Spreading the Fragrance of Christ
May 16, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Judy and I are getting things together to head to our annual church weekend. This is a moment that all enjoy as our spiritual family spends a couple of days together in fellowship and worship. This is a great time of encouragement and sharing that is very who good for the body of believers.
I recently read two autobiographies of individuals who many would particularly find outside the likely realm of people to be saved. One was a lady born in the early sixties who was a professor in a well-known university in Syracuse, NY. She was an atheist, lesbian and ardent fighter for gay rights. She came to the Lord through gentle believers after many meals and discussions. She contacted them initially to get an opinion of “the other side” for an anti-God book she was writing. She is now very active as a believer who has been married to a pastor for a number of years. The other life story is of a high-class Pakistani lady who had been married to a general and ambassador who came to Christ. She came to Christ in the sixties when already a young grandmother.
The scriptural text that greatly touched me from this second mentioned book was, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:14-15).
This morning Judy and I were having our weekly discipleship encounter with a new believer, and as she shared about encounters with others in her extended family of broken relationships and the opportunities that our Father gave her in the last week, I was touched by the reality of how God is using her to touch broken lives with which she has connections. We don’t have to make things happen. We just get doused with God’s perfume and it permeates the world around us.
I will close with another example of the power of God’s fragrance. Laure, the mother and wife in the family who hosts Bible studies in their home in a small rural town, told us in the meeting last Saturday about her surprise reception of a letter from a fifteen-year-old girl thanking her for impact Laure has had on her life. She had just trusted Christ as Savior. She is not from a Christian family and not in Christian circles. Laure had been praying for the girl’s mother who has gone through great difficulties. Laure was surprised that she had had any influence on the 15-year-old daughter…My answer was from the text I quoted above. God’s perfume…
John and Judy Hatcher
Contact Info:
John Mark & Judy Hatcher
2 T Impasse de la Picardie
31830 Plaisance du Touch
France
jmhatcher@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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Doors God is Opening
April 23, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings from Southern France. We hope that your Easter Sunday was as enjoyable as ours. Sunday was a good day of rejoicing with the church at Plaisance du Touch. Emilie was here for the first time. She is the second child of parents who trusted Christ a few years ago; faithful participants in the church of Jesus that meets in our home each Sunday.
A few weeks ago, while Judy and I were out on our regular walk, we crossed a gentleman walking his dog. He was friendly and we exchanged phone information and discussed getting together. His wife is a High School English teacher. Last week we had them over for a snack and a friendship is developing. A door to connect with a couple who needs Christ.
Last week I was working in the front yard when a man about my age stopped and said, “Bonjour”. It was obvious that he was interested in chatting, so I stopped my flower planting and spent a few minutes getting acquainted with him. Yesterday afternoon a lady knocked on the door and invited us to come and snack at their home in a couple of hours. It was the man’s wife. He is a retired teacher and High School principal. God has opened another door.
On Monday afternoon another couple from further up our dead-end street spoke to me when they paused on the lane up the other side of our home. She was anxious to get better acquainted. Her husband is 93 years old. He did not talk as much but seemed to enjoy the conversation. God opened yet another door.
Each week Judy and I spend a bit over an hour speaking English with a couple of ladies. The last two times the subject has been primarily about Christ and the gift of life He offers us; walking through the door to share the Good News of Jesus.
This is our life here in Southern France. Praying for God to open doors and walking through them when they are opened.
The connections our Father gives us has led to many opportunities in the past and opened the doors to establish the Bible studies we have in seven different cities. The Word is the seed and the fruit is Eternal life. Rejoice with us in the work God is doing here as you partner with us in God’s work.
Your sister and brother,
Judy and John
Contact Info:
John Mark & Judy Hatcher
2 T Impasse de la Picardie
31830 Plaisance du Touch
France
jmhatcher@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.
Read more
Churches in Brazil Continue to Grow with National Pastors
April 3, 2025
We were pleased that our evangelistic partners from Roanoke, Virginia, were able to spend almost a week in ministry with our outreach team last month. The Lord blessed in so many ways. More than one hundred people surrendered to Christ through the gospel being shared in the schools and parks in a neighboring city, Araucaria. Our volunteers loved the time and effort spent with that team and look forward to future opportunities. One detail that stood out to me was how all four of them, though grandparents, were used so effectively among the youth of Brazil. We know that, first of all, God was working after much prayer in preparation for their trip. But I also believe that their compassion for the lost and their incredible work ethic and effort to get the word out to as many as possible were used of God for others to see Him in them. We have partnered with youth groups many times in the past, and will do so again, but observing grandparents like these minister with the passion and diligence these good folk demonstrated is inspiring.
Our traveling evangelistic team, Projeto Vida, just returned from their first full month of ministry in public schools for 2025 (the school year here begins in the middle of February). I was amazed at how the Lord opens doors of opportunity to get the gospel to so many people who may never set foot inside a church building. During this trip, our team had the privilege of sharing the gospel in 11 public schools, reaching 3056 people. Of those present, 203 professed publicly that they were trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Our partnering pastors now have the contact information of these new converts and will begin the discipleship process with them for continued growth in Christ. We are expecting an amazing year of fruit for God’s glory.
I spoke with two of our national pastors this month and their reports are very encouraging. In Northern Brazil, the Nova Igreja Batista of Itacoatiara is experiencing some impressive growth. Pastor Daniel Sombra and his wife, Neuliane have a new baby girl and a lot of new baby Christians to minister to. They are having to add on to their church building to accommodate the new growth, thanks to God.
Pastor Cledson and his team in Curitiba put together a couples’ dinner for outreach and marriage counseling. The church continues to grow under his faithful leadership.
Charlene and I want to thank you for your prayers and loving support.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Contact Info:
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Currently Stateside ministering to Brazil
Phone: (813) 501-9328
E-mail: bobbymichael_1@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
Read more
New Facility, Discipleship, Family Camp, Mentorship, & More
April 2, 2025
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Greetings from Brazil! We are excited to share how God has moved in our ministry over the past few months. Your prayers and support have been instrumental in these blessings, and we are grateful for your partnership in the Gospel.
Christmas Evangelistic Production
December was an incredible month. We hosted a Christmas evangelistic production that was attended by 406 people in two presentations. We rejoiced to see 16 individuals make decisions for Christ! Praise God for the work He is doing, and please continue praying for these new believers as they take their first steps of faith.
New Church Facility and First Wedding
In January, we had the joy of moving into our newly leased church facility! This was a milestone moment for our people and has already been a tremendous blessing. We celebrated our very first wedding in the new location—what a wonderful way to maximize the usage of this space!—we received extended family members and friends of the couple with the opportunity to share the Gospel message during the ceremony.
Discipleship Class for New Believers
After the big Christmas production, we continue to focus on spiritual growth and launched a discipleship class for those who have recently come to Christ. This has been a great time of grounding them in biblical truths and preparing them to walk faithfully with the Lord. Please pray for these new believers as they grow in their faith.
“Zeal” Family Camp
We had an amazing two-day youth camp called “Zeal,” which was filled with fun, fellowship, and most importantly, a deep dive into God’s Word. The energy and enthusiasm of these families was contagious, and we are encouraged by their desire to live boldly for Christ.
Soccer Evangelism and Discipleship
Our evangelism and discipleship efforts through soccer continue to thrive. The outreach is growing, and we are seeing lives transformed through the relationships built on and off the field. Please pray for endurance, wisdom, and continued fruit in this ministry.
The Togetherness Network
Pastors and churches part of the Togetherness Network continue to grow and collaborate with each other on building projects and other evangelist and discipleship efforts. Pastoral mentorship and fostering relationships are a significant component of my ministry to these pastors. The church plant in Marilia is growing steadily and has partnered with Heritage Baptist Church in Lexington, KY for prayer, support and mission trips.
Family Update
On the home front, we have much to celebrate! Our daughter Laura is preparing to graduate high school in June and will be heading to Liberty University in August. We are incredibly proud of her and excited to see what God has in store for her next chapter. We also had two birthdays recently, Sarah turned 20 and Benjamin 17. We thank the Lord for the blessings of family and the joy they bring to our lives. Melissa is in 7th grade and has grown tremendously in her academics and has become a key player in the sports competitions against other schools in São Paulo.
Raquel is actively training foster care parents, social workers, and childcare givers through online and in-person training modules and seminars. She also leads the fantastic children’s team leaders as we work with kids through our current church plant.
Thank you for praying for and supporting us. We are grateful for your faithfulness and encouragement as we continue the work God has called us to do here in Brazil. May the Lord bless you abundantly!
Prayer requests
1) Judson is recovering from left knee surgery and may have to operate on the right knee.
2) Laura twisted her ankle during volleyball practice at school, the MRI shows two torn ligaments.
3) Church growth, evangelism and discipleship.
4) Meetings with the Rawlings Foundation regarding camps in Brazil, networking and local church discipleship of kids who accept Christ during a camp.
5) Assisting with the translation of materials for the first Masters in Youth Ministry in Brazil that begins in August 2025.
Always grateful,
Judson & Raquel
Missionaries to Brazil
JUD & RAQUEL HATCHER
Contact Info:
Jud & Raquel Hatcher
São Paulo, Brazil
judsonhatcher@gmail.com
(872) 400-6522
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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A Delight to See God at Work
March 19, 2025
Dear Fellow Disciples of Jesus Christ,
We thank God for you and your participation in what God is doing here. The past few days have been extremely windy here. It is a reminder of a verse that Judy and I quote often “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) God is at work in ways that are invisible like the wind, but the results are obvious.
Last night, we were at the regular Bible study meeting in Mazere about an hour and a half drive south of us. This is a group of believers who would have to drive an hour and a half to participate in a Baptist or similar church. We have been holding meetings in this city for about 20 years. Douceline, a believing young lady, moved to this city at that time. She was very discouraged because she knew no other believers in Christ with whom she could fellowship in that region. Judy and I decided to offer coming to her home weekly for Bible study and fellowship. Douceline loved the idea and soon began seeing herself as a light for Jesus in the area. She is the director of a History Museum in this city and has contact with many people. She began inviting people to the weekly Bible study we were having in her apartment. Over the years we have had scores of interested people participate. The group now is mostly believers growing in the Lord and we meet in the home of a couple on a farm just outside the city. Just one example of how the many outreaches God has given us began.
Tonight, we will be in a Bible study hosted by Blandine, Douceline’s sister, in a city about an half hour drive north of us. We will be meeting on a Wednesday instead of the typical Thursday night meeting because this is the beginning of the New Year in Iran. Blandine’s husband is Iranian and they will be celebrating the Holiday with Iranian friends on Thursday. God has saved individuals in this Bible study during the last couple of years. It is delightful to see God at work.
As I close, I want to tell you about two wonderful blessings among many for which Judy and I are especially thankful to our Heavenly Father. March 3rd was our 52nd marriage anniversary. We are so thankful for the children, their spouses and the grandchildren He has given us. What a delight it has been and is to serve the Lord in three continents and experience the way He has worked around us and the great number of friends and brothers and sisters in Christ God has given to us. Judy had cataract surgery on both eyes during the first couple weeks of March and she is doing very well and can see much better. Thank you for your prayers.
Your sister and brother in Christ,
John and Judy Hatcher
Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
2 T Impasse de la Picardie
31830 Plaisance du Touch
France
JMHatcher@aol.com
Present USA phone 1-812-416-1033
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
109 Profess Faith in Christ in Southern Brazilian Vacation Town
March 3, 2025
Dear Friends,
Everybody needs a little vacation time, of course, but I’m glad that Brazil’s summer vacation has come to an end. Remembering that, south of the equator, the seasons are the opposite of those in the USA. Fall is beginning and students are returning to school, our main venue for evangelistic outreach. We did take advantage of the summer break, though, to host a volunteer missionary training seminar and the results were wonderful. After two weeks of study on the biblical foundation of missions and evangelism, we took our team of 17 full-time missionaries and 16 first-time volunteers to a vacation town on the coast of southern Brazil to minister in the public squares and parks. Our team had the opportunity to share the gospel to over 1600 people. Of these, there were 109 who made a public profession of faith in Jesus. There were also 79 more who rededicated their lives to Christ who realized that they had left their first love and were living in disobedience to God. Now that the summer break is over, though, we have the whole school year scheduled for gospel presentations to thousands of students and staff. Please pray that the Lord will use our teams to bring many of them to a saving knowledge of Christ.
Yago and Manoela are doing well in Portugal. Not without extreme trials, though. I shared last month that they got the news that Manoela was pregnant and that they are both very excited about the coming of their first baby. A few weeks ago, Manoela experienced some strange pains and discomfort and sought medical attention. Not to go into details, I ask that you pray for the Lord to miraculously heal Manoela and her baby. Both are in grave danger of loss of life. They were counseled to abort the baby, but they both refused to do this. May the Lord do what only He can do.
A group of our missions partners are scheduled to arrive in Curitiba this week for a week of evangelistic ministry with Projeto Vida, our outreach team. We are excited to see all that God will do through them together as they share the gospel in several public schools and parks. We know that they will be both a blessing and be blessed as they allow the Lord to use them in this ministry.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and support.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Contact Info:
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Currently Stateside ministering to Brazil
Phone: (813) 501-9328
E-mail: bobbymichael_1@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
Read more
18 New Apprentices in Training & Sharing the Gospel
February 2, 2025
Dear Friends,
I was in Brazil the last couple of weeks training a new group of missionary volunteers for this new year. Our traveling evangelism ministry partner, Projeto Vida, tries to put together at least two training seminars per year: one in January and one in July. This past month we had 18 new volunteer apprentices coming from four different states. A couple of other veteran missionaries and I were the speakers/mentors for this conference. We spent one week in the biblical study of missions and evangelism and then the students accompanied our experienced team of missionaries on a 10-hour trip to the southernmost state of Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul. There in a coastal city called Canoas, they spent the final week in one-on-one evangelism and outreach. The Lord blessed tremendously in at least two predominant ways: Lost listeners heard the gospel message and surrendered their lives to Christ and, also, our new volunteers were overwhelmed with how much the Lord used them to share the love of Jesus to the lost and are excited about getting out there and participating more.
While in Brazil, my former co-pastor, now senior pastor, invited me to speak to my former church. The good folks gave me such a warm reception. It was very encouraging to see how well Cledson has taken up the reins and how well he and his wife, Fabiane, are leading the church. One of the impressive details about Cledson’s leadership is how he guided the church through a very difficult and painful move to other facilities. I know how hard that can be since I’ve done it a couple of times throughout our ministry. It was clear that the Lord was doing the leading, because of the better location and lower costs. The former building was located quite a distance from a major road or street, but their new location is right in front of a main city bus terminal and a neighborhood park. During the course of a week, tens of thousands of residents pass right in front of the new location. The park also offers ample opportunities for evangelistic outreach through social interaction with the visitors and residents. And, as I mentioned, this better location also comes with a better price. God is so good!
I spoke with Yago and Manoela, our missionaries to Portugal this week. They shared the news that Manoela’s pregnancy is going fine. Yago got some good news about his “tent-making” vocational income as well. Microsoft Portugal has handed him a new set of working orders which assure that they will continue to receive a good portion of their financial support for an extended period. He had told me a couple of months ago that they had not received any contract information, and they were concerned that their income might cease. Yago conveyed to me, though, that he and Manoela were certain that the Lord was not finished using them in Portugal yet, so they were prayerfully seeking His leading and sustenance. With this new work order information, they can rejoice now that the Lord has confirmed their presence there for some time. We continue to pray for them to win lost Portuguese people to Christ and to build the church there.
On a personal note: After nearly three months, Charlene and I were able to move out of the hotel back into our home. The repairs after Hurricane Milton are nearly done, lacking only the kitchen cabinet tops and a little bit of electrical work. We still have not had much success getting our insurance companies to pay their due protection, but we will continue to appeal the process and pray that the Lord will lead us to a viable solution.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and kind support. We pray that 2025 will be a year full of ministry opportunities and results.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Contact Info:
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Currently Stateside ministering to Brazil
Phone: (813) 501-9328
E-mail: bobbymichael_1@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
Read more
Joy in Presenting the Gospel
December 7, 2024
Dear Friends,
We love having a part in what the Lord is doing among the crowds in public presentations, church services, and school auditoriums through our ministries. It is a joy to see the gospel presented to large numbers and know that God’s glory is being spread abundantly, but an equal joy comes when we hear from individuals how the love of Jesus has transformed their lives. Our missionary partners share that same joy with us. Wyne Carolina is one of our volunteers and she told me how, after an evangelistic skit in front of a school crowd of 900 students, a confused teenaged girl sought her out to ask her to explain more clearly the gospel. Wyne, using the Scriptures, shared with her about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection for the salvation of sinners, of which she was one. In that one-on-one encounter, that young lady was enabled by the Holy Spirit to understand her need for Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. When asked what she was going to do with Christ, she confessed her sin and accepted His pardon by surrendering her life to God. Wyne Carolina loved making God known on the stage before that crowd, but her joy was even greater to be used to introduce a new daughter to the Father and Savior. Each member of our evangelism team, Projeto Vida, shares the same sentiments. We count it a privilege to partner with them.
Pastor Cledson and the Nova Igreja Batista de Curitiba put together a large gospel dramatic production last month. There were over 70 volunteer members of the church involved in the preparation, production, and presentation to over 400 in attendance. At the conclusion, 14 people professed Christ as their Savior and Lord. This type of outreach may not be ideal for every church, but we have discovered at least four main benefits for ours: 1) The level of quality of the production teaches our members to present to God their best efforts and gifts, 2) The number of people who come to a dramatic gospel presentation exposes some people, who wouldn’t ordinarily go to a church service, to the Word of God, 3) Our church members learn to serve, often very strenuously and costly to themselves, but joyfully for God’s glory, and 4) Several of our members discover ways to use their gifts and talents for the growth of God’s kingdom and are challenged to remain engaged in serving, even after the big events.
On a personal note, Charlene and I are presently being housed in a hotel while we await the restoration of our house that was damaged by the floodwater of Hurricane Milton. We have been here for over a month while our insurance companies seek to use loopholes to escape responsibility for the damages. We are grateful, though, because we know that there are so many others that were much more negatively affected. The Lord has been gracious to us through it all and we know that He will see us through this for our good and His glory. Thank you for your faithful prayers for us and kind support of our ministry.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Contact Info:
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Currently Stateside ministering to Brazil
Phone: (813) 501-9328
E-mail: bobbymichael_1@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
Read more
