FaithWORKS Report [February 2013]
2013 SPRING MISSIONARY BIBLE CONFERENCE
April 22-24
Hosted by Thompson Road Baptist Church | Lexington, KY | Dave Parks, Pastor
Block these dates and plan to attend.
The theme for our Conference is “O LORD, REVIVE YOUR WORK!” based on Habakkuk’s prayer in Habakkuk 3.2.
Be checking our website’s FaithWorks Blog and Events pages for the complete Conference program. One of the prominent features of this Spring Conference will be the presence of two of our most veteran missionaries: Harold Bratcher and John and Alta Hatcher. Brother Bratcher is retiring from 52½ years of active and faithful overseas service and is relocating here in the States. John and Alta Hatcher are marking 58 years of missionary service in Brasil. We will be blessed to have these faithful servants of the Lord in our Conference services – and we want to take this opportunity to recognize them and express our love and gratitude to God and to them for their exemplary service.
THANKSGIVING OFFERING TOTAL-TO-DATE: $51,098.17
You will note in the Contributions Record in The Mission Sheets that an additional $5,883.00 was given for our current Thanksgiving Offering. We bless God for each one of you who has given to this offering. We are still running significantly behind on what we will need to complete the commitments for our missionaries through the current year. But, we know that you who have given have done so faithfully, generously, and faithfully.
The offering is still open for your contributions – or re-contributions as God supplies you with the ability to give.
These offerings are essential to fulfilling the financial benefits and commitments we have made to provide for their needs and to support all the activities required to keep their ministries going.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY TO GOD – AND ASK HIM TO GIVE YOU A GENEROUS OFFERING TO CONTRIBUTE! ‘THANK YOU!’ to every one who has contributed this year to make this offering what it is!
THANK YOU EACH ONE FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS TO OUR GENERAL FUND!
Our General Fund supplies the essential disbursements we make to our missionaries each month for their salary, standard expense funds, hospitalization premiums, and their correspondences with you through the Mission Sheets.
The total disbursement each month just for these Essential Maintenance Transactions is $46,039.61. That amount must be supplied each month from the General Fund to supply these commitments. If we don’t receive sufficient offerings to meet these commitments, then we will necessarily have to REDUCE the deposits we make to your missionaries’ accounts.
Please do this right now – note the amount given each month to the General Fund [click here to view the January 2013 Mission Sheet in PDF format] and compare it with the above amount of standing committed disbursements. Please give all you can to the General Fund to help us NOT have to reduce the disbursements we make to them.
If every one of us increases our contributions to the monthly General Fund by even a few dollars, we can more than supply these essential needs for our missionaries.
Our love, praises to God, and repeated ‘THANK YOU!’ to each one of you who gives to the General Fund each month!
“For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings to God!” 2 Corinthians 9.12
MISSIONARIES’ FURLOUGH SCHEDULE
Harold Bratcher is retiring from 52½ years of active and faithful missionary service in Manaus, Brazil, and is relocating to live here in the States. He is selling his home in Manaus and is seeking to purchase a home here. If you wish to contact him before he establishes a permanent address, you may contact him at: 859.277.3716 / 1012 Balsam Drive, Lexington KY 40504 / or through his email address: harold_bratcher@yahoo.com
PRAY AND PRAISE!
- ODALI AND KATHY BARROS – PRAISE GOD for increases in their church’s outreach and God’s work in transforming lives.
- MIKE AND BEV CREIGLOW – PRAISE GOD for God’s work especially in interior mission works – and how about that 9-year-old protégé, Carlos! PRAY that we will be calling ‘Timothy’ in coming years!
- JOHN AND ALTA HATCHER – PRAY that God will give them a good and safe trip to the States for our Spring Conference. Continue to PRAY also and always for God’s hand to work in Assai. PRAISE GOD also for these faithful and fruitful evangelists and church-planting warriors – 58 years and still going!
- JOHN AND JUDY HATCHER – PRAISE GOD for continuing ‘providential encounters’ God gives them to witness the Gospel to unbelievers. God is at work even when they walk the dog!
- A.J. AND BARB HENSLEY – PRAY for their new church plant, Caragua Baptist Church. PRAISE GOD for the people He is bringing and for the life-changes the Holy Spirit is working.
- NATHAN AND CARRIE RADFORD – PRAY always for the struggling church plant in Shangalamwe. PRAY also for their move out of their current home into a new one.
- ROGER AND JULIE TATE – PRAY for God to cover them and shield them with His Spirit from the discouragements of ministry and many adversities – and also that the Lord will establish the infant church at Shangalamwe. PRAY also that the Lord will direct their works going forward.
- SHERIDAN AND ANITA STANTON – PRAISE GOD for a safe return to Peru and for delivering them through many obstacles. PRAISE GOD also for increases in their missions and new converts to Christ.
- BOBBY AND CHARLENE WACASER – PRAY for them and their church as they seek to reach other neighborhoods, especially Corbelia. PRAISE GOD for progress and growth in their church.
- JUD AND RAQUEL HATCHER – PRAY for God’s direction in a possible new church plant [already!] in another state, Goias. PRAY and PRAISE God for growth in Active Baptist Church – and for growing problems and pains.
- HAROLD BRATCHER – PRAY for his continuing health and strength and for the sale of his house in Manaus.
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Missionary Update: Odali & Kathy Barros [February 2013]
Odali and Kathy Barros have served the Lord in Sao Paulo, Brazil for many years. In addition to leading their newest church, they also run “Alpha Omega Family Development,” which provides a home and stability for needy people, many of whom are recovering drug addicts, etc.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Hope all of you have had a great time with your families through these holidays. We are all doing fine. Kathy had a great time in the States with the birth of our latest granddaughter, Violet Oliveira. She also got to visit with the other children while she was there.
The work here has been a real blessing. We have a group of 17 people coming that are new. Almost all of them are from the same family. Most of them had been to other evangelical churches, and have been taught several different doctrines. We want to make sure that they understand that salvation is not by works and baptism, but by grace. We have been teaching what the Bible teaches on these doctrines. Last Sunday I taught about baptism. After service one of them said, “You’re going to have a bunch to baptize.” Pray for these people. They are a great group of people, and we spend a lot of time of fellowship together. There is a couple coming to church for the last month. The wife has been in depression for years. Her husband was unfaithful to her for many years and when she had their last child she rejected the baby and went into depression. We are praying that God will work a great miracle in their life. The miracle of forgiveness! We are praying that both of them understands their need for salvation and that they can soon rejoice in God’s forgiveness. Their names are Dalva and Ezekiel.
Violet Oliveira, Odali & Kathy’s newest granddaughter (daughter of Amelia and Ivo)!
We have a new couple that has been coming with their son that came because his wife was coming. The man got saved by reading his Bible, but had not found a church he liked. They have been coming for about a month also. He has been talking about being baptized. We are prayerfully waiting for the day we have our next baptism. Praise God!
We thank all of you for your prayers and support. You are an important part of our ministry. None of us can stand alone. God bless each of you.
In Christ,
Odali & Kathy
Odali & Kathy Barros
odali_kathy[at]hotmail.com
Blog
Av. Victor Hugo Boaretto S/N
Garca, Sao Paulo 17.400,000
Brasil, SA
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January 2013 Mission Sheets [PDF & Flip-Through]
Your January 2013 Mission Sheet is now available in PDF format. Follow the link below to view it!
BFM Mission Sheet January 2013
Please note that we overlooked Bro. John Hatcher’s letter when we printed this month’s edition. You can find it attached in the PDF on page four.
You can also flip through the mission sheet at the link below. When flipping through, note that page 4 with the Hatchers’ letter is a different size than the other pages. You can enlarge this page by clicking the magnifying glass with the arrow in it. ( <–> ) Flip by clicking on the curled up page corner.
(Once you get there, click at the bottom of the page to flip through.)
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FaithWORKS Report [January 2013]
SALARY INCREASE FOR OUR MISSIONARIES – IF WE HAVE IT!
As we reported in last month’s Mission Sheets, we have begun in January 2013 to increase our missionaries’ salary by 5% – from $1717.00 to $1803 per month. That means that we will disburse $21,449.00 every month for just their salaries. Also added to that salary amount are: $10,950.00 per month for Standard Ministry Expense Allowances, $11,918.11 for hospitalization premiums we pay for them each month, and $1722.50 which we disburse to publish their newsletters for them each month.
Those commitments amount to a total of $46,039.61 which is supplied from the General Fund. We want to emphasize that WE CANNOT MEET THESE COMMITMENTS WITHOUT THE SUPPLIES OF THE FUNDS EACH MONTH. If we don’t receive enough in General Fund offerings each month to meet these Essential Maintenance Transactions, then we will be required to reduce the amounts we have committed.
Will you help us provide this much-needed and belated salary increase for our missionaries’ basic and essential living expenses BY INCREASING YOUR PERSONAL OFFERINGS TO THE MONTHLY GENERAL BY JUST 5% – or more – as the Lord enables you?
If every one of us increases our contributions to the monthly General Fund by even that amount, we can more than supply this modest salary increase for our missionaries.
Our repeated ‘THANK YOU!’ to each one of you who gives to the General Fund each month!
TWO OF OUR FAITHFUL, LONG-TIME, VETERAN MISSIONARY-WIVES HAVE GONE HOME TO BE WITH THE LORD.
June Bean, who faithfully served 31 years as a missionary in Brazil with her husband George, entered the Presence of the Lord the morning of Wednesday, December 12. In 1964, the Beans went to serve the Lord in São Luís, capital of the northeastern state of Maranhão, Brazil, until their retirement from active missionary service in 1995. They also spent a couple of years relieving furloughing missionaries. Brother George Bean went Home to be with the Lord in May 2000. Sis. Bean had dementia for several years and had declined rapidly in the last six months.
Ada Mayfield Hunter, who faithfully served 22 years as a missionary in Peru with her husband Del, entered the Presence of the Lord on Saturday evening, January 12. Brother and Sister Mayfield went to Peru in 1961 and served the Lord there – principally in the two cities of Pucallpa and Iquitos – until they returned to the States in 1983. The Lord blessed them with a fruitful ministry both in believers brought to know Jesus Christ and churches established.
2013 SPRING MISSIONARY BIBLE CONFERENCE
April 22-24
Hosted by Thompson Road Baptist Church | Lexington, KY | Dave Parks, Pastor
Block these dates and plan to attend.
THANKSGIVING OFFERING TOTAL-TO-DATE: $45,215.17
We have been receiving your offerings for our 2012-13 THANKSGIVING OFFERING for the past 3 months now. We think we may have received the bulk of what this year’s offering will be. If that is so, then we are going to come up short from even last year’s offering – which didn’t carry us through to the end of 2012.
2012 Offering was $56,365.38. This year’s Offering stands at $45,215.17. If this offering is not increased, then we will be unable to fulfill some of the benefits and commitments we have made to our missionaries.
These offerings are essential to fulfilling the financial benefits and commitments we have made to provide for their needs and to support all the activities required to keep their ministries going.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY TO GOD – AND ASK HIM TO GIVE YOU A GENEROUS OFFERING TO CONTRIBUTE! ‘THANK YOU!’ to every one who has contributed this year to make this offering what it is!
PRAY AND PRAISE!
- ODALI AND KATHY BARROS – PRAISE GOD for professions of faith in Christ.
- HAROLD BRATCHER – PRAY for his relocation in the U.S. PRAISE GOD for his safe travel back to the U.S.
- MIKE AND BEV CREIGLOW – PRAISE GOD for a new church established and for on-going evangelistic outreach into their city.
- JOHN AND ALTA HATCHER – PRAY that God will give them a break-through in Assai and encourage them in their struggles there. PRAISE GOD also for these faithful and fruitful evangelists and church-planting warriors – 58 years and still going!
- JOHN AND JUDY HATCHER – PRAISE GOD for their safe return to France and for reunions with past converts to Christ.
- A.J. AND BARB HENSLEY – PRAY for their first services in their new church plant, Caragua Baptist Church. PRAISE GOD for reports of new converts to Christ.
- NATHAN AND CARRIE RADFORD – PRAY for the renewal of their work permit to remain in Kenya and for the struggling church plant in Shangalamwe.
- ROGER AND JULIE TATE – PRAY for God to cover them and shield them with His Spirit from the discouragements of ministry – and also that the Lord will establish the infant church at Shangalamwe.
- SHERIDAN AND ANITA STANTON – PRAISE GOD for a safe return to Peru. PRAY for Anita’s sister, Hilda.
- BOBBY AND CHARLENE WACASER – PRAY for them and their church as they seek to reach other neighborhoods, especially Corbelia. PRAISE GOD for His protection in recent accidents.
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Ada Mayfield Hunter is now with the Lord
Ada Mayfield Hunter, who faithfully served 22 years as a missionary in Peru with her husband Del, entered the Presence of the Lord on Saturday evening, January 12. Brother and Sister Mayfield went to Peru in 1961 and served the Lord there–principally in the two cities of Pucallpa and Iquitos–until she returned to the States in 1985. Brother Mayfield went to be with the Lord in 1978. The Lord blessed them with a fruitful ministry both in believers brought to know Jesus Christ and churches established.
The family has requested that memorial expressions may be made by contributions to Baptist Faith Missions. Those contributions may be sent to P.O. Box 471280, Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280 or by online donations.
You can send correspondences via USPS to their daughter, Loretta Hokenson, at 305 South Street, Coffeen, IL 62017 / 217.851.0843
Arrangements
Visitation with the family: Friday night 4 – 8 pm
Memorial service: Saturday morning, 10:00 am
Both will be at the Bass-Patton-Dean Funeral Home
624 South Main, Hillsboro, IL
217-532-3636
You can view her full obituary here.
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2013 BFM Winter Conference
– 1 Corinthians 2:1 –
2013 Winter Missions Conference
January 20-23
Hosted by Park Ridge Baptist Church, Gotha, FL
Street Address | 3629 Crystal St. | Gotha, FL 34734
Mailing Address | P.O. Box 12 | Gotha, FL 34734
407-295-6296
Pastor Benton Glover | 407.719.9861
Sunday, January 20
6:30 pm Leroy Duncan
Monday, January 21
5:00 pm Supper
7:00 pm Randy Jones
8:00 pm Randy Jones
Tuesday, January 22
10:00 am Dr. Sewnauth Punalall
11:00 am Doug Armstrong
12:00 noon Lunch
5:00 pm Supper
7:00 pm Terry Adkins
8:00 pm Bob Jones
Wednesday, January 23
10:00 am Open
11:00 am George Sledd
12:00 noon Lunch
5:00 pm Supper
7:00 pm David Parks
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HOTELS:
Being close to Walt Disney World, we have several hotels in the area. The Budget Inn and Suites at Winter Garden is about 5 miles away, but very nice, and quite a bargain. They can be reached at 407-654-1188 or toll free at 1-800-947-7478; $38.00 if you ask for the “Park Ridge Baptist Church Special Rate.”
DIRECTIONS TO PARK RIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH:
GPS: 3629 Crystal St, Gotha, Florida 34734
MapQuest
FROM THE TURNPIKE:
Take exit 267B (Ocoee / Hwy 50). Go east on Hwy 50 approximately ½ mile to Blackwood Ave. (Health Central is on the corner). Turn right and go 3 blocks (block one is four lanes; blocks two and three are a single lane) to Crystal St. and turn left. The church is just ahead on the left.
FROM THE 408 EXPRESSWAY:
Take exit 1 (last exit before Turnpike) to Hwy 50. Turn left and go one block to Blackwood Ave. (Health Central is on the corner). Turn left and go 3 blocks (block one is four lanes; blocks two and three are a single lane) to Crystal St. and turn left. The church is just ahead on the left.
FROM INTERSTATE 4 (WEST OF ORLANDO):
Exit at US27 and go north to Hwy 50. Go east on Hwy 50 approximately ten miles to Blackwood Ave. (Health Central is on the corner). Turn right and go 3 blocks (block one is four lanes; blocks two and three are a single lane) to Crystal St. and turn left. The church is just ahead on the left.
FROM INTERSTATE 4 (EAST OF ORLANDO):
Exit at the 408 Expressway and go west. Take exit 1 (last exit before Turnpike) to Hwy 50. Turn left and go one block to Blackwood Ave. (Health Central is on the corner). Turn left and go 3 blocks (block one is four lanes; blocks two and three are a single lane) to Crystal St. and turn left. The church is just ahead on the left.
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A Word document of the conference schedule is available for download here:
2013 BFM Winter Missions Conference Schedule
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Obituary for George A. Lock
George A. Lock, 76, of Mansfield, passed away on Friday, December 14, 2012, at Mifflin Care Center, after a long battle with Alzheimers.
George was born on September 6, 1936, in Dyersburg, TN to Joseph R. and Mary L. Hardin Lock. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy aboard the submarine USS Piper during the Korean Conflict. George was ordained into the ministry in 1967, and graduated from Lexington Baptist College in 1969. He was a pastor for 43 years in various churches throughout Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Florida. He loved people and wanted them to come to know Christ on a personal level and preached many sermons on the joy of living a Christ-centered life.
He is survived by his wife Judy Lumpkin Lock, whom he married on February 14, 1959. Also surviving are one daughter, Karen (Tim) Campbell of Mansfield; one daughter-in-law, Kimberly Clever Lock of Valrico, FL; seven grandchildren, Tara (Angel) Rojas of Valrico, FL, David (Joelle) Campbell of Lucas, John (Kate) Lock of Lakeland, FL, Jessica (Paul) Green of Mansfield, Adam Lock of Riverview, FL, Amber (Justin) Hays of Plant City, Fl, and Ashley (Joshua) Velazquez of Valrico, FL; ten great-grandchildren; and two siblings, Joe R. Lock of Mulberry, FL and Shelby Scholz of Fraser, MI. George was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Michael Lock; and one sister, Sandy Lock.
Calling hours will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at Werner-Gompf Funeral Services, LTD., 1106 Park Avenue East (St. Rt. 430E), Mansfield. Funeral services will follow at 12:30 p.m. with Pastor Richard Folger officiating. Burial with full military honors will be held in Ohio Western Reserve, Rittman, OH.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Baptist Faith Missions, George Sledd, Treasurer, P.O. Box 471280, Lake Monroe, FL 32747. You can donate securely online by clicking here.
Online condolences may be made at www.wernergompf.com.
Brother George was a personal friend and beloved brother to so many of us. He loved the missionaries who partnered with Baptist Faith Missions and was a faithful and passionate supporter of their ministries. We thank God for allowing us to know him and share his life and fellowship, and we honor his memory.
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June Bean is with the Lord
June Bean, who faithfully served 31 years as a missionary in Brazil with her husband George, passed away peacefully the morning of Wednesday, December 12.
In 1964, the Beans went to serve the Lord in São Luís, capital of the northeastern state of Maranhão, Brazil, until their retirement from active missionary service in 1995. They also spent a couple of years relieving furloughing missionaries.
Bro. George Bean went Home to be with the Lord in May 2000. Sis. Bean had dementia for several years and had declined rapidly in the last six months. Her daughter Mary Ellen [Bean] Jerden faithfully cared for her in her home, which was one of Sis. Bean’s wishes.
There will be a memorial service on Saturday, December 15 at 2:00 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Scottsboro, Alabama. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1:00-2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Baptist Faith Mission General Fund.
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
This previous post contains notes of appreciation from their daughters.
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