March 8, 2004

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your prayers for us and the Lord's work here.

This month a new semester began in our seminary in Cornelio Procopio.  After having decided the night trips were too much for me to handle I did not teach last semester.  In February I felt it was the Lord's will for me to teach, so I am back at one trip a week.  There are five new students this year, making a total of fourteen students.

NEW ARM OF CETEV:  This past week Brother Epitacio Barros (Odali's brother) called asking for books for one of the courses he was giving.  He said:  "We are starting an arm of CETEV (Center of Theology Studies and Evangelism) here at the New Life Baptist Church in Caraguatatuba."  This is the church where A.J. and Barbara Hensley work.

That was good news.  This makes a total of five young churches which maintain seminaries in their ministry:  Central Baptist in Garca, Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cornelio Procopio, Faith Baptist Church in Marilia, Igreja Baptist Church in Catanduva, and New Life Baptist Church in Caraguatatuba.  When you add up the total number of students there are over fifty preparing for ministry.

NEW WORKS:  The new building purchased in Marilia is being used regularly for Bible classes and preaching services.  This is the mission work of the Faith Baptist Church.

In Jatobi, services are now being held.  This is the work of the Catanduva church.

Wilier, the young man from our church in Urai, and I visited one day in a housing project and I visited two other times.  In these visits I preach to more persons than I do in regular services.  Pray God will touch hearts.

Alta stays super busy helping the young people with Sunday School lesson preparation, making visits and teaching piano to Alice on the night I go to seminary.

May God bless each of you,

John and Alta Hatcher