July Prayer Letter

July 2018

Dear Praying Friends,

I remember vividly the first time I preached and souls were saved. It was an amazing experience to be used by the Almighty God to reach hell bound sinners with His gospel.  Now, our son, Joshua has experienced this for the first time in his short ministry.

When I asked him if he would be interested in teaching the boys at youth camp, he jumped at the opportunity.  He studied and prepared lessons in conjunction with the theme of the camp “More than” (Romans 8) and his lessons were “Jesus was more than just a common man”, “Jesus’ death was more than just a common death” and “The life that Jesus gives is more than just a common life”.  He preached that first day and God really took hold of the boys’ hearts. Two came forward and were gloriously saved, two more came for assurance of salvation and another in the group surrendered his life to be a preacher either in Portugal or as a missionary in another country.

This experience has fanned the flames of Joshua’s determination to preach God’s word and accomplish the Lord’s will for his life. Thank you for praying for him and for us as we continue to minister here in southern Portugal. By the time he heads back to the States August 14th to continue his studies at Bible college, he will have preached here 12 times.  He has experienced the miracle of seeing folks saved and lives changed as God used his preaching to touch hearts. We are thankful to the Lord and to you, our faithful prayer warriors. This is fruit to your account! 

Thanking my Heavenly Father for my son,

Mark Hale

Teaching the younger boys

Lifeguard duty

June Prayer Letter

June 2018

Dear Praying Friends,

We have known her for 11 years, talking with her and witnessing when God gave the opportunity, yet as a typical Portuguese, she deflected and delayed and came up with reasons to avoid the biblical truth we tried to share.

We see her multiple times each week.  Recently she called up Michele and asked us to pray for her mother who was diagnosed with cancer.  Of course, we prayed and had both of our churches praying as well, asking God for not only physical healing, but spiritual as well. Her mother had surgery, the tumor was successfully removed and she seems to be making a full recovery. 

E. came to a church service to thank us for our prayers and remark how those prayers seemed to make the difference. She listened closely as I preached God’s word and carefully explained the plan of salvation.  She stayed after the service to fellowship with our members and has promised to return again.  Please pray for E. and her husband, two sons, and mother.  They are the typical Portuguese family: nice, honest and hard-working, yet living in deep darkness. They claim to be Catholic, yet never attend mass, claim to believe in God but make no effort to come to Him.  Please pray for E.

Seeking the lost sheep for Him,

Mark Hale