June Prayer Letter

June 2026

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

Sometimes God shuts a door and we just don’t understand why. With Western Europe suffering the worst heat wave in years, the decision had to be made about whether to go ahead and have camp. But with temperatures ranging between 103F to 109F, the risk to both campers and adults was too great. So, with heavy hearts, camp for 2026 was cancelled. (Please bear in mind, this camp is outdoors in tents, not in air-conditioned buildings.)

 

Each church is holding special activities for their children and youth (ours included) and we are trying to make these events fun but also a time for evangelism and Christian growth. It is not the same as camp, but it is the best we can do under the circumstances.

 

Thank you, each and every one who prayed for camp this week!! Your prayers have not been in vain. With each special activity, it is our prayer that the lost will be saved and the saved will be drawn into a closer walk with Christ. Only in eternity will we understand why God allowed this to happen, I am so very glad we can trust Him completely even when we don’t understand!!

 

Trusting in His wisdom,

 

Mark Hale

May Prayer Letter

May 2026

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

Please remember to pray for our upcoming youth camp on July 7-11. It is always a time of unrelenting heat, much work, little sleep but many precious souls saved and lives changed (which is why we do this every year!) 

 

We are taking three young people with us this time. Please pray for them:

1. One young lady is saved but really struggling with living for the Lord. She has made some serious mistakes recently in her quest to be accepted by her lost classmates and friends. We are praying she repents of her carnality and falls in love with Jesus all over again.

2. One young lady is religious but lost and mistakenly believes her good works are all that she needs to go to heaven. Her father recently passed away and she is reeling from the loss. Our prayer is that she will be saved this week and return to witness to her lost family.

3. One young man has made a profession of faith but it is clear that he is not truly saved. He attends services but sleeps through the sermons. Our prayer is that he will understand religious works and repeating prayers cannot save anyone and that this week he will truly come to Christ and be saved.

 

We KNOW that you are prayer warriors and are confident that with you lifting up these youth in prayer along with us, that God will work miraculously and have His perfect will done in each life.

 

Praying for victories,

 

Mark Hale

April Prayer Letter

April 2026

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

I am still surprised and a bit shocked. After an almost two year long struggle to renew our permanent visas, our paperwork was finally approved and we are now waiting to receive the cards in the mail! Why did this finally happen? Because you prayed without ceasing for this vital prayer request!

 

We are so humbled and thankful for you, our prayer warriors, who bring us before the Lord in your daily prayers! So many of you just kept on praying in spite of the hopeless looking situation! In our modern culture of instant gratification, you fought against that current and kept on praying with us for this important renewal in spite of how long it took! THANK YOU!!

 

Thinking of you dear friends, I am reminded of James 5:16b “...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Your unceasing prayers in spite of the spiritual opposition and lack of visible progress availed MUCH! It is truly our honor to represent you here in southern Portugal. May God richly bless you for your faithful ministry in prayer!

 

So thankful for your prayers,

 

Mark Hale

March Prayer Letter

March 2026

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

In 41 years as missionaries, we have never had this happen. Almost two years ago, we began what we thought would be a normal renewal of our “permanent visas” but this has been anything but “normal”. The new government agency now in charge of this has been backlogged with over one million people waiting for documents. After months of fruitless attempts, we finally got an appointment and went with all the required documents. Then, we waited and waited, but most importantly, asked you to pray.

 

After months of silence, the government website showed that Michele’s application was approved but mine was still being “analyzed”. Yesterday, my application status was finally approved as well!! Hopefully, we will soon receive the new permanent visa cards in the mail.

 

THANK YOU for praying for this impossible situation!!! Only God could make this happen and we are so grateful to you for faithfully remembering this in prayer! Your prayers made all the difference!!

 

Thanking God for answered prayers,

 

Mark Hale

February Prayer Letter

February 2026

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

“Oh, brother Mark, I am just too busy to read the Bible every day.” “Oh pastor, I have difficulty reading, the Bible is just too hard.” Trust me when I say, I have heard most of the excuses for not reading God’s word. None of them are valid, but people try to convince themselves they are.

 

She is 61 years old and cannot read. Because of poverty, she went to work instead of school. She has survived all her life but has been severely limited in the kind of work she does. We had the privilege to lead this precious lady to Christ last year and the first thing she wanted to know, was “how to read the Bible” with her inability to read. 

 

Michele helped her download an app onto her phone that allows her to listen while the Bible is read. Every morning, she listens to the Word of God while she drinks her coffee and eats her breakfast. She didn’t try to make an excuse, even though she had a valid reason for not reading the Bible, but instead, her hunger for God and His word led her to a modern solution to her difficult problem. Praise the Lord for a new Christian who instead of making excuses, found a solution to have God’s word daily in her life!

 

Praising God for His word,

 

Mark Hale

January Prayer Letter

January 2025

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

At times I wonder if anyone is really paying attention. I study, I pray, I practice and I preach, but sometimes weeks go by and little happens. I begin to question myself, to examine my heart, to ask God if the problem is me. I have preached for over 48 years and the responsibility is always heavy on me. I used to deal with a gripping terror of public speaking, now my fear is that I will waste the opportunity God has given me to preach His word.

 

When Covid came and our church was not allowed to meet in person, we began a video ministry for our homebound church folk. Soon, others heard of our videos and requested we do them in English as well as in Portuguese. We now have almost 1500 videos on our church website and we continue this ministry to this day. People in 15 countries watch our videos and we are amazed at how God has grown this ongoing evangelistic tool.

 

Recently, a church in Brazil asked if we could send them the sermon links so they could watch our videos when their pastor cannot be there to preach to them. I was encouraged at how God is using this technology for us to minister across oceans and on different continents! Only God knows how He will use the teaching and preaching of His word to reach our world for Him. Thank you for making it possible for us to minister here in Portugal and in 15 countries across our world!

 

Amazed at our God,

 

Mark Hale

December Prayer Letter

December 2025

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

The pain woke me at 4 that morning and within a few hours had grown to burning agony in my lower back and abdomen. I recognized it, kidney stones. I have had these twice before (a genetic family “blessing”). In spite of seven years of avoiding foods and beverages which can cause these types of stones, I was suffering a third attack. We finally were able to see my doctor and he prescribed a CT scan which revealed a large stone blocking my left kidney. Surgery was scheduled and the stone was removed, praise the Lord.

 

My recovery has been frustratingly slow but I am making progress. Even more changes in diet and beverages, Lord willing, will keep me from suffering a fourth attack of kidney stones. I have a second surgery scheduled in February to remove the stent left in for a couple of months to help recovery of the

affected kidney.

 

We have two important prayer requests:

1. Please pray with us that my kidneys will recover and function properly. I just had blood work done but it will be a week before the results are in so that we can know whether or not my kidney function is recovering.

2. Michele’s permanent visa was approved but mine is still rejected. We have turned in all additional paperwork they demanded, but it has been months of silence.

 

Thank you so very much for your prayers!!!

 

Mark Hale

November Prayer Letter

November 2025

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

I was 17 and in my first semester of Bible college when my pastor announced, “Mark, next Sunday evening, you’re going to preach.” The cold fingers of fear squeezed my heart and lungs as I squeaked out, “Me?” My pastor nodded his head and said, “God has called you to preach, it’s time you got started.”

 

All that week as I prepared my sermon, I prayed for the rapture or death. Either one was fine by me. But God didn’t answer my prayers and Sunday arrived. I stood with trembling hands and legs and crammed a 30-minute message into 17 minutes. But I survived!

 

Now, 48 years later, I just preached my 9,000th message. I have had the privilege of preaching the gospel on four continents in four languages and had hundreds and hundreds saved. Has this been because of me? NO! Only because of Christ!! I know that when I am carnal, He is holy! When I am impatient, He is longsuffering! When I am cruel, He is merciful! When I am weak, He is strong! When I am afraid, He is peace! I am still that terrified teenager as every time I preach, I have the same struggle with fear. The only

way that I can preach is by reminding myself of Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

 

So thankful for HIS strength,

 

Mark Hale

October Prayer Letter

October 2025

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

The first time I asked him to pray during a church service, his eyes widened and he looked like he would die of a heart attack. Over time, he has grown and matured in Christ and now prays earnestly when I ask him to without the wide eyes and fear choked words.

 

Recently after a Sunday service, he stood nervously nearby, looking like a school boy waiting at the door of the principal’s office. “Pastor, I have something I have to tell you.” I nodded and gave him my full attention. “I know God is calling me to preach and I would like to know if we can begin studying together to help me prepare for this.” I knew his fear of public speaking, I have that same fear, so I asked, “Is this something you want to do?” He looked at me with those same terror filled eyes and simply shook his head, too frightened to even speak.

 

As we study together, he is always prepared and knows the material well. He loves the Lord, loves studying the Bible and is anxious to grow and mature in Christ. His precious wife is right by his side, supporting his studies and his calling. She understands the responsibilities of being a pastor’s wife and is willing to obey the Lord. Please pray for J and A and their three children. They have already been responsible for J’s 61-year-old mother, L, coming to Christ and continue to be a witness to their lost families. J is the seventh man God has called to preach here in our ministry in Lagos, praise the Lord!!!

 

Joyfully training those God calls,

 

Mark Hale

September Prayer Letter

 September 2025

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

As we waded out into the surf, she confided that she had almost drowned as a

child and had always struggled with water ever since. She was absolutely

terrified of the ocean and was weeping as we made our way out from the

shore. I thought, “Now, you tell me this?” I tried to calm her but her childhood

terror took over. She said, “Pastor, I don’t think I can do this. I don’t think I

can be baptized.” She gripped my arm in terror as the waves washed around

us, she wept openly, hiding her face from the scene.

 

I normally wade out about rib cage deep into the water to make baptizing

easier, but because of this dear lady’s fear, I stopped when we were just waist

deep in the sea. She said, “I cannot have water go over my face, just the

thought of having water over my face, terrifies me!” She sobbed

uncontrollably in her panic.

 

I asked her, “Did Jesus command you to obey Him?” That stopped her descent

into fear. She simply nodded, too emotional to say anything. As she gripped

one arm, I raised my other hand, repeated the Scriptures to those assembled on

shore and then baptized her. She came up spluttering and crying, but then I

said, “You obeyed the Lord in spite of your fears, this is a day of victory,

sister!” For the first time that morning, she smiled and said, “Praise the Lord!”

To which I responded with a heart felt, “AMEN!!!!”

 

Thankful for her obedience,

 

Mark Hale

The three who were baptized that day. 

August Prayer Letter

August 2025

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

L. started attending our church services last year at the invitation of her son (a faithful member of our church). She cannot read, so for years, she had been watching false preachers on YouTube. She was lost, confused about biblical truth, and lived in fear of death. From the first service she attended, she sat in the last row but leaned forward, intently listening to every sermon. 

 

Then last Sunday, she asked for us to come visit her and tell her how to be saved. We wanted to visit her that day, but she had guests coming and so we planned for the next day. We asked our prayer warriors to pray and God answered those many prayers. No distractions, no interruptions, even the two construction workers who were fixing the neighbor’s adjoining house stopped cementing and listened as we shared the gospel with this 60-year-old lady. 

 

She bowed her head, asked God to forgive her sins and save her. And God did!!! She wept tears of joy for the peace that flooded her soul! For the first time in her life, she no longer had to fear death! She immediately asked about discipleship and baptism, so Michele is going to begin teaching her next week. Thank you for praying, God was in total control of this situation and drew this precious soul to Christ!!! Praise the Lord for another eternal soul saved forever because of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

Rejoicing in L’s salvation,

 

 

Mark Hale   

June Prayer Letter

June 2025

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

Seven years ago, he was a self-professed atheist. A successful doctor with his own private practice, he and his wife were enjoying prosperity with their two small children. But when his children became ill and the medical professionals were stumped as to what was causing their illnesses, he was desperate. I asked if we and our prayer warriors could pray for his children. At first, he resisted, then decided that it couldn’t hurt.

 

You prayed, God worked and his children recovered. He reluctantly admitted, that maybe there was a God and maybe there was something to prayer. Over the years, we have had numerous conversations and it is apparent that God is working in his life. He started asking questions about God, the Bible, life after death, prayer, faith, angels and a host of other issues. He began to think about where he would spend eternity and it sobered him.

 

At my last appointment, he said, “My wife and I have been thinking about coming for a visit to your church. Would that be all right?” All right?!! All right?!! OF COURSE it would be all right!!! I am amazed at how God can soften the hardest hearts and slowly draw them towards Christ. Please continue to pray for Dr. J. and his wife. God is working!!!!! Thank you for your prayers!!!

 

Praying daily for Dr. J.,

 

Mark Hale

May Prayer Letter

May 2025

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

Forty years ago this month, I left the United States to begin my life as a missionary. Leaving my family and church home was difficult, but it was what God had called me to do. I was single and uncertain as to what faced me, but determined to obey the Lord in spite of my fears of the unknown.

 

I remember the frightened young man I was and how the Lord comforted, guided and blessed me. Within two years, God had brought Michele into my life (next to Jesus Christ, the greatest blessing I have ever received!) and the Lord worked mightily in every place He sent us.

 

As I look back over the past four decades, I am amazed at what God has done. Ten Baptist churches have been planted and four Bible institutes were established as ministries out of those churches. Hundreds and hundreds have been saved, discipled and trained in teaching and preaching the word of God. This is all because of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Thank you for sacrificing to keep us on the mission field, for praying daily for us and for being faithful in serving the Lord there!

 

Thankful for the past forty years,

 

Mark Hale

April Prayer Letter

April 2025

Dear Praying Friends,

Sometimes children make me cry. Recently, Michele had the church children prepare a special hand craft for them to give their fathers in celebration of Portuguese Father’s Day. After the service, all the children hurried to their fathers with their special hand made gifts. Each dad accepted the handmade crafts, complimented them and gave their children hugs and kisses. It was a special time for our church children and their fathers to share.

After presenting his father with his gift, eight-year-old Lucas looked at me with a worried expression and ran back to the children’s classroom. I continued talking with folks and never gave his behavior another thought. That was until he came back into the auditorium and stood close to me waiting until I had finished my conversation with a young couple.

Little Lucas’ brow was wrinkled and his eyes were sad. He said, “Pastor, I know your son is far away in America, so I made this for you since he isn’t here.” In his hands, he held a hand cut and colored red paper heart. I cried and gave him a long heart felt hug. That handmade heart stays in my Bible to remind me every time I preach, that there are little lives that I minister to, not just their dads and moms.

Thankful for children,

 

Mark Hale

March Prayer Letter

March 2025

Dear Praying Friends,

It had been one of “those” months. Dad’s salary paid for his family of five, but extra expenses had really hit the young household hard and they were hurting. They needed food, so they all headed to the grocery store to get what they could. They gathered what they could afford and lined up at the check out

waiting patiently as the line moved glacially. An older gentleman lined up in back of the young family and started up a conversation.

He loved children and larger families and admired how well behaved their three children were. He got teary eyed as he asked to pay for their food. The dad had just swiped his card and gotten the receipt from the cashier, so the older man reached for his billfold, pulled out every Euro he had and just handed it to them without even counting it. Stunned, they all began to cry and thanked this kind man for his great gift. When they counted the money later, it was exactly what their bill had been! Coincidence? No, we know God sent that man to bless and encourage this faithful family who are daily seeking to accomplish God’s will and raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained

angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:2

Thankful for “strangers”,

Mark Hale

February Prayer Letter

February 2025

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

Over three years ago, she wouldn’t even talk to us or acknowledge our presence at

her grandson’s first birthday party. We were those religious outsiders who had changed her daughter’s life and she hated us for it. The entire family kept us at arm’s length and were relieved when we said our goodbyes.

 

Since then, many of them have visited our church, attended ladies’ meetings, family nights and special services. G. is the mother of one of our faithful ladies, A. I had the privilege of leading A. to Christ a while ago and she and her husband, J., are growing and maturing. As a couple, they decided that A. would be a stay-at-home mom while J. earned a living as an electrician. G. was opposed to her daughter giving up a career to “only be a mom”. “Work a job and put your children in day care” was her advice. In spite of family opposition, J. and A. are doing a great job raising their three children according to the Scriptures, and it shows.

 

G. recently told A. that she could see the huge difference in her grandchildren. She could see the results that godly parents were having in the joy and peace of her three grandchildren and told her daughter she was doing right by focusing on her children and not a career. While not everyone has that option, this couple is being a daily testimony to their lost families. Please pray for G. that she would soon be saved. She is SO close to salvation! A. thinks her mother would get saved but is afraid of mockery from the rest of the family.

 

God’s way is the best way,

 

Mark Hale

December Prayer Letter

 December 2024

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

Three ladies came to church with fevers but only told us they were sick after

the services. Of course, one of them shared with my wife, Michele, and by

Monday evening, she was feverish and achy. By Tuesday, she was as sick as I

have seen her in years. Christmas came and went and still she suffered for an

entire week until she finally turned the corner. Sunday, we only had four in

attendance plus me. Michele was still too sick to attend. A particularly nasty

type of the flu is making its rounds here in Portugal.

 

But the ministry goes on. This week, we have had one lady hospitalized for a

serious infection in her eye, another hospitalized for complications in her last

month of pregnancy. Michele, in spite of still being weak and exhausted,

ministered to both ladies and spent the last two days purchasing supplies for

the upcoming baby shower, baking and preparing food and beautifully

decorating the church, (I blew up all 125 balloons and set up the arch, but she

turned the room into a masterpiece!). She went to bed last night at 3 am after

frosting the cake.

 

Over the years, I have seen my precious wife sacrifice time and time again for

family, for the church folks and for the lost. She never complains, always does

her best (which is phenomenal!) and seeks to glorify Christ in everything. She

has been by my side every step of the way and I am sure will one day hear

from Jesus Christ, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” I am blessed to

be married to her and serve the Lord with her!

 

So thankful for Michele,

 

Mark Hale

November Prayer Letter

 November 2024

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

It was the most highly anticipated occasion not just of the year, not just of the

decade, not just of the century, but of all time! Prophets had prophesied

hundreds of years before, angels announced it to the shepherds, later, wise men

from the east came looking for the Son of the King who had been born! The

birth of the Savior had taken place in Bethlehem, just as the Scriptures had

declared. Surely, the nation of Israel would stream into the small town of

Bethlehem to see their King! Surely rich and poor, men and women, Jew and

Gentile would seek to find the new born King!

 

But as we know, the birth of our Savior was ignored by almost everyone. In

spite of the testimony of the shepherds, no one in Bethlehem sought out the

Savior. In spite of the prophesies, the religious leaders ignored the star in the

east and declined to accompany the wise men in their quest to find the

Messiah. Today, we have the same attitude of ignorance. Most cannot be

bothered to even think of why Christmas should be celebrated. Others

substitute the Savior with invented characters and imaginary stories.

 

Oh, how vital it is for us to remember that Jesus Christ is the reason for this

season! He came to be the Savior of all mankind! We, of all people, should

focus our attention on the Lord Jesus Christ, who left His home in heaven to

be born in a smelly stable, wrapped in burial clothes and laid in a manger.

Who left the worship of angels to be rejected by those He came to save. Who

loved us so much that He died to save us all. Praise the Lord for the greatest

gift of all – Jesus Christ!!

 

May you have a blessed Christmas remembering our Savior,

 

Mark Hale

October Prayer Letter

October 2024

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

He got a copy of our prayer letter from his pastor and for the first time in his

life, he wrote a missionary. He had read our prayer letter a few months before

in which I had asked prayer for five ladies who had heard the gospel for the

first time. He had been praying for their salvation and requested an update.

 

He had no idea what a blessing and encouragement he was in writing that

email! His diligence in contacting us let us know that not only was he reading

our monthly prayer letters, but that he was also personally involved in praying

for the people God has called us to reach! What a deep encouragement this

man was to us!! What a blessing to answer his questions so that he could pray

more effectively for us and the ministries here in Portugal!!

 

We have a group of people we call our “prayer warriors” because we KNOW

that if we ask, they will pray and keep on praying! This group of men and

women labor in secret, they labor faithfully, they labor for God’s glory and

they labor for the salvation of souls. Only in eternity will we know what these

mighty prayer warriors truly accomplished in their ministries of intercession

for their missionaries. THANK YOU for your faithful prayers!!!

 

Thankful for you,

 

Mark Hale

September Prayer Letter

 September 2024

 

Dear Praying Friends,

 

“I love my mother-in-law” I tell people with a big grin, “because she lives on

another continent!” But the truth is, I really do love my mother-in-law and highly

respect her. For the past 60 years, Deloris McClure has been a missionary to Brazil

with her husband, Dean McClure. After a long illness, God recently called Dean

home and Deloris was there every single day, caring for him for better or for worse.

Deloris has spent the last few months in Brazil sorting through all of her possessions. She gave away the majority of her things to church folks, neighbors and friends. She sold the rest and moved back to the US. She is 81, in good health and plans to continue ministering to Portuguese speaking people through video classes and missions trips.

 

Now, she is facing life without her best friend, husband and partner. When asked

how she is doing, she will reply with a smile on her face but tears in her eyes, “I am

doing alright, God has been so good to me!” No self-pity, no anger nor frustration.

How can she have this godly attitude after suffering the loss of her husband? She

embodies 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of

God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Yes, she mourns the loss of her husband, but

she rejoices in the hope of a heavenly reunion. Yes, she is sad at the prospect of a

solitary life, but she rejoices in the presence of her Savior. She is thankful for what

God gave her and still is giving her.

 

No one may know what you are suffering, no one may even care. But you can

rejoice in knowing that God cares and is with you every step, in storm and in calm,

in prosperity or in poverty, in sickness and in health. Our Savior will never leave us

nor forsake us and is one day coming back to take us home to be with Him! May

each of us have a heart of gratitude for all God has done and is doing for us! No

matter what comes, we know God is in control and we can be thankful to Him!

 

Giving thanks,

 

Mark Hale