Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [December 2013]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
December 7, 2013
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I realized last night as I was heading to bed that I had not yet written you this month. We do thank God daily for you as we pray and desire our Lord’s richest blessings and provisions for you. God has been so good to us. As I was helping one of the brothers in our church this week do some work on his house, I was once again reminded that God has given Judy and me good health and strength as our earthly age advances.
A number of things encourage us here. One of them is the increased interest of the young people who come on Sundays and a much larger group that participates in our monthly youth meetings. The youth meeting this past month went very well. These not only touch the lives of the youth but also their families. Just this past week, Amanda was able to spend some quality time with the mother of one the young ladies who has been coming. Contact with this family started a number of years ago when Philip and his family lived closer to us. Our grandchildren and children in the family of which I am speaking were classmates in the early years of school.
Seeing an opportunity, Amanda and Judy had a weekly “English class” for the children in this family and others. This gave greater contact and more opportunities to share our lives with these families. Even though Philip and his family moved to the neighboring town (Plaisance du Touch) four years ago, they maintain relationships with these folks from their old neighborhood. Some of these children accepted the invitation to come to the youth meetings.
This past week the mother I mentioned above, called and asked Amanda if they could get together. Amanda invited her over for tea. The mother talked about how much her daughter was getting from the youth meetings and that the daughter wanted a Bible like we used. Amanda took the time to show her excerpts from the Bible, and in so doing was able to share the Gospel with her. The Lord willing, we will see this young lady and her friends at the Youth meeting next week.
So, we try to “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time”. Your faithful giving makes it possible for us to continue let our light shine here in this dark corner of France. Please pray that God will enable us to effectively do so. Many of our conversations and discussions are with people who are set in their atheism (more than 50% of French are in this category.) Sometimes I “chew nails” in discussions with these folks who blindly ignore the evidences from God’s creation, but I must display the love of Christ in my demeanor. It is not human arguments or wrath that will lead them Christ, rather it is goodness of God that leads people to repentance (Romans 2:4).
Thanks again for joining us in the endeavor that God has set before us.
In Christ in France,
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher [December 2013]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.
November 27, 2013
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings from Brazil. Here we are having summer weather and today is one of the most beautiful days you could imagine. Our day temperature runs in the upper nineties but the night temperature runs in the seventies. Alta and I are well in spite of my having some minor health problems. Yesterday, I changed an old water faucet and I spent a little time on my back with a small flashlight in my mouth. When it was time to get up I did not think I would make it–but I did. I went and bought a new faucet and, thank the Lord, I was able to install it. When done, there were no leaks and it is working perfectly. I told Alta, “Jesus was the carpenter of Nazareth and He is the plumber of Urai.” Believe me, without His help I would never have gotten the job done. I praise Him for His goodness in every phase of our lives.
MISSION WORKS GOING WELL
The church in URAI is doing well. The pastor, Marcio, is teaching a class in the Seminary on Tuesday nights. The young people are active and attendance is growing. SUSSUMO Mission is going well with a great group of primary and adolescents attending. RANCHO ALEGRE Mission is now being led by Wagner. He is married to a lovely lady and they have a beautiful family of three girls and a son.
SONIA DOS SANTOS
Please continue to pray for this dear sister, whose body had been taken over by cancer. Praise the Lord, our prayers have been answered and she has completed the treatment and is doing well. She has a year to go to finish the final treatment. Please continue to pray for the dear Sister. Amanda, the daughter of Valdir and Sonia, is expecting her first child the first of December. She is married to Clayton, a young preacher who pastors a Mission of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cornelio Procopio.
ODALI AND KATHY
Our youngest child, Kathy, and her husband are moving to the Amazon Valley to evangelize on the rivers. She flies out tonight with her three sons and the wife and baby of a couple who are going there to work with them. This takes our closest child to a distance of 3,000 miles from us. This is the most difficult aspect of being a missionary–to be so far from your children. However, we praise God that all are serving our wonderful Lord.
SOMETHING SPECIAL
Our son, David, has planned a special trip for his mother and me. He is taking us to Manaus to spend the month of December and also, to fly to Florida to make a cruise of eight days and to visit our sisters. He knows how I love the sea and ships. I was a Merchant Marine in the Second World War. I have prepared material in three languages for evangelizing while on board.
May God’s Grace be on each of you,
John and Alta Hatcher
Caixa Postal 112
Urai, PR, Brazil 86280-000
jhatcher[at]uol.com.br
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Missionary Update: The Radfords on Furlough from Kenya [December 2013]
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.
December 2, 2013
Dear praying friends,
It is now the end of 2013, and 2014 is quickly approaching. It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. It seems that it was just days ago that we were serving in Kitale, and the time has passed so fast. How we need to serve God with the opportunities that He gives us, before the opportunities pass us by. John 9:4 gives us this challenge: “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” May we serve God while it is still day and He gives us the opportunities.
We wish each of you a great holiday season. May we not forget the true reason for the Christmas holiday, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is easy to get wrapped up into many other things during this time of year, but may we remember His birth and celebrate it this season.
I am happy to report that our final need, the need for housing, has been supplied. We thank each of you who have prayed for us, offered to assist, or tried to help in any way that you could. We greatly appreciate it. We trusted the Lord to provide, and He is so faithful. Psalm 89:8 states “O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto Thee? or to Thy faithfulness round about Thee?” What a faithful God we serve. Now we ask you to pray for us in this upcoming furlough time of traveling, reporting to churches, and trusting the Lord. It will be challenging, as my wife is involved with homeschooling, but we trust in Him at all times.
We are thankful again to each of you so much for all that you do for us. In these times of economic challenges, we know that you give sacrificially to the Lord’s work in Kenya. We cannot say thank you enough. To those who pray for us faithfully, we greatly covet your prayers and we cannot say thank you enough. To those who have a heart for missions and His work in Africa, we cannot say thank you enough. You are all such a blessing and we thank the Lord for you. If any of you would like to schedule a time to come to your church to present the ministries in Kenya, I can be reached at: naterad[at]yahoo.com. I would love to talk with you if you would be interested.
Lord willing, we will be in the States until the beginning of June.
Have a great Christmas holiday with friends and family and also a great 2014.
May we serve Him faithfully until He comes. God bless you all.
Serving in Kitale,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
315 College Street
Youngsville, PA 16371
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Missionary Update: The Tates on Furlough from Kenya [December 2013]
The Tate Family has served the Lord in Kitale, Kenya since January 2008. Their main ministry is indigenous church planting.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The season in which we celebrate the birth of our Lord is now upon us. Lights are being displayed on houses. Festive music plays on radio stations and in all the stores. Black Friday money has already been spent. Church choirs prepare for cantatas while children are preparing their plays and memorizing their lines, all of which will revolve around the baby Jesus. Holiday food will be consumed in mass amounts: Turkey, ham, cookies, fruitcake, punch, dressing, sweet breads, etc. It is a great time to be in the United States. We always look forward to spending Christmastime in America if possible. I love the joy of the season.
Christmastime in Kenya is much different. Not as much joy. Holiday food consists of everyday fare like ugali (corn meal) and sukumawiki (cooked greens) or for the more fortunate, an anemic chicken. I have yet to see a children’s play. There is no such thing as Black Friday. Lights are non-existent and festive music rare. All of these things are simply not part of the Kenyan culture in Kitale. And yet Christians in Kenya are able to celebrate the exact same thing that Christians in America celebrate, namely, the coming of the Messiah, the coming of the Savior, the coming of the King.
As I progress through this holiday season I want to keep in mind what we share in celebration with the churches in Kenya and the churches where other BFM missionaries are found in Peru, France and Brazil, and the churches all around the world. That common thread through them all is the entrance of our Savior and our King into this world.
In furlough news, our travels have taken us to numerous states. We have reported on our Kenyan work in:
Ohio: Emmanuel Baptist in Bellbrook (Pastor Darrell Messer), Cornerstone Baptist in Cincinnati (Pastor Jonathan Gordon), Covenant Baptist in Dayton (Pastor Kelvin Benton), Union Baptist in Union (Pastor Bruce Winner)
West Virginia: Calvary in Hurricane (Pastor Jeff Hurst), Mt. Calvary in Charleston (Pastor Jesse Waggoner)
Kentucky: Emmanuel Baptist in Salyersville (Pastor Mark Campbell), Emmanuel Baptist in Oldtown (Pastor John Lybrook)
Michigan: Grace Baptist in Holly (Pastor Bob Hopkins), Lake Road Baptist in Clio (Pastor Doug Armstrong), New Hope Baptist in Dearborn (Pastor Terry Atkins)
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for loving us. Thank you for your churches that you have established in America, in Kenya, in Peru, France and Brazil, and all around the world. Thank you that they continue to proclaim your truth and your name on earth. Thank you for empowering them with your Holy Spirit to accomplish your purpose of spreading your kingdom to the ends of the earth. I pray that you would strengthen your churches that are called by your name. I pray that they would be kingdom minded. I pray that they would shine your light and your love to this lost world. I ask that they would stand firm on the truth in your word. I pray that through your churches you would receive honor and glory and praise. Amen.
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: Mike & Beverly Creiglow in Brazil [December 2013]
Mike and Beverly Creiglow have served the Lord in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil together for 40 years. 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.
December 2, 2013
Dear Brethren,
The first higher waters of the new rainy season have arrived. The river came up a little in early November. Hudson, Manuel and I made a visit to our work at Porto Walter. This trip had been planned a couple of months in advance, but we were not sure which boat we would go in. The Lord sent enough water for me to go in my bigger boat, one with a top on it to keep us out of the sun and rain. It was smooth sailing with no sudden encounters with stumps or sandbars.
The building was packed for all 4 services. Hudson took the boat on up river for a couple of days to visit 3 other preaching points. There were 2 professions of faith at Novo Horizonte. Meanwhile, back at Porto Walter we had 4 more saved. We also had the biggest baptism service in the history of the work there. I baptized 26 on Sunday morning. Our missionaries there are Alexandre and Rejane. They are doing a great job.
Mike Creiglow baptized 26 people at Porto Walter, the biggest baptismal service in the history of the work there.
Also, in November I visited 2 of our chapels here in town. The first visit was to Cruzeirinho. This is our work on the west side of town. They are still in their wooden building, but are to start a new brick building early next year. The other visit was to Avenida São Paulo. This is on the north side of town. They, too, are doing very well. Right now they are putting in the ceiling and soon will be putting AC in the main auditorium.
Since we are packed out on Sunday night at First Baptist Church we decided to let the chapels start having Sunday evening services. We have still had mostly capacity crowds on Sunday night. It has now been 2 months that we did this change. So far we have had just 2 services with a few empty seats in the balcony of the home church. I have gotten so used to seeing the building completely full on Sunday night over the past 20 years that this new phase seems strange and a little scary to me. Gotta fill those seats!
We have works on the North, South, East and West sides of town. Not too long ago we added 2 more chapels. One is on the other side of the Juruá River and the other on the Northeast side of town in a neighborhood called Centrinho. Both of these already have property. Miritizal, across river, has already started their building. Foundation and slab are finished.
Bro. Creiglow helped build the first truss for the church at Guajará that is currently bursting at the seams in their old building.
Bev and I went to visit the congregation at Campinas. Luiz Alberto and Alcinete take care of this work. They have had some opposition from within over the past couple of months, which I have tried to help them with. We have met a number of times to walk them through the problems. Seems to be under control. One of the original members from when the work was first started is feeling threatened now that the work is finally taking off. They have outgrown their wooden building and will be starting a big brick building soon. There were over 200 present for the Sunday night service. They had almost that many in the morning.
Last week I visited the work at Guajará 5 times. Now that there is a road there I have been able to go just to work during the day. I have been helping them with the next stage of their new building. They are bursting at the seams in their old building. This week I built the first truss for them. Their carpenter will take over from here.
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: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [November 2013]
Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru since 1983. Their main ministry is church planting and they have helped establish churches all over the country. Sheridan also works to train pastors and Anita works with the ladies’ ministry and developing children’s material.
November 8, 2013
Dear friends,
October was a very busy month for the Stantons here in Peru. I mentioned in my last letter being with the Central Baptist Church of Jauja, so I won’t go into details there; just that it was a great meeting where the Lord moved in the hearts of so many.
A group from South Carolina came to do some exploratory mission work and delivered some equipment for new endeavors.
On the 10th we received a small group of five from Columbia, South Carolina. These dear folks came down to some exploratory mission work up in the mountains about two hours out of Huánuco. We had the privilege to house them and feed them for the week they stayed with us. Anita and I enjoyed their fellowship very much. This group was also able to bring down a good supply of Bibles and also some of your video equipment we will be using for taping our Bible Institute Classes.
On the 15th I traveled to Lima to receive Pastor David Pitman and his dear wife Kimberly. For the first several days, they got to see some of the natural beauty of Peru. Then we flew to Huánuco where they were a tremendous help to us in our ministry. Pastor Pitman preached many times while here and also taught my Monday night Pastor’s class. Sister Kim also taught Anita’s Thursday Ladies Bible Study. We worked them pretty hard while here, and they were such a great blessing to us. The folks here are already asking when they will return to Peru!
The Stantons were blessed with a visit from the Pitmans!
On the 20th we were blessed to baptize two more into the fellowship of the Calvary Baptist Mission. This work is growing and showing good signs of spiritual maturity. The Pitmans also helped us decorate and prepare for a wedding I performed on the 26th.
I mentioned in my last letter that we had finally bought a piece of property for this work; attached are some pictures of the property being cleared. Next week we start construction. After all the estimates have come in we are still short about twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00).
A few churches shared with me while on furlough last year that they were happy to help us with the building cost. I told them I thought we had enough to buy the property and get it under roof. I was wrong! So I’m asking all of you to pray about helping us with this endeavor. The saints here are giving special offerings and donating a lot of the labor cost, but we still need help to get it under roof. When times are tough is when God’s people shine the brightest!
Until next month.
Being “in Christ” by God’s grace,
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Peru
South America
(614) 500-8823 – Internet Number
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
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Missionary Update: Harold Bratcher on Permanent Furlough from Brazil [November 2013]
Harold Bratcher served the Lord in the Amazon Valley for 52 years from July 15, 1959 through December 29, 2012. His dear wife, Marie, faithfully served with him for 51 years until her death in February 2011. The Bratchers organized over 20 Baptist churches and many other missions in Brazil. He is now on permanent furlough in Kentucky, still in the service of the Savior.
November 8, 2013
Dear Brothers of the Blessed Lord and Sisters of the Savior:
Once again we (Asa Mark and I) greet you not from the Amazon Valley of Brazil, South America, but from our permanent cool 48 degrees and cloudy Kentucky home where the sun is not shining bright right now. We thank The Lord that we were able to move to our new home in Lexington, Kentucky, in the Hamburg area, off Polo Club Blvd, close to the new Costco, on September 23rd. Notice our new address below. We praise The Lord from whom all Blessings Flow. We appreciate the 8 months we were able to live at the Mission House on 1012 Balsam. It was a blessing to us. Thank you, BFM.
This Mission Sheets month began September 10 and finishes today. During this period I heard 12 sermons, or Bible studies. Besides attending services at our home church, David Forks Baptist Church in Lexington, Bro. Mickey Hyder, pastor, we attended the 223rd anniversary service of the Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, also here in Lexington. We also attended the Linden Street Baptist Church in Richmond, Ky where my sister in law, Deane Cruise, is a member and Bro. Michael Barnes is pastor. We also had the privilege of visiting with Bro. Doug King, Bro. Bobby Greene, Bro. Greg Doss, and Sis. Ann Burris in our new home. We have also each Saturday been able to visit and have brunch with my brother Charlie and his family in Frankfort, Ky.
Tomorrow we will be traveling to Owensboro, Ky to have lunch with my sister in law, Jodie Bratcher, on our way to Morganfield where we will preach at the Northside Baptist Church, dear Bro. Jim Adams, pastor. Please pray for his wife, Linda, who has terminal cancer. Then Monday The Lord willing, we will drive to Paducah, to attend the Pastor’s Conference and Session of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Then two weeks later, we are looking forward to the Thanksgiving Conference, I am scheduled to be the second speaker on Tuesday morning, the 26th of November. Looking forward to speaking and seeing many of you there.
I hope to continue to be a blessing to and see many of you during this final month of the first year of my permanent furlough. I would like to report and thank each of you who have supported us during these past 55 years. The Lord permitting, until next month, when I will write my final letter to the Missions Sheets, before January 1st, when I will be officially retired after 55 years of service in Brazil, through Baptist Faith Missions. To God be the Glory, for these glorious years, and the over 40 churches that we have started and helped during those years.
Yours in the Service of the Savior,
1950 Falling Leaves Lane
Lexington, KY 40509
(859) 806-9827 cell
harold_bratcher[at]yahoo.com
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Missionary Update: Jud & Raquel Hatcher in Brazil [November 2013]
Jud and Raquel Hatcher serve the Lord in Manaus, Brazil. They are part of the “SeedFactory” church planting initiative, which is a movement to plant churches in all 26 Brazilian capitals. Since 2006, 43 churches have been started in 5 states.
Dear friends,
We have great news about the church plant and some sad personal news. Please, pray for us as you read the remainder of this letter.
“UNFORGETTABLE” EVANGELISTIC COOKOUT
Our latest all-day evangelistic cookout was a great success with 240 people present and 6 salvation decisions. It was a day to remember. We wanted to impress our guests with the love of Christ. Upon arrival, everyone received a nametag, had their name entered into a drawing (this allows us to receive their contact info for follow-up), and an invitation to join us the next Sunday. We had three sport tournaments with trophies and medals, rappel, “rock wall” climbing, swimming pool, Brazilian barbeque, children’s games, puppets, children’s Bible story and I preached a 30 minute evangelistic message. We wanted our guests to have and unforgettable day, but most of all, an unforgettable, life altering, personal experience with the Lord. This type of event takes much planning and preparation work, but it is well worth it all. We have great responses from these type events, as the following weeks are full of personal contacts and home visits.
KID’S CLUB
Two weeks after our “Unforgettable Cookout” we had an all-day children’s evangelistic event with 44 kids present and 2 salvations. The children absolutely loved the day. On days like this, I get a major boost of encouragement. Especially, when we play soccer – everyone wants to be on the “pastor’s team”. I now have 5 “best buds” as a result of our soccer games that day! I am so glad they feel the love of Jesus through us. It is amazing to see how connecting with children brings us to close proximity with their parents too. We will not give up on reaching children and their parents for Jesus.
GROWTH AND RELOCATION
As the church has grown, we have developed into some space challenges. Parking is an issue every Sunday, as are the children’s classrooms. Our auditorium also serves as our fellowship hall. Lord willing we plan to relocate by the end of December. We are at the end of our building’s lease agreement, so this allows us flexibility to move into a bigger location.
FELLOWSHIP AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH
After worship services everyone stacks up their chairs against the wall to make room to eat and mingle with our friends and guests. We always serve finger foods to eat after our gatherings. This allows us to enjoy each other’s fellowship for an additional hour beyond the last worship song. Our fellowship has brought a unity amongst our people and our studies have rendered a spiritual awakening into Scripture with thirst for more. I am preaching a series entitled “Synopsis: A Bible Survey”. We have a lot of fun, I wish you were here to join in.
PASTORAL TRAINING
The Lord is working in the hearts of our men and already two of them have expressed a desire into pastoral leadership. The Lord is also working in the hearts of others within the church. I am passionate about pastoral mentoring and love every opportunity to develop new leadership.
PREGNANCY & MISCARRIAGE
A couple of months ago we discovered Raquel was pregnant with our fifth child. It was a complete surprise to us, as we had a surgical procedure done a year ago. We felt blessed the Lord had given us special gift according to His will. At 9 weeks, she flew to São Paulo to be with her father prior to his open-heart surgery. The kids and I remained in Manaus. On the day of her father’s surgery, she felt pain, went to emergency room, checked in, only to find out the equipment was broken. She rushed to the next nearest hospital and they too, had broken equipment. It was only at the fourth location and a few hours later, she received medical help. While her father was nearing the end of his 8-hour surgery, she received word of the miscarriage. Our hearts were heavy laden as we cried, but God’s grace comforted us.
Pray for church planting, evangelism opportunities, discipleship of new believers, pastoral mentoring and the search for a new location. We are grateful to you for the time and resources invested in our favor.
Thankful,
Jud & Raquel Hatcher
judsonhatcher@hotmail.com
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