Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher Stateside from Brazil [September 2015]

Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.

August 18, 2015

Dear Brethren and Friends of Baptist Faith Missions,

The Lord has given us a varied and enjoyable month. Our granddaughter, Virginia McGary, the youngest child of Lynn and Ross McGary was married in Maryville, Tennessee. They invited our son Paul to officiate the Ceremony.

(Lynn and Ross worked with exceptional children and youth Nashville Tenn., and in five other States. Lynn suffered with cancer. After three operations she was told they could not operate any more.)

Virginia was nine years old when Lynn realized she did not have long to live. She asked the Lord to let her live until Virginia was the age of 16. God granted her that request. Ross, her father, passed away two years ago.

At the wedding, we rejoiced to see so many of our family members and friends who attended the wedding.

We are living with Paul and Wanda Clermont, Florida. We are attending an active Missionary Baptist Church that is about five minutes from our home. Our son, Paul and his wife, Wanda, purchased a house and invited us to live with them. Wanda’s  widowed mother, Willa, also lives with them. She and her husband were missionaries in Eastern Kentucky for many years.

Paul is still active in the work in Brazil.  He makes trips there about every three months.  The Tabernacle Baptist Church is active in new works and presently are building a new building in the center of the city.

There are several churches here in central Florida that have a monthly Fellowship Meeting. We have enjoyed attending and fellowship. Brothers Doug King and George Sledd attend and we are thankful for their dedication and love for BFM. We thank all of you our faithful partners in His work. We love you and thank you.

Your missionaries,
John A. and Alta Hatcher

John A. and Alta Hatcher
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont FL 34714
229-529-8497
jhatcher1925[at]gmail.com

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Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher Stateside from Brazil [August 2015]

Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.

July 23, 2015

Dear Brethren and Friends,

The pastors of churches we started in Brazil are sending us news about the work. We want to share two letters where they now pastor. One writes,

Pastor John, you will always be our pastor and spiritual leader.  Thank you for all that you  and Alta taught us. Thank you for your prayers. We miss you, but we know we will be with you in Heaven forever.

We are still serving the Lord and the work is growing. Many are trusting Christ as Savior and our Seminary here now has 16 students. Our children are serving the Lord. Thank you for teaching us how to rear our children to serve Him.

Thanks again for loving us so much! We love you. May God bless you!
Valdir and Sonia dos Santos 

We also, received letters from the wife and pastor of the church we started in our home where we lived before leaving Brazil.

When Alta’s parents passed away, some money was left to Alta. We built a church building across from the small park close to our house in the town of Urai. On Mother’s Day there were 100 persons present, including 34 mothers. The mission churches that these churches have planted are growing. God bless you, Marcio & Carol Moraes.

Friends, we hope these letters will bring joy to your hearts. We thank each who have supported us in offerings and prayers throughout 60 years in Brazil. God will give you rewards in Heaven and you will meet the Brazilians your efforts have brought to Salvation. We love each of you.

John A. and Alta Hatcher
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont FL 34714
229-529-8497
jhatcher1925[at]gmail.com

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Family Life of John and Alta Hatcher as Missionaries to Brazil

Alta Hatcher has served with her husband in Brazil since 1955.

Alta Hatcher has served with her husband in Brazil since 1955.

by Alta Hatcher

I was saved when I was seven years old. When I was nine God called me to be a missionary, as my mother was telling a lady about a single missionary in Africa. When I was 10 years old a preacher in his sermon told parents to teach their children to pray about who God wanted them to marry before they were 10 or 12 years old because when they were older they would like to play ball or do something with a friend and they would marry a friend without it being God’s will. I began to pray. During the Second World War I was a student at Georgetown Baptist College. There were only 200 students and only nine men who were pastors with families. I stayed out of college after two years since the school where I had studied needed a third grade teacher.

When I returned to College the war had ended and there were now 2000 students in the College. Two weeks before returning to college I received a letter from John Hatcher saying he would meet me at the train station or bus station because he was interested in meeting me. He had just dedicated his life to be a missionary to Brazil and he had learned I was, also, called to be a missionary. We met and in six months we were married. John was pastor of a mission in Shelbyville, KY. After marrying, we worked there two years. Then John was called to be a missionary in eastern Kentucky. He was pastor three years of the Beattyville Baptist Church with six mission churches. It was there after three years of ministry he received a call to become the pastor of a new church in Alton, Illinois. After being at the new Church in Alton three years the Lord touched John’s heart that it was time for us to go to Brazil. We had four children under the age of six.

CONDITIONS IN BRAZIL AT THAT TIME

The Hatcher Family with the Bratchers and Yorks.

The Hatcher Family with the Bratchers and Yorks.

In 1955 there were no washing machines, refrigerators, stoves or beds, just hammocks. The only electric lights were in a few stores. In Manaus, Brazil there were about a dozen cars that were all taxis.  There were hand built buses that carried people, animals and produce. John had to accompany the things that we sent by ship to Brazil because a new law prohibited merchandise to be shipped alone. It took twenty-two days for the ship to get to Manaus, Brazil.

I took our four children on the plane. I had never ridden a plane before. The trip by plane took twenty-two hours.

Life was difficult. To buy meat we had to walk to the market at 5 o’clock in the morning. Vegetables came in by boat and were hard to find.

We took two orphan girls, ages 12 and 18 into our home. Some children were coming from the jungle to live with us because there were no schools in the interiors. We started a school because 80% of the people in Brazil could not read or write.

My job as a mother was to teach English to our five children. The principal of the school where I studied as a child gave me books for grade one through eight. After that, we ordered courses in English for the High School.

I hired help to take care of all the extra children, our family and to do the work so I could study all morning with our children. Later, when our children were all in school I walked the streets, visiting from door to door. People knew I was an American and they always invited me into their house. I always carried a Bible and taught them how to be saved and invited them to church.

John preached and taught the adults in the new mission churches we started. I taught the children in Sunday school. Also, I played the keyboard we carried with us. During school vacation each year we traveled on the rivers to start churches in the interior. The houses had dirt floors, and the houses were made of slim trees cut and tied together by wire. The roofs were palm leaves. There were no beds only hammocks. All the food was cooked outside on wood fires. We had to have someone to guide us as we walked through the forests. After 21 years we moved to southern Brazil.

John and Alta in Brazil (circa 2012)

John and Alta in Brazil (circa 2012)

We spent sixty years as missionaries in several parts of Brazil and we went from place to place starting churches. We planted about 60 churches in the 60 years we were there.

The Lord has blessed us. All of our children are missionaries. Our oldest, Lynn, and Ross, her husband, were missionaries in Nashville, TN, to exceptional children, has been with the Lord for six years. Ross, who carried on the work, died a year ago. They started work in churches for exceptional children in five States of the U.S.A.

Paul and his wife, Wanda, have been missionaries in Brazil for 40 years. Under his leadership the Tabernacle Baptist Church has made over 60 church plants.

Our son, David, is missionary pastor of the first church John and I started in Brazil. We left it in 1962 with 23 members. Today, on Sunday morning there are 5000 or 6000 in Sunday school and 5000 or 6000 in the Sunday night services. Penny, David’s wife, takes care of the children’s Sunday School classes as she plans lessons and trains teachers.

Our daughter, Kathy, was born in Brazil. She is married to a Brazilian. She and her husband, Odali Barros, had an orphanage in Garça (pronounced Garsa) with 150 children. Also, they started churches. Now they have moved to Manaus to start churches in the river villages.

Our son, John Mark, and his wife, Judy, are missionaries in France.

OUR THANKSGIVING

John & Alta Hatcher with all their children who remain on earth and their family.

John & Alta Hatcher with all their children who remain on earth and their family.

We thank God, also, that all of our 15 grandchildren are serving the Lord! Some as pastors and others are missionaries some of the granddaughters are married to pastors or missionaries.

We have 27 great-grandchildren and are expecting two more soon. Our oldest great-grandchild is 12 years old. All of those four years old and older have already trusted Jesus as their Savior. We are so grateful to God for blessing us so much.


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Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher Stateside from Brazil [June 2015]

Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.

May 28, 2015

Dear Brethren and Friends and Fellow Partners in the Mission Work in Brazil,

Needless to say, we feel deeply the absence of the work and dear friends in Brazil. God is faithful. We are receiving wonderful news about the work there. We want to share it with you.

In II John he writes, “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth…”

We rejoice in the news from Brazil. The work continues to grow and glow!

 THE FIRST PLANT 60 YEARS AGO
The Chapada Church was founded with 24 members, including Alta, four of our children, Lynn, Paul, John Mark, and David. Kathy was three years old and very present. God blessed this beginning and through its sixty years there have been some very good pastors. The present pastor is our son, David. The name of the church was changed from Chapada Baptist to Nova Igreja Batista (New Baptist Church). Every year in the month of April they observe The Word Festival. For the entire month special emphasis is given to reading and memorizing of the Scriptures. This past month the final night of this occasion there were 7,000 persons who attended in the two services.  We praise God for His blessings!

WORKS IN MOST STATES
It is not my purpose to give the names of all the cities and villages where work has been realized. I have worked in several states. The Tabernacle Baptist Church where Paul was pastor until last month has started dozens of churches in Manaus and in thirteen of the twenty-six States of  Brazil. Praise the Lord for the ministry of this church.

CORNELIO PROCOPIO
Valdir dos Santos, pastor of this church sent a letter telling of God’s blessings. He writes,  “We are writing to give you birthday greetings on your 90th. We are thankful for what you did for us here in Brazil. The joy of our hearts is: We will be together for all eternity. Our church has increased. We have sixteen students in the Seminary this semester. We love you and Alta.  Valdir and Family”

URAI–RANCHO ALEGRE
A letter from Pastor Marcio and family give good news about several places. The letter says, “Sunday, Mother’s Day, The building was full. There were thirty-four mothers. In Ranch Alegre we are building a new building. We were able to buy a lot at the entrance of the city.  Until built, the church is meeting in the house of brother Claudimir. Happy 90 years, Brother John!”

Dear Fellow-Partners, we thank each of you who have prayed and given offerings to make this work possible. May you rejoice in the results and may God continue to bless each of you.

Your missionaries,
John A. and Alta Hatcher

John A. and Alta Hatcher
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont FL 34714
229-529-8497
jhatcher1925[at]gmail.com

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Changing Mission Fields [from John A. Hatcher]

Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.

May 26, 2015

Dear Brethren and Friends:

I think this is my first Mission Letter as old ninety year old. So, have a little patience, please. My ministry has changed from church planting to personal evangelism.  My field is the big super markets. When Wanda or Paul go to buy things, I go to tell persons about the Gospel. There is a constant field of contacts among the employees and customers. I use a small tract called the three crosses. It is a drawing I made illustrating the message I heard when I trusted Jesus as Savior.

In places where things and food stuffs are abounding, many people are hungering for or desiring something that money cannot buy. I sow the seed. It is the seed of God’s Word. I ask Him to bless it. Sometimes I suggest to whom I am talking, “Maybe one day we will meet in Heaven, and you will say, ‘Remember the day you told me about Jesus in the Supermarket?’”  Heaven will bring great joy for we will be with Jesus forever and we will see those He has saved to whom we sowed the Seed. “Lord, help us to be faithful in sowing the Seed!”

We love you in our Savior’s Name,
Alta and John A. Hatcher

This is the message of Three Crosses that I heard as a young boy that transformed my life forever. I drew this tract and use it for evangelizing the lost.

This is the message of Three Crosses that I heard as a young boy that transformed my life forever. I drew this tract and use it for evangelizing the lost.

John A. and Alta Hatcher
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont FL 34714
229-529-8497
jhatcher1925[at]gmail.com

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Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [May 2015]

Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.

May 5, 2015

Dear Brethren and Friends:

This past month has been one of many special blessings of the Lord. To celebrate my birthday of ninety years our children planned a four day cruise. It was a marvelous four days of loving fellowship with our children and their spouses. God has given us a wonderful family and we praise Him.

GREAT SPRING BFM MISSION CONFERENCE
We thank God for the wonderful BFM Mission Conference at the Thompson Road Baptist Church. The love shown in your fellowship, the messages, and the food and hospitality made it one of the best Conferences I have ever attended. Thank you, Pastor Dave Parks and People!

TIME FOR A SMILE
The life of a missionary is not always easy, but Jesus is always with us and gives us time for a smile from time to time. Sometimes these smiles come from the differences in the languages we learn. The other day I was in the line at an Hamburger shop waiting to make my order.  I was about the sixth in line.  The lady behind me sneezed.  I turned and said “Gazuntight”,  that I thought meant, “Bless you!”

“Thank you very much,” she replied, as she moved to the front of the line. “Oh, well,”  I thought, “you cannot win every time.”

Another smile was caused by a missionary who needed the toilet. The door was closed and he knocked lightly and a voice replied. “I am using the toilet.  Will be out in a minute.”   The missionary meant to say, “Me desculpe,”  (Pardon me, I am sorry.) But he answered, “Da-licensa!” (Let me come in.)  He erred slightly in his new language.

Then there was the foreigner who was learning to speak English.  Doing something that he asked permission to do. (“Excuse me.”) However, he said “Exqueeze me!”

“Thank you, Lord, for the little smiles that You permit to come our way.”

Sincerely in His Name,
John and Alta Hatcher

John A. and Alta Hatcher
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont FL 34714
229-529-8497
jhatcher1925[at]gmail.com

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Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [May 2015]

Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.

March 26, 2015

Dear Brethren and Friends:

We greet you in the Name of our gracious Lord Jesus.  We have enjoyed a great month of His blessings that He has supplied through the love of Paul and Wanda.  God has given opportunities to witness personally to persons we encountered in the stores and streets.  Please pray the seed sown will bear fruit to His glory.

The outstanding event of the month was the Memorial Service of Alice Joyce Wacaser.  She is the mother of  missionary Bobby Wacaser. The service was held in the Ahava Baptist Church, Ahava, Florida.  The service was a blessed testimony of her dedicated Christian life given by her children and friends to an audience of several hundred people.

Other than several children, she is survived by 28 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.  The songs sung by her children revealed the joy, happiness and spirituality of her life and the wonderful effect on the lives of her children and their families.

The life of Alice was a spiritual blessing to her children and to all who knew her. She will be missed but she awaits all her loved ones and friends in her home in glory.  It will be a joy to meet her there!

May God give us the Grace to influence others as Alice Joyce Wacaser has.

We thank you for your love and prayers in the Name of our Lord Jesus.

John A. and Alta Hatcher

John A. and Alta Hatcher
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont FL 34714
229-529-8497
jhatcher1925[at]gmail.com

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Missionary Update: John & Alta Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [April 2015]

Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence.

March 4, 2015

Dear Brethren and Friends:

We cannot say, “Greetings from Brazil” any longer since we are living in the States, but our hearts still beat with our love for the work and friends in Brazil. We do hear from some of them and the work is going, glowing and growing. Praise the Lord.

THE GROWTH OF OUR FIRST CHURCH PLANT IN BRAZIL  

Our first church established in Brazil was in 1956.  It was called the Chapada Baptist Church.  It was begun with 24 members.  It was located in the Boonies.  It was difficult to get a taxi to take us. Manaus had about 70 to 80 thousands population.  Today, the area is one of the principal business sections of Manaus, that now has a population of two million. The Church changed its name to Nova Igreja Batista. Here are a few facts to show God’s Blessings.

Last month they had three youth camps with a total of 1200 campers.  Many were saved, along with other decisions. Seventy were baptized into the fellowship of the Church.  The Sunday School had an average weekly attendance last month of five thousand eight hundred persons.  There are about 550 people who work in the Sunday School.  The first SS meets from 8:00-10:00 am; the second meets from 10:30-12:30.

AN EXCITING CONVERSION!  Last week there was a young lady who David witnessed to after service. A week before she had been inducted into the Muslim religion. David showed her Paul’s counsel: “If anyone preach another Gospel than that you have received let him be accursed.”   She heard, the Holy Spirit opened her heart and she was saved.   As they were going down the aisle three persons were sitting on the next to the last pew.  David asked, “Did you want to talk to me?”  They replied, “No, we are friends to this lady and we have been praying for her Salvation.”

During the two night services the attendance is about 6,200.  Praise God for His blessings on the Seed that is being sown!  Keep praying and giving for His Work.

We love you in the Lord,
John and Alta Hatcher

John A. and Alta Hatcher
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont FL 34714
229-529-8497
jhatcher1925[at]gmail.com

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