Kakaron, Uganda Report & Landmark Baptist Church Organized

Circle of Prayer

The month of March has grown each in anticipation, prayer and expectation with regard to what God is doing and is going to do with our ministry in Uganda. 

However, after our Texas group left there was much vehicle maintenance that needed to be accomplished.   We pulled the transmission out of the Toyota (twice), replaced rear main seal, replace every bushing front & rear and installed new rear shocks. 

We then headed deep into the interior of the Kerio Valley to continue the work we started in Uganda during January of last year. 

Our usual team of teachers and evangelists included: Pastor Peter, Pastor Shadrach, Pastor Japheth and Pastor Timothy who has been walking into Uganda monthly to teach our new converts.

                   Evangelism Team

 

This team has been instrumental in every phase of our ministry here in Kenya and now Uganda.  We find this example of raising up a team of God called men set by Jesus himself as well as the Apostle Paul. 

                                                   Preaching God's Word

While the work of evangelism and planting new indigenous Churches was taking place we also see an important training program that would be repeated time and time again for many generations of disciples to come.

As you read the Word of God you cannot help but to recognize this pattern as the words “we and they” are frequently used throughout the pages of the New Testament.  

Also accompanying us was the district Chief Joshua who is a member of the Landmark Baptist Church of Cheposabei.   

         Chief Joshua of Pokot Leader in the Kerio Valley

Gospel Teaching

Gospel Preaching

I cannot overstate how big of a blessing Chief Joshua has been to us and our work.

                                          Chief Joshua Teaching...

Remember, he presides over around twenty-five Pokot Villages in the Kerio Valley with tens of thousands of residents. 

He is a powerful  Pokot leader who is also a powerful Christian leader, so needless to say, we are blown away whenever he takes time out of his municipal duties to travel with us to Uganda and fully participates in evangelism and discipleship training. 

His conversion has impacted the entire Kerio Valley in so many ways. 

Probably one the biggest impacts he has made on the valley is that he successfully moved the day of the market and cattle auction from Sunday to Wednesday so that the Pokot tribe would be able to attend Church and worship God. 

Praise the Lord for a man that takes a stand for God and has gone against what is probably centuries of tradition!

As I look back at our ministry to the Pokot tribe, (which I was advised against in the beginning due to danger), I can say that God has done something great when we see that they have now taken the lead role in the Kerio Valley to set aside the Lord’s day for worship through the actions of Chief Joshua. 

I believe this is a great place to repeat what is being said in heaven: 

"Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God! 

We saw many receive Christ as Lord and Savior through one on one soul winning and we were able to encourage the faithful saints of Kakaron through doctrine and discipleship training.

Additionally, we baptized those who were saved last year and organized the Church. 

         Chief Joshua and Missionary Chuck prepare for Baptism....

That a great moment in time to see the Biblical pattern for Church planting continue just as our Lord and Savior Jesus intended.  

                                                    Church Organization

Church Pews

Church Vote

Church Organization

One of the keys to successful Church planting is to have a God called Man to lead these new converts.

I am always cautious and a bit apprehensive to see who God has called to Pastor these new works but I was reminded this week in a big way that God is still in control. 

Now don’t laugh, because I am sure that you need to be reminded from time to time that God is in control and is completely able to do His work just fine without us, however, we humbly thank him for allowing us to go in His name.  

God has called a young preacher named Moses who has a young wife named Mama Dorcas. 

                            Pastor Moses Baptized

After seeing the heart of this young man, his wife and carefully watching and evaluating His leadership capabilities, I left Uganda with great joy in my heart knowing that the work there was in the capable hands of an indigenous Pokot Pastor.

Who can better pastor Ugandan Pokots than another Ugandan Pokot? 

                                                               New Pastor Moses

Moses led his people by example and was the first to follow Christ in scriptural baptism.

I loved his humility, passion and commitment he demonstrated for the Lord Jesus.

We will try to match his passion and zeal for God through our commitment to teach and train him to be a solid fundamental Bible preacher who will not stray from our doctrine which is the doctrine of Jesus and His Apostles.

On an equal note, His wife, Dorcas, was found faithfully leading the youth choir and supporting her husband.    Pastor Moses and wife, Dorcas 

It is no secret that a husband that has a faithful supporting wife generally has a successful ministry.  Please pray for this young local visible  congregation of baptized believers as they are united in the belief of what Jesus has said and have coveted together to do what He has commanded. 

There is a larger picture here I need to record for this great work God has started.

The village of Kakaron is located in the middle of at least fifteen other unreached villages. 

I gently reminded Pastor Moses in parting that he has a lot of work ahead of him to reach the lost in the surrounding villages; he humbly agreed and said that he would try by the grace of God.  

                                    Moving Forward To God

William Carey once said, “God is not looking for people of great faith  tbut for individuals ready to follow him”.    

Thank you for every prayer and for every dollar given so that others might hear the glorious gospel.

Bro.Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Uganda, East Africa

Phil. 4:13

                                                Pastor Jamie Hogan....Writes below.

A Note from Pastor Jamie Hogan, Oakland Missionary Baptist Church

Bro Chuck,

 It is always amazing to see God work, no matter where you are in the world!!!
When you and Sis Terry came and visited with us at Oakland MBC and presented the work, I could tell from the beginning that they loved the work in Kenya.  I turned down a trip to Tanzania years ago and promised God that if another opportunity ever came up, I would not turn it down.
I found out that Bro Don was coming to Kenya, I “kinda” invited myself.
He took me up on the offer.  I thanked God for another opportunity to come to Africa.

I have witnessed God truly work in this mission trip.
The opportunity to help evangelize Morweisi and see that many people make professions of faith, is truly amazing.  Then to be a small part of the worship service at Chepsobai.  The excitement that the church was showing by meeting us at the road and following after us as we drove to the church and to find folks worshiping God with zeal and excitement was an awesome sight!!  The privilege to help baptize saved folks into their membership, after receiving the authority from the church, was a true honor.  The friendship and fellowship that I felt with the folks at Chepsobai was truly heart felt.  I have great memories of my short time there that I'll never forget. 

The work at Myanja and Lake Victoria was more physical than spiritual, but the work was great just the same.  One of the greatest things about this trip was seeing pastors from sister churches travel great distances to serve God by working on the buildings of their sister churches.  To see their dedication to the Lord, putting others before themselves, gave me such a blessing.  These 3 brothers in Christ (Pastor Japheth, Pastor Shadrach and Pastor Peter) were the example of sacrificial love that we are to show others.  They had many things to be doing at home, but chose to put the needs of others before their own.  They were being true stewards of what God had given them. 

God will provide opportunities when we least expect them.  We arrived at Wichlum to work on finishing up the poles and I was ready to work on them.  But as God would have it, something else happened.  Bro Peter and myself were sent out to evangelize for a while since there was plenty of help with the poles.  That short evangelism trip was a summation of the responses we receive from the world today.  A few heard the word with gladness and asked Jesus to forgive them and to save them.  We had 3 profess to us that they had asked Jesus to save them and what an amazing thing. Praise God.  Some we spoke with told us that they were already saved and thanked us for sharing the gospel with them and others.  Some we spoke with told us that they would wait a while to think on the matter and some rejected the Word.  It was awesome to see God move through our witnessing and to feel God's presence in our work. 

Thanks Bro Chuck for the opportunity to come.  This trip has truly blessed me and touched me in a mighty way.  In my mind, this mission trip is the definition of a true biblical based mission trip. God is awesome and I praise Him and thank Him for the small role I played in this trip. I will continue to remember you, Sis Terry, your work and the pastors that I've met in my prayers.  May God continue to bless you!!