Bluegrass Baptist Seminary Spreads in Brazil
The Hensleys have spent nearly 20 years serving in Brazil. They have established a church in Caraguatatuba and mission points throughout the city. They have also recently started a seminary to train pastors.
September 21, 2019
Friends and family,
This month has been more than busy. I will start with the end of the month and reconstruct it backwards.
Pastor Derek and I were invited to a Pastor’s conference in Goiânia, Brasil, where I was able to represent Bluegrass Baptist Seminary. This was an opportunity sent from God because we were trying to incorporate a visit to this area this year to spread the word about the Seminary. As a result, we were able to talk to representatives from six different churches. They are now going to send students to the Seminary in our location in Rebeirao Preto. This will be our first classes in August of 2020. This city is projected to be one of the permanent locations for Bluegrass Baptist Seminary. This is a very large city with an airport and in a central location to many cities. Pray for these new locations we are planning for the 2020 Seminary year.
The missionary conference in Goiânia, São Paulo.
Also this month we have put Manaus, Amazonas on our projected schedule for seminary classes. The invitation to Manaus came from the classes we are having in São Paulo, as some of the students had contacts in Manaus and spread the word about our classes. I have many friends there from language classes and work that I had done there for Pastor Paul and Wanda Hatcher.
This coming year promises to be a busy and productive one for the Seminary. Our plans are for being in Ribeiro Preto, São Paulo and Manaus, Amazonas as the new cities, and Campinas, São Paulo and São Paulo, São Paulo as the ongoing classes. With these four cities we will have eight different classes. Pray for all our professors and helpers. As you know our professors are Pastors here in the United States with their Dr’s and PhD’s and they are doing an AWESOME job. Because of their qualifications, they will help with our pursuit of accreditation for the Seminary. This is an AWESOME blessing.
My health issues continue to improve and I have an appointment in the coming weeks. Be in prayer for the latest results. I know that, as in all things, God is in control.
As you know, when you are trying to serve God, there are road blocks. My roadblock this month was on the road. Not literally, but I had an accident and totaled my car. The AWESOME news is that I escaped injury. Just a few bruises and minor scratches. Our God is an AWESOME God.
Just following up with Mary’s oldest daughter Chelsea, she went for a check-up last week and the Dr said that her spina bifida is getting better and she will not have to wear a brace. Prayer works!!! Continue to keep them in your prayers.
Please pray for Barb and I as we are going to be in Brasil for the month of October. Barb will go first to visit the grandchildren then to Garça with me for the first of three Seminary classes. Then I will finish the month in São Paulo and Campinas.
Thank you for your continued prayers for this endeavor for the Kingdom.
In His service,
Aj and Barb Hensley
Aj and Barbara Hensley
ajcaragua[at]gmail.com
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For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online
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New Neighbor, Youth Meetings, & More
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
May 10, 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I just finished reading the letters written by the missionary wives and thoroughly enjoyed them. Maybe the ladies should write our letters more often!
Yesterday, I was enjoying a great “down home” lunch of butter beans and corn bread and my thoughts turned to the excited way God has touched my life. Here I was eating a good old Kentucky meal, a reflection of my parents’ and wife’s roots and I began thinking of just how multicultural our weekly ministry is. Already this week we have had several Bible studies and prayer meetings in French, English and Portuguese. People in these meetings were from France, England, New Zealand, Brazil, Portugal, Central Africa, Germany, Switzerland, America and Algeria. All of that in just five days… Sunday through Thursday. The week is not yet over. Tomorrow we have a full day of cleaning house for church, counseling and Youth Meeting.
We love it!
There are always ups and downs. Sometimes what seems to be a down becomes an up. I will just give you a little illustration of something that happened a couple weeks ago. Judy and I returned from a visit and shopping and I could not locate the keys to get in the house. Having looked every in and out of the car and trying to contain my frustration, I decided that I might as well break in the house. As I was in the process of doing this, a lady walks up to our open front gate and says, “I live next door and I have been wanting to meet you. What are you doing?” I sheepishly explained the situation. She then looked down just under the front wheel of the car, picked up a set of keys and asked, “Are these what you are looking for?” We then spent a few minutes getting acquainted with this new neighbor who mentioned that one of the reasons she had anticipated moving in next door to us was that a person who used to live on the next street over told her how friendly we were and what great music came from our house.
We had been praying to meet these new neighbors, but our plan had fallen through. Judy usually makes “from scratch muffins with hand-picked blue berries” for new neighbors to break the ice. Just a week or so before she had mixed a batch, but for some reason (first time ever) when they came out of the oven, they were a flop. All along God had a plan and a way of saying, “I hear your prayers and I love you and your neighbors.”
We continue to be very encouraged by the commitment of members of the church. Tomorrow is youth meeting to be held and Philip and Amanda’s home. We usually alternate between our homes hosting these youth activities. Having 25 or so teenagers in your home for a meal, interactive games and Bible study requires a bit of work…before and after. One of our families asked if they could host the next one. Tomorrow, this same family is having the whole church and friends brought by members to their home after the morning service for a “potluck lunch” and viewing of the film, “A Case for Christ”, by Lee Strobel.
We hope this little tidbit of what God is doing in our corner will encourage each of you, our partners.
Rejoicing in France,
John and Judy
John Mark & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online
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The Gospel Going forth in Brazil, Paraguay, & Colombia!
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser have served the Lord as church planters in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, since 1985.
February 4, 2019
Starting the second week of January we held our first Missions Training Seminar and we were thrilled to have two middle-aged couples among our 20 volunteers! Two married couples who are just shy of retirement have been praying for the Lord’s direction in their life after they leave their secular jobs. After seeing how God used them to touch so many lives in Brazil and Paraguay in just a few short weeks, they feel strongly led to transition from their present jobs to full-time evangelism. We are praying with them and for them to clearly know God’s will about this so important decision. If they are truly led of the Lord to come be a part of our ministry outreach, they will certainly be a welcomed addition. I admire their way of thinking at this stage in their lives. So many middle-aged Christians start thinking about leisure and comfort and here these dear folks are seeking how they may more fully serve the Lord with their available time and resources. May God truly guide them in this process.
A man who trusted Christ in Paraguay
Another man who trusted Christ in Paraguay
Our team who took the gospel message to Paraguay came back rejoicing at how open most of the people were to the gospel. But it became evident that the adversary has his grip on people of all nations. One young man from our team was visiting in a neighborhood and began a conversation with man who became upset and hostile. Despite the man’s rudeness and hostility, our evangelist retained his pleasant attitude and treated the man with respect. He invited the man to come to our evangelistic presentation that would be held in the public square that evening, but the man told him to leave. In parting, the young evangelist felt led to ask the man to take his son, who was standing by his side, to the presentation. That night, lo and behold, the man showed up with his son to the evening meeting! He stayed throughout the entire service of gospel skits, testimonies and preaching and when an invitation was given at the end of the meeting to surrender his life to Christ, the man went immediately to the front of the crowd to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. This turn of events further strengthened our worker’s faith in the power of God to transform lives through the gospel.
While one group was in Paraguay spreading the gospel two of our workers got the opportunity to go on mission to Colombia. Israel and Giovane are both musicians and received an invitation to teach the people how to play wind instruments, which is their strength. Teaching the people to play the instruments was their platform for sharing the gospel with their students. They were assisting a missionary who is attempting to plant a new church there. As they taught how to play the instruments they also shared how God had changed their lives through trusting in Jesus Christ and how their lives could be transformed as well. They both were used of the Lord to win several Colombians to Christ during their three-week stay there. The local missionary is now working to disciple those who surrendered to the Lord.
Next week Charlene and I will resume teaching our English classes along with our volunteer tutors from our church teaching their respective subjects. It looks like we will have quite a few returning students as well as several new ones. We are excited about the privilege sharing the gospel with folks who wouldn’t ordinarily come to church for any other purpose. Please keep us in your prayers throughout this next semester.
Thank you for your concern and loving support.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Rua Laudelino Ferreira Lopes, 279
Sobrado 1, Novo Mundo
81050-310 Curitiba, PR. Brasil
Phone: 55-41-99899-2333
bobbymichael_1[at]hotmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online
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Goal of Caraguatatuba Baptist Seminary
The Hensleys have spent nearly 20 years serving in Brazil. They have established a church in Caraguatatuba and mission points throughout the city. They have also recently started a seminary to train pastors.
December 15, 2018
Dear friends and family,
In this letter I want to talk you about Caraguatatuba Baptist Seminary. I have told you some of the results and some of our plans but never about the seminary itself. Our purpose is to take basic evangelical seminary to underserved pastors and Church elders in Brasil.
Our goal is to provide these saints with solid understanding of God’s truth in scripture and equip them to effectively evangelize, disciple, and build God’s kingdom in Brasil.
Our object is through the generosity and love of many Churches here in the States who allow their Pastors time off and help them financially to come and teach these pastors here in Brasil.
And because of all this the seminary has had an AWESOME year. I would like to take time right here to thank all our professors who graciously give of their time and energy to teach these classes. These professors are: Pr. Derek Coleman, Pr. Steven Scherer, Pr. Chris Dortch, Pr. Greg Waltermire, Pr. Raymond Edge and Pr. Russell Zik. Along with the professors, we have helpers in the regions where we teach and the translators and the interpreters.
The seminary offers a four-course certificate in Pastoral Ministries and a twelve-course Masters of Arts in Pastoral Ministries.
HISTORY: We have conducted courses in five cities—in those, we have had 257 students total. There have been 82 Churches represented with a total of 9,149 members in those Churches. They have been from 5 states from the Amazon to São Paulo. There have been a total of 23 classes conducted encompassing 8 courses. The classes were Systematic Theology, Survey of the New Testament, Survey of the Old Testament, Pastoral ministries, Theology of Discipleship, Old Testament Elective (Dead Sea Scrolls), New Testament Elective (Fundamentals of New Testament Soteriology).
Two cities have graduated students with a four-course Pastoral Ministries. Another city will finalize a four-course series in the summer of 2019! Two more cities have ongoing courses leading to a Masters of Arts in Pastoral Ministries. We currently have 57 students enrolled in the Masters program.
A big THANKS to all who help in the United States and in Brasil. Thanks to prayer partners and BFM—without your AWESOME help and assistance, this would not be possible. Our plans for the coming year will be presented in the upcoming letter. We have a big prayer request: we need more Professors with Ph.D./doctoral degrees. Pray with us about this, and if you qualify, and are willing to donate your time and talent, let us know.
Barbara and I would like to take this time to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a God-filled New Year.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
Aj and Barbara Hensley
ajcaragua[at]gmail.com
Like them on Facebook.
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online
Read more
Festival Held to Reach Out to New People
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.
August 2, 2018
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Hope all is well with each of you. We are all doing well and being blessed by our Lord.
The works are doing well and reaching out to bring new people to the churches. This month we had our festival of typical foods. The purpose of the festivals is to bring people who are not saved to know our church. We had a wonderful festival. The members got really involved and things went well. We had around 350 people who came. We had a praise time and then a sketch with the plan of salvation.
The Venezuelan couple that the husband is pastor has been of great help with the mission of Iranduba.
Tables at the festival where the visitors were served.
Special service at the festival
The work with the camp is coming along. We had a fellowship with a group of about 35 pastors to share our plans. We have had several contacts. We want to make it a place that small churches as well as large churches can have access. We also want to have special camps to reach different age groups through sports, seminars and training. Pray that God will lead us each step of the way.
Our purpose in our ministry is especially to reach out to the lost to tell them about the Lord Jesus. But also, we want to help others to grow and serve the Lord in their daily life.
Pray that God will direct us each step of the way and that lives will be reached.
Thanks to each of you for your love and support. God bless you.
Also continue to pray for God to provide a car for us that Kathy can use that holds 6 or 7 passengers.
Love in Christ,
Odali & Kathy
Odali & Kathy Barros
Caixa Postal 1
Iranduba, Amazonas 69.415.000
Brasil, S.A.
odali_kathy[at]hotmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online
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Visiting Works in Gama, Santa Rosa, & Centrinho
Mike and Beverly Creiglow have served the Lord in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil together since 1971. 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 9, 2017
Dear Brethren,
Greetings from Cruzeiro do Sul. The rainy season has finally started for real and the river is up pretty high. It is time to get back on the river with some of the visits to our works a little further away.
Taking advantage of the prolonged dry season, I visited several works along the roads. Zico, Ezi and I visited the new work at Gama. While there I built the first trusses for their building. I took one of our men along to teach him how to build the rest. We are still praying for a couple to move there to take care of the work. Access is easy in the dry season. There is a 30 mile dirt road that winds through the jungle to the Gama River. In the rainy season the only vehicles that can get through are ATVs and with much effort and frustration!
I visited the work at Santa Rosa. We held one of our preachers meetings while I was there. The church is doing well. The pastor is Brother Sadraque. He is a young local who was saved and called right there. He accepted the pastorate after the last pastor left unexpectedly. That was a couple of years ago. Since then Sadraque has done a good job and the church has almost doubled in size. I have been working with him over the last few months to get him through a problem. He feels that he is in the position only temporarily. It still hasn’t soaked in that God put him there.
Bev went with me to visit the work at Centrinho for a weekend meeting. Pastor Marcelo and his wife Neire serve there. They have about 40 people. There were over 70 present for the services while we were there. They meet in a little wooden building, but doing well and growing slowly.
We had another baptism at church this month adding another 38 members.
Our seminary closed out the semester late November with 22 students attending classes. We offered 6 modules this last semester. I taught Bible geography. Lot of fun.
The violence here has gone down a little, but is still rampant. The state AG just put out the stats. Two things are worth quoting. First, the murder rate per 100,000 population is 56. Then if the State of Acre were an independent country it would be the 4th most violent country in the world. He went on to say that a person is more likely to be murdered in the Acre than in Syria. To top it off, the bad guys are now stopping boats on the river to rob and murder their victims. When our members heard about my next trip up river they were concerned. I can’t let this stop me though. Unfortunately, Brazil has the strictest gun laws in the world and I cannot have a weapon. The bad guys all have guns though. In a referendum 95% of the population wants the right to own a gun. Socialism is what it is though and there is not much hope for improvement here.
I am still dealing with health issues. I have continued to work long hard days, but it has not been easy. Not sure that the doctors here are going to find out what ails me. Please continue to pray.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.
In Christ,
Mike Creiglow
Mike and Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil 69980
mdcreig [at] hotmail.com
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Amazing Demonstrations of God’s Power at Work
Bobby, Charlene, Jessie, and Brennen Wacaser have served the Lord as church planters in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, since 1985.
August 4, 2017
Dear Friends,
In their mission travels this past month, Projeto Vida experienced some amazing demonstrations of God’s power at work through them. One of their first stops was at a school that invited them back a year after their previous work there. Back then, there was a boy who was known as the biggest trouble-maker of the school and community who sought to disrupt the outreach efforts of Projeto Vida during their gospel skit presentations. Now, a year later, they found out that the boy has trusted in Christ and has been baptized and is growing in his relationship with the Lord. He told them that he had heard the truth of God’s love through them and that he wanted to be forgiven and become a part of God’s family. His teachers confirmed that he had indeed become a different kid since their last visit.
Another great report was from a young lady who had gotten involved in drugs and had caused much anguish and turmoil in her home. Her behavior had become so bad that her mother had gotten discouraged in her parenting and had become a drug user herself. During the gospel presentations, this girl was convicted of her sin and came forward to repent and surrender her life to Christ. She shared with the missionaries that she was very concerned for her mother’s salvation. The missionaries encouraged her to go to her mother to ask for her forgiveness and to pray for her to trust Christ like she had just done. I pray that this lady will also come to Christ.
Zoe, our American teen missionary, has arrived in Brazil and hit the ground running. She was super excited because shortly after her arrival there was a major evangelistic event in Curitiba, her field base, where she participated in street corner evangelism with the Projeto Vida teams. She is also getting the exciting chance to learn how to do fire-breathing and fire-eating feats in order to draw crowds to hear the gospel in public parks and squares. Zoe will be learning Portuguese quickly now that she is totally immersed in Brazilian culture and is obligated to hear and speak the language every day. Pray that, soon, Zoe will have the privilege of winning her first convert to Christ through her own use of Portuguese rather than speaking through an interpreter.
Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and support.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby Wacaser
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Stateside Address:
3912 Casaba Loop
Valrico, FL 33596
Field Address:
Rua Laudelino Ferreira Lopes, 279-1
Sobrado 1, Bairro Novo Mundo
81050-310 Curitiba, PR Brasil
Phone: (813) 481-7007
Cell Phone: (813) 727-6405
Email: bobbymichael_1@hotmail.com
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [January 2015]
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.
January 05, 2015
Dear Friends and Co-laborers,
Blessed be the one and only true God and father, our Lord Jesus Christ. The scripture says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” “John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” It is reassuring to know our Heavenly father has “given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”. The word is ever reminding us to: “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us”. Yes, we can trust God.
The New Year is come. The days pass us by, but the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ remains the same. We are fully blessed by Him. How we are grateful for all His mercies and marvelous Grace. Our prayer is that each new day we will reflect more and more of His Love in us.
I preached for Pastor David Humphries, the morning worship hour at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Mims, Florida on the second Sunday of December. I had a blessed time with the Church and fellowship with our brothers in Christ. That evening at Temple Baptist Church at Arcadia Florida, with Pastor Doug King, I had the opportunity to share about what God is doing in Brazil. I also preached at the Chapel Baptist Church, here in Clermont, Florida.
Pray for my trip to Brazil now in the month of January. I am looking forward to seeing our friends and brothers in Christ. Pray that we can accomplish all that is needful and that the gospel of Christ may ever increase.
We pray for you that your remembrance and knowledge of our Lord, the only true God, may abundantly increase in wisdom and discernment, that your trust and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ may be steadfast always, and that the love of his Holy 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
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont, FL 34714
(239)227-6551
Click here to give.
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