April 29, 2004

Dear Fellow Servants,

“I read the two letters to the Thessalonians this week and I have a few questions.” This is how our Bible study with Benedicte started this afternoon. We continued with a discussion of the promised second coming of Christ. She has been studying the Bible with us for a year and a half. We are presently studying through the letter to the Romans, but Benedicte often reads in other places and comes with questions. She had also read through the Book of Ruth during the past week. Last week she began by saying, “This morning it dawned on me that if I am loved there is nothing I need to fear.” The Holy Spirit has clearly been working in Benedicte's heart using His Word. We delight in being a part of the process.

Benedicte, a talented opera singer, gave voice lessons to a lady who used to participate in Bible studies and Sunday morning meetings. This lady has moved, but Benedicte has continued to participate with great interest in weekly Bible studies. When she first began coming to the Bible study, she had no knowledge of the Scriptures. Pray with us that Benedicte and her husband Pascal as well as their daughter Mathilde will be saved. This is just one of the Bible studies that we hold weekly. 

We were moved to use Bible Studies as a primary means of witnessing from Luke's account of the Apostle Paul's ministry in Ephesus. You may recall that Paul and his companions had “…been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.” Nevertheless, later in Ephesus Paul “…took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” We want all of those in the country of France to here the Word of the Lord.

On April 9 we were blessed with the birth of Camille Mailys Hatcher. Amanda gave birth to Philip's and her third daughter, our third grandchild. Both mother and daughter are doing quite well. What a blessing it is to have Philip and Amanda serving with us and to be able to “see our children's children.” 

Another special event will take place on July 17, the Lord willing. Lydia is to be married to Adam Reece. They are to be married by her brother, Philip, in the backyard of the home where she grew up, the parsonage of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Evansville. 

This would be an opportunity for me to visit your church. We are planning on being in the U. S. from June 8 to July 20. I will have 5 Sundays and any weekdays you might desire available to visit the churches that support us. We will soon complete five years in France and would be glad to report to your church about what God has been doing here. If you would be interested, you can contact me by email at JMHatcher@aol.com or call the home of my father-in-law, Jim Foster, and leave a message for us. Of course, we are ready to preach or teach if you so desire.

Tomorrow is my father's 79 birthday, we are delighted to be able to speak to them by phone from time to time. Judy and I are both grateful for the godly parents our Lord gave us. It is a blessing to speak to my parents about the things God is doing around them and around us.

We thank God daily for your faithful support. May you enjoy His richest blessings.

In France sharing the Good News,

John and Judy Hatcher

Crowd gathered at John and Judy's house for Bible study.