Seekers in Bible Studies
December 16, 2022
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Judy and I are grateful for your support and the prayers. If you have prayed for the Bible study at L’Union, you will be glad to know that your prayers are being answered. We are very encouraged by the interest shown in the meetings. The hostess, Blandine and her son, Kerwan, are believers who know the Scriptures well. They are great participants helping their friends understand what we are reading. The others are not believers, have practically no knowledge of the Bible, but are clearly seeking. God has opened great doors of friendship with each of them. We started with the first few chapters of Genesis and are now slowly working our way through the Gospel of John. Please continue to pray for these studies and the seekers who are there.
The other Bible studies are also going quite well. The one at Mazere is made up of 10 individuals from very different backgrounds who all profess faith in Christ. They range in age from mid-forties to mid-seventies. We are presently studying the book of Ruth. The long-term plan is to study the Old Testament passages that tell about the women who are specifically mentioned in the genealogy of Christ in the opening verses of the Gospel of Matthew. This group is a mixture of people with an outstanding knowledge of the Bible and some who have a ways to go.
The Bible Study in Campagne-sur-Arize is four people from our church, and Laure and Henri, a couple who are believers with very little knowledge of the Scriptures. Judy teaches this couple’s children while the adults study.
We are also delighted with new contacts that God has given and we look forward to what He will do in the days ahead.
A bit of trivia to remind us that the time is short and that we “must work while it is yet day.” Judy and I met the parents of Blandine (lady who hosts the first Bible study mentioned above) when we first came to France. It dawned on me this week that she is the same age now as her parents were when we first met them. We have been here for an entire generation and there is still much to be done! So, keep praying!
Your co-laborers in Christ,
Judy and John
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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New Opportunities to Witness & Make Disciples
July 8, 2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you for your prayers and support. We are very grateful for your faithful commitment for many years to the making of disciples here in France. Sometimes when things seem to be going slow God opens a new door that becomes an opportunity to witness and make disciples.
Let me tell you about a couple such events this month. At the time I received a message from my brother saying Dad had passed into the presence of the Lord, Judy and I were on the road returning from the home of Laure and Henri. Laure started coming to the Bible study at Mazere about 8 or 9 years ago. Henri started coming with her after they were married, and they hosted the Bible study at their place from time to time.
About two years into their marriage, we helped them move to a little town that is quite distant from our home and Mazere. He is a cabinet maker and she an elementary school teacher. Shortly after the move, their first child was born, and she stopped teaching to become a full-time mother. We remained in touch but his working hours at a distance from their home and caring for a child made it difficult for them to drive to a Bible study an hour away. There is no church close to them. Within 5 and half years they had four children. During a good part of this time, we were in Indiana caring for Judy’s sister who is now with the Lord. When we received notice of the birth of their fourth child we were back in France and made arrangements to visit them. Their home is a bit over an hour’s drive from us. This visit was the one from which we were returning when I got the news about Dad.
They were really concerned about their inability to be in Church and their children not being in Sunday School. We suggested to them what God had laid on our heart; starting a Bible study in their home including a time of Bible teaching for the children. They were thrilled with the idea, and we had the first meeting a couple of weeks ago. They invited Henri’s aunt and her husband, and they attended and showed a great interest. Please pray for God to use this Bible study for His Glory.
We have also gotten reconnected to a couple who were our neighbors years ago. They now live about one hour north of us. When they had dinner in our home a couple of days ago, she asked question after question about God and how to have a relationship with Him. She really seems driven to know God. When we first met them, she was an atheist.
These are only two of several incidents that we are very excited about. However, I think I had better stop for now.
Thank you for your prayer. Could you take a moment now to pray for God to speak to hearts here and give us the wisdom to pursue each opportunity that He gives us?
Your sister and brother in France,
Judy and John
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
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.
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
Sharing Jesus in Bible Studies & English Chats
October 15, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We hope you are enjoying the Lord’s blessings. This week has been busy as we have started some new meetings and are getting back in the groove of the school year schedule. Our Sunday meetings continue to be held in person with some joining us by internet.
The restart of Bible Studies in Mazere this week went very well. We are studying through the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Philip and Amanda are restarting Bible studies in the home of a church family in the city of Cugnaux. A couple of other weekly Bible studies are also held. Small group meetings are a very effective means of communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ to seekers and helping those who trust Christ to grow up in Him. This has been our primary method of outreach to adults since we arrived in France.
The first Youth meeting of this school year is tomorrow evening. The Lord has enabled us to communicate the Good News to many Middle School and High School students through these meetings.
This week Judy and I also began meeting with three ladies who want to practice speaking English. We have found this to be a great way to connect with people in order to tell them about God’s offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ. One of the ladies in the present group is an acquaintance made on our trekking path. Each time we crossed the friendship grew. When she expressed a desire to work on English to be able to communicate with a possible future son-in-law who is Australian, we offered to meet with her for English chats.
Another participant was a kindergarten teacher for our granddaughters years ago, sang in the community choir in which I (John) sang and “by chance” (another way of saying “divine appointment”) we crossed her (while trekking) as she was going to sign up for English improvement classes at the local community meeting house. She decided to cancel the English improvement classes and meet with us! She brought a friend who also sang in the community choir.
Please pray with us that God will open hearts to Jesus for eternal life and help us all to keep growing up in Jesus.
Your sister and brother in Southern France,
Judy and John
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
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
Events May Be a Surprise to Us, But Not to God
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”
April 3, 2017
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
You may have noticed that my return address on this letter is in Indiana. Sometimes we are surprised by events that suddenly arise, but our heavenly Father is never surprised and uses all for our good and to display His glorious love to folks around us.
I mentioned at the close of my March letter that Judy had remained in the US and to be with her sister Peggy. Peggy, who has outstandingly displayed the light of Jesus in ministry to others, has been diagnosed with cancer in various parts of her body. The oncologist and radiologist quickly began radiation treatment on one tumor on her spinal column to keep it from causing paralysis. Judy had mentioned to me that they might go out for lunch to celebrate the end of these treatments on March 17. About 7pm France time March 17, I called Judy to ask her where they were going to celebrate and received shocking news.
“I am at the emergency center. I broke my kneecap. I am scheduled for surgery on Monday. My leg is immobilized at the knee and will be for 6 weeks after surgery.” Judy had accidentally fallen as she went to get the car following the last treatment. This, of course, meant that Judy could not drive and care for her sister. She needed assistance herself. She did not say a word about me returning to the States. A few minutes later our youngest daughter called from Chicago having just spoken to her mother on the phone. “Mom said to not jump up and buy a ticket to the US.” This is a true reflection of Judy’s attitude. She never wants to complicate anyone’s life or interrupt the Lord’s work. However, at that moment, it was obvious to me that the Lord’s work was for me to care for Judy and Peggy.
Within an hour, our son Philip, who works with us had bought a ticket for me to fly to Evansville early the next morning. I left the house at 4:45 am the next morning having spent the few hours before leaving in contacting folks, making arrangements for replacements and packing my bags. I missed the the 8:30 am men’s breakfast at our house that morning and a first-time counseling session with a couple from our church scheduled at 11 am. Philip, Amanda and the folks from church who have really stepped up to the plate have left our mind at ease. A man that for several years we discipled several hours each week early in our ministry in France is leading the Bible study in Mazere. I am including a picture of that Bible study the week after I left taken by Douceline. She is the lady with whom we started there who now leads a couple of evangelistic lady Bible studies. The man on the left is the replacement leader. He is also in the process of planting a church with another pastor on the south side of Toulouse.
Bible Study in Mazere: The man on the left has been leading this Bible Study since John has been in the States. He is also in the process of planting a church with another pastor on the south side of Toulouse.
God uses events that are a surprise to us to move us and others around us along the race that is set before us. In the process, we see God’s amazing grace. He displays His love toward us through Himself in us and through His children. Our lives have been touched by the help of many around us here in Evansville. The Lord has also already opened doors of service for us here. My personal life has changed. Suddenly being removed from our usual place of ministry and facing an opaque future has a somewhat stunning effect. But, I have found that there is great joy in cleaning house, washing dishes, taxiing and giving personal assistance to those you love.
Our youngest daughter and her family are in Tournefeuille to visit us! They had bought tickets months ago for this epic visit. So, they are staying at the house we rent and call home. They are having a great visit with Philip, Amanda, Abigail, Nathalie, Camille and Emily. The house is also the church meeting place which means that the space has double usage and needs to be set up for each meeting. However, in order to make Lydia and family’s stay less stressful, various church families have volunteered to host church meetings during these three weeks.
Amanda and Philip have given raving reviews of the services in the last two weeks and the evidence of God’s people there growing in Christ as they read and apply His word to their lives. We are grateful beyond words for what God is doing.
Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for Judy’s sister Peggy who is now undergoing target medical treatment for her renal cancer. Ask God to display His glory and love through all of us.
Until the next surprise,
John and Judy in Evansville
Stateside Address
John and Judy Hatcher
1901 Shepherd Dr.
Evansville, IN 47715
jmhatcher@aol.com
Field Address
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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