VMP: John A. Hatcher
JOHN A. HATCHER
[Alta is with the Lord]
John and Alta Hatcher served the Lord in church-planting missions for over 50 years in Brazil. Alta is now in Heaven with our Lord.
John spent the first terms of their missionary service pastoring Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus, Brazil. Then, during their later terms, they planted churches in the southern states of Brazil, especially Sao Paulo and Parana. Literally scores of Baptist churches were established and are still multiplying through their efforts.
John is currently living with their son, Paul Hatcher, and his wife Wanda.
Pray for him! Reach out to him through every means you can (call, write, e-mail), and let him know you still appreciate him and his service. He would love to hear from you personally, or from your Sunday School class, or your church leadership.
John A. Hatcher
15905 Mercott Ct
Clermont, FL 34714
229-529-8497 / home
jhatcher1925@gmail.com
When you designate your offerings for ‘Veteran Missionaries Pension’ or for ‘Founder’s Month Offering’ [they are the same], they will be applied toward the continuing and on-going financial honor and support of these faithful life-long servants of Christ.
Click here to give now or you can mail your offering to:
BFM, c/o George Sledd
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
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VMP: Wanda Turner
Richard and Wanda Turner served in partnership with BFM in Brazil from 1971-1987. Richard is now in Heaven with our Lord.
They began their missionary ministry in Manaus, Brazil during 1971-1973. Richard supply-pastored in Quatorze de Dezembro Baptist Church while Harold and Marie Bratcher were in the States on furlough.
Then they continued their missionary service in Cuiaba, State of Mato Grosso, during the years 1973-1985. It was during this time that Richard started and planted Boa Esperanca Baptist Church. They started meeting in their home living room, then moved to their carport. They came to the States on furlough around this same time, and Bobby Creiglow came to continue the building of the church until they returned. A building was constructed shortly thereafter. Richard also ministered and preached to the lepers in their own church located in the leper colony.
After fulfilling their work in Cuiaba, Mato Grosso, Richard supply-pastored in a church in Manaus from 1986-1987.
Wanda bears testimony to the sustaining Grace of God and His faithfulness to them and to her through all of their seasons of joy and difficulties: “four major surgeries for me, much demonic opposition, dangers on land and in air – and thankful for all the prayers offered for us and God who has kept us!”
Wanda is enjoying living in Lynchburg, VA where she is striving to live a Christ-like life and continue to be a witness for Christ. Oh! and she also greatly enjoys her seven grandkids and two great-grands!
Pray for her! Reach out to her through every means you can (call, write, e-mail), and let her know you still appreciate her and her service. She would love to hear from you personally, or from your Sunday School class, or your church leadership.
207 Shady Oak Lane
Forest, VA 24551-1113
434-316-2519 / home phone
wandaturner2017@gmail.com
When you designate your offerings for ‘Veteran Missionaries Pension’ or for ‘Founder’s Month Offering’ [they are the same], they will be applied toward the continuing and on-going financial honor and support of these faithful life-long servants of Christ.
Click here to give now or you can mail your offering to:
BFM, c/o George Sledd
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
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VMP: Louie Carver
Louie and Mary served in partnership with BFM from 1971-1987. They served as missionaries to Korea and the Philippines from 1971-81. Then, from 1981-1987, Louie served as Field Representative for BFM.
Here are just a few of the numerous churches they either established or nurtured during their tenure of missionary service:
- Shin Nae Baptist Church – Seoul, S. Korea
- Faith Baptist Church – Seoul, S. Korea
- Doo Mill Baptist Church – Doo Mill Dong, S. Korea
- Kai Pyoung Baptist Church – Kai Pyoung Dong, S. Korea
- First Baptist Church – Kai Pyoung Dong, S. Korea
- Open Bible Baptist Church – Saint Maria, Philippine Islands
- BFM Stateside Field Representative: 1981-1987
“I had to retire from active missionary activities due to illness. However, I am a member of Rocky Creek Baptist Church in Simpsonville SC. I have been in temperament counseling for 30 years. Due to progressing illnesses I have suffered over the past few years, I cannot preach or teach, however, I still conduct counseling through the ministry of our church as I am able to do so.”
Pray for him! Reach out to him through every means you can (call, write, e-mail), and let him know you still appreciate him and his service. He would love to hear from you personally, or from your Sunday School class, or your church leadership.
Louie Carver
259 Finley Hill Ct | Simpsonville SC 29681
864-346-5734 cell phone
wlc1939@earthlink.net
When you designate your offerings for ‘Veteran Missionaries Pension’ or for ‘Founder’s Month Offering’ [they are the same], they will be applied toward the continuing and on-going financial honor and support of these faithful life-long servants of Christ.
Click here to give now or you can mail your offering to:
BFM, c/o George Sledd
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
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VMP: Bobby D. Creiglow
Bobby and Betty Creiglow served in partnership with BFM from May 1960 to May 1993. Bobby also served as Stateside Field Representative for BFM from 1998-2003.
Here is Bobby’s missionary service testimony: “We began our missionary service in Faith Baptist Church, Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil. This was our home base from 1961-1973. There were five other Baptist Churches in villages scattered up and down the various rivers, and only two had pastors. My service included visiting these churches on a regular basis holding evangelistic meetings, and many times conducting VBS. During the same time period, I was the founder of two new churches, along with another that was started, but not formally organized until some time after I left the area. I visited there several years later and preached to a thriving Church.
Here are some of the churches we either established or nurtured during our 33 years of missionary service:
STATE OF ACRE [Served among these churches already established before I arrived…]
- Faith of Cruzeiro do Sul
- Faith of Moura Piranga
- Faith of Japaim
- Faith of Barao
- Faith of Parana dos Mouras
- Faith of Campo de Santana
I established these two churches during my first term:
- Faith of Humaita (1962)
- Faith of Colonia de Japaim (1963)
CUIABA/VARZEA GRANDE – STATE OF MATO GROSSO
In 1974, I moved from Acre to Cuiaba, Mato Grosso to build a building and a congregation for fellow BFM Missionary Richard Turner, while he was on his first furlough. When he returned from furlough in 1975, I turned a congregation of thirty members over to him. I continued working with him on the building that was finished one year later. He organized that congregation into the Boa Esperanca Baptist Church in 1978.
In late 1976 or early 1977 I moved just across the river from Cuiaba to the city of Varzea Grande, where after a reasonable search, I found there was no Baptist Church, in the city of 40,000 people, where I set up shop once again. A church building was built for the new church that was organized in October 1978. I served as pastor of the church until 1983, at which time the congregation numbered around 130, and was turned over to a Brazilian Pastor. Two boys, one three years old, and his brother, seven years old, that were in Betty’s first Sunday School class, were years later called to preach and organized a daughter-church from the one I had organized.
NOVO DIAMANTINA
Upon an invitation buy a lady saved in the Boa Esperanca Baptist Church who had moved 130 miles miles away to a city called Diamantina, I agreed to start a church in an area on top of the mountain from the city. I started this work by building the church house before ever having a preaching service. In fact, the first service was the inauguration of the new building. One year later, the Novo Diamantina Baptist Church was organized with 20+ members.
Bobby will be 97 years old on 25 July. He is under constant medical monitoring and treatments. As he recently told one of his converts from years ago in an email exchange, “I’m living every day now between the doctors and Heaven.” He has been housebound for the past year, too weak to be out and about except to be taken to his numerous doctors’ appointments. Also, after suffering a fall in his home late last year, he was hospitalized, and it was discovered that he was acutely anemic. He received the first of what would be several subsequent blood transfusions to replenish his body’s blood supply. He was referred to a hematologist and was subsequently diagnosed with failure of his bone marrow to replenish his red blood cells. After other treatments were tried to rebuild and maintain his blood counts, his hematologist prescribed him to receive an injection that acts as a ‘booster’ to his bone marrow and his blood’s ability to carry oxygen to his body. He receives these injections weekly.
He is greatly encouraged also by numerous contacts that have been re-established over the recent years with friends, former church associates, and converts in Brazil who have ‘re-discovered’ and re-connected with him through Facebook. Some of these converts and former associates in the churches he ministered in go back forty or more years ago. He is overjoyed to correspond with them again and hear them tell their stories of how they are continuing to serve the Lord largely to the credit of his ministry and influence on their lives. One of them in particular has gone from Brazil to Mozambique, Africa to serve the Lord there. It fills his heart and these later years of his life with much gladness. As he said during a recent visit, “God is so good!” Please continue to pray that God will strengthen and encourage him as he remains faithful to Christ to the end – that he will finish well.
Pray for him! Reach out to him through every means you can (call, write, e-mail), and let him know you still appreciate him and his service. He would love to hear from you personally, or from your Sunday School class, or your church leadership.
BOBBY D. CREIGLOW [Betty is with the Lord]
279 Mockingbird Ln | Lexington KY 40503
859-278-1932 / home phone
606-425-1424 / cell phone
bobcreig26@twc.com
When you designate your offerings for ‘Veteran Missionaries Pension’ or for ‘Founder’s Month Offering’ [they are the same], they will be applied toward the continuing and on-going financial honor and support of these faithful life-long servants of Christ.
Click here to give now or you can mail your offering to:
BFM, c/o George Sledd
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
Read more
The Challenge of Missions (Part 5) by John A. Hatcher
THE CHALLENGE OF MISSIONS
John A. Hatcher
Chapter 5
[click here for previous chapters]
MISSIONS IS ABOUT GOD’S SON
Missions is about the position and the eternal work of the Son of God. Although the persons of the Trinity have just been discussed, it is necessary to speak more about the work of the Son. He has preeminence in all of God’s plans and purposes. In mission work, He must occupy the very same position of preeminence. God has determined that Jesus shall have preeminence in all things. A study of the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Colossians will be of great benefit.
Missions is proclaiming to the world the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the eternal benefits offered to all who will receive His pardon and submit to His Lordship. “For by Him were created all things, that are in Heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church: “who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.” Col. 1: 16-18. Forsaking family and friends, sacrificing all material ambitions, doing good to men, and even dying signify nothing unless Christ is exalted.
Many means and motives have been used to promote mission service and stewardship: the illiterate, the sick, the enslaved of vices, the hungry, the dirty, and the dying. All these can successfully motivate service and giving without the mention or even belief in Jesus Christ. Real missions must follow the purpose of the Father and the Holy Spirit—to exalt the Son.
Jesus must be exalted for the Father has so determined. Paul wrote that the Christian’s growth: his wisdom and spiritual understanding, his fruitfulness, his strength for patience and longsuffering, his thanksgiving to the Father, his inheritance with the saints, and his deliverance from the powers of darkness are benefits received from the Son. Col 1:9-13
Jesus must be exalted for He is the image of the invisible God. He is the firstborn of every creature; He has the first place in every aspect of God’s work and dominion. All things were created by Him and for Him. He is the final and perfect revelation of God—He has first and final place in revelation.
He is the first to have overcome sin and the power of Satan. He is the first to have raised from among the dead. He is the first to come from and return to heaven. He is the first one born of and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He is the Sustainer of all things. He alone has the power and ability to stand between God and man. He is the person and message of reconciliation—the daysman of whom Job (Job 9:33) had not heard, Who puts His hand on God and on man—reconciling the sinner to the Holy God. What Grace! What a message! What a privilege men have to carry it to the ends of the earth! That is what missions is about!
In His exaltation Jesus is the head of the body, the church (generic). Idolatrous men carry their adored images and idols through the streets of many lands. They carry them on their shoulders to exalt, to praise, and to manifest their adoration, though their gods are dumb and dead. The churches of Jesus Christ have the privilege to exalt Him. He has redeemed them by His Blood. They are the heirs of His Kingdom. The church must carry the message of Jesus Christ on its shoulders to the ends of the earth. The processions of the wicked praise their idols; the church must walk in continual procession proclaiming the praises of Jesus. God is glorified in the church through the (Eph. 3:3) ages by the exaltation of Jesus Christ. God’s Son is what missions is about.
J.A. Hatcher
[Click here to view all “The Challenge of Missions” posts by John A. Hatcher]
Missionaries John and Alta Hatcher have served the Lord in Brazil since 1955, planting over 70 churches that are still in existence. They now reside in Florida where they continue to share the Gospel with everyone they meet.
15905 Mercott Court
Clermont FL 34714
229-529-8497
jhatcher1925[at]gmail.com
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Missionary Update: Harold Bratcher on Permanent Furlough from Brazil [September 2013]
Harold Bratcher served the Lord in the Amazon Valley for 52 years from July 15, 1959 through December 29, 2012. His dear wife, Marie, faithfully served with him for 51 years until her death in February 2011. The Bratchers organized over 20 Baptist churches and many other missions in Brazil. He is now on permanent furlough in Kentucky, still in the service of the Savior.
September 10, 2013
Dear Brothers of the Blessed Lord and Sisters of the Savior:
Once again we (Asa Mark and I) greet you not from the Amazon Valley of Brazil, South America, but from our temporary warm 88 degrees and cloudy Kentucky home where the sun is not shinning bright right now. We thank The Lord that we do have a home in Lexington, Kentucky, in the Hamburg area, that we hope to move into before the end of this month.
This Mission Sheets month began July 10 and finishes today. During this period I heard 14 sermons, or Bible studies. I also had the privilege of preaching at the Labor Day Conference, at the East Keys Baptist Church, in Springfield, Illinois where Bro. Dan Hillard is the esteemed pastor. I was the first speaker on Monday, after hearing Bro. Bob Jones, Bro. David Pitman, Bro. Bobby Greene and Bro. Steve Wainwright. We enjoyed a most blessed time of great hospitality, great food and fellowship. We also participated in a small way in a good offering for Baptist Faith Missions. Thank you East Keys Baptist Church for the good accommodations and love offering. We also appreciate Bro. and Sis. Greene, who drove us to and from Springfield. They were excellent traveling companions and we look forward to going with them to the Thanksgiving Conference, The Lord willing. I am scheduled to be the second speaker on Tuesday morning, the 26th of November. Looking forward to speaking and seeing many of you there.
During this Mission Sheets period, we have also attended services at the following churches: Linden Street Baptist Church in Richmond, Ky; Clays Mills Baptist Church, Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, and our home church, David’s Fork Baptist Church, all here in Lexington. We also had the privilege in July of celebrating dear Sister Ella J. Casey’s 92 Birthday. She has been a blessing to the Bratchers for over 60 years and still is.
I hope to continue to be a blessing to and see many of you, during this first year of my permanent furlough. I would like to report and thank each of you that have supported us during these past 53 years. The Lord permitting, until next month.
Yours in the Service of the Savior,
Harold Bratcher.
Yours in the Service of the Savior,
Harold Bratcher
1012 Balsam Drive
Lexington, KY 40504
(859) 277-3716
(859) 806-9827 cell
harold_bratcher[at]yahoo.com
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Missionary Update: Harold Bratcher on Permanent Furlough from Brazil [July 2013]
Harold Bratcher served the Lord in the Amazon Valley for 52 years from July 15, 1959 through December 29, 2012. His dear wife, Marie, faithfully served with him for 51 years until her death in February 2011. The Bratchers organized over 20 Baptist churches and many other missions in Brazil. He is now on permanent furlough in Kentucky, still in the service of the Savior.
July 10, 2013
Dear Brothers of the Blessed Lord and Sisters of the Savior:
Once again we (Asa Mark and I) greet you not from the Amazon Valley of Brazil, South America, but from our temporary warm and rainy Kentucky home where the sun is not shining bright right now.
This Mission Sheets month began June 8 and finishes today. During this period I heard 7 sermons, or Bible studies. I also had the privilege of preaching three times. The first time at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Oldtown, Ky where Bro. John Lybrook is pastor, the weekend of the 16th. I also heard Stephen preach, as Asa Mark was in Brazil, taking care of the house sale. The second time was Sunday morning the 23rd of June, at the Berry Baptist Church of Berry, Ky, where Bro. Carl Morton is pastor. During the Sunday School hour, Asa Mark spoke and Stephen sang as we enjoyed a time of great food, preaching and fellowship. The third time was the following Sunday at the Calvary Baptist Church in Richmond, Ky, where Bro. Bobby Greene is the pastor. I preached at the morning service there while Asa Mark preached at the Clarksville Baptist Church, Bro. Bradley Johns, pastor. Then we all enjoyed a great meal, and Asa Mark spoke at the afternoon service. We appreciate my sister in law, Deane Cruise and my niece, Donna Lynn, attending that service. Then Bro. Bobby and Sis. Sandra took us to visit our dear friends, Carroll and Bessie Sowers. Also during this MS period, we attended several services at the David’s Fork BC, our home church in Lexington.
I hope to continue to be a blessing to many of you, during this first year of my permanent furlough. I would like to report and thank each of you that have supported us during these past 53 years. We appreciate the invitations we have already for this month, and look forward to seeing many of you soon. We hope to be in Western Kentucky soon. Do pray for us, as this week, we have started earnestly looking again for the house the Lord would have us have. Also continue to pray that the Lord will heal Asa Mark’s eye, as both doctors in Lexington and Manaus, have done all they can. He is certainly able, and may He receive all the glory. The Lord permitting, until next month.
Yours in the Service of the Savior,
Harold Bratcher
1012 Balsam Drive
Lexington, KY 40504
(859) 277-3716
(859) 806-9827 cell
harold_bratcher[at]yahoo.com
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Missionary Update: Harold Bratcher on Permanent Furlough from Brazil [June 2013]
Harold Bratcher served the Lord in the Amazon Valley for 52 years from July 15, 1959 through December 29, 2012. His dear wife, Marie, faithfully served with him for 51 years until her death in February 2011. The Bratchers organized over 20 Baptist churches and many other missions in Brazil. He is now on permanent furlough in Kentucky, still in the service of the Savior.
June 9, 2013
Dear Brothers of the Blessed Lord and Sisters of the Savior:
Once again we (Asa Mark and I) greet you not from the Amazon Valley of Brazil, South America, but from our temporary warm Kentucky home where the sun is shining bright!
This Mission Sheets month began April 8 and finishes today. During this period I heard 19 sermons, or Bible studies. I also had the privilege of preaching twice. The first time at the Spring Conference at the Thompson Road BC in Lexington, Ky where Bro. Dave Parks is pastor. The second time was Sunday morning the 26th of May, at the High Point Baptist Church of Alexandria, Ky, where Bro. Ron Duty is pastor. During all the conference, we enjoyed a time of great food, preaching and fellowship. Also during this MS period, we attended the services at the following churches: Porter Memorial BC, Lexington Bethel BC, David’s Fork BC, all of Lexington, Ky, and Linden St. BC of Richmond, Ky, Glen’s Creek BC of Versailles, Ky, and the Lexington Baptist College Alumni Meeting at the Heritage BC, of Lexington, Ky. We also attended the funeral services of Dr. Hoge Hogensmith, Bro. Derek Gilpin, and Sis Eva Sams, 105 years old. I pastored this dear sister at the Valley View BC, over 60 years ago.
During this past weekend, we were privileged also to attend the 9th Bratcher-Porter family reunion at the General Butler State Park in Carrolton, KY. What a wonderful time we, along with Stephen, had there.
I hope to be a blessing to many of you, during this first year of my permanent furlough. I would like to report and thank each of you that have supported us during these past years. We appreciate the invitations we have already for this month, and the next one. I look forward to seeing many of you soon. I will be speaking on Saturday night, the 15th, one week from yesterday, at the Emanuel BC, of Oldtown, KY, where dear brother, John Lybrook is the pastor. The Lord permitting, until next month.
Yours in the Service of the Savior,
Harold Bratcher
1012 Balsam Drive
Lexington, KY 40504
(859) 277-3716
(859) 806-9827 cell
harold_bratcher[at]yahoo.com
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