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
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
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
A Special Visit to Garça
November 21, 2022
Dear friends and family,
While in Brazil for the Seminary graduation we took a few days off just to go back to Garça to visit old friends, pastors, and churches there. This was where our ministry in Brazil started with Pastor Odali and Kathy Barros in the Alpha and Omega Children’s Home.
We spent time with Pastor Serjio and he took us to visit Pastor Epitacio in the old Orphanage property where he pastors the church Igreja Batista da Fe. During this visit we found out that Pr. Epitosio and Fatima will be going back to the northern region in January to start another mission. Then Pr. Serjio will assume the pulpit there. Pr. Serjio was the pastor in the Church where we held the Seminary in Garça and we discussed having our next seminary class for them there.
While in Garça, we met with some of the children who were in the orphanage from the time we were there. Luiz, one of the young men, now lives in the orphanage building and he is now a lawyer. He helps in the buildings and takes care of their legal business. Another young man, Edson, will be graduating in January as a veterinarian. He still lives in Garça where he goes to Veterinary school. How AWESOME is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They call Barb and I mom and dad and we are very proud for them to have been afforded the opportunity to study and advance themselves. Some of you have helped in their educations as you have given to BFM and that was passed on to them.
The Seminary classes are now being planned for the year 2023. We are planning trips in January, March, July, and September. Some of those trips will be classes and others will be meeting new Pastors and churches where interest has been expressed for new classes.
We are planning our holidays a little different this year. We are living in Florida between trips to Brazil so we are bringing our two families to spend Christmas with us here. Our Brazil family is excited but sad because there is no SNOW. But the Kentucky Family is looking forward to coming to the warm weather in Florida. What is the saying? “You cannot please all the people all the time”? But Barbara and I will be pleased because this will be the first time in many years that we can spend the Christmas holiday together.
Speaking of the Holidays it would be remiss of me to not thank all our donors at Baptist Faith Missions for your support all year long. Your prayers and donations are what keep us going in Brazil.
There are no words big enough to show our gratitude so I will just use my favorite one – you are AWESOME!!!!
Continue praying for us and God’s ministry that He called us to do.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
Edson, Barb, Luiz, & AJ 
AJ & Barbara 
Igreja Batista da Fé
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
Upcoming Seminary Graduation
September 4, 2022
Dear friends and family,
AWESOME is the Lord we serve. I am starting this letter a little different, because He is the One who is in charge, and He will carry us through. We will have the first graduation on schedule, and it will be on September 17th. How AWESOME is the God we serve. After so many attempts, it is really happening; however, not without some difficulty, but God is in charge. Some of the students are not able to attend this graduation because of conflicting schedules. Please pray for them as we go forward.
As for now, those who will attend stands as follows: nine (9) for the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries and eleven (11) for the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. The difference between these two is that the Pastors who choose the Pastoral Ministries have an additional three (3) classes: Greek, Hebrew, and Thesis Writing. This course is only offered to Pastors. In addition, there are seventy others who will receive certificates for the classes completed until now. We are hopeful that these students will be able to complete the studies they have started. Many of them are very close to completion. Everyone seems to be excited, especially the Professors and I.
Barbara and I will be traveling on September 6th and will arrive in Brazil on September 7th. Pray for our trip. After the graduation, Pastor Derek, Pastor Marcos, and I will be visiting with the Pastors and students and future students to get them enthusiastic about the upcoming classes in 2022 and 2023. This will be lots of traveling and we will need prayers for safety.
COVID has set us back and rearranged our focus. So now we will begin to see how we can help the students with different aids. We are hopeful for the new semester and the new students. We are planning new ways the students can participate by rearranging the classes and offering more classes on Zoom. So, prayers for the students are greatly appreciated.
As we are waiting to make this next trip, we have been participating in the congregation at the First Baptist Church here in Florida. We help with their feeding the hungry program. Barbara took her haircutting equipment and cut one head of hair, and that started a line for haircuts. So, we see that no matter where we are, we serve the Lord.
Thank you for your continued prayers for our family and our seminary 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
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
