Second Generation Outreaches & Missionary Moments

Terry's Evangelistic Team

Allocation of time and resources is something that every ministry has to consider in order to utilize these most precious resources in the most efficient manner possible while bringing God maximum honor and glory. The theme of time is mentioned extensively in the book of Ecclesiastes 3, To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: And the theme of redeeming the time is mentioned in the books of Ephesians and Colossians as a reminder that we are to be good stewards by making good use of our time as we are only given a limited amount. With that said we try to focus our resources where they are most needed and will produce the most fruit. Such was the case with our follow up visit to the village of Soysambu this week. Soysambu is what I would refer to as a second generation outreach that has been spawned from the first Church we planted here in Kenya in 2009, the Landmark Baptist Church of Mawe Tatu/Nzoia or as we affectionately call “3 Stones”. It is these second generation works that we are emphasizing by putting our time and resources into, thus encouraging them to grow in the Lord.             Gospel Preachers 

We are currently working with ten of these second generation outreaches which Lord willing will someday be organized into autonomous self sustaining Churches. Soysambu is located in the region between the LBC Mawe Tatu and the LBC Namarambi and we are very much in the crucial early stages of watering the seeds so they will continue to grow. Pastors and members from both of these Churches met us at Soysambu to do evangelism and discipleship training. We were greatly encouraged to see fifteen more people trust Christ as personal Lord and Savior this week, one of which was a ninety two year old lady whom Terry led to Christ.             Terry's Evangelistic Team

We are also encouraged by the fact that there is now a weekly Bible Study taking place every Thursday and starting next month, the Assistant Pastor from LBC Mawe Tatu will be traveling there each Sunday afternoon to meet with these new believers. There is a great deal of patience exhibited by these preachers as they know that this is a long term commitment they have made which is going to take years to bring these young converts to a place of maturity. Sometimes I think our fast paced Western mentality is one of the greatest hindrances to God’s work. We have a tendency to want to see the fruit in the immediate here and now and if we do not see the fruit growing before our eyes we will quickly abandon the crop before it has a chance to grow. The years of the commitment and effort Jesus put into His apostles was much more than I am afraid most Christians are willing to invest into another persons life and Christian growth in this day and age. This is definitely something that Africa has taught me and has been deeply etched into my heart and mind.
    Please pray for this young outreach at Soysambu.

                            Nelson......Precious Children

This week we have also had our trials or what I like to call “missionary moments”. These are not complaints; I am merely recording the experience for us to remember in our old age and for others to share this experience on the foreign field. For example, the truck continues to be a source of problems with the front end needing extensive work on bushings and the trailing arms. I also had to rivet the back windows in so they would not fall out. We have been without water for four days now and have experienced what our people do every day in village life. Bringing water in from an outside source has reminded us of the difficulties of village life. At least we did not have to walk to the river or dig it out of a dry river bed and then carry it on our heads for five kilometers. The electricity and internet has been on and off all week as well. In closing, I want to thank the many folks that support this ministry through their faithful prayers and finances. Additionally, I want to thank F.I.S.H. ministries for their continued support by keeping us supplied with Swahili John & Romans so that every new believer has the opportunity to read the Word of God.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya

Phil. 4:13