Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher in Brazil [August 2012]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.
July 31, 2012
Dear Brethren and Fellow Workers,
Greetings from Brazil in the Name of our Great Savior. Alta and I have had a good month and have gone to our mission in Assai each Sunday morning. Our attendance has not grown but we have the promise that where two or three are gathered together in His Name He is present with us. His promise is His Word will not return void. We are trying to be faithful and one day the Isaac will be born.
God has blessed us in the old age of our life. It is a great joy to look back over the years and see how God has been faithful in all His promises. Our children are serving the Lord, all of our grandchildren are faithfully serving the Lord and our great-grandchildren are being saved as they come to the age of accountability.
Another great thrill is to see how God has blessed and is blessing the works that He gave us the privilege of beginning. Those works have also begun and are beginning other new works. We want to encourage you young persons to surrender your lives to serve the Lord. Make the surrender while young; you will never regret doing the best for your Lord and Savior.
(Just had a wonderful interruption of fifteen minutes–a phone call from John and Judy in France. The Lord knows how we love them and miss them.)
Last week we had a wonderful two-day visit with David. He came down to our State for the dedication of two new buildings: One in the center of Parana and the other in Curitiba where Bobby and Charlene Wacaser work. We praise and thank the Lord for how He is using our children in His vineyard. They are all so far away and sometimes the heart aches to see them. Kathy is the closest and we get to see her every two or three months.
All of the work is going well in this part of Brazil. In Urai the work is going well. The pastor, Marcio, is doing a good job. There are about ten young people and two young married couples who are faithful and working in the church and congregations. There are six or seven who study in the Seminary. Pray for us. At age 87, things are not so easy.
God bless you, we love you,
John and Alta Hatcher
Caixa Postal 112
Urai, PR, Brazil 86280-000
jhatcher[at]uol.com.br
Click here to give.
Read more
Missionary Update: Odali & Kathy Barros in Brazil [August 2012]
Odali and Kathy Barros have served the Lord in Sao Paulo, Brazil for many years. In addition to leading their newest church, they also run “Alpha Omega Family Development,” which provides a home and stability for needy people, many of whom are recovering drug addicts, etc.
Wow! August is here. For those of you that live in the US you are in the middle of summer. Well, for those of us who live in Garça, we are enjoying a wonderful winter, with the average temperature of 70 degrees. The sun rises and sunsets this time of the year are absolutely gorgeous!
One of the new things around here is milking cows. About a month or two ago Odali bought some cows. The boys have enjoyed going each morning to milk them. One of the cows loves cookies, well she love just about anything that is eatable. This has been a great time for the boys and their dad. They usually have other kids that go with them.
We have several new people living here with us now. They are adults or mother with children. There is a lady that is living here that is waiting for her house that is being built by the city. The city subsidies homes for those with low income and with no conditions of having a job that would guarantee them a good salary. These people lived in an area of danger. Marcia is here name. She has been coming to church along with her 13 year old son. His name is Alex. Alex has made friends with our boys and is like one of the family. Actually he has started calling Odali and I mom and dad. He has not seen or heard of his dad for many years. The last time he saw him, his dad was trying to kill his mom. Nice memories, right?! Pray for them, especially that they will accept Christ as Savior. Marcia does not read or write.
We are trying to work out a time to help her. We don´t know for sure if she has a difficulty or if she just quit her studies early. Also we have another lady here who has some learning disabilities. Since this area used to be coffee farms many people did not finish the studies. But she also does not read or write and does not know money.
Our church is doing well. We work on Sunday morning especially to reach out to the children and teens. Our city, like so many others have been taken over by drugs and prostitution. A junior age girl told her Sunday school teacher a few days ago that she didn’t know what would happened to them if our church ever closed. On Sunday they spend about 3 hours here with us. We have Sunday school and service them they play and eat then we take them home. Last Sunday we had several mothers. Most all the kids come from single mom homes. Our Sunday night services are especially for adults. Last Sunday we had several visitors.
We are planning on taking a furlough late November of this year. Our youngest daughter is having her baby then. It’s been 7 years since Amelia saw her dad. Also we have 2 granddaughters that we haven’t seen. So we thought that that would be a good time for us to take a break. We started on our boys documents and we hope that all goes well. We are not sure where we will be living yet. We are looking into finding a house to rent. Pray for us as we get things ready for us to take our furlough.
Thanks for your financial support and your prayers. Please continue to pray for us. May God bless each of you.
Love in Christ,
Odali & Kathy Barros
odali_kathy[at]hotmail.com
Caixa Postal 182
17400-000 Garca, SP
Brasil, S.A.
Blog
Click here to donate to BFM.
Read more
Missionary Update: AJ & Barbara Hensley in Brazil [July 2012]
The Hensleys have spent nearly 15 years serving in Brazil. They run a vocational school and orphanage in Caraguatatuba and have also established a church and mission points throughout the city.
Friends and family,
Well, let me tell you about my grandchildren….. You know it is a little bit heartbreaking when you only get to see your grandchildren once every year or two. But God gave us two down here in Brasil so we could see them with more frequency. Then He moved them 9 hours away too. But this past week Barbara went to spend some time with our daughter in Sales Olivera. The reason for this trip was that Mary’s oldest was having surgery. She had her tonsils and adenoids removed. Well, during that time Papaw had to stay home and house keep and keep our work going. Saying this for you men because you know that house keeping skills—what is that??? Well Miss Chelsea is doing well in recovery and Barb is back at home and rescuing the house.
We have had the Blessing of helping a new missionary to Brasil get established in their new home and their new surroundings. They sold out in the States and moved here with 18 bags and started setting up their new home. They have 3 young children ages 4 years, 2 years and 3 months. How BRAVE they are. Their home was in Georgia. So to get them “Broke in” to Brasil we met them at the air port with our van and our truck. Did I mention 18 bags? Well those were not ordinary bags they were “body bags” in other words “BIG” So the road back to our city is being made bigger and they are blasting so it is closed from 10 to 4. This means that we only have a small window of time to get them at the airport and get back past the closed road. Well needless to say we did not get everything done on time so we had to take a LONG short cut. On this long short cut our van broke down so our 3 hour trip turned into an all day journey. This was their welcome to Brasil greeting. We spent the biggest part of the day in a van on an unknown part of the country with a baby crying, hungry children, tired passengers, no water—and the list goes on.
Along with this couple and their family we have 2 young men from Georgia that is going to spend 6 weeks with us here helping with the work. What an honor it is to be a part of these young men’s lives. Ross is from First Baptist Church in Centerville, Georgia and is going to Seminary and Luke is from Second Baptist Church in Warner Robbins Georgia and has a love for missions.
As we minister here we always have our eyes open for the opportunities God has for us. We have discovered an Indian tribe within 2 hours drive from our home and are looking into the possibilities of doing some Bible Schools there. We have learned that there are many needs in this tribe so we are excited to see what we can do for them. Hopefully we can tell you more in the next newsletter.
Speaking of ministry our church has had many visitors this past 2 weeks. I think it is because of the vacation from school. So we are having a problem here at Church—we are running out of chairs. But I should not be complaining, What a great problem to have!!!How AWESOME is the God we serve.
So as I am looking around at our problem it registers; we are renting this building and we are at 80 to 90% capacity, no more space for Sunday School, no parking and no money– what are we to do—simple, PRAY more.
So with this list of problems we are asking you to pray with us for us and we know that our God is an AWESOME God and He will supply.
The work at the Vocational School is progressing slowly. We are working on laying tile on the floors, the walls and getting the electrical work finished and looking at the color selection for the walls. If you think you heard these same things last month it is because things go a bit slower here than in the States. We have learned to go with the flow.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers, financial support, and encouragement.
Well, you did not let us know if you wanted to come down so the rooms are full and the mints are gone off of the pillows, but there is always next month. So let us hear from you. Come on down!!!
In His service,
Aj and Barb
ajcaragua[at]gmail.com
Give to Baptist Faith Missions.
Read more
Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher in Brazil [July 2012]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.
July 1, 2012
Dear Brethren and Fellow Helpers,
Praise the Lord; He has given us a wonderful month. Proverbs 17:6 speaks of the children’s children being a blessing for the old. This month our twenty-second great grandchild was born in Manaus. His name is Noah. His parents are Leigh Ann and Michael Samples. Leigh Ann is Paul and Wanda Hatcher’s daughter and Michael works with Paul in the School and Seminary. There were some complications in the birth but Mother and Baby are doing well after being born by C-Section.
Another good news is about the two younger daughters of Amanda and Philip Hatcher who live in France. The two older girls were saved and baptized last month. This month the two younger girls told their Mother and Dad they had trusted Jesus as Savior. We are thankful.
DRIVER’S LICENSE—In my last letter I mentioned the difficulty in getting my Brazilian Driver’s License. I received it after almost three months; it is good for two years.
ASSAI—Alta and I still make the trip to Assai every Sunday morning and we rejoice that we are still able to go. Please pray for this city of 20,000 people. Three different families whose children started coming have taken them out to take them to another church; they never attended any place before the children started coming to our Sunday School. Alta plans and has a great lesson for the children each week. Pray that the Lord will change the hearts of those parents.
URAI—The work is going well in Urai and the missions in Sussumo and Rancho Alegre. There are five or six young people who attend the Seminary and they are very active in the Lord’s work.
Great news from Manaus. The work where Paul pastors is going great and the Chapada Baptist Church where David and Pennie work is being greatly blessed. This month there were 360 people who trusted the Lord. All of these are followed up with special classes for new converts. Last Sunday there were over 3,000 in Sunday School. They have two services each Sunday night and they will soon have to go to two Sunday School hours in the morning.
The OLDIES—We praise the Lord we are still able to do and go. For our joy and contentment Alta and I still play for half an hour four or five times a week. She plays the organ and I play my Sax.
We thank you for your prayers and support.
Sincerely, in the Name above every name,
Caixa Postal 112
Urai, PR, Brazil 86280-000
jhatcher[at]uol.com.br
Click here to give.
Read more
Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher in Brazil [June 2012]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.
Dear Brethren and Friends,
Greetings from two oldies in Brazil. God has blessed us this month. I told Alta, “It is not a sin to be old, but sometimes it has its difficulties.” Alta’s eyes are still doing wonderful and my hearing is great so between us we are seeing and hearing well.
My Brazilian drivers license expired the last of April and I am still trying to get my new one. It has been quite an ordeal. I was required to get three doctor’s statements that I was still physically and mentally capable of driving. Statements from a cardiologist, orthopedist and neurologist. After two months I have the documents in hand and tomorrow, the Lord willing, I should get my license.
ASSIS—Alta and I are still making the trip to Assis and during the month, four new children have attended. The new building that was built by the Chapada Baptist Church is certainly a wonderful blessing.
URAI—Brother Marcio is doing a good job in teaching and reaching out. There are five persons who are studying in the seminary as well as being active in the work. Last week Marcio took the young people to Rancho Alegre where they visited and gave out invitations for service that night. The result was good and they had a full house. Susumo is another congregation on the other side of town. Three young adults care for that work.
A PERSONAL WORD TO YOU OUR BELOVED BRETHREN AND FELLOW WORKERS.
Alta and I thank you for your faithful prayers and financial help for many years. It has not been an easy road, but it was not an easy road that our Lord walked to Calvary. When the first Church in Jerusalem continued the work after Jesus ascended, their story seems to indicate, especially their manner of giving, that Jesus would come very soon. They gave generously, some gave all. They did well even though Jesus would delay His coming. In the year 70 AD, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and most of those had given were probably killed.
THE BLESSING is: They saved all they had given!
This is true for us today. All invested in the Lord’s work will be received in Heaven with His benefits.
We love you, in the Name of our Lord Jesus,
John and Alta Hatcher
Caixa Postal 112
Urai, PR, Brazil 86280-000
jhatcher[at]uol.com.br
Click here to give.
Read more
Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher in Brazil [May 2012]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.
Dear Brethren and Friends,
Greetings once more from Brazil in the precious name of Jesus. On April 30th I had my 87th birthday. No celebration, just thanksgiving to God for His many blessings in my life.
In the month of December our immediate family spent ten days together in the home of David and Pennie in Manaus. Needless to say, every moment we had together were joyous and precious. We praise and thank God every day for our wonderful children, our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren.
Annual Family Camp
The first week in January was the family camp directed by Pastor Valdir dos Santos of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cornelio Procopio. Our son, Paul, was the special speaker for the week. His messages on rewards and crowns were very profitable and of course Alta and I were thankful to have Paul and Wanda for the camp and with us a few days at home.
Thankful for the Blessing of Serving in Brazil
We thank God many times for giving us the joy and privilege to serve as missionaries in Brazil. When we have camps and gatherings that sometimes have about 400 persons, we recognize that all have come from churches that God has used us to sow the first seed. During our almost sixty years here we have not started works from other churches’ members nor begun works in cities that had a Baptist Church.
Present Works
We are presently members of the Urai Baptist Church. Marcio Faria Moraes is the pastor. He was saved in the Duartina Baptist Church we started years ago. His wife Carol was baptized at nine years old in the Garca Baptist Church. The church has three missions and other evangelistic activities. Alta and I are still able to go each Sunday morning to Assai Mission. Praise the Lord I am still able to drive the forty miles. I am in the process of renewing my driver’s license this week.
Pray for us. We seem to be getting older and have some aches and pains. We are thankful to God, our Heavenly Father, for your faithfulness in praying and giving to supply our needs in His work in Brazil.
We love you,
John and Alta Hatcher
Caixa Postal 112
Urai, PR, Brazil 86280-000
jhatcher[at]uol.com.br
Click here to give.
Read more
Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [May 2012]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 36 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
Dear Friends,
We started the month enjoying the services and fellowship at the spring conference.
It was a great time to hear and share what God is doing in the life and ministries of our friends and co-laborers in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
While in the US, Wanda and I always enjoy time with Mrs. McGary, my mother-in-law. She travelled with us during our stay; as our time was short, this was the best way to spend the most time possible with her. She really likes to attend the conference and keep up with the mission news.
We were privileged to visit several churches and talk about the work God is doing. We appreciate all the churches and individuals praying for us and contributing to our ministry. Thanks to those who hosted us – New Life Baptist Church, pastor Steve Wainright, in Lexington; Thompson Road Baptist Church, pastor Dave Parks, in Lexington; Calvary Baptist Church, pastor Bobby Green, in Richmond, Ky.; Grace Baptist Church, pastor Mark Pyles, in Fairborn, Ohio; and Emmanuel Baptist Church, pastor Darrell Messer, in Bellbrook, Ohio .
We visited John and Judy in France. This was a long-time dream, and we are thankful for the opportunity God made possible. We also enjoyed the visit with our nephew, Phillip, his wife, Amanda, and their children. This was a great family reunion. We had a chance to catch up on our experiences in the gospel, and see the challenges of sharing the gospel where most are atheist. We rejoiced as we attended the Bible teaching and worshipped with our Christian brothers and sisters of the church in France.
Back in Brazil, we’re back to full throttle. Yesterday evening, I was with the mission in Ouro Verde and was pleased to see their progress during the weeks we were away. I expect they will soon be ready to organize a church.
Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. Pray that the Gospel will continue to spread, and that the Lord will give us wisdom to best optimize the time He gives us.
Yours in Christ,
Paul & Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
Avenida J. Carlos Antony, 172
65063-150 Manaus
Amazonas, Brasil SA
hatcher[at]argo.com.br
Click here to give.
Read more
Missionary Update: The Wacasers in Brazil [May 2012]
Bobby, Charlene, Jessie, and Brennen Wacaser have served the Lord as church planters in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, since 1985.
Dear Friends,
The mountain trek was absolutely beautiful for our little group last week. The weather had been overcast and rainy for the last several days and the forecast for our hike was more of the same. It was a holiday here and we hoped that we’d be able to take along several new friends who had shown interest in our message at the new church. So we prayed for a decent day and made preparation to head out at dawn the next day. The Lord saw fit to bless us with gorgeously clear weather and a nice 40 degree temperature. The cool air helps to keep the body cool as we climb two mountains to reach the highest peak in our region. The peaks aren’t monsters in altitude, being only slightly higher than a mile. The greatest challenge is the distance we have to hike and the terrain we have to do it in. The trail is in a dense Atlantic forest and the round trip is 10 miles. It took us 4 ½ hours to reach the highest peak where we ate lunch and turned around to return. The whole adventure provided us with 10 hours of unbroken time together with our unsaved friends where we were able to share the gospel and the abiding presence of Jesus in our daily experiences. Leo, one of my friends, has become more and more interested in knowing Christ because he likes what he sees in our relationship with the Lord beyond the walls of the church building. We thank God for answering our prayer for good weather, but we thank Him even more for using us to share His love with those dear people that He has placed in our sphere of influence. Oh yeah, and I thank God for the health to be able to enjoy the amazing beauty of His creation up close and personally.
In my last letter I mentioned that we would begin to pour the concrete floor of our auditorium. Well, I’m happy to report that we just finished doing that last week. Now we are beginning to lay the ceramic tile of the floor. This is a process that should take around two weeks. One young man and I are the volunteer helpers of a man whom we’ve hired who knows what he’s doing. I understand the process, sure, but he’s got the experience and I think everyone who will use the facilities will be glad that I was just the helper providing the tools and material for him.
I still didn’t get to show you pictures of the installed windows with this month’s letter, but the glass company has assured me that Monday May 14th that they’d be installed. Hopefully next time I can post the pictures. God willing!
Our former church’s pastor, Afonso, and his family have been very busy since their arrival a little over a month ago. They have been making a lot of visits to get to know the members and have also gotten to know the new visitors. They have a very winsome way and are rock solid in their Bible beliefs and teachings. God has already blessed and they have baptized two new members and have two others studying the Scriptures with them in preparation to be baptized also. We are happy to see our former church enthused with their new pastor and also excited to be involved in reaching out to their community to win others to Christ. The two churches are each working earnestly to reach their immediate neighbors, but are united in purpose and hearts to reach together our broader scope of unreached people. We thank the Lord for like-minded co-laborers.
Thank you for your prayer on our behalf. God hears and answers mightily. We also want to thank those who have contributed to Baptist Faith Missions so that we may continue to minister in the place where God has placed us. May He bless you for your faith and generosity.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby, Charlene and Brennen Wacaser
Rua Manoel Valdomiro de Macedo, 2281
81170-150 Curitiba, PR Brasil
(813)436-9980
robertmw[at]brturbo.com.br
Click here to give.
Read more
