Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [February 2015]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
February 5, 2015
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We hope this finds you well. Your faithful support reflects your faith in God whose grace is evident every day. In a couple of days we will be blessed with the arrival of Darrell and Shirley Messer. Since we are having unusually cold weather they will have a bit of adjustment to make. They are stopping by here on their return from the tropical climate of Kenya where they have been visiting the Tates and Radfords, our fellow missionaries. Modern travel is certainly easier than the way Paul and his companions traveled.
A few hours of travel can land you in a place that is very different from your place of departure. However, this past month shows us that a few hours can bring many surprises even if you are not traveling. The 7th of January was my birthday, just two days after I last wrote you. Little did I know as I was typing the letter to you how outstanding my birthday would be this year. On that day I received a notice from the Prefecture that I had been granted a 10 years resident card. It has been 10 years since we first applied for this card for which we then, in theory, were qualified. The granting of this status now means that we can avoid several days of navigating the administrative corridors each year. We hope to get Judy’s card later this year. Yes, it is a separate process.
The other event, more shocking, on my recent birthday, was the breaking news of the mass murders that took place in Paris. This became the subject of many conversations and has opened doors for sharing the gospel. Society here is very fractured and those in leadership scramble to find solutions. The attempted solutions, however, have led to more deeply embedded divisions. The need of the gospel and its application to the everyday lives of believers becomes more evident against the backdrop of animosity resulting from sinful behavior and rejection of the true God Who is love.
This is underscored by research done recently here that shows that 80% of French young men who have joined the jihad movement and become warriors (There have been a surprising number of these and it is often on the news.) are from mainline atheist families. It would seem that these young men are seeking a reason to live and in so doing are caught up in radical movements which claim to be doing God’s will.
Last week, just before our Bible study in Mazere started we heard about an incident that illustrates the hatred of human behavior. A young man about 12 years old who comes to this meeting had been threatened with death by a schoolmate because he represents “the other side”. His mother was quite worried about the safety of her son. Last night, I heard a wonderful ending to this story. In this Bible study we are studying the Sermon on the Mount. The command to “love your enemies” was imprinted on this young man’s heart and without saying anything to anyone he went back to school and told his “enemy” that he loved him. They have become friends though they live in different “camps”. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we, God’s children, really applied this principle daily?
Well, this is a glimpse of what has been happening here. Thank you for faithful support that enables us to announce the Good News from our wonderful Creator and Savior.
In France in Christ,
John and Judy
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.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: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [December 2014]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
December 8, 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you for your faithful support and prayers. God is at work here in France and He is using you in the Great Work that He is doing. As you support us, we try to live here as children of the light walking circumspectly.
We were on schedule to start a new Bible study in the city of Pujaudran. This would have been our first Bible study in the department of Gers. Continental France is divided into 94 administrative departments. Each department is about the size of about 8 Kentucky counties. This would be the 3rd department where were have meetings. However, these plans are temporarily on hold. The wife in the couple who were to host these meetings in there home just gave birth 3 and ½ months early. The baby’s situation is touch and go. As you read this, please pray for this young couple, Darren and Eva, and their newborn child.
Youth in France November 2014
The Sunday meetings in Tournefeuille and the various weekday Bible studies are going well and we are encouraged by what we see. Believers are sharing the gospel with people that they know. This is how the kingdom of God works. Our Lord and Saviour uses those that He has redeemed to be light to those who are walking in darkness. This is happening on several fronts and we are delighted with each occurrence.
God has also continued to give us new contacts. This past Friday, Judy and I were able to visit, for the first time, a couple that is a few years older than us. They live less than a ten minute walk from us. We have set a time to meet them in our home this coming Friday. The husband in this couple was born in this town when it was about one tenth of the size it is today. We were introduced to this couple by a lady who just moved away from here after living here for two years. She met them in a laundromat. She is a believer that we met just before she moved out of our city. She is concerned about their spiritual condition. They need Christ. Did you follow this sequence? We are all important components in the ministry of reconciliation.
This contact is just one of several promising opportunities. Some of them have developed after years of friendship and prayer. To encourage us we have many different kinds of examples in the New Testament. The Philippian jailer trusted Christ after just a few hours of a cataclysmic encounter with Paul and Silas. Paul came to Christ after kicking against the goads of God for years.
So, be encouraged. God is at work. You are an eternal component in what He is doing.
Until next month,
John and Judy in France
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [November 2014]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
November 5, 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Next week is the Thanksgiving Conference hosted annually by New Hope Baptist Church in Dearborn, MI. We are grateful, members of New Hope, for all the hard work and financial commitment that you give annually to this event because you love the Lord, those who need Christ and us. Our prayer is that God will use these meetings for His glory and the blessing of all who attend.
The Vacation Bible School, held the week before last, went well and some of the children attended for the first time. Our theme this year was the Word of God. Job commitments reduced the number of people from our congregation involved in teaching and helping with the children. However, the leadership team worked together smoothly and we were very happy with the outcome.
We are also happy with the development so far of the free English class for young children who live near us. This has opened a door with the parents. One of the parents mentioned that she told a friend of hers about our introduction of kids to “the faith” and that when we had Vacation Bible School next time this friend wanted to send her children.
Our next monthly youth meeting is this coming Saturday. We continue to have new children at nearly every meeting. Reaching children and young people is very important. Generally, people here think that believing in God and interest in spiritual things is a thing of the past and only for unintelligent people. Having contact with young folks who have not yet become hardened is a great opportunity.
During the past month we have had the opportunity to develop a number of new contacts and friendships. Some of these came unexpectedly as extensions of former relationships. We also reconnected with people we had not seen for a while. Please, pray with us that God will continue to open doors and that we will use the opportunities effectively.
May the Lord’s richest blessings be evident to you today.
John and Judy Hatcher in France
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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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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Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [September 2014]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
September 8, 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We hope this finds you enjoying the Lord’s blessings. As I mentioned in my previous letter to you, we have been in the USA this past month to be with David (our son), Dulce and their family following the birth of their third child. We return to our home and primary place of service the day after tomorrow.
The news from France is good and we anticipate with joy the opportunities that await us there. God’s love and compassions are new every morning; great is His faithfulness. (see Lamentations 3:22-23). It is a wonderful blessing to be a child of God through whom His light can shine to those who live in darkness around us. This is the privilege of every believer.
The short time here has allowed us to enjoy a number of blessings. I was able to spend a whole week with Dad and Mom, Paul (my older brother) and Wanda. During the past 40 years visiting with them is a rare blessing as we have served on different continents. All of us are grateful for your giving, an act of faith, that has been used by God to meet our needs in other countries. This coming Sunday, my mother turns 89 years old. The Lord has protected her and used her in His service in spite of a couple of times in my childhood when she was at the door of death. She has lived to see her children and grandchildren saved and serving the Lord and many great-grandchildren who are saved and being discipled by their parents. If you ask her how she is doing, she always responds, “I have never felt better in my life.”
Judy, her sister and I were also able to visit many in their extended family who are still living and serving the Lord. This is very encouraging. We, with them, were able to recount and review the grace of God at work in the past and present. Judy and I were also able to have dinner with a number of those with whom we served together in Emmanuel Baptist Church in Evansville. We thank Peggy, Judy’s sister, who made her car available and traveled with us. There were many more that we simply did not have the time to visit. All of us, including you, are important participants in God’s great work of loving redemption.
And…we had great moments with our three children and their families who live in the USA. These moments in their lives are inestimable. God’s has blessed us beyond measure and His love overflows. Thank you, Heavenly Father for your great love and for your family in which you have placed us. Thank you, each one in God’s family, who give that we may take this overflow to a land that is spiritually dry and arid.
Rejoicing in the Lord with You,
John and Judy Hatcher
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [August 2014]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
August 4, 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I am writing this letter to you from the Chicago where we will be during the month of August. On July 19, Téo Hatcher was born to David and Dulce Hatcher. He is their third son and our 10th grandchild. A few days after the birth we arrived to help the family. We are grateful for the good health of mother and child, that we have this wonderful privilege of being here with them and to visit with others in our family.
Philip, Amanda and their children just returned to France after visiting with family in the USA this school vacation. God has provided the means for them to do this once every two years. Things would be very different in France if we did not have Philip, Amanda and their children working together with us. We thank God for placing us together in the endeavor that He has set before us.
During the one Sunday that neither Philip or I were there, the services took place with the participation of the French believers. The report we received is that things went very well. Our long term goal is to leave behind us completely self supporting, autonomous churches with leaders from among those that God has provided. We see progress on many fronts, but would like to see committed leaders from among those that have come to Christ there. Please, pray with us for progress in this area.
Yesterday, I had the joy of meeting with the East Keys Baptist Church in Springfield, IL. We had a wonderful day in the Lord. I had promised Dan Hillard that I would visit the church where he is pastor during the next trip to the USA. The loaned car from Adam and Lydia Reece made it possible to drive to Springfield to spend this blessed day with these folks that we love in the Lord. Thank You brothers and sisters of East Keys Baptist church for sharing this day with me. And, thank all of you churches and individuals who support us faithfully and have done so for such a long time. We will not be able to see most of you during this short visit to the USA .
As my parents and Paul and Wanda Hatcher are on furlough, I will be with them for a few days. I write this letter with great joy, grateful for the parents, children and grandchildren that God has given us. Judy and I both were led to the Lord by our parents who also taught and set a good example for us. As we observe how God is working in the lives of our children and extended family our “cup is full and running over”.
Rejoice in the Lord this month. He has and is doing great things.
Serving with you,
John and Judy
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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Missionary Update: John Mark & Judy Hatcher in France [July 2014]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
July 5, 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We hope this finds you enjoying the Lord. What a privilege we have as God’s children with continuous access to our Father and Saviour and with His Spirit united to ours. It is also a wonderful honor to represent the Eternal God, Creator of all things to the people who live around us.
Just after writing our last letter we participated in the annual outdoor dinner of our neighborhood which takes place in the street in front of our house. We made new friends and were able to reconnect with some people that we have not seen for a while.
During the past month we have spent part of our time reviewing the past year and making plans for the coming year. We discussed what we would teach in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Youth meetings. We determined changes that needed to be made in class groupings and how to effectively do what God has placed us here to do. We have also discussed ways that we can connect with the people that we are here to reach.
One of the things that Judy and I are going to be doing this coming year is an English Club to help young children in our neighborhood get started learning English. This is a result of a request made by the parents of these children. Judy and Amanda did this for several years in Tournefeuille and Judy and Wendy had an English Bible Club in the city of L’Union for several years. These have given us many long term opportunities. Several of the young people who now come to our monthly youth meetings are from families that we served in this way in the past. We follow the example of Paul who said, “I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” Judy also donated her time to teach English twice a week for several years in the past in one of our local public elementary schools.
English proficiency is required for anyone wanting to advance in white collar jobs and this is a need that opens doors for us. Parents are very interested in their children learning English to prepare them for the future. We want to serve them in this area to open the door to prepare them for eternity.
This is also a good time to remind you to pray for Philip, Amanda and their family, and Wendy who serve with us. Wendy is a single missionary who is supported by friends and churches in the US and Philip works as an engineer here to support his family while they serve with us. We thank God for your prayers and faithful support over many years.
Attendance in the services and Bible studies has been good and we see evidence of the Grace of God.
Serving with you for our Saviour in France,
John and Judy
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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