The Awesome God of Miracles
August 15, 2023
Dear friends and families,
This semester of the Seminary is going great. We are having smaller numbers, but God is in control. There have been 15 in the classes and the interest in the advanced degree is growing. One of Dr. Derek’s classes had a Pastor whose wife was pregnant; the baby came but there were complications, and the baby did not make it, but the Pastor came to class anyway. The Pastor said, “I just need this class”. But I can tell you the class was not only good for him, but the students were blessed with encouragement from each other.
Our time in Brazil was well spent visiting different churches and seeing people from our past. But there was a miracle that happened while were there. Our youngest granddaughter Ashley has been suffering from food intolerances. There were two or three pages of food that she could not eat because she would vomit. So just before we got to Brazil, there was a birthday celebration at church and Ashley begged to eat one of the foods that she had not eaten for two and a half years, so her mom permitted it. We were just waiting for the normal reaction from eating non-permitted food, but the normal reaction did not come. So, she began eating everything she had been missing for so long. You know, we had been asking God for a miracle and He sent us one. So next, we started waiting for her to get sick again. You know…why do we ask for something then doubt when He gives it to us?
God is the AWESOME God of miracles, and we were able to witness one this trip.
Continue to pray for the Seminary and for our traveling to Brazil.
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
New Plans for the Seminary
June 2, 2023
Dear friends and family,
Thank you, Lord, the COVID disaster is over. Now we can begin to get back to the planning of the Seminary. As with many ministries along with many churches, the job ahead of us is an uphill battle but we serve an AWESOME God and He is able to make things happen.
In all of the re-organizing of Bluegrass Baptist Seminary, we have a plan—then some things change. We are getting closer and closer to the structure we are desiring and praying for.
So here goes our “now” plan! In two years, a student in Brazil can complete a Masters (accredited) in Bluegrass Baptist Seminary. The degrees are the same: a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries. A person can also elect to take all the courses for their own self edification and receive a certificate of completion for the courses they chose to take.
I pray all the time for these saints who choose to understand God’s truths in Scriptures and build God’s kingdom in Brazil through the local church.
These last two months have been a lot of telephone work getting classes organized for this year and the next year. Four of the professors we have for the classes are PhDs and the other two are Doctors. We also have two adjunct professors if needed. How AWESOME is He who puts His plans in motion. Along with these Professors we have three translators and one more for back up as needed.
All the classes are approved and planned for this year and next year. These classes will be done via Zoom with the exemption of the Greek and the Hebrew classes which will be taught on site in São Paulo City and one other location to be determined at a later date. And now for some AWESOME news: we have been approved to start a PhD program for the year 2024. At this time, I do not have all the details, but as we get them we will be passing them along to you. But for now, we invite you to rejoice with us for this blessing for the Brazilian students.
Thank each and every one of you who keep us at God’s throne for our safety and health. God has been faithful in all things. We are hoping to go to Brazil in July if God wills. Right now, we are waiting for our renewed passports, so pray with us for this. We have some people to see and places to go so we hope we are permitted.
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
Amazed at God’s Miracles
February 20, 2023
Dear friends and family,
Being in the ministry and seeing all that God can do, I am still amazed when I see a special need that the Lord is working on. Either I have forgotten the last time, or I think that I can take care of it, BUT He says, “AJ, it is under control,” and He makes a miracle again. Sometimes I let my human side think too much, worry too much, and all the time, He’s got it. Thank you, Lord, for taking care of the need and once again showing me my smallness. How great and AWESOME is the One we serve!
As we are planning for the class in April, we ask you to pray that we are reaching the Pastors and Churches that need the seminary training. Also, please pray that they will reach those who need to hear that gospel for saving grace.
Allow me to digress for just a moment. During the last three classes in São Paulo City, we had a gentleman who sat on the first row in the class, and we soon discovered that he was blind. He used a recorder for his notes and when it came time for his test, I read the questions for him. He passed all the exams with flying colors by the way. This is just an example for us to remember that even the blind man sees the need for the gospel! Once more we see how AWESOME our God is!!!
I want to tell you about one more miracle. Our Brazilian son (of the heart), a child of the street, will be starting his veterinarian practice and his ambition is to use his knowledge to serve the Lord in India or Africa. Pray for him to be able to get a visa to visit us and then go to one of these countries to spread the gospel. From street kid to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine! God will and does make a difference in lives! AWESOME!!!
Continue to pray for the seminary and us as we are going to be starting classes via Zoom. We are and will be purchasing some computers for our Brazilian partners. They will be helping translate and guiding in finding other Churches and communities for the Seminary to reach for God.
Thanks to ALL who support BFM— partners, friends, neighbors, churches, pastors. Without you, it would be impossible for us to be on the field. THANK YOU!
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
A blind man participating in the seminary class
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
Edson Graduates from Veterinary School
January 29, 2023
It has been a very busy month. To say it has been a blessing would be an understatement. We have had a house full of visitors: our children, their spouses, and our GRANDchildren. Mary Katherine and Walmir, and their two daughters Chelsea and Ashley; Bryan Keith and Jill, and their daughter Briley. All our children and grandchildren at one time! Oh, how blessed we have been. Oh, how AWESOME is the Lord and SAVIOR we serve.
I had forgotten how busy things can get when you are trying to keep up with three young children (ages 12, 14 and 15) and all the places they want to see together. Bryan and family only got to be with us for one week, but Mary and family were able to stay for three weeks. After their departure, the house seemed so lonely.
So, we left for our trip to Brazil. It was a twofold trip. We were to visit some of the pastors there about the seminary and attend the graduation of Edson Martins. We were on nonstop appointments with five pastors, explaining the new ways that we will be teaching at the Seminary and the use of the internet. Our time in Brazil also included around 3,000 miles of travel into four different cities and two states: São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
The highlight of our trip has been the graduation of Edson, that we, as his adopted parents, were to be there. He came to the orphanage at the age of eight or nine. We have been able to see what God can do in the lives of those who will accept Him and put Him first in their lives. This young man went from a street kid to now being called a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Again, the word to describe this can only be AWESOME.
So, thank You, Lord, for putting Edson in our lives. And thank You for walking with him through all these years while in school.
Thanks to BFM for sending missionaries to the mission fields to carry the good news to the people in other countries so we can see the miracles that God can do there and everywhere. God is AWESOME every time.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara Hensley
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
Plans for 2023
December 12, 2022
Dear friends and family,
Hope this letter finds all in good health and looking forward to the holidays. This time of year is a good time for reflections on what has been accomplished for God. Nevertheless, none of this could have been accomplished this year nor in the past years without everyone’s help, prayers, contributions, and encouragement! What an AWESOME privilege it is to be a missionary representative of Baptist Faith Missions on the field in Brazil. Seeing lives changed, churches started, ministers encouraged, and seminary classes completed (first graduation for the Masters of Arts in Biblical studies), all we can say is how AWESOME is the Lord and Savior we serve—Jesus Christ. It is just a privilege to be a part of this work.
We will be traveling in January to start the planning for expanding the outreach of Bluegrass Baptist Seminary. Our goal for the coming year is to reach other regions outside of the state of São Paulo. We have been talking to Pastors in two churches and reacquainting ourselves with another Pastor who was going to join with us before COVID. Also, we will be starting an online class with full accreditation. So please continue to pray for us and the Seminary and pray for us as we continue to equip the saints in Brazil to build God’s kingdom through a deeper understanding of His truth in the Scriptures.
Once more, THANK you and God bless you for your faithfulness serving alongside us here in Brazil.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara Hensley
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
Celebrating 8 Years of Caragua Baptist Church
March 16, 2022
Dear friends and family,
Time seems to be so short and seems that I am always running behind (this is maybe because of my maturity—age).
We have just finished two seminary classes in São Paulo taught by Pastor Raymond Edge of First Baptist Church of Bastrop, Texas. The classes were Old Testament Survey and an elective from the Old Testament, the book of Jonah. Our plans were to have these classes in person and to do zoom classes also; however, circumstances (COVID and finances) only allowed us to do the zoom classes.
Barbara and I are planning to be in Brazil for March and April. We will be visiting family in Caraguatatuba, São Paulo. While there, I will be preaching in a meeting at Caragua Baptist Church for the 8-year anniversary of the church. This will be the 26th and the 27th of March. It is AWESOME to participate in celebrating these 8 years of this church spreading God’s Word in Brazil.
While preaching and visiting in Caragua, I will also be visiting São Paulo and meeting with several pastors and two churches. São Paulo has just lowered its COVID 19 level, and this will allow me to travel more freely.
Please be praying for these pastors as their churches have lots of fear about COVID-19 and their financial ability to properly fight the pandemic. Not so different as from here, but there somewhat more severe.
The Bibles for the Guarani Indians have not arrived as of yet. I am hoping to be able to deliver them while there. How AWESOME will it be to be able to read God’s word in their own language. Pastor Valdival, the missionary working with these Indians, is now out of the hospital and doing well. We have been friends and have worked with him for 10 years. We were happy for him to get out of the hospital and hope to be able to see him when we are there.
Dr. Derek and I along with our wives will be going to a Pastors Conference in Recife representing Bluegrass Baptist Seminary and the work being done, talking to the pastors and those in attendance on July 18–22. Pray for this upcoming trip as we work to continue to teach God’s Word in Brazil. Thanks to all of you for the continuing prayers and contributions for the work God has called us to do here in Brazil. Without both of those we would have a greater problem doing our work. Thanks to Baptist Faith Missions and all the churches who support our missionaries. Keep up the good work.
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
Special Prayer Request: Pastor Valdival
February 18, 2022
Friends and family,
As I write this letter, I am extremely happy to say we are in the process of buying the Bibles for the Guarani Indians. Thanks to all who have helped with this purchase with money and prayers. If you wanted to help in this purchase and have not yet, there is still time. Send your check and designate it to Bibles. Continuing in the thought of Bibles—we sometimes forget the past where many people did not have a Bible and not in their own language. How AWESOME is the God we serve. We now can have a full copy of the Bible and it is in our language. So now we can make that possible for the Guarani Indians.
You have heard this before, but I need to tell you all what we are doing or are not doing. The COVID again disrupted our schedule, but we are going back to Zoom. So, we have two classes scheduled in later February and March. The level of COVID raised to a level 4 so it was better for the professors to go Zoom. These classes are The Old Testament Survey and another elective from the Old Testament. Pray for our professors and the students from these classes.
Barb and I were planning to go to Brazil for these classes but since the level was so high we changed those plans. We are scheduled to go on the 22nd of March, so pray that we do not have to change our plans again. You know that those grandkids are anxious to see us and we, too, are wanting to see them.
I have a special prayer request for my Brazilian missionary brother, Pastor Valdival. He is now in a hospital in a very compromised health situation, and they have diagnosed him with Guillain Barre Syndrome. This is a hospital, very large, with socialized medicine. His daughter has contacted us to keep us updated. He is being held in the hall because of the situation in the hospital and the space needed for the treatment he needs. He is taking his second treatment of plasma to clean the infection out of the blood.
As we continue the Lord’s work that we are do, please pray for us as we are having to make adaptions in the way we are ministering. But thank the Lord the mission and the Word never changes.
Please pray for BFM as they continue to support missionaries and ministry all over the world. We are missionaries who, without the help of BFM, would not be able to carry out the Great Commission. Also continue to pray for the seminary and the students as they study God’s word.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
P.S. – We have moved. Our new address is below.
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
