Thursday, August 31, 2023

August Prayer Letter

 August 2023

Dear Praying Friends,

He was born in the midst of the Great Depression and struggled to make it through the war years. Antonio is 90 years old and survived a massive stroke last year. He and his wife were visiting our church this past Sunday. Talking after services, I asked him what changes he had seen in Portugal during his long life time.

His eyes misted over as he looked back into his painful past. “We all were so poor in those days, we never had enough to eat and we never knew if we were going to survive the day. Those years, we were under a dictator, so we had few freedoms. We struggled so hard just to live back then and none of us were happy.” He shook his head and looked back at me with his eyes clear and focused. “But now, we have all these new, comfortable buildings, we have electricity, air conditioning and all the modern luxuries. We have new cars, we have new clothes, we all have enough food...” and then he paused and looked deep into my eyes, “...but none of us are happy, even though we have all of these things.”

I replied, “That is why God called us here, to tell everyone that true happiness only comes through having Jesus Christ as your Savior.” He nodded, he has heard this before since his son is a faithful Baptist pastor in northern Portugal and has witnessed to his lost parents many times. Please pray for A. and his wife that while they still have life, they would be honest about their sin and place their trust only in Christ.

Thankful for the joy we have in Jesus,

Mark Hale

Monday, July 31, 2023

July Prayer Letter

July 2023

Dear Praying Friends,

Three long years went by with the campground closed, first, because of Covid shutdowns and then a change in ownership. We wondered if we would ever be able to have youth camps again. Finally, this year, we were able to have our first post-Covid camp with over 60 in attendance!

For the first time ever, the majority of workers, counselors and teachers were nationals from the Baptist churches here in Portugal. This is a major development, since in all the years previously, the missionaries shouldered the burden of most of these labors. We all were encouraged to see the nationals stepping up to take leadership positions at the camp!

In total, five precious souls were saved, Michele got to lead a young lady to Christ and I was blessed to be able to lead two young men to the Lord! Always a great camp when souls are saved!! Thank you for praying and giving so that we can labor here on your behalf! We are encouraged by the number of national workers who sacrificed to labor at camp this year and are thrilled to see eternal souls come to Christ! Thank you for making this possible!

Rejoicing for souls saved,

Mark Hale






Friday, April 28, 2023

April Prayer Letter



April 2023

Dear Praying Friends,

Over 13 years ago, Michele began witnessing to a lady in a local grocery store. Over the months and years, Michele talked with her and gave her tracts and invitations to our church. Ten years later, she finally began coming to our services and started bringing her adult daughter, L., with her. For the past three and a half years, they have been faithfully attending and many times have questions for us after services. Both were religious but lost and very confused by the false religions they had been involved with.

26-year-old L. was the first to get saved. She has grown some and fallen some, most recently avoiding church for months as she got into deep sin and grew more and more miserable. Many of you have been praying for her. Praise the Lord, she got right with God last Sunday, confessing her sin and once again, determining to read the Scriptures daily, pray without ceasing and seek God’s will in regards to her life and her choices.

Last Sunday, 62-year-old E. bowed her head and trusted in Christ! It has been a very long road, especially for Michele, who has been witnessing to this lady for over 13 years, teaching her for 3.5 years in Bible studies, and had many late night phone calls with her over her worries, fears, and
doubts about her salvation. E. is now gloriously saved and we are praising the Lord and thanking each one of our prayer warriors who labored in prayer for this lady! Please pray for N., E.’s lost husband and L.’s father. We would love to see this entire family saved and serving God here!

Plowing, planting, watering, weeding and finally reaping,

Mark Hale

Thursday, March 30, 2023

March Prayer Letter


March 2023

Dear Praying Friends,

He works 12-hour days in the restaurant, preparing food for the thousands of visiting tourists and he tries to maintain a good testimony to the lost workers and customers there. Around him, they curse, tell lewd jokes and laugh about abominations. Without realizing it, that influenced him. Once in a while, like every other Christian, he stumbles and falls. The other day, during the lunch rush, he burned himself and a curse word slipped out. He was mortified and immediately bowed his head and prayed aloud for God to forgive him. Then he apologized to his fellow workers. Later in the day, he got to witness to a waiter who is a professed atheist and to a fellow chef who is a Hindu.

She is the only one saved in her family. Since her family is actively involved in the occult, witnessing is stressful and always difficult. Recently, she had a meal with her family and her sister began insulting and provoking her. She angrily snapped at her sister and immediately felt the conviction of the Holy
Spirit. She apologized to her sister and was met with shocked silence. Later that evening, she was surprised that she got to witness to her sister.

It is amazing how the Holy God can use sinners saved by grace to share His gospel with the lost and dying world around us! May each of us strive to walk closer with our Savior, so even in times of testing, we will reflect only Christ!

Reflecting Him?


Mark Hale

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

January Prayer Letter

 January 2023

Dear Praying Friends,

He leaned forward on the sofa and said, “I would like to ask you a philosophical question. When we die, will we see our loved ones again?” I answered him, “That all depends on two things, first, if you have accepted Christ as your Savior and second, if they did before they died.” He nodded and said, “I know I have Jesus as my Savior, so I know I will go to heaven when I die.” But then he grew quiet and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, dabbing at his eyes. He couldn’t say the same for the loved ones he was referring to. “B” is an older gentleman, well educated, successful and very intelligent who chose to retire in southern Portugal with his dear wife. As he grows older, his thoughts about life and eternity become ever more serious. I thank God “B” knows Christ as his Savior, but my heart breaks for those in his family who may have died without the Lord.

D. is an older lady whose husband recently suffered a stroke. Michele visited with her to see if we could help. In their conversation, she brought up her daughter who went home to be with the Lord a few years ago. “Do you think I will ever get to see my daughter again?” Her sadness was palpable. Michele responded, “If you confess your sins and trust only in Christ as your Savior, then yes, you will see her again since she is in heaven.” Donna protested “But I am not a sinner, I am a good person.” “But have you ever done anything that you knew was wrong?” Michele asked. D. bowed her head and confessed, “Yes, I have.” D. knows the gospel but has a problem admitting she is a sinner and incapable of earning her way to heaven.

Two people with the same question but from opposite ends of the spectrum. Please pray for “B” that God would comfort his heart and please pray for D., that she would repent and trust in Christ while she has life.

Thanking God for our hope in Christ,

Mark Hale

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

December Prayer Letter

 

December 2022

Dear Praying Friends,

A. was saved a few months ago and has grown spiritually ever since. She is a stay-at-home mom and her husband, J., willingly works long hours so that she can do this. They both believe that their biblical responsibility is to raise their one-year-old son in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They are doing a great job so far!

Because of all the filth that is being taught and promoted in public schools, they both believe that home schooling is their best option. Portuguese law demands that the teacher have at least a bachelor’s degree in education to do this, so J. and A. have been researching how they could do this in the next three to four years before little J. is school age. A. plans to start classes in July toward earning a teaching degree in time to be able to homeschool their little boy.

Please pray for this young family, that God will stretch their limited budget for A.’s education, that God will give her the ability to study as well as care for their little son and that their precious boy would be spared the indoctrination of abominations, violence and immorality that is so prevalent in public schools.

Praying for parents,

Mark Hale

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

November Prayer Letter


November 2022

Dear Praying Friends,

Thanksgiving is always the forgotten holiday nowadays, but I wanted to share with you some
things that I am thankful for:

 · I am thankful that God loved me enough to save me and that He loves the entire world so much that He died and rose again to save them!

· I am thankful that God called me to preach His word and serve Him as a missionary!

· I am thankful for my godly, beautiful wife who faithfully serves by my side and sacrifices daily to fulfill the great commission. I am truly blessed to have her in my life!

· I am thankful for our son, Joshua and his godly wife, Rachel, who are faithfully serving the Lord in the States!

· I am thankful for the churches that have been established, the preachers who have been trained and the souls that have been won during the 37 years we have been missionaries!

· I am thankful for Christmas and our privilege to celebrate the Lord’s birth!

· I am thankful for every one of you who prays and gives to keep us on the field here in Portugal! Only eternity will reveal all that your sacrifices have accomplished across the world for the Lord!

It is our prayer and deep desire, that each of you will have a blessed Christmas this year and that the new year will bring blessings, victories and many more souls saved for God’s honor and glory! May each one of us seek to reflect Christ’s light to our darkened and hopeless world.

Thankful,

Mark Hale