Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [September 2014]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil since 1974. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
August 30, 2014
Dear Friends,
Blessed be the one and only true God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Each new day we are richly blessed in Christ, therefore we rejoice and are glad in Him. Certainly the Lord has provided each and every need and that with much abundance.
We are thankful to God for our friends and the help provided. We moved my mother-in-law, Mrs. Willa McGary’s furniture from Kentucky to Florida. I Thank the Lord for Pastor Ronnie Stinson Jr. and members of Trace Creek Baptist Church, Mayfield, Ky, who helped load the moving van. I then drove to Moultrie Ga. to pick up furniture donated to Dad and Mom, John and Alta Hatcher, by our dear friends in Georgia. Our special thanks to Katie and Curtis Samples who coordinated all the collection of furniture and utensils and refurbished much of the furniture. Bro. Curtis Samples and Larry Hood re-managed and loaded the furniture donated in Georgia. Katie came to Florida for a week to help unpack and get things set up. Arriving in Florida, the Chapel Baptist Church family and Pastor Cris Luppino helped unload and carry furniture and boxes; it happened to be the hottest day of the year in Florida. Many answered prayers and so many dear friends praying. Thank you for your prayers. God is always good and gracious, His mercies endure for ever.
We all, Dad, Mom, Willa, Wanda and I, had a great time at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Mims, Fl – Pastor David Humphreys. I am thankful for the opportunity to minister the word in the morning and evening worship times. The church had dinner on the church grounds. The food was delicious and we had time to fellowship, visit and talk about God and the great things He is doing here in the States and in churches in Brazil.
God bless each of you. Thanks for your prayers and generous support to the work of missions in Brazil; may God be your great reward. We pray for you that your remembrance and knowledge of our Lord, the only true God, may abundantly increase in wisdom and discernment, that your trust and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ may be steadfast always, and that the love of his Holy Spirit may fill and overflow in your every word and action, with thanksgiving to God though Jesus Christ our only Lord and Life.
Love,
Paul and Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont, FL 34714
(239)227-6551
Click here to give.
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Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [September 2014]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.
August 30, 2014
Dear Brethren and Friends,
Greetings from our new home in Florida, warm sunny Florida. Paul and Wanda have purchased a home in Clermont, Florida. It is a lovely large home that has a three-room apartment in the back where we are living. The address is: John and Alta Hatcher, 15905 Mercott Court, Clermont, FL 34714
Our new phone number is: 229-529-8497. John’s E-mail is: jhatcher[at]uol.com.br Paul’s cell phone is: 239-227-6551. Paul’s E-mail is: rphatcher[at]gmail.com You can get in touch with us through any of these contacts.
Moving from the rented house and getting everything moved in and set up has been a lot of work for Paul and Wanda. We have helped when and however possible. Our health has been well for old folk. Alta has a pestering cough, which she thinks is from neck bone misalignment; please pray for her to be relieved of it, if it be the Lord’s will.
We are physically not capable of doing what we once were able to do. We do take every advantage to spread the Gospel each day as the Lord opens opportunities. Pray with us for the Lord to open doors and opportunities to sow the message of the Gospel.
Work in Brazil. This past week the Chapada Baptist Church had its annual Conference. 700 persons were registered from places outside of Manaus. The work is progressing well. In the city of Cascavel, a Church was begun out of the Chapada Church by Colonel Jefferson, an army officer. Three days of special services at that Church brought a total of 1,800 decisions.
Finally, Psalm 1 continues to be a daily blessing to my spiritual life.
Psalm 1 – Instructions for a happy and blessed life. Four promises.
1-Be like a tree planted by living waters.
2-Bring forth fruit in his season.
3-Leaf shall not wither.
4-All that he does shall prosper. (There is no greater promise than this!)
We love you and thank God for your prayers and support through many years.
Sincerely,
John A. and Alta Hatcher
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont FL 34714
229-529-8497
Sincerely in Jesus Name,
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Missionary Update: The Tates in Kenya [September 2014]
The Tate Family has served the Lord in Kitale, Kenya since January 2008. Their main ministry is indigenous church planting.
September 4, 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As I was reading my Bible the other day I came across a passage of Scripture in Exodus that struck me because I saw many similarities between what was happening to Moses and the children of Israel and what was happening to me and the people of Kitale, Kenya. Now, before I continue you need to know that the people of Kitale are no children of Israel and I am certainly no Moses. I am no deliverer like Moses was to the children of Israel, no great spiritual leader, no worker of miracles and no author of parts of Scripture. I have never seen God in a burning bush, never heard the audible voice of God, never conversed with God face-to-face and the only lice I’ve ever dealt with was the ones found on my kids heads. So, I guess the similarities aren’t that many. But there was one that did strike me. In the midst of the story where Moses is striving with Pharaoh and Pharaoh refuses to listen to Moses or to God and refuses to let the children of Israel go and worship God, Moses gets frustrated with God because God is not doing what Moses thinks He should be doing. God had promised Moses that He would rescue His people from the slavery of Egypt. But in Exodus 5:22 Moses complains to the Lord and says “since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all”. This is where I totally relate to Moses. I look around at the people of Kitale and the lack of progress we have made in our ministry and I think, “God, you sent me here with the saving message of the good news of Jesus Christ, the dynamite in Your hands that You use to change hardened hearts into followers of Christ and with the promise that Your word does not return to you empty but it accomplishes all that you sent it out to accomplish and with the promise that you will redeem Your people from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. AND YET, WHEN I LOOK AROUND I SEE THAT YOU HAVE NOT DELIVERED YOUR PEOPLE AT ALL”. I ask God, why has Your word had such little effect? Why has Your Spirit changed so few lives? Like Moses I complain. Why haven’t You delivered Your people here in Kenya? Ever ask a question similar to that?
Well, don’t stop reading in Exodus, even though the chapter ends, because in Exodus 6:1 God responds to Moses and says, “NOW you shall see WHAT I WILL DO”. And what does God do? He goes on to fulfill his promise to His people and through a series of supernatural events delivers His people from slavery in Egypt. And I am glad that I didn’t stop reading at the end of chapter 5 because I am encouraged to know that, like God did with His people in Egypt, He will accomplish in Kenya what He wants to accomplish and He WILL redeem His people in His own timing. And although He doesn’t need me to accomplish His purposes, I pray that He will. And while we don’t always see the results we want to see, we do see God moving in this place. I am excited about the new class of church planters that will start at the training center this week. We are expecting anywhere from three to ten new students who we will begin to train to be church planters in their home villages. We pray that these men will be faithful, dependable, God-fearing, Christ-following, future church planters in Kitale.
On a more personal note, we are down to one child left at our house for nine months of the year as we delivered Amy to her new home at Rift Valley Academy for the beginning of her eighth grade year. This is the beginning of her tenure as a boarding school student 300 miles away from home. I never thought that boarding school would ever be an option for our children but we feel very confident that this is what God wants for Amy, at least for now. Please be in much prayer, especially for Amy, but also for Julie, Josiah and me as we all make this difficult transition. Pray that she settles in well and that God would be with her and bless her.
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 Emily, Amy, & Josiah)
rojuta[at]gmail.com
Visit their blog!
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Missionary Update: The Radfords in Kenya [September 2014]
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.
September 4, 2014
Dear praying friends,
We are now in the latter part of 2014. I keep asking myself, “Where has the time gone?” It seems the older I get, the faster the time passes by. How we need to take time for that which is important during our lives, as this life is so short and brief in comparison to eternity.
This past month was a difficult one for our family, as my grandmother, Mrs. Ruby Harris, passed away at the age of 90. My mother’s mother was such a blessing to me all through my life, and such a prayer warrior and supporter of the missionary work God has called us to. She was a strong Christian, and is now in the presence of the Lord and in a far better place. Some verses that come to my mind are Psalm 116:15, which says “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Another great verse to claim is 2 Corinthians 5:8, which states, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” Please keep the family in prayer at this time.
It is now rainy season in Kitale, and it can be tricky at times to travel on the Milimani roads, which become very muddy after the rains. I recall at one point several years ago where it rained so hard that even taxis would not come to pick us for fear of getting stuck! Please pray for our safety as we travel. The rain is certainly a blessing, and it is a total switch from the seasons of where I am from in America, so it takes some getting adjusted to.
Speaking of adjustments, our daughter McKenna officially starts school this week. Please pray for both mother and daughter as my wife will be home schooling her. This will be a big change for my daughter and the years ahead. Please pray she will do well, as she is a smart little girl.
My wife has begun the hospital ministry and it is going well. The staff have been very friendly and inviting, and we thank the Lord for that. God has kept the door of ministry open there for her to minister to mothers, children, and abandoned babies.
Church planting endeavors need much prayer, as there are many challenges, which I have shared previously in monthly updates. Please pray the Lord would give us wisdom in regards to who to work with, etc. We know He is in control and we trust Him. Lord willing, we will also be offering a basic Christianity course. What is a Christian? What does it mean to follow Christ? These are some of the questions that we will be answering from the Word of God, in addition to other teachings.
Please pray for us as we seek to follow Him daily. One of my favorite verses is Luke 9:23, which says “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Are we willing to follow Him today and every day? I hope and pray so. God bless you all and thanks so much for your prayers, encouragement, and sacrificial giving. We will keep you updated.
Serving in Kenya,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa, 30200
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Missionary Update: Mike & Beverly Creiglow in Brazil [August 2014]
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.
August 13, 2014
Dear Brethren,
This month I spent 2 weeks on a motorcycle trip leaving Brazil and visiting Peru, Bolivia and Chile. This was for adventure, but the Kingdom is ever present. One of the things I wanted to do in Chile was buy a new computer at the Free Zone in Iquiqui. Baptist churches are not as prevalent or visible as in Brazil. The Andean culture is ancient and dominant. Very different from what I am used to here in Brazil. Nevertheless, while in Puno (city on the shores of Lake Titicaca) I met a great Baptist named Henry. He was saved at age 20 and is a member of a Baptist church of about 200 members. He teaches a Bible class 3 times a week. He went to Copacabana, Bolivia with us. There are no more American missionaries in Bolivia, or so I was told. The president there hates all Americans. Henry says that many Bolivians are being saved in spite of the persecution by the president who he described as “tonto” or CRAZY! My good friend Sherman Smith was along for this trip and we almost got caught in “no man’s land” for Americans on the border between Bolivia and Peru. It was tense. I won’t be going back to Bolivia any time soon. Anyway we traveled 3500 miles through the Andes. Much of the trip was at 15,000 feet. One mountain pass was 16,000 feet. The winds were violent. We were in temps at or below 0º much of the time. We stayed one night at a little town called Macusani which is almost 16,000 feet. There was no heat in the rooms and no water in the communal bathroom. Most of our guys were fainting, vomiting, dizzy and out of breath. I was fine. Like I said: adventure!
We had a good month here at church. There was another baptism with 26 new members. Last weekend we had 3 days of special services. The main feature was the tenth anniversary of our theatre group. Each night they presented a play which they created around a pirate theme. The message was about the true treasure of salvation in Christ. There were 9 people saved just this weekend and 5 more requests for baptism.
The five pastors of First Baptist Church have been busy working with our chapels and chapel pastors. At the beginning of this year we allowed our chapels to have Sunday evening services. For a short time this put a dent in our attendance at the mother church. Now it looks like we have already grown back the ones who now attend the chapel services. Sunday night we were at capacity again. This past weekend the Catholic church had their biggest festivity of the year, but had no impact on our attendance.
Zico, our missions director, took Idevaldo and wife to visit the town of Jordão on the upper reaches of the Tarauacá River. They are our newest missionary couple and we will be sending them to the field later this year. The church has already approved them and put them on full time salary.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.
In Christ,
Mike and Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil 69980
mdcreig [at] hotmail.com
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [August 2014]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil since 1974. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
July 30, 2014
Dear Friends,
Praise God for all His wonderful blessings. We are half way through this year; and, God has been so marvelous in providing each need. First, He has given us hope of eternal life by His side, and even now, the presence of His indwelling spirit. He also provides the very smallest needs of each day as well as the monumental ones. God is awesome – always good, just, and true.
At the beginning of the month, I was in Brazil for ten days meeting with pastors and staff concerning the planning and follow-up of projects underway. One of the special moments was Tabernacle Baptist Church’s celebration of our 66th homecoming. The church was organized July 4, 1948, under the leadership of Pastor Francisco Santiago (who also performed my baptism when I was a child). The church beginnings were very simple, in a small rented house, with backless, board benches, in a short alley called Beco Vila Mamão. The mother church was First Baptist Church of Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, that had been started by BFM’s first missionary to the Amazon, Joe Brandon. Pastor Santiago had been the first convert and baptized believer under Bro. Brandon’s ministry in Cruzeiro do Sul. By the way, Francisco Santiago’s intent when he went to Bro. Brandon’s street meeting was to interrupt and run him out of town. Upon hearing the word, he became motionless in his hiding place behind a bush and commented to a friend who had come along to help him, “This is not of the devil.” The next night they came back to hear more and were saved! A few months later, a statue in the local catholic church fell and broke and the believers were blamed for it; an intense persecution began. Francisco Santiago, along with his family, fled for his life. That’s how he wound up in Manaus, almost a thousand miles down river. Praise God; how marvelous indeed is our God. Sixty-six years later, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren churches have spread in more than half of the states of Brazil. Aren’t you glad to be a part of the great things God is doing through your giving and prayers? God is awesome!
God bless each of you. Thanks for your prayer and faithful support to the work of missions; may God be your great reward. We pray for you that your remembrance and knowledge of our Lord, the only true God, may abundantly increase, that your trust and faith in him may be steadfast in all things, and that the love of the Spirit may fill and overflow in your every word and action, with thanksgiving to God though Jesus Christ our only Lord and Life.
Love,
Paul and Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
615 Key West Avenue
Davenport, Fl 33897-6300
(239)227-6551
Click here to give.
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Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [August 2014]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.
July 30, 2014
Dear Friends and Brethren;
Jesus Christ, our Lord, was very clear in His words before He ascended to Heaven: “Go into all the world, preach the Gospel to every creature and baptize those who believe. And lo, I am with you.”
In this short letter I would like to make a few observations concerning this command.
1. All men without the Lord Jesus are lost in sin and condemned to a hell of eternal fire.
2. God loved the world in such a great manner He gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross to redeem the lost.
3. Gratitude to God for His Grace in our lives should move us to faithfully tell the lost about how to be saved.
4. Every person we see or meet will spend eternity in Hell if they are not saved.
5. They cannot be saved unless they hear the Gospel.
6. If we do not tell them the Gospel their blood will be on our hands.
7. Remember the fate of people who die without Jesus.
8. Be constantly aware of how His Grace changed our lives forever from the moment we believed in Jesus as Savior.
9. Jesus has given us the greatest privilege and joy possible: To tell the lost how Jesus, by His death, burial and resurrection can save the vilest sinner.
10. Let us be faithful in telling the glorious story of His love.
Sincerely in Jesus Name,
John and Alta Hatcher
615 Key West Ave.
Davenport, FL 33897-3600
jhatcher[at]uol.com.br
Phone: [Paul Hatcher mobile] 239.227.6551
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Missionary Update: The Hensleys in Brazil [August 2014]
The Hensleys have spent nearly 15 years serving in Brazil. They run a vocational school and orphanage in Caraguatatuba and have also established a church and mission points throughout the city.
August 5, 2014
Dear friends and family,
Here in Caragua we have had an AWESOME month! It has been very busy, tiresome, and the biggest blessing of all, very fruitful.
We have been blessed to have the group from 2nd Baptist Church in Warner Robbins, Georgia with us. Pastor Mike and the group were to say the least, AWESOME. While they were here, we visited a local school. This is a new city school near our church. It is a very large school, and is new. The city closed several small schools and put them in this new facility, and it is going to be a model school for the area. We were able to enter this school because we knew the principal and one of the teachers. We did not know that the lady who is the principal there was one that we had met earlier with one of our groups. After renewing our friendship with her, we were able to go back to the school on the second day and also received an invitation to bring our groups whenever we wanted to. So we were able to talk with the English students (around 200). We also did craft projects with them, and with this craft project, we were able to witness to them. However, we were not able to give an open invitation, but we did plant many seeds of the Gospel. Several of the students came to Church on Wednesday night. We also got to know the Vice-Principal, and he and his daughter have been coming to our English class on Saturday nights at the Church. How AWESOME is the God we serve!!!!!
And now to even better news – on our prison visit, we were able to witness to the boys there and give an invitation to them. At this visit, we had a man from the States who gave his testimony of how God saved him from a life of addiction. And God used this to bring 52 young men to know Him as their Savior. How much better can it get? These young men range in age from 13-18 years old. Yes, this is a prison for young men (boys). We now need more Bibles to give each one of them one.
We have been ministering in this prison for about 2 years and have already done a vocational class for them. We are unable to bring them to the vocational school at present because of our need for more legal paper work. Keep praying for our vocational school.
This month that we are entering will be our month of “mission awareness”. Starting on the 10th on Sunday evening and the next 4 weeks, we will hear from 5 missionary works here in the state of Sao Paulo. The first will be the missionary to the Indian tribe that we are assisting in Patiti. This is a city about 2 1/2 hours from Caraguatatuba. Another missionary is from Sao Paulo city where he ministers to the Jews. The next is from Eufrata, the orphanage where we are helping. The next will be from the rehabilitation center here in our city where we work weekly with the people that are trying to get off alcohol and drugs.
Then to complete our month, we will be hearing from our friend in Sao Paulo city who is pastoring an inner-city church. He will be preaching on “Faith Promise” as a way for us to support missionaries. Pray that our Church will catch the vision for missionaries.
Well as you know, all news in not nessarily ‘glow’ news, so here is the rest of the story. The devil really knows where to attack. So, today as Barbara was taking Edson (our Brasillian son) up the hill to the next city to enroll in a college closer to Caragua, her car quits. You guessed it, blown motor. What made it obvious was the trail of oil on the highway. I don’t know why this little Chevy 2001 year model car with almost 300,000 miles lets us down. Now listen, this is the 3rd car in less than 8 months that has blown a motor. So I need to tell you that we really need your help financially. We will be trying to see where we can get the best price for the work that will need to be done, but without your help, we will not be able to get any work done.
Well this is not the end of the world – and there are so many good things that are happening. All we here can say is “THANK YOU, LORD!” for all that is happening! AMEN!
Like I have a tendency to say, if you would like to see what God is doing here in Caragua, just come on down. We will show you everything and put you to work. That way you can be a part of what He is doing here. But if you cannot come, send your offerings so that we can continue spreading the Word.
In His service,
AJ and Barb
Aj and Barbara Hensley
ajcaragua[at]gmail.com
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