Pray for Mt. Elgon, 3 Churches Destroyed & Audio Bibles Update

Three Landmark Baptist Churches Burned

We have been receiving alarming reports from our Churches on Mt. Elgon over the last week.   Its been ten years since the tribal clashes of 2008 where over twelve hundred people where slaughtered on Mt. Elgon.   We know first hand the destruction of life and property as we were some of the first outsiders up the mountain in the month's following the clashes.  It was heartbreaking to talk to the residents as we shared the hope of heaven through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Now a full ten years later and after thousands having trusted Christ as well as twenty New Testament Churches planted, the devil has brought death and destruction again.   From primarily reports we are hearing that three of our Landmark Baptist Churches have been burned and or destroyed.  The specific Churches are the Landmark Baptist Church at Kipsogon, the Landmark Baptist Church of Cheptandan and the Landmark Baptist Church at Cheptkururu.   All of this death and destructed started as a result of what has been reported as retaliation when those responsible for the 2008 clashes were released from prison.  They started in one village that spread to numerous villages as criminals as well as neighboring tribes from Uganda used the occasion to steal land and steel.   (below pictures are file pics)

Thousands Flee Mt. Elgon 

 Please pray for our brethren and Churches during this time of trial and tribulation.   We will do our best to keep you informed as soon as our Pastors from the base of Mt. Elgon are able to climb the mountain to help encourage our brethren there.   These events have already affected our plans to conduct a Pastors/Preaches seminar on Mt. Elgon during our upcoming mission trip.   The mountain is currently under government curfew to put an end to the killing and destruction.   The Churches and Christians in the affected villages have been forced to flee, however they take the gospel with them and they are already looking for new areas to start new works.    We find history repeating itself as in the book of Acts where the early church was scattered abroad. 
Acts 5:36  For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
Acts 8:1  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 8:4  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Acts 11:19  Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch,

preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

.. Burned & Stolen Steel 

As you can see from the above picture, we started using steel and tin for our Churches early in our ministry due to the cost of timber and the destruction of termites.  Unfortunately, the steel and tin has become a target of opportunity to the thieves and thugs on Mt. Elgon who burned what would burn and then stole the tin roofing and the steel trusses and posts at LBC Cheptandan and LBC Cheptkururu.   We will do our best to help them rebuild their lives and Churches as soon as time and finances allow.  In the mean time, we can pray for God's grace.   

 Bibles Update  

We have placed an order for one hundred audio bibles in the Pokot and Lou tribal language to be used during our mission trip in the next few weeks.  Thank you to all who have felt the burden and sacrificially given to get the word of God into the hands of those who are unable to read or write.  We have also ordered Swahili Bibles to be waiting for our arrival.  While we set a modest goal we can always use more than the hundred  audio Bibles we requested.  The bottom line is the more we receive the more we will buy.   We look forward to giving hardback Bibles and Solar powered audio Bibles to new converts in the Kerio Valley and Lake Victoria.    Php.  4:17  Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

 

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