Missionaries John Mark and Judy Hatcher have been serving the Lord in Tournefeuille, France since 1999. They define their ministry as “disciple-making.”

December 7, 2013

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I realized last night as I was heading to bed that I had not yet written you this month. We do thank God daily for you as we pray and desire our Lord’s richest blessings and provisions for you. God has been so good to us. As I was helping one of the brothers in our church this week do some work on his house, I was once again reminded that God has given Judy and me good health and strength as our earthly age advances.

A number of things encourage us here. One of them is the increased interest of the young people who come on Sundays and a much larger group that participates in our monthly youth meetings. The youth meeting this past month went very well. These not only touch the lives of the youth but also their families. Just this past week, Amanda was able to spend some quality time with the mother of one the young ladies who has been coming. Contact with this family started a number of years ago when Philip and his family lived closer to us. Our grandchildren and children in the family of which I am speaking were classmates in the early years of school.

Seeing an opportunity, Amanda and Judy had a weekly “English class” for the children in this family and others. This gave greater contact and more opportunities to share our lives with these families. Even though Philip and his family moved to the neighboring town (Plaisance du Touch) four years ago, they maintain relationships with these folks from their old neighborhood. Some of these children accepted the invitation to come to the youth meetings.

This past week the mother I mentioned above, called and asked Amanda if they could get together. Amanda invited her over for tea. The mother talked about how much her daughter was getting from the youth meetings and that the daughter wanted a Bible like we used. Amanda took the time to show her excerpts from the Bible, and in so doing was able to share the Gospel with her. The Lord willing, we will see this young lady and her friends at the Youth meeting next week.

So, we try to “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time”. Your faithful giving makes it possible for us to continue let our light shine here in this dark corner of France. Please pray that God will enable us to effectively do so. Many of our conversations and discussions are with people who are set in their atheism (more than 50% of French are in this category.) Sometimes I “chew nails” in discussions with these folks who blindly ignore the evidences from God’s creation, but I must display the love of Christ in my demeanor. It is not human arguments or wrath that will lead them Christ, rather it is goodness of God that leads people to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Thanks again for joining us in the endeavor that God has set before us.

In Christ in France,
John and Judy Hatcher

4, rue d’Aspin
31170 Tournefeuille, France
JMHatcher[at]aol.com

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