October 13, 2003

Dear Friends

God be praised for His faithfulness. He has sustained us, used us, and filled our hearts with joy. "I will never leave you nor forsake you" are words that have taken on new meaning as the age of weariness, wrinkles and the wonderment of forgetting wants to take over, and does. We have had great days and blessings from the Lord. Rejoice with us.

NEW CHURCH ORGANIZED

On September 21, the Faith Baptist Church was constituted in Marilia, State of Sao Paulo. I do not remember the number of members but about 30. Four were baptized on Saturday, the 20th of September. A large number of brethren came from other sister churches, some as far as three hundred miles away. This work was begun many years ago in a bus which went to the area every Sunday afternoon. Land was purchased and a nice building has been built. This was the work of the Central Baptist Church in Garca. Odali is now pastor there. Several young preachers have helped in this Mission, but the person God has used in a most marvelous way is Maria, who several years ago moved from Duartina to Marilia to work. She had worked in Duartina until the church was organized. Maria is one of God¹s choicest saints and she will be a show piece of God¹s grace in Heaven.

The pastor of this church is Gilberto Stefano. He was saved in the work at Cornelio Procopio in 1983, studied in the Seminary in Garça, pastored the Galia Baptist Church for several years and recently has worked in Marilia. He is married to Valeria, a young lady from Galia whom I baptized when she was a little girl. They have two lovely children: Lara and Filipe. This year Gilberto started seminary classes in their church and have eight students. The church has two regular preaching services in other parts of the city.

SPECIAL SERVICES IN CATANDUVA

Alta and I spent the weekend of Sept, 26-28 with the Independent Baptist Church in the city of Catanduva, about 300 miles northeast of Urai. I preached four times from the book of Hebrews. This work was begun by missionary Calvin Gardner. When organized the church called Luis dos Santos as their pastor. He and his wife, Daniela are dedicated Christians. Luis is a graduate from our seminary in Garça. This young church is going to begin a Mission in another city and our people in Urai have decided to assist financially in rent of a meeting place and the preparation of benches. This year Luis began seminary classes in their church with ten students. 

NEW MEETING PLACE IN CASA DA FAMILIA ALMOST READY 

The new house purchased recently in Cornelio Procopio for the Mission Casa da Familia is being remodeled into an auditorium. It is looking nice. Lights are installed and the house is ready for painting. Now they have one small house with four classrooms, and the new auditorium, fifteen feet to the side, with a ramp joining the two houses. Best of all, the two lots will provide ample space for future enlargement. This is a Mission of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cornelio. The pastor of the church, Valdir and the pastor of the Mission, Silvio, and their wives are graduates of our Seminary. Valdir, his wife, Sonia and Silvio were saved and baptized in the work at Cornelio. Silvio¹s wife, Kelly, was saved and baptized in Duartina. She is a product of Maria¹s faithfulness.

The work is spreading and growing. The harvest is great and the Master says that we should pray for laborers. The field is the world. Pray for men to go and pray for men to send.

Still pressing on,

John and Alta Hatcher

John and Alta Hatcher and granddaughter, Lydia.

Pastor Gilberto and family. Both were saved at an early age under the ministries of John and Alta Hatcher.