Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [December 2014]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil since 1974. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
December 03, 2014
Dear Friends,
Blessed be the one and only true God and father, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Scripture says, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” It is reassuring to know our Heavenly father is aware of our every need and has made provision on our behalf. The Word is forever reminding us that: Yes, we can trust God, for He is looking out for us.
The beginning of the month was focused on the Missions Conference in Dearborn Heights – hosted by the New Hope Baptist Church and Pastor Terry Adkins. We — my parents, mother-in-law, Wanda and I — left Florida for Michigan looking forward to a great conference. We divided the trip in small increments so as not to wear everyone out. We stopped to visit our great friends in Georgia, Curtis and Katie Samples; and, as usual, had a wonderful visit. We then went to Mayfield in western Kentucky and visited with my wife’s family and attended Wednesday evening service at Trace Creek Baptist Church, where my mom-in-law is a member. From there we took a longer two-day break in Lexington.
Sunday we were blessed to be at Emmanuel Baptist Church with Pastor Darrel Messer. Dad spoke in the Sunday School hour and I spoke in the morning worship. We are so blessed to be with Pastor Messer and his wife and are so grateful for their kindness and supportiveness. On Sunday evening we visited Grace Baptist Church with Pastor Mark Pyles. We had a great opportunity to share what God is doing in Brazil. We saw pastor emeritus, Paul Kirkman, a friend of many years, who also served faithfully as director of Baptist Faith Missions.
The Missions Conference was blessed. All the messages in song and the preaching were uplifting and an encouragement to take the gospel across our street and around the world. The beautiful and wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord – God in the flesh – died, was buried and on the third day arose from the dead, and is life eternal to all who believe. This Salvation is graciously given by the loving God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be the Lord throughout all eternity.
We pray for you that your remembrance and knowledge of our Lord, the only true God, may abundantly increase in wisdom and discernment, that your trust and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ may be steadfast always, and that the love of his Holy Spirit may fill and overflow in your every word and action, with thanksgiving to God though Jesus Christ our only Lord and Life.
Love,
Paul and Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont, FL 34714
(239)227-6551
Click here to give.
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [November 2014]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil since 1974. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
November 01, 2014
Dear Friends,
Blessed be the one and only true God and Father, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Scripture says, “Rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice;” and certainly, this is a great way to start each new day granted to us by our loving and gracious Heavenly Father. God’s provision is always good and appropriate for each situation that comes our way – great reason to praise and rejoice in our Lord Jesus Christ.
I enjoyed a great trip to Brazil! Last letter, I was seated in the airport in Panama waiting for my fight connection to Manaus. About six hours later that night I debarked at the Manaus airport. Our son, missionary Judson, along with his wife, Raquel, and four children were there to receive me. I stayed at their house the first half of my stay. On arriving at their house, our son-in–law, Pastor Michael, and wife, Leigh Anne, and two children were waiting. Many hugs and kisses – wonderful to be with each of them – short visit – as it was late and the children had school early the next morning. I saw our daughter, Michelle, after her shift at the children’s hospital, and her son after school. The last days, I stayed at Michael and Leigh Anne’s house. Both Judson and Michael were great hosts. It was certainly great to see them all and hear and see how God is working in each of their lives.
The churches in north and northeastern Brazil are doing well. Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus has been doing remodeling of the Sunday school rooms. The church is hoping to complete the project by the end of October. It’s looking very nice and will be more usable and energy efficient. Energy cost in all Brazil is very high but especially expensive in Manaus. Pastor Michael Samples, our son-in-law, is doing the teaching and leading the church in our absence and is doing a great job.
Pastor Ivanildo Ross is visiting the new churches in the northeast to encourage them and help them with various issues. Some have not been able to complete their incorporation process in order to transfer the church facilities to each organized church. The legislation is complex, and often confusing, making it a challenge and, sometimes, reason for discouragement. The churches are doing well and growing despite the challenges. Pastor Ivanildo has been encouraged by the commitment and love the pastors have for the work of the Lord. The time in Brazil was productive and encouraging. I thank each of you who pray for God’s work in Brazil. Thank you indeed. God is answering the prayers.
Therefore, as recorded in the Scriptures, “I encourage first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings, presidents and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher.”
Thanks again for your prayers and generous support to the work of missions in Brazil; may God be your great reward. We pray for you that your remembrance and knowledge of our Lord, the only true God, may abundantly increase in wisdom and discernment, that your trust and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ may be steadfast always, and that the love of his Holy Spirit may fill and overflow in your every word and action, with thanksgiving to God though Jesus Christ our only Lord and Life.
Love,
Paul and Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont, FL 34714
(239)227-6551
Click here to give.
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [October 2014]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil since 1974. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
October 02, 2014
Dear Friends,
Blessed be the one and only true God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Each new day we are richly blessed in Christ, therefore we rejoice and are glad in Him. Certainly the Lord has provided each and every need and that with much abundance.
I’m writing this letter seated in the airport in Panama, waiting for my flight connection to Manaus. The time in Manaus will be busy, speaking and encouraging the church and planning with the church leadership. Less exciting, but very necessary, will be looking after and caring for the legal responsibilities. God is always good and gracious, His mercies endure forever; so, I am expecting a very productive and encouraging time in Manaus.
On the third Sunday of September, we all – Dad, Mom, Willa, Wanda and I – were privileged to be back at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Mims, Fl – Pastor David Humphreys. I am thankful for the opportunity I had to minister the word in the morning and evening worship times, filling in for Pastor David who was on a much needed and deserved vacation. We had dinner with several of the church families. The food was delicious and the fellowship wonderful. It is always a treat to be with God’s people and hear and talk about the wonderful blessings our Heavenly Father graciously grants each day.
In Manaus, I am looking forward to seeing and spending some time with our children and their wonderful families. We certainly have missed being with them and enjoying all that God is doing in their lives. I guess you could say it will be catch-up time.
God bless each of you. Thanks for your prayers and generous support to the work of missions in Brazil; may God be your great reward. We pray for you that your remembrance and knowledge of our Lord, the only true God, may abundantly increase in wisdom and discernment, that your trust and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ may be steadfast always, and that the love of his Holy Spirit may fill and overflow in your every word and action, with thanksgiving to God through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Life.
Love,
Paul and Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont, FL 34714
(239)227-6551
Click here to give.
Read more
Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [September 2014]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil since 1974. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
August 30, 2014
Dear Friends,
Blessed be the one and only true God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Each new day we are richly blessed in Christ, therefore we rejoice and are glad in Him. Certainly the Lord has provided each and every need and that with much abundance.
We are thankful to God for our friends and the help provided. We moved my mother-in-law, Mrs. Willa McGary’s furniture from Kentucky to Florida. I Thank the Lord for Pastor Ronnie Stinson Jr. and members of Trace Creek Baptist Church, Mayfield, Ky, who helped load the moving van. I then drove to Moultrie Ga. to pick up furniture donated to Dad and Mom, John and Alta Hatcher, by our dear friends in Georgia. Our special thanks to Katie and Curtis Samples who coordinated all the collection of furniture and utensils and refurbished much of the furniture. Bro. Curtis Samples and Larry Hood re-managed and loaded the furniture donated in Georgia. Katie came to Florida for a week to help unpack and get things set up. Arriving in Florida, the Chapel Baptist Church family and Pastor Cris Luppino helped unload and carry furniture and boxes; it happened to be the hottest day of the year in Florida. Many answered prayers and so many dear friends praying. Thank you for your prayers. God is always good and gracious, His mercies endure for ever.
We all, Dad, Mom, Willa, Wanda and I, had a great time at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Mims, Fl – Pastor David Humphreys. I am thankful for the opportunity to minister the word in the morning and evening worship times. The church had dinner on the church grounds. The food was delicious and we had time to fellowship, visit and talk about God and the great things He is doing here in the States and in churches in Brazil.
God bless each of you. Thanks for your prayers and generous support to the work of missions in Brazil; may God be your great reward. We pray for you that your remembrance and knowledge of our Lord, the only true God, may abundantly increase in wisdom and discernment, that your trust and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ may be steadfast always, and that the love of his Holy Spirit may fill and overflow in your every word and action, with thanksgiving to God though Jesus Christ our only Lord and Life.
Love,
Paul and Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont, FL 34714
(239)227-6551
Click here to give.
Read more
Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [August 2014]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil since 1974. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
July 30, 2014
Dear Friends,
Praise God for all His wonderful blessings. We are half way through this year; and, God has been so marvelous in providing each need. First, He has given us hope of eternal life by His side, and even now, the presence of His indwelling spirit. He also provides the very smallest needs of each day as well as the monumental ones. God is awesome – always good, just, and true.
At the beginning of the month, I was in Brazil for ten days meeting with pastors and staff concerning the planning and follow-up of projects underway. One of the special moments was Tabernacle Baptist Church’s celebration of our 66th homecoming. The church was organized July 4, 1948, under the leadership of Pastor Francisco Santiago (who also performed my baptism when I was a child). The church beginnings were very simple, in a small rented house, with backless, board benches, in a short alley called Beco Vila Mamão. The mother church was First Baptist Church of Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, that had been started by BFM’s first missionary to the Amazon, Joe Brandon. Pastor Santiago had been the first convert and baptized believer under Bro. Brandon’s ministry in Cruzeiro do Sul. By the way, Francisco Santiago’s intent when he went to Bro. Brandon’s street meeting was to interrupt and run him out of town. Upon hearing the word, he became motionless in his hiding place behind a bush and commented to a friend who had come along to help him, “This is not of the devil.” The next night they came back to hear more and were saved! A few months later, a statue in the local catholic church fell and broke and the believers were blamed for it; an intense persecution began. Francisco Santiago, along with his family, fled for his life. That’s how he wound up in Manaus, almost a thousand miles down river. Praise God; how marvelous indeed is our God. Sixty-six years later, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren churches have spread in more than half of the states of Brazil. Aren’t you glad to be a part of the great things God is doing through your giving and prayers? God is awesome!
God bless each of you. Thanks for your prayer and faithful support to the work of missions; may God be your great reward. We pray for you that your remembrance and knowledge of our Lord, the only true God, may abundantly increase, that your trust and faith in him may be steadfast in all things, and that the love of the Spirit may fill and overflow in your every word and action, with thanksgiving to God though Jesus Christ our only Lord and Life.
Love,
Paul and Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
615 Key West Avenue
Davenport, Fl 33897-6300
(239)227-6551
Click here to give.
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [July 2014]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil since 1974. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
Dear Friends, June 30, 2014
Thanks to our good Lord for all His provisions. We are all doing well; we had a blessed month. We visited the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Mims, Florida, and had a great time of fellowship with Pastor David Humphries. Dad shared about the mission work in Brazil during the Sunday School hour, and, I preached in the morning service. After the service, there was a fellowship meal; we had a great time talking to the brethren, and the food was delicious. We are thankful for those who lift us up in prayer and faithfully contribute to missions.
The Lord gave us the opportunity to receive visits from family from Brazil – my brother, David, and his wife, Pennie; my sister, Kathy; our daughter, Michelle, and our grandson, Luke. It is great to have special time with family. We always have a good time of joy and celebration for all God is doing.
We also received a visit from a couple of families from the church in Manaus who were in the Orlando area for few days. It’s good to hear and to talk about the stories of God’s interaction in our lives and in the lives of our friends.
During June and July the world soccer cup has all Brazil in a state of high emotions and, of course, the expectation of winning. Several of the soccer games were hosted in Manaus. Everything comes to a standstill on game days. Several of the churches had special rallies and evangelistic outreach for the sports enthusiasts. Pray for all those who professed their faith in Christ during this season, that they may grow in the Lord and be steadfast.
Concerning our prayer request last month, Pastor Adolfo Escote, pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Santa Etelvina, in Manaus, who had retina displacement in both eyes, is much improved; there is still a minor displacement, however, the doctors have let him return to work. We thank our father for His goodness so richly and abundantly supplied to Pastor Adolfo and his family.
God bless each of you. Thanks for your prayer and faithful support to the work of missions; may God be your great reward. We pray for you that your remembrance and knowledge of our Lord, the only true God, may abundantly increase, that your trust and faith in him may be steadfast in all things, and that the love of the Spirit may fill and overflow in your every word and action with thanksgiving to God through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Life.
Love, Paul and Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
615 Key West Avenue
Davenport, Fl 33897-6300
(239)227-6551
Click here to give.
Read more
Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [June 2014]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil since 1974. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
May 29, 2014
Dear Friends,
God is always so gracious and wonderful. We are all doing well; and, each new day we are glad and rejoice in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. We continue to have great joy as we visit and renew our friendship with so many we have not seen by reason of our distance overseas.
Since we’ve been in the states we had the joy of visiting and sharing mission stories with the following churches:
- Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church – Pr. Earl Thomas
- Thompson Road Baptist Church – Pr. Dave Parks
- New Life Baptist Church – Pr. Steve Wainright
We have also been blessed as we attended services and saw old friends at: Bryan Station Baptist Church, Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, Heritage Baptist Church and in Florida: Park Ridge Baptist Church, Jordan Baptist Church, Chapel Baptist Church.
We have found a place to rent in Davenport, Florida; and we are grateful as the Lord has opened up the doors before us. That which was difficult He has made clear and easy. Thanks to our wonderful Lord and Shepherd. We appreciate all those who prayed for us as we were looking and moving.
We are in contact almost every day with our brethren in Brazil. Our family is all well and the churches continue to be blessed and grow with the adding of those saved. Final preparations are being made to help the church plant in Macapá, capital of the state of Amapá in northern Brazil to organize as a church and incorporate. Incorporation is a rather lengthy and complicated affair; but God always sees it through. It has been taking about one year to complete the governmental process.
I have a special prayer request to share: Pastor Adolfo Escote, pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Santa Etelvina, in Manaus, had retina displacement in both eyes and is in serious risk of losing most or all of his sight. Pray for God’s grace to be richly and abundantly supplied to him and his family, as well as healing from the Lord Jesus Christ.
God bless each of you; thanks for your prayer and faithful support to the work of missions. May God be your great reward. We pray for you that your remembrance and knowledge of our Lord, the only true God, may abundantly increase, that your trust and faith in him may be steadfast in all things, and that the love of the spirit may fill and overflow in your every word and action with thanksgiving to God though Jesus Christ our only Lord and Life.
Love,
Paul and Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
615 Key West Avenue
Davenport, Fl 33897-6300
(239)227-6551
Click here to give.
Read more
Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [May 2014]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil since 1974. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
May 14, 2014
Dear Friends,
Wanda and I have been in Brazil for 40 years. During this period we have taken only one full year furlough. Surprise! We have now begun a year furlough to help our elderly parents find a place and accompany them. John and Alta Hatcher have been in Brazil for nearly 60 years and are now 89 years old. Wanda’s mom, Willa McGary, along with Wanda’s deceased dad, served as missionaries in Appalachia for 35 years. After Wanda’s only sibling, Ross McGary, passed away in December, her mom came to live with us in Brazil. Being away from friends in an all Portuguese environment with different customs made life very difficult for her at 89 years of age.
For the time being, the five of us are living at the mission house in Lexington. We hope to soon relocate to Florida to allow us better access to the work in Brazil.
We have all been enjoying the company of long-time friends and family, many of whom we had not seen for many years. We had an enjoyable time at the spring mission conference. It was uplifting and edifying. Dad and I were both privileged to speak and tell about the great things God is doing in Brazil. Thompson Road Baptist, under the leadership of Pastor Dave Parks, was a great host. We wish to express our thanks to the pastor and members and all who contributed to make the conference a great time of enjoyment and fellowship.
We thank you for your financial support and, most of all, your prayers.
We will be available to speak and share missions. We can be contacted at: (239) 227-6551 or rphatcher[at]gmail.com.
Love,
Paul & Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
239.277.6551
Click here to give.
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