November 1, 2004

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Savior:

Yesterday was Election Day here in Manaus. The mayor elect of this city is Senhor Serafim Correa. He defeated Senhor Amazonino Mendes. Please pray for the winner and the loser. We are remembering that tomorrow is Election Day in the USA. We are praying for the two candidates. “God Bless America”.

During this Mission Sheet month I preached 10 sermons at 4 different Baptist Churches here in Manaus. During the same period I heard 11 sermons preached. Six of the sermons I preached were preached at the 24th of March BC where I am the pastor. On Sunday night, October 3rd, I preached to a full house (Marie was present) at the Communion Baptist Church where Missionary Dr. Asa Mark Bratcher is the pastor. Pray for this church, as they need to move soon to a bigger and better building. On Saturday night, the 16th I preached at the Gethsemane Bible Baptist Church where Antonio Sena Vieira is the pastor. Pastor Antonio was celebrating his 40 years in the ministry and two years as pastor of the Gethsemane Church. On Sunday morning the 24th I taught for almost an hour and a half the first of eight lessons on the Introduction of the Old Testament at the 14th of December BC where Wanderley Rodrigues is the pastor.

During the month of October, Marie and I were made glad and made sad. On Sunday morning the 17th, our son Stephen M. Bratcher baptized our grandson Stephen Matthew into the fellowship of the Faith Baptist Church of Marion Oakes, Florida. Our son Stephen is a co-pastor with Pastor Randy Miller. We praise the Lord. Our prayer now is the Lord will call our grandson to preach. Friday morning, the 22nd, my oldest brother, Ira David Bratcher, 83, died in his home in Henderson, KY. David was the faithful pastor of First Baptist Church of Henderson for 20 years. May the Lord comfort his wife of 62 years Camille Harper Bratcher and their son Randy and daughter Pam. We were blessed by an e-mail message sent to us by John and Annette Newland of the Emanuel BC of Evansville, Indiana. That dear couple attended David’s funeral service and wrote us the details. Thank you, Pastor John and Sister Annette.

We thank all of you who pray for us. Please pray for the 24th of March BC as the church is losing seven faithful members – that is faithful in the past but rebellious during the last seven months. May the Lord bless during the Thanksgiving Conference with a large attendance and a bountiful offering. We love all of you in the Lord.

Yours in the Service of the Savior:

Harold and Marie Bratcher.

On the "Day of the Dead" this national pastor preaches the gospel to those who are dead in sin.