Missionary Update: John Mark and Judy Hatcher in France [April 2012]
Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making,”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the name of Christ from Southern France, which is north of most of you. We are approximately on the same latitude as Toronto, Canada. Yesterday we arrived back home from Manaus, Brazil which is just south of the Equator. So, we are a bit off keel time wise and climate wise. Some may think that I am always off keel.
We were in Manaus to see my parents and siblings. Though we are able to speak with dad and mom weekly by phone we wanted to be able to be with them for a face to face visit. Dad turns 87 on April 30 and mom will turn 87 in September. They continue to serve the Lord faithfully. They are still involved in a church plant about 30 minutes drive from their house. It was a great blessing to visit for about 10 days with the family, including Paul and Wanda’s children and grandchildren. We share in common not only family ties but spiritual family ties. We were also able to enjoy worshiping together with many of our Brazilian brothers and sisters in Christ and had the opportunity to speak and preach several times.
Two days before leaving France we had another meeting with youth. This time we had a progressive dinner. We had nibbles and salad at the first home, spaghetti and meatballs at the second home and dessert at the last home. Most importantly, we had spiritual food at all three homes. At each place someone gave their testimony about how they were saved and we presented the Gospel. Time in vehicles between homes was also a valuable opportunity to discuss spiritual matters and answer questions on a personal level. We have two more meetings with youth scheduled before the end of the Spring semester. This is presently an open door for reaching young people who are desperately in need of Christ in a godless society. We are a bit saddened by the fact that one of the teenage girls who has been most effective in bringing friends is leaving this week to spend the rest of the school year in Germany as a part of her learning German program.
On the next to last Sunday of March, two of our regular families communicated the news that they were being transferred elsewhere with their jobs. This will leave a sizable dent in the congregation because each of these young couples has three grade school aged children; ten people gone at once.
We have been praying for the Spring conference. May God used what took place there to help us all in the service of the Lord. Thanks for your faithful support.
Until next month,
John and Judy in France
John and Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com
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Spring Conference Recap [Wednesday Evening]
The final session of the spring conference (aka: “The Kingdom of God Three-Day Event” :)) began at 7:00 on April 4 at Thompson Road Baptist Church.
After singing “He Hideth My Soul,” Bro. Dave Parks reminded us of a quote from William Carey, the father of modern missions. “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” Bro. Parks added one more line, “Ask great things of God.”
Bro. J. Anthony Vance, Associate Pastor of New Life Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, was the final speaker at the conference. His wife Becky sang “Alas and Did My Savior Bleed” before he preached.
Bro. Vance’s sermon was about “The Sufficency of Scripture” as seen in Psalm 19:7-11. The Bible reveals God to us, therefore it should be valuable to us. We need a renewed conviction that the Bible is sufficient for knwing God well. We can know God’s heart and His character through His Word.
The sufficiency of Scripture is the vital key to the future and hope of Baptist Faith Missions for any lasting success. What is the sufficiency of Scripture? The fact that the Bible contains everything we need regarding the truth it declares. Nothing else is necessary for the life of faith. “Scripture contains all the words of God we need for salvation, for trusting Him perfectly, and for obeying Him perfectly.” (Wayne Grudem)
All faith springs from the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) Everything God wants us to know about a relationship with Him is in the Holy Scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:14-15) There is no good work that God desires or requires of us that the Bible does not address.
God’s Word is sufficient for the believer in every generation in every culture in every country on the planet.
The Bible gives us clear instructions on how to live for the glory of God in every circumstance in life. Bro. Vance works as a barber and while the Bible does not tell him specifically how to cut someone’s hair, it does tell him how to do his job. For example, it tells him the attitude to have when cutting one’s hair, how to work with integrity, how to treat customers in his shop, and how to view and manage his income. The Bible is as sufficient for a barber and man changing the oil in his car as it is for a pastor or theologian. He has given us all we need to live a life that is pleasing to Him.
The Bible is sufficient for nourishing, sustaining, and growing the Lord’s work and His church. It is enough for the church to accomplish her mission to make disciples in all nations. God’s strategy for church growth is to preach the Word! (2 Timothy 4:1-4) If we neglect the Scriptures, we neglect the Head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Sufficiency of the Scriptures demands the following:
1) That we value the Scripture as precious beyond measure.
-Hear it. Read it. Study it. Memorize it.
2) That we not elevate our tradition and/or our preferences to the level of the Scriptures.
-Scripture stands alone.
3) That we not neglect anything in Scripture.
4) That we test everything by the truth of Scripture.
-Scripture is the standard by which we judge every other thing. If it contradicts God’s Word, it is not of God.
5) That we be content with the content of Scripture.
-Be thankful for the substance of the Scripture. (Deuteronomy 29:29) Rely on and rejoice in its sufficiency.
6)That we labor to bring it to every people group on the planet.
-If it’s sufficient, we must get it out to all nations in their language and tongue.
Therefore, pray. Give. Go. Share the living words of life to sinners who are dead in sins and need the Gospel of Christ.
The conference concluded with a congregational hymn: “How Firm a Foundation.” How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What more can He say than to you He hath said— To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
To read a recap of previous conference services, click here.
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Spring Conference Recap [Wednesday Morning]
The final morning of the spring conference began at 9:30 on April 4 at Thompson Road Baptist Church.
Bro. Bryan Baggett who pastors Bible Baptist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee and served as a missionary in Venezuela for five years was the first speaker. His wife Kris sang “God Will Make a Way,” and sang the second verse in Spanish.
Bro. Baggett’s sermon was about “The Orchestration of God’s Creation and His Work” as seen in Mark 4:35-41. The same God who orchestrates the plants blooming, the same day works the same in my life. He orchestrates all things.
Baggett reviewed God saving him, calling him, and working through him on the mission field. He had to leave Venezuela when Hugo Chavez came to power.
He exhorted his listeners to remember that God has a plan even when we don’t understand the situation. Keep your focus on the things found in Philippians 4:8-9. This describes Jesus. He is in the boat in the midst of the storm and has all things under control.
Jonathan Parks then ministered in song.
Bro. Donovan Stewart, Lexington Police Chaplain and Associate Pastor of the Baptist Church at Andover, spoke at 10:30 about how “God Has a Calling on Your Life!” as seen in 2 Kings 13:20-21.
He began by telling a story about a news reporter who once asked, “What are the two major problems in the world?” The response was, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” The reporter said, “You are right! Apathy runs throughout.”
God chose sinful man to accomplish His holy work—the highest calling.
There are three things we must be doing:
1)Preach the Word! It’s good news! Pews are cold because polar bears are in the pulpit.
2)Pray fervently.
3)Go soul-winning. Share the Gospel! Witness.
Suzanne Van Meter then ministered in song.
The third and final speaker of the morning session was Bro. Ben Glover who pastors Park Ridge Baptist Church in Gotha, Florida. His text was Romans 10:8-17.
We need God’s Word in our lives. This is the Gospel message: the death, burial, and ressurrection of Jesus Christ to atone for sins. We can be born Jewish, Muslim, or Hindu, but becoming a Christian is something we confess.
Matthew 7:20-23- “By their fruits ye shall know them.” So many people are busy working that they forget to preach the Gospel. Our business is to bring glory to God!
He emphasized verses 14-16, reminding us that we need to get the Gospel out. It is powerful and God said, “Go preach it!” We have the responsibility to tell others. Preach the message and let the Holy Spirit take care of the rest.
We must look to Jesus to be the sustainer of His church, BFM, and all things.
To read a recap of previous conference services, click here.
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2012 BFM Winter Conference Schedule
THEME:
“PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THEM”
“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”
[Acts 16:9-10]
Hosted by Park Ridge Baptist Church
3629 Crystal Street
Gotha, FL 34734
Pastor Benton Glover
(407) 719-9861
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15
10:00 A.M. – Sunday School
11:00 A.M. – Evangelist Bob Jones
6:30 P.M. – Evangelist Bob Jones
MONDAY, JANUARY 16
5:00 P.M. – Supper
7:00 P.M. – Bro. Millard Mitchell
8:00 P.M. – Missionary Leroy Duncan [Manchester, Jamaica]
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17
10:00 A.M. – Missionary AJ Hensley [Caraguatatuba, São Paulo, Brazil]
11:00 A.M. – Pastor Steve Wainright
12:00 P.M. – Lunch
5:00 P.M. – Supper
7:00 P.M. – Pastor Bobby Lakes
8:00 P.M. – OPEN
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18
10:00 A.M. – Pastor George Sledd
11:00 A.M. – Pastor Dave Parks
12:00 –Lunch
5:00 P.M. – Supper
7:00 P.M. – Evangelist Bob Jones
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