VMP: Asa Mark & Lucia Bratcher
ASA MARK & LUCIA BRATCHER
I served as a missionary in partnership with BFM for 22 years, but I have practically associated with BFM since I was 3 years old. That’s when I arrived in the Amazon Valley with my godly parents on July 15, 1959.
I was ordained in May, 1977, and served as pastor of the 14th of December Baptist Church, Manaus Brasil, for the next 19 months. Then I served the Tabernacle Baptist Church, Manaus, for the next 7 months while missionaries Paul and Wanda Hatcher were in the States on furlough. Then for the next 3 years, I served as pastor of the Peniel Baptist Church, also in Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil. Then returned to the 14th of December Baptist Church for the next 18 ½ years, until December of 2000. In January 2001, I organized the Comunhão Baptist Church in Manaus, and remained as pastor for the next 12 years, until December of 2012.
On the last day of 2012, I arrived in Lexington KY to care for my Dad in his retirement after 53 ½ years in Brazil serving with BFM. I had the indescribable privilege of caring for him for the next 5 years and 3 months, until his glorious promotion to Heaven on March 23rd, 2018, just 6 hours short of his 91st Birthday. While we were making plans for a small birthday party, his Lord and Savior whom he served so faithfully for so long, had better plans. He had his 91st Birthday party in Heaven, organized by our Lord Jesus himself.
From April 2018 to March 2020, I continued to do mission work, spending 2 months in Manaus, and one here in Lexington. Since being stranded because of the Pandemic, both my wife and I have been working for the past year at the BAF Fan Company here in Lexington. This year Lucia and I will celebrate 41 years of marriage.
During these over 40 years of ministry in Brazil, Dad and I had the privilege and honor to organize or assist over 40 churches in 5 states. I also taught at the Amazonas Baptist Theological College and the Good News Bible College in Manaus and was a visiting professor at the Equatorial Baptist College in Belém in the state of Para.
Presently we reside in in Lexington KY. We appreciate all of BFM’s support during this time, and even today, as we have been receiving the missionary’s pension since January 2021. We thank God for every remembrance of you, and to God be all glory, great things He has done!
Update, 2023:
Lucia and I would like to take this opportunity to bring you up to date on recent happenings. Two years ago, I had to have cataract surgery on my left eye. I haven’t had vision in my right eye since 2013, due to a botched surgery for retina dislocation in Brazil. The cataract surgery went well, but 2 weeks later the retina dislocated. After immediate surgery, I was able to begin a slow but complete recovery. But I no longer was able to work at the Big Fans Company in Lexington, where I had worked for about a year. Since then I have been unofficially retired. Lucia is presently working at the Preston Greens Senior Living center here in Lexington as a CNA (Senior Living Assistant).
I have not been able to return to Manaus yet to check on the churches but hopefully will be able to do so in July, our Lord willing and permitting.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all the Directors and each supporter of BFM, for your daily prayers and continued support to the Veterans Missionaries Pensioners Fund and the Founders Day Offering. We faithfully receive a portion of those funds each month. Also in December we received a blessed Christmas gift, for which we were surprised and eternally grateful.
May our Lord and Savior continue to bless each one of you as we all strive to be faithful!
Still in His Service,
Asa and Lucia Bratcher
Asa Mark & Lucia Bratcher
1950 Falling Leaves Ln
Lexington KY 40509-8013
859-806-9827 / cell phone
ambratcher56@yahoo.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: Paul & Wanda Hatcher
PAUL & WANDA HATCHER
Paul and Wanda Hatcher served the Lord in partnership with BFM for over 40 years.
Paul grew up in Manaus, Brazil in the John and Alta Hatcher family. After marrying Wanda and pastoring here in the U.S., they returned to Manaus to serve in the Tabernacle Baptist Church. When John and Alta transitioned their church-planting ministry to the states in the south, Paul assumed the pastorate and leadership of Tabernacle Baptist Church. The church experienced phenomenal growth under his leadership and numerous churches were planted in the neighborhoods of Manaus.
In still later years, even while they were reaching Manaus, God laid it on their hearts to reach the states in NE Brazil. Through their outreach burden, vision, and efforts, numerous church-planting teams were sent out by Tabernacle Baptist Church, Manaus, Brazil, into the states and cities of the northeast. Churches that had been established in previous years were re-vitalized, and other church plants were established.
Just a few years ago, the Lord directed them to return to the States to provide care for their aging parents. They have faithfully fulfilled these services as well. They continue to serve and assist in their current home church in Clermont, FL.
Pray for them! Reach out to them through every means you can (call, write, e-mail), and let them know you still appreciate them and their service. They would love to hear from you personally, or from your Sunday School class, or your church leadership.
Paul & Wanda Hatcher
15905 Mercott Ct
Clermont, FL 34714
229-529-8497 / home
239-227-6551 / Paul’s cell
rphatcher@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: 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: 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
Spring Conference Recap [Monday Evening]
Our 53rd Annual Spring Conference began this evening at Thompson Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky.
The choir from Thompson Road opened with “Revive Thy Work, O Lord,” and the congregation joined in on the final verse (a slightly different version of the lyrics can be found here), followed by “Holy, Holy, Holy.” ♪
In his opening remarks, Pastor Dave Parks said, “If we’re not doing the work of God, we’re doing the wrong work.” Bro. Kenneth White then prayed specifically for the health of Pastor Glenn Archer, the missionaries, for our hearts to be stirred, and for the Lord to revive His work.
After, we sang the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” ♪ “As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.” ♪
Pastor Harold Draper, former missionary to Brazil 32½ years who now pastors Seventh Street Baptist Church in Cannelton, Illinois, was the first speaker. His text was from Psalm 51:12-13 about reviving the Lord’s work.
What is the Lord’s work? The souls of men. We are His workmanship! So if the Lord revives His work, it will be because He revives His workers.
Revival fires are started with small pieces of wood–not wagon-loads.
If you want to get close to the Lord, get close to somebody who’s close to the Lord. –H.H. Overbey
How can we be revived as His workers and thus His work be revived?
David had two requests in Psalm 51:
1) Restore the joy of His salvation
2) Anoint with His Spirit
Revival is when God’s people rejoice in their salvation.
We’re to never get over the thrill of our salvation!
Our Salvation:
- was planned in eternity (Ephesians 1:4)
- was provided for in the past (Titus 3:4; John 3:16)
- is presently protected at the throne of grace (Hebrews 7:25)
- will be perfected in the future (1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:21)
- is an eternal possession (1 Peter 1:3)
Don’t take your salvation for granted. Let it motivate you and revive you. (Hebrews 2:3)
Then after you’re revived and made spiritually stronger, THEN you will be effectual in mission work and in the Lord’s work.
“Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.” -Psalm 51:12-13
♪ It was fitting to sing “Saved, Saved, Saved” following a message that left you so grateful for your salvation.
All the Pastors in attendance stood up to represent their churches (probably 20-25??), all the way from Florida, Michigan, and Brazil!
The conference offering was then given (not taken ;)) as Bro. Stanley & Sis. Emily Keyes from Illinois ministered in song through trombone, piano, and voice. ♪ He died for me! ♪ This couple has been so faithful to come and play at the Spring Conference for the past 18 years–and what a blessing they are!
♪ We then sang “Send the Light.”
Missionary Harold Bratcher, who just retired from 53½ years of service in Brazil, brought the second message, mainly using Habakkuk 3:1-2. “I’m glad to be here, but–excuse my English–I’m even gladder to be saved,” he said, and then broke out singing “Blessed Assurance.” His message was soaked with Scripture and song.
Revival means to reserve something alive, to regain to life and consciousness, to give new strength and energy, to improve the position or condition of.
♪ O, the love that drew salvation’s plan. O, the grace that brought it down to man! ♪
“O Lord, I have heard Thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.” -Habakkuk 3:1-2
Bro. Bratcher read much Scripture in his familiar resonate voice–how encouraging!
Romans 1:16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Hosea 14:9
Romans 5:1-11
He reminded us to rejoice in the Lord always! Quit your complaining! Quit your bellyaching!
Do you have the blessed assurance that we have a heavenly Advocate?
He read a passage from Dr. Louis W. Arnold’s devotional book, found in the April 12 devotion, titled “Our Heavenly Advocate.” Satan accuses us day and night, but his accusations amount to nothing because we have an Advocate with the Father!
Safe am I in the hand of God. Isn’t it grand to be a Christian?! ♪ Using an illustration with his coin purse, he reminded us that no one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand!
He ended his message by reading Romans 8:31-39. Romans 8 begins with no condemnation and ends with no separation.
“Nay, no, não!” he exclaimed. In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
♪ The Love of God is greater far… ♪
We ended the evening by singing, “He Hideth My Soul.”
♪ His perfect salvation. His wonderful love. I’ll shout with the millions on high! ♪
We hope you can join us tomorrow! [Schedule]
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