News & Reports – April 2018 [Online Edition]
[Click here to read BFM News & Reports – April 2018]
Read more
Open Door at Katukina Reservation; Hearts Hungry for the Word
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.
March 13, 2018
Dear Brethren,
More great news. A door has opened for us to share the gospel at the Katukina reservation. There are 8 Katukina villages along the Transamazon. The tribal leader of the very last of these was saved a few months ago. His name is Raimundão. He invited us to start teaching and preaching to them. The adults speak and understand Portuguese pretty well. The children only speak Katukina. There are only 54 people in this village. We have made 3 visits so far and each time we had just under 50 people present. We meet with them in a spacious, open thatch covered area. The floor is just bare dirt. As is often the case, this area is also their community kitchen. These “services” are far from conventional. During my lesson on the second trip a rooster stood on the clay stove and crowed the whole time. This didn’t seem to bother the locals a bit. Our team could not run it off and it was really distracting to us. On the last trip one little kid (about 3 years old) took off running, fell and smacked his face real hard on the hard clay. He stayed sprawled on the ground and wailed for about 5 minutes. None of the adults even looked! We still have no idea who that little boy’s mom is. If one of our kids scrapes a knee, the mom rushes in and another 10 moms and dads, too. So far I have been taking my small group members on these trips. They have been enjoying it, but I have to keep them under control. They see all those dirty little kids and want to take candy and food to give away. We will be taking food to eat with them in the near future, but must be cautious about the handouts. These tribes are so used to all kinds of government handouts that it is easy for them to expect outsiders to take care of their every need. I did take 6 New Testaments and a dozen Gospels of John to give to those who know how to read. Pray that we will have the patience and wisdom needed to continue serving them.
A couple of weeks ago I visited our work at Cruzeirinho. They were showing off the 30 new pews that they just built. Their new building, which seats 200+, was almost full. Bev went with me for this visit.
We have continued to make progress at First Baptist Church. There have been several requests for baptism and a few more saved. Others have been added by letter. One whole family of 7 came by letter, in fact.
Last night we had our first general meeting of this year with our small group leaders. Many are traveling, but we still had 75 present. Each group is supposed to have 10 people or less, but most have many more than that. All of our groups now take care of around 900 to a thousand of our church members. We have made great progress in getting as many members into groups as possible over the past year.
Our Sunday School lasts for 2 and half hours, including the opening worship. Two Sundays ago I taught the adults and youth for the two one hour periods. That lesson was about the security of the believer from Hebrews 6. This lesson was expository. A health problem has been keeping me from standing that long. About half of the lesson was taught standing and the rest sitting in a chair on the edge of the stage. For the conclusion I was sitting on the edge of my chair leaning toward the congregation. As soon as I stopped they broke into loud, extended applause. That was really different, to say the least! I am so glad that these folks really enjoy the Word and its doctrines.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.
In Christ,
Mike Creiglow
Mike and Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil 69980
mdcreig [at] hotmail.com
Read more
Longtime Friends Trust Christ!
Bobby, Charlene, Jessie, and Brennen Wacaser have served the Lord as church planters in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, since 1985.
March 8, 2018
Dear Friends,
In the time period that Charlene and I were absent from the church here the attendance had dropped considerably. Our co-pastor who had become the lead pastor had been very faithful, but several factors contributed to the decline, some of which had nothing to do with him. Even so, the Lord has greatly encouraged us since our return by an immediate increase of 85% in attendance. We have also had the extreme privilege of seeing two of our longtime friends whom we have been witnessing to for several years come to Christ as their Lord and Savior. They are both very excited about their new walk with the Lord and show outward evidence of His presence in their lives as well.
One of the ministries that we offer that helps us establish relationships with un-churched people is couples’ meetings. We plan and put on fun and informative meetings for couples four times a year where we provide biblical marriage counseling and a friendly group of couples willing to help them do life together. The solid Christian couples from our church serve as witnesses and role models for unsaved or struggling couples. Our first meeting this year went very well and we saw a 350% increase in attendance from our last meeting.
Just before we left Brazil a few years ago, not knowing if we would be returning to live, I felt led of the Lord to be very open and share with two families who were very close friends of ours that it was my hope and prayer that they would come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior so that, if we never saw each other again on earth, at least we would be together eternally in heaven. Since returning, I have had the pleasure of speaking with Paulo, one of those friends, and it is clearly evident that the Lord has been working in his heart. His job is being a representative for several printing presses and book publishing houses. In each of our conversations since we’ve returned he nearly bubbles over talking about books that he’s reading about atheists turning to Christ. What is especially thrilling to me is that, when he mentions Christianity, he includes himself. I don’t know where his wife stands, yet, but I am praying for her and Charlene and I plan on spending more time with them in hopes of confirming her faith also.
Thank you so much for your prayers and concern for us. The Lord is truly blessing us and our ministries and we are excited about what He has in store for us in the upcoming days and weeks.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Rua Laudelino Ferreira Lopes, 279
Sobrado 1, Novo Mundo
81050-310 Curitiba, PR. Brasil
Phone: 55-41-99899-2333
bobbymichael_1[at]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
Communicating the Good News of Christ with Neighbors & Acquaintances
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
March 4, 2018
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Judy and I thank God for your continual and long-term partnership with us in the mission that He has set before us in France. Yesterday we celebrated 45 years of marriage. It seems like yesterday that we began this wonderful partnership. We have been privileged to serve together on 3 different continents and God has blessed us beyond our imagination.
We have continued to connect with our neighbors and acquaintances here. These connections are the primary means of display and communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ. About 10 days ago Judy and I went to visit Patricia. This lady used to live just a few blocks from us. Her husband has been afflicted by Alzheimer’s syndrome for a while so after becoming acquainted with her several years ago we visited her frequently. She came to church a few times but has never shown much interest. A couple of years ago her husband was placed in a Nursing Home as she could no longer manage his care. While we were in the US, various members of our congregation helped her in many different ways. This greatly encouraged Judy and me. During our last visit she asked us to pray and showed more interest than she ever has before. She came to church last Sunday. Please pray for this lady who desperately needs the Lord.
As with you, sometimes believers of our congregation go through difficult times. Paulette, the oldest member of our congregation who is faithful in seeking to reach others has had many physical problems in the last 2 or 3 years. Tomorrow she will be having a needle biopsy to determine if a tumor in her pancreas is malign. About two weeks ago she called me to ask me to meet her husband at his only brother’s home. They had just entered the house and found a suicide note on the table. There has been no sight of this brother now for over two weeks. Pray that God will give wisdom to this lady to know how to help her husband and that he would trust receive Christ. We have had a good relationship with the gentleman for some time.
May God continue to bless each of you.
In Christ in France,
John and Judy
John Mark & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]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
Camps and Baptisms During Brazilian Carnival
Odali and Kathy Barros served the Lord in Sao Paulo, Brazil together from 1987-2013. In late 2013, they transitioned to Manaus in Northern Brazil to start sharing the Gospel and planting churches in villages along the river.
March 3, 2018
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It is hard to believe that February is gone. Wow, what a month we had. We hope all of you had a great month also.
The works are doing great! This month we had several gatherings with all the mission points. We always have camp during the days that there is Carnival here. This year we had two camps: one for the youth and adults and another one for the younger kids. Since our missions have lots of kids under 13 we planned something for their age. Everyone had a great time. We also had baptism of a group of 7 from the mission of Multirão.
At the mission of Iranduba we started reaching out at parks, handing out pamphlet with the church’s name and the hour of the services. The result has been great. One Sunday the kids were waiting for someone to pick them up. One little boy thought that the man who picks them up had forgotten to go, so he asked a man on a bike to take him to the church. He ran in and said, “Hey! There are a bunch of kids ready to come!” How exciting to see them wanting to come to church. From the same city, a teenager who went to school with some of our youth came to church. She accepted Christ as Savior! When we went to take her home, she said to us, “Thanks so much—I took a burden off me today.” Praise the Lord!
We are excited about the beginning of the building in Ubim. If all goes well it should be started this month.
Pray with us about land in the city of Iranduba. The building we use there is rented and is not really a good location. We are studying the different areas to see what would be the best location for reaching out.
Thanks for your prayers and support. God bless each of you.
Odali & Kathy
Odali & Kathy Barros
Caixa Postal 1
Iranduba, Amazonas 69.415.000
Brasil, S.A.
odali_kathy[at]hotmail.com
Blog
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
News & Reports – March 2018 [Online Edition]
The Online Edition of the March 2018 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.
Read more
Praying God would Raise Up Godly Kenyan Men
Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
February 28, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and there is much to report. We appreciate each of you so much, for your interest in missions, and the love and encouragement you provide as we serve here in Kitale, Kenya. It is a privilege to serve the Lord. God is so good and it is a joy to serve Him.
This past month, my wife’s sister Jenna came to visit us here in Kitale. We are now in the final days of her time with us, and she has been a joy and blessing to us. Please pray for her and her trip back to America in the next few days. She has enjoyed her time here in Kitale and adjusted very well to life here. Please also pray for her to remain healthy upon her return to America.
Our daughter Camille turned 7 years old this past month and it was so nice to have a little birthday party for her, both at school and with other missionary friends. What a joy she is to our family and we thank the Lord for her. She has made many friends while at school in Kitale, and we are so thankful for this. Please pray for both Camille and McKenna and their continued progress of making friends and getting much needed socialization. The school has been such a blessing for them.
I (Nathan) have been working on my work permit renewal, which is now in process in the capital city of Nairobi. You have to renew it every two to three years, and this time has come. Please pray if it would be the Lord’s will, that it would be renewed without any problem. Of course, we trust the Lord to lead and guide us, and have peace knowing He is in control of all things. We thank the Lord for the renewal of my wife’s work permit recently.
I (Nathan) have been working hard translating Bible teachings from English to Kiswahili, the language of Kenya. Kiswahili is not easy and takes a lot of work. It is easy to forget words periodically, and also difficult to follow a Kiswahili translation. Please pray for me as I continue translating the materials into the Kenyan language. It is a huge project, but one that I feel needs to be done at this time.
Please pray also for the Lord to raise up godly Kenyan men who would desire to be trained and start churches in their respective villages. It all depends on the Lord’s will and His timing. I am reminded of the verse in James 4:15, which says “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” How true.
May God continue to bless each of you for your heart for missions. We appreciate each of you so much.
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
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
The Teacher Learning from Students
The Tate Family has served the Lord in Kitale, Kenya since January 2008. Their main ministry is church planting.
February 27, 2018
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As usual I was doing a lot of Bible teaching this month to some of my Pastoral/Theological students. Consider the vast difference between me and my students. I have been studying the Bible in depth for decades. Most of my students have limited study of the Bible. I have a college education and years of theological training. None of my students have this. I grew up in sound churches with access to inexpensive religious resources like books, radio, music, etc. I have a large (comparatively speaking) library of theological resources. For most of my students, just to buy a study Bible would cost half a month’s salary and books are a luxury few of them can afford. At my fingertips I have access to the whole world of the internet: I can stay up to date on current theological and religious trends (although I usually don’t); I can access an unlimited storehouse of resources and articles, lessons, charts and diagrams; I can search Google for all the insane and heretical things people are saying and teaching around the world. Most of my students have no access to a computer, couldn’t type even if they had one, think Google must be some strange American food that no Kenyan in his right mind would eat, and are still using what my son Josiah calls a “brick phone” – i.e., a phone that can call and text but has no access to the internet. The bottom line is that I have a lot I can teach them. Now, some of you may be thinking that Missionary Roger is getting all prideful and vain. But that isn’t at all what this newsletter is about. It’s actually the opposite and it’s humbling to me because my students also have much they can teach to me. This became quite clear to me through a couple of conversations I had with my students. I will relate them briefly here because they taught me much and they may also hold some instruction for you, my readers, as well.
I was talking to one of my South Sudanese students. He asked me: “Mwalimu (teacher), do you have a gun”? (PLEASE NOTE: My relating this conversation has nothing to do with politics or the debate over gun control or anything remotely like it. I have no idea what your opinion or persuasion is on the topic and you don’t know mine. I am relating this conversation for a completely different purpose). I said, “No, Majok (his name), I do not have a gun. Do you”? “Oh, yes, Mwalimu, I have a gun. I have a Kalashnikov (an AK-47)”, he said. “Majok, why do you have a Kalashnikov?”, I asked. He responded, “Mwalimu, I take my gun to church with me and I put it in the pulpit when I preach so that when the raiders come I can quickly pull it out and defend my people and the raiders won’t kill us and burn our church building to the ground”. Now, whether you think this is the right approach or the wrong approach to the problem is up to you, but here is what this conversation taught me: The cost of discipleship and following Jesus is high! Followers of Jesus around the world must count the cost to follow him and love Him. Some will pay with their property or their lives. Are we willing to pay such a price? Majok, who would probably fail my class for lack of knowledge if I wasn’t gracious in my grading, has much to teach us.
Tukomoi is another of my students. He is intelligent and tries hard but has practically no educational background. He also would fail my class if I wasn’t gracious and take into account the fact that he can barely read or write. This is what Tukomoi related to me: “Mwalimu, I grew up in the ‘bush’, completely naked, raiding cattle, killing enemy tribesmen and ritualistically drinking cows blood for strength and power. When I was 17 years old I came across a primitive church building with a worship service going on inside. I went up to the window and curiously looked inside. The preacher was saying these words – ‘For God sent his only begotten Son into the world that whoever should believe on Him should not perish but have everlasting life’. The preacher saw me staring in the window and said, ‘You, boy, come in here and sit down’. I went in and sat down and listened to the message of God’s love and His Son. At the end of the message the preacher invited us all to come and to trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Something inside of me said to go forward and pray to God’s Son, Jesus, to save me and cleanse me from my sin. I went forward and trusted in Jesus as my Savior. Now you are talking to a reformed warrior”. My conversation with Tukomoi was stunning. I wished I had recorded it. It taught me the power of the gospel to change a life. It taught me how awesome God is and that God’s Word does not return to him empty but it transforms even the murderous sinner by His grace.
The transformation of lives and the glory of God is what our work for Jesus is all about. May these conversations bless, uplift and instruct all of us this month.
Until next month, beloved.
May God’s peace and joy be with you.
For the glory of God in East Africa,
Roger & Julie Tate (and Amy, Josiah & Chloe)
rojuta[at]gmail.com
Visit their blog!
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
