Missionary Update: The Radfords in Kenya [May 2012]

Posted on May 2, 2012 by dparks

Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.

May 2, 2012

Dear praying friends,

Another month has come and passed so quickly, and we are now nearly into the middle of the year 2012. It is hard to believe how quickly time passes by. What a challenge there is to us to make the best use of the opportunities that we have to serve the Lord. What a great reminder we have from the Word of God, which states in Ephesians 5:16, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” This update will share current ministry progress, as well as prayer requests.

In regards to church planting, my good friend Roger Tate and I are continuing to pray, seek the Lord’s guidance, and work with groups of people in different areas of Kitale. We praise the Lord that one of the groups has already expressed a desire to definitely move in the direction of a church. Recently, a different group has also expressed the intentional purpose of moving towards a church. We are so excited with what the Lord is doing here.

In a different group, false rumors have been spreading in an attempt to divide and disrupt the ministry. We know that the enemy is not happy and he is opposing what the Lord is doing. While it may seem that this would be discouraging, we are actually excited to see how the Lord is working. This reminds me of Ephesians 6:12, which states “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” We are definitely involved in a spiritual battle, and we would covet your prayers for us as we continue in these ministries. A verse that often comforts me is 1 John 4:4, which says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” We are thankful for what we see God doing amongst the people.

The Annex prison ministry is also continuing well, for which I thank the Lord. We are continuing in our studies of the course “Firm Foundations – From Creation to Christ.” The men who have been coming seem to be growing spiritually from the teaching and studies that they are receiving. These men seem to be taking seriously their study of the Word of God. How we need to study the Scriptures well, and apply ourselves to digging deep into the truths of the Bible. 2 Timothy 2:15 states “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” I am thankful also for the support of the staff at the Annex prison, and ask you to please keep this ministry in your prayers.

In regards to the country of Kenya, please be praying for the upcoming elections, as this is an election year. Every five years, an election is held. As far as I know, there has not been a definite date selected. I have heard December of this year, and also March of next year. When the time for the election draws near, please be praying for fairness in the elections and also for the safety of the people of Kenya and those that work and minister in this country. There was a lot of violence in the country during the 2007 election and we do not wish to see these actions repeated. We know God is in control, and we can trust in Him at all times. What a mighty God we serve!

Please keep us in your prayers for our safety, health, and faithfulness to serve here. Also, please pray that we will rely fully on the Lord to help us each day. We are so thankful for each of you and greatly appreciate your cards, emails, or letters of encouragement. May each of you have a great 2012. We will do our best to keep you updated.

In Him,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200

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Update on Irene Orrick

Posted on May 2, 2012 by dparks

Irene Orrick was brought home this past Monday, April 29, and is being cared for at home for now with the help also of Hospice attendants.

They want to care for her at home as long as possible, though it may become necessary for her to receive care in some kind of facility when her physical condition weakens.

The report from the biopsy reveals the presence of cancers on her liver, and in her colon and lungs. Doctors are giving them a prognosis of maybe two months. She is still sleeping much of the time and eating very little.

I hope you will continue to pray for her…and for all of them.

[You can read the original post about Sis. Orrick here.]
[Irene Orrick went home to be with her Savior on May 9, 2012.]

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Please pray for Irene Orrick

Posted on April 26, 2012 by dparks

Dear Praying Friends – we are asking you to pray for Irene Orrick, Jim Orrick’s wife.

She has been suffering from congestive heart failure and declining health and strength for quite some time now, but was recently hospitalized with a rapidly increasing weakness and dehydration that left her just too weak to take care of herself.

In fact, the week we hosted our Spring Missions Conference, Brother Orrick came to Lexington just long enough to attend the Directors’ Business Meeting that Monday afternoon [2 April], and then had to return home to be with Irene.

Here is her present physical status:  over the past two weeks+ while she has been hospitalized, the doctors have conducted all kinds of tests to determine the source of her present weakness.  They have discovered the positive presence of cancer cells in her body, but they don’t know at this time where it is coming from.

They have also discovered a couple small spots on her liver, and the attending physician says that from his experience, he is pretty sure it is cancerous;  but again, he is not certain where the cancer originated.  They conducted a biopsy a couple days ago, and they are waiting now for the results of that biopsy to try to determine exactly what kind of cancer it is.

She is very weak and sleeps much of the time.  She has no appetite and they are trying to coax her to at least drink her Ensure supplement drinks to sustain her.  But, frequently, just drinking the Ensure makes her sick on her stomach.

They also are saying that the physical stress of these most recent illnesses have further damaged and weakened additional portions of her already-diseased heart.

Humanly speaking, the Drs are not giving them an encouraging prognosis…maybe as short as 2-6 months If they choose to treat the cancer on her liver [if that is what it turns out to be], they can administer treatments by way of pills that might lengthen her life by a couple months – but she has already rejected any suggestions of any kind of chemotherapy, and she is still weighing the pills option if that is what they choose to administer.

But, as Brother Orrick told me, “It doesn’t look good from here, but we are also talking with the Great Physician, and we haven’t yet heard from Him what His definite will and plans are.”  And, of course, they all know they are in His loving, gracious, and healing hands.

She is presently in Baptist East Hospital in Louisville – but she is so weak and exhausted, she wants to expend what little strength and energy and waking time she has to visit with her family members who are constantly attending to her.

You may send messages via email to jimborrick [at] gmail.com.

They are very grateful for the many kind expressions they have already received from many of you and others of their friends.

Please continue to intercede for them to God.

Grace and love to you all.

-Dave Parks

[Read an update from May 2]
[Irene Orrick went home to be with her Savior on May 9, 2012.]

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Missionary Update: Harold Bratcher in Brazil [April 2012]

Posted on April 13, 2012 by dparks

April 10, 2012

Dear Brothers of the Blessed Lord and Sisters of the Savior:

Once again we (Asa Mark and I) greet you from the Amazon Valley of Brazil, South America.  The 2 million residents of Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas are enjoying the pleasant weather of not quite so hot, due to the frequent rains.  The rainy season continues, but we have had no more blackouts and floods, for which we are thankful.  Tuesday there was a city wide bus strike, and the city turned into chaos.  The mayor was conveniently (for him) traveling, and confusion reigned, but that is the present reality of Manaus.  Manaus and the Mayor desperately need our prayers.  During the month of March, each Sunday morning, evening, Wednesday evening,and some Saturdays, I have left my house and home and gone by the taxi of one of our members ,Bro. Raimundo, or the car of Bro. Mario Jorge, to the 24th of March Baptist Church, where I either preached or heard a sermon by another preacher.  My assistant pastor, Bro. Williams Mendes, 49 years old, and his family, have been a blessing to me and the church.  Continue to pray for them and for us.

This Mission Sheets month began March 5th and finishes today.  During this period I preached 10 sermons, all at the 24th of March Baptist Church where I serve as the pastor.   I have during this period heard a total of 5 sermons preached at 2 different places.   Also, I  was able to pray at Marie’s and Joel’s grave, on Thursday the 5th of April, which would have been Marie’s 85th Birthday.  It looks real nice, with a granite marker, pictures, and a bench in front.  Besides the names, dates of birth and death, it is engraved with the words God is Love in portuguese and english, and the word SAUDADES (Remembrances and precious memories).  We sure have a lot of those, and the pain of temporary separation is great, but as I prayed, we are thankful they are already safely home.

May we all continue to heed the pleas of Pastor Dave Parks for more offerings for Baptist Faith Missions. I am praying that during the remainder of this year of 2012, he will not have to reduce the benefits and salaries that the missionaries of Baptist Faith Missions receive.  The Bratchers in Brasil need the prayers of those we love, as well as those that love us. Until the 10th of May,at least, that includes Stephen who arrived last month, to continue his ministry here for 6 weeks. Please pray for him, that he may soon have his boat totally ready for the planned river trips.  He had to cancel the first one to Olinda, because of problems with the new motor.  He has already been a Big blessing to us personally and the work here, as he always is. Continue to pray also for Asa Mark, that his right eye may be completely healed, of the retina surgery.  He is about 50 percent better.  I am doing well, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  On the 24th of March, I turned 85 years of age on this old earth.  In August, the Lord willing, I hope to celebrate 65 years of ministry, 53 of those in Brasil and with BFM.  To God and Him only, Be the Glory, for what He has done, is doing, and will still do through his humble servants.  Until next month.

Yours in the Service of the Savior,
Harold Bratcher
Rua Francisco Jose Furtado No. 2
Bairro de Sao Francisco
69.079-200 Manaus, Amazonas
Brasil, S.A.
harold_bratcher[at]yahoo.com

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Missionary Update: AJ & Barbara Hensley in Brazil [April 2012]

Posted on April 13, 2012 by dparks

The Hensleys have spent nearly 15 years serving in Brazil. They run a vocational school and orphanage in Caraguatatuba and have also established a church and mission points throughout the city.

Dear friends and family,

What a wonderful time we have had in the States. It has been so good that I have returned to Brasil 20 lbs. heavier. (Lol!) And guess what that means– I have had to increase the size of my clothes. And that means new clothes. Oh well, so goes life –next week I’ll start a diet (Lol!).

At Church Sunday we were welcomed back with a surprise party. Cake and the works. I guess this means more pounds. Not only did we receive a warm welcome from the Church people we also received a WARM welcome here in Brasil. The temperature has been in the high 90′s. How great it is to serve such and AWESOME God!! With  the temperatures being so high that means that the Church building also is extremely hot. Something like 105 degrees So I picked out place in the Church where a fan was blowing completely on me—-(just a little selfish). But none of this high temperature keeps our people from coming to Church, Sunday morning we had 104 in attendance and 140 on Sunday night. Our Choir presented a piece for our Easter Sunday that was great.

Upon returning to Brasil we found that a very dear friend is moving back to the States. His name is John Norris and he is a retired fireman from Florida.He is having some health issues with his hearing–please put him on your prayer list.

While there we had a meeting with a young man in Georgia, Jason Hamlin, and set up for us to meet him in Atlanta for him to visit Brasil one more time to see where God would like for them to base their ministry. His ministry is to train youth pastors all over Brasil. To start with, they will be getting some basic language training here in Caraguatatuba. And no, I will not be doing their training because if I did they would definitely have my mountain accent (Hillbilly) This is another prayer request, please put this family on your personal and Church prayer list.They are making a big transition with 3 kids.

This has been a fast-moving week here and we have lots more to catch up on in our ministries. So pray for Barb and I as we re-connect and integrate ourselves here.

We need a new bus!

Sunday night again it was so obvious that we really need a bus. The van was so over-crowded and the people were so uncomfortable but they did not murmur or complain. We work with some very special people.

While we were in the States we were able to visit many Churches and meet many new people. If we were not able to get to your Church we would like to put you on the top of our list for our next time. We would like to give a Special Thanks to everyone where we presented our ministry and preached. Everyone was so gracious and loving. We were treated like royalty.

We would like to thank BFM and all of you who support us financially and prayerfully. Without this support we would not be able to stay here in Brasil doing what God called us to do. Don’t take our word for what is going on here and what God is doing, come on down and see for yourself. We have been here long enough to be able to turn the bed down and put a mint on the pillow, so come on down.

In His service,
Aj and Barb
ajcaragua[at]gmail.com

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Welcoming New Director: Pastor Kenny Hurst

Posted on April 11, 2012 by dparks

We have asked Pastor Kenny Hurst to serve with us on our Council of Directors. Brother
Hurst is pastor of Storms Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Ironton, Ohio. Before being
called to pastor this church, he served in the church for more than 20 years under the pastoral leadership of Jim Orrick. Storms Creek has been one of BFM’s most faithful and generous supporters for many years.

Your Council of Directors pray, labor, and serve together to promote our missionaries’ ministries, administer offerings to supply their needs, and encourage others to join us to preach the Gospel to all the nations of the world. None of us serves for the recognition or personal benefit. We serve your desires to take care of the missionaries you love and respect.

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Future Goals and Objectives of BFM

Posted on April 11, 2012 by dparks

We began announcing several ambitious long-term goals for the future increase of BFM’s
Gospel ministry to the nations of the world. Here are a few of the goals and objectives
we have laid before the Lord. We are committed and willing to lead in accomplishing
these ends.

We are asking the Lord to provide the necessary funds for us to achieve these goals.
Everything we are proposing and committing ourselves to reach for is subject to
God’s will and will depend upon God’s provision for the financial supplies. But,
God is able and faithful to do just that! [Matthew 6.8; 2 Corinthians 9.8-11;
Philippians 4.19]

Goal #1: Eliminate the monthly General Fund deficits and increase our General
Fund giving by 25% over a three-year period. This will mean an annual increase of
approximately $125,000 over our present annual General Fund giving. Or, a $10,000
increase in our monthly offerings for the General Fund.

Goal #2: Increase the base salary of our missionaries by 20% over a three-year
period pending available funds. Our missionaries currently receive a monthly salary of
$1717.00 or $20,604.00 annually.
* 5% appreciation lump-sum bonus in December 2012 [$1030.00]
* 5% base salary increase beginning January 2013 [to $1802.00/mo]
* 5% base salary increase beginning January 2014 [to $1893.00/mo]
* 10% base salary increase beginning January 2015 [to $2082.00/mo]

This goal will require a significant immediate and sustained increase in our General Fund
offerings!

Goal #3: Increase the number of missionaries pending available funds.
* one to be added in November 2013
* one to be added in November 2014
* one to be added in November 2015

Goal #4: Change the retirement plan for new missionaries to a 401K or 403B type
plan: BFM would match 6-10% of their base salary placed in an individual account.

Goal #5: Encourage the missionaries to promote the benefits and services they
receive through BFM’s General Fund.  Support for the BFM General Fund benefits not only them personally, but also all the missionaries supported through BFM.  They would encourage support for BFM in their monthly ministry reports and also during their furlough visits among the churches.

Goal #6: On a three-year cycle each missionary and his works shall be visited by a
Director(s) and a Representative from his sending church beginning in 2013.

Goal #7: We will eliminate the “Car Fund” benefit since it has been unfunded and
defunct for the past several years.

Goal #8: We will establish a repository and archive of BFM documents and
historical records, both past and present.

Goal #9: We will encourage visits by sending/sponsoring churches to the mission
fields.

Goal #10: We will establish a schedule of church visitation among our
fellowshipping and supporting churches: every supporting church shall be visited by
a Director of BFM at least once every three years for the purpose of thanking them and
cultivating continuing relationships.

Please help us reach these goals by partnering with us in giving offerings to our General
Fund! None of these goals will be reached merely by wanting them, announcing them,
or publicizing them. We are asking you to join us to help make them realities for our
missionaries.

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FaithWORKS Report [April 2012]

Posted on April 11, 2012 by dparks

“BRING AN OFFERING…” Psalm 96.8
How to contribute to the missionaries who receive their support through BFM
1 – You can write and mail your checks to Baptist Faith Missions | George Sledd,
Treasurer | P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe FL 32747-1280 | grsledd@hotmail.com
2 – You can contribute online via debit or credit card by clicking on our DONATE/SUPPORT page. Click the appropriate button and follow the prompts.
3 – You may also enroll in an automatic recurring contribution program by going to the
same DONATE/SUPPORT page on our website and follow the prompts.

If your contribution is for a specific missionary or project, you should so designate it.
The greatest need we have each month is for the GENERAL FUND. The GENERAL FUND supplies the essential commitments we have made to our missionaries to maintain their ministries.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE
(Hooray! You’re here!)

We are making our website more and more our primary source of information for all
things BFM. We are updating and refreshing it every few days – and more added
features are on the way. We will be telling you more about them as we roll them out.
I want to take this opportunity to recognize and thank Jason Estes for his personal
contributions of time, expenses, and expertise to re-build and host our website.

And, also, I want to thank Sarah Wainright for her service posting our missionaries’
newsletters [and all our other news and updates] and for adding a whole lot of color,
variety, spiff, and attractiveness to her posts. Thanks, Jason and Sarah!

FURLOUGH ANNOUNCEMENT
Sheridan and Anita Stanton are planning to be Stateside from around May until the end
of the year. If you wish to contact him for availability to schedule a visit to your church,
you may email him at sestantonperu@hotmail.com or 615.500.8823. Their Stateside
address will be: 1012 Balsam Drive, Lexington KY 40504 | 859.277.3716

SPRING CONFERENCE REPORTS
You may read brief summaries of all our services by clicking here.

The Lord met with us during our Spring Conference services and blessed our fellowship around His Word and His mission. All the messages and presentations and reports were encouraging and challenging to us all to answer Jesus’ call to join Him in His Harvest.

We emphasized two broad themes during our Conference services:
1) The great things God has done through the ministries of the missionaries who have served with Baptist Faith Missions for the past 70 years. Thousands of believers have been brought to faith in Jesus Christ; hundreds of churches have been established…and are still being multiplied; and the Gospel of the Cross has been preached to numerous nations.
2)The still greater hope and future Jesus Christ has promised to give us as we continue to  love and follow Him.

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Missionary Update: The Wacasers in Brazil [April 2012]

Posted on April 7, 2012 by dparks

Bobby, Charlene, Jessie, and Brennen Wacaser have served the Lord as church planters in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, since 1985.

April 5, 2012

Dear Friends,

The group of 53 youth with their adult leaders from Brandon, FL did arrive and we had a wonderful week of ministry together with them. Projeto Vida partners with them by providing several resources during their week here each year. The sound system, transportation, meeting hall and additional skits and music help to provide a more complete “package” for evangelizing in the public schools and parks. The cultural exchange between the Brazilian and American youth also serves to motivate both groups. Each year we see more teens from the US deciding to get involved in missions more completely and also we see many Brazilian young people energized by the passion and dedication the American youth exhibit.

This week we plan to begin pouring the concrete floor of the auditorium. We have practically finished the classrooms and bathrooms and hope to install the doors and windows, finally. I have had to strive not to get frustrated with this part of the project. The window company keeps telling me that they’ll be there “next week,” but “next week” has turned into “next month” twice. I have been to the company and they have shown me the glass already cut and waiting to be installed. They are custom cut windows, so I believe that there is no intent to rip us off. I hope that by my next letter to you I can include pictures of the windows installed. Keep us in your prayers, please.

One of the Wacasers' first works.

You may remember that I had to reassume the pastoral role at my former church due to some legal and moral issues the man we placed there caused. Anyway, we do have a man in whom we trust to take my place there now and soon we’ll be able to work fulltime at the new church and partner with him and that church on special projects of evangelism.  We are thankful to Bro. David Hatcher and the Nova Igreja Batista in Manaus for helping us fill this role.

The two churches are busy this week calling on the people who attended our public park rallies and made professions of faith. We are inviting them to attend intensive Bible studies and introduce them to a life of walking with Jesus Christ. We hope and pray that we will be baptizing many of these people in the upcoming weeks.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support.

In Christ’s love,
Bobby, Charlene and Brennen Wacaser
Rua Manoel Valdomiro de Macedo, 2281
81170-150 Curitiba, PR Brasil
(813)436-9980
robertmw[at]brturbo.com.br

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Missionary Update: Sheridan & Anita Stanton in Peru [April 2012]

Posted on April 7, 2012 by dparks

Sheridan and Anita Stanton have served the Lord in Peru for 28 years. Their main ministry is church planting and they have helped establish churches all over the country. Sheridan also works to train pastors and Anita works with the ladies' ministry and developing children's material.

April 6, 2012

Dear friends and family,

Matthew 28:5-8 [5] And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. [6] He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. [7] And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you. [8] And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word.

Spanish speaking people of the world refer to “Easter” as “la Pascua.” There is much pomp and processions in the streets, all the banks, government offices and most of the stores are closed.  Here in Peru, both the Thursday and Friday before Easter Sunday are official holidays. In the small village of Churubamba, just twelve miles from Huánuco, they have a good enactment of the Passion of Christ each year.  People come from all over Peru to see it.  It is truly a different kind of cultural experience.

It has been my observation, in my twenty-nine years of living in Peru, that there is much more emphasis placed on the suffering and death of Christ and little on the resurrection.  This is not surprising, however, because the world in general has no problem with the death and burial of Christ; after all, everyone has to die someday.  Nevertheless, what the world cannot “swallow or buy into” is the resurrection because that part of the Gospel message is a declaration of miraculous power!  I have noticed in the past ten years or so, that Hollywood has cranked out numerous films either subtly or openly trying to debunk the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Besides the world’s denial of the resurrection, it seems every year “Easter Sunday” becomes more about Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies than the resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  I enjoy watching the American custom of our children hunting for the eggs (and the daddies helping eat the chocolate bunnies!!), but I pray we might all be reminded on this special Sunday to make sure we openly declare to all the world that “HE is risen from the dead!” We believe it and we declare it to all.  The Apostle Paul said, “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:14.  Without the resurrection there is no gospel message, no Christianity.  This is why Anita and I are serving in Peru – to give the lost people of Peru the complete message of the Gospel, that includes – “He is risen from the dead.”  I pray God will bless each of you this Easter Sunday with many souls turning from their sins and trusting in the risen Jesus as their Lord and Savior!

Last month I asked you to pray for a young man named Hilter about his upcoming foot operation.  Well, the Lord answered your prayers, the operation was declared a success and young Hitler is recuperating while hobbling around on crutches we bought him.  Thank you for your prayers.  He is one of many that continues to fill the ranks here at the Calvary Baptist Mission Church.

I made a short trip to Lima in March to get our annual immigrant visas stamped.  The middle of the month I traveled to a small jungle town called Naranjillo, on the outskirts of Tingo Maria.  Carlos Gonzales, my friend and a Peruvian pastor, has started a new work there and asked me to come and preach.  We had a good meeting with a few saved.  It is always a joy to see these new mission churches get started and then to watch them grow and mature as the years go by.

Anita and I are looking forward to seeing you soon when we come to the States for furlough in May.  She has a doctor’s appointment a few days after we arrive to see about operating on her knees.  The meniscus in each of her knees is torn and must be repaired and she suffers with constant pain from this condition.  It is hard for me to make a furlough schedule until we know the “when and how” of her surgeries.  As soon as I can, I will be getting in touch with you pastors and setting up a date to come and visit.  Please send me the dates of your conferences if you would like me to participate.  I always try to work our schedule around the various conferences.  We will be in the States from May through the end of December.  God bless you all!  Until next month.

In HIM by HIS grace,

Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Perú
South América
sestantonperu[at]hotmail.com – Sheridan
Phone: 614-500-8823
arstantonperu[at]gmail.com – Anita
Phone: 615-562-0529

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