Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher in Brazil [November 2013]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.
November 1, 2013
MOTHERS – GOD’S GIFT TO CHILDREN
Proverbs 31:10-31
The Value of a Virtuous Woman
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
God has touched my heart to write a little about the value of godly women. Their value is far above that of rubies (Prov. 31:10). Dear sisters in Christ, please read Proverbs 31:10-31.
This is a tribute to a godly missionary mother and wife. I was blessed by the letters written by our missionaries’ wives. I cannot speak for all the husbands, but I can speak with confidence about the two important mothers in my life: My mother who gave birth to me on April 30, 1925; and my wife, Alta, the mother of our five wonderful children, and our baby boy who was born dead in the village of Faro, North Brazil.
The conclusion to all that I desire to say is: The most vital element to great missions and great missionaries are godly wives and mothers. This is the testimony that God has given me in my life and I want to share with you. Alta and I went to Brazil in 1955. We had four children. Our last child, Kathy, was born in Brazil.
Alta is a school teacher. The first two years of our marriage she taught. When our first child, Lynn, was born she quit teaching since her job took her out of the home. When we started the school in Manaus, she taught English because she could take the children with her. Her life was dedicated to Deus as a wife and mother. Her life, dedicated to the Lord, produced five faithful Christian servants. Lynn, dedicated her life to teaching children with deficiencies and helping churches to help families with needy children. Our three sons, Paul, John Mark, and David are missionaries in Brazil in France. Kathy, our last child, is married to Odali Barros, a Brazilian missionary. In their ministry they have cared for more than 150 needy children as their own children.
Alta, their dear mother was the person God used to prepare their lives to serve Jesus. Proverbs 22:6 ” Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” She taught them to read the Bible, to pray and to witness. Her Bible teaching through their youth was their Seminary training. 1 Timothy 2:15 “She shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” Alta’s life, through our children, has 200 years of ministry; I have about 70.
I thank the Lord for the wonderful wife He gave me. Proverbs 12:4 “A virtous woman is a crown to her husband.”
Our children praise God for the wonderful mother He gave them. Proverbs 31:28 “Her children shall arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”
The future of our Mission Work depends on how you mothers permit God to use your lives. God bless you!
Our thanksgiving to you and our praise to Jesus our Lord,
Caixa Postal 112
Urai, PR, Brazil 86280-000
jhatcher[at]uol.com.br
