Terry and I pray you and your family had a blessed Christmas and as we look forward to the New Year we look forward to God's continued blessings as well as Jesus soon coming. When we look back at 2017 we can't help but to thank all those individuals and Churches who have faithfully and sacrificially supported the work Terry and I are doing in Florida/Uganda and Kenya with your prayers and finances. We will need your continued prayers and support as we press towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus in 2018.
Personal Note: Finding Our Way Back Home
As another year passes, we see ourselves still trying to find our way back home. Its been several years since we came off the field as full time foreign Missionaries and while our home is in Florida our hearts are still very much in East Africa. That statement may seem odd unless you have been a foreign Missionary at some time in your life and been forced to return home. We love our country, our American brethren and Churches, but the longer we are home the more we realize that we are still foreign in many ways. The dear members at the Florida Plant realize this week in and week out as we constantly update them on what God is doing through the Kenya/Uganda Church development side of our ministry. I often think to myself and wonder how many Churches take live calls during service from East African Pastors and how many others Churches have to endure their Pastor teaching them Swahili/Spanish and English? They listen intently but I'm sure they think Terry and I are weird in so many ways, LOL. All of this unsettledness reminds me of this saying about Missionaries,"home is everywhere, home is nowhere." This year we have made an effort to continue to re-assimilate by purchasing a piece of property in Florida for our RV.
It has been eleven years since we started
this season of ministry doing deputation out of an RV. And its funny how
life turns full circle and we are back in an RV. We sold our home, our
vehicles, our business and virtually everything we owned and walked away from
life as we knew it. It blows my mind that over a decade has passed
in which God has done so many amazing works in and through our lives but yet we
are still recovering and rebuilding our lives.
There is always sacrifice involved in
serving the Lord whole heartily but the reward is always greater. Please do not
misunderstand this blog entry, we do not share these personal details for
sympathy but to ask for your continued prayers as we find our way back home and
continue to rebuild our lives. Ultimately, we understand that we are all
pilgrims and sojourners just passing through.
Record
Numbers: 40 Professions of Faith
Our first year (2015) at The Florida Plant
we led 23 to Christ, last year we saw 27 make professions of faith in Jesus
Christ and this year we have led 40 precious souls to saving knowledge of Jesus
Christ. This includes our youth ministries, van ministry, prison ministries,
VBS and various other soul winning outreaches. We preach the gospel each
and every service and make a serious effort to purposely go soul winning on a
regular basis. Additionally we have in home bibles studies and
discipleship training to help our converts grow in their faith. This year
we have also started Faith Bible Institute as part of our regular Bible study
programs.
Record
Numbers: 112 Attendence:
Our attendance continues to
grow slowly but surely. Our first year we averaged 20-30, our second year
we average 40-50 and this year we are averaging 60-70 with a record high of 112
in attendance. We regularly have quarterly promotions and programs
to encourage our members to invite their family, friends and
co-workers. Its been said, "if
you aim at nothing, you will hit nothing." We
consistently ask the Lord to fill His house and set goals to accomplish His
will.
Prison
Ministry: Spanish & English:
The
prison ministry continues to grow numerically and spiritually as the inmates
grow in their faith and wisdom from the Word of God. We are
targeting new arrivals and encouraging the older Christians to become soul
winners inside the walls. Additionally we have seen several men surrender to
the gospel ministry this year and have also seen record highs in Chapel
services. God has given me a heart of love for these outcasts of
society and as I teach and preach the Word of God to them, it is as if I am in
a foreign land sharing God's Word with another lost tribe. Mat
25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye
gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Deputation,
Mission Conferences & State & National Meetings
In no way am I comparing myself to the
Apostle Paul, with the exception that I consider myself to the be among the
least of the Missionaries. However, I can surely relate to a
statement he made with regard to the care of the churches in 2 Cor. 11:28
"Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily,
the care of all the churches." Maintaining a ministry that spans
two continents has it challenges. One of those challenges is the delicate
balance between doing ministry and supplying the financial needs of the
ministry. To that end, Terry and I are regularly burning the road with
deputation appointments to seek new support and maintain current support.
This also includes attending mission conferences of supporting Churches as well
as local, state and national Missionary Baptist meetings to report on our
work. During the last eleven years of this journey of faith
we have come to realize that God has never let us down and he always supplies
the needs of His people when we do His work, His way.
Thank you for allowing us to share our
journey of faith and thank you again to each and every ministry partner who
supports us prayerfully and financially. Please continue to pray
for the work in Kenya/Uganda and Florida.
In His Service,
Bro. Chuck &
Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya/Uganda/Florida Plant
Kenya/Uganda/Florida Plant
Specific Prayer
Needs:
More Converts
More Baptisms
New Van for Van Ministry
Larger Florida Building
Tents for New Bible Studies
Audio Bibles for Kerio Valley
Paper Back Swahili Bibles
New Sanctuaries Kenya/Uganda
English (KJV) Bibles
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