A Season to Shine: Preparing to Share the Gospel This Christmas
October 31, 2025
Dear Friends and Faithful Ministry Partners,
Warm greetings from Brazil!
We are filled with gratitude as we look back over the past months and see the hand of the Lord guiding, strengthening, and expanding His work here. Your faithful prayers and partnership continue to make a tremendous difference in what God is accomplishing through our ministry.
Church Ministries Conference
Earlier this fall, our church leadership team had the privilege of traveling to Manaus—a four-hour flight from São Paulo—to participate in a Church Ministries Conference at Nova Baptist Church, where David Hatcher is senior pastor. The time together with other pastors and leaders from across Brazil was both refreshing and inspiring. Our team returned invigorated and full of vision for what God wants to do in our midst.
Since then, our weekly leadership meetings have taken on a renewed sense of purpose. Our student ministry is being reshaped with new ideas and energy, while our couples ministry is preparing to implement new strategies for growth and discipleship.
In the coming weeks, our leadership team will also travel to Joinville, in the state of Santa Catarina (a seven-hour drive) for a special time of exposure and leadership training. We are excited about how God is using these experiences to strengthen the core of our ministry team.
We praise God that He has raised up three men within our church plant who are now being equipped and mentored for pastoral leadership. Please pray for these brothers as they grow in their calling to shepherd God’s people.
Christmas Evangelistic Campaign
Preparations are in full swing for our Christmas Evangelistic Campaign! The entire church—young and old alike—is joyfully involved in rehearsals, recordings, painting, and artistic production. It’s such a blessing to see everyone’s gifts come together for the glory of God.
We are preparing to welcome between 800 and 1,000 guests during the two presentation nights. Please pray that every heart that attends will be touched by the Gospel and that many will come to know Christ through this outreach.
Master’s Degree Launch
Another exciting milestone has been the launch of the master’s degree in Youth Ministry here in São Paulo. The first module was a wonderful success, with Drs. Randy Smith and Dave Adams, and a cohort of 41 students beginning the program. We are encouraged by their enthusiasm and hunger to be better equipped for ministry. The second module will take place in November, and we covet your prayers for the faculty and students involved.
Family News
Our family continues to experience God’s grace in every season of life.
- Sarah, now a college sophomore, is thriving in her studies here in São Paulo and contributes meaningfully to our ministry efforts.
- Laura is adapting well to college life at Liberty University. She is attending Living Word Baptist Church, where Dr. Gary Yates serves as Senior Pastor and Dr. Scott Phillips as Executive Pastor.
- Benjamin, a high school junior, and Melissa, now in 8th grade, continue to bring much joy to our home and are avid students and athletes at school.
- Raquel remains deeply involved as a passionate advocate for foster care in São Paulo, equipping and encouraging caregivers and families who open their homes to vulnerable children.
Prayer & Praise
1. Praise God for renewed vision and leadership growth.
2. Pray for our upcoming Christmas Evangelistic Campaign—that the Gospel would be clearly proclaimed.
3. Pray for our three emerging pastoral leaders as they prepare for ministry.
4. Pray for our family’s health, travel, and ongoing ministry responsibilities.
5. Pray for daily wisdom as God’s stewards.
We remain deeply thankful for your continued prayers, love, and financial partnership. Each of you plays a vital part in this ministry, and we are humbled to serve as your representatives here in Brazil. May the Lord bless you richly for your faithfulness.
Grateful always,
Jud & Raquel Hatcher
Preparing for the Christmas Evangelistic Event
JUD & 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
Reorganizing Seminary Classes
March 17, 2023
Dear friends and family,
It is great to report that the Seminary is going great. We are in the middle of doing two classes now and when those are completed, we will do two more. This will be our spring semester. For the fall semester we will have four more classes for a total of eight classes for the year.
The difference with these classes is that they are being done via zoom. In years past that would not even have been thought of, let alone been possible. Also, we are planning to have not only the zoom classes but along with the zoom classes, we will have one of our professors on site at a local church for one of these four classes each semester. That puts a more personal touch on these classes.
We are reorganizing our classes so a student in Bluegrass Baptist Seminary can complete their master’s degree in two years. Some ripples will be encountered, so pray for the students, the professors, and us as we implement these changes. The same degrees will be offered: Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries, Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. These degrees are with accreditation. Continue to pray for the Seminary and the students. As we look at all that is happening with Bluegrass Baptist Seminary all I can say is, “Our God is an AWESOME God”!
We are planning to be in Brazil either in July or August for a major Pastoral Conference where we can introduce more Pastors to Bluegrass Baptist Seminary. We are just waiting for the time and place to be announced so we can buy our tickets. There we will be able to talk to some of the Pastors who are presently taking the courses and continue encouraging them. And of course we could not go to Brazil without visiting the grandbabies. God gave us the best for last when he gave us our three grands!!!
When we started Bluegrass Baptist Seminary, I had a dream. We have been able to complete a part of that dream so now on to the next part. My dream, wish, prayer was to train the Pastors of Brazil and then because of that training, use some of those graduates to start a four-year Seminary of their own. God is faithful to answer prayers. He is AWESOME!!! I am pleased to tell you that God has put that dream to work. Some of the previous graduates have opened that seminary. The name of it is ETEBABI. They will be using some of the material that Pastor Derek Coleman wrote for Bluegrass Baptist Seminary. They will be able to piggyback on some of our zoom classes to help enhance their curriculum. We serve a God of AWESOME capabilities.
Continue to pray for us as we carry God’s Word to Brazil and for those who help in our support through Baptist Faith Missions.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
CONTACT INFO
AJ & Barbara Hensley
30524 Mimi St
Sebring, FL 33870-0530
AJ: 859-539-2302 | Barbara: 859-539-1424
ajcaragua@gmail.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
First Graduation in the Master’s Program at Bluegrass Baptist Seminary
October 18, 2022
Dear friends and family,
It is a great blessing when you can see God’s work coming together with your focus on missions! We have just completed our first graduation in the Master’s program. We had 21 people who completed all the required courses. However, 11 of the Pastors still had to write their thesis papers and chose to not participate until those were completed.
The first 10 graduated with a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. I was awarded the same degree by the students and the Professors. The 11 Pastors will receive a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries. They have also completed three additional courses: Greek, Hebrew, and Thesis writing for their Master’s degree.
One of the blessings for me was that one of the students in their graduating class was a member of our last church started in Caraguatatuba. She was a great help in that church – Sunday School teacher, visitation helper, and she perfected her English while there. She also helped Barbara with translation when we had groups from the States. She has now moved to São Paulo to complete her education and was able to come to the Seminary while studying in the University there. Isn’t it AWESOME how GOD works in lives who are serving Him?
In class, there is usually one person who tries to question the Professors in their Biblical knowledge. Well, Bluegrass Baptist Seminary was not exempt to that type of person. But to show you how mighty our God is, not only did this person question the Professors, but he did it constantly. But our Professors were able to answer every questions and this gentleman came on graduation day and asked for forgiveness from the Professors and all the students. Everyone forgave him without question.
Our upcoming classes are being planned, and Barb and I will be going back to Brazil in January. We will be setting up new locations and talking to the Pastors of the new churches. Continue to pray for us as we travel and for our health.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
CONTACT INFO
AJ & Barbara Hensley
30524 Mimi St
Sebring, FL 33870-0530
AJ: 859-539-2302 | Barbara: 859-539-1424
ajcaragua@gmail.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
