September 2012 Mission Sheet [PDF & Flip-through]
Your September 2012 Mission Sheet is now available in PDF format. Follow the link below to view it!
BFM Mission Sheet September2012
You can also flip through the mission sheet at the link below:
Flip through the BFM Mission Sheet [September 2012] (click on the thumbnail once you get there)
Read more
Missionary Update: Bobby & Charlene Wacaser [September 2012]
Bobby, Charlene, Jessie, and Brennen Wacaser have served the Lord as church planters in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, since 1985.
September 10, 2012
Dear Friends,
“Rejoice always,” are the words that the Apostle Paul wrote to the brothers and sisters in Thessalonica. It is very evident from reading all of Paul’s letters and the book of Acts that this joy he spoke of could not be dependent upon comfortable circumstances. In fact, it would be extremely difficult to find someone whose circumstances could be worse. The rejoicing that he commands is based on facts, not circumstances.
I cannot say that I have suffered anything like the trials that Paul experienced, but I know that the principle is true no matter how severe the trial. I as write this my body is aching from some type of “bug” that I got on a mission conference trip. I do rejoice, though, because I am a child of God, an ambassador of Jesus Christ and he has promised to never leave me nor forsake me.
I also had the privilege to rejoice a few days ago when a thief broke in to our new church building. I rejoiced first of all because he didn’t take much. Secondly, I rejoice because I know that all of our true needs will be met by the power and riches of Christ.
But, I did get the privilege of rejoicing in gain too, and not only loss and ill health. We had a group of youth and their leaders come down from Tampa, Florida to work together with us in the public schools and parks. We rejoiced to see several dozens of youth surrendering their lives to the Lord. This group also spent a day of hard work digging ditches and putting in a much needed drain field. They provided all the tools, labor and material to get the job done. We rejoiced to see these young people working a lot of gusto and determination.
I believe that this trial of illness that I am experiencing right now will pass. But I also know that other trials will come. I hope to honor the Lord with my joy in all circumstances and despite them.
Rejoice with me for God’s glory!
In Christ’s love,
Bobby, Charlene and Brennen Wacaser
Rua Manoel Valdomiro de Macedo, 2281
81170-150 Curitiba, PR Brasil
(813)436-9980
robertmw[at]brturbo.com.br
Click here to give.
Read more
FaithWORKS [September 2012]
ODALI AND KATHY BARROS FURLOUGH – NEED HOUSING
Odali and Kathy are planning a Stateside furlough late November 2012. They need to find some affordable housing to rent while here. Can you help them either by providing a house or giving them referrals? Correspond with them directly at odali_kathy @ hotmail.com.
URGENT VEHICLE NEED FOR THE TATES IN KENYA
The Tates continue to need a replacement vehicle for the one confiscated from them by the Kenyan government due to fraudulent registration when their former vehicle they bought was first imported into the country. Special offerings have been given already, but more are needed. Their home church, Emmanuel Baptist Church of Bellbrook, has given an $8425.00 offering. Also, the East Keys Baptist Church, Springfield, IL [Dan Hillard, pastor] designated their $1000.00 Labor Day Missions Conference offerings to this need. You can give to this cause right now on our Donations page. Please be sure to designate “Tates Vehicle” in the memo line. (You can also still mail in a paper check. Address info can be found on that same Donations page.) You can read more about the car situation here and or on the Tates’ blog here.
NEW BFM BROCHURE
We have produced an attractive and informative brochure to present our missionaries’ ministries. It will serve well as a centerpiece presentation to introduce, define, and distinguish the faithful missionaries who serve in partnership with BFM. It is professionally designed and produced in full-color on a three-8½x11-pages spread-out format.
To view and flip through an animated version of the brochure, click here. You can help us reach out to introduce others to BFM by using this brochure when you tell them about us.
If you want copies of the brochure for yourself or to distribute in your church, contact the Secretary, Dave Parks, with your mailing address and the quantity you want. You will find his address on our Contact page.
‘LIKE US’ ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/BaptistFaithMissions
We have launched a new Facebook page. We are updating many of our daily developments as they happen. We are asking you to “Like” us when you visit the page. It will help us get the word out about BFM to all the others who view your personal page.
2012 THANKSGIVING OFFERING
Please pray to the Lord of the Harvest concerning what you can give to our THANKSGIVING OFFERING. The THANKSGIVING OFFERING supplies the funds to provide for the many benefits and services we give our missionaries over the course of the year such as furlough expenses and the support services required to meet their needs. We have 4 more months to complete the year, and from all indications, the remaining funds from last year’s THANKSGIVING OFFERING will not suffice to meet the funds yet to be disbursed for the services and benefits we commit to our missionaries. PLEASE PRAY, CONSIDER, AND COMMIT TO GIVE AS GENEROUS OFFERING AS YOU CAN!
MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS
We also continue to need increased and faithful MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS to supply their monthly Essential Maintenance Transactions [EMT]. Those essential commitments amount to more than $45,000.00 every month.
$20,426.00 for their salaries;
$10,950.00 for their standard housing and ministry allowances;
$11,918.11 for their monthly hospitalization premiums;
$1722.50 for the printing and distribution of their monthly newsletters and reports in The Mission Sheets. These disbursements must be made every month. They must be supplied through your monthly GENERAL FUND offerings, or else we will be required to reduce either their salaries or expense allowances to make the monthly GENERAL FUND supplies / disbursements balance.
YOUR FAITHFUL AND GENEROUS MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS ARE SUPPLYING THESE NEEDS so they can maintain their daily ministries unhindered by shortages of funds and undistracted from their service by wondering what they will have to curtail to keep their ministries going.
We love you and thank God for each one. All our offerings working together will keep them GOING AND GROWING for the Glory of God!
BFM ON YouTube
We are launching a BFM YouTube Channel to post videos to update you and provide clips from our missionaries and events. You will find links to these YouTube clips here on our FaithWorks Blog page and also on our Facebook posts as we upload them.
Read more
Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [September 2012]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making,”
September 8, 2012
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you for your faithful support. God is using your investment in His Kingdom for the salvation of those who are in need of Christ and His glory. We hope that you will be encouraged as you read about what God is doing here in southern France.
Our world is constantly changing. This includes our lives, our churches and our opportunities. During the past month, two families that have attended regularly for several years moved with their jobs from here to to Northern Germany. Joachim Ilenberger, was the first person to be baptized here. His son, Theo, was the most recent. Out of this family of five, 3 were saved and baptized. Joachim’s father was a German fighter pilot during World War II. Isn’t it great how God works? His father is still living and advanced in age. Would you take time to pray for his salvation? Pray, also, that this family will be able to find a good church near them. Though this is not easy in Germany, humanly speaking, it is much easier than in France. Baptist churches in Germany have a total of about 300,000 members. Baptist churches in France have a total of about 3,000 members.
Joachim and his daughter,Carla, playing music before Theo’s baptism.
Our God does not cast dice; He is working out His plan. So, we are praying and have confidence that God will lead the Illenberger family to witness for Him and find a fellowship of believers where they can participate and continue to grow in the Lord. The other family of five who moved has one person that clearly indicated faith in Christ, but the others came and showed an interest. They expressed great gratitude for the encouragement that they received in attending on Sundays and through the Bible studies. Pray that they will also will seek and find a congregation where Christ is exalted.
A part of our ministry here is staying in contact with and teaching those who have moved away. This unexpected opportunity has enlarged this “disciple making process” into 7 different countries. God has made it possible for us to do this relatively easily through electronic communication. God enables all people and uses even the products of their work for His glory. Man made boats transported Paul and man made technologies make it possible for us to stay in contact with those to whom we are ministering. But, it is people, like Paul, you and me through whom God displays the glory of Christ in a personal way. God has placed each one of us in the place where we can let the Light of Christ shine through us.
The Sunday services and Bible studies closer to us are going well. We rejoice in Christ and what He is doing in the lives of His children and how He is drawing others to Himself.
The Lord willing, we will be in the USA and at the 2012 Thanksgiving Conference sponsored by New Hope Baptist Church in Dearborn Heights, MI. We would love to see you there.
For God’s Glory in France,
John and Judy
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
Click here to donate to BFM.
Read more
Missionary Update: The Tates in Kenya [September 2012]
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,
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that the Kingdom of God is growing back in the States and here in Kenya as well. God is good, just, faithful, merciful and gracious. His word will accomplish everything He wants it to accomplish in our lives and in this world. Our King sits on the throne and rules by His mighty power. Praise be to our great God.
We will probably have some changes coming in some of our groups in the next couple of weeks. At the beginning of the year we started three groups with the hopes of them becoming churches of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of those groups was organized into the Baptist Church of Shangalamwe. It looks like the other two groups will be canceled but that doesn’t mean that good things haven’t come out of them. These groups often start strong with many people and then begin to fade once the attendees realize they will not be receiving any gifts. That happened to our Friday group. It has dwindled to basically one or two attendees who were not being faithful themselves and who were not putting forth much effort to help the group grow. It was time to cancel the group this past month. Also, our Saturday group has had the same kinds of problems. A local pastor who attended the group became angry at us for not building him a new building and went about sabotaging the group, poisoning it with his lies and driving people away. We have also had to cancel this group this past month. However, out of this group has come a young man, Titus, who has gone on to form five other groups himself. We plan on continuing to mentor and teach this young man on how to lead these groups and on how to lead these groups into becoming churches. He is doing an excellent work. People are being saved in his groups and most of the attendees are hearing the Bible taught verse-by-verse for the very first time in their lives. So, with the canceling of two groups this past month, we will be looking to start a couple of new groups that we hope to eventually turn into house churches. Nathan and I are not discouraged about the canceling of these two groups. At the beginning of the year we looked at things realistically and decided that if even one out of every four groups we started became churches that we would be happy with that. We are excited about starting some new groups in the near future.
At the Baptist Church of Shangalamwe we finished teaching about elders this past month. We taught about the need for elders, the responsibilities of elders, and the characteristics and qualification of elders. It was exciting to hear and answer their many questions concerning elders as we taught them concerning this topic from the Scriptures. Once we had finished all the teachings, the church obeyed the teaching of the Word of God and chose and appointed a qualified elder for the church. Afterwards, we gathered around him and prayed that God would give him strength and wisdom as the first elder and spiritual leader of the young church. This is an important step as this young church needs to have spiritual leaders to lead it in the future after Nathan and I are no longer around. May God bless this church with much spiritual growth and maturity and may He bless their new elder, Richard.
Very briefly, my car situation hasn’t changed. It still hasn’t been confiscated but I also cannot drive it or else it will be confiscated, impounded and basically stolen from my by the authorities. Barring a miracle from God I will not be able to keep the car. Please pray that God’s will be done in this situation whether it is for me to keep or lose the vehicle.
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)
P.O. Box 96
Kitale, Kenya 30200
rojuta[at]gmail.com
Visit their blog!
Click here to donate to BFM.
Read more
Missionary Update: The Radfords in Kenya [September 2012]
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, 2012
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we only have a few months left in the year 2012. As I reflect on this past year, I ask myself, “Where has the time gone?” I am sure that many of you can identify with this. Our lives are so brief, and we need to be serving the Lord while there is still opportunity. May we be thankful for the opportunities He gives us to serve Him, and make the most of them. This update will share current ministry progress as well as prayer requests.
The church in the village of Shangalamwe is continuing along well. Shangalamwe is quite a drive out of Kitale town and is bordered with another large village called Coast. We have had some visitors from there, for which we thank the Lord. There are many in Shangalamwe to be reached with the Gospel message. We thank the Lord that the members are continuing to go and share the “Good News” with others.
Nathan Radford & Roger Tate with some of the people in the village of Shangalamwe.
We are progressing well through the teachings from God’s Word, and my prayer for them is that they would desire to study the Word more and grow stronger in their relationship with the Lord. Please continue to pray for my friend Roger and I, as we work with these dear people. Please pray that we would be steadfast, not grow weary, and be faithful to the call here. One of my favorite verses is 1 Corinthians 15:58, which says “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” This is a verse we can claim wherever we serve the Lord, and our labour is not in vain. Praise the Lord!
The Annex prison is continuing well. The head office and chaplains are supportive, for which I thank the Lord. This past week was a blessing, as many new visitors came after being transferred from another prison. This happens quite regularly. We are now in the New Testament, studying the life of Christ and His ministry while on earth. We have many lessons ahead, and we ask you to please pray for these men, that they would stay encouraged and continue to grow spiritually. Please also pray that these believers would share their faith with the other prisoners. Matthew 4:19 says “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” We will keep you updated of this ministry.
We have big news in the family as our daughter Camille is now walking. She is not steady on her feet yet, but making good progress. It won’t be long until we have to chase her all over. I am sure other parents can identify with this. She is doing very well. McKenna will be five years old next year and starting school soon, which does not seem possible. We love our daughters dearly and they are a great blessing. Please pray that we would be the example that we need to be before them, and raise them in the ways of the Lord.
The elections here in Kenya are supposed to be around March of next year, as far as I have heard. Please pray that the election would be done in a good manner and that there would be no unrest. We can trust the Lord even during this time, and what a privilege it is to pray. I read a quote recently that challenged me. It said, “If we only pray when we are in trouble, then we are in trouble.” How true, and how we need to pray often throughout the day, even when things are going well. Prayer is truly a privilege.
God bless each of you so much and we will keep you updated. Thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and sacrificial giving. It means so much to us.
Serving in Kenya,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
Click here to donate to BFM.
Read more
Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher in Brazil [September 2012]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.
Dear Brethren and Fellow-Workers,
Greetings from Brazil. We are happy to greet you once more from the land where we have labored for more than fifty-five years. We are thankful to our Lord that He has been pleased to use our children and grandchildren in the work of His vineyard in many parts of the world. At our age we are aware that we soon will be in His presence forever.
URAI- The work in Urai is going well. There is a fine group of young people in this Church who are dedicated to the Lord and busy in His work. Along with the Congregations at Rancho Alegre and Sussumo there are some that do visits from door to door distributing Gospel tracts.
This past week Kathy, one of her sons, and Maria were here for a two day visit. What a joy these visits bring to our lives. Sometimes we are so homesick to see them; it is hard.
ELECTIONS- This is the time of electioneering for the offices of State and City officials. It is a very noisy period with loud speakers on, what seems to be, most of the cars.
ASSAI- This month the second son of Dona Maria passed away. He had suffered with cancer for nearly ten years. The sad part is there is no assurance he was saved. Sunday morning, his widow came to service. Her name is Jirlene. She has two children, a girl and a boy. Please pray for her and for her children. Alta and I go to Assai each Sunday morning and we praise the Lord for health and ability to go these sixty miles each week.
CAR PROBLEM- Rather, owner problem. Three weeks ago I failed to put the radiator cap on and coming home the engine overheated and cracked the heads. The heat melted the wires but the car stopped on a curve in front of a small business. The man who lives there was able to fix the wires enough for us to arrive home. The two mechanics who do my work have put our car in first class condition and I am trying to remember the radiator cap.
In all of our years of experience, this city of twenty thousand is the most difficult we have encountered. Pray for God’s mercy on Assai.
On September 14, Alta will have her eighty-seventh birthday, the Lord willing. She is in good health and her eyes are great.
In His Love,
John and Alta Hatcher
Caixa Postal 112
Urai, PR, Brazil 86280-000
jhatcher[at]uol.com.br
Click here to give.
Read more
Missionary Update: Odali & Kathy Barros in Brazil [September 2012]
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.
September 2, 2012
Hope all of you friends and supporters are doing great and enjoying the Lord’s blessings. We are doing great. We want to give a special thanks to all of you who have faithfully supported our ministry and BFM. We are very grateful for your faithfulness. Our ministries would be impossible or very difficult without your help. We also are very thankful for those who pray for our ministries. Knowing that someone is lifting us up to the Lord is so comforting.
We have had a great month here with those we work with and the adults that we have been helping and especially in the church. We have helped several families for short period of time. We are especially excited about our Sunday school. God has given us a special group of kids to work with. It is very hard to get teens to come to church just about anywhere. Even those kids that have been coming to church since they were little, when they become teens, they usually quit. Well, our biggest number is exactly teens that range from 12 to 16 yrs old. We are not even doing visitation. They are bringing their friends. It’s like having Alpha and Omega back for a day.
They arrive here at about 9:15 AM and leave here about 1:00 PM. How would you like a Sunday school that last 4 hours?!!! If they could, they would stay longer. These kids live in a poor part of town but worst of all right in the middle of drugs and prostitution and everything else that goes along with that. Not too many options right! That is why we try to spend as much time as we can with them. Last week we had 56 that came, not counting the adults.
Sunday Morning Service
SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE
We have two people that are coming almost every Sunday. Please pray for them. I will tell you just a little about each one. The lady is probably in her forties. She looks like she is anorexic, but is actually an alcoholic. She became that way after she killed her husband. Our prayer is that she will accept the Lord and Savior and receive forgiveness. So that she can live a new life. The other one is a teenager about 16 years old. A few Sundays ago I was driving the bus and got stuck at the bottom of the street where there is a big dip. I go down that street every Sunday and that had never happened. I believe that God had a purpose that day. When I got out to see what I could do and if I was going to need help, the teen came my way. He was drugged. He asked what I was doing, where those people were going and if you had to pay to go, and last if he could go. I answered all his questions and invited him to come. He said he would go but was going to get a friend. Well then I thought he wouldn’t be back. There probably is no friend. I was wrong!!! He actually got the friend and came. Watching him in Sunday school is so gratifying. I don’t think that he ever went to Sunday school. He is like a little kid. He wants to get involved in all the activities. Please pray that he will understand God’s love for him and accept Jesus as Savior also.
Tito (14), Odali and Kathy, Gabriel (12), Jonas (13)
We had a meeting with all our members and made plans for the church and made groups for the different activities that each one could and wanted to help in. Our son Tito age 14, who already helps in the toddler’s class offered to help with visitation and to make an invitation pamphlet to hand out. Yesterday none of the group had done anything, so he started making the pamphlet and asked Loran who is here form the US to help him. They got the pamphlet done and he went to hand them out. Loran offered to go with him and they went. We praise God for Tito. And pray that he will continue to let God use him.
Thanks again for your love prayers and support. God bless each of you.
Love in Christ,
Odali & Kathy Barros
odali_kathy[at]hotmail.com
Blog
Caixa Postal 182
17400-000 Garca, SP
Brasil, S.A.
Read more
