March 2, 2004

Mission Friends,

This was a great month for missions in Brazil.  God is moving His people to sow abundantly so we can reap abundantly.  Our heart's desire is to see churches planted in every state of Brazil.  The gospel message must go out to every person in this land.  I visited the missions in several states this month and the results are reason to be thankful.

The mission in Belem in the state of Para, located at the mouth of the Amazon river, is doing great.  This month their attendance is over the two thousand mark with fifteen new believers in Jesus Christ.  We are praying the Lord will open the way for two new mission churches in this great city of two million population.  The Lord has raised two preachers there, Pastor Carlos Chaves and Jose Souza.

On the north side of the Amazon River is the city of Macapa, in the state of Amapa.  This city has a population of four hundred thousand.  Davi Ohana is the missionary in this great city.  Their inaugural service was two months ago.  Many have responded to the gospel there - twenty-eight believers at the mission.  This city can only be reached by air or water, it has no road connection with the rest of Brazil.

Wanda and I were also at Boa Vista in the state of Roraima this month.  The city is five hundred miles due north of Manaus.  It was a nice twelve-hour drive, most of it in jungle area or Indiana reserve.  There are four missions there.  Sunday night they all came together for a rally.  This was a wonderful service.  I preached on sowing the seed, a challenge for us to start a church in each subdivision.  Junior is the missionary at the oldest mission.  They have outgrown their building.  Pray for the land next door to come available for sale.

February is the season for carnival in Brazil.  It is a long, weekend holiday with much wickedness.  We have youth retreat during this period.  This year, our theme was holiness and missions.  We presented plans to start churches in northeastern Brazil.  We were praying for at least twenty people to surrender to missions.  The messages were delivered for the five days, and on the last night, we asked for a response.  First of all, eight young people stepped and responded to receive Christ as Lord and Savior.  That was a celebration - the best was still to come.  We bowed our heads and thanked God for the salvation of our new brothers and sisters.  Then we prayed for God to raise missionaries committed to reach out to other cities and states.  I asked for those who were called to missions - sincerely, I was praying God would raise at least twenty people for the present need.  When I opened my eyes, I was moved to tears - over one hundred individuals were standing to make their commitment to be missionaries.  Praise the Lord.

The following Saturday and Sunday we presented the vision to reach out to all the capital cities.  By Sunday night the surrender to go as missionaries totaled two hundred and forty-one individuals.  Truly a miracle was happening.  The church committed to pray.  Many made financial commitments to help.  Our work is cut out for the coming weeks and months getting these teams ready to go forth.  God is our strength; we need His wisdom.  Pray that the work will be completed.  We need your prayers.  Please pray for us daily.

Praise God,

Paul and Wanda Hatcher