Missionary Update: Odali & Kathy Barros in Brazil [April 2015]
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 27, 2015
Greetings dear Brothers and Sisters,
Hope all is well with each of you and your loved ones. We are all doing well, praise the Lord! Kathy and our son Tito are in the US for Kathy to see her parents.
Things here are coming along really well. Next month I will become the pastor of the church here that we have been attending and working with. My brother is going to pastor the church I was a pastor of in GARÇA, São Paulo. Also, we have a great blessing from a group that builds churches in Brasil. This group wanted to help a missionary son. Judson Hatcher told them he knew some that had land for a church and needed a building. We met with the people involved and, the Lord willing, in July we should have a building. All we will need to do is put down the floor and feed them. What a blessing! It is in the community called Multirao.
The work in Ubim is doing great! A few weeks ago it was pouring down rain so I called the people that we use the home to have services in and asked if it was raining. The lady said it was really raining so I told her we were not going. The next week when we went, we were surprised to find out that 7 kids had come any way. We told the kids we were sorry that we had not come and that we were never miss even if it was pouring down rain. It has been so fantastic to see the kids change. The adults are very slow. There are so many kinds of churches. So pray with us that we can be able to teach these people about salvation by grace. The churches they go to are works.
We had a Sister church from MANAUS to come out and do some evangelism in the church and several communities near us. It was great and several people got saved. Now the churches doing follow up visitation. The group also did some social work, like cutting hair, doctor, dental hygiene and mesotherapy.
There is one thing here that makes it difficult for some people to come to church. Many people do not have transportation. Kathy and I drive 2 cars to church every service to help take people to church. We are praying for God to helps us buy a van to be able to do more.
We want to thank all of you for your constant prayers and support. May God bless each of you.
Odali and Kathy
Odali & Kathy Barros
Caixa Postal 1
Iranduba, Amazonas 69.415.000
Brasil, S.A.
odali_kathy[at]hotmail.com
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Spring Conference 2015: Offering
CONFERENCE OFFERING: DESIGNATED FOR ‘MISSIONARIES’ FURLOUGH TRAVEL’
Our greatest need continues to be increased supplies for our GENERAL FUND. Our GENERAL FUND offerings provide for all the commitments we have made to our missionaries. For example, every month, we disburse AT LEAST $42,300.54 from the GENERAL FUND just for the Essential Maintenance Transactions which supply the essential and basic ‘living expenses’ commitments we have made to our missionaries. These include their salaries, standard ministry expense allowances, hospitalization premiums, and the publication of their newsletters we print and send to you each month to report on their ministry activities.
And, that is not including also the expenses paid for from the GENERAL FUND which finance the other commitments and benefits they receive each month or periodically through the year as they need them. For example, we reimburse our missionaries’ airfare and travel expenses when they return to the States for their furlough/home assignment. Bobby and Charlene Wacaser and Brennen are in the States right now on their furlough. Later this year, Judson and Raquel Hatcher are due to come to the States for a furlough. Their combined travel expenses will approach $10,000.00. Those disbursements are made from our General Fund.
We don’t have sufficient funds in the General Fund right now to anticipate covering those expenses and all the other commitments we have made to our missionaries for the rest of 2015.
So, we are asking you to give as generously as you can to our Conference Offerings which we will apply toward our missionaries’ furlough travel expenses.
If you cannot attend the Conference, but still want to give a gift, send it to our Treasurer: Pastor George Sledd | PO Box 471280 | Lake Monroe FL 32747-1280.
Or, you can contribute online either by check/debit or by credit card. Go to our website: www.baptistfaithmissions.org and click on the DONATE/SUPPORT page. Enter your designation for SPRING CONFERENCE OFFERING.
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Spring Conference 2015: Theme
CONFERENCE THEME: “MAKING CHRIST KNOWN!”
John 17.20 & Acts 8.4
Gospel missions is all about “MAKING CHRIST KNOWN!” This is what Jesus meant when He repeatedly commanded us: “And you shall be My witnesses.” To “be a witness” for Jesus Christ means that we are “making Christ known” to all those who do not know Him.
When Jesus prayed His commissioning prayer in John 17, He prayed not only for those disciples who were in His immediate company – who had come to know the Father through His own witness – but He prayed also “for those who will believe in Me through their word” (verse 20). In other words, Jesus prayed for all of us who have come to know Him through the testimony of those first witnesses who made Him known.
The apostle Paul passionately stated in Romans 15.20 that his personal goal to “make Christ known” to his entire then-known-world: “And so I have made it my aim to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was named [or ‘already known’], lest I should build on another man’s foundation…” In other words: “I am committed to giving my life to make Christ known to all the people in all the places where He is not known now!”
The first-century Christians modeled how every one of us should be personal messengers of Jesus Christ everywhere we go and to everyone we encounter. “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8.4). Their “preaching the word” was not so much through their formal assemblies and services – though obviously they did preach Christ in their churches. But, they were “preaching the word / evangelizing” through their personal word-of-mouth conversations with other people – long before our current days of instant world-wide communication.
We are asking the Lord to inspire and challenge us all to make renewed commitment to use all the means of communication available to us to “make Christ known” to everyone in the world. So many opportunities are wide open and available to us all, especially through our electronic media. Literally, the world is at our fingertips with the stroke of a key. We must be using all means to “make Christ known” that we might “by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9.22).
May God help us to embrace the same aim.
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Spring Conference 2015: Schedule
55th ANNUAL SPRING MISSIONS CONFERENCE
in the interests of BAPTIST FAITH MISSIONS
April 27, 28, 29 | 2015
Hosted by THOMPSON ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
320 Thompson Road | Lexington KY 40508
Dave Parks, Pastor-Teacher | 859.223.8374 | daveparks@twc.com
www.baptistfaithmissions.org
CONFERENCE THEME: “MAKING CHRIST KNOWN!” | John 17.20 & Acts 8.4
Monday Evening
5:00 – 6:00 Supper
7:00 Praise
7:20 Message: Sheridan Stanton | Pastor, Berea Baptist Church, Hiddenite NC
8:00 Praise
8:20 Message: Paul Hatcher | BFM Missionary to Brazil
Tuesday Morning
9:30 Praise
9:45 Message: Steve Hall | Pastor, Hope Baptist Church, Fairfield OH
10:25 Break
10:35 Message: Donnie Burford | Pastor, South Irvine Baptist Church, Irvine KY
11:00 General Seminar / Workshop
12:00 Lunch
1:30 OPEN FORUM FOR Q & A / SUGGESTIONS AND ADVICE
5:00 – 6:00 Supper
Tuesday Evening
7:00 Praise
7:20 Message: John Mark Hatcher | BFM Missionary to France
8:00 Praise
8:20 Message: Bobby Wacaser | BFM Missionary to Brazil
Wednesday Morning
9:30 Praise
9:40 Message: Jim Cates | Pastor, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Greensboro NC
10:20 Praise
10:30 Message: Steve Wainright | Pastor, New Life Baptist Church, Lexington KY
11:10 Break
11:20 Message: Dan Hillard | Pastor, East Keys Baptist Church, Springfield IL
12:00 Lunch
5:00-6:00 Supper
Wednesday Evening
7:00 Praise
7:30 Message: Greg Waltermire | Pastor, Heritage Baptist Church, Lexington KY
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FaithWORKS Report [March 2015]
Click here to access a PDF version of the March 2015 FaithWORKS Report!
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Spring Conference 2015: Children’s Sessions
CHILDREN’S MISSIONS CONFERENCE SESSIONS
Every year we conduct sessions for the children [age 4 through grade 5] who attend our Conference services. Debbie Parks conducts these learning and activity sessions. Each year, we focus on a particular nation of the world, highlighting its culture and customs along with their need for the Gospel and opportunities to take the Gospel to those peoples.
Our Children’s Center is always set up with crafts and activities which engage the children’s attention and interests in the missions lessons.
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Spring Conference 2015: Travel Directions
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS
GPS ADDRESS: 320 THOMPSON ROAD, LEXINGTON KY 40508
[Google Map]
FROM SOUTH ON I-75: Get off at Exit 104 (Athens-Boonesborough). Turn west toward town. You will be on Athens-Boonesborough Road / Richmond Road Extension. As you approach Lexington, the road will become Richmond Road around Jacobson Park. Continue straight into Lexington. Richmond Road will become Main Street. You will pass the Rupp Arena / Lexington Convention Center on your left. Turn left at the next traffic light. This is Jefferson Street. Turn right in the middle of the overpass bridge onto Manchester. About one mile down Manchester, turn right on Thompson Road and come to the top of the hill.
FROM NORTH ON I-75 OR EAST / WEST ON I-64: I-75 and I-64 merge for a few miles on the north/northeast side of Lexington. Come to Exit 115 on 64/75. This is Newtown Pike (State Route 922). Turn south toward Lexington. Follow Newtown Pike until you come to Main Street. Go straight across Main Street onto Oliver Lewis Way. Turn right at the next traffic light onto Manchester / Old Frankfort Pike. Follow Manchester about one mile. Turn right on Thompson Road and come to the top of the hill.
If you choose to stay at Quality Inn, then follow the second set of directions above and Quality Inn [map] will be on your left behind the Shell station just before you get to the New Circle Road interchange [1 mile from 64/75].
[Click for Map to Quality Inn]
[Click for Map to Thompson Road BC]
[Click for Map from Quality Inn to Thompson Road BC]
[Click for Map from Thompson Road BC to Quality Inn]
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Spring Conference 2015: Accommodations Info
MOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS INFORMATION
We are still recommending the Quality Inn Northwest / 750 NEWTOWN COURT / LEXINGTON KY 40511 / 859.233.0561 Ask the desk attendant for Thompson Road Baptist Church event rates. Mike Clark said that if there is any question about these arrangements, ask for him personally.
ONE QUEEN BED room is $55.00 + taxes. TWO DOUBLE BEDS room is $62.00 + taxes. They offer continental breakfast on the premises, in-room coffeemaker, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, and high-speed internet access.
WE ENCOURAGE CHURCHES TO PAY YOUR PASTOR’S [AND HIS WIFE] TRAVEL EXPENSES TO ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE. It will give them the opportunity to enjoy what is always a much-needed physical and spiritual re-charging for your church’s ministry. We use these Conference occasions to highlight and update our missions partners concerning our missionaries’ ministries and also stir up all of us to greater interest, investment, and involvement in our mutual missions endeavors. He will come back to you with a greater burden, zeal, and enthusiasm for missions.
Will you take the lead to ask your church to do this for your pastor, our missionaries, and your church?
SPECIAL NEEDS ACCOMMODATIONS
The Lord has blessed our church over the past couple of years to make some much-needed upgrades and improvements to our facility to accommodate our own members and guests who suffer from physical mobility impairments. We have installed an elevator-life to transport persons from one level to the other, and also we have completely renovated or constructed new restrooms [both male and female] to make them wheelchair accessible. These improvements will make all of our activities much more comfortable and accessible.
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