December 2, 2003

Dear Friends,

Christmas Season is here and we hope that you and your family have a great celebration. Christmas is a special remembrance of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Missions is all about Christmas! It's about letting people know the Good News; that Jesus Christ came to earth, dwelt among us, died, was buried and resurrected, that He might give life everlasting to all who believe. We hope that during the Christmas season you remember and pray for us. Pray that the Gospel will reach every creature in Brazil and around the world.

Here is an update on the mission work in the city of Belem (population 1.3 million), capital of Para. We were in Belem for a revival. We had a good group at each evening, Thursday through Sunday night. We had a good visit with the missionaries that were there. Tabernacle Baptist Church has two missionaries that we support in Belem. After a week of praying and planning we are engaged in finding two new locations and finding buildings we can rent to start two new missions. Pray with us that we will find locations that are suitable and that the Lord will provide funds to rent and furnish the buildings (including chairs, sound systems and basic furniture).

We also visited the mission at the city of Macapa, state of Amapa. Macapa has a population of 285,000 people. The building is ready and looks very nice. We are purchasing additional chairs and will be having the inaugural service December 21st. We have a total of 15 saved people, mostly couples. Some were saved in the parking lot of the local mall, some in their homes, and we've not had a first service yet! Praise the Lord the doors are open and God is richly blessing the work in that city.

In Boa Vista (population 250,000, capital of Roraima), the missions are doing well. The outstanding moment this month was when the mission in the barrio da Liberdade 750 people for the Evangelistic service and there were 15 people saved! Pray for them as they disciple new believers.

Be in much prayer about the project to start new churches in the Northeast of Brazil. Tabernacle Baptist Church is very excited about the possibilities. Planning and training is in full swing to get teams ready to go at the beginning of 2005. Pray for this project and join with us as partners. The Lord has blessed Tabernacle financially to start many missions which involve training, sending and purchasing buildings to start new churches, but at this point the burden is beyond what we can do alone. We need your help.

In Manaus (capital of Amazonas) it has been a busy month as the school year ends in December. There are finals, graduations and enrollment for 2004. Overall, it has been a very good year. Many heard, were saved, and were baptized and were and are being discipled. The Lord has raised up new leadership, although there does not seem to be enough to send to all the places that need the Gospel.

May God bless you in this Christmas season. Pray for us and join us with your generous investment to start new churches. You can designate your funds to "Paul Hatcher - New Works." For further information contact me by email at hatcher@buriti.com.br or contact Jud Hatcher to present the work at your church at (757) 615-5300. We thank God for you.

Blessings,

Paul & Wanda Hatcher