French Ladies Express Interest in Reading the Bible

Missionaries John and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”

March 18, 2024

Dear Fellow Servants of Christ,

Judy and I hope you are enjoying the Spring of God’s creation. We are delighted to have you as partners in the service of our Savior.

The past few weeks have been an encouragement to us. A good illustration are the events of our last Bible study in the city of L’Union. You may remember us mentioning in our last letter that the lady who hosts this meeting expressed her desire to be baptized. Typically, the Iranian couple who never misses was not there because they were hosting an extended family member who lives in Iran. The three other ladies at these studies are French ladies who were drawn to the Bible study by what they see in the hostess.

In these meetings, we are studying through the Gospel of John. We were approaching the end of our study of chapter 12 when the ladies began asking us many questions. The Good News of Jesus Christ is clearly touching the core of their beings. One of the last who originally presented herself as syncretist, appealing to eastern religious philosophies, is now expressing her delight in what she is reading in the Bible. Another lady was catechized as a child in the Catholic religion of her mother and predecessors. She stopped participating at the age of 17 because she saw no hope in the rituals. She told Judy that she bemoans the years that she wasted because she did not know there was anything else. We arrived home from that study at 12:30 a.m.! The following day I received a lengthy text from her stating that she had decided to read the Bible and wanting a recommendation of where to start and a good sequence for reading the books of the Old and New Testaments.

For more than a dozen years we have been having well attended youth meetings. Most of those who participate are in middle school and high school. These have been very effective in evangelizing and discipling these age groups. Last week Philip and Amanda hosted the first meeting of university-aged young adults. There were 11 young adults present and the meeting went very well.

Our other regular meetings in a half dozen different places are going quite well and we are greatly encouraged by what God is doing.

With much gratitude,
John and Judy Hatcher

Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
2 T Impasse de la Picardie
31830 Plaisance du Touch
France
JMHatcher@aol.com
Present USA phone 1-812-416-1033

For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.


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Blessed by Services in Homes

Odali and Kathy Barros served the Lord in Sao Paulo, Brazil together from 1987-2013. In late 2013, they transitioned to Manaus in Northern Brazil to start sharing the Gospel and planting churches in villages along the river.

November 18, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We thank God that all things are doing well here. We pray that all is going well with each of you that are part of our ministry.

The ministry is going well. Kathy and some other adults at the Pedras Vivas Church have started the youth ministry. It had been stopped for quite a while. They are enjoying the time together, and the time to learn to play some instruments and sing. We hope to get the teens more involved in the church ministries. We also hope to get more adults involved. Pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of some to want to help in the different ministries.

The remodeling of the Church of Cacau is coming along. We hope it will be finished soon. Also, the camp is coming along and we are hoping that soon, we can use it at least for a day camp.

We are excited about new families that are coming to the church. Some are Christians that are wanting to get involved in the church ministries. The services in the homes are still doing well. Many times, we get together and eat and then have a Bible Study. Pray with us that God opens more homes. Since we have moved here to where we live, the amount of people moving to this area has really increased.

Thanks for all your prayers and support. May God bless each of you.

Love in Christ,

Odali and Kathy

Contact Info:
Odali & Kathy Barros
Iranduba, Amazonas
Brasil, SA
odali_kathy@hotmail.com

For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.


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