An Encouraging Retreat & Disciples Making Disciples
May 8, 2024
Dear Fellow Servants of Christ,
Today is a Nationwide Holiday in France celebrating the end of World War II in Europe. So, things are pretty quiet. We are very grateful for the blessings of God during the past month , among them your faithful support.
On the last weekend of April, the church that normally meets in Plaisance du Touch spent a blessed three-day weekend together in a country holiday rental. Holiday rentals are usually old farmhouses and buildings that have been modified to be rented to extended families and groups that want to be together for a few days.
Two years ago, at the end of the Covid pandemic the church decided to meet for a weekend of fellowship and mutual encouragement. The time spent together was such an encouragement that the suggestion was made to do this yearly. We eat together, study the Bible together and sing. The rest of the time is spent talking, walking and playing games together. Many of the members of our church and congregations in various places are the only believer in their family. The entire family of each member is invited. This gives those who are not believers the opportunity to see the fellowship among church members.
This past Saturday as Judy and I were driving to the town of Campagne sur Arize to the regularly scheduled adult and children’s Bible studies held in the home of Henri and Laure, Judy received a text from the hostess letting us know that her two brothers and a nephew would be there. This was delightful news to us. One brother lives about an hour away and the other one about two hours away. Laure has been very concerned about the spiritual needs of her brothers and has been praying for them. God brought them!
The first Sunday of May was a delight. Several members of the Plaisance church were sick and could not attend for other reasons. However, we had more in attendance than we expected. The special treat was Dennis, a man who we had never seen before. He is a longtime friend of Samuel, a fellow who trusted the Lord about 8 years ago after about a year of weekly Bible studies in our home. His friend, a very smart guy, went to jail. Samuel prayed for him and witnessed to him, and he trusted Christ. He is now out of jail and on fire for the Lord. He testifies that Samuel was the greatest human influence leading to his faith in Jesus Christ. Disciples making disciples! Thank you for your prayers.
Your sister and brother,
Judy and John 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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Bible Studies Restarting in Mazere!
September 15, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are grateful to God for His continuous provision and your participation in what God has called us to do. Twenty-two years ago we arrived in France with a passion to communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ to French people and make disciples that God would put together in churches of Jesus Christ.
Two years after our arrival, God brought our son Philip and his wife Amanda to join us in the ministry here. They had felt God’s leadership to this part of the world for several years. Their daughter, Abigail, was five months old when they arrived. Today she is in her third year of preparation to be a doctor in Physical Therapy. So much has changed yet much remains the same. Only two or three French people out of each thousand profess personal faith in Jesus Christ. Many are atheist. We rejoice that some have come to faith in Christ, followed the Lord in baptism and are serving the Lord here, other places in France and other countries.
And, there is so much more to do.
The church at Tournefeuille is still meeting in person with some joining us live using the internet. We have had good services. The Covid virus has made it more complicated to interact with and communicate the Gospel to those who do not know Christ. However, God is not caught by surprise and does not change. We must continue to pray for wisdom to do what He wants us to do.
Next month we will restart Bible studies in the city of Mazere after a hiatus of four years that appeared to be permanent.
Your prayers for our home location and meeting place are greatly appreciated. It appears that by this time next year we will be living and meeting about a mile and a half west of where we are now. This will place us in the neighboring city of Plaisance du Touch. This city was established around 1000 A.D. Philip and his family have lived there for a number of years. We have had many church and youth meetings there and we hope that God will use the move to enable us to share the Good News with more people.
Thank you for your continuous participation and prayers. May God bless each of you.
From France,
John and Judy
Contact Info:
John & Judy Hatcher
4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, 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.
Read more
