Totally Worth All the Challenges
October 26, 2025
Dear Friends,
It was totally worth it! All seventeen of our volunteer missionaries say the same thing. Despite the heat, the tiredness, the uncomfortable sleeping conditions, the many changed lives make it all worth these challenges. Our headquarters are located in Curitiba, Parana, in southern Brazil. Several geographical factors contribute to give Curitiba a pleasant climate, almost year-round. But we don’t have to travel very far to find hot and dry or hot and humid conditions. This last month’s mission included both of those. Part of the work was actually in a desert area. Our team has learned to focus on the people’s spiritual needs to the point that they can ignore the physical discomfort and show Christ’s love to those who so desperately need it. The Lord in His goodness blessed the efforts and many people came to know Christ as their Savior.
In order to receive invitations to minister in the public schools and city squares, Projeto Vida (Project Life) has developed a platform that makes it attractive, even essential, to public leaders. The gospel skits are based on societal struggles from people’s daily lives like drug abuse, alcoholism, domestic violence, molestation, and bullying. In all the skits, having Jesus as Lord and Savior is the solution to these problems and the only answer for eternal peace with God. It always amazes us how He uses such simple and humble efforts to open hearts and impact lives. Our missionaries spend much time in prayer before the presentations and demonstrate genuine love for those to whom they are ministering. This past month we had the joy of seeing several hundred young people trust Christ with their eternal destiny.
I do need to ask if you might be led of the Lord to help with the repairs and maintenance on our travel van and equipment trailer that suffered from the many miles on the highways? This last trip was over 3,000 miles total. Many of the highways that were traveled on are not well paved and they damage the suspension and wheels of both vehicles. If you’d like to help, please send your contribution designated, “Projeto Vida” and we will get our equipment back in tip-top shape.
Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Contact Info:
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Currently Stateside ministering to Brazil
Phone: (813) 501-9328
E-mail: bobbymichael_1@hotmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online
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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.
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“Jesus Is Better”: A Kenyan Student’s Insightful Reflection on Hebrews
October 10, 2025
Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ,
While I enjoy teaching and mentoring very much it is not always fun and sometimes quite frustrating. Sometimes a teacher can wonder whether what he or she is teaching is getting through to the students at all. I have had some frustrating times recently but also some very encouraging times as well. I have been teaching our upper classmen a class entitled Hebrews & General Epistles. It is a good class and my students are great, so it is profitable to them and to me. When I finished the Hebrews portion of the class, I gave them an assignment to write a short essay on the purpose of Hebrews. The responses I received from my students were so good and so encouraging. They all did a great job on the assignment and so I wanted to pick one to reproduce for you. The following essay is titled Jesus is Better by Qephax Peter Ndiba, one of my third-year students. The grammar may not be perfect, but the content is excellent and shows me that they are learning. Enjoy.
The book of Hebrews powerfully explains how Jesus is better than all significant figures and systems found in the Old Testament. “Jesus is better” is a theme that is central and the foundation of the book. It is woven between the many warnings and the explanations to show that without Jesus there is no other option or comparison. The writer explains the insufficiency of the Old Covenant hence Jesus is better. This encouragement reminds us that while the old covenant was established by God, it was merely a shadow of the perfect reality that Christ reveals. This message resonates deeply with the Church even today, urging believers to stay grounded in Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises.
Throughout the book, the author consistently refers to the Old Testament. Heb 1:1-4, the prophets were faithful messengers of God, but Jesus is the son, the exact representation of God’s essence and radiance. He doesn’t just convey a message, he embodies it. Heb 1:5 -2:9, He is better than angels. Angels played a crucial role in delivering God’s law, but Jesus is exalted above them, having inherited promises and a name that is far superior. Heb 3:1-6, He is better than Moses. While Moses was a faithful servant in God’s house, Christ is faithful as a Son over that house. His authority far exceeds that of Moses. In Heb 3:7-4:13, while Joshua led Israelites into the promised land, Jesus offers a better rest. An eternal rest in the presence of God. In Heb. 4:14-10:18 Jesus is better than the high priests for they were limited by sin and death but He is the perfect High Priest, sinless and eternal, who offers Himself once and for all. In Heb 8:1-13 we see Him as better than the promises. While the Old covenant was based on the law which couldn’t perfect people, the New Covenant, through Jesus’ blood, brings heart transformation and lasting reconciliation with God. Heb 9:11- 10:18 explains how He is better than the sacrifices which had to be slaughtered repeatedly over and over but Christ’s sacrifice was once and sufficient for all at all times. Lastly, Jesus is better than the tabernacle and the heavenly Jerusalem, 9:1-28, 12:22. The earthly tabernacle was just a shadow of the heavenly reality that awaits us which is now accessed through the blood of the lamb. It was situated at one location but Jesus gives us access to God from all places at all times.
Jesus stands out as better because He not only fulfills but also exceeds every part of the Old Covenant and systems. He is not just a continuation, He is the perfect and the best. The one who the law and the prophets were always pointing toward. His priesthood is eternal, His sacrifice was for once and remains to be for all. His covenant is rooted in grace and inner transformation instead of just following rules. His supremacy is beyond theology, it’s about relationship and transformation. He perfectly reveals God, serves as the ideal mediator between God and humanity, and is the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. In Him, we discover true rest, lasting forgiveness, and an unshakeable hope.
Today’s church needs to cling tightly to the truth that Jesus is better, better than traditions, better than worldly achievements, and better than any alternative the world throws our way. The call in Hebrews encourages us to persevere, to avoid drifting away, and to embrace the “better” rest that can only be found in Christ. This theme prompts the church to reflect on its priorities: Are we putting Jesus at the center of everything? Are we relying on His completed work instead of our own efforts?
Blessings to all,
Roger, Julie, & Chloe
Contact Info:
Roger & Julie Tate
Moffat Bible College
P.O. Box 70
Kijabe, Kenya 00220
rojuta@gmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
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Seminary Graduation Marked by Faith and Sacrifice
October 6, 2025
Dear Friends and Family,
Well, October is here, and the Bluegrass Baptist Seminary has celebrated its graduation for the Master of Arts degree program. How exciting for these graduates!
This graduation included two degrees: one for pastors (Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries) and the second (Master of Arts in Biblical Studies) for church workers and others interested in learning more about the Bible.
The ten who had pre-registered were the ones who participated in this graduation. The number may seem small, but think of the dedication of these students—the time to study, the expense, the workload at home, family time, ongoing ministries, etc. It can become overwhelming while pastoring a church.
The 2025 graduation was held in São Paulo at the Bible Baptist Church in the Indianapolis neighborhood. None of the graduating students were from São Paulo, demonstrating how the seminary—through its online class format—is reaching Brazil, Africa, and Canada with biblical education. This program has unlimited possibilities. AWESOME!
Then you ask, “How many were able to participate in person?” — only four. The other six will receive their diplomas via the post office. Of the four, three were pastors and one was a church worker—my daughter, Mary Katherine Hensley Quaresma. In total, six pastors and four non-pastors received their degrees. This reflects the economic realities of the times. Please PRAY for these students.
The graduation was AWESOME, and there were many stories from pastors about the challenges they faced to attend. One story stood out to me. As I stood in the crowd listening to these men speak, a pastor who had traveled from North Amazonas to São Paulo—a great distance—testified about how God had provided for him and his wife to make the journey. He spoke of the trip, the cost, and the pain of not having the money. I felt his sorrow.
His desire to be at the graduation was amazing. He had spent 10 years working toward his diploma and wanted to receive it in person. AWESOME! But even more amazing was his faith. He had spent nearly all his money to get there and stayed in private homes and churches to conserve travel expenses. When someone asked how he planned to get back home, his answer made me feel small (I cried inside). Simply, he replied, “With what money I have—and FAITH.”
And now, the rest of the story: You—givers and contributors to BFM—helped him with his return. Sometimes it’s AMAZING, AWESOME, what a good Kentucky handshake can do! You were part of his faith. God uses many people to show His mercy and goodness.
We do not realize the blessings that will be credited to your account in Heaven. Simply giving, simply praying, simply sponsoring the BFM missionaries and the projects they undertake—AWESOME!
I don’t have words to express my gratitude for your support, so I will just say thank you and ask for your continued support and prayers that make this ministry work.
In His service,
AJ and Barbara
P.S. Here are some photos from the trip, with more to come in future letters. We also got to spend some time with our grands on this trip.
Contact Info:
AJ & Barbara Hensley
30524 Mimi St
Sebring, FL 33870-0530
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 the yellow “Give” button on our homepage.
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News & Reports – October 2025
The Online Edition of the October 2025 BFM News & Reports is available at the link below.
*Remember you can click on any headline to view the post/letter on our website.
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Gospel Outreach to the Unreached
September 30, 2025
Dear Friends,
Two of our newest church plants held evangelistic events recently and the Lord blessed with wonderful results. Beyond the great attendance, the lives that were transformed by the preaching and teaching of God’s word greatly encourages us and our ministry partners. Pastors, Daniel and Cledson, along with their dear wives, Nany and Fabiane, pour their time, energy, gifts and resources into the work with joy and enthusiasm and the Lord has truly blessed that. Just as in the USA, the next few months of the year will be filled with holidays and special events. Their churches will be very actively planning and putting together programs designed to get the gospel to as many unreached people as possible. Please pray for the success of these outreach efforts.
I (Bobby) have the privilege to do “mission work” in the USA among a group of Brazilians who have legally moved to Virginia on work visas. They have specialty jobs building Volvo semi-tractor trucks. A dear friend and ministry partner, Rodrigo Ferreira, and his dear wife, Carol, have evangelized and are teaching a good-sized group from Brazil under the leadership of Jared Via, pastor of Hope Valley Baptist Church. This group has grown continually, and I will be speaking at an outreach program designed for couples. Although they all speak English as a second language, I will be preaching and teaching in Portuguese, since that is their heart language. Quite a few of those who will be in attendance are not evangelicals, so my focus will be to share the gospel as well as teach God’s principles of marriage.
Our traveling outreach team had a very fruitful month of ministry. They worked in three cities on the western side of the state of Parana, Brazil. In all, they shared the gospel with over 5,290 people and the Lord blessed by bringing many of these to repentance and salvation. In every school where they minister, a questionnaire is given to the leaders and administrators. In it, there are options for comments and suggestions. As I read those comments, I couldn’t help but notice that these are coming from public schools, and there was not one negative statement. In fact, all of them show gratitude for our team’s presence and impact on their schools. We will only know in heaven just how many of the students and faculty fully surrendered to Christ, but we are certain that there are many. May the Lord continue to use and bless Projeto Vida with these outreach opportunities.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Contact Info:
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Currently Stateside ministering to Brazil
Phone: (813) 501-9328
E-mail: 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
Revival Sparks in Peru: A Legacy of Missions Rekindled
Mike and Beverly Creiglow have served the Lord in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil together since 1971. In addition to pastoring First Baptist of Cruzeiro do Sul, Mike builds his own boats and frequently travels up and down rivers to share the Gospel with those who have never heard.
September 29, 2025
Dear Brethren,
Do you like good news? I thought so. So do I, so here goes.
In 1955 a preacher came to our house in Sanford, Florida and shared the gospel with my Dad. That preacher was Bruce Lunsford. The Good News transformed Dad’s life. Later it changed mine, too. Bruce went to Brazil as a missionary. Not long after, my Dad did the same. In 1961 the Lunsfords and Creiglows went to Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre on a paddle wheel steamboat.
A short time later Brother Lunsford went across the border to Peru where he visited a town called Pucalpa on the Amazon River. That town already had 50 thousand people. There was no church other than the Roman Catholic church at that time. Brother Lunsford saw a gaping door for the Gospel. He then decided to go to Iquitos, Peru (further down the Amazon River) and invite a new missionary to help him start the new mission in Pucalpa. That was missionary Del Mayfield.
Del and Ada Mayfield moved to Pucalpa. The Mayfields dug in and in a few short years the work was flourishing. In September 1967 the Iglesia Bautista da la Fé was organized with 34 members. That month the church averaged 101 in Sunday School. The week following the organization there were 10 more saved and 7 more baptized.
Brother Mayfield had a vision for what could be. He bought almost a full city block in the center of Pucalpa. There a church building was erected on the corner and a Baptist school was later built on the rest of the property. Brother Del also prepared a native pastor to carry on the work. His name: Pastor Abel.
I first met Pastor Abel in 1982. I had been in the States for a skin treatment and decided to make my return to Brazil into an adventure. For company I put 2 beagle puppies in portable kennels and bought a one-way ticket to Lima, Peru. The plane made a stop in Iquitos, Peru. I got off there and spent a couple of days. Then I bought a ticket to Pucalpa where I stayed for 3 days with Pastor Abel. By the way, Brother Mayfield had already gone to heaven. From there I hired a single engine plane to take me across the border to Cruzeiro do Sul. It is just a 1-hour flight and back then you didn’t have all the red tape to get around South America.
Now, fast forward to 2025. This year we sent our oldest missionary, José Maia, to Pucalpa. He has been with First Baptist Church for 33 years and had been working in Tipisca, Peru. His health is not what it used to be and needed to go to a field with less physical hardships. We prayed and talked and went through all the best options. We settled on Pucalpa. My only requirement for José and Silvânia was that they go help our church there.
When they arrived and presented themselves to Pastor Abel and the church, things were not well. The church had gone through multiple splits. The school was still functioning, but had some legal problems. Pastor Abel is now 83 years old and let’s just say sort of stuck in the past and “sot” in his ways. Attendance was less than 10 people. He knew he needed help and help arrived! Abel put José in charge of the youth (3 young adults!) and Silvânia the ladies group.
About 3 months ago we started working on putting a team and trip together for me to go over and encourage the struggling little church and her pastor. On September 16th the paperwork went through for our international flight from Cruzeiro to Pucalpa in the South America Mission plane.
I took 4 of my men with me. They helped me with the teaching and preaching for the 5 days we were there. My last lesson was on Sunday morning, a basic lesson on missions. Brother Abel gave an invitation. We had 11 people come forward yearning to get busy for the kingdom of Christ. Many tears were shed. Before the final prayer Pastor Abel pulled a picture out of his pocket. It was my 1982 prayer card that I had given him. He kept it for all these years having no idea that we would ever meet again.
We are very excited about what the Lord might do in Pucalpa. The city has grown more than I could imagine. Three other towns on the outskirts have grown into one big city of over 500 thousand people. The possibilities are infinite for the church there. In the coming months we have plans to bring some of their folks over here to see what God is doing on this side of the border. Then we plan to go there as often as possible to assist them. We are looking into a cheaper and less bureaucratic way over. Pray for us as we try to help them win souls with the good news of the gospel of Christ and the expansion of His kingdom.
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 the yellow “Give” button on our homepage.
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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
