeks we will have legislative elections. Presidential elections are approaching in the USA. This should remind us to pray for all men, especially for those who are in positions of leadership as we are instructed to do in I Timothy chapter 2.
Thanks again for your faithful support and prayers. God is using you to help us in the Cause of Christ and the spread of the Good News here.
Gratefully in Christ,
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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Missionary Update: John Mark and Judy Hatcher in France [April 2012]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making,”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the name of Christ from Southern France, which is north of most of you. We are approximately on the same latitude as Toronto, Canada. Yesterday we arrived back home from Manaus, Brazil which is just south of the Equator. So, we are a bit off keel time wise and climate wise. Some may think that I am always off keel.
We were in Manaus to see my parents and siblings. Though we are able to speak with dad and mom weekly by phone we wanted to be able to be with them for a face to face visit. Dad turns 87 on April 30 and mom will turn 87 in September. They continue to serve the Lord faithfully. They are still involved in a church plant about 30 minutes drive from their house. It was a great blessing to visit for about 10 days with the family, including Paul and Wanda’s children and grandchildren. We share in common not only family ties but spiritual family ties. We were also able to enjoy worshiping together with many of our Brazilian brothers and sisters in Christ and had the opportunity to speak and preach several times.
Two days before leaving France we had another meeting with youth. This time we had a progressive dinner. We had nibbles and salad at the first home, spaghetti and meatballs at the second home and dessert at the last home. Most importantly, we had spiritual food at all three homes. At each place someone gave their testimony about how they were saved and we presented the Gospel. Time in vehicles between homes was also a valuable opportunity to discuss spiritual matters and answer questions on a personal level. We have two more meetings with youth scheduled before the end of the Spring semester. This is presently an open door for reaching young people who are desperately in need of Christ in a godless society. We are a bit saddened by the fact that one of the teenage girls who has been most effective in bringing friends is leaving this week to spend the rest of the school year in Germany as a part of her learning German program.
On the next to last Sunday of March, two of our regular families communicated the news that they were being transferred elsewhere with their jobs. This will leave a sizable dent in the congregation because each of these young couples has three grade school aged children; ten people gone at once.
We have been praying for the Spring conference. May God used what took place there to help us all in the service of the Lord. Thanks for your faithful support.
Until next month,
John and Judy in France
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [March 2012]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making,”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The tornadoes and storms through which many of you are going have been in the news here. We think about you and pray that the Lord will protect you from harm. This relates indirectly to one of our Bible studies this week. This study is in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The judgments on the lost world symbolized by the blowing of the 7 trumpets draw our attention to the folly of human behavior.
Many people are concerned about protecting themselves from climate changes and the effects that these might bring on them. It is debatable whether we can do much to avoid these disasters. However, anyone can avoid the greatest disaster of all by trusting Christ and being eternally saved from all physical disasters. This is something that anyone, anywhere in the world can do. Yet, few are willing to surrender to Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, our mission here, and your mission there is to bring to the attention of folks around us that Jesus is the only sure hope. May our Lord help us to do the job effectively.
I want to mention three individuals for whom I am very grateful as we study the Word of God with others. The first two are my parents who are still serving as missionaries in Brazil at 86 years old. They taught me and, by example, encouraged me to read through the Bible and then continue reading through the Bible. This lifelong practice has helped me to see God’s revelation of Himself in a more complete and well rounded fashion than what is appropriated by reading most books and theological treatises and by listening to many well known preachers. Please, do not receive this as a condemnation of books or preachers. I am simply underscoring the value of knowing God’s word thoroughly and reviewing it regularly in its full scope. Thanks, mom and dad.
The other person who has had a great influence on me in understanding God’s revelation is Edward Overbey. As my pastor during my college years, he helped me greatly to work toward a correct exegesis of biblical texts. His patient and peaceful manner provided me with an outstanding example of applying Christlike principles in my interaction with others. Thanks, brother Overbey.
All of our Bible Studies are going well. We now have ongoing studies in Colossians, Revelation, II Timothy and the Gospel of John. God continues to open doors and we do the best that we know how in sowing the good seed. Last year three people who had professed faith followed the Lord in baptism. We would like to see many more saved and baptized, but our job is to display the light of the Gospel, sow the good seed, and disciple those who trust Christ.
The Hatchers sowing seeds in France!
As a boy, I was a charter member of the first church established in the work of my father in Manaus. Three baptized in one year would have been a banner year. Now that church, which has started many other churches, baptizes 50 – 100 hundred people every month. Last month they baptized 300 newly saved folks. These are folks who are serving the Lord and being discipled. I have been there among them. They are faithful to God’s word. So, what starts small can multiply…just as the Lord taught. This encourages us to keep working and trusting God.
Thank you for participating with us in the work of the Lord. Your praying and giving is not in vain. Many of you supported the planting of that little church in Manaus.
Today, Judy and I celebrate 39 years of married life serving the Lord together. It is a wonderful life. I asked God to give me the wife He wanted me to have. He gave and I have never been sorry for asking. Judy is a wonderful gift.
Serving the Lord in France,
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
Click here to donate to BFM.
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Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [February 2012]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making,”
Dear Co-Laborers in Christ,
Greetings from frozen France. Well, I hope that we are not still frozen as you read this, but the last couple of weeks have been marked by unusually cold weather in all of Europe including Tournefeuille, France. Our winters are generally mild compared to where many of you live. There is rarely snow and little accumulation of the frozen flakes. We have only had mail service one day this week and trash collection is not taking place. Frozen pipes have been a common occurrence. This winter reminds us that God is in control! This includes opening doors that no man can close.
On Sunday afternoons after the meal, we have a review time and prayer for the work of the Lord here. Last Sunday, following prayer time I took a couple of the grandchildren out to do some impromptu sledding. The hill near our house was covered with sledders with parents watching. This gave me the opportunity to connect with many people I had not seen for a while and seems to have opened more doors for the future. God uses cold winters!
Greta with mother and siblings. She is the daughter of Joachim and Angela.
During the past month we have had a couple of first time visitors. One is the most recent child born to Angela and Joachim. What a joy to see God’s blessings on this couple who demonstrate clearly a love for the Lord since being saved. Joachim was the first person to be baptized into our congregation here. Greta is their third child. Two weeks ago, Joachim broke some sad news to us. This summer they will be moving to Germany with his job. This departure will leave a big gap. Former members of the Tournefeuille congregation are now living in six countries besides France. We have regular contact with most of these. Though it is sad to see them go, we know that historically God has used these movements of His people for the propagation of the Gospel. The church at Antioch and beyond are a good example of this. We work at preparing those who are saved to be good evangelists and disciple makers here or elsewhere.
Paolo, a young man that sings in the community choir in which I participate, came to our Sunday meeting for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I have been acquainted with him for about a year, but did not know much about him. With tears in his eyes, he told me about seeing is father for the first time in 20 years. His father’s departure from his home was quite abrupt and has marked his life. I told him about the Heavenly Father Who was always faithful. We pray that God will save this young man.
Pasqualine, is an eight year old girl who has been coming regular on Sundays. She is the daughter of a couple who also sing in the above mentioned choir. I have had the opportunity to witness to both of them but they have never come. Nevertheless, this daughter is quite interested. “Let the children come unto me.”
Sunday, Gilbert, another one of our men members, is teaching the adults for the first time. We are studying through the wonderful letter to the church at Colosse. This young man has really grown in the Lord during the last couple of years. His wife is saved and they participate regularly along with their 3 children. She also helps in Sunday School.
Thanks again for your participation in what God is doing here. Until next month, stay warm and above all seek to maintain a warm relationship with the Lord and His people.
For Christ in France,
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
Click here to donate to BFM.
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Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [January 2012]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making,”
January 9, 2012
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Last month started well with the ladies of our congregation having one of their quarterly fellowship meetings at Suzanne Riedel’s house. The ladies have fellowship, share with each other the blessings they have received, pray together, and have a Bible Study. This time the Bible Study was on being the light of the world. Each lady listed the people that God had used as a light for them and then made a list of people for whom they could be light. They then prayed about this.
The men think these meeting are a great idea and want to have one for themselves, but they seem to have difficulties in planning and implementing. Philip and I have tried to leave the planning in their hands in order to help them take responsibility.
Lydia, our youngest daughter, along with Adam her husband, and their two children were with us for Christmas and New Years. This made the Holidays extra special. All the regular activities are going well.
Some ladies met together for a Bible Study and a time of fellowship last month. They studied about being the light of the world, listed people that God had used as a light for them, and made a list of people for whom they could be light.
Just before Christmas Steve Wainright asked me to put together some information about our call to France and what God is doing here. He wanted to make it a part of his message for the Winter Conference in Gotha, Florida. Since you may not have gotten to go to Florida, the same information might help drive some chill out of your bones wherever you are this Winter.
About fourteen years ago we were caught somewhat by surprise by God moving in our lives and hearts to move us to France in order to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The general job description did not change, but the people to which we were now directed was a total surprise.
In my teen years I had often told the Lord that if He wanted me to pastor or be a missionary I would be glad to do so. In response, Heaven seemed to be silent. Had God spoken to me earlier on this subject, I think that my preparation would have been quite different. As it turned out, following God’s general written directives and my interest in science, I prepared for a career as a doctor. My thinking was along these lines…people listen to their doctor so why not use this as a platform to communicate the Gospel.
I was totally upended by what seemed to be a clear call to be a proclaimer of the gospel that came to me in the middle of my Junior year at the University of Kentucky. It occurred when I was with a number of other believers in prayer. This was not the topic that we had been pursuing in the discussions prior to the time of prayer and it took me totally by surprise. Up to this moment I thought that I was following God’s will as I prepared for a career in Medicine. This new direction was confirmed in interesting ways from several different sources. After consulting with other believers, I said, “Lord, I am going to pursue this new direction assuming that it is your will.” Immediately, I had a sense of peace.
In retrospect, I realize that God wanted me to spend time on a public University campus in the field of natural sciences as part of the preparation for what He wanted me to do. God seems to be always using those who are willing in the present while simultaneously preparing them for service in the future. For brevity, we will skip forward through 26 years of preparatory service.
Once again, I was broadsided by this change in direction that God had in store for us. Within a relatively short period of time and through a number of confirming witnesses we became aware of the great spiritual need of the French people and were moved by a passionate desire to go and make disciples in this nation. A nation where over 50% of the people are atheist, 10% are Muslim, there is great despair and where all is tainted by general distrust. A nation where the number of believers is a fraction of a percent; one of the most unevangelized countries of the world. This country of 36,000 communities and a population over 60 million has just a few more than 100 Baptist churches with an average size of 30 members. Most of the people in these churches are immigrants. A nation for which I previously had no special interest!
We live and work in a city of 30,000. The only church besides ours is a small Catholic church. There is a synagogue that meets in a house. Our work includes several other communities in a radius of about 1 hour of driving time.
On arrival, we knew no one. God has marvelously intervened to bring people to Himself. Some of these have since moved away. There are people who were once a part of our congregation who now live in 7 different countries. We still have regular contact with many of these and they share with us what God is doing in their lives. There are about 35 people who meet in Tournefeuille. Of these, 19 have trusted the Lord and followed Him in baptism. There are other interested people and believers who participate in Bible studies at other locations. We have meetings for teenagers several times during the year. This is a new area of opportunity. Seventeen young people were at the last meeting we held.
We have contact with many people who do not participate in meetings and to whom we are able to witness. We are here to help them come to Christ and our desire is to see many disciples doing the same as God uses us and you in this endeavor.
Thank you for your participation. May God richly bless you.
Shining the Light in France,
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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