Warm Send Off, Currently Stateside, Gospel Presentations Continue
June 1, 2023
Dear Friends,
Let me start out by announcing that Charlene and I have begun our stateside furlough and will be available to visit and share our ministries with you or your church in the upcoming months. Our contact information is:
Phone: (813) 501-9328
E-mail: bobbymichael_1@hotmail.com
Before leaving Curitiba, Brazil last week, we had a very warm send-off service from our dear church family there. I have left the pastorate in the able hands of Pastor Cledson Xenofonte. He has been my co-pastor and youth pastor for the past five years and the church has grown significantly due to his and his assistants’ dedicated labors. His wife, Fabiane, and he have two children (both teens) who are involved and dedicated in the church ministries as well. I feel confident that God placed Cledson on my heart to succeed me as pastor and I believe the church will continue to grow steadily under his leadership.
Although Charlene and I will reside this year in the USA, we have several mission trips scheduled that will take us back to Brazil a couple of times and at least on one trip to our new church plant in Portugal to assist Yago and Manoela. This couple has shown tremendous wisdom and a great work ethic as they are constantly setting up Bible studies and personal discipleship meetings. They are still seeking the right house to move to near the capital, Lisbon, so that they can reach a greater number of people with less waste of time and money on the highway from their present residence. Our church in Curitiba is contributing as much as they can so that they can afford the higher rent there and Charlene and I give personally as well. But since the currency in Portugal is the Euro and more expensive, they still need about $200 per month more to meet the additional cost of rent in the capitol. If you feel led of the Lord to give toward this investment in reaching the lost in Portugal, you may contribute by labeling your offering: Wacaser – Portugal Mission.
Our traveling evangelistic team, Projeto Vida recently returned from a three-week trip to the northwestern part of the state of Paraná. In the public parks and schools where they ministered, the gospel was presented to 1743 students and adults. Of these, 151 made a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ. We are so thankful the Lord continues to keep this window of opportunity open to us. We know that this privilege is being lost in more and more locations throughout the world, so we seek to take advantage of it to get the gospel out there.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Contact Info:
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Currently Stateside on Furlough from 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
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Preparing for Return to Kenya
November 5, 2021
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now nearing the end of 2021. Hard to believe how quickly this past year went. Lord willing, as we all plan to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday later this month, may we not forget the Lord or all the blessings He gives. Psalm 100:4-5 says “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Also, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which says “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” May we truly not forget the blessings the Lord provides each day.
We are nearing the end of our time of furlough and doing some planning for our return to Kenya. There are still some things to sort out, and hopefully by next month, we will be on our way back to Kenya. We appreciate each one of you so much for your letters, emails, words of encouragement, and prayer support. Your sacrificial giving is much appreciated as well. You all mean more to us than you will ever know. May God bless you for your heart for missions.
In regards to prayer requests, please be in prayer for Kenya and the coronavirus. Coronavirus is still very much a factor not only in Africa, but all over the world. I read recently where Europe is getting hit hard with the virus presently. It seems to go in waves. We know the Lord is in control of all these things and we trust Him.
Kenya I am sure will be in some form of lockdown or curfew, so please pray for us as we adjust to whatever the plans are for coronavirus. We hope and pray that things will subside and get back to normal soon. We will remember you all here in America as well with the challenges of coronavirus.
Also, please continue to pray for my wife as she homeschools our daughters. As I watch the levels of study and projects increase each year, I am more aware of how much work and preparation must go into teaching them. My wife is truly a servant and a gift from God. She sacrifices each day on the mission field, and also is a great assistance to our family. What a blessing she is not only to us, but many others as well. Proverbs 31:28 says “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” Amen.
We will continue to keep you updated. Please continue to keep us in prayer, and Lord willing, may you all have a wonderful time of being with family later this month. I will close with Psalm 103:1-2 which says “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” May we bless the Lord with all that is within us.
Until next month,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
naterad[at]yahoo.com
Furlough Address
1126 Smith Street
Milton, WV 25541
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
Waiting on Passport Renewals
October 5, 2021
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now into the latter months of 2021. While there have been so many challenges this past year with the coronavirus pandemic, it still seems the year has gone quickly. This month holds two important dates for our family, with me (Nathan) turning one year older on the 21st, and my wife and I celebrating our 17th anniversary on the 16th. What a blessing my wife has been to me over the years, and may God give us many more years together to serve on the mission field.
Please continue to pray for Kenya at this challenging time of coronavirus. Things are continuing, but in a limited capacity. My understanding is that religious gatherings can still meet, but at 30% capacity of what they were meeting at. So, there are still obvious restrictions. I am sure you still have to wear masks in public, as well as sanitizing as you go around town. Please pray for all missionaries and servants in Kenya at the present time, that the Lord would watch over them and protect them. As we go out and come in, wherever we are, God is watching over us. Isn’t that wonderful? Psalm 121:8 says, “The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” Amen. May we trust God as we go out and come in, even with the challenges of this pandemic.
My wife is staying busy with homeschooling our daughters. She is doing well this year and our daughters are both doing well. They are absorbing the materials well and progressing in their studies. Our daughter McKenna is doing a new math program and is catching on quickly. Camille is also doing well, and of course I am thankful for my faithful wife for investing so much time and energy in teaching them and preparing them well in their studies.
We are nearing the end of our time of furlough and would ask that you would pray for us. I (Nathan) still plan to share, preach, and present the ministries in Kenya as God opens the doors. We are still waiting on our passports to be renewed, so this is a big prayer request at this time. Our paperwork has been submitted and we are waiting for the renewals. God is in control and we trust in His timing. We are waiting on the Lord and seeking His will.
I will close with Lamentations 3:25, which says “The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.” In our times of waiting in our lives, may we seek Him with our whole hearts. He is good and faithful. May God bless each of you for your heart for missions. We will keep you updated.
Blessings,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
naterad[at]yahoo.com
Furlough Address
1126 Smith Street
Milton, WV 25541
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
Good News from the “Orelhão” on the Peruvian Border
September 27, 2021
Dear Brethren,
Greetings from the Blue Grass State. Bev and I left Cruzeiro do Sul on August the fifth. After a brief stay in São Paulo, we went to visit Pastor Pedro and family in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. He is finishing up his doctorate and will soon be returning to Cruzeiro. We had promised to visit them and since we had to go to the far end of the country to get to the States, we spent a few days with them. While there I preached at Trinity Baptist Church where Pedro’s family serves.
Once Stateside we stopped in Florida to visit the Hatchers. So good to see John, Paul and Wanda. Also got to see my aunt Evelyn, Dad’s only remaining sibling. Didn’t get to see my Dad for several weeks, because he and Lois had been exposed to “the bug”.
We have been all over the country visiting family and friends. Spent a great week with Adam and the girls in Napa, California. Got to visit Paul and Brenda Creiglow (some of their kids and grands, too) in San Diego. Got to visit good friends Jim and Cris Johnson and Ken and Lydia Palmer, who we had not seen in 10 years in Reno, Nevada.
It has been refreshing to attend services all over the place. So far, we visited Calvary in Missouri where Bev’s brother is member. We were privileged to host Pastor Randy and 4 of his men a couple of years back. Attended First Baptist of Juneau, Alaska! Was at Adam’s church in Napa Valley, Grace. Have visited Emmanuel here in Lexington where our daughter Monica is member and teaches a Sunday School class. Got to be at Buck Run one Sunday morning. Hershael and Tanya York are friends from way, way, way back! They treated us to Honduran lunch and a ton of great memories and fellowship. Last Sunday preached at New Life. Thanks Pastor Steve. Dad is a member there.
Things seem to be going great down home. We are having well over 400 in all services. The men just held a retreat at our camp, Salém, with over 150 present.
Now, before I go, let me share something strange and wonderful. One day my phone rings here at Monica’s house. It was our missionary at Foz do Breu on the Peruvian border. He tells me that the river is finally coming up and wants to know when I will arrive. Now he knows that I am in the States, but it is simply unbelievable that I could talk directly to one of our most remote outposts from here in Kentucky! Let me tell you a little about the work there and José Costa, our missionary.
I was the first person to preach the gospel in that distant village back in 1966. It took a long time to establish a permanent work, 30 years to be exact. José’s dad, Senhor Roceno, was one of the first to be saved. Brother Roceno had a big family. Most of the boys were alcoholics. All of them had odd nicknames. One is “Papel” (paper). Another is “Tatu” (armadillo). José’s nickname is “Cobra” (snake). Well José Cobra got saved and with a few years of teaching is now our missionary. Our church supports him with $400.00 a month. He is also paid by the federal government to measure the rainfall and river level every day. But beyond this he is also responsible for the one and only satellite telephone booth in the whole region! Thus, he can call me even when I am in Kentucky. That phone booth is called “orelhão” or “Big Ear”. When you see the picture, you will understand why.
Bev and I are taking care of some health issues and getting rested for the next phase of our ministry. Prayer for our treatments and recovery.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.
In Christ,
Mike Creiglow
CONTACT INFO
Mike & Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
69980 Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre
Brasil, SA
mdcreig@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
Partial Lockdown in Kenya
September 2, 2021
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now at the end of summer and beginning the school year. It seems like the summer months just flew by, and now we are in the later months of 2021. It is hard to believe the school has already started. May we remember the students, teachers, and parents during this challenging year with coronavirus. We pray that all will be safe and healthy. We hope this finds each of you doing well and we thank you so much for your interest in missions around the world.
Please continue to pray for Kenya and the coronavirus. Our understanding is that there is a partial lockdown in the country now, with religious gatherings meeting in a limited capacity. There is also an extended curfew, which has been going on for months. Kenya is now getting some of the vaccines shipped to them from overseas, so please pray that the vaccines will get into the right places quickly and prevent the virus from spreading further. We trust the Lord in all these things and know He is in complete control.
Jeremiah 32:17 says “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” Also, Psalm 121:2, ” My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” These verses remind us that our help comes from the Lord, and that nothing is too hard for Him. When we are going through challenging times, such as this past year, may we get into the Word and remind ourselves of the great promises of God. He will be with us and take care of us. May we trust Him always.
I (Nathan) am continuing to travel and report on the ministries in Kitale, Kenya. Please pray for me as I travel, for safety, as well as good meetings in the churches. So many of you have asked how you can pray for us, encourage us, etc. We are so thankful to each of you and your heart for missions. We could not do this without you and we are so thankful for your support and encouragement.
This month marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington. May we be mindful of those who lost their lives on that tragic day, and keep the families in our prayers. Also, for the brave responders who perished in the efforts to save others. How we need to keep America in our prayers, for safety, freedom, and for the people to remember the Lord. In closing, I love Psalm 20:7, which says “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” Amen. We will keep you updated.
Until next month,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
naterad[at]yahoo.com
Furlough Address
1126 Smith Street
Milton, WV 25541
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
Numbering Our Days
August 2, 2021
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now heading to the end of summer and school is almost starting up again. Where has the time gone? The summer months are definitely busy, and time passes so quickly. May we make the best use of the time that God gives each each day, as we will never get time back once it is gone. Time is truly a gift from God. Psalm 90:12 says “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Amen.
Please continue to pray for Kenya and the struggles of coronavirus. Our understanding is that public gatherings and meetings have been closed for the past several weeks, and this is likely to continue if the coronavirus cases continue to rise. Neighboring Uganda has also been hit with the coronavirus, and much of Africa. It seems just like when things start to get better, then cases start to break out again and many things are either locked down or shut down.
We know that God is in control of all these things and we trust Him during these challenging times. I like the statement “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future.” May we trust God during these difficult times, all over the world. This pandemic has really stretched our faith and taught us to trust God more. God frequently tests our faith to see if we will falter or trust Him during the uncertainties of life. May we trust Him more than ever before.
Please pray for me (Nathan) as I am continuing to travel and report during our time of furlough. I am thankful that our vehicle has done well throughout all the traveling and I would ask that you would pray it would do well throughout the duration of my time reporting in the States. So many of you have been so kind, friendly, inquired about the ministry, etc.
This means so much to us. We truly do appreciate each of you and God will bless you for your heart for missions. I am reminded of Isaiah 6:8, which says “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” We thank each of you for your mindfulness of missions, either by praying, sacrificially giving, or going personally to see what God is doing all around the world.
Please continue to pray for my wife as she is educating our daughters. She does a great job at homeschooling and has her degree in education. She is an excellent teacher but there are certainly more challenges in the coming years as high school is approaching. Please pray for her for wisdom, guidance, and direction as she does the best she can to educate our daughters. I am truly blessed to have a wife who has served faithfully in Kenya alongside me. She is truly a blessing and helpmeet.
We will be sure to keep you updated. Until next month, may God bless you all.
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
naterad[at]yahoo.com
Furlough Address
1126 Smith Street
Milton, WV 25541
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
Back in the States!
Jud and Raquel Hatcher are third generation missionaries serving the Lord in São Paulo, Brazil. They are part of the “SeedFactory” church planting initiative, which is a movement to plant churches in all 26 Brazilian capitals. Since 2006, 43 churches have been started in 5 states.
July 21, 2021
Hello friends!
WE ARE BACK IN AMERICA! Yes, we were due back a year ago, but COVID kept us from coming. We arrived in Florida on June 18th and got our vaccines. We will settle in Wheaton, IL for the kids´ academic school year. Our one-year Stateside assignment/furlough will last until July 2022. We desire to visit your family and/or church. If you’d like for us to come visit, please reach out to me. My cellphone is (872) 400-6522, and my email is judsonhatcher@gmail.com. We’d love to catch up with you! And, as they say on TV, “call us today!” Pun aside, we want to invest time with you and personally share what the Lord has done over the last 5 years. Yes, it has been five years since we last were in the States and we want to catch up and take pictures with you.
During our first month in the US, we enjoyed quality time at my parents’ home in Florida. It is a blessing to our four kids (and us) to have time with their Grandparents Paul & Wanda Hatcher and with their Great Grandpa John Hatcher. The Lord also allowed us to visit a few of our supporting churches and friends. For 4th of July weekend, my sister Michelle and her family came from Georgia, and we had a great time together. Sarah, Laura, Benjamin and Melissa were invited by our dear friend Todd Thomas to attend Family Church´s student camp at Lake Placid. The spiritual impact on their lives was tremendous. This last Monday our beloved friends Jason & Nikki Estes took us to Busch Gardens – Tampa Bay. The following day, we celebrated our daughter Laura´s 15th birthday at her favorite restaurant, at a plaster painting workshop and ice-cream with Grandpa, Grandma and cousin Luke.
In the meantime, the ministry in Sâo Paulo is well taken care of. But, we also have Zoom conference calls and individual follow-ups with people, even while in the US. In a nutshell, during the last 5 years in São Paulo, the Lord allowed us to start and/or revitalize five churches and assist several orphaned children into foster care. We are grateful to serve the Lord in His Kingdom!
Always grateful,
Jud and 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.
Read more
Wrapping Up Furlough Church Visits; Pray for Kitale
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are halfway through 2021. Hard to believe how quickly time passes. I am reminded of Ephesians 5:16, which says “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” May we make the best use of the opportunities that the Lord gives us to serve Him, realizing that the time and opportunities are only for a short time. May God give us strength to serve Him faithfully each day.
Please pray for Kenya at this time of coronavirus. Things were going better for a time, and getting back to normal. Unfortunately, there has been a resurgence in cases in our county in Kitale (Tranzoia) and now things are closing down again for a month. No church services, public gatherings, increased monitoring of the virus, etc. They are going to reassess after this month-long shutdown, so please be in prayer not only for Kitale, but the rest of the country. Uganda has also gone into varying forms of shutdown, so Africa is getting hit hard with the coronavirus. We trust God in these challenging times.
Please pray for me as I (Nathan) have been doing a lot of long distance traveling for reporting on the ministries in Kitale. It is coming to a close, but it has been a very challenging past few weeks with the driving, staying alert, etc. Please pray for God to give me the strength I need to finish well, and to rely on the Lord for each trip. God has given grace and strength for the journey. 1 Chronicles 16:11 says “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” Amen.
The family is doing well. We are so thankful for a good year of school and the progress that we are seeing in our daughters. McKenna will be in high school in a few years, so please pray for my wife as she seeks to get the best educational materials for her. My wife has a degree in education, so that is definitely a plus. Please pray for her and all the challenges of each year.
We will definitely keep you updated as we continue with furlough, as well as the situation with coronavirus in Kenya. God is in control. Thanks so much to each one for your prayers, sacrificial giving, and encouragement. You each mean so much to us.
Until next month,
Nathan and Carrie
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
naterad[at]yahoo.com
Furlough Address
1126 Smith Street
Milton, WV 25541
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
