March 1, 2004

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Beloved Savior,

Permit me to begin this Mission Sheets letter with the translation (mine) of a hymn from the "Hinario Para O Culto Cristao," number 247. "COME, TEACH US, LORD."

1. Come, teach us, Lord, everything that we should know; by the laws of love, correct our ways.
2. Come, teach us to pray, for the peoples and the nations that do not know how to worship Thee, having the evil in their hearts.
3. Come, teach us to give our goods and our love that in every way we may proclaim that Thou art the Savior of the world.

This month's Mission Sheets letter tells of our happenings from February 1st to February 29th. During this shortest month of the year we heard eleven sermons preached and I preached one sermon. I received 1 back treatment from Dr. Mark Miller.

Three of the sermons heard were funeral sermons. In last month's letter, we wrote of the death of Pastor Raymond Kays of Richmond, KY. We attended his funeral service on February 2nd. The service was held at First Baptist Church of Richmond with 3 Baptist pastors participating. May the Lord comfort his widow, Mrs. Wilma Kays, and his children.

On Friday afternoon, I attended the funeral service of Rev. Carl Chipley. For six months in 1947, I was pastor of New Friendship Baptist Church in Harrison County, KY. A few months after I left, Brother Chipley was called as pastor and was pastor for 52 years. May the Lord bless his widow, Mrs. Emily Brandenburg Chipley.

On Monday afternoon, the 9th of February, we attended the memorial service of Malcolm Jones at a funeral home in Richmond, KY. I was Brother Jones's pastor some 50 years ago at Newby Baptist Church where he was a faithful member. May the Lord bless his widow, Mrs. Dorothy Jones. 

On the 12th of February, with the help of Lewis Marcum, faithful member of Heritage Baptist Church, I received my Veteran's ID card. 

On the 15th of February, with Marie's help, I spoke to some 50 ladies of the Heritage Baptist Church during the Sunday School hour about the Gospel in the nation of Brazil, South America. 

Pray with us for the Lord to bless Robert Mann of this city (Lexington, KY). Mr. Mann's mother, Dora Deane Mann, was for years a faithful member of the Ashland Avenue Baptist Church. After Brother Marcum and I visited him at his house, we are of the opinion that he is either unsaved or backslidden.

Please pray for Miss Elizabeth Ragland, 93 years of age. She is in a nursing home near Winchester KY. She is the daughter of Dr. George W. Ragland, who for many years was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lexington. Miss Ragland has been a faithful "mother" to many for the Lord Jesus Christ. She is now bedfast.

Also pray for the Calvary Baptist Church of Uniontown KY. This church has been a faithful supporter of Baptist Faith Missions for many years. They are without a pastor because Brother Jim Adams resigned after being pastor for some 8 years. He is now pastor of a Baptist Church in Henderson KY.

This afternoon, the February Mission Sheets arrived. We rejoice in the increase of the offerings for the General Fund. We say "Amen!" to the article on page 1, "A Message for Pastors."

Please permit us to correct the name under the picture in our February issue letter. The man in the picture preaching is not Ediberto Ribeiro da Silva, but our son, Stephen M. Bratcher. Stephen and his family visited Manaus and the interior of the Amazonas during the December holidays . In the picture, Stephen is preaching at the New Jerusalem Baptist Church, where Ediberto is the pastor.

May the Lord bless you is our prayer.

Yours in the service of the Savior.

Harold and Marie Bratcher

Stephen M. Bratcher