Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher on Furlough from Brazil [April 2014]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 40 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
April 1st 2014
Dear friends,
God is always gracious and good. Each day He reveals His love and tender mercies. We are writing from the mission residence in Lexington, Kentucky. Wanda and I are in the states for a year furlough along with my parents, missionaries John and Alta Hatcher, and Wanda’s mom, Willa McGary, who had come to live with us in Brazil.
Dad and Mom have lived and served in Brazil for sixty years; Wanda and I have been serving there for 40 years. We are enjoying seeing old time friends and getting adjusted to a different pace and ways.
We had a wonderful trip, and the Lord provided great help along the way, as three were in wheelchairs. Everything went smoothly – planes on time, good connections. We praise the Lord.
March 24, we organized a new church in Coroado 1 subdivision. The church was organized with 45 founding members. Ivaldo Junior, the evangelist who started the congregation, was ordained to the pastoral ministry on the same day. We rejoice to see the kingdom of our Father grow and multiply.
Missionary Raimundo Pinto moved to Aracaju, capital of the State of Sergipe, in northeastern Brazil, to start a new church plant. Pray for the family as they make new friends and contact people to begin evangelizing and teaching the new believers. He is looking and praying concerning the best location to rent. Pray for this new church start and for the family that they will fully rely on God to overcome all the challenges usually associated with new beginnings.
We are available and will be glad to share and speak about missions. We would love to have the opportunity to talk about the great things that God has done and is doing as well as opportunities available to each of us, individuals and churches.
We are looking forward to seeing each of you during the coming year. See many of you at the Spring Mission Conference on behalf of Baptist Faith Missions at the Thompson Road Baptist Church in Lexington with Pastor Dave Parks.
Yours in Christ,
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
rphatcher[at]gmail.com
239.277.6551
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [December 2013]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 36 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
December 12, 2013
Dear Friends,
We thank the Lord for a great 2013. It seems to have gone by rapidly. We also thank Him for all the things He has accomplished in our life and in the ministries here in Brazil. We praise God to see His people strengthened and growing in the likeness of Christ.
Two thousand thirteen has brought about some interesting changes. As you know, for many years we have been involved in the administration and maintenance of a Christian Preschool, Elementary and High School. This school was started by my father, John Hatcher, in 1962, mainly to respond to the need of hundreds of illiterate children in our part of town. After fifty-two years, we felt led to end this phase of ministry. On Thanksgiving evening we had a great celebration of those years with the presence of hundreds of alumni and students. There were many great testimonies witnessing to God’s blessings. Our final graduation was December 3. Thousands of lives were touched throughout those years. This frees our time now to be devoted to evangelism, discipleship and church planting.
Thanksgiving Day, Wanda arrived with her mom, Willa McGary, to spend the winter months in Brazil. December 2, Wanda’s brother, Elton “Ross” McGary, age 61, went to be with the Lord after a massive stroke. We celebrate his life. He spent his life mentoring others and working with people who have special needs (a ministry called “Stone Soup” that he and his deceased wife, my sister Lynn, started many years ago).
As we write, Wanda and I are in Western Kentucky moving her mom to Brazil. We will be flying back December 19. Pray for Miss Willa as she adjusts to the heat of northern Brazil and a new way of life.
We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, happy new year. Thank you for your prayers and support.
God Bless,
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
Avenida J. Carlos Antony, 172
65063-150 Manaus
Amazonas, Brasil SA
hatcher[at]argo.com.br
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [October 2013]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 36 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
October 7, 2013
Dear Friends,
Last night was a great evening of celebration as another church was organized – Tabernacle Baptist Church of Japiim I. It was organized with 42 members and called Gilvani Brandao as their pastor. This church is in a community that is plagued with drugs and the accompanying violence. This community has been a long, hard battle; it’s great to see people saved and their lives transformed as well as the transformation of the neighborhood. Pray with us as the gospel continues to reach out to more and more communities and cities.
In my last letter I shared the story of Bro. Herman’s cancer and the difficulties his family was going through. A couple of weeks after I wrote, Herman went to be with the Lord. We await to see him in the resurrection with a glorified body. The funeral was a celebration of his life and thanksgiving for the many lives he touched. This became an opportunity for the church and God’s people to show Christ’s love to this family during these days of affliction. Pray for his wife and two sons as they make the adjustments to life without a husband and dad.
Wanda and I are doing well and send our love to each of you. We thank you for your prayers and request that you pray that God will continue to open opportunities to share the gospel.
In Christ,
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
Avenida J. Carlos Antony, 172
65063-150 Manaus
Amazonas, Brasil SA
hatcher[at]argo.com.br
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [September 2013]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 36 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
September 9, 2013
Dear Friends,
The Lord has given us a good month, beginning with a three-day men’s camp. The objective of the camp was to encourage men in their Christian maturity. The lectures dealt with our deeper relationship and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, encouraging them to trust Him in all areas of their life and Christian service. Our desire is that they might be fruitful before the Lord, demonstrating the fruits of the spirit, and bring the light of the gospel to those who are unsaved. Our prayer is that the Lord would send many laborers into fields that are ready to harvest.
Last week I made a trip to Sao Paulo to visit Herman and his wife. Herman was one of our staff members and also taught juniors in Sunday school. About two months ago he was diagnosed with a tumor at the top of his spinal cord and was taken to Sao Paulo, about two thousand miles from here, to do exams to determine the needed treatment. Being in a very high risk area of the body, the biopsy procedure to determine the type of malignancy did not end well, and left him paraplegic and unable to do simple tasks like swallowing. He also temporarily lost his speech, which he has now regained as well as very slight movement of his hands and toes. They were both self employed, so being out has put them without any income. It has been amazing to see the great outpouring of love as our church members have given generously freewill offerings to meet their financial needs. We had a great visit with him in the intensive care unit; he and his wife are very encouraged in the Lord and very aware of God’s faithfulness and goodness despite the difficult circumstances. Please pray that their faith will continue strong whatever the affliction may be.
While in south, a dear friend drove me five hours further to visit my parents. It was great to have three days to visit them and enjoy one another’s company. I wish we could see them more often, but we are certainly grateful for each opportunity we have.
Sunday evening I was invited to speak at one of the churches organized last year. It was great to revisit those lovely people and see the original members remaining strong and the addition of new families through salvation and baptism.
All the family is doing well after several weeks of flu amongst our children and grandchildren. God is marvelous and supplies all our needs and grants us joy at all times. Thank you for your prayers and continued support.
God bless each of you,
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
Avenida J. Carlos Antony, 172
65063-150 Manaus
Amazonas, Brasil SA
hatcher[at]argo.com.br
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [June 2013]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 36 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
May 29, 2013
Dear Friends,
God gives some people the ability to move to a new city and preach the gospel, nurture the new believers in Christ, and in a short time, organize the body of believers into a new church. Many times the starter missionary does not enjoy the ongoing pastoral duties because his heart is burdened for another place that does not have the Gospel. Even with so great a burden, the missionary realizes he must stay until the Lord provides a pastor to lead the new flock. Missionary Raimundo Pinto and family are great starter missionaries in the city of Fortaleza in northeastern Brazil. They have been sent from Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus. The church plant was successful and a blessing, but Missionary Pinto was anxious to move on to a new state to begin a new church. He waited and prayed anxiously that the Lord would provide a pastor so he could move on. He was elated and grateful as the Lord answered their prayer and provided a man of God, Pastor Vilian and family. The new church invited him to become their new pastor and He accepted the call. They are working on the transition; and soon Missionary Pinto is planning to move to the city of Aracaju, in the state of Sergipe in northeastern Brazil. Needless to say, the two families are very excited to move and get started. We ask that you pray for them, especially the Pinto family, as many challenges will present themselves in this new church plant. We will rejoice as God continues to work out all the details.
John is a member at Tabernacle Baptist in Manaus and has a small farm in the jungle on the banks of the Amazon River. He is a joyful Christian and loves to talk about his faith in Jesus. As he talked about Jesus to the people living out on the river banks, several became interested and trusted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. So he would get together with them on the week end and read the Scriptures and talk about the Lord and pray together. About three weeks ago, John requested that one of the church pastors go and talk to them, as they wanted to be baptized. There are about 25 adults who have professed Jesus as Saviour. This is wonderful! Pray for them, their baptism and growth in the Lord, and the forming of a new church.
This month of May, Wanda and I are having some special time with our parents. My parents, John and Alta Hatcher, live in the southern part of Brazil, and Wanda’s mom, Mrs. Willa McGary, lives in the opposite direction: Mayfield, Kentucky. At the beginning of the month, we had a special treat with my parents and my two brothers and their wives – about a week of fellowship and thanksgiving.
The following weeks we are spending some time with Wanda’s mom visiting and caring for some of her needs. We would like to say a great big Thanks to churches and individuals for your meaningful prayer and support. Likewise, thanks to the wonderful men who serve on the board and the churches they pastor who also invest in missions through them. Your intercessions to God on our behalf bring us comfort and strength in the Lord Jesus. Your faithful financial support is laid to your account in heaven, as God brings salvation to many, which results in our rejoicing together and glorifying God. We thank God for each of you and pray that He will richly bless you.
In Christ,
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
Avenida J. Carlos Antony, 172
65063-150 Manaus
Amazonas, Brasil SA
hatcher[at]argo.com.br
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher [March 2013]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 36 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
March 4, 2013
Dear Friends,
Greetings, the new year is well on its way. It has been great with many exciting things happening.
During the month of January, it was great to see the new believers who were saved during the Christmas program and end-of-year activities beginning discipleship classes. I am always thrilled to see their joy as they come to realize all that Christ has provided for them – forgiveness of sin, the indwelling of the Spirit to help them in their daily walk of faith in Christ, loving like Christ loved them and the hope of resurrection. Their joy is contagious even to those who have been saved for many years.
I have heard from the pastors of the churches organized last year; and the Lord continues to give them increase in the number of Christians and their growth in Christ. Pray that the Lord will continue opening doors and raise and send laborers to the fields white unto harvest. We would encourage you to pray for this always.
Even in very difficult situations, it has been good to see how God’s people have responded in a joyful way. One of the young families in the Manaus church had gone through a difficult bout with breast cancer; their peacefulness was notorious as she went through surgery and subsequent therapy. Just as she was finishing her treatment, their oldest child, Juliana – 15 years old now, who was studying in our Christian school, had a seizure and was hospitalized. Through exams and brain scans, doctors discovered she had a very deeply-located brain tumor. There are many small details that showed God’s goodness and constant care. She was eventually flown to Sao Paulo, about 1500 miles from here. There were many delays; but eventually, God brought together a fantastic group of six neurosurgeons to perform the surgery. She came through the surgery with no side effects. Testing revealed the tumor to be malignant. She has begun chemotherapy and other treatments which should last about six months. Juliana and her entire family have had such great peace and very evident joy through all their trials and suffering, which they recognize and attribute to God. Juliana, on the phone said, “I understand and know God is answering prayer. Thank the church for praying for me.”
All of our family, children and grandchildren are well and serving the Lord. We thank you for your prayers. Pray for us when you think of us, and think of us often.
Your missionaries from north and northeast Brazil,
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
Avenida J. Carlos Antony, 172
65063-150 Manaus
Amazonas, Brasil SA
hatcher[at]argo.com.br
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [December 2012]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 36 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
Dear friends,
We send you greetings from the north and northeast of Brazil. Brazilian school begins mid-January and ends the first of December. Seminary and Bible classes had finals and end-of-year parties the last week of November. The Christian school also finished the year. Preparation for the upcoming year and enrollment is at full throttle. This is most important for the success of the coming year. Teacher and staff recruiting and training are also underway.
Leigh Samples, our daughter, is principal of the Christian day school and Pastor Michael Samples, our son-in-law, is Dean of the Bible Institute and Leadership Training. We had a good year and are very thankful for the impact the Word of God is having on all the student body. Pray that many laborers be prepared and sent out to harvest ready fields.
The new churches are doing very well, and the Lord is adding the saved to the churches. The paper work necessary to incorporate with the government and the transfer of facilities is taking about one year to complete. The everyday business and running time seems to fly; often it’s so easy to get caught up in the details and problem solving that we forget the great things God is doing. It was refreshing to be reminded by one of the pastors that twenty-three churches were organized, incorporated to meet government requirements, and properties transferred over the last twelve months.
This caused a swelling emotion of joy and gratitude to Our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father in heaven. The Lord has done great things. It’s precious to know Him, to trust Him, and to be filled with His love for Jesus Christ and His children.
We ask that you pray for us that God will encourage and embolden us in the coming year. All the family, Wanda, the children and grandchildren are doing well.
Thanks for your prayers and faithful support,
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
Avenida J. Carlos Antony, 172
65063-150 Manaus
Amazonas, Brasil SA
hatcher[at]argo.com.br
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Missionary Update: Paul & Wanda Hatcher in Brazil [October 2012]
Paul and Wanda Hatcher have been serving the Lord together in Brazil for 36 years. Paul pastors Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Their main ministry is church planting.
Dear friends,
We send you greetings from the north and northeast of Brazil. The past three months have been very busy. We are thankful for all that God is doing. We rejoice that many are coming to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and receive believer’s baptism. Our prayers are for the millions who have not heard or have not believed in Jesus.
Wanda and I have travelled across most of the states in the north and northeast of Brazil in the last six weeks, organizing eleven missions into churches and ordaining eight pastors for the newly organized churches. It is great to see the growth of the gospel and the spiritual maturing of God’s children in each mission. Our desire and prayers for each new church is that they will continue growing and take the gospel to other places.
Churches were organized in the following locations: three in Manaus, in our home state of Amazonas, one in Belem, state of Pará, three in Boa Vista, state of Roraima, one in Fortaleza, state of Ceará, one in Parnamirim, state of Rio Grande do Norte, one in João Pessoa, state of Paraiba, and one in São Luis, State of Maranhão.
I taught a sixteen-hour training seminar in most of these locations prior to the organization. We have also been helping them with all the red tape to get their legal paper work, and the transfer of the property deeds to the new churches, usually a three to six month process.
The Lord’s mandate is still before us. We have visited a great number of small cities and towns with no Baptist churches; pray that the lord will grant us sensitive hearts and wisdom to make best usage of our time and energy.
In the last ten months the Lord has added two wonderful grandchildren to our family, Melissa to Judson and Raquel, and Noah to Leigh and Michael. We now have a total of seven grandchildren. Pray they will all grow in the nurture and grace of our Lord Jesus. The three oldest ones have already trusted the Lord and been baptized. Praise the Lord.
Thanks for your prayers and faithful support,
Paul and Wanda
Paul and Wanda Hatcher
Avenida J. Carlos Antony, 172
65063-150 Manaus
Amazonas, Brasil SA
hatcher[at]argo.com.br
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