An Example of Faith & God’s Faithfulness in Trying Times
December 2, 2020
Dear Friends,
You may be experiencing similar circumstances in your area, but I did want to inform you of what is happening here in southern Brazil. A new wave of COVID cases has arrived and several of our members have been infected. Thanks to the Lord, no one has died because of it and most have recovered quite rapidly. Charlene and I have been blessed by not getting it, so far, and we pray that it will stay that way.
Our youth minister went through some tough experiences recently that helped us see that we are truly in a spiritual battle in this world as we seek to serve the Lord in a fallen society. Cledson and his wife, Fabiane, are very dedicated to teaching the youth God’s word and demonstrating its principles in their daily lives. They go the extra mile in showing love and faithfulness to Lord and to the youth under their leadership. There is a young man who had struggles in his home life and they took him into their own home to mentor him, even though he often pushes the limits of their patience. In one three-week time frame, he caused several accidental damages, though his carelessness was the main factor. They already live on a very tight budget and these damages were sorely stretching them. Last week, Cledson and Fabiane were pushed near to the end of their faith. Cledson makes his living as an Uber driver and this young man, without Cledson’s permission, took his car keys, started the engine and accidently popped the transmission into reverse while the car was parked next to the church’s brick wall. The car rammed backward, crushing the rear of the car and crashing through the wall. All together, the cost was more than 3 months of Cledson’s earnings, plus he would have to put his car in the shop for 3 weeks without further income from Uber services. He and his wife broke down crying. They know that “all things work together for the good of them who love the Lord…”, but on the emotional level they were nearly spent. They dried their tears and went before the youth to teach them that God is still in control and that they are trusting in Him.
They had no idea how they were going to pay for their daily needs, much less the repairs to the car and the church property. But the Lord amazingly showed His gracious mercy and love. The church members, though none are wealthy, pitched in together to cover their expenses for the month and the Lord answered a several months’ old prayer request of Cledson and his wife by having a company call him to work where he won’t even need his car. In the midst of their trial, the Lord showed Himself strong and attentive to their needs. They were super encouraged by the apparent turn in events and were strengthened in their faith. Also, the youth under their leadership learned a tremendous lesson on how to live out their faith in a very real and practical way through the example of their leaders. I am very grateful to God for the strong leaders that He has placed over our youth and I trust that we will have a new generation of faithful servants as a result of their teaching and example.
Another couple of amazing volunteers are Emmanuel and Maria. They are both retired from their secular jobs. As they contemplated retirement and what they believed the Lord wanted them to do with their lives, they felt led to be a part of our gospel outreach team. Emmanuel and Maria are just the kind of people that I want to always be and hope to teach and inspire the people under my leadership to be – selfless! As I write, they are together with our outreach team on a trip to a town in the interior of our state where they will share the love of Christ in public squares and parks. They’ll be sleeping on very thin pads and traveling in a crowded van, but they do this joyfully because of their love for the Lord. I am so thankful for them!
I mentioned in my last correspondence that I got an invitation to preach the gospel in English in a neighboring state. Well, that opportunity led to a re-invitation. Charlene and will be returning there in a couple of weeks and we pray that the Lord will use us to get the gospel out to the listeners present and online and that we will be an encouragement to the team who invited us.
Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and support so that we may continue to be useful in the Lord’s service.
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
Wisdom and Discernment Needed to Plan
The Hensleys have served the Lord in Brazil, South America since 1996. They have worked with orphanages, started mission points, established churches, and are presently conducting a seminary to train Brazilian pastors.
November 16, 2020
Dear friends and family,
It is totally amazing how fast time is passing. It seems only yesterday I weighed 187 pounds and here three months later, I am 204. I don’t understand what has happened. Well, I guess it is Barb’s AWESOME cooking and my immobility with the broken ankle. However, things are starting to heal. I am out of the boot that I had to wear for six weeks and off the knee buggy and am able to walk with a cane with a wrap on the ankle. I am ready for the healing to be completed and COVID to be over. But through it all God is AWESOME.
Sometimes we get impatient when our missions, our dreams, our visions get put on hold or what we think is a delay (oh me of little faith). Then I think of the Bible heroes and how some of them never got to realize their dreams and I remember what faith really is: Trusting in God even when we don’t see an answer or do not get the answer that we want when we want it. Just hold on, God is not finished yet and yes, through it all, God is AWESOME.
We are continuing with our plans although it seems to change almost weekly. Today it looks like we will have four virtual classes in November and early December. Our students are chomping at the bits to get back to classes even if it has to be virtual. The students really want their classes to be face-to-face; however, we all understand our present situation with the restraints of travel with COVID.
Barb and I have been hoping to travel in late December ‘til mid-January to be with family and get some things settled for the Seminary. Our hope is to know by the first of December if this will be possible. So we’re praying for wisdom and discernment as we learn to trust Him more and walk by faith. Pray with us as we are very anxious to be about the Lord’s work that we are called to do. So, continue to pray for Bluegrass Baptist Seminary and Baptist Faith Missions and we will continue to pray for all of you who make this possible by your generosity and faithfulness.
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
Read more
In Isolation with Covid
November 19, 2020
Good afternoon,
Time for me to report to you on some new health issues. 11 days ago I fell ill and had to stop all my work. The suspicion was Covid-19. Here in this part of the world they will not even test until you have 8 days of symptoms. For that reason, I have held off on what was happening. My doctor and a lab technician started caring for me until time for the test. The doctor got me on medication. On Tuesday she had me go to the hospital to run several tests. She kept me for 2 days. The state built a brand new wing on our hospital for Covid patients and treatment. After a cat scan, blood work and the swab test, they discovered that I do have Covid-19, plus dengue fever and an enlarged aorta. Bev was also tested and they discovered that she is positive and has antibodies. A full week before I got sick Bev had just one symptom that did not trigger any suspicion. At the same time my grandson Caleb had all the tell-tale symptoms including loss of smell and taste. Then my daughter Crissy and her husband Dauro also got it. So, we don’t know who got it first or where it came from. Anyway, I am home now. My treatment for the 2 diseases continues. It is challenging. For now, I seem to be recovering. Of course, the rumor mill is cranking out fake news. Bev just got a call from a friend in another city in Brazil who had heard that I am on my last leg in the ICU!
Bev and I are now in total isolation for the next 14 days. We are not allowed out and nobody is allowed in here. We would like for you to pray for our family. I felt like I needed to let you know about all of this. Sorry I had to wait this long, but now you know. Thanks to all of you.
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
Comfort Found in God’s Word
November 17, 2020
Thank you for praying and supporting us and our ministry.
In the midst of the lengthy pandemic, I find myself rereading Philippians and listening again on my audio Bible as I wake up in the morning and while going to bed at night. Divine words of comfort bring healing to the heart and soul. Philippians is my default Scripture reading when my heart is heavy laden and seeks comfort. I often listen to Colossians, as my audio Bible continues automatically into the next book. We stand on solid ground. Christ’s supremacy supersedes and exceeds all, in all things. He is what holds everything together and brings it into reconciliation unto Himself. God’s fullness dwells in Him. Considering all the strife going on in US elections and now in Brazil elections for mayor and councilmembers, it can be very distracting from life’s main purpose – Jesus. I am reassured to know that in Christ´s new earth we will no longer have to deal with sin, pandemics, imperfect systems, and crazy elections. What Scripture brings you comfort and joy during trying times?
The ministry is moving forward with good progress. We’ve assisted many families over the course of the pandemic. Some of our gatherings are already back, but still several people choose to stay home. So, we try to minister to people individually as best as we can. We do a lot of meal care packages for our high risk sequestered families.
Our kids are coming along well in school. We are so blessed to have a school that was able to make online distance learning a reality back in March and continues to excel in these challenging times. The lockdown is still very present here in São Paulo as the second wave comes through. Public parks reopened 3 weeks ago, but with several restrictions. The economy suffers, but people suffer most.
My mother arrived today in São Paulo and will remain with us for 6 days. Our kids are elated that she was able to visit and invest time with our family.
If you’d like to say hello, send me an email at judsonhatcher@gmail.com or shoot me a message on FB Messenger. Would love to chat with you.
Grateful always,
Judson and Raquel
Contact Info:
Jud & Raquel Hatcher
São Paulo, Brazil
judsonhatcher@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
Well in Ubim Almost Finished
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We praise God for His care for us and each one of you that He has placed in our life and ministry. We pray that He will continue to give each of us the strength we need to carry on His work.
Things here are still about the same. We have had several people in our church that have had the Covid virus. Thank God they are all doing well!
The special project at Pedras Vivas church is doing well. Part of the project is music classes for those who want to learn to play an instrument or sing. That is something that is much needed in this area since it’s far from town, and most people can’t afford paying for lessons plus the transportation. Also, we have started the children’s Sunday School back. The kids are really enjoying the classes.
The well that we are doing in the village of Ubim is on the finishing touches. This will be a great blessing to use in keeping the church clean and also a way to help the community. We are going to put some faucets where they can get water for them.
There is another community close to the city of Iranduba that Pastor Amauri and his wife Miriam are working that is very needy. We will be helping them with putting up a covered area for services and also drilling a well. That will be of great help for the community.
We have several couples from the church that were already together and had families but not legally married. So, we are working with them on getting the marriage license. Here, it takes a month or more to get the license. Thank God things are coming along. And with the virus, many places were not doing much or slower than usual.
Thanks for your prayers and your faithful support. May God bless each of you!
Please continue to pray for us for protection and for wisdom in doing the ministry God has given us to do—that we can reach out more and more to those who are lost!
Love in our Savior,
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
Mired in Traditions
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ,
As I write this a traditional circumcision ceremony is progressing just outside my fence. The boy who is to be circumcised (usually between about 10-15 years old) strips himself pretty much naked, paints himself all over with a grayish-white body paint and collects a number of his close friends and older “brothers”. They collect a drum and then start proceeding through the streets beating the drum, dancing, and chanting. If you try and stop them (which I wouldn’t dare) they will “throw insults at you” as my friend would say (and probably rocks and sticks as well). You just have to wait until they go away. Then the boy/young man is circumcised in a more private (but not completely private) ceremony and a circumcision party will be held for him. He has to face the final event as a man, with courage and with no crying or showing any pain. It becomes his rite of passage into manhood.
This circumcision is most likely just a traditional ceremony with not a lot of other implications in the boy/young man’s life. However, a lot of Kenyan people are still mired in traditional religion, traditional practices, and traditional superstitions. This includes such things as witch doctors, curses, spells, and magic. If you want to curse someone, make them sick, make their business or their marriage fail, or even kill them you can go to a witch doctor and get this done for a small fee. And, yes, many people here really believe this. If a series of bad things happens to them, they will seek to find who has cast a spell on them and then seek to get themselves out from under its curse. This seems hard to believe in our day and age, especially since Kenya is not an uncivilized nation and most of its people are literate and educated. What is even more devastating is that these beliefs and attitudes permeate the churches and Christian community as well. There is much superstition and traditional mentality in our churches here in Kitale. Many Christians still live in fear of curses and witch doctors, attributing sickness and suffering to it – and many of their pastors encourage this mentality.
All of this is a contributing factor to my having started the Upper Room Baptist Chapel. Here in Kitale we need more Biblical teaching and training in the gospel and in following and loving Jesus as the Son of God and King of the earth. I fear too many Christians here are Christians simply as an alternative to traditional superstition, following Jesus for the power over the spirits that he can provide for them. At Upper Room Baptist Chapel I am still trying to teach and preach Biblical messages that will help those who will come to know the Bible, know Jesus and how to follow Him, and know God in a real way. I only wish that more people (even my own Chapel people) would come to learn about Jesus with me. Our numbers are still few and I am not able to compel any others to come. We have had a couple of new visitors over the last month, though, so that is good. But even when times are tough, we can still sing and praise God and trust Him with our ministries, our families and our lives.
Blessings to you all,
Roger, Julie, Amy, Josiah & Chloe
CONTACT INFO
Roger & Julie Tate
P.O. Box 96
Kitale, Kenya 30200
rojuta@gmail.com
Read more
God at Work in the Lives of His Children
November 8, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Two days after I wrote the last newsletter our lives met a steep curve in the road. The day before Judy and I planned on going to Florida to care for Dad while my brother Paul had surgery we received news that Dad had been taken by ambulance to the hospital. Within a couple of hours we were on the road south. Several other pieces of bad news pierced the next few days. But, God is in control.
Many of you are also faced with difficulties, often unexpected. But, as the eighth chapter of Romans assures us we will be delivered and in that hope we continue the race set before us. Dad is now in a Rehab facility. Paul, who is recovering well from surgery, is hoping Dad can return to his and Wanda’s home in a couple of weeks. Judy and I returned early to Evansville to care for Peggy. We are so grateful for the care given by Marilyn, Janet and Lisa during the days we were gone. The sisters in the Lord manifest God’s grace abundantly.
Meanwhile, France is back under heavy restrictions and our church can no longer have in person meetings. This morning our members met electronically from 9 different locations. Our text this morning was Romans 8:18-27. You might find encouragement in this passage! We are very encouraged by the fellowship with our French brothers and sisters and the work of God in their lives.
Four years ago, Jan, a lady with whom Peggy was having weekly Bible studies trusted Christ. We, along with Peggy, continue to meet for Bible studies with Jan and her husband. We are now doing this via Zoom. Two days ago, Tony professed faith in Christ and is to be baptized this coming Sunday.
Douceline, in whose home in Mazere we held Bible studies for many years, has Bible studies regular with a lady whose husband has vocally professed his atheism for years. This past week she very encouraged because she was able to witness to him and he was receptive. She also had some great opportunities to communicate the gospel at work.
Nathalie, our second granddaughter and member of the Tournefeuille Church, had extended her time of ministry in Austria. The mission project to refugees with which she has been serving has asked her to stay on until just a few days before Christmas. She is planning on doing so. She may also return to work there in the Spring.
So, along with the unwanted surprises we have many wonderful surprises. We are able to give thanks in all circumstances. Where sin abounds, God’s grace over-abounds.
Gratefully God’s children with you,
John and Judy
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
Prayer Requests for Furlough
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone and we are now nearly at the end of 2020. Where has the year gone? As I look back, it seems to have flown by. 2020 was such a stressful and challenging year, with the coronavirus. I am sure it was for many of you all in the States as well. God was so faithful, and kept us safe and healthy. This update will share current updates as well as give our plans for our time of furlough.
We praise the Lord that we are all safe and sound on American soil at this time. We are looking forward to our time of furlough and seeing many of you all. This time of coronavirus was challenging to say the least. It seemed the cases were always a concern, and which parts of Kenya there were impacting.
The cases were climbing as the year went on, even in Kitale. We were very vigilant and did our best to take all the safety precautions, such as staying out of town as much as possible, avoiding large crowds, wearing face masks in public, sanitizing whenever in town, etc. We praise the Lord that none in our family contracted the virus and we are praying for those still in Kitale, as well as around the world, for their safety and health.
Please continue to pray for Kenya and the spread of the virus. The government has extended the curfew hours until January, as well as closing all big political gatherings, in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. Also, there are issues with children being in school, and an effort to help in that situation. Our prayer is that a vaccine will be developed soon and the fear of the virus would be reduced, as a treatment becomes available.
Please pray for me as I (Nathan) have much to do in the days ahead. I need to work on our family prayer card, getting our mission dvd done, and trying to secure housing in WV. At this time we don’t have housing in WV, so would you please pray with us that God would provide it soon, at a reasonable price? Furlough is always expensive and our prayer is that God would provide good housing for us in WV at an affordable price.
Please pray for my wife Carrie as she continues to homeschool our daughters. My wife loves homeschooling and does a great job at it. Her education is in teaching, so this is exactly what she is trained for. God has blessed me so much having her with me all these years on the mission field.
In regards to the uncertainty in the days ahead with the virus, I am reminded of a famous quote “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future.” Amen. Also, a few verses to encourage us: Psalm 112:7 “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.” Finally, Psalm 62:7 “In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” May we trust Him in these uncertain days, knowing He will be with us, and faithful each step of the way.
Serving in Kenya,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
315 College Street
Youngsville, PA 16371
naterad@yahoo.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
