Following God’s Will
The Hensleys have served the Lord in Brazil, South America since 1996. They have worked with orphanages, started mission points, established churches, and are presently conducting a seminary to train Brazilian pastors.
April 16, 2021
Friends and family,
It is getting close to the time to recognize the mothers and the women who have followed God’s will in following their husbands to the mission field. For those of you who know me, you know that I was a reluctant follower. And for those of you who are getting to know me, it was not that I did not want to follow God’s will, I just wanted to rearrange His will. You see, we were traveling to the mission field every year carrying things that the missionaries needed and also taking people to introduce them to mission works. This is what I was trying to tell God and my husband that this was His will for our lives. But as you know, after four years I came to the realization that there was much more to do for Him.
So, we spent 21 years in Brasil and I loved every minute of it. Then AJ got cancer and we had to come back to the States for his treatments, and the decision was made that the treatment would be a long and arduous one, and we needed to stay here, so we helped the church call a new pastor and we moved home to Kentucky.
Now as I told you, the moving to Brasil was a difficult decision—the moving back to the States was a million times harder. You see, we had made Brasil our home and were planning to live there until God called us home to our heavenly home. This time we had decided God’s will for our lives without consulting Him. He had other plans for our future and we are following them now.
God had prepared a job we could do for Him and stay in the States. AJ, with the help of others, had started a Seminary in our town of Caragua and God expanded the reach of this Seminary farther than we could have ever imagined. We are now in five states and seven cities and almost four hundred students enrolled. We travel to Brasil four times per year and teach for two weeks the intensified version. Then we leave the students with lots of homework. When we come back to Brasil, we repeat this again in another city. You see, we are a traveling Seminary because the students do not have the resources to travel to us.
Now you ask what do I do during this time in Brasil? Glad you asked—I get to visit the church we left in the hands of our son-in-law and daughter. And, OH YES, my granddaughters.
So now let me tell you about the last year and a half—I have packed our suitcases four times and unpacked them once. You see, we have not been able to travel because of the virus. I began to get smarter each time, so I just left them packed and in the middle of the floor waiting for the GO signal. We have had four tickets to travel to Brasil and lost the first tickets, but I also got smarter with each passing time and began paying for the insurance. My grandbabies have outgrown over half of the clothes that were in the first suitcases. The chocolate has gotten that white color on it and—oh well—you can imagine the rest.
We were all set for the April trip, but we had not told the grands because they have been disappointed enough. It was good that we did not tell them because you see Brasil got its second wave and we had to cancel again.
The seclusion, the fear and all that has gone with this COVID-19 cannot stop our God! He is on the throne and He is in charge so we will wait on Him and His infinite wisdom.
For He knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper and not for evil to give us a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
In His service,
Barbara Hensley
CONTACT INFO
AJ & Barbara Hensley
592 Emery Court
Lexington, KY 40505
AJ: 859-539-2302 | Barbara: 859-539-1424
ajcaragua@gmail.com
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Praying for Brazilian Pastors & Brothers
Friends and family,
I cannot say it has been a very busy month but I have had the privilege of getting to pray more for our Brazilian Pastors and brothers. There is one in particular and his name is Daniel. I made his acquaintance in Campinas, São Paulo in our Seminary class. He is a very active pastor and is working in three missions—quite an active pastor. He has been in the hospital with COVID for the past four weeks. He is now off the ventilator and is showing marked improvement. We have been able to follow his recovery through family and other Pastors. God is AWESOME.
Sometimes I feel a little guilty in that here in America we are getting the vaccine for COVID and other countries are so slow in gaining access to the same medicine.
We have been able to visit Virginia Beach where we have supporters. In the past we have had many visitors from the churches there. They have helped with the missions there and the ministry to the people. It still amazes the people in Brasil that people from America would use their vacation to come to work with them. What an AWESOME God we serve.
We have our tickets for our trip to Brasil for seminary classes in São Paulo. However, we are hearing that there is no improvement in the pandemic. But we all know who is in control and He will let us return at the appropriate time.
Please keep us in your prayers as we are on hold with our plans for Seminary and ministry to Brasil.
Many thanks to all who keep us in your prayers. Please continue to pray for the Seminary, the teachers, the students, and for Brasil.
Thanks to all of you who contribute to BFM and all the missionaries that are supported by those contributions.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
CONTACT INFO
AJ & Barbara Hensley
592 Emery Court
Lexington, KY 40505
AJ: 859-539-2302 | Barbara: 859-539-1424
ajcaragua@gmail.com
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Plans: Subject to Christ’s Will
February 13, 2021
Dear friends and family,
Our hope and prayer for all of you is that you are healthy and doing AWESOME at home, in school, at work, and in Church and ministry.
While we had to cancel our courses for 2020, we are carefully pushing ahead and prayerfully limiting our schedule for 2021. We have had to cancel our plans for Amazonas for the 2021 classes there. However, after contacting our pastors and helpers in the region, we are prayerfully confident that we will be able to start our courses for the Seminary in Manaus and Rondonia and 2022.
In the meantime we have scheduled or should I say rescheduled our classes for 2021 in São Paulo for April and June. These classes will complete their studies and we can begin the planning for our first graduation. We serve a gratuitous and AWESOME God.
Our plans are to have four more courses in another town, Ribeiro Preto, this year. These classes are tentatively scheduled for July and September.
All our plans are totally subjected to the will of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We covet your prayers for these plans and for Barb and I as we have again purchased our tickets for April. We will get our second vaccine for COVID 19 next Tuesday so we will be ready for the trip.
Please continue your prayers for the Pastors and the people of Brasil (especially Walmire and Mary, Chelsea and Ashley, our immediate family) as Brasil has been very hard hit with this pandemic.
Your prayers and financial support has been AWESOME in these very trying times and we continue to request your prayers as we endeavor to do His will.
We also want to say how much we appreciate and love the supporters of Baptist Faith Missions. Without you and your prayers and financial help we would not be able to continue seeking to do God’s will in Brasil. As you pray for us, we pray for you and God’s protection from whatever the devil throws at you.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
CONTACT INFO
AJ & Barbara Hensley
592 Emery Court
Lexington, KY 40505
AJ: 859-539-2302 | Barbara: 859-539-1424
ajcaragua@gmail.com
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Another Delay
The Hensleys have served the Lord in Brazil, South America since 1996. They have worked with orphanages, started mission points, established churches, and are presently conducting a seminary to train Brazilian pastors.
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Friends and family,
Well, in the prospect of not sounding like a broken record—plans have been made, ticket have been purchased, COVID tests have been scheduled (72 hours before take-off). Then we got a notice from Brazil!! The two cities where we are planning classes had been put on lock-down. What that means is ANOTHER delay!!
Plans changed, classes cancelled, letting our professors know and calling the pastors in Brazil. This is the first step in the cancelling of these classes that were in place for the Spring. We had to call our Brazilian brothers, the IT people, the translator, and all others that had their plans to attend the Seminary classes.
So now the Spring classes will become classes in the Summer and the Summer classes will move to the Fall and the Fall classes move to the Winter. Do we need your prayers? Yes, yes, yes, now more than ever. Please pray for us and our Brazilian students and helpers.
Here is where I ask myself, “Am I doing something wrong and do I need to change something?” Well, one thing I know is I need more patience; however, in light of praying for more patience, I will be praying for wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and remember that we are not in this alone. And when I fail to remember ALL that I get, reminders to me from me: remember—Pastors, Congregations, and how easy it is to displace them when you are keeping the main thing the main thing. We were going there to help them in understanding the Bible better and how to pass that knowledge on to the Brazilian people.
All the changes that have had to be made are disturbing to us and the budget, but we need to remember Who is in charge. And He has our best interest at heart. So, I know that we serve an AWESOME God and it is all in His plans.
Thank you for your continued prayer support and financial support. And thanks to BFM for their continued belief in our work to train our Brazilian brothers.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
CONTACT INFO
AJ & Barbara Hensley
592 Emery Court
Lexington, KY 40505
AJ: 859-539-2302 | Barbara: 859-539-1424
ajcaragua@gmail.com
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Desiring to Be Back in Brazil
The Hensleys have served the Lord in Brazil, South America since 1996. They have worked with orphanages, started mission points, established churches, and are presently conducting a seminary to train Brazilian pastors.
Well, things are still on hold. We have been trying to keep our students excited about the Seminary and learning about God’s Word. So, we have tried the virtual learning and the first one was a make-up class for a couple that missed the first class that we taught in São Paulo.
Our desire is to be back in Brazil teaching those who want to be studying to teach their church members. But it seems that every time we think we are about to go we have another roadblock put in our way. Our plans seem to change daily. We are thinking that if we can get the vaccine, we could possibly be there around the first of the year. With our inability to be in Brazil, we are setting our tentative schedules for 2021 and putting it in the Lord’s hands because He is in control. So, our new schedule is for 4 classes in April which will be in Manaus and Porto Velho (jungle region). Then 4 classes in June conducted in São Paulo and Campinis. Then an undetermined number of virtual classes after the on-site classes. Then we are planning approximately 8 classes for September, October, and November and will be in 5 different cities. These are our schedules with the availability of our professors.
Please pray for our travel plans and for our professors and our protection from this virus. Thanks to each of our prayer warriors for your continued prayers for these classes.
I am going very slow with the healing of my ankle. Each day is a victory and I am still guarding the injury as I try to get back to normal.
We want to wish you all a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
CONTACT INFO
AJ & Barbara Hensley
592 Emery Court
Lexington, KY 40505
AJ: 859-539-2302 | Barbara: 859-539-1424
ajcaragua@gmail.com
Read more
Wisdom and Discernment Needed to Plan
The Hensleys have served the Lord in Brazil, South America since 1996. They have worked with orphanages, started mission points, established churches, and are presently conducting a seminary to train Brazilian pastors.
November 16, 2020
Dear friends and family,
It is totally amazing how fast time is passing. It seems only yesterday I weighed 187 pounds and here three months later, I am 204. I don’t understand what has happened. Well, I guess it is Barb’s AWESOME cooking and my immobility with the broken ankle. However, things are starting to heal. I am out of the boot that I had to wear for six weeks and off the knee buggy and am able to walk with a cane with a wrap on the ankle. I am ready for the healing to be completed and COVID to be over. But through it all God is AWESOME.
Sometimes we get impatient when our missions, our dreams, our visions get put on hold or what we think is a delay (oh me of little faith). Then I think of the Bible heroes and how some of them never got to realize their dreams and I remember what faith really is: Trusting in God even when we don’t see an answer or do not get the answer that we want when we want it. Just hold on, God is not finished yet and yes, through it all, God is AWESOME.
We are continuing with our plans although it seems to change almost weekly. Today it looks like we will have four virtual classes in November and early December. Our students are chomping at the bits to get back to classes even if it has to be virtual. The students really want their classes to be face-to-face; however, we all understand our present situation with the restraints of travel with COVID.
Barb and I have been hoping to travel in late December ‘til mid-January to be with family and get some things settled for the Seminary. Our hope is to know by the first of December if this will be possible. So we’re praying for wisdom and discernment as we learn to trust Him more and walk by faith. Pray with us as we are very anxious to be about the Lord’s work that we are called to do. So, continue to pray for Bluegrass Baptist Seminary and Baptist Faith Missions and we will continue to pray for all of you who make this possible by your generosity and faithfulness.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
CONTACT INFO
AJ & Barbara Hensley
592 Emery Court
Lexington, KY 40505
AJ: 859-539-2302 | Barbara: 859-539-1424
ajcaragua@gmail.com
Read more
A Challenging Month Prepping for Classes
Dear friends and family,
Some months are what we consider more productive than others. This is one that has been a challenge. Limited mobility (broken ankle) and the China virus, of which our country and all the world is being challenged. So, we are working to establish another virtual class for our seminary group in São Paulo. This is the group that is closer to completing the 12 classes for a degree or a certification in Pastoral Ministries. These students, Pastors, missionaries, and church workers are also challenged as we are challenged. We, trying to get the class set up, and they, trying to be able to have the funds and the time to participate.
We are now permitted to have a certain number of virtual classes because of the China virus. So our proposal is to have five classes set up by the end of the 2021 summer. We have completed one class: Systematic Theology, book by Wayne Grudem. The professor was Dr. Coleman and the class was given in São Paulo and in Africa. The virtual classes are going to increase our outreach immensely. How AWESOME is our Lord, taking bad things and converting them into something good. We cannot brag on Him enough! Even though we have a few problems to overcome, all things are possible. Here is a good time to interject a particular prayer request: pray for the setting up, organization, and preparation by our pastors and other technologies we will encounter for these classes.
We are somewhat hesitant to purchase our tickets for Brasil as of yet since we are in doubt as to when we can travel in-country. We were hoping for the end of the year; however, that has been delayed until April 2021 now. Our plans now are to purchase our tickets for the spring of 2021 and praying that we do not have to cancel and reschedule again. We are still waiting to get reimbursed for the tickets in March. Please make this one of your prayer requests.
As I am traveling in Brasil it gives me opportunities to reacquaint myself with the Pastors and to know the problems that they are encountering and the struggles they have to overcome. Before and after classes and during our break time I am discussing all these things and getting their ideas as to how we can overcome these problems. I also use this time to encourage them and to pray with them. I don’t have all the answers but I can work with them in these areas. So I am asking you for your prayers for the Brasilian pastors and church workers to keep on keeping on in the vocation they have been called to accomplish: His mission —Go—Teach—Reach. This is going to be and is accomplished because of you. Your prayerful support and financial help is more than AWESOME!!!!
Continue to pray for us as we were chomping at the bits to get back to Brasil to carry on with God’s work there.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
CONTACT INFO
AJ & Barbara Hensley
592 Emery Court
Lexington, KY 40505
AJ: 859-539-2302 | Barbara: 859-539-1424
ajcaragua@gmail.com
Read more
Planning Continues for 2021 Classes
September 17, 2020
Dear friends and family,
This has been a month that went into our history books. So for a moment let’s ALL remember the lives that were lost on 9/11, and pray for their families and others affected on that tragic date. This is especially close to me as I served with the Lexington Fire Department for 23 years before I surrendered to the call to be a missionary to Brasil. God is AWESOME, we do not always understand all but one thing never changes, God is God. It is He who is in control!!
It has been another month for planning and preparation, but before I get into that I need to tell you about an interruption that has happened to me this month. While doing some clean up on the property here in Lexington I had an accident. I was removing some tree limbs from a trailer and lost my balance and began to fall. So I jumped and landed wrong and broke my ankle. Now I am wearing one of those boots and looking to be wearing it for 6 weeks. But the good part of this is that I did not have to have surgery.
As the planning continues, both here and in Brasil, we are zooming with our pastors there, working with leaders and professors here, and we are confirming dates for our 2021 classes. This planning involves choosing the locations, the professors, the translators, and the tech support people. We have completed our first virtual class. There were some minor glitches but we are getting them corrected. So, we have the first of many under our belt and looking forward to many more.
We request your prayers for this ministry and all our involved partners and volunteers, students, and most of all—YOU— our financial supporters and prayer partners.
It is with much appreciation and gratitude that I express our love and prayers to all of you who sponsor, support, and loyally give to BFM. During this pandemic we appreciate even more your financial support as we know you have families and it gets harder to continue your outside giving. So, one more time THANK YOU for your financial support and prayerful intercession for our ministry.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
CONTACT INFO
AJ & Barbara Hensley
592 Emery Court
Lexington, KY 40505
AJ: 859-539-2302Barbara: 859-539-1424
ajcaragua@gmail.com
Read more
