You Never Know How God Will Use You
April 18, 2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Hope this finds you rejoicing in the Lord. Despite the wars, rumors of wars and the discouraging things that our present world faces, we are very encouraged in the Lord. Yesterday we had a good day with God’s people. On Saturday evening we had a great youth meeting with sixteen young people present. The study for our recent youth meetings has been the different responses to the good news of Jesus Christ recorded in the New Testament. The attention and response have been very good.
Our March newsletter mentioned an eighteen-year-old young man who requested baptism. We are thrilled about what God is doing in Timo’s life. Just after I sent that last letter, I received a call from an eighty-year-old lady who wants to follow the Lord in baptism. She is the aunt of the Douceline, the lady in the city of Mazere in whose home we have been holding Bible Studies for many years. The young and the old are still coming to Christ! And … eternal life is ageless!
You never know how God is going to use you to touch someone’s life and you never know to what that touch is going to lead. We were enthralled last week by a phone conversation with longtime friends and supporters, Tammy and Galen. They unwrapped the story of how their lives had surprisingly touched a lady across the street from them and the amazing spinoffs from that connection.
A dozen or so years ago Judy and I were praying for God to open doors for us. Looking at the local paper, Judy said, “Look, there is a new choir starting in town, maybe you should check into it.” It was a word from the Lord. I sang in that choir for several years and we are still connecting, reconnecting, and sharing the good news of Jesus with people from that choir. The daughter of a couple in the choir, now in University in Lyon, was saved after coming to Sunday School and church for several years. The parents still have not made a profession of faith, but Pascaline has been a faithful believer and member of the Tournefeuille church for several years.
It is great to be serving the Lord along with you. Please, keep praying for us and connecting where you are!
In Christ,
Judy and John Hatcher
Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, 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.
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Rejoicing Over a New Believer in France
March 17, 2022
Dear Co-Laborers in Christ,
We hope this finds you enjoying the presence of the Lord in your life. Judy and I just returned from Florida where we spent just over three weeks taking care of my dad while my brother Paul recovered from a hernia surgery—a hernia brought on by physically managing the care of our father. We are grateful beyond words for the care that Paul and Wanda continue to joyfully give. After forty years of service in Brazil they moved to the USA to care for Mom, Dad and Wanda’s mother. The two mothers moved in the presence of the Lord four years ago. Dad and Mom were missionaries serving with support through Baptist Faith Missions for 60 years in three different regions of Brazil. Dad is now very limited mentally and physically.
God has continued to work through His people here in France. Three weeks ago, Timo, an eighteen-year-old young man, contacted Philip indicating that he wanted to follow the Lord in baptism. He has been coming to church activities along with his family since he was in grade school. Timo has clearly expressed his faith in Christ for the last few months and grown spiritually in a very evident way. This is a great encouragement to us.
Some have asked us how far we are from the events in Ukraine. There are about two thousand miles between us and the ongoing conflict. Thank you for your concern and remember to pray for believers who are on site and people who need Christ in Ukraine and Russia.
Thank you for your faithful support in many different ways.
Your brother and sister in Christ,
John and Judy Hatcher
Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, 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
Continued Open Doors with Unbelievers
February 5, 2022
Dear Fellow Servants of Christ,
We thank God that you are a part of our team as we seek to communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples here in France. Many in our assembly are touched by Covid and other medical issues but our Lord and Savior is not stymied by the apparent problems of this fallen world.
Three months ago, we mentioned in our letter to you the beginning of English conversation meetings. One of the participants, N—–, is a lady that we met in our daily trekking. Last week she was the only one able to be present as the others had conflicting obligations. It was God’s appointment for her to hear the Gospel. On the Catholic calendar it was the day celebrating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Judy mentioned this and it opened the door for which we had been praying.
This lady came from a typical non-religious French family in Brittany. However, they sent her to a Catholic school because of the higher quality education. The religious teaching convinced her that there is a God and she became a practicing Catholic. She is frustrated that her daughter has not had her children baptized. This opened the door to talk about our Savior and the difference between religion and faith. We showed her the Sunday School room and the invited her to participate in Bible studies.
About a month ago we received a phone call “out of the blue”. It was Mireille, who along with her husband, Jean-Luc, moved into our neighborhood when we had only been here a few years. If you have been supporting us for a long time you may remember that early on she announced that she was and always had been an atheist. We had conversations with them nearly every day. About 8 years after we met them she excitedly announced that she now believed that there is a God and that He had worked personally in her life.
Then, due to job changes, they moved to a neighboring city. Two or three years later we were invited to Jean-Luc’s retirement and they moved hundreds of miles away to work as hosts at a vineyard reception Chateau where marriages and events are held. Judy had some contact with Mireille through the internet, and then this unexpected call. They have moved to a town about 50 miles from us and are anxious to host us for a meal. It was to be last week but had to be canceled because of Covid in their family.
So, the doors continue to open and we seek to walk through them to make disciples for Christ.
Thank you for your prayers,
John and Judy
Youth Meeting in France 
Youth Meeting in France
Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, 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
Seeking & Seeing the Lost Sheep as Jesus Did
January 17, 2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
What would you write about your last month? Most of the things that we communicate are similar to what is happening “in your neck of the woods”.
A member of our congregation just had a mastectomy. It’s been raining and frosting a lot. I just had a birthday. The holidays are past, and we are in a new year. The nation is trying to handle the Covid crisis.
However, the most important message I can transmit is that our Savior is right here with us. He is keeping His promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” His abiding presence encourages me daily not only by what I feel in myself but by what I observe in the lives of other believers. They are becoming more like Jesus.
Yesterday, a lady who recently became a believer and is now a part of our congregation expressed evidence of God’s work in her life. She expressed joy in the way following Jesus as He works in us is so different from being religious. For a good period of time before she came to Christ, she worked hard at being a good convert to Judaism. The member of our congregation that God used to touch her life and introduce her to Jesus was right beside her.
That’s how it works. Jesus in us helping us to see the lost sheep… like Lazarus, wealthy and still seeking satisfaction; the Samaritan woman at the well who had been married five times and was living with a man who was not her husband; Nicodemus who was religious but empty; the man laying by the pool of Bethesda hoping someone would help him get to the water … The questions I must ask myself are, “Do they see Jesus in me?” “Do I seek and see them as Jesus did?”
We are very grateful for your faithful support and prayers. The love of God works through you to enable us to be in Southern France as His witnesses. Pray that God will use each of us to be His witnesses in Bible studies, English learning meetings, children’s meetings, youth meetings and daily encounters.
May God bless each of you where you are.
Your fellow disciples,
John and Judy Hatcher
Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, 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
God at Work Through Bible Studies
December 15, 2021
Dear Fellow laborers,
A new year is beginning, and we have no idea how it will end. May our Lord and Savior through His Spirit indwelling us enable us to live each day in His presence. Judy and I are very thankful for the faithful support we receive from you. We hope that you will be encouraged by what God is doing here in the South of France.
It has been a blessing to see a good number of participants in the Sunday meetings during the past month. We would have to look back to the pre-Covid days to see as many in attendance. Better yet, in addition to the members and regular attendees, we have had several first-time visitors. A couple of these are ladies who have been involved in a weekly Bible study for some time. One grew up in a muslim family with a father who is an Imam.
The excellent question you may be asking is, “What gets these people to come to Bible studies or Sunday meetings?” The answer is, “They are touched by people just like you who are part of the congregation.” The two ladies I just mentioned were touched by Anaëlle, a lady who is part of our church. Ra— met Anaëlle when they were both getting their hair done. A conversation ensued and out of it a friendship. Anaëlle realized that her new friend was searching. She invited her to participate in an ongoing ladies Bible study and Ra— began participating and has become very interested.
Anaëlle is a chiropractor. Ste—– came for an adjustment. As Anaëlle listened to her, she realized that Ste—- was quite depressed and looking for answers. When Anaëlle suggested that she might find help in their Bible study, Ste—– began attending. She now gives evidence of having trusted the Lord and is planning on attending our Sunday meetings regularly.
Judy and I are also very encouraged by the Bible study that has restarted at Mazere. A couple of the attendees are ladies with whom Douceline has been having one-on-one Bible studies for years.
You may have asked the question, “How do these Bible studies work?” The participants get together, the leader asks questions that allows participants to share what is happening in their lives. A believer leads in prayer and then the Bible study gets underway. We begin a book of the Bible and continue to study it until we are completely through that book. After reading the passage for a given Bible study the leader asks questions to which the answers are in the passage just read and lets participants vocalize the answers as they find them in the text being studied. Sometimes background information from other books of the Bible or history are given but we do not lecture. The purpose is to help enquirers find the answers God has given in His written revelation. IT WORKS! This is how most to the people in our congregation have come to Christ.
Well, I have a Bible study starting in about an hour, so I had better wrap this letter up.
May God bless you, your family, your friends and your church as the new year begins.
From France,
Judy and John Hatcher
Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, 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
Bible Studies Restarting in Mazere!
September 15, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are grateful to God for His continuous provision and your participation in what God has called us to do. Twenty-two years ago we arrived in France with a passion to communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ to French people and make disciples that God would put together in churches of Jesus Christ.
Two years after our arrival, God brought our son Philip and his wife Amanda to join us in the ministry here. They had felt God’s leadership to this part of the world for several years. Their daughter, Abigail, was five months old when they arrived. Today she is in her third year of preparation to be a doctor in Physical Therapy. So much has changed yet much remains the same. Only two or three French people out of each thousand profess personal faith in Jesus Christ. Many are atheist. We rejoice that some have come to faith in Christ, followed the Lord in baptism and are serving the Lord here, other places in France and other countries.
And, there is so much more to do.
The church at Tournefeuille is still meeting in person with some joining us live using the internet. We have had good services. The Covid virus has made it more complicated to interact with and communicate the Gospel to those who do not know Christ. However, God is not caught by surprise and does not change. We must continue to pray for wisdom to do what He wants us to do.
Next month we will restart Bible studies in the city of Mazere after a hiatus of four years that appeared to be permanent.
Your prayers for our home location and meeting place are greatly appreciated. It appears that by this time next year we will be living and meeting about a mile and a half west of where we are now. This will place us in the neighboring city of Plaisance du Touch. This city was established around 1000 A.D. Philip and his family have lived there for a number of years. We have had many church and youth meetings there and we hope that God will use the move to enable us to share the Good News with more people.
Thank you for your continuous participation and prayers. May God bless each of you.
From France,
John and Judy
Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, 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
Praying for Salvation
August 16, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our hearts are touched by the news that some of your families are touched by death and illness. It underscores part of our text from the message to our congregation yesterday, “…now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” We are daily reminded that we live in a dark world, but need to live in the reality of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world and our Eternal life.
Yesterday, a young lady from our congregation sent a text just as service was beginning. “Sorry, I can’t be with you. I found out yesterday that I have Covid.” This eighteen-year-old is the only member of her family who has trusted Christ and she was to leave today to go to Lyon to begin university studies. She is the daughter of neighbors and began coming to Sunday School about the time she started grade school. As she entered her teens, she made a public profession of faith and followed the Lord in baptism.
Let me set the scene for another event yesterday. One of our members has a husband whose parents, professing atheists, died when he was quite young. He had no Christian background. Two children were born to this couple and he, along with his family, regularly came to church. Considering his refusal to place his faith in Christ, his attendance for eight years was unusual. He had a good relationship with the men of the church, and we all prayed for his salvation. About two years ago he posted a note on the church communication site letting everyone know that he would not be coming to church anymore and did not want anyone to approach him about it.
Yesterday, I about fell off my feet as I was greeting people and saw this “I’m not coming anymore…” man walking from his car to the house. Would you pray with us for …oan..’s salvation?
A week ago, Judy and I drove about a 1000 miles round trip to St. Malo to spend a couple of days with a couple, members of our congregation, who moved to Brittany a couple of years ago. They are nearly our age. We had a good visit and were happy to hear that they are considering starting a church in their home. Please pray for God to give Dennis and Marianne God’s wisdom about this.
Thank you for your interest and support. May our Lord’s blessings be evident to you today.
In His Grace,
Judy and John Hatcher
Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, 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
God’s Grace on Display in France
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
One month ago, we arrived back in France. God has continued to display His grace and we are greatly encouraged by the events of the past month. We crossed many of our neighbors and friends during the first 3 or 4 days back home. This continues to happen daily and, in some cases, God has given numerous effective encounters with people for whom we have praying a long time.
The Tournefeuille church, meeting in person and online, is in a two-pronged study series: Religions in France and Biblical Examples of Witnesses for Christ. The response has been very good. Yesterday the theme was the witnesses to the “non-Jews” in the book of Acts. You might like to read and meditate on Acts 8:1-4 and 11:19-26 (click to read). The narrative about these witnesses who broke the standards of the first church (while doing what Christ had commanded His apostles) is a great lesson to all of us. The results are glorious!
The Lord willing we will soon restart Bible studies in the city of Mazere. We had thought the door at this location was closed, but unexpectedly God reopened it. God gave us an effective outreach at this place in the past and we are excited to experience what lies ahead.
Two weeks ago we had a great time of fellowship with part of the leadership team at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Charleston, WV. Judy and I enjoyed this video chat with them to be shown to the church. You can go on their church site and see the video (click here to watch). Mt. Calvary had supported us for many years and yet we only knew one of the five leadership individuals that spoke to us in the interview. I think that this practice of keeping the church updated with their missions team is an excellent practice.
One question that arose was how a house church works. As most of you know the Tournefeuille church meets in our home. All of our Bible studies meet in someone’s home. It really works just like any church meeting in any building. We use the main room of our house for the opening and adult meetings and, as needed, the bedrooms and kitchen for Sunday School classes. This is not an ideal model in all circumstances, but is an effective way to begin and maintain at low cost until more space is needed. There are several examples of this in the New Testament. A church is a body of disciples of Jesus Christ committed to serving Him together. The Sunday meeting is only one dimension of how the body builds up itself and reaches out to others.
We are grateful for each church and individual that our Father has given as part of our support team. God uses your prayers and gifts to touch many that you will one day meet in the presence of our Savior.
May God bless each of you and encourage you where you are.
Your fellow servants in Christ,
John and Judy
Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, 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
