English Immersion VBS + Upcoming Conferences

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.

January 31, 2024

Dear friends,

Thank you for praying and holding the ropes as we minister to people in Brazil. Please, read how your participation is impacting the Kingdom.

English Immersion a Success

In January we experimented with an English immersion modular for teens: a type of Vacation Bible School for youth who desire to learn English through Biblical content—a lot of singing and activities, all done in English, with the purpose of teaching language and presenting the Gospel. Even an individual who has no experience with the language can learn a lot in a week. Our daughters Sarah and Laura helped me with this project. It was well received by the local community and several parents asked if there would be one for adults too. English immersion modules are intense, but by the end of the week, both the teens and their parents (just from listening to their kids) were singing in English.

Soccer Athletes & Families

Soccer practice with middle and high school students is in full throttle. Pray for us as we disciple students who recently became believers and for those who still need to surrender to Jesus. The Lord is opening several opportunities to engage with the parents of the student-athletes. In February we plan to have several families over to the house for dinner and engage them with home hospitality.

25th Wedding Anniversary

On January 8th, Raquel and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. As is our family tradition, we celebrate our anniversary with our kids. We had a special time together when we went hiking in the woods and went to the beach, enjoyed time with each other, and made incredible memories.

Pastors & Leaders Conference in São Paulo

On March 9th, there will be a DayCamp conference for pastors, church leaders, and their families at a small campground near Marília, São Paulo. It will be a unique time of prayer, preaching, and playing together. The place has a pool and a synthetic soccer field. Our “Togetherness Network” (Rede Convivencia, in Portuguese) purpose is to foster fellowship among pastors and leaders to recruit, train, place, and network a new generation of pastors and leaders for local churches.

Church Conference in Paraná

On March 29th (Easter weekend), will have a Church Conference near Londrina, Paraná. Churches from São Paulo and Paraná will come together for a day of preaching, singing, and eating together. The purpose of this conference is to embolden churches to reach new people for Christ through Evangelism strategies and to inspire churches and their leaders to invest in training the next generation by providing ministry and service opportunities to challenge them to live out an audacious life in Christ, within their church and community.

Request

We humbly reach out to you, our faithful supporters, with a pressing fundraising need: purchase a car. Would you be willing to give for this urgent need?

Due to the increasing demand and rising expenditure on transportation, we urgently need to acquire this vehicle. The estimated cost for this much-needed resource is $10K.

As we step into the new month, we ask for your continued prayers and support. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Let’s continue partnering in this Kingdom work.

Always grateful,

Judson 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 Remarkable End to the Year

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.

December 29, 2023

Dear friends,

What a remarkable end to the year for us here in São Paulo. Please, read and see (through the pictures) how God is working.

Pastors Gathering on Building Ministry Teams

This month our pastor’s gathering focused on training leadership through building ministry teams. Wilson went with me on this trip to Alvaro de Carvalho, where regional pastors and wives came to Pastor Elieser’s home for our time together.

35 Salvation Decisions at Soccer Camp

The incredible hand of God was observed at our student camp through the soccer school as 35 of the 57 campers surrendered to Christ. Our hearts overflowed and rejoiced in the Lord for each student who confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Family

Our family is doing well. Sarah was part of the worship team during the camp. She was invited to sing in a Christmas musical at the Chinese Baptist Church in São Paulo. All four of our kids are progressing well in their studies at school and are in good health. I ask that you pray for my left knee, as physical therapy is underway to recover from a minuscule tear. Raquel is doing well and is doing an incredible job in equipping and mobilizing couples for foster care.

From Raquel

Hello friends. I’m here to share we received our first child on November 23. It’s sad a baby has to go into foster care; all babies and children deserve to grow up in a loving and nurturing family, however, when their parents can’t protect or care for them, it’s better when a loving Christian family receives them into their home, than when they have to go to an institution. The child we are caring for is 1 year and four months old. He was hospitalized for 20 days, and when he was released from the hospital, CPS referred him to us. Today I accompanied his foster parents and baby “S” to the outpatient clinic so he could get treatment for a skin condition that is making him miserable. Please pray he will heal fast. He is a sweet one-year and four-month-old little boy. If God touches your heart and you decide you want to help, specify your offering to baby “S” and I will buy him diapers, clothes, special milk, and medicine the doctor prescribed him, and some baby books so his foster parents can read to him. By the way, the foster parents are a retired couple, who raised three children. They love Jesus and are doing everything they can, even staying awake at night, so they can be Jesus for this child. Thank you for your support and prayers. Your sister in Christ, Raquel.

Request

We humbly reach out to you, our faithful supporters, with pressing fundraising needs:

  a)     Car Purchase:

Due to the increasing demand and rising expenditure on transportation, we urgently need to acquire a second vehicle. The estimated cost for this much-needed resource is also 10,000 US dollars.

As we step into the new month, we ask for your continued prayers and support. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Let’s continue partnering in this Kingdom work.

Always grateful,

Judson Hatcher

Contact Info:
Jud & Raquel Hatcher
São Paulo, Brazil
judsonhatcher@gmail.com
(872) 400-6522For 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

SCENES FROM SÃO PAULO

Jud, Sarah, Raquel, Benjamin, Laura, & Melissa

Jud and Raquel Hatcher are third generation missionaries serving the Lord with their family 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, at least 43 churches have been started in 5 states. Pray for their ministry and influence in Brazil.

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

Scenes from São Paulo

Jud and Raquel Hatcher are third generation missionaries serving the Lord with their family 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, at least 43 churches have been started in 5 states. Pray for their ministry and influence in Brazil.
Raquel preparing the room to equip childcare givers in a TBRI training seminar

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

Partners in Missions

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, at least 43 churches have been started in 5 states.

October 28, 2023

Dear friends,

I am sending several pictures and writing less this month. Please, view each picture prayerfully and receive our full expression of gratitude for your partnership with us in missions.

What an incredible time with David and Kym Pitman while they were in Brazil. During their 14 days with us, we traveled to 21 different cities, covering 2055 miles. Visited 24 churches, ministered to 20 pastors and their families in their homes, David Pitman preached 9 times, participated in two debate panels with Brazilian pastors, ministered at 5 Sunday services with 320 people in all, preached at the Saturday Churches’ Gathering in Paraná with 130 present. Spoke at the pastors & leaders’ breakfast meeting with 43 participants in Garça, Sao Paulo. Kym Pitman had 4 speaking engagements with women. We visited the foster care center Raquel coordinates in São Paulo and were joined by 250 people at the September Conference in Lupercicio, São Paulo. There were 48 decisions made (salvation, baptism, reconciliation, and call to ministry).

My parents (veteran missionaries, Paul and Wanda Hatcher) came to Brazil in October. During their trip, we had two leadership conferences where he spoke to the men and she spoke to the women, one in Cornélio, Paraná state, and the other in Alvara de Carvalho, São Paulo State. We visited several pastors and their families in their homes. We also had the opportunity to visit the foster care center Raquel coordinates. It was a significant time with them for us as a family and had incredible moments together at the lake, at the park, at home at the kids’ school, and at church gatherings.

We humbly reach out to you, our faithful supporters, with two pressing fundraising needs:

a)     Sound System, Stage, and Tent:

To enhance our church planting and network gatherings, we need a sound system, stage, and tent. The estimated cost for this essential equipment is 10,000 US dollars, considering the higher expenses for such equipment in Brazil.

b)     Second Car Purchase:

Due to the increasing demand and rising expenditure on transportation, we urgently need to acquire a second vehicle. The estimated cost for this much-needed resource is also 10,000 US dollars.

As we step into the new month, we ask for your continued prayers and support. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Let’s continue partnering in this Kingdom work.

Grateful always,

Judson 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

The Pitmans – Ministry Trip to Brazil

David & Kym Pitman traveled to Brazil during the month of September to represent BFM.

By the Numbers

  • 2055 miles traveled in 3 states
  • 24 churches visited/influenced
  • 20 pastors & their families received personal visit / ministered/prayed with
  • 21 cities
  • 1 foster care center
  • 9 speaking engagements (David)
  • 2 debate panels
  • 4 speaking engagements (Kym Pitman)
  • 1 pastors & leaders breakfast with 43 participants
  • 5 Sunday services and 320 people total
  • Saturday Churches Gathering in Paraná with 130 present
  • Conference with 250 people present
  • 40 – 50 decisions (salvation, baptism, reconciliation, ministry)
The PItmans with Jud Hatcher’s Family & Friends

Kym Pitman’s Synopsis

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

It was my honor to speak to the ladies of Brazil several times during our visit, concluding with a devotion
on fruitfulness at the September 7th event using the deep-rooted tree of Psalm 1 as my text. The ladies
were very attentive and patient while my translator, Carol, and I did our best to communicate the same
thoughts.

Also, the homes that we visited were very hospitable. And the bond we have in Christ overcame many
language barriers. It was truly a foretaste of Heaven being there with brothers and sisters with whom
we will spend eternity worshiping our Lord.

It was also a trip full of wonder as we saw places that we had only heard about when missionaries were
on furlough, or that we had read about in the Mission Sheets. I am so thankful for the goodness of God
that allowed me to meet in person those ministering in Brazil who still faithfully honor their Lord and
their mentors, to see the places in which they now minister, and to have the opportunity to hear their
prayer requests so that I can understand better how to pray for their specific needs. These are
memories and friendships that I will always treasure. Many thanks to Jud and Raquel Hatcher for their
invitation and their hospitality.


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Encouraging Pastors & Seizing Opportunities for Gospel Connections

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, at least 43 churches have been started in 5 states.

August 22, 2023

Dear friends and partners in the Gospel,

Greetings from sunny Brazil! As we draw closer to the end of summer, we reflect upon the multifaceted experiences we’ve had and the many blessings we’ve seen. Here are some highlights:

 1. An Italian Cuisine Evangelist Sunday  

We were delighted to receive friends and neighbors for a Sunday gathering where the flavors of Italy met the fervor of Brazilian connectivity. The fusion of Italian flavors served with the Gospel message (that not even Ancient Romans could contain), pointed people to a relationship with Jesus.

2. Pastors and Soup

Our monthly pastors’ gathering in São Paulo state happened in Alvaro de Carvalho on a Friday night with delicious soups, great conversations, and the boldness of the Gospel to keep us on track in leading our teams to stay focused on the cross. It started at 7:00 pm and finished at midnight. Intense, deep, spontaneous, funny, and inspiring.

3. Uraí, PR Pastors’ Meetup

The next morning, we drove three hours for our monthly pastors’ meeting in Uraí, SP. Our journey continued to a meetup of pastors & leaders gathered to share, learn, and pray together. I was humbled by the stories of resilience and commitment these pastors have in leading their local churches.

4. Community Event for Men

On a Thursday night some of our church leaders in São Paulo City attended a special event for men, centered on eating ribs. This was a locally organized community event. We went to establish new connections and make new friends.  It was inspiring to see men come together to eat ribs, our team of guys prayed throughout the whole night as we laughed and talked with the guys. We met a ton of men!

5. Foster Care Awareness Day at the Park

An event coming up is one organized by Raquel and her foster care leadership team. We expect several families to join us at a local public park to raise awareness for at-risk children, orphans and to share the Gospel. In bringing together families, children, and the community, emphasizing the importance of foster care. Pray for us as we set up the games, face paint the kids, serve popcorn and cotton candy, and jump rope, that each child will find the Father.

6. Celebrating Joseph Brandon’s Legacy

A century ago, Joseph Brandon stepped onto Brazilian soil through “Amazon Valley Baptist Faith Missions, carrying with him the message of the Gospel. This month, we celebrate his legacy with a grand conference. Our guest speakers for this centennial celebration include Pastor’s David Pitman and Jonathan Turner, both directors of Baptist Faith Missions and faithful local church pastors.

7. Family Time and Back to School

As the school break simmered down, Sarah, Laura, Benjamin, and Melissa geared up for the new school year. I have never seen them so enthusiastic, disciplined, and focused as I am seeing them now. All four of them are part of the after-school athletics and the tournament between schools is in full throttle.

8. Kayaking Adventures

I recently took Melissa on a kayaking adventure. We had an incredible time exploring the island we went to visit, and it was a refreshing experience amidst nature, reminding us of God’s majestic creation.

9. A Birthday Celebration

Raquel’s aunt turned a graceful 78 this month, and it was a joyous occasion filled with stories, laughter, and memories with her extended family – some drove six hours to celebrate this moment.

10. David & Kym Pitman’s & Jonathan Turner’s Trip to Brazil

In just a few days we will receive David and Kym Pitman. They will be with us from August 26 through September 8. What an honor of hosting David & Kym Pitman. Their trip is filled with meaningful visits with pastors and their families, leadership gatherings, discussions, prayer, and culminating at the September 7 conference in Lupercio City. Jonathan Turner will join us on September 6 until the 8th. We look forward to every ministry opportunity with them.

11. One-on-One Evangelism Opportunities

We’ve been blessed with numerous opportunities for one-on-one evangelism, where personal stories and testimonies have paved the way for deeper connections and spiritual growth.

12. Gospel Partnerships

For two months I have prayed for the Lord to open an opportunity for us to partner with a soccer school. Just last week, the Lord opened the doors wide open. This week I had the privilege of meeting most of the young athletes. We will now have access to minister to 80 new families on a weekly basis!

13. Fundraising & Prayer Requests

We humbly reach out to you, our faithful supporters, with two pressing fundraising needs:

a)     Sound System, Stage, and Tent:

To enhance our church planting and network gatherings, we require a sound system, stage, and tent. The estimated cost for this essential equipment is 10,000 US dollars, considering the higher expenses for such equipment in Brazil.

b)     Second Car Purchase:

Due to the increasing demand and rising expenditure on transportation, we urgently need to acquire a second vehicle. The estimated cost for this much-needed resource is also 10,000 US dollars.

As we step into the new month, we ask for your continued prayers and support. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Let’s continue partnering in this Kingdom work.

Grateful always,

Judson 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

Construction, VBS, & Evangelistic Gatherings

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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 25, 2023

Dear friends,

As we reflect on this last month, we celebrate the victories, thank God for His grace, and look forward to more opportunities to serve and share His love. Let us continue to build His kingdom.

Over the last month, we have had the honor of partnering with the mission team (28 people) from Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Stamping Ground, KY, and Igreja Batista Álvaro de Carvalho in the city of Alvaro de Carvalho, São Paulo. Their dedication, fervor, and ministry have made a remarkable difference in the community. My son, Benjamin, and I were invited by Pastor Eliezer Romero and Jennifer Celestino (US team coordinator) to join this vital mission project with the American team.

Construction Project

Firstly, as a team, we embarked on a robust construction project involving the installation of a metal structure and roof over four classrooms and a kitchen. The fruits of their labor are already evident, as these improvements have significantly enhanced the environment for education and meal preparation. A concrete slab was also poured, signaling the beginning of more exciting infrastructure projects for the local community.

Home Visits

Beyond physical construction, the team also built emotional bridges through community visits, where we distributed food supplies to multiple families. These home visits opened opportunities for heartwarming exchanges, shared prayers, and a deeper understanding of local families’ daily lives and struggles.

Vacation Bible School

One of the highlights of the mission trip was an intensive week of Vacation Bible School for the local children. The Cedar Grove and Nova Igreja teams’ energy and commitment resonated with the kids, inspiring them to engage eagerly in learning about Jesus’ teachings. The seeds of faith sown during this week will undoubtedly germinate and bear fruit in the lives of these young ones. The VBS theme was “Following Jesus Changes Everything”.

31 Salvation Decisions for Christ

Numerous evangelistic gatherings occurred throughout the week through the local church, Nova Igreja Batista de Álvaro de Carvalho. The positive response from the community was truly overwhelming. Many residents attended, and several found the courage to surrender their lives to Christ. In all, 31 decisions to follow Jesus were made during this trip.

Partnership

My son Benjamin and I had the privilege of serving Nova Igreja Batista de Álvaro de Carvalho (which is a part of Rede Convivência) with the Cedar Grove team during their mission. We engaged with them in ministry, translated, preached, and provided logistical support for Pastor Elieser. Witnessing Cedar Grove, Nova Igreja Batista, and the local community’s seamless collaboration has been heartening. The local mayor was also critical in opening doors during this mission project.

Thankful

The fervor and devotion displayed by the Cedar Grove mission team have reignited the community. I want to express my profound appreciation for their efforts and their impact at the church and in Alvaro de Carvalho.

Three Decisions at our Evangelistic Cookout

Our evangelistic gatherings in São Paulo city continue to flourish and bridge us into new relationships within the community. In the last one, we had rendered three decisions for Christ. This next weekend we plan to have an Italian-themed evangelistic gathering Sunday. Pray for us as we cook up great hospitality and present the Gospel.

Fundraising & Prayer Requests:

We humbly reach out to you, our faithful supporters, with two pressing fundraising needs:

1)     Sound System, Stage, and Tent:

To enhance our church planting and network gatherings, we require a sound system, stage, and tent. The estimated cost for this essential equipment is 10,000 US dollars, considering the higher expenses for such equipment in Brazil.

2)     Second Car Purchase:

Due to the increasing demand and rising expenditure on transportation, we urgently need to acquire a second vehicle. The estimated cost for this much-needed resource is also 10,000 US dollars.

We are humbled by the privilege of serving alongside faithful partners like yourselves. Your prayers and support have been instrumental in the progress and impact of these ministries. As we press forward, we invite you to pray that God’s Kingdom will continue to expand and transform lives in Brazil.

Grateful always,
Jud Hatcher

A Note from Raquel

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, thank you for your constant prayers for us. God is
doing amazing things because of your faithful support in praying and giving. This last
month (July), we certified two new families who will soon foster a child. It was a long
journey because there are so many steps: establishing contact with churches,
presenting at churches that open their doors to us, talking with families, having many
meetings with people, training families, visiting their houses, interviewing families,
preparing documents, reviewing contracts, and finally certifying them to foster. I have
a great team of professionals, volunteers, and interns who help me do that. I’m
very grateful to them. During the last five months, we also focused on getting all the
documents necessary to be approved as a public child protective/foster care
service in our district. Next week (August 2nd ), we’ll receive two inspectors from our
district juvenile court. Pray that we receive grace through their eyes. If everything goes
well, we should start receiving babies, children, and teenagers. In preparation for
this inspection, we’re trying to finish the nursery. If God touches your heart and you
would like to help us buy furniture, toys, baby items, decorations, etc, please donate
specifically to our foster care program. Thank you again for participating in this
ministry of protecting children when their parents and biological family can’t. My email
is raquelhatcher@hotmail.com

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
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