Depending on God in Trying Times
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.
February 16, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Hope all are doing well. We are doing well and being cared for by our Lord and Savior. So many times God protects us without us realizing how much. Our son Jonas and his wife were sick with some symptoms of Covid. So we decided to have them tested and we also decided to be tested to see if we had had it. Well, to our surprise, our son and his wife tested negative, and me and Kathy tested that we had been infected and were in the 2nd stage. We had felt no symptoms at all in the last 5 weeks. We praise God for His care and protection.
We had been without services since the last week of December. There had been lots of problems in the community around the church. We started back this last Sunday. We told the members that those who felt comfortable in coming to come. We had about 20-25 to come. Things in Manaus are really bad and many people are dying. Several people that we know have died. God, help us to be wise in doing our part and helping others. The real truth is that we depend on the Lord.
Kathy has not been going to the community of Ubim. Since she works with the children, she decided to wait until the situation in the village gets better. The virus had increased there and some people died. The Lord willing, she will start back next week. Kathy had planned on starting a project with the mothers of the kids that come to the kids’ ministry. That’s when the Covid virus broke out there. Pray that things will get better so that they can start this program with the mothers.
One of our new projects that we are doing with a pastor friend is drilling wells in communities where the people have no water. Where we live, there are many communities with that problem. The first one we did was at the church in Ubim. Now we are starting one in a village called Christ King. There are 40 families that live in this village. A pastor friend has a work there and his wife has a kids program she does there also.
We want to thank you so much for your prayers. Please continue to pray for God’s protection and for Him to give us the wisdom we need to do the ministry in the midst of all these difficult times. Thanks for your support. Things would be difficult if we didn’t have your help. We are helping a Venezuelan family that has 5 kids and 2 of them have physical problems.
Thank God for each of you!
Love in our Lord and Savior,
Odali and Kathy Barros
Drill for the well 
Kids in Christ King Community 
Church in Christ King Community
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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Ministry Continues Amidst COVID-19
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser have served the Lord as church planters in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, since 1985.
January 1, 2021
Dear Friends,
Last month I mentioned that a new wave of the COVID-19 virus was passing through our area. Well, it certainly did and Charlene and I were caught by it. To God’s praise, we both have fully recovered, but our youth minister is still in the Intensive Care Unit four weeks after contracting the virus. This is that same youth minister, Cledson, that had gone through several trials unrelated to health before. Our church people are praying earnestly for him and have seen much improvement in his condition.
Our Uber driver ministers continue to report many opportunities for sharing the gospel and praying for their customers. There are 5 or 6 members of our church who earn their income as Uber drivers. As a church we try to teach our people that they are all ambassadors for the Lord wherever they may be. These Uber drivers started out just trying to make a living for their families, but each one discovered that the Lord would open up opportunities for them to share God’s love with their customers. Sometimes it’s just an encouraging word to a fellow Christian, but on many occasions, they have been able to fully share the gospel with a customer and have the customer surrender to Christ right there in their car. It has been very encouraging to hear their testimonies. They all meet once a month to share their experiences, pray for one another and discuss strategies for how to better serve the Lord through this medium.
In a few weeks we are going to be hosting our first Missions Training Seminar of the new year. We are praying that the crest of the COVID wave will have passed by then so that our volunteers who have to travel from out of state will be free to come. We will be prepared to host the seminar online, if necessary, but we hope that we can have the trainees actually come and participate in our evangelistic workshops and outreach events. I will keep you posted on how these plans develop.
I am excited about what the Lord has in store for us to do in 2021! We know that the challenges can be even greater than they were last year, but we also know that the Lord will be with us through them and that He will provide the grace, the strength and the resources to accomplish everything that is His will.
We ask that you remember to pray for us. We daily need His guidance and strength to serve Him faithfully.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Contact Info:
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Rua Laudelino Ferreira Lopes, 279
Sobrado 1, Novo Mundo
81050-310 Curitiba, PR. Brasil
Phone: 55-41-99899-2333
bobbymichael_1@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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God’s Providence in an Unexpected Delay
August 3, 2020
Dear Friends,
Charlene and I got to experience a strange, but not-too-bad situation last month. We traveled to Florida to visit with our children and grandson for an eight-day stay. Well, that was the plan anyway. The COVID-19 surge caused our return flight to be delayed by over three weeks! We didn’t receive any messages from the airline about the cancelled flight, either, until we drove four hours to the departure gate at the airport. We had to return to our son’s house and wait the next 23 days with his family until an airline provided another flight. At first, we were concerned that we would cause ministry problems back in Brazil by our unexpected extended absence, but the Lord knew about this in advance, of course. It so happened that the city’s mayor decreed that churches couldn’t hold in-person services for several weeks and I was able to preach to my church via live Facebook programming.
We have returned to our work and we are thankful to the Lord that we have also been able to return to in-person services. Our members are thrilled to be back together again for fellowship and worship of the Lord as an assembled body of believers.
There was also a surge in COVID cases in our city here in Brazil when we got back. In fact, we still have about 10 people who are sick with the virus. Most of those are from our traveling evangelistic team, Projeto Vida. A couple of them had to go to the ICU at the local hospital, but are showing signs of recuperation. We are extremely thankful to God for this.
We aren’t sure how much longer the public schools will be suspended, so we can’t plan to use that venue for our outreach, but we have been able to minister to some families in need who have suffered financial setbacks due to losing their jobs from the shutdown. We will continue to use the social media outlets that are available to us also, and we see a constant increase in our viewership.
Charlene and I have both been well physically. The Lord is gracious and kind and has blessed us with protection. We hope we don’t contract the virus at all, of course, but we also know that God is greater than any sickness and is able to heal us even if we were to get it.
We are so grateful to you who pray for us and make the sacrifice to contribute toward our ministries. We ask that the Lord would also bless you for your faithfulness and generosity.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Contact Info:
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Rua Laudelino Ferreira Lopes, 279
Sobrado 1, Novo Mundo
81050-310 Curitiba, PR. Brasil
Phone: 55-41-99899-2333
bobbymichael_1@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
Read more
True Hardship in Isolated Areas
May 18, 2020
Dear Brethren,
On March 18th, exactly 2 months ago, we held our last service. There were still no cases of covid-19 in our city and we would not have any for over a month, yet they shut us down anyway. Since we are so isolated and way behind the rest of the world in all things including the virus, we have a long wait ahead of us before we will be able to meet together again. That is bad enough news, but before I can give you some good news it must get worse.
On March 18th, exactly 2 months ago, we held our last service. There were still no cases of covid-19 in our city and we would not have any for over a month, yet they shut us down anyway. Since we are so isolated and way behind the rest of the world in all things including the virus, we have a long wait ahead of us before we will be able to meet together again. That is bad enough news, but before I can give you some good news it must get worse.
Our most isolated mission point is actually in Peru. Our missionaries at Tipisca, Peru are José Maia and his wife Silvânia. They are on the Juruá River, which has its headwaters in Peru, but flow to Brazil. The town there is mostly supplied by goods from Brazil and a little that can be flown in from Pucalpa, Peru. As soon as the pandemic hit Europe, the border (Brazil/Peru) was closed and all flights were cut off. That really caused instant suffering. There are still no cases of Coronavirus in Tipisca, but the authorities won’t allow the natives to fish or hunt. The order is to stay home! The population is mostly made up of people from 4 indian tribes. They can no longer sell or trade. There is nothing to buy in the 2 stores in town, even if they had any money. Now they can’t even fish or hunt? José Maia is ok for now since he does his shopping just twice a year and had just stocked his shelves in February. They are feeding 7 indian children. This is true hardship.
Our people here are used to being together all the time. Very social. This shelter in place stuff is very hard for them. In fact, even after the first 2 cases appeared here, the couple that brought it in let their teenage son throw a party with his friends. Even now with hundreds of cases, folks who have the illness continue to defy the authorities and mix and mingle, wandering all over town. We have a few members who are infected. These are being responsible.
Feeling the yearning that our church folks have to at least see each other, Bev and I decided to try to help a little. We put out the word on Facebook and Whatsapp that on the next Sunday morning we would be at one of the main doors of our building to wave and throw kisses to those who wished to drive by on the their motorcycles or in their cars. They showed up with banners, signs and even a ton of presents! We had some of policemen from church to be there, just in case. Of course, we all had to pull down our masks to see one another’s grins. The thing became an event and was even in the newspapers. The following week the bishop of the Roman Catholic church announced that he would be in front of the cathedral to sprinkle people with holy water as they drove by. We all got a good laugh out of that. Those Baptists still ahead of all the rest!
Greeting people at the front of the church. 
Greeting people at the front of the church.
I have been recording all of our regular lessons and messages to feed the folks and share the gospel. The lessons and messages go out over YouTube, Facebook and our radio programs. One of our pastors also does a live on Instagram. It seems to me that I am busier now than before.
Besides all the preaching and teaching, I have been able to continue some other projects. Jobs are under way at the new church property, camp, church and the shop. Maintenance is being caught up on all my equipment. A few projects I have farmed out to help some of our guys who have already lost their jobs. Bev and I are trying to help as many folks as possible. We are in good health and continue to have as much fun as can be expected. We are closer than ever.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.
In Christ,
Mike Creiglow
Mike and Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil 69980
mdcreig [at] 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
Read more
Navigating the Global Crisis in Cruzeiro do Sul
Mike and Beverly Creiglow have served the Lord in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil together since 1971. In addition to pastoring First Baptist of Cruzeiro do Sul, Mike builds his own boats and frequently travels up and down rivers to share the Gospel with those who have never heard.
March 25, 2020
Grace and peace to all,
It is a beautiful day in Cruzeiro do Sul. Looking out my office window, all looks as if all is well and the world is fine. You and I know that all is not well in the world. Even as isolated and far away as we are, our world has been shaken.
Beverly and I are well. Andrew and family are better than ever. Crissy and family are just fine.
The work is fine, but now it is quite different from 2 weeks ago. Our church held our Homecoming service on the first day of March. We had 874 present for the morning service and meal. We had 612 the same night and several folks were saved. The next weekend we had 1134 in those 2 services and more people saved, requesting baptism and others coming back into fellowship. The following Sunday we had 1197 in the 2 services and many more folks coming to Christ. I was able to win several people after services ended. Our attendance was growing at 15%.
Over the weeks my staff had been meeting regularly and often to try to put together a plan for the present global crisis. On Wednesday night, March 18, we had our doctors do a roundtable to explain to the church what the disease is, what can be done and how to take care of themselves. After their extensive presentation (3 doctors covering the disease, testing and prevention), which lasted over an hour, I shared our plan for the coming 10 days. There have been no cases of the virus in Cruzeiro do Sul, so we felt that we might have a few days to transition. We had hoped that we could still hold services for 10 days. The next morning the state and the city put everyone into “shelter in place”. Through social media we were able to inform everyone about the next phase that came into play immediately.
Recently we had created a YouTube channel and Facebook account to replace our waning local TV broadcast, so that was already operational for this new chapter. These have been our “services”. Internet here is still not where it needs to be for live streaming.
That was just one week ago today but seems like years have gone by. Recently I built a new office in the garage here at home. My old office is now Bev’s craft room. My office has become our new studio. I have 3 guys who work with me in media and have been with me for a lot of long hours. In fact, some days they even eat lunch and supper with us. Two of the other pastors are also helping with some of the media production, but most of the burden has fallen on me. The other pastors who still haven’t quite “gotten there” with cameras and studios have helped with messaging and calls, but otherwise have been told to stay home.
One day last week I was on the phone helping other pastors all over the country who needed to know what to do. The same day I spent many hours in the studio recording. We also have a daily radio broadcast (30 minutes at noon and 30 minutes at night) that needs materials. Since our preachers are not able to go and do the programs live, we are converting my sermons from now and the past to mp3 files.
It has been a long hard week. Besides all the work to feed the sheep in this new era, I have had to spend even more hours on my knees and in the Word. Just a month ago I turned 72. I am feeling pretty good but need you to pray that I will hold up under the added strain and frustration.
In Christ,
Mike Creiglow
Mike and Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil 69980
mdcreig [at] hotmail.com
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