WE COULD NOT FULFILL OUR BASELINE COMMITMENTS TO OUR MISSIONARIES THIS MONTH [APRIL].

When we don’t receive sufficient General Fund offerings to cover the $46,000+ commitments we make to our missionaries each month just for salaries, expense allowances, hospitalization, and correspondence – then we have no other choice but to REDUCE THE AMOUNTS OF THOSE COMMITMENTS WE DISBURSE THAT MONTH. We had not had to do that since last February 2012 – but we had to do it again this month. What this means is that we must significantly reduce the standard commitments we make to our missionaries from the General Fund. We continue to forward to them the offerings designated for projects or personal use – but these designated offerings will have to make up for the reduced basic living expenses commitments which are supplied from the General Fund.

IF YOU ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THE GENERAL FUND, would you consider doing so regularly? Even if you want to help perhaps your ‘favorite’ missionary, by contributing to the General Fund, you are helping us supply the Essential Maintenance Transactions commitments we have made to them…so we won’t have to reduce them again.

One of the reasons we were able to carry our missionaries’ Essential Maintenance Transactions through last year without reducing their standard baseline commitments is because of THE 2012 FOUNDER’S DAY OFFERING.

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FOUNDERS DAY OFFERING

June has traditionally been the month when we remember and recognize the Founders of BFM. We are asking you again for a special Founder’s Day Offering. We want to revive this giving ministry to help us continue to provide for our missionaries’ needs. Nothing we ever ask for or do is for any personal benefit to any of us – but everything is so we can continue to meet the commitments we have made to our missionaries so they can continue their daily ministries unhindered and undistracted by a lack of financial supplies.

All we are asking you to do is to give your church the opportunity to give to a specially-announced and designated Founder’s Day Offering. Or, if your church does not participate in the Offering, then please consider giving a special gift over and above your regular giving to the General Fund. ALL OFFERINGS RECEIVED FOR THE FOUNDER’S DAY OFFERING WILL BE USED TO GO TOWARD MEETING OUR MISSIONARIES’ NEEDS FOR MONTHLY GENERAL FUND SUPPLIES TO HELP FUND OUR STANDARD COMMITMENTS WE HAVE MADE TO THEM FOR THEIR ESSENTIAL LIVING EXPENSES.

Will you be praying ahead to June – and plan to participate with your church in a fellowship-wide FOUNDER’S DAY OFFERING?

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PRAY AND PRAISE!

• MIKE AND BEV CREIGLOW – PRAISE GOD for fruitful missions trips to distant regions. PRAISE GOD for workers and helpers in the ministries God has raised up right in First Baptist Church of Cruzeiro do Sul
• HAROLD BRATCHER – PRAISE GOD for his years of faithful service to our Lord. PRAY that God will continue to give him health and strength to serve.
• ODALI AND KATHY BARROS – PRAISE GOD for the outreach they are making through their services of mercy. PRAY for God to help them meet the deep needs they deal with every day.
• JOHN AND ALTA HATCHER – PRAY that God will give fruit and increase in the struggling church in Assai under the new leadership of Daniel and Leticia. PRAY also for several pressing physical needs among their fellow-laborers.
• JOHN AND JUDY HATCHER – PRAISE GOD for their 40 years of marriage and serving God together. PRAY for the numerous contacts and conversations they are making for the Gospel.
• JUDSON AND RAQUEL HATCHER – PRAY for their continuing efforts in the new church plant in Goiania. PRAISE GOD for new small groups involving others in the church.  
• A.J. AND BARB HENSLEY – PRAY for all the open doors and opportunities for Gospel witness God is making for them. PRAISE GOD for opening the doors to the prisoners, especially, for the ministry of witness.
• NATHAN AND CARRIE RADFORD – PRAY always for the struggling church plant in Shangalamwe and the elder who is leading this work. They are continuing to instruct and encourage indigenous church independence and growth.
• ROGER AND JULIE TATE – PRAY for God to encourage and strengthen them for the rigors and demands of missionary ministry in their country.
• BOBBY AND CHARLENE WACASER – PRAISE GOD for new believers confessing Christ in baptism. PRAISE GOD for recent Gospel outreach activities–and those who responded!

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MISSIONARIES’ FURLOUGH SCHEDULE

Harold Bratcher is retiring from 53½ years of active and faithful missionary service in Manaus, Brazil, and is relocating to live here in the States. He is selling his home in Manaus and is seeking to purchase a home here. If you wish to contact him before he establishes a permanent address, you may contact him at: 859.277.3716 / 1012 Balsam Drive, Lexington KY 40504 / or through his email address: harold_bratcher@yahoo.com

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2013 SPRING MISSIONARY BIBLE CONFERENCE
April 22-24
Hosted by Thompson Road Baptist Church | Lexington, KY | Dave Parks, Pastor
Block these dates and plan to attend.

The theme for our Conference is “O LORD, REVIVE YOUR WORK!” based on Habakkuk’s prayer in Habakkuk 3.2.

Check our website’s FaithWorks Blog and Events pages for the complete Conference program. One of the prominent features of this Spring Conference will be the presence of two of our most veteran missionaries: Harold Bratcher and John and Alta Hatcher. Brother Bratcher is retiring from 53½ years of active and faithful overseas service and is relocating here in the States. John and Alta Hatcher are marking 58 years of missionary service in Brasil. We will be blessed to have these faithful servants of the Lord in our Conference services – and we want to take this opportunity to recognize them and express our love and gratitude to God and to them for their exemplary service.

Also be sure to join our Facebook Event for the conference and invite your friends!

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LBC ALUMNI BREAKFAST

WHEN: Thursday, April 25 from 9:00 am-1:00 pm
[This will be the Thursday morning following the conclusion of the BFM Spring Missions Conference.]
WHERE: The old Ashland Avenue Church Building at 163 North Ashland Avenue; Lexington, Kentucky
COST: No cost for the breakfast
Alumni, Family, & Friends Welcome!

For more information, please correspond with Michael Campbell at jacknjackie [at] windstream.net.  

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