January Prayer Letter

January 2015

Dear Praying Friends,

It was just a Christmas card, delayed in transit, but it arrived at just the right time.  

We had received an email from a church that had supported our ministries for 23 years.  They told us that their missions giving was down, so they would no longer support our ministries.  We have been through this too many times to count, but it always hurts.  It is a personal rejection, a slap in the face.  I was hurting, discouraged and a bit concerned about how we would make do without their support.

Then I read the delayed Christmas card.  It said, “May you have the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of His love at Christmas and always.”  The pastor signed it, “May the Lord greatly bless you, keep up the good work.”  Enclosed was a love offering.  It said exactly what I needed to hear, in spite of falling missions giving in so many churches, we can still trust God, we can still hope in His provision and have His peace always.  That dear pastor and his church never knew when they mailed that card, what a blessing and encouragement it would be! 

No matter what challenges come this year, I want to focus on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is faithful and true and we can count on Him no matter what comes in our world.  I also want to thank each and every one of you who, in spite of financial crises and lower wages, sacrifice faithfully to keep us on the field to minister on your behalf. 

May God richly bless you for your sacrifices!

Mark Hale

December Prayer Letter

December 2014

Dear Praying Friends,

This month we have had three challenges for our family in which the Lord has increased our faith and grown us spiritually to be more like His Son. 

Our 15 year old Volkswagen is a good, reliable car which we are very thankful for since we drive tens of thousands of miles each year ministering in our church in Lagos and in our sister church in Albufeira (an hour and a half away).  But those miles take a toll and this month we paid over $2000 to make necessary repairs.  God knew this was going to happen and gave us some extra Christmas offerings which helped to meet the need!  May God RICHLY bless all of you who sacrificed over and above your regular giving, to send us an extra Christmas offering.  Thank you so very much!!

After weeks of slowdowns, crashes and glitches, our computer quit working and spent almost a week at the technician’s shop.  Thankfully our work horse is once again helping us get caught up on prayer letters and ministry materials! 

On Dec. 10^th, our son, Joshua stepped onto a train only to have the doors malfunction and slam shut on him, trapping his arm and leg outside.  The driver, trying to get back on schedule, began pulling out of the station, accelerating quickly.  Joshua could not reach the emergency stop button located just six inches from his free hand and realized if he couldn’t get loose, his leg would be crushed by the concrete electric pillars next to the track.  With the poles rapidly approaching, the conductor entered the car, saw what was happening and hit the emergency stop button.  He pried the doors open and Joshua collapsed in his seat, relieved and unhurt.  PRAISE GOD for His protection!!  We were five hours away, waiting at the train station and unable to help him.  But, our Heavenly Father took care of His son when we could not.  God is SO good!!

May you have a blessed Christmas,

Mark Hale

November Prayer Letter

November 2014

Dear Praying Friends,

She survived the Normandy landings as a child and has fond memories of Americans rescuing them from the Nazis.  That is why over two years ago, G. began taking the free English classes our church offered.  She also began attending our church services as well and has been faithfully coming and listening to God’s word ever since. 

She is a committed Roman Catholic as was her family.  There are times when she sees “similarities” in our doctrines but recently, she has been seeing the differences.  After Sunday services, she was talking with a couple of our folks and one man mentioned his lost uncle saying, “If my uncle continues in his rejection of Christ, he will die and go to hell.”  G.became agitated and loudly said, “You cannot say that, no one knows where people go after they die, only God!”  The man continued, “Yes, that is true, but if my uncle dies still rejecting Christ as his Savior, he will go to hell.” G. became silent for a moment and then said, “If  I believed that, then I would have to say that all of my family is in hell.”

There are times when the truth of the gospel is so painful that some turn away in a blind attempt to avoid the eternal destiny of their departed love ones.  Only God knows for certain the eternal destiny of every person who has died, so we continue to warn the living that there are no second chances after death.  The Bible declares:  Now is the day of salvation, now is the accepted time.  Please pray that G. will see past the possibility of her family being in hell and embrace the love of Christ and accept His salvation before she faces eternity without Christ.

A light on a hill,

Mark Hale

October Prayer Letter

October 2014

Dear Praying Friends,

Our sending pastor and his wife were visiting with us for a few days and we were all crowded into our Volkswagen, driving to church that Sunday.  We began to see road rally cars parked on the sides of the road and wondered out loud why those off road racing vehicles were on regular roads filled with cars, trucks and buses.

As we drove on down the highway, more and more of these race cars were parked along the shoulders of our road.  I have never seen this in Portugal.  Always before, when there is a rally race or the famous Dakar Race, the police block off certain roads for the racers to use without endangering the public.

Not this Sunday.  As we approached a dirt road, an air born race car flew out onto our road, bounced once and then swerved right into our lane.  I braked and headed for the shoulder, but at the last moment before impact, the race car swerved back into its own lane and roared down the road. 

Needless to say, we all thanked God for His safety that day!  Thank you for your faithful prayers on our behalf!!  None of us know what is around the next corner.  Praise God, our Heavenly Father does!!

Safe in His hands,

Mark Hale

August Prayer Letter

August 2014

Dear Praying Friends,

Thank you so much for your faithful prayers for our vacation Bible school! We had 7 children from our city of Lagos, two were first time visitors.  It was a busy week but blessed by the Lord.  We have new contacts with these families and we discovered during the week, that six of the seven children who attended do not know Jesus as their Savior.  We have much prayerful work ahead of us to reach these precious children and their families for the Lord. 

Earlier this year, I asked for your help with our “Sewing for Smiles” ministry.  So many of you responded with offerings and in sending boxes with fabric remnants that Michele now has enough for the next three years!!  We are truly amazed and humbled by your response to this need.  Thank you so very much!

A mother of one of the girls who attended our VBS recently visited our church and stayed afterwards to ask some very insightful questions.  Please pray for Monica, that she would continue to attend, hear the gospel and be saved. 

Thank you for staying with us through thick and thin.  Thank you for your faithful prayers and financial support.  We count it our honor to be your representatives here in southern Portugal.

Sowing the seed,

Mark Hale

July Prayer Letter

July 2014

Dear Praying Friends,

Four years ago, our son, Joshua, befriended two neighborhood boys (Igor and Cris) and faithfully witnessed to them.  Cris got saved two years ago in our first Vacation Bible School and still attends services.  Igor attended our services faithfully for a while, but under the influence of his devout Catholic grandmother, he gradually became cold and hostile.  He came to services occasionally until he felt the Holy Spirit’s conviction and then avoided us for months at a time.  Our son, Joshua, continued to invite him and try to be a true friend in spite of the insults and obscenities Igor threw his way.  Surprisingly, Igor agreed to come to camp with us last week.

The first night of camp, I preached a simple salvation message and when I gave the invitation, Igor was among those who came forward to accept Christ!!!  15 precious young people were saved during camp!!!  PRAISE GOD!!!  The missionaries were united in their desire to glorify God and to see souls saved; and oh, how God blessed!!  I knew you were praying, I could feel the presence and power of God during each one of my sermons!!  Thank you so very much for your labors in prayer! 

We are humbled and thrilled to be a part of this harvest and to see our beloved Igor finally come to Christ!!  We want to thank each one of you who have prayed for this young man for the past four years!  He is fruit to your account!!

Please remember our upcoming Vacation Bible School.  We long to see more souls saved and families reached!

Praising God and thanking you,

Mark Hale

 

    

Igor (wearing the red bandana)

June Prayer Letter

June 2014

Dear Praying Friends,

Sometimes we don’t see the forest for the trees.  We focus on one thing and miss other equally important things.  We look at what we don’t have and lose sight of what we do.

Recently in one of our Bible Institute classes, I was talking about how discouraging it can be to pray and labor, then pray and labor more and still not have much to show for your efforts.  I was commenting on the apathy and hostility we face in Lagos in our efforts to reach the lost of this 2,000 year old city. 

Jan looked at me strangely for a moment and then quietly said, “But Pastor Mark, if you had not come here, I wouldn’t be saved, and more importantly, my daughter, Anna, wouldn’t be saved!  Her being saved means more to me than my own life.  How can you put a price on one soul, let alone two?”

I immediately realized my mistake.  Instead of focusing on those who have been saved, I was focusing on the many which still reject Christ.  I am thankful for Jan and his new found faith.  I am thankful for those who have accepted Christ and for our small young church here in this ancient, darkened city.  I am also very thankful for those of you, who in spite of world economic crises and the resulting financial pressures, still keep your promises and support our ministries in prayer and finances!  It is so easy to focus on those who haven’t and not be truly thankful for those who have!

Thank you for your sacrifices, thank you for your faithfulness, thank you for staying with us through thick and thin.  Every soul saved, every life changed is fruit to your account!

Grateful for you,

Mark Hale