Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [July 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.
Dear Friends, June 30, 2014
Thanks to our good Lord for all His provisions. We are all doing well; we had a blessed month. We visited the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Mims, Florida, and had a great time of fellowship with Pastor David Humphries. Dad shared about the mission work in Brazil during the Sunday School hour, and, I preached in the morning service. After the service, there was a fellowship meal; we had a great time talking to the brethren, and the food was delicious. We are thankful for those who lift us up in prayer and faithfully contribute to missions.
The Lord gave us the opportunity to receive visits from family from Brazil – my brother, David, and his wife, Pennie; my sister, Kathy; our daughter, Michelle, and our grandson, Luke. It is great to have special time with family. We always have a good time of joy and celebration for all God is doing.
We also received a visit from a couple of families from the church in Manaus who were in the Orlando area for few days. It’s good to hear and to talk about the stories of God’s interaction in our lives and in the lives of our friends.
During June and July the world soccer cup has all Brazil in a state of high emotions and, of course, the expectation of winning. Several of the soccer games were hosted in Manaus. Everything comes to a standstill on game days. Several of the churches had special rallies and evangelistic outreach for the sports enthusiasts. Pray for all those who professed their faith in Christ during this season, that they may grow in the Lord and be steadfast.
Concerning our prayer request last month, Pastor Adolfo Escote, pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Santa Etelvina, in Manaus, who had retina displacement in both eyes, is much improved; there is still a minor displacement, however, the doctors have let him return to work. We thank our father for His goodness so richly and abundantly supplied to Pastor Adolfo and his family.
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 through 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: Paul & Wanda Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [June 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.
May 29, 2014
Dear Friends,
God is always so gracious and wonderful. We are all doing well; and, each new day we are glad and rejoice in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. We continue to have great joy as we visit and renew our friendship with so many we have not seen by reason of our distance overseas.
Since we’ve been in the states we had the joy of visiting and sharing mission stories with the following churches:
- Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church – Pr. Earl Thomas
- Thompson Road Baptist Church – Pr. Dave Parks
- New Life Baptist Church – Pr. Steve Wainright
We have also been blessed as we attended services and saw old friends at: Bryan Station Baptist Church, Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, Heritage Baptist Church and in Florida: Park Ridge Baptist Church, Jordan Baptist Church, Chapel Baptist Church.
We have found a place to rent in Davenport, Florida; and we are grateful as the Lord has opened up the doors before us. That which was difficult He has made clear and easy. Thanks to our wonderful Lord and Shepherd. We appreciate all those who prayed for us as we were looking and moving.
We are in contact almost every day with our brethren in Brazil. Our family is all well and the churches continue to be blessed and grow with the adding of those saved. Final preparations are being made to help the church plant in Macapá, capital of the state of Amapá in northern Brazil to organize as a church and incorporate. Incorporation is a rather lengthy and complicated affair; but God always sees it through. It has been taking about one year to complete the governmental process.
I have a special prayer request to share: Pastor Adolfo Escote, pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Santa Etelvina, in Manaus, had retina displacement in both eyes and is in serious risk of losing most or all of his sight. Pray for God’s grace to be richly and abundantly supplied to him and his family, as well as healing from the Lord Jesus Christ.
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: Paul & Wanda Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [May 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.
May 14, 2014
Dear Friends,
Wanda and I have been in Brazil for 40 years. During this period we have taken only one full year furlough. Surprise! We have now begun a year furlough to help our elderly parents find a place and accompany them. John and Alta Hatcher have been in Brazil for nearly 60 years and are now 89 years old. Wanda’s mom, Willa McGary, along with Wanda’s deceased dad, served as missionaries in Appalachia for 35 years. After Wanda’s only sibling, Ross McGary, passed away in December, her mom came to live with us in Brazil. Being away from friends in an all Portuguese environment with different customs made life very difficult for her at 89 years of age.
For the time being, the five of us are living at the mission house in Lexington. We hope to soon relocate to Florida to allow us better access to the work in Brazil.
We have all been enjoying the company of long-time friends and family, many of whom we had not seen for many years. We had an enjoyable time at the spring mission conference. It was uplifting and edifying. Dad and I were both privileged to speak and tell about the great things God is doing in Brazil. Thompson Road Baptist, under the leadership of Pastor Dave Parks, was a great host. We wish to express our thanks to the pastor and members and all who contributed to make the conference a great time of enjoyment and fellowship.
We thank you for your financial support and, most of all, your prayers.
We will be available to speak and share missions. We can be contacted at: (239) 227-6551 or rphatcher[at]gmail.com.
Love,
Paul & Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
239.277.6551
Click here to give.
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [April 2014]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 40 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
April 1st 2014
Dear friends,
God is always gracious and good. Each day He reveals His love and tender mercies. We are writing from the mission residence in Lexington, Kentucky. Wanda and I are in the states for a year furlough along with my parents, missionaries John and Alta Hatcher, and Wanda’s mom, Willa McGary, who had come to live with us in Brazil.
Dad and Mom have lived and served in Brazil for sixty years; Wanda and I have been serving there for 40 years. We are enjoying seeing old time friends and getting adjusted to a different pace and ways.
We had a wonderful trip, and the Lord provided great help along the way, as three were in wheelchairs. Everything went smoothly – planes on time, good connections. We praise the Lord.
March 24, we organized a new church in Coroado 1 subdivision. The church was organized with 45 founding members. Ivaldo Junior, the evangelist who started the congregation, was ordained to the pastoral ministry on the same day. We rejoice to see the kingdom of our Father grow and multiply.
Missionary Raimundo Pinto moved to Aracaju, capital of the State of Sergipe, in northeastern Brazil, to start a new church plant. Pray for the family as they make new friends and contact people to begin evangelizing and teaching the new believers. He is looking and praying concerning the best location to rent. Pray for this new church start and for the family that they will fully rely on God to overcome all the challenges usually associated with new beginnings.
We are available and will be glad to share and speak about missions. We would love to have the opportunity to talk about the great things that God has done and is doing as well as opportunities available to each of us, individuals and churches.
We are looking forward to seeing each of you during the coming year. See many of you at the Spring Mission Conference on behalf of Baptist Faith Missions at the Thompson Road Baptist Church in Lexington with Pastor Dave Parks.
Yours in Christ,
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
239.277.6551
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [December 2013]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 36 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
December 12, 2013
Dear Friends,
We thank the Lord for a great 2013. It seems to have gone by rapidly. We also thank Him for all the things He has accomplished in our life and in the ministries here in Brazil. We praise God to see His people strengthened and growing in the likeness of Christ.
Two thousand thirteen has brought about some interesting changes. As you know, for many years we have been involved in the administration and maintenance of a Christian Preschool, Elementary and High School. This school was started by my father, John Hatcher, in 1962, mainly to respond to the need of hundreds of illiterate children in our part of town. After fifty-two years, we felt led to end this phase of ministry. On Thanksgiving evening we had a great celebration of those years with the presence of hundreds of alumni and students. There were many great testimonies witnessing to God’s blessings. Our final graduation was December 3. Thousands of lives were touched throughout those years. This frees our time now to be devoted to evangelism, discipleship and church planting.
Thanksgiving Day, Wanda arrived with her mom, Willa McGary, to spend the winter months in Brazil. December 2, Wanda’s brother, Elton “Ross” McGary, age 61, went to be with the Lord after a massive stroke. We celebrate his life. He spent his life mentoring others and working with people who have special needs (a ministry called “Stone Soup” that he and his deceased wife, my sister Lynn, started many years ago).
As we write, Wanda and I are in Western Kentucky moving her mom to Brazil. We will be flying back December 19. Pray for Miss Willa as she adjusts to the heat of northern Brazil and a new way of life.
We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, happy new year. Thank you for your prayers and support.
God Bless,
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
Avenida J. Carlos Antony, 172
65063-150 Manaus
Amazonas, Brasil SA
hatcher[at]argo.com.br
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [October 2013]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 36 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
October 7, 2013
Dear Friends,
Last night was a great evening of celebration as another church was organized – Tabernacle Baptist Church of Japiim I. It was organized with 42 members and called Gilvani Brandao as their pastor. This church is in a community that is plagued with drugs and the accompanying violence. This community has been a long, hard battle; it’s great to see people saved and their lives transformed as well as the transformation of the neighborhood. Pray with us as the gospel continues to reach out to more and more communities and cities.
In my last letter I shared the story of Bro. Herman’s cancer and the difficulties his family was going through. A couple of weeks after I wrote, Herman went to be with the Lord. We await to see him in the resurrection with a glorified body. The funeral was a celebration of his life and thanksgiving for the many lives he touched. This became an opportunity for the church and God’s people to show Christ’s love to this family during these days of affliction. Pray for his wife and two sons as they make the adjustments to life without a husband and dad.
Wanda and I are doing well and send our love to each of you. We thank you for your prayers and request that you pray that God will continue to open opportunities to share the gospel.
In Christ,
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
Avenida J. Carlos Antony, 172
65063-150 Manaus
Amazonas, Brasil SA
hatcher[at]argo.com.br
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [September 2013]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 36 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
September 9, 2013
Dear Friends,
The Lord has given us a good month, beginning with a three-day men’s camp. The objective of the camp was to encourage men in their Christian maturity. The lectures dealt with our deeper relationship and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, encouraging them to trust Him in all areas of their life and Christian service. Our desire is that they might be fruitful before the Lord, demonstrating the fruits of the spirit, and bring the light of the gospel to those who are unsaved. Our prayer is that the Lord would send many laborers into fields that are ready to harvest.
Last week I made a trip to Sao Paulo to visit Herman and his wife. Herman was one of our staff members and also taught juniors in Sunday school. About two months ago he was diagnosed with a tumor at the top of his spinal cord and was taken to Sao Paulo, about two thousand miles from here, to do exams to determine the needed treatment. Being in a very high risk area of the body, the biopsy procedure to determine the type of malignancy did not end well, and left him paraplegic and unable to do simple tasks like swallowing. He also temporarily lost his speech, which he has now regained as well as very slight movement of his hands and toes. They were both self employed, so being out has put them without any income. It has been amazing to see the great outpouring of love as our church members have given generously freewill offerings to meet their financial needs. We had a great visit with him in the intensive care unit; he and his wife are very encouraged in the Lord and very aware of God’s faithfulness and goodness despite the difficult circumstances. Please pray that their faith will continue strong whatever the affliction may be.
While in south, a dear friend drove me five hours further to visit my parents. It was great to have three days to visit them and enjoy one another’s company. I wish we could see them more often, but we are certainly grateful for each opportunity we have.
Sunday evening I was invited to speak at one of the churches organized last year. It was great to revisit those lovely people and see the original members remaining strong and the addition of new families through salvation and baptism.
All the family is doing well after several weeks of flu amongst our children and grandchildren. God is marvelous and supplies all our needs and grants us joy at all times. Thank you for your prayers and continued support.
God bless each of you,
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
Avenida J. Carlos Antony, 172
65063-150 Manaus
Amazonas, Brasil SA
hatcher[at]argo.com.br
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [June 2013]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 36 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
May 29, 2013
Dear Friends,
God gives some people the ability to move to a new city and preach the gospel, nurture the new believers in Christ, and in a short time, organize the body of believers into a new church. Many times the starter missionary does not enjoy the ongoing pastoral duties because his heart is burdened for another place that does not have the Gospel. Even with so great a burden, the missionary realizes he must stay until the Lord provides a pastor to lead the new flock. Missionary Raimundo Pinto and family are great starter missionaries in the city of Fortaleza in northeastern Brazil. They have been sent from Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus. The church plant was successful and a blessing, but Missionary Pinto was anxious to move on to a new state to begin a new church. He waited and prayed anxiously that the Lord would provide a pastor so he could move on. He was elated and grateful as the Lord answered their prayer and provided a man of God, Pastor Vilian and family. The new church invited him to become their new pastor and He accepted the call. They are working on the transition; and soon Missionary Pinto is planning to move to the city of Aracaju, in the state of Sergipe in northeastern Brazil. Needless to say, the two families are very excited to move and get started. We ask that you pray for them, especially the Pinto family, as many challenges will present themselves in this new church plant. We will rejoice as God continues to work out all the details.
John is a member at Tabernacle Baptist in Manaus and has a small farm in the jungle on the banks of the Amazon River. He is a joyful Christian and loves to talk about his faith in Jesus. As he talked about Jesus to the people living out on the river banks, several became interested and trusted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. So he would get together with them on the week end and read the Scriptures and talk about the Lord and pray together. About three weeks ago, John requested that one of the church pastors go and talk to them, as they wanted to be baptized. There are about 25 adults who have professed Jesus as Saviour. This is wonderful! Pray for them, their baptism and growth in the Lord, and the forming of a new church.
This month of May, Wanda and I are having some special time with our parents. My parents, John and Alta Hatcher, live in the southern part of Brazil, and Wanda’s mom, Mrs. Willa McGary, lives in the opposite direction: Mayfield, Kentucky. At the beginning of the month, we had a special treat with my parents and my two brothers and their wives – about a week of fellowship and thanksgiving.
The following weeks we are spending some time with Wanda’s mom visiting and caring for some of her needs. We would like to say a great big Thanks to churches and individuals for your meaningful prayer and support. Likewise, thanks to the wonderful men who serve on the board and the churches they pastor who also invest in missions through them. Your intercessions to God on our behalf bring us comfort and strength in the Lord Jesus. Your faithful financial support is laid to your account in heaven, as God brings salvation to many, which results in our rejoicing together and glorifying God. We thank God for each of you and pray that He will richly bless you.
In Christ,
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
Avenida J. Carlos Antony, 172
65063-150 Manaus
Amazonas, Brasil SA
hatcher[at]argo.com.br
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