October Prayer Letter

October 2013

Dear Praying Friends,

I have to confess, there are times that we get discouraged and weary in well doing.  It seems no matter how hard we work, how much time we invest and how many prayers we offer, nothing of eternal value happens.  We feel the heavy responsibility of your faithful prayer and financial support, so we understand why some of our churches have discontinued their support for more “fruitful” mission fields. 

But then God shows us that our weariness was due to our trying to grow fruit that is only produced by Him.  We realize our discouragement was from focusing on the “lack of results” instead of simply obeying the Lord’s command to preach the Gospel to every creature and allow Him to change hearts in His time and in His way.

How did God show us these things?  By reminding us that:
·        We have had six first time visitors in our services recently, and three have begun attending regularly. 
·        Our church attendance has almost doubled this past year!!
·        The Bible Institute has grown from 2 students back in 2010 to a new high of 11 this semester!!  Praise the Lord!!

Thank you for faithfully staying with us so that we can fulfill the Great Commission here in Portugal on your behalf!

To the ends of the world,

Mark Hale

September Prayer Letter

September 2013

Dear Praying Friends,

His hands shook as he gripped the pulpit.  You could see his legs shaking as he stood in front of the congregation and answered question after question from the assembled pastors.  He had studied for months in preparation for this day, but would he survive the terror that gripped his heart?

In late August, it was my privilege to take part in the ordination of Pastor Lenildo Monteiro. He has studied in our Bible institute for the past few years and passed each class with the highest marks.  He did the same in his ordination examination.  In spite of his fear, he answered each and every question with the authority of God’s Word.  All could tell this dear brother had spent time with the Lord and His Word.  The ordination council unanimously recommended to the church that they ordain him to the gospel ministry and the church did just that the next day!

He is now pastoring a Baptist church about an hour and a half away and we will continue to serve the Lord together here in southern Portugal.  Please pray for the growing Bible institute ministry.  It is vital for this country to have men and women who know God and His Word and can contend for the faith that is under attack from every direction.  Our first class begins Sept. 12^th and we are praying for many more Lenildos to study with us and become faithful pastors of Baptist churches here in Portugal and around the world.

Thank you for making this possible,

Mark Hale

 Pastor Lenildo

 The ordination council

August Prayer Letter

August 2013

Dear Praying Friends,

We passed out thousands of invitations to our Vacation Bible School, but would anyone respond?  After all the labor in preparing the games, crafts, lessons and meals, would anyone come?  After you, our faithful prayer warriors offered so many prayers on our behalf, would God respond with a miracle?

The answer is….YES!!  We had a high attendance of 17; five of those were first time visitors from our city of Lagos!!  Although we did not have any children saved this year, we are rejoicing because we now have solid contact with four families in our city who did not know about our church before this week.

This past Sunday, one family visited our church along with their daughter, who had attended our VBS all week.  They came because their daughter told them, “This has been the best week of my life!”  It was great to have them in our church and we enjoyed the long conversation after the services.  Please continue to pray for these four families, their children and their spiritual needs.  Only God knows what will be accomplished through this ministry.

Thank you for your faithful prayers!  With all the doors of opportunity opening for us, it is very evident that you have been praying.  Thank you for helping to make this possible.

Plowing and planting,

Mark Hale

You can view the VBS album following this link:

VBS 2013

Update

Last Saturday, a group from Living Hope Baptist Church in Albufeira drove out to Lagos to help us distribute VBS invitations.   In two hours, nine people passed out 2,000 invitations!  We are very thankful for their help!

Thank you for praying for the upcoming VBS!

The group from Living Hope Baptist Church.  

Pastor Mark Pereira is not in the photo, as he was our photographer.

The invitations

July Prayer Letter

July 2013

Dear Praying Friends,

When I opened the church door that Sunday morning, I immediately sensed something was different.  As the fluorescent lights flickered to life, I realized there were dozens of eyes staring back at me.  Green, glistening bodies were frozen in place, bemused half smiles on their wide mouths.  Everywhere I looked, there were frogs.  Had we been visited by an Egyptian plague?  No, it was simply the decorations for our upcoming Vacation Bible School. 

The theme this year is FROGS

F – Forgive

R – Respect

O – Obey

G – Give thanks

S – Serve

My wife has been planning and creating crafts, visuals, and decorations and now the church building is primed and ready to receive the children.

Portuguese for the most part, are uninterested in the things of God.  During the summer months, many head to the beaches and bars in a vain attempt to forget their empty and trouble filled lives.  Please pray with us, that God would touch hearts and draw parents and children to this time of fun, games, lessons, food and friendship.  Our VBS begins Monday, July 22^nd and ends Friday, July 26th.  In our young church’s first VBS last year, we had 14 in attendance and one was gloriously saved.   We are begging God for more this year.

Fishing for men (and everyone else),

Mark Hale

 Front window

Main bulletin board

June Prayer Letter

June 2013

Dear Praying Friends,

Last month we asked you to pray for L., a Portuguese man who recently began attending services in our church.  He continues to come each week, singing hymns, turning to each passage of Scripture and listening closely to every message.

Recently, we began services, but he had not shown up.  I sadly thought, “Oh no, he has quit coming.”  I continued leading the service, but with a heavy heart.  Then, half way through the song service, L. walked in, but not alone!  He had invited his friend, C., to services and she had reluctantly come.  (Just two weeks before, she had adamantly declared that she would never come to a church service). 

She is the sixth first time visitor we have had in the last few months!  She has continued to come and listens to my sermons with mild interest.  She has three children whom we would love to have in our services as well.  At times, we have more lost attending our church services than saved!  What an opportunity to preach the Gospel!!  In spite of Satanic opposition, God is at work doing what we could never do!  We know you are praying, we can see the power of God opening doors and hearts like never before. Please continue to pray for Windward Side Baptist Church in Lagos, Portugal and for all those in this city that God seeks to save.

Thanking God for your prayers,

Mark Hale

May Prayer Letter

Dear Praying Friends,

 

He had a good job, a family and a home, but like so many other Portuguese, he allowed alcohol to take over his life.  First, he lost his job, then his family and his home.  He came to Lagos looking for work and to try to rebuild his shattered life.

 

He found a minimum wage job at a hotel and stays sober, but his family lives in another city.  At the invitation from a man in our church, he began attending our services.  At first he was more interested in his cell phone than in my sermons, but the more he has come, the more interested he has grown.  He listens closely now and after each service, always assures me that he will be back the next week. 

 

Please pray for L., that God’s light would penetrate his darkness and that he will see that Jesus is his only hope.  Before any real healing and restoration can take place, he needs Christ as his Savior.

 

Please continue to pray for the Windward Side Baptist Church in Lagos, Portugal.  We have had three first time visitors recently and are praying that many more will come, hear the gospel and be gloriously saved!

 

Proclaiming Christ in Portugal,

 

 

Mark Hale