Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [August 2015]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
August 1, 2015
Dear Fellow Servants,
We hope that you are enjoying the Lord’s blessings this summer. Many of you are busy with Vacation Bible School and Youth and Family camps. The effort invested in these summer ministries is well worth it. During our lifetime we have seen many come to Christ and mature spiritually through Christian camps and evangelistic outreach to youth.
The month of July was quite busy which makes me happy. On the 4th of July, the annual neighborhood dinner was held. We are very grateful for this gathering because it gives us the opportunity to build relationships, get acquainted with folks and witness. These usually start at about 6pm and continue to 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning. And at the end there is the clean up.
This year I had the opportunity to communicate our reason for believing with two neighbors. One of these is a professed atheist and the other is an agnostic. This is not the exception in France. Our yard is bordered by four other yards. Three of these four immediate neighbors are atheist. However, we have a cordial relationship with all of them. We sow in hope. According to Christ, our behavior is essential in communicating the gospel to these folks. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Good works in this context does not seem to refer to church activities, but serving others for Jesus sake. Daily, we must ask ourselves, “How can I show the love of Christ to this (or that) individual in my actions?” The apostle Paul seems to mean this in the counsel to “walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Several years ago a new neighbor informed us that she was an atheist. A little while later she said, “You know I don’t believe in God, but we feel so good when you and Judy are around.” And…we did share meals together quite often. These usually included at least one other family. Often, this lady’s husband would say to everyone at the table, “I have just about come to agree with John” and then to me, “John, tell them what you believe.” About four years after meeting them, she invited us to help her celebrate her 50th birthday along with about 70 or 80 people from all over France. Just as everyone was getting ready to dig in, she stopped them and pointing to Judy and me, said, “These are some of our best friends. He is a pastor. John, please say a few words.” Unexpectedly, she called on me to share the gospel with her friends. Not too long before they moved to a neighboring town, she came running over, knocked on the door to tell us, “I want you to know that I now believe in God and that He has worked personally in my life.” From atheism to this point in her life was a stretch of about 10 years. We love what we are doing in France.
Evidence of God at work in new disciples has also been a part of the blessings this month. Many years ago Judy and I started driving weekly to the city of Mazere which is a bit over an hour’s drive each way. The purpose was to have a weekly Bible study with Douceline, a young Christian lady who lived there, and who was very discouraged because she was alone and over an hour’s drive from any church. She has grown in the Lord. She started to invite people she met to the Bible study. Some of them are now saved. She now sees herself as a missionary to this spiritually needy area. About a dozen persons come to the Bible study and she has individual Bibles studies with others. While she was gone on vacation this summer, a couple that has been coming for about two years invited us hold the Bible study in their home. Then another lady who has been coming for about a year invited us to hold the next one at her home and to stay for dinner afterwards. This is one of the individuals with whom Douceline has been having Bible studies investigating the Gospel. This lady who invited us is married to a likable young man who is an atheist. I will include some snapshots of the evening.
Well, I will save the rest for another month. This letter is beginning to look like a journal. Thank you for your regular participation in what God is doing here. We thank God for you daily. May His richest blessings fill your life.
Joyfully sharing the Good News in France,
John and Judy
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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Things that Changed My Life for Christ: Soul Winner Pastor Arley Jones
John A. Hatcher has served in Brazil with his wife Alta since 1955.
by John A. Hatcher
When I was young Christian one of my pastors was Brother Arley Jones. He was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Alexandria, KY where my parents were members. The church was limited in the depression days and Brother Jones worked as traveling salesman of cookies and sweets. He rarely passed a hitch-hiker. He took the opportunity to witness of Jesus.
One day he picked up a young man. In a few minutes he told him about Jesus the Savior. Deeply touched, the man trusted Christ as Savior. In thirty minutes or so he reached the place where the man was going. When Arley stopped to let him out, the hitch-hiker pulled out a 38 revolver and said, “When I asked for a ride my intention was to rob you or kill you and take your money. Jesus has changed my life and I want to thank you with all my heart.”
My life and ministry have felt a love for the lost and given me a desire to tell people about the Savior. Pastor Arley Jones’ example was my principle example.
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Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [June 2015]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
May 30, 2015
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We hit the ground running after returning from the Conference hosted by Thompson Rd. Baptist Church and it had been a good month. I am writing while waiting for the young people to arrive for the Youth meeting here in our home this evening. We continue to be very encouraged by this part of the outreach here. God has given us open doors with a broad age range in the ministry here.
This week, one of the believers in Tournefeuille gave birth to their second child, a baby girl. I am attaching some pictures of the baby shower given for her. This mother comes regularly accompanied by her unsaved husband and four year old son. The age range in our meetings in six different towns is quite evenly distributed over the entire spectrum of human life. It is our desire to reach people of all ages and God is enabling us to do this.
There have been new people on a regular basis in our various meetings and this is also a good thing to see.
Thank you, those who have been praying for J***** since the Spring Conference. I saw her last night for the first time since returning and she told me how much she and her children enjoyed the meeting and Sunday School. She volunteered that she would be returning. Please continue to pray for her and many others to whom we have open doors.
Last night, the choir in which I sing had a concert and while I was waiting for our entrance time I heard a group of the singers near mean discussing how God is all of us and He is everything or in everything. This pantheistic idea is rather popular among those who claim to believe in “something”. Many others readily express the fact that they are atheist. A majority of folks here find it ludicrous to believe that there is only one supreme, creator God and the only way to Him is through Jesus Christ, who is God. But, some believe.
Ask God to help us be consistent witnesses of Him and for the work of the Holy Spirit to draw sinners to the Savior.
Thank you for your faithful support.
Gratefully giving the Good News in France,
John and Judy Hatcher
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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Changing Mission Fields [from John A. Hatcher]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.
May 26, 2015
Dear Brethren and Friends:
I think this is my first Mission Letter as old ninety year old. So, have a little patience, please. My ministry has changed from church planting to personal evangelism. My field is the big super markets. When Wanda or Paul go to buy things, I go to tell persons about the Gospel. There is a constant field of contacts among the employees and customers. I use a small tract called the three crosses. It is a drawing I made illustrating the message I heard when I trusted Jesus as Savior.
In places where things and food stuffs are abounding, many people are hungering for or desiring something that money cannot buy. I sow the seed. It is the seed of God’s Word. I ask Him to bless it. Sometimes I suggest to whom I am talking, “Maybe one day we will meet in Heaven, and you will say, ‘Remember the day you told me about Jesus in the Supermarket?’” Heaven will bring great joy for we will be with Jesus forever and we will see those He has saved to whom we sowed the Seed. “Lord, help us to be faithful in sowing the Seed!”
We love you in our Savior’s Name,
Alta and John A. Hatcher
This is the message of Three Crosses that I heard as a young boy that transformed my life forever. I drew this tract and use it for evangelizing the lost.
John A. and Alta Hatcher
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont FL 34714
229-529-8497
jhatcher1925[at]gmail.com
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Missionary Update: Bobby & Charlene Wacaser [February 2015]
Bobby, Charlene, Jessie, and Brennen Wacaser have served the Lord as church planters in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, since 1985.
February 8, 2015
Dear Friends,
When I went to renew my Brazilian driver’s license recently, I got an unpleasant surprise. Before I could renew it, I would have to go through a 30 hour defensive driving course. This punishment was the fruit of a good deed to a needy friend. I had loaned my old spare pickup truck to the husband of one of my church members. He had recently arrived from Germany and didn’t have a job and needed transportation to get out looking for work. He wasn’t aware that our city has speed radars scattered about and in just a few weeks he had accumulated enough violations to have his driver’s license suspended. Except it wasn’t his that got suspended, it was mine. Usually the driver is responsible for these fines and the ensuing points against one’s driving record, but in our case, the fines were sent to my old address and the time frame allowed to transfer those points to his license had already expired before we even knew that he’d gotten them. So, off I went to defensive driver’s classes. Apparently a bad thing, but not with God. My time spent in lock up, I mean, defensive driving class, put me in contact with some people that the Lord wanted me to share Gospel with that I would not ordinarily come into contact with. Through the class interaction and discussion, several opportunities arose that allowed me to share my testimony of coming to know Christ and also to present the Gospel to our teacher and other classmates. Without even asking them to come, the teacher and one other fellow inmate asked me for our church’s address and the times of services. I hope and pray that they go, but I already thank God for the opportunity to share His word and love.
I had a meeting this week with Alysson, the young man who will be going to _____________ on a two-month missionary journey this spring. He is in intensive training for how to evangelize in a Muslim nation. I will have to leave the name of his destination blank for security purposes. I may have already said too much in the past, but I pray for his safe journey and prosperous efforts to share the Gospel there. He is extremely bold and courageous and trusts the Lord completely. Please keep him in your prayers as he seeks to honor the Lord where He is not preached.
Projeto Vida is starting its public school outreach ministries again next week. That is, if public schools start back up. Between state and national politics and misappropriation of funds, the public school teachers and administration haven’t been paid for months and are threatening to strike if they don’t get paid soon and with raises. Most private schools will start on schedule, but our main venue is in the public school system and it’s also where we reach many more people. We know that the Lord is in control of this situation and we’ll be praying that He’ll open the doors when He sees fit.
Keep us in your prayers.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Rua Laudelino Ferreira Lopes, 279-1
Sobrado 1, Bairro Novo Mundo
81050-310 Curitiba, PR Brasil
(813)481-7007
bobbymichael_1@hotmail.com
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Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [January 2015]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
January 5, 2015
Dear Teammates,
We wish God’s richest blessings on each of you during the coming year. Yesterday evening we were looking through some family pictures with our granddaughters and their parents and one of the pictures was of my mother and father. It was taken on dad’s birthday many years ago. The cake made by my sister was inscribed in Portuguese with Psalm 65:11 – “Thou crownest the year with thy goodness.” How true this is for us this year.
Your faithful support is one of the blessings that we have received. It is a blessing to us as well as to those who hear the gospel or are helped in their Christian walk through our service here. We are thankful for the blessing of being able to shine the light of Christ in a country that is so dark. We are grateful that we do not have to do this in our strength. God opens doors. God gives contacts. God gives us the ability to communicate the Good News as the Holy Spirit empowers His Word through our mouths. How great is our privilege to be ambassadors for Christ.
Some moments are more difficult than others because we live in a fallen world where there is tribulation. Just a couple of weeks ago most of our time was spent helping a young couple whose baby died 6 days after an early birth. However, this couple knows the Lord and they have the hope of Christ in the middle of their sorrow. As we waited for the funeral service to start, I was able to witness to the wife’s distant cousin whom I had just met.
I am including a picture of the group that meets in Mazeres worshiping together. This group is quite an encouragement to us. We meet in the apartment of a single Christian lady who moved to this city for her library/museum job. She is truly a missionary in this area. During the week, she has two other Bible studies with ladies. She is one example of believers who have grown in the Lord and are truly disciples who are reaching others.
The group in Mazere worships together.
The group in Mazere worships together.
We are thrilled to see individuals of all ages, children, teens, men and women who attend meetings regularly who seem to be attentive to spiritual matters. It is our hope they will soon make public commitments to Christ.
Don’t give up praying for and seeking to share Christ with those that you know. We received the good news last month that our daughter’s father-in-law trusted Christ. He was led to the Lord by his son, our son-in-law. We have been praying for this friend since meeting him at our daughter Lydia’s wedding 10 years ago. “In due season we will reap if we faint not.”
Until next month,
John and Judy
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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Missionary Update: The Tates in Kenya [November 2014]
The Tate Family has served the Lord in Kitale, Kenya since January 2008. Their main ministry is indigenous church planting.
November 5, 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I did something this month I never really expected to do; I made my first solo trip into the African bush. And I survived! Let me tell you, it is a lot more stressful and “weighty” to go by yourself, be the only one responsible for your life and health, and be the only one taking care of everything. It’s a lot more taxing, nerve-racking, and challenging when it’s just you and the stuff you can carry in your backpack on your back; when the mere exposure to the elements (the fierce sun and brackish water) can kill you; when you only personally know one person within a hundred mile radius (and you don’t know him very well); when no one you will be going to see speaks any English or even Swahili except that one person you know; when you don’t know what you will be eating for the next four days; when you have no idea what to expect; when your surroundings are straight out of a National Geographic magazine. But like I said, I survived, and now I can even write about it.
My main ministry has been and will continue to be our church planting ministry here in the town of Kitale. But just a couple hundred miles north of Kitale are villages of people that have never even heard the name of Jesus Christ before and where the message of the gospel has never been proclaimed. Is it worth it to put yourself through some dangers, through some risk, through some stress, and through some discomfort to be able to share the gospel message of Jesus Christ with such people? I hope our answer is “Yes!”
My trip started from Kitale by boarding a shuttle (public van for transportation) to Makutano. From there I boarded another shuttle with 7 seats in it. The driver managed to stuff 17 people into that shuttle made for 7. He drove us down the long escarpment and into the bush. From there I jumped on the back of a 125cc motorcycle for another 1½ hour drive further into the bush, through narrow paths, over rocks, past camels, and through multiple 100 foot wide river beds (some completely dried up and some that still had water). I finally arrived at Benson’s compound where I stayed for the next four days. Benson is the Pokot pastor I went to visit. His compound consisted of a small hut to sleep in, a small hut for cooking in, a small hut to store food in, and a goat corral. Every night I was there, people emerged from out of the bush to gather at Benson’s compound for a time of worship. These 2-2½ hour worship times included singing, testimonies and me preaching the Word of God. We also had a Sunday morning worship service at the church (no building, just a large tree under which we sat on wooden planks propped up off the ground with rocks). This service was 5 straight hours of singing, testimonies, Roger preaching…singing, testimonies, Roger preaching.
These are the Pokot members of the evangelistic team! (L to R: Petro, Benson, James, Christina, __, and Salome)
The highlight of the trip for me was the all-day Saturday evangelistic circuit we made. The evangelism team was made up of three Pokot men, three Pokot women and myself. We walked 5 miles through the steaming hot bush to the village Benson had chosen for us to share the gospel in. There we began “hut to hut” evangelism with each hut being about a 10 minute walk from the last. At each hut where we stopped, we sang songs, and I preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each stop probably averaged about 30 minutes. This was not a completely unreached area but none of the people we visited were Christians. I enjoyed watching one of the older Pokot men on our evangelism team. Petro (his English name) never spoke during the public evangelism and sharing of the gospel; but while others were speaking or singing, or while I was preaching, he would look for people wandering around on the paths outside of the compound, grab them by the arm, and drag them over to hear the message. If a child got up to wander off, he would track them down and bring them back to make sure they heard about Jesus. While follow-up will have to be made to ensure that the conversions are real, I was thrilled when some Pokot people at different compounds trusted in Christ as their Savior; 4 at one compound, 3 at another, and 2 more at yet another. After we were finished with our evangelism tour, we walked the 5 miles back to Benson’s compound. The fierce sun beat down upon us the whole day. By the time we returned, I was so exhausted that I fell into a chair and immediately fell fast asleep, slumped over but still sitting in the chair. When I awoke, still groggy from my slumber, I found all the other Pokot team members had found grassy, shady places to lie down and sleep. I rejoiced the next morning when two of the women who trusted in Christ had walked the five miles to Benson’s “church tree” for the Sunday morning marathon worship.
Now that I’ve returned to Kitale, I have to decide how I will proceed with this Pokot ministry. There are totally unreached villages tucked up in the hills that Benson wants him and me to visit. These people have most likely never seen a white man, never seen a book, never heard of Jesus, are probably involved in witchcraft and animistic or spirit worship, and may wear animal skins for clothes. I would love to reach these people and share the gospel of Jesus with them. But, honestly, beloved, most of the trip was physically and mentally exhausting. Was it miserable? Yes. Was it rewarding? Yes. Does God have future ministry plans for me up there? Pray with me as I seek His face and His will in this matter and see how He would have me minister to His dear lost children in Pokot.
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)
rojuta[at]gmail.com
Visit their blog!
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Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher [October 2014]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
October 6, 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The beginning of September in France is referred to as “la rentrée” which translates into English, “coming back into”. It refers to the fact that everyone comes home for children to start school. It is also the time of the year when we restart most things that run on a weekly schedule. We are encouraged by the what has taken place this month.
Last Sunday we had a church dinner and the time of fellowship with God’s people went very well. Individuals who normally do not come were here, as well. This makes it possible for them to get acquainted with people who are members of the church. Outsiders are more likely to return to a meeting where they know someone.
Making meaningful contact with people is an essential part of making disciples. This is a reality of our ministry that is underscored in the Scriptures: “Go ye therefore”, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Paul in Athens) “in the market daily with them that met with him.” We pray for God to give us these contacts and we try to “walk circumspectly” (looking around) for those that God brings across our path.
Last week we had dinner with a couple of our neighbor families to discuss teaching English to the young children. The dinner allowed us to become better acquainted with these neighbors and we will be teaching their children simple English one afternoon each week. When you love and serve people they listen to what you have to say.
Wendy, the single missionary who works with us, hosts “English Night”. Teenagers and adults come because they want to improve their English (and enjoy a meal). We help Wendy with this because we want tell them about Jesus. This past Saturday we had an excellent discussion with those who were there about the dysfunction of human beings without God and God’s intervention to restore our ability to love and do right. Among those there was a young man in his mid-thirties who’s father was 16 at the time of his birth, a young lady who recently failed in her studies to be an interior designer and is now working as an aide in a nursing home, and a social worker; individuals who need Christ.
Tonight our Bible study in Mazère about 45 miles South of where we live was well attended. We began a study on the Sermon on the Mount. Douceline, who hosts this study in her home, meets with two ladies on other days for regular one-on-one Bible studies. There is evidence of God’s grace in many ways in the lives of the people who participate in the Bible study including the spiritual growth of the hostess.
Your giving demonstrates your love for God, us and people who need Christ. Your giving enables us to minister in five different cities. Your prayers are answered as God empowers His Word.
Let us all not weary in well doing for in due season we will reap if we do not faint!
In France,
John and Judy Hatcher
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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