January 1, 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Savior:

We greet you from the land of eternal summer. We have received reports that many of you are experiencing days of snow and very cold days. This Mission Sheets month is from December 1st to December 30th. I preached 10 sermons during this month. Five were delivered at the 24th of March BC where I serve as pastor. Two of the others were the final Old Testament lessons at the 14th of December BC where Wanderlei Rodrigues is the pastor. During this time I also heard some 9 sermons preached. 

At 6:30 am on the 6th, Marie, Janete Gomes Nunes (our son Stephen's mother in law), and I left Manaus with Francisco Chagas Braz as our driver. We arrived at our destination some 5 hours later. Our destination was the New Jerusalem BC, at Paraná da Eva. That night I preached at the church. The Church was celebrating her 16th anniversary. The following Sunday the pastor Ediberto Ribeiro da Silva baptized 15 believers in the river. The night of the 16th we visited and I preached at a special service at the home of Antonio and Lourdes Martins de Oliveira. Sunday night the 16th was a special service at the 24th of March BC. Ediberto preached and then he baptized Douglas, a young man and then I baptized two young boys. This was my first baptism since December 16th, 2001. 

Sunday night the 5th, we attended and I gave the final blessing at the 25th anniversary service of our son, Pastor Asa Mark Bratcher and our daughter- in- law, Lucianilda Auzier Bratcher. The celebration was held at the Communion Baptist Church where Asa Mark is the pastor. There were over 200 people present and it was a wonderful service. Monday night the 27th at the 24th of March BC, Marie and I celebrated our 50th Wedding anniversary. Asa Mark preached and over 100 attended. We thank the Lord for giving us these years together. 

We thank each one of you who pray for us. We thank also, all of you who sent us Christmas and New Year's greetings and well wishes. May the Lord continue to bless all of the churches, pastors and members who contribute faithfully to Baptist Faith Missions. 

Yours in the Service of the Savior: Harold and Marie Bratcher.

Harold and Marie Bratcher and Asa Mark Bratcher celebrating Harold and Marie's 50th Wedding Anniversary at the 24th of March Baptist Church.