March Prayer Letter

March 2018

Dear Praying Friends,

As we prepare to celebrate Easter, I pray this poem is as much a blessing for you to read as it was for me to write.

I’ve killed in war and fight for Rome, I serve my gods and miss my home.

These Jews won’t serve our gods at all but bring a man to Pilate’s hall.

This man they call the King of Jews, His life he is at risk to lose.

Why would they reject their King and not His praise and glory sing?

Now I’ve seen it all.

Pilate wants to set him free, there is no fault that he could see.

But the crowd just wants him dead, they choose a murderer instead.

“Away with him!” their voices ring, Caesar is our only king.

So, Jesus is condemned to die, and in my mind, I wonder why?

Now I’ve seen it all.

We laugh at him and mock his name, we spit on him and do him shame.

We beat him hard, he almost dies, the cross he bears while women cry.

Yet on the hill, he lays right down, and spreads his hands without a sound.

We drive the nails in hands and feet, but on his lips, are words so sweet.

Now I’ve seen it all.

We watch him there between two thieves, we hear His words and one believes.

The darkness comes and He cries out, this is strange, there is no doubt.

I watch him take his final breath, I see him bow his head in death.

I thrust my spear into his side, to make for sure that he has died.

Now I’ve seen it all.

Three days they tell us is enough, to guard his grave and call his bluff.

The stone is sealed, the watch is made, I’ll keep him there with Roman blade.

Three days pass the stone rolls back, the dead came forth and that’s a fact!

No Roman guard, no Roman blade, can hope to keephim in the grave!

Now I’ve seen it all.

I took the money and told the lie, “His disciples stole his body” I cry.

But in my heart, I know he lives, eternal life to me He gives.

And now I serve Him as my Lord, His word to me became my sword.

One day soon, He’ll call me there, but now His cross for me I’ll bear.

Now I’ve seen it all.

They come for me with torches lit, hatred in my face they spit.

One last chance to save my life, embrace the gods and miss this strife.

But I was there when He came out, “He’s alive!” at them I shout.

So now I hang upon a cross, my life for Him is not a loss.

Now I’ve seen it all.

He waits for me with open arms, forever free from pain and harm.

“Well done,” He says with love and grace, “you finished faithfully your race”.

For ever more I’ll sing His praise, to thank Him for amazing grace.

The joys of heaven are for me, the face of Jesus I can see.

Now I’ve seen it all.

Thankful for the risen Savior!

Mark Hale

February 2018 Prayer Letter

February 2018

Dear Praying Friends,

God has been greatly blessing our church in Lagos and we are seeing solid spiritual growth among the members and numerical growth as visitors have come and stayed! 

V. recently said, “I have been saved for 47 years, but have never been in a church like this that teaches and preaches only the word of God!

L. reported that other churches in town that he has attended (that teach false doctrine and traditions of men) despairingly call our church “The church that ONLY teaches the Bible.” That may be an insult to some, but to us, it is a compliment knowing that we have that testimony in our city!

I am now conducting a new members class for the three men who have decided not only to attend services, but to join our church and become active members as we seek to glorify the Lord, edify one another and evangelize the lost.

The three Bible institutes that I teach in two cities continue to see spiritual growth among the men who are attending.  It is a great blessing to see these men take the leadership in their homes and churches as a God-given responsibility and it blesses our hearts to see their faithfulness to God and His word!

Thank you for sacrificing in prayers and finances to make this possible.  Only eternity will reveal all that you have accomplished here for the Lord!

Rejoicing in the harvest,

Mark Hale

December Prayer Letter

December 2017

Dear Praying Friends,

God recently gave me this poem that I wrote for our son, Joshua, who is in Bible college back there in the States. I wanted to share it with you so you could know better how to pray for your missionaries and their children adapting to new lives in the U.S.

An MK at Christmas

He sits in his dorm room all alone, his roommates have left to go to their homes.

But his home is far across the seas, for his parents are foreign missionaries.

God called his folks many years ago, to serve the Lord where He led them to go.

They packed their clothes and said goodbye, waving with smiles but tears filled their eyes.

They served their Lord for many years, blessed with a son whom they love so dear.

They taught him at home with joyful hearts, preparing for the day that he’d depart.

Now God has called him to serve in the States, so he left his home and at college he waits.

The semester is over and finals are done, Christmas is near, the holiday has come.

No tree awaits him with ornaments so fair, no presents are wrapped their paper to tear.

He has a great job and his bed in the dorm, this is his life, this is the new norm.

Dinner for him is a can of soup, some crackers to add, for dessert some fruit.

He is alone in his new-found home, waiting to talk to his folks on the phone.

For dad and mom his room is so still, his pictures and toys the room they all fill.

Their tree is up, the ornaments are hung, but one thing is missing - their beloved son.

All three know this is the Lord’s will, so they determine their hearts with gratitude to fill.

They write lots of letters and share a phone call, they post lots of photos upon their walls.

Sure, it was better when he was right here, to hug him and tell him that he is so dear.

Yes, it was better when mom fixed his meal, his presents lay waiting, their paper to peel.

Feel sorry for them? Oh, don’t you dare! A frown on their faces they refuse to wear!

It may be sad for this moment right now, but one day for Christ they know they will bow.

Separations are hard, they’re never fun, longing to hear from Christ – “Well Done!”

Endure this hardness as good soldiers they will, thanksgiving to God their hearts are filled.

Thankful to God for the years they’ve had, enjoying the good and surviving the bad.

Knowing that life will soon be past, and only what’s done for Christ will last.

Thankful for our son, who is serving the Lord there in the States,

Mark Hale

November Prayer Letter

November 2017

Dear Praying Friends,

She is a social worker who helps underprivileged children have a better life.  She is a good person, moral, kind and respectful to others.  She recently visited our church and wanted to talk after the service.  We spent two hours answering her many questions and finally arrived at the crux of the matter. She admitted that she wasn’t ready to trust in Christ completely, she is still partially relying upon her many good works to get her to heaven.  Please pray for D., she promised to read the Gospel of John and the book of Romans and to keep in touch with us.  I promised to pray for her daily that she would come to know Christ as her all sufficient Savior.

 He is a good, moral man and has never cheated on his wife. He never drinks alcohol nor even caffeine laden drinks.  He has never eaten pork and doesn’t defile himself by touching anything that is forbidden. He tries to be honest in all his business dealings and even helps the poor every year.  Because of his work, he cannot pray five times during the day as his religion demands, so instead he rises every day at 5 am to pray five times before he goes to work. His name is A. and he is a good Muslim man who listens to the gospel and watches Christians to see if their religion is “real”.  Please pray for this man that he will come to know Jesus Christ as his Savior and forsake the idolatry and slavery of Islam.

 Prayer is powerful and that is why we send these letters every month. Prayer changes the person who prays and the person who is prayed for. Please remember D. and A., that they would be saved before it is eternally too late.

 Plowing and planting,

 Mark Hale

October Prayer Letter

October 2017

Dear Praying Friends,

While studying the Word of God with her husband, she came to the realization that her “baptism” in a church that actively teaches and practices false doctrine was not biblical baptism.  She immediately told her husband that she wanted to follow Christ’s example and be baptized as the Scriptures command.

The day was sunny, warm and the breezes were soft.  It was a perfect day for a baptism, we thought, until we arrived at the beach.  (We baptize in the sea as a testimony to our city and all the folks visiting here.)  Although the weather was good, the tide was high and there were six foot waves crashing onto the shore.  “Oh boy” I thought, “this is going to be interesting!”

We sang a couple of hymns and then I brought a short message on “What baptism is and what baptism is not” while some of our folks passed out tracts to the people walking by. Then it was time for us to wade out into waist deep water.  We were both immersed twice by the huge waves before we ever reached the desired depth.  I had just raised my arm and began reciting Matthew 28:19 when I saw her wince.  I braced as yet another wave crashed over us.

After we got our footing back, we decided quickly to baptize her in between the six foot waves.  We obeyed the Lord’s command and followed His perfect example and then safely made it back to shore.  We had a wonderful service later at church and dinner on the grounds after the service as we welcomed this godly lady and her young preacher husband into the membership of our church.

Thanking God for obedient Christians,

  

Mark Hale

September Prayer Letter

September 2017

Dear Praying Friends,

I remember the first time I held him. 19 years ago, a blizzard howled in the darkness in Lithuania, but a miracle was happening inside. The doctor clamped and cut his umbilical cord, he was cleaned and swaddled and handed to me. His dark brown eyes squinting in the bright lights of the delivery room, inquisitively looking up at me, his tiny hand reached up to touch my face. 

It was love at first sight!

I remember the last time I held him.  The hot sun blazed down upon us as we said our goodbyes.  The umbilical cord was being cut and our miracle was leaving the nest.  His dark brown eyes squinted down at me in the bright sunlight and his big hand reached down to wipe the tears flowing down my face. He was leaving home to follow the call of God and begin his studies at Bible college.

It was love at last sight!

Please pray for our son, Joshua, as he obeys the call of his Creator and Savior to be a pastor in the US.  Please pray for us as we continue to serve the Lord in Portugal, but now without a valued member of our team.  We are thankful for the 19 years God has given us and are thankful that Joshua has obeyed the will of the Lord.  None of us like this separation, but each one of us knows, this is exactly what God wants, so we obey, knowing God’s will is ALWAYS best!  Back in 1985, as I left home for the mission field for the first time, my father gave me godly advice that I passed on to my son, “In spite of the years of separation on earth, we have all eternity together in heaven to be glad we did this God’s way.”

Thankful that God sent His Son,

Mark Hale

August Prayer Letter

August 2017

Dear Praying Friends,

Sometimes, a church announces they are wanting to do a “missions trip” and we always wonder how it is going to turn out.  Some of these trips end up being one or two days of ministry and the rest sight seeing with the missionary as translator.  Other times, a church comes with a heart to serve and their folks come to evangelize the lost and encourage the saved.

Each summer, we hold youth camps in cooperation with other independent Baptist churches from all over Portugal.  It is a week filled with much labor, sweat and tears, but we do it knowing that for many of the youth, this will be the only opportunity they have to hear the gospel of Christ since their Catholic parents will allow them to come to our camp, but never to church services.

This summer, Overland Park Baptist Church sent a group to help us with our youth camp. In 32 years as missionaries, I have rarely seen a more prepared group than this one.  The adults as well as the teens served with enthusiasm and without complaint.  Their sacrifice made it possible for the missionaries to spend more time with the campers.  As a result, 9 precious young people were saved during camp and the grandmother of one of the teens who visited the last night of camp and heard the gospel was saved the following Sunday in church in Porto Alegre.  PRAISE GOD!!!

Thankful for co-laborers,

Mark Hale