Missionaries Fernandez

Following Footsteps, Confirming Souls & A Backslider Reclaimed

2012-02-06T04:17:00.000-08:00

Woman with Audio Bible from POKOT Tribe and Terry,

Praising The Lord!

Chuck demonstrates Audio Bible

Audio Bible

This week we helped Pastor Timothy Loquardo move to the Kerio Valley to be closer to the Landmark Baptist Church of Cheposabei where God has called him and to continue his work with the Pokot Tribe.

Pastor Timothy Loquardo~Sharah Moving Day

He has been working with the Pokot from our initial survey trips into the Kerio Valley when we started this outreach in 2010. Instead of traveling each week from the Mt. Elgon region he now feels it is time to move his wife and two children to assimilate with this tribe.

It is truly humbling to move a young man of God, his wife and two young children whose total sum of possessions fit on the luggage rack of the truck.

During this experience I really wrestled with his safety and ability to adapt to the harsh semi-arid region but God reminded me that he is following in the footsteps of His Lord and Savior as Jesus would travel to places like Samaria, Bethany, Capernaum and Gadarenes to do His Father’s business. Then I was also reminded that he is following in footsteps of his old brother, John, who has been a pioneering Missionary to the Turkana Tribe in Northwest Kenya and now to the Toposa tribe in Southern Sudan.

The last struggle I had in my heart was answered when the Lord reminded me that Terry and I have moved a lot farther away from our family, home and country and God has faithfully provided and protected us through His infinite grace and mercy.

Any concerns for his welfare or his family went out the window when we arrived at the house he is staying at which happens to be located at the quarters in the Chief’s substation.

New House

God has provided Timothy with what has turned out to be the safest place in the entire area and is located just a few kilometers from the villages where he will be preaching.

As Bro. Tom Willis, (One of our Mentor’s at our Church)

always says, “Ain’t God good all the time”?

The Chief assured him that he is under his protection and to let him know if he has any problems. Make no mistake about it, Pastor Timothy and his young family will face trials and challenges with the heat, lack of water and adjusting to the culture but his great faith and love for the Lord will see him through. New Bow

In addition to relocating Timothy, we were able to follow up on the evangelism we did in the neighboring village of Katuperot during our time with the Mac Team three weeks ago.

Chuck Evangelism

Evangelism Team ~ Mungu Ni Mwema = God is Good......

It is a great joy to confirm the souls of those that professed Christ as we help them grow in their faith. We were also able to share God’s Word with some new folks who had gathered in a dry river bed to dig for water. Water Hole

At one point as I was sharing the gospel with the men, I looked over my shoulder and could see Terry sharing God’s word with the women and children.

Words cannot describe how thankful I am that God gave me a soul winning help met that has such great love and compassion for the lost.

She is an amazing woman.

Many made professions of faith on Saturday and joined us in services at LBC of Cheposabei on Sunday, what a blessing!

In closing, God has answered our prayers with regard to young preacher named Peter Lonyong.

Peter was our first Pokot translator, the first villager to be saved and baptized in Cheposabei and the first young man to surrender to preach the gospel.

However, he was also the first to become backsliden.

After about a year we noticed that Peter was no longer being faithful.

We would ask the other members where he was and they would tell us he was in Uganda with his herds.

It turns out that during his last visit to Uganda he stole something from somebody.

He was captured by those people, hung upside down and severely beaten.

He was then held as somewhat of slave until he worked off his debt.

While those who beat him where not Christian they asked him what Church he went to and then told him to return to do God’s work.

It may have not a large fish that swallowed Peter, but it had the same affect on his life as he is now faithfully doing God’s work again with us at Cheposabei.

We serve an amazing God who loves his children enough to chasten them back to His loving arms. Please continue to pray for us to have strength, wisdom and love as we try to reach the lost and disciple the saved.

God Bless,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya

Phil. 4:13

What Could be Written & A Dying Saint

2012-01-30T03:38:00.000-08:00

Terry With School Children

What I could write in this week’s journal might include the fact that we were able to visit four of our seven Churches to encourage them in the Lord.

New Dolls

Additionally, I might write about the fact that we were able to climb Mt. Elgon to construct ten new pews at the Kipsigon Landmark Baptist Church

Calender Planning

or possibly about the fact that we were very discouraged upon arrival to Eldoret from the sound of a broken drive shaft on the truck.

Oh well, back to the shop again.

Finally I could also write about the great Sunday services we had with our brethren at Mayanja LBC located at the base of Mt. Elgon as well as the new sign we delivered.

While all of the aforementioned items are very important and noteworthy, one of the most important visits we made this week was to see a dying saint whom we affectionately call “Mama Eklas”. Mama Eklas & Pastor Pete

We traveled to the village of Ndivisi to pray with Mama Eklas and to deliver a new blanket to keep her warm during her final hours. Upon our arrival we found her lying on the ground outside of a small mud hut in a very weaken state.

She had not eaten for weeks and is no longer taking water.

While we wanted to say goodbye we knew in our hearts by faith we were really saying, “Until we meet again”.

Mama Eklas’s story is worth remembering as she is the perfect modern day picture of the widow in Mark 12 who cast two mites into the offering that day with Jesus looking on. Jesus taught his disciples a great lesson about sacrificial giving and reminds us of the depth of her love for God when He said that she gave all that she had.

Mar 12:43 "And He called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them,

" Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

Mar 12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance;

but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

Mama Eklas is amazingly similar to the Bible widow, because she is a widow from Uganda and because she is poor and basically homeless. She now lies dying outside of a borrowed hut. After making what will be our last visit to Mama Eklas on this side of eternity, Terry and I were absolutely moved with love and compassion for someone that we longed to see every time we visited her Church.

She is someone who had nothing to offer anyone other than her love and is someone who everyone loved so much because she loved the Lord so much.

You see, even her communication is not that good for she speaks no English and little to no Swahili but yet is larger than life.

Terry and I love her so much that we actually bought a painting that looks just like her face which is currently hanging in our living room.

Now back to the comparison of the Mark 12 Widow.

Mama Eklas is probably of the poorest of poor in the village but was always one who managed to give a great offering when it came time to give a portion of that which God has given us. You could see the joy on her face when she would march down the aisle to the offering basket and lay down an avocado, a small chicken or bananas on the altar while others where giving cash.

She obviously knew it was better to give than receive, a lesson that even Paul would try to teach his disciples as he encouraged them to remember the words of the Lord Jesus in Acts 20:35.

We thank God for the privilege and honor to know one of His great saints and while her entrance into heaven will be celebrated there will be a void in our hearts when we visit her village and church.

She is one of the most faithful and beautiful people we have ever known. Please keep her in your prayers as she walks through the valley of the shadow of death, but not alone, as her shepherd and her Lord are with her.

She is truly a great Saint.

Luke 9:48 and said unto them, "Whosoever shall receive this child in My name receiveth Me:
and whosoever shall receive Me receiveth Him that sent Me:
for he that is least among you all,
the same shall be great. "

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya, Phil 4:13

January 23, 2012 Mac Team Departs, Stranded in Nairobi & Oscar Mayer Hotdogs

2012-01-23T17:14:00.000-08:00

Our Macedonia Short term missions team wrapped up their two week mission trip and headed back to California leaving behind a wake of blessings for us and God’s people here in Kenya.
Visitors to the foreign field are usually far and few between so there is definite void in our lives as the reality sets in that Terry and I are the ones that are left behind to continue the long term work of helping establish the saints in their faith and discipling them so that they will reach others and glorify Jesus throughout all the earth. The team worked extremely hard so we rewarded them with a wild game safari through one of the National Game Parks. Safari

No trip to Africa would be complete without seeing some of God’s creation that has become synonymous with Africa.

The animals did not cooperate with us on this safari however they are “wild” and there are no guarantees.

Bro. Gary Weidenbach

The only guarantee is that the team did get an experience that they would have never gotten anywhere else. AJ

Elephant Orphanage

Terry & Giraffe

While on the safari the Rover started making noises in the transmission region that I knew were not good.   We were able to baby it along until late Wednesday evening while transporting our group to the airport. It is always fun and quit anxious when you are in route to the airport with your guests who are on a schedule to make an international flight and the transmission comes apart on the road.    With all the noise from parts breaking I knew Bro. Gary, our group leader was praying in a great way.    The Lord answered our prayers and we limped into the airport with transmission parts grinding and breaking.     Saying goodbye at the airport is always difficult but we believe we will see many of the members of this team return to Kenya again in the distant future.   Terry and I would spend the next three days in Nairobi waiting for parts and repair on what turned out to be a broken transfercase housing which basically split in half. The British mechanic who repaired the truck said this was the first one he had ever seen break like that in twenty years. We are thankful that it did not happen somewhere out in the bush. This repair has really helped us confirm that it is time to replace the Rover which is actually on loan to us from another Baptist Missionary who has left the country. While we are thankful for the provision, the truck is chronically fatigued with 250,ooo African Kms on it and soaring operating costs which have been running around $6,000.00 per year.   It does not take a mathematician to figure out that within three years we could replace the truck with something newer and more dependable.   We now ask you to prayerfully consider this need and we feel it must be God’s will because there have been people who have recognized the need and given without us really putting out a formal plea. God knows our needs and will provide our needs according to His riches and mercies.
Phil. 4:19
" But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
With the truck in the garage, Terry and I were forced to spend a few days of down time in Nairobi and probably some needed rest.   One of the advantages of Nairobi is that there are many imported items that can be found there and nowhere else in the country.
One such item that we found during our delay were Oscar Mayer Hotdogs.
For someone who loves a good hotdog this was a real blessing. Needless to say, we bought a half dozen packs at great price but figured it was worth it to have a part of American culture in our belly from time to time.
Thank you to all who support our ministry through prayers and offerings for we could not do what we do without either.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Phil. 4:13

Macedonia Team Week Two- Moments with God & Humble Hearts

2012-01-16T04:42:00.000-08:00

Big Russ Walking Evangelism

Not sure where to start after a week of so much activity and so many blessings but I have learned that if you don’t start somewhere then you never get anywhere.

Our Macedonia Mission Team has held up well under an aggressive ministry schedule in tough conditions over the last week which included: Eldoret street evangelism, three more vacation bible schools in three different villages, Pastors/Preachers seminars, village evangelism, baptisms and Sunday services. This large team has functioned well to serve the Lord in spite of weariness and cultural differences in the heat and dirt.

Shepherd With Pastor Russell

Counting the blessings of these last two weeks is impossible but for the record we have seen all of our objectives accomplished which included providing a short mission trip for God’s people to experience His presence, power and His people.

Pastor Brian Preaching

During the long days of travel and work, it is hard to determine what is happening in people’s hearts but our evening evaluation meetings accompanied by devotions and testimonies reveal the depth of God’s work in the hearts of His people.

Big Russ with Audio Bible

It is clear that each member of the team has felt the presence of God in a new and refreshing way.

Isa 44:3 "for I will pour water upon him that is thirsty."

My heart was particularly touched by the testimony of one of the two Pastors who accompanied this team and has been waiting thirty years to come to Africa.

While we were doing village evangelism in the Pokot village of Katuperot he had an encounter with a goat herdsman whom he brought to Christ and wanted to be baptized that day.

There was no fan fare or lightening but Pastor said that was the moment that God’s presence and power was experienced in another real way that so touched his heart and was life changing for both parties.

Bro. Gary Evangelism to Pokot Tribe

Both of our guest Pastors did a great job of tailoring their teachings and messages to be culturally relevant. The other theme that seems to be recurring within the team is humility. Each person has expressed how much that they have been humbled by what God is doing here and by the people that we work with. Our brothers and sisters here in Kenya gave them some great offerings which included: 1 goat, dozens of eggs, chickens, 2 gourds and traditional Pokot necklaces.

Terry's Gift

Regardless of which tribe we have worked with over the last two weeks our team has experienced Christianity in its simplest and purest form.

Pokot Mama

For those of you who are interested in numbers because numbers represent souls: there were over seventy professions of faith, forty eight baptisms, three evangelism campaigns, two new villages visited, four vacation Bible schools with over one thousand children attending as well as numerous solar powered audio Bibles and hundreds of tracts distributed. Preachers Seminar

We also conducted two Pastor/Preacher seminars and drank hundreds of glasses of chai and ate tons of Ugali.

This group has been a great blessing to Terry and me and I also believe they were a great encouragement to the people God has knitted our hearts together with.

Solomon-Katuperot Evangelism

Sunday Service

We want to thank Bro. Gary Weidenbach who is the leader of Macedonia Short Term Mission Trip Ministries for giving these folks the opportunity of a life time to participate in world missions. His ministry is going to help produce the missionaries of tomorrow. Little Hunters

Please pray for traveling mercies as this group heads to Nairobi tomorrow and back to California the next day.

May God continue to bless you and keep you?

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya

Phil. 4:13

Macedonia Mission Team Week One

2012-01-09T04:21:00.000-08:00

Mac Team from California in the Rift Valley

A group of eleven traveled over ten thousand miles from California for a short term mission trip this week to work with Terry and I here in Kenya. This was their first mission trip to Africa, so it has been so fun to watch and listen to their first impressions. It brought back many great memories of our first trip to Kenya in 2006. They were in awe of the stunning beauty of Kenya as we traveled across the country with stops to overlook the Rift Valley and at the equator. After settling them into their lodging we immediately shuttled out to their first opportunity to fellowship with our brethren at Landmark Baptist Church of Mawe Tatu/Nzoia and to introduce them to village life and culture.

To their credit, they have gracefully adapted to the food, the chai, the dust and dirt. Tea Time Village Style

It was clearly apparent from their testimonies on their first night in country (many with tears rolling down their cheeks) that God led them here and that He is going to do a great work in their lives as they touch the lives of the people we work with. Prayers for Children

Within the first week we have done a women’s seminar, village evangelism, vacation Bible School, Sunday service and Baptisms. The ladies did character studies and then Terry presented the ladies of LBC Mawe Tatu with a new wood burning oven.

After teaching them how to bake her famous banana bread and corn bread the ladies of the Church cooked the group banana bread for breakfast the next morning and it was great. Terry Teaching Baking

While the ladies had their seminar we took the men to the neighboring village of Soysambu to do house to house evangelism. Evangelism Team

There were twenty four villagers who professed Christ and the men were able to experience Kenyan culture in a very up close and personal way as we shared the gospel and spent time in the people’s homes.

The next day we hosted close to five hundred Children for Vacation Bible School.

In addition to games, songs, puppets and prizes, the children received a gospel message through using the wordless book/witness bracelets.

The group did a great job of sharing the love of Christ and for sure our brethren know they love them. Only eternity will reveal the full impact of this great work, but what we do know is that hundreds of seeds were planted and watered this last week. Cole Evangelism

It has been great for Terry and I to sit back and listen to all of the first impressions of things that we no longer think are strange, however, one of the most memorable moments involved one of our visiting Pastors who was absolutely moved when he saw the thousands of fingerprints in the mud walls at the LMBC at Mawe Tatu where many people who got their hands dirty to help build the sanctuary. Our two visiting Pastors will have no shortage of sermon illustrations in the coming months. Yesterday was a great day of singing, teachings, preaching and baptisms.

Pastor Brian Baptizing

Teaching Songs

There were twenty eight who followed the Lord in scriptural baptism yesterday. After the baptisms and a season of prayer for young children, Pastor Brian Langley got the shock of his life when he was presented with four live chickens.

The look on his face was priceless, so I came and rescued him

from what was obviously an uncomfortable position to be in but a huge blessing! Pastor Brian

Pastor Russ

Bro. Kevin

These are small reminders of the many areas of culture adaptation that Terry and I have gone through over the last few years that are totally natural to us now.

Parachute Game at Mawe Tatu/Nzoia

Smiles of Happiness

We thank God for sending these fine folks half way around the world to serve and worship with us as we know this is going to be a life changing experience. While the team is holding up very well we need your continued prayers as the hardest part of the trip is yet to come.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your life as we travel this journey of faith. May Jesus be exalted above all other names!

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya

Phil. 4:13

January 1, 2012 New Year, Youth Seminar & Group Preparations

2012-01-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

Teaching At Youth Conference

First let me say that Terry and I wish each and everyone who tunes into our journal and ministry A Happy and Blessed New Year in Christ.

Secondly, let me say that I have attached our 2011 year end ministry report for review.

Thirdly, we want to give God the glory for the 842 who professed Christ, the 260 who followed Christ in scriptural baptism, the two new Churches organized and the five new outreaches which have been started in 2011.

Our week of ministry included a couple of trips to Western Kenya to deliver the frames for new pews for the Landmark Baptist Church of Kipsigon on Mt. Elgon and to teach at a youth Conference.

Pew Frames

Now when I say youth, you have to understand that culturally speaking, that can include those young folks who are not married well into their upper twenties.

Youth

Our culture says; that once you are eighteen you have become an adult, however that is not the case with Kenyan Culture. So I had the opportunity of a life time to teach a group of about one hundred youth from the ages of eighteen to about twenty five from five of the Churches we have planted.

I taught them on the “crossroad of life” from Matt. 7:13

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"

Matt. 7:14..." Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

We were also able to do several character studies on the life’s of Samuel, David & Daniel. These young folks were so happy to have a conference designed for them and also so they might have the all important fellowship with other youths who are of like faith.

Youth Conference

The rest of the week was spent as you might have guessed, repairing a broken shock mount,

installing new front springs

and new Rancho steering stabilizer shocks that I brought back from the states, now we are for sure “redneck style” in Africa. Rancho II

Please pray for the Macedonia Mission Team who will be traveling this week to join us here in Kenya for the next two weeks. Terry and I are so looking forward to the company as well as sharing what God is doing in our lives and ministry. Our hearts prayer is that they too will experience God’s presence, power and His people while serving the Lord here in Kenya. Please pray for this group of thirteen for traveling mercies and also Terry as she has been very sick the last two days.

Thank you for traveling this journey of faith with us.

In His Service,

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

Phil. 4:13

Celebrating Christmas Village Style

2011-12-25T05:21:00.000-08:00

Christmas day was spent worshiping with our brethren at the Landmark Baptist Church of Namarambi near the base of Mt. Elgon.

It gives Terry and me great joy to return to villages that we have become a small part of through our involvement in planting New Testament Churches.

The bond that has been formed through Christ is one that runs deep and will last throughout eternity.

Pastor Daniel and these folks are growing in the faith as they continue to be faithful year after year. We know one day we will commend them to the Lord on whom they believe but for now we are enjoying the worship and fellowship along the way.

Pastor Daniel

Like all of the new Sanctuaries, LBC Namarambi is a work in progress but the building is further along than the others as it has a layer of cement over the mud and the congregation as purchased and installed glass in the windows.

After Sunday services we traveled to the home of Pastor Peter and his family.

After three years of service here in Kenya Terry and I have experienced much of their culture and we felt it was time for us to share a small part of our culture with them.

We asked Pastor Peter and his family if we could bring some of our culture to their village home to celebrate Christmas.

They were very gracious to allow us to bring a turkey and Christmas cookies Terry had cooked as well as set up a small Christmas tree and of course presents.

We were reminded that we Americans take so many things for granted as this was the first time in their lives to taste turkey (which they loved) and to have a Christmas tree.

It is not something that is necessary counter culture but more so something that is not part of their basic necessities which dictate much of their lives.

Warming Turkey

Turkey Time

In any case, we enjoyed the smiles on their faces as everyone got their fill of turkey and then opened presents which are a rarity here.

I think we had more fun watching the kids chase bubbles and try on their new outfits as they celebrated Christmas in a new way. Bubble Time

Bubbles

We miss our family in a great way and even more so during these holidays and while it is not quite the same it is nice to be a part of our extended family here in Kenya.

Thank you to those who sent Christmas wishes and prayers as we serve our Lord and Savior on the foreign field.

May God bless you and keep you.

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

Phil. 4:13

The Mt. Elgon Express and Building the House of the Lord #5

2011-12-22T05:20:00.000-08:00

It has been several months since we have been able to visit our Churches on Mt. Elgon due to the heavy rains we have experienced this year. Mt. Elgon has about a nine month rainy season that makes it near impossible for us to travel to the top where our Churches are located. Now that it is dry, we loaded up the Mt. Elgon Express (Land Rover) with 80 sheets of roofing tin and headed up the steep rocky Mountain road.

First stop, Landmark Baptist Church of Cheptabrubru where Pastor Alex and his men had completed the frame of the sanctuary and were waiting for the roofing material.

We had a great time of fellowship with this group of believers as they build the house of the Lord.

Our partnership with these churches include us giving them the foundational items to build with but it is entirely up to them to invest their blood, sweat and tears into these projects.

This is our fifth building project.

We enjoy coming along side of them to fulfill God’s will for their lives but it is important that they take ownership of these works. The Church continues to grow in numbers and is very much great commission minded as they have sent preachers into three neighboring villages to preach the gospel where 295 folks have professed Christ over the last six months.

Can somebody say Amen! Helper

These new outreaches are in the villages of: Chepguruguru, Cheptandan & Chemta.

Our prayers are being answered and the investment of time we have made into theses Churches and leaders through teaching and training is bearing more fruit than we ever could have imagined.

It is often said that good disciples make disciples.

Pastor Pete & Wycliffe

Second stop, Landmark Baptist Church of Kispisgon. LBC Kipsigon was the first Church we planted on Mt. Elgon is located just on the other side of the Mountain from Cheptabrubru.

Little Friends

Pastor David and the members are now putting the finishing touches on the Sanctuary at Kispsigon.

It was a great day of fellowship with many of the people Terry and I have brought to Christ over the last several years. Mamma Sweetie

We always try to exhort and encourage them to continue in their faith but it always seems like they are the ones who end up encouraging us.

This trip also gave us the opportunity to deliver Christmas Food Baskets to the Pastors and their families.

Mamma Rose Mary & Terry

Pray for us as we still have to deliver windows, doors & more tin to Cheptabrubru and pews to Kipsigon before the rains return in February.

Not only are these trips physically demanding but they are also hard on the truck as we blew out a tire and broke another shock mount on the truck due to the excessive weight and rough roads.

Shock Repair

It is all part and parcel to working on mountains and deserts to preach the gospel to the uttermost parts of the world. We covet your continued prayers and wish you a Happy and God blessed New Year.

Your Missionaries to Kenya, East Africa,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Phil. 4:13

Five City’s, Three Continents, Eight Time Zones & Youth Offering

2011-12-19T04:30:00.000-08:00

From a ministry standpoint this week was somewhat of a short week due to the extensive travel it took for us to return from the United States to Kenya.

Thank God for modern transportation but it is mind boggling to think that we have traveled from Tampa to Miami, Miami to London, London to Nairobi and Nairobi to Eldoret within three days.

If I am ever tempted to complain of all the traveling I am reminded that God blessed with an opportunity to return to Florida for our Son’s wedding and also that the missionaries of old could take weeks and months to sail across vast oceans to carry the gospel.

We had to spend an extra day in Nairobi as none of our bags made it on the flight from London.

It is a good thing that Terry is always prepared for these types of contingencies as she packs extra clothes in our carry on for such a time as this.

(Note for Mac Team coming in January)

Now we are in the process of acclimating ourselves to the time change and environment.

We are very much at home in Kenya but it takes about a week to get back on Kenyan time and adjust back to living at a high altitude.

They say it takes one day per time zone and we have crossed eight.

We traveled to the Landmark Baptist Church of Mawe Tatu/Nzoia to worship with Pastor Shadrach and his congregation this Lord’s day.

The Church and the Pastor are all healthy and doing very well in the Lord, however the building itself received some damage from recent flooding that took place while we were in the States.

They had just completed the new sanctuary before we left and had not be able to seal the mud walls before the extensive rains came.

They are currently in the process of repairing the damage and preparing to seal it with a layer of clay and eventually cement.

Since this was our first Church plant it is a great joy to see how this young Pastor and congregation continue to mature in their faith.

One of the ways this was evident was through a special offering that was taken to send the youth to a youth conference next week at one our sister Churches.

I really appreciate the effort our Pastoral team puts in training the youth as well as the men and women. They are the future church....

Assistant Pastor Japheth

What does this missionaries heart good is that they are functioning as a body of believers who are self supporting and self sustaining.

This is exactly the pattern provided in the New Testament.

Given the fact that we have come along side of them with teaching, training, Bibles and even the building process, it would have been so easy and convenient for them to ask the missionary for help with transporting their youth to this conference but nothing was asked of me.

The youth sang songs as the special offering was taken in addition to their regular tithes and the people gave a great offering that was sufficient to enable the youth to attend the conference next week after Christmas.

It is yet another example that everyone is able to give to God’s work regardless of one’s social economic status like the church at Macedonia.

2Co 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2Co 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

2Co 8:3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves.

In Closing, Terry and I want to wish you all a Merry Christ filled Christmas and thank you for traveling this journey of faith with us on a weekly basis.

God Bless,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya, East Africa

Phil. 4:13

Giving Thanks, the Ten Commandments and Vinnie’s Wedding

2011-12-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

Not sure I have ever written a journal entry at 39,000 ft. but with five more hours to go on this flight from London to Nairobi, I thought I might better take advantage of this free time. We are returning from just under four weeks in Florida to spend Thanksgiving with our family as well as help do our part with the preparations for our youngest son’s wedding. The multiple lengthy flights to travel back and forth are nothing short of daunting, however we gladly pay the price for time with our family and try to make up for lost time that will never be regained. Living away from family and country for extended lengths of time brings new perspective and meaning to what the Bible calls redeeming the time. Those moments in our homeland with family and fellow Christians have become so much sweeter. It is with this kind of gratitude in our hearts that made Thanksgiving so special this year as we deep fried a turkey and baked a ham at my Uncle Aaron’s house in Daytona in which all of our children and grandchildren were able to attend. Last year Terry and I celebrated and gave thanks with canned turkey her sister had sent to Kenya. Thanking God for everything has not changed but spending that time in person with those you love dearest was an extra blessing. We were also able to visit a few of our supporting Florida Churches including Ft. Cooper Baptist Church where I had the opportunity to preach at our 55^th homecoming. God has been so good to us all and we give him the thanks and praise for his grace on our lives. Our brief trip home also took us to the Dixie County court house located in Cross City, Florida to be a part of a peaceful “Save the Ten Commandments” rally.

Dixie County is coming under attack from the ACLU to remove the carved in stone Ten Commandments from the front of the court house steps. By the way, I think the ACLU should stand for the Anti-Christ-Liberals-Union. In short we spent a couple of hours with over 1000 of God’s people who have become sick and tired of cowering down to this Anti-Christian movement that has taken our country by storm over the last four decades.

The rally which included hymns prayers of thanksgiving and repentance as well as key note speakers who have fought against the ACLU and won. It was not only God honoring but was also one of the most patriotic events I have attended in many years. The (Pit-bull) lawyer for the Liberty Council who will be defending Dixie County is the Son of a Romanian Baptist Pastor who had been brought to Christ by Baptist Missionaries and has experienced firsthand the religious persecution and tyranny of a totalitarian communist government.

His bottom line message was with God all things are possible and when we stand up we can win but when we do nothing we lose.

This young man has won 90% of his cases in some of the highest courts in the land because he knows he is defending our God given rights which happen to be recorded in the first amendment of the constitution. It was awesome to see God’s people assemble themselves and let their voice be heard.

The finale of our trip home was our son’s wedding.

During my college days I remember being taught that the death of a close relative and moving are two of the most stressful events in a person’s life. After this week and our third and last child to be married I would like to add weddings to the top of that list. We thank God that Vinny has met a fine Christian girl in his new wife Arlene and we believe God was honored in all of ceremony which I was asked to officiate. While I was a little rusty from the huge change of venue, I can say that we all made it through the ceremony without anyone falling or passing out.

It was a beautiful service and Terry and I are now able to return to the work God has called us to with a little more peace in our hearts knowing Vinny has united in Holy matrimony with the help met God has brought him.

In Closing, the longer we are in Kenya the less we feel at home in the United States. Believe me; it is not from a lack of love for family or country because every time we return to the field we do so with broken hearts and many tears. However, once you assimilate into a foreign culture there is a large part of you that has grown accustomed to that culture and things that were once familiar to you starts to become foreign and what was once foreign becomes familiar. Thank you for your prayers and support.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya

Phil. 4:13

PS: None of our bags arrived with us, so pray that we are able to retrieve them today in Nairobi with the next flight arrives from London.

Overcoming Obstacles & Circuit Riding Preachers ...Lake Victoria Area

2011-11-07T03:45:00.000-08:00

Boat Makers in Lake Victoria Area

Finished Product of the above boat.....

Our travels this week returned us to Lake Victoria to meet with the believers of Wichlum and Got. Drying Minnows

It seemed like there were obstacles at every corner and it was a trip that almost never happened.
Obstacle #1... after the truck was fueled and loaded with the new tent and benches for the believers at Wichlum to worship under late Friday evening, it stopped running.
We had a friend tow the Land Rover to the shop where I have mechanics I trust because they attend our weekly Eldoret Bible Study.
My 'trusty' Eldoret Mechanics

Fortunately it was only a loose wire to the fuel solenoid.
With the rugged territory we cover each week it is a wonder that anything on the truck stays together.
Obstacle #2... About 50 km’s into the trip we arrived at the scene of a terrible accident where two semi trucks collided head on blocking the Uganda Highway.
Roadblock

This is something we face almost every week we travel to the Mt. Elgon region due to the steep and slick roads, combine these conditions with overloaded trucks and you have a recipe for accidents.
After sitting for about an hour, I decided to cut a muddy path on the side of the road to go around the accident.
Thank God for four wheel drive and some good off road experience. We were the only vehicle to safely pass.
Obstacle #3... the trip to Lake Victoria is around 250 km’s. (approx. 120 miles)
About 50 km’s from the Lake, without warning the idler pulley locked up with a screaming belt.
To make a long story short, after the engine cooled down I was able to pack the bearing with new grease and limp along the entire weekend as well as the 250 km trip back to Eldoret. It made a long trip longer but once again it a story of God’s grace and traveling mercies.
The two villages at Lake Victoria have grown into a strong fellowship of believers as they are both led by Pastor Jackson, the fisherman we brought to Christ in Wichlum.
We also delivered Bible Institute Studies and a new bike as he has been walking 10 km’s from Got to Wichlum three times per week. He is effectively Pastoring two groups of believers. Circuit Riding, Pastor Jackson's new bike....

I call him our “circuit riding preacher”.

During our last Pastor’s/Preachers seminar I introduced this concept to the men of God we are teaching and mentoring.
As a young Pastor I remember studying the life and ministry of B.R. Lakin who during the 1920’s served as circuit-riding preacher, riding a mule from church to church through the mountains and foothills of rural West Virginia and Kentucky.
In sparsely populated areas of the United States it was common for clergy to serve more than one congregation at a time and it worked especially well in the service of rural villages and unorganized settlements.
Because of the distance between churches, these preachers would also ride on horseback. They were popularly called circuit riders or saddlebag preachers.
These frontier clergy traveled with few possessions, carrying only what could fit in their saddlebags.
They traveled through wilderness and villages, they preached every day at any place available (people’s cabins, courthouses, fields, meeting houses, later even basements and street corners).
Thank God for these men who were willing to sacrifice to give others the Word of God.
In addition to delivering what I classify as ministry tools to help facilitate continued growth, we were able to visit many of our recent converts to exhort them to continue in their faith. Pastor Peter & Missionary Chuck

In particular, there are three old Mamas’ that have such a great faith and a longing for God that they really encouraged us. They are the first ones to arrive for the teachings and the last one’s to leave. Continuing Faith....

This kind of dedication provides stability and consistency for this young Church that other will see and follow.
We were also happy to see the young back slidden preacher named James attend the meetings, that is an answer to prayers as he makes his way back to God.
James and Missionary Chuck

In closing, we want to give special thanks to Pastor Tim Johnson and the members of Dean Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Alma, Arkansas for purchasing the new tent & pews for the believers of Wichlum to meet under.

For those of you who tune into our weekly journal, don’t be alarmed if you do not receive one for several weeks as Terry and I are returning to Florida this week to attend the wedding of our last born son (Vinny). We also continue to experience problems getting email’s out so we apologize for this issue, however, I am still posting weekly on our journal blog: missionarieschuckterryfernandez.blogspot.com.
May God continue to keep you and bless you.
Thank you for your prayers and support.

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

Cleaning Nets at Lake Victoria

Phil. 4:13

Tent Making and Ordination

2011-10-31T12:25:00.000-07:00

Much of this week’s activities included making a new tent and pews for the work in Lake Victoria. Purchasing steel, cutting, fabrication, painting and assembly was all part of our regular ministry duties. We will be traveling next week to the fishing village of Wichlum again to deliver the tent and to do some teaching and training of the man God has called to preach there. The highlight of this week’s work was the ordination service of Pastor Peter Barasa. It was a good thing we completed the tent for Wichlum as it was needed along with two other tents to hold all the people who came to Ndivisi Landmark Baptist Church to be a part of the ordination service for this special Pastor and preacher. From the first day we met Pastor Peter and teamed up with him to reach the lost on Mt. Elgon we knew there was something very special about him. Every once in a while God will allow us to be a part of a special person’s life and they impact your life effortlessly while just being who God made them to be. This is the case with Pastor Peter, his heart for the Lord, his love for the lost and God’s people is something that is rare to find in this day and age anywhere in the world. After almost three years of working side by side to preach the gospel on Mt. Elgon, the Kerio Valley and now Lake Victoria, we have grown to love and respect him in a great way. It was an honor to ordain him as a preacher of the gospel and to be his brother in Christ.

This was the largest event we have experience during our ministry thus far and was one of the most joyous events. Terry and I were so happy to see the outpouring of love expressed to honor this sharp young man who has surrendered his life to preaching God’s Word. Pastor Peter’s family, friends, neighbors and Church members all testified of a life honoring God.

Pastor Peter & Family

For my part, I taught on the qualifications of a Pastor and the qualities of a “good shepherd” as well as serving a member of the presbytery.

After the teachings and the preaching of the charge, the presbytery had an opportunity to publicly ask Pastor Peter questions concerning his doctrine and biblical knowledge which he answered with great command of the scriptures. He has not only been a great leader within our team but is also a great student of the Word. The ordination process was yet another opportunity to teach the younger men of God the method and biblical tradition that has been practiced by the New Testament church for over two thousand years. Praise the Lord we have a biblical pattern to follow! After he was thoroughly examined along with his wife and children, the presbytery prayed for him with the laying on of the hands.

1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Pastor Peter now is not only a phenomenal man of God but also carries one the highest honors and stamp of approval as a God ordained preacher of the gospel. A Kenyan tradition we have grown to love was at the conclusion of the ceremony when all those in attendance give Pastor Peter and his family a love offering. What makes it is special is that the offerings include: live chickens, bananas, corn, beans, tea cups, lanterns, a live sheep (fitting for a shepherd) and of course money. This shower and outpouring of love really touches our hearts every time we experience it.

As special as this was I believe the most precious moment may have been just before the dismissal prayer and lunch when the newly ordained Pastor, his wife Sporta (who Terry has gotten close to) and their five children sang a special.

Wow! What a great way to end a great day!

Women's Choir

Crowd

Thank you for traveling this journey of faith with us as we serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya

Phil. 4:13

About Our Father’s Business While It is Day

2011-10-24T03:45:00.000-07:00

Our Father’s Business

Jesus made two statements in the gospels that characterize our mission work this week. The first one was as a child who went missing in Jerusalem from His parents and was later found in the temple confounding the doctors. When confronted by His parents He told them,

“How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

Our Fathers business is what compels us, challenges us and consumes us.

As I look back at the week in review I can see our fathers business remains the top priority for us as we fulfill His will for our lives.

Delivering Doors

For time sake, I will record this week’s activities in somewhat of log form to capture the essence of our Fathers business on the foreign field.

Monday: A. Write and report weekly journal, send out approx. 1000 emails

B. Purchased wood for pews at Wichlum, C.

Clutch went out in Land Rover while Terry and I were in Eldoret, thank God it did not go out while in the interior,

(2^nd one in 11 months)

Tuesday: A. Pulled motor out of Land Rover to replace broken clutch fork, throw out bearing & motor mount.

B. Replaced piston, ring and fuel pickup on chainsaw to cut trees on Mt. Elgon for new sanctuary.

C. Tuesday evening Eldoret Men’s Bible study, (There are ten men that I am mentoring and teaching the Word of God each week), taught from Titus on the qualifications of a Pastor.

D. collected pews from welder to be assembled

Wednesday: A. collected Swahili Bibles for members without a Bible

B. Started cutting trees on Mt. Elgon for the Landmark Baptist Church of Cheptabrubru.

Thursday: A collected cement, tin, wire, vents and doors for restroom at Landmark Baptist Church of Mayanja.

Note: Terry and I praise the Lord for our Pastor and members of our sending Church.

Not only is Ft. Cooper our sending Church but it is our home Church were we grew up in the Lord. We are thankful for all of those who partner with us financially; however, Ft. Cooper BC has taken the leadership role in the building process by raising the funds through special offerings to build the Landmark Baptist Church at Mayanja.

Rom 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Friday: A. Traveled over 200 km roundtrip to deliver the supplies for the restroom at LBC Mayanja.

Restroom Digging

B. Had fellowship with Pastor Nixon and Church Members

(Very Important in Any Culture)

C. Met with Pastor Peter & Pastor Timothy to discuss plans for our newest Pokot Tribe Church, outreach & upcoming ordination service.

D. Attended fellowship & Bible Study at Landmark Baptist Church of Ndivisi, taught on Paul’s first missionary journey.

E. Had the unique opportunity to witness to a Muslim who claimed to be a former Christian, however during our conversations he admitted that he was never born again.

He did allow me to share the gospel with him and pray for him.

Saturday: A. Collected educational material from printer to deliver to four preachers who are continuing their education.

B. Prepared Sunday sermon and Sunday school lesson. Note: Remember that we are not only studying and preparing to interpret, illustrate and applicate the Word of God but preaching and teaching in Swahili takes many extra hours of translating.

Sunday: A. Traveled 100km’s round trip to Landmark Baptist Church of Mawe Tatu

B. Taught and Preached on the return of Christ.

C. Baptized five new believers in the River Nzoia, this make fifty-nine new converts who have been baptized in the last three weeks.

In closing, I know that this type of journal log is not atypical for my style of writing and I hope I did not bore you with a lot of details but sometimes it is good to remember how we are spending each day that is a gift from God. If it seems like we are busy, you are right. But know that we are happy in the Lord doing His work and given the great sacrifice our Lord and Savior made for us there is nothing too small or great that we would not do for Him.

Jesus also reminds us that we must work while we can when He said,

“I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

Terry & Sporta

God Speed,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya

Pokot Outreach becomes Landmark Baptist Church of Chepsabei

2011-10-17T05:18:00.000-07:00

Not ALL Fun!

After one year, what started with a burden to reach the Pokot tribe in the Kerio Valley has developed and been organized into the Landmark Baptist Church of Chepsabei.

We baptized twenty three charter members into the church this week then that followed their baptisms by voting on their new Pastor Loquardo, the church secretary and church treasurer. Baptism

We have not been in any rush to plant churches, however, God continues to assemble born again believers and call men of God to Pastor them. Church planting is a humbling experience as we watch God work in individual lives as well as the villages He has put on our hearts. It is hard to describe the incredible transformation that has taken place in Chepsabei since that first Spirit led day God brought us there to preach the gospel. No missionary, no church had ever entered into this village that was living in total darkness but praise be to God they have seen the light and it is truly radiating throughout this village.
2 Co 4:6..." For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. "
We now see individuals who were living with such oppression upon their lives through drunkenness and witchcraft that they are now totally delivered and set free to live for God.
At this point, there is so much joy, happiness and unity within this group of born-again believers that is literally contagious to those of us who are working to teach, train and disciple this group as well as many of their fellow villagers who are enjoying this sweet fellowship.
Solomon's Family

This Church plant, which is our seventh in the last three years, has also been an incredible faith builder for our team of six who were on the initial survey trips into the Kerio Valley to work with the Pokot tribe. Teresa Baptized

I still hear those men regularly reference how God directed us to Chepsabi while seeking His will for us to reach this tribe for His honor and glory. It was an awesome experience and we will never forget how His presence was so strong, so real and so powerful.
We have enjoyed God’s goodness and His sweet presence in such a way that we want others to experience this personal relationship with our God through His Son Jesus. This work has been a team effort as Terry has been teaching the ladies and we have had a rotating team of preachers from Mt. Elgon come on a weekly basis.

The believers of Chepsabei are already having an effect on the neighboring village of Asilong as some have also been saved there. God has called another Kenyan National preacher to work in this village. Our love for these folks grows deeper with each passing day as we continue to invest our lives and the lessons God has taught us into the lives of these new believers. Our work is more than nameless people, nameless villages and nameless Churches but is rather deeply personal as Terry and I form close personal relationships with people that will last throughout eternity.
Church Vote

This approach to mission work involves time, energy and commitment to those who we bring to Christ but is one of the richest and most rewarding experiences a person will ever have. It is our conviction that these types of deeper discipling relationships are what Jesus modeled for us as he walked, talked and taught His apostles for some three and half years. This is “Great Commission” centered mission work as commanded by our Leader and Savior.
Mat 28:19....." Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost"
Mat 28:20...." Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Amen.
In Closing, We want to give special thanks to the ladies of First Missionary Baptist Church of Auburndale, Florida for making pillow case dresses and shorts for the children of Chepsabei.

Terry Helping

Dressing Little Ones

New Dresses

Sisters

New Shorts

Happy Girls

We covet your continued prayers and we need your continued support to be able to reach the lost and disciple the saved here in Kenya.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya, East Africa

Phil. 4:13

Lake Victoria Crusade & Revival

2011-10-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

We spent the last five days at Lake Victoria working in the fishing village of Wichlum and as well as the neighboring village of “Got”. This was our third mission trip to this area and was by far the most powerful yet. The camping was rigorous and the pace was intense but as the Bible says," great grace was upon us all."

Our introduction to the Luo tribe and the Lake Victoria mission started in 2009 when I led a young man named Kennedy to Christ. He became our traditional hunting guide for antelope and gazelle. However, God has used those hunting trips in a way that we never could have expected or imagined. During the course of our trips we have brought Kennedy’s family to Christ and did some village evangelism in Wichlum.
Kennedy Sharing God's Word

So I guess you could say we went hunting for animals but ended up fishing for men. This third trip was no longer about hunting but was solely ministry related. We have seen over one hundred profess Christ in this rough fishing village where there is not a single Church.
After each trip we would leave the new believers with Swahili John & Romans as well as some basic discipleship material. Swahili John & Romans

Now God’s amazing grace and life changing salvation never ceases to amaze me but what is also amazing is how the way the Lord works in the lives of these new believers who have been saved and personally calls others into service. You see during our absence from year to year there have been a group of believers who started assembling themselves on a weekly basis for prayers and Bible reading. This group has been led by a fisherman named Jackson who has taken the initiative to lead them and also started doing evangelism in the neighboring village of “Got”.
Evangelism Team

I will never forget the day we led Jackson to Christ as he was just returning from a night of fishing with three small fish on a string. (Talking about scripture coming to life!)
Chuck & Jackson

From the very first day he professed Christ he took us around to visit his neighbors to preach the gospel and now his entire block of neighbors are born again Christians attending His bible study. We could hear several of Jackson’s fellow fishermen say, “If God can save Jackson and use him to do His work, all of Wichlum can be saved.” Jackson Baptized

Given the move of God upon these folks lives our team thought it was time to come along side of this group who have proven themselves faithful even without a Pastor or Church to encourage their growth and strengthen their young faith.
We did two more days of evangelism in Wichlum and we also had a three day tent revival.

There were 56 who made professions of faith on this trip and we baptized 32 who have been patiently waiting for over a year to follow Christ in scriptural baptism.
Lake Victoria Baptism

Scriptural Baptism

Jackson has surrendered his life to the ministry and we are in the processing of training him and equipping him to do what God has called him to do. One of the saddest visits we made was on the first day at the house closest to the plot where the tent was set up where we met a young backslidden preacher. Very sharp, very articulate, with a very clear account of salvation but now a drunkard who has wondered far from God. Here he sits in the middle of a village of over 3000 people who are lost without Christ wasting his life with riotous living. We tried to encourage him in the Lord and he attended the meetings two days but was missing on the third.
His name is James and he could use our prayers.
The Mt. Elgon and Pokot Ministry are areas that God really burdened us to reach but in His great love and through His sovereignty He is raising more men of God to reach into this region of Lake Victoria. We covet your continued prayers and thank you to all those who partner with us to fulfill the great commission.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya

Planting Trees, Bearing Fruit and Building Dedication

2011-10-03T04:24:00.000-07:00

While delivering pews to the Landmark Baptist Church of Mayanja this week, we were asked to do something that was a new experience for Terry and I since we started our mission work here in Kenya. Pastor Nixon and the members of LBC Mayanja gave us two trees to plant on the new plot which was purchased last week. Now I am sure of the significance of tree planting in this culture, and even in our culture, tree planting means different things to different people.
For example: it has been said that,
“He who plants a tree, plants hope”.

It has also been my past experience that trees are planted in memory of someone as well as to coincide with the laying of the foundation of a building project. Regardless of the intent, here is how it spoke to my heart. As we placed the young saplings into the prepared holes my thoughts were all about bringing lost people to a relationship with God Almighty through His son Jesus and then seeing them grow and mature in their faith as a part of God’s local New Testament Church while producing much fruit along the path of their life. Delivering Pews

The symbolism regarding the church itself was equally compelling as we have been privileged to take part in the greatest endeavor on earth, Church Planting. We have had the high privilege of planting new Churches with new believers who have coveted together to keep the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Landmark Baptist Church of Mawe Tatu (3 Stones) with Pastor Shadrach where we participated in the building dedication service yesterday.
Dedication Prayer

The members decorated the mud building in such a way that it was absolutely beautiful.
It just proves that you can still give God your best regardless of your social economic status anywhere in the world. We came along side of Pastor Shadrach at the beginning of 2009 to help him fulfill his calling in this new village. Congregation at Dedication

The Church was started in the Pastors house with his young family. It was planted with days of preparation through prayer, fasting and village evangelism as we began to reach his neighbors with the gospel. The church began to grow as his neighbors began to make professions of faith in Christ and followed Jesus in scriptural baptism. The growth would continue week after week, month after month and now after some years we see men and women of God who are maturing into saints of God who are bearing much fruit in their life. These mature men and women are now becoming seasoned and have been well trained and well equipped to do the work God has called them to do.

The significance of the Church far exceeds the size, style and shape of the building and as we learned as children, the people are the church. We praise the Lord and give him all the glory for providing a sanctuary for these wonderful saints of God to assemble themselves through the sacrificial offerings of God‘s people in America. The Pastor and members are thankful for those who have partnered with them during this building process, but make no mistake that they also give God the credit and glory for this great provision. They, too ,have given sacrificial offerings towards the building of their sanctuary. Pastor Digging Outhouse

Pastors from the six Churches we have been working with were able to attend this special day of celebration.
Dream Team

We have learned the importance of creating a fellowship of Churches as there is strength in numbers and it is our hearts desire that if we plant one church there would be at least four more close enough for training and fellowship.
Terry and Wamama

The day ended as you might have guessed with another tree planting at LBC 3-Stones where I planted an avocado tree.

My hope is that this tree too will bear much fruit that we will enjoy for many years to come.

John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:

that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you. "

In His Service,

Candy Time

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez, Kenya

Phil. 4:13
Little Worker at Landmark Baptist Church

No End In Sight, Evangelism, Plot Purchase & Lemons

2011-09-26T03:54:00.000-07:00

We currently have two sanctuaries under construction which are nearing completion. While the members of the Landmark Baptist Church of Kipsigon and LBC of Mawe Tatu have carried the load during the building process we have been behind the scenes constructing windows, doors, pews etc... This week we completed the pews for the LBC of Three Stones minus one board which we lost during the trip on the rough and rocky roads. I can’t imagine how that happened?

While the physical work of building the sanctuary of the Landmark Baptist Church of Mawe Tatu (3 Stones) comes to an end, I look on the horizon as we prepare to start two new sanctuaries on Mt. Elgon and believe there is no end in sight, at least in the foreseeable near future. We also realize that Church planting does not end with the building of the sanctuary, and we will invest many more hours, days and weeks of coming along Pastor Shadrach and his congregation to encourage, to teach and to enjoy the sweet fellowship that started almost three years ago while serving our Lord and Savior together.

This week we also did evangelism with the members of the Landmark Baptist Church at Mayanja.

Before we did evangelism we surveyed the new plot which we help them purchase this week by faith believing that God’s people who believe in the great commission will continue to support this young church. Group Church Plot

The plot is approximately a ½ acre and is located right smack dab in the middle of the village which has a population of over one thousand. We stood on the crest of the hill where the plot is located and looked out over kilometers of the sprawling village with mud houses and thatch roofs and thanked God for Pastor Nixon and the New Testament church that is growing spiritually and physically each week. We have experienced the grace of God in this latest church plant as there have been many trials in just arriving at the exact location the Lord wanted these people to meet.
If my memory serves me correctly, this will be the forth meeting place this young church has had in one year and a half but we praise God that this is the right place and they will no longer have to rent or borrow a plot to assemble themselves to worship the Lord. They will still meet under a tent during the meantime, but we thank God He has provided a plot that can never be taken away from them. There are many things that impress me so much about this Church.
Number one: they have stayed together in unity during the trials of moving from place to place.
Number two; this is one of the only Churches we have where the men actually outnumber women.
This is definitely the exception to the rule here in Kenya as the women seem to be the ones who make up most of these churches in these early infant stages. However, Mayanja has strong men who are the leaders of this work.
Men like: Moses, Fred, Chester and Dismes have stepped forward to proclaim God’s word in their village.
Pastor Pete & Chester Moore

This was clearly evident as they led our evangelism efforts alongside their young Pastor this weekend. As we went house to house my heart was beating a mile a minute from the joy of seeing these men unashamed to be called Christians and introducing their neighbors to us and the Lord through the gospel. We realize that one of the most important parts of our personal work is teaching these folks to share God’s plan of salvation so they can do the work in their village and abroad long after we are gone. You can tell they were listening intently as we shared God’s love with their friends and neighbors and preached God’ word. We are committed to this mentoring and training process until they become “fishers of men”. This is all part of the process Jesus used to train men that would turn the world upside down with the soul winning, life transforming gospel.

New Testament Christianity is alive and well today as the baton is passing from believer to believer until Jesus returns. As we travel this journey of faith, God continues to do a great work in our lives through his infinite grace and mercy.
Happy Servants.....of Christ!

In closing, I have to let you know how tough my wife Terry is. The last two weeks she has experienced the same symptoms that landed her in the emergency room during our furlough to remove a urinary tract blockage. She has been in a lot of pain from what we believed to be more kidney stones which also makes her violently sick.
After several sleepless nights of pain and sickness and after much prayer we found an online home remedy which said straight lemon juice actually dissolves kidneys stones. Needless to say, we went out and bought every lemon at the local market and began juicing. Even though the straight lemon juice made her sick, it appears after three days that it may have worked and has passed those painful stones.
In addition to this bout of kidney stones she took a hard fall while crossing a creek during Saturday’s evangelism. She is one tough cookie and there were around twenty who professed Christ on Saturday because she loves the Lord and gives of herself sacrificial.
Terry & Carlitos

Thank you for praying for us daily!

In His Service,

Chuck & Terry Fernandez

Kenya Got Chickens

Phil. 4:13

Women’s Seminar & Collard Greens 101

2011-09-19T03:59:00.000-07:00

Winston Churchill once said,

“My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.”

There are many days when I could echo the sentiments of Churchill about my wife, Terry, and none more so than this week as she held a two~day women’s seminar

for the ladies of our churches near Mt. Elgon.

There were over seventy women present from six different churches and four different tribes, many of whom traveled as far as seventy kilometers to attend and many with babies on their backs.

These types of major contributions to my ministry not only compliment everything I do as a missionary but also serve as a great reminder that we are a team. It is a blessing to not only have Terry by my side but to have her taking the time and initiative to teach the Momma’s in our work.

Old Mamam

Terry has taken what she has been taught over the last twenty plus years while being faithful to the house of God and given it to the Momma’s that she loves so much.

What an unbelievable asset she is to my ministry!

Mama Violet & Terry

With a wide range of ladies present, representing a wide range of Christians in their walk with God, she started the seminar by reviewing a basic discipleship course.

She then taught the ladies how to do one-on-one evangelism, which the more mature Christians have been asking her to teach since the last seminar.

Student Group

The second day she taught them the

fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Words cannot describe how much the women love Terry and how thankful

they are that she would take time to teach them how to become Godly women.

While Terry is honored to teach the ladies they seem to be so honored to have someone to teach them in a seminar designed specifically for them. It was heavenly for us (men) to sit outside and listen to the praise radiating from God’s women as they sang in unison.

For Terry it was simply doing God’s will for her life as a missionary wife and being obedient to scripture.

Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

This is what I like to call 'collard greens 101'.

One of the many talents that Terry excels at, is cooking. She is particularly known for her collard greens which she learned how to cook from her grandmother, Mamie Moore ,and my grandmother, Lula Baxter, both southern girls.

She is still giving God her best by continuing to pass on the Biblical lessons she has learned over the years and what a difference she is making in their lives. I know all of these women are very special to Terry but she was especially blessed that a young Pokot Lady named Elizabeth whom she led to Christ last year traveled all the way from the Kerio Valley to be taught by her mentor.

Pokot Convert, Elizabeth, and baby......

Elizabeth gave a beautiful testimony of being led to Christ by Terry on a dusty Pokot trail last year while she was gathering fire wood and how her life has been forever changed by the Lord.

Needless to say, there were few dry eyes.

Terry’s women's ministry is a beautiful picture of what Jesus did with His disciples as He developed them into the future leaders. He spent time with them, He nurtured them, He confronted them and He inspired them. The legacy that we leave behind will not necessarily only be the number of Churches planted but rather in the number of lives changed by the power of God who will in turn continue the work that we have started through their local church.

We are still a little weary from our travels this week as we slept in the village which of course gives one a perspective of village life. Outdoor showers and facilities with no electricity or running water are a reminder of how blessed we are, but there is also something special about waking up in a remote village with the solitude of a beautiful sunrise accompanied with the sounds of the roosters crowing and children laughing.

Little Carlos

We are incredibly privileged to have men and women that have a longing in their hearts to walk with God and are willing to let us teach them the things that we have been taught by our Pastors and mentors over the years.

What calling could possibly be higher?

Please continue to pray that God’s Spirit will teach us and lead us as we teach others His Holy Word.

In His Service,

Chuck & Terry Fernandez
Kenya

Phil. 4:13

Foundations, Finishing Touches & Insiders

2011-09-12T03:55:00.000-07:00

The building process which we are currently experiencing in several different villages, reminds us that we are laying new foundations and building on these foundations each day of our ministry. We are making every effort to build on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ so that each and every work will stand and be sustained upon Christ alone.

The Bible says,

"except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it."

Our constant prayer is that the Lord will build the house as we labor. We have also put forth much effort into preaching the gospel where Christ has not been named lest we build upon another man’s foundation. I can’t help but to compare the work of the latest of two sanctuaries nearing completion with the building process in the lives of God’s people. What started in almost all of our works with new converts, in a new village, is beginning to blossom into growing and maturing saints of God who have coveted together as a Church family to carry out the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This building process is producing great joy in our lives.
While we are working to help some reach their fullest potential and full maturity with finishing touches we are also laying new foundations that will require years of building. In addition to this week’s language studies, translating and bible studies we traveled back to Mawe Tatu (3 Stones), to deliver and install windows and doors on the sanctuary.

Drilling and Preparation

These are some of the finishing touches to prepare for the sanctuary dedication service scheduled in two weeks. Japheth & I

"Knock....and the door shall open"

Other than a sunburned head from wearing a visor instead of hat, we had a great day in the village working alongside of God’s people. Side View

I keep forgetting that while we are living and working at high elevations we are also located at the equator and the sun is strong enough to burn tender bald heads. The long term investments we are making into these churches are beginning to produce a new perspective of life in these villages. While we do not live in the village, the considerable amount of time we are spending with them is leading us to be known as residents instead of visitors.

Once people saw us in the village and wondered who we were and what we were doing but now our status has changed as we continue to build on the foundation that was started over two years ago. We are now known by name and welcomed as residents of the villages we are working in.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the lives of the children who once feared us but now are always the first to welcome us and call us by name and now we find many who are named after us. Instead of being outsiders looking in we are now connected to these people through Christ.

As we worked installing the doors and windows, Terry was teaching the kids new songs and how to play some new games. Singing Tony Chesnut

Candy Time

After the doors were installed Terry helped the women mud the exterior around the windows and doors.

Working Women

There is so much going on right now that I can’t fit it all on one page but we also have some really exciting new foundations that we see on the horizon of our ministry in the very near future. Work Crew

We need continued prayers for wisdom and discernment, love for the lost, the Lord, God’s people and for strength and power to preach the good news of the gospel.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya

Phil. 4:13

Nairobi Maintenance, Colonel Sanders & Three Stones Update

2011-09-05T04:57:00.000-07:00

TEACHING....

Maintenance could very easily describe this week’s ministry activities. I am aware that I spend much time recording the intense maintenance of the Land Rover, but unfortunately it is a very real part of our daily life as a result of the extreme off road areas the Lord has led us to. And while this week’s maintenance, the completion of the new rear duel shocks and spring system was part of our week, it was not the only maintenance which took place.

Dual Shocks......

Terry and I took a few days to travel to Nairobi to maintain ourselves since we have been hard at it over the last seven weeks. We found that during our first two year term we really did not take enough time to recuperate from the rigors and stresses of serving in the remote interior areas of Kenya. This left us drained and chronically fatigued. Anyone that has experienced this condition knows that it affects you spiritually and directly relates to your effectiveness. This was a lesson that a veteran missionary tried to explain to us several years ago but one that we had to experience ourselves the hard way. He said that, “if you do not remove yourself from the work here in Kenya every six weeks or so you will find yourself in a bad way”. We now know what he was talking about and have made a conscious effort to try to better maintain our overall health.

Terry & Mamas....

I realize Nairobi is still in Kenya; however, it is the capital city where all the embassies are located with many modern malls and restaurants. There are places you can visit that actually remove you from the culture and surroundings for a short time. It is these short experiences that help you decompress from living in a land and culture that is completely foreign to our own. Culture shock is very real but I believe that culture rejection is sometimes needed to regain some level of comfort with your surroundings. Case in point, since our last visit to Nairobi, they have opened a Kentucky Fried Chicken. It may not sound like much but just the sight of Colonel Sanders smiling face helps removed you from the foreign environment, even if it is just for a few moments.

The trip to Nairobi also gave us the opportunity to pick up supplies that are not available in Eldoret. Since fuel prices have risen over twenty percent since our last term there are many items that are no longer making it up country, especially food supplies. After returning from Nairobi we jumped back into the work at hand with a renewed vigor. We delivered windows to the LBC of Three stones .............

And this also gave us the opportunity to test the new double shocks and springs. They greatly reduce the impact that rough and rocky roads have on our backs.

We were amazed to find within the last ten days the construction of the sanctuary was almost completed. M3...(Three Stones) Sanctuary...

I was told that over sixty neighbors within the village turned out one day to help mud the walls while the Pastor and His Associate Pastor finished the roofing. This speaks volumes of the testimony of Pastor Shadrach and the membership as they serve the Lord and live out their faith before their neighbors.

Inside Sanctuary

After services we visited the home of Japheth to have lunch. Japheth’s testimony is one that continues to be a great source of encouragement to Terry and I. It was almost three years ago that Japheth saw us coming to visit his house during village evangelism and ran out the back door. Since that day we caught up with him and the Lord got a hold of his heart bringing him to salvation. Once a drunkard and living a heathen life, he has been transformed into a mighty man of God that leads the building projects and has given the rest of his life to the Lord surrendering to the ministry.

Japheth Family

Japheth was always respected for his commercial abilities as he has completed major construction projects all over the country but now is respected as a man of faith and integrity. He and Pastor Shadrach form one of our strongest leadership teams. We see the transforming power of God in action in saving Japheth and calling him into the ministry. He has been a blessing to us and many others.

1Co 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. "

Nelson Cleaning Mud

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya

Phil. 4:13

Pastors/Preachers Seminar, Pneumatology & I Love You

2011-08-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

Pastors/Preachers Seminar, Pneumatology & I Love You

Since I have updated the construction of the sanctuaries over the last few weeks I will not elaborate on this week’s progress. However, it is safe to assume that continued efforts are going on well and we are preparing for dedication services at the LBC of Mawe Tatu within the next two weeks. The highlight of this week was the two day Pastors/Preachers seminar we held in the Mt. Elgon Region. Kitchen Crew

There were twenty-six Men of God that attended the seminar from three different regions of the country, all of which we have put much effort into over the last couple of years. Preachers & Pastors

Those regions include: the Mt. Elgon region, the Pokot region and the Lake Victoria Region. Tea Time....

What continues to bless my heart is not only the size and depth of the work God is doing in our ministry by calling Men of God to preach but also their level of dedication. What started in 2008 as a team of three preachers including myself has grown to over thirty in less than three years. While we do help these men with their transportation costs to the seminar it is important to remember that we do not pay or compensate these men in any shape or form and there has been no financial gain. They are simply Men of God surrendering to God’s call on their life. Everyone of these men without exception are bi-vocational preachers that are fishermen, farmers, herdsmen or are some type of skilled tradesmen like carpenters or welder/fabricators. This is the first time for the new men from the Lake Victoria and Pokot region to meet the other preachers.
Pokot Team

Needless to say, they were amazed as we all are by the size of the team God has assembled to preach His word here in Kenya. Wichlum Team

We spent the first day teaching on their calling, commission and message as a preacher of the gospel. The second day I taught on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit which included the person, the names, the nature and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Teaching Time

It was a very powerful seminar that I believe made a huge impact on all of us who attended but was especially beneficial to the newly surrendered preachers. The fellowship was sweet and the feedback was very positive. As a teacher I am constantly monitoring the feedback given by the men to see what they have learned during the course of the seminar to evaluate the lessons as well as the teacher. One of the comments I received from one of the newly surrendered preachers from the Landmark Baptist Church of Myanja absolutely blew me away. After two days of intense teaching, Chester came up to me at the end of the seminar and said, “I love you and I will never forget you”.

Many have said they appreciate the lessons and have learned a lot but in almost three years of working closely with these men I have never had one of them tell me he loves me. It really touched my heart because this is something that is not expressed in this culture. It reminded me of an occasion about seven years ago when one of our bus kids in Brooksville, Florida named Peyton told me he loved me while we were visiting his home on a Saturday morning. It is one of those moments frozen in time when God gives you something along the path of service that reminds you that any sacrifices made are well worth it because you are making a difference in someone’s life. I count it a high privilege to be able to teach these men of God the things that I have been taught over the years and to see them grow in their faith and knowledge of the Lord. That is a reward beyond comparison. Departure.....

Please continue to lift these men of God up in prayer as they preach God’s Word.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya

Journal Blog: missionarieschuckterryfernandez.blogspot.com

...Work In Progress, Aloe Vera In Asilong & Pokot Tent Raised...

2011-08-22T03:59:00.000-07:00

God’s work here in Kenya continues to move forward one step at a time. Sometimes those steps are baby steps, sometimes they are great strides but praise the Lord we are moving forward and not backwards. We are able to see the progress one soul at a time, one maturing saint at a time, one building at a time and one village at a time. If we only make a difference in the life of one person by bringing them to Christ it would still be a cause well worth living and dying for. The physical progress by way of building sanctuaries is consuming much of our time.

Mawe Tau Construction...A Work In Progress

Two out of the three sanctuaries under construction are nearing completion.

Pastor Shadrach ....Mawe Tau Construction

While we provide key components: windows, doors & tin for roofing, it is very much a joint venture. The congregation does more than their share of carrying the construction burden by cutting trees and actually physically erecting the structure. We dare not rob them of an opportunity to put their faith into action by their works. We also managed to travel to Pokot for two days to continue moving forward with the work there. The spiritual progress is clearly being seen in the village of Chepsibei through the lives of the new believers.

Imagine people who were living in total darkness who are now children of God, praising the Lord and giving their love and lives to Him. While the new believers of Chepsabei are like all of us, a work in progress, they are growing in their faith and love for the Lord in leaps and bounds.

We spent two days teaching and preaching the Word of God to people who can best be described as spiritual sponges.

An amazing transformation is taking place before our very eyes in the lives of these believers. In addition to teaching and training we were able to take a trip to the neighboring Pokot village of Asilong to preach the gospel.

This village is located within one kilometer of the Uganda border. The evangelism team was made of six of our preachers from the Mt. Elgon region and two young Pokot translators from Chepsibei. Audio Bibles

Each time I set foot inside a village that has never had a missionary or gospel preacher visit there I am humbled that God would call me to proclaim His word there and that He is using us to deliver the most important news that they will ever hear. There is so many dynamics at work here that it is hard to fathom.

This hot semi-arid region is a field that is truly white already to harvest. There were many who received Christ that day which is the greatest work but there is also a work in progress in the lives of the young preachers and translators as they continue to develop their skills as fishers of men.

This trip also afforded the unique opportunity to teach and train these young men of God on a very close and personal basis. They really opened up during the morning and evening devotions with questions that they have about the Bible or about things they are experiencing in their own lives and ministry.

It also affords them the opportunity to work with other tribes and cultures within their own country. Every time they go to Pokot they leave seeing how blessed they are to live in the bread basket of Kenya. One unique occupation in the village of Asilong was the processing of Aloe Vera. The plant grows wild in this village and we were able to see them boiling it. Aloe Vera Boiling

The finale of our trip was the assembling of the pews and the raising of the tent in Chepsibei. Tent Supplies

Thank you to those who have given a special offering to the Lord’s work in purchasing two tents for this purpose.

Pew Construction

It is another step of progress in the work at Chepsabei.

Going Up!

The testimonies praising the Lord for providing what is a portable canopy and some benches for them to assemble and worship under were truly heart moving.

Sitting on Benches under Tent...

The foundation is being laid one person at a time, one building at a time and one village at a time.

Teaching

Praying

On a personal note: special birthday wishes went out this week to a special person, the love of my life, Terry.

Birthdays are not quite the same without family but we have each other and we thank the Lord for that. We covet your continued prayers.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez, Kenya

Journal Blog:missionarieschuckterryfernandez.blogspot.com

The Shop Part II, Building the House of the Lord & 23 Baptized

2011-08-15T03:20:00.000-07:00

Muddy Roads

New shocks, tie rods ends and trailing arm bushings were all on the order of the day for the truck this week. The new shocks have made a great difference in the ride and more importantly to our backs. Next week we will add two extra shocks on the rear axle and replace the coil springs which have totally collapse from the daily pounding of the roads and trails we travel on a daily basis.

Next to our Bible, A dependable vehicle is one of our greatest ministry assets so we have had to rethink our approach to preventive maintenance.

With one sanctuary nearing completion on top of Mt. Elgon and another beginning at Mawe Tatu (3 Stones) we are busy processing wood, delivering windows, doors and roofing materials. By far, the most difficult sanctuary to build is the Landmark Baptist Church of Kipsigon which is located atop Mt. Elgon.

Cutting and processing the wood on the mountain was hard enough but getting a particular type of sand and stones up the mountain on a road that is extremely steep, muddy, rocky and washed out is where the challenge lies. Two of the seven loads had to be unloaded and reloaded because the truck hauling materials was unable to make it or broke down.

Broke Truck

The LBC Kipsigon has taken the longest to construct due to these difficult working conditions but is nearing completion. It is also going to be one of the strongest churches as a result of being made primarily of stones.

Unloading Stones

Walls of Stone

Stone Walls Progress

Nearing Completion

Last week we did evangelism in the village of Namarambi. This week we saw the fruit of those labors when we baptized twenty three new believers in a cold rushing river.

It is always special to observe this ordinance and witness one of the first and most essential steps of obedience unto righteousness by these new believers. As we baptized on Sunday my mind and heart was continually drawn back to the Jordon River where our Lord and Savior was baptized by the John the Baptist. We believe, we follow and we obey. There is great joy that comes from knowing the union with Christ that has taken place as these young Christians start walking in the newness of life. While much of the joy comes from knowing that those who trust Christ will have an eternal home not made with hands but equally as much as knowing that they can have a daily personal relationship with almighty God through their Lord and Savior. I cannot think of anything more precious and priceless than to have a close personal relationship with our Heavenly Father.

John reveals his heart for those whom he had led to Christ and were walking in the truth.

3 Jn 1:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." Baptism also reminds us of the awesome responsibility we have to help ground these young believers in their new faith so not only will they become doctrinally sound but that they will also grow and mature into children of God that honor the Lord with their very lives. Our commitment to disciple these babes in Christ goes well beyond their salvation and baptism. Please pray for them as they start their new walk and please pray that God will continue to give us the wisdom, love and power to help them become mighty men and women of God.

God Speed,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez Journal Blog: missionarieschuckterryfernandez.blogspot.com

Kenya, East Africa

2Th 2:15 "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."

The Shop, Making Fishers of Men & Old Friends

2011-08-08T02:58:00.000-07:00

Long Muddy Day.....

Much of this week (3 days) has been spent with the Land Rover in the shop. Brakes, fuel lines, locks and a hole in the intake were all on the list of needed repairs in what has become a weekly pilgrimage to the repair shop. There are many times that I will make the needed repairs myself but this week I believe my time was better spent tending to ministry needs rather than being greased up under the hood of the truck. Besides, the men that work on the Rover are part of my weekly Eldoret Bible fellowship and are very good mechanics. Parts for this English built truck can be hard to get and rather expensive but considering the pounding the truck takes on Kenyan roads, trails and paths, even at nearly twenty years old the Land Rover has been pretty dependable. The men that attend our weekly Eldoret Bible study are really growing in the Lord.

It was pretty awesome to see these men have special prayer over the young man named Kennedy who has surrendered to the ministry and has traveled this week to a fishing village near Lake Victoria to lead and train a group of new believers there. Please pray for him as he follows God’s leading to carry the gospel to his tribe. When we got the Rover out of the shop we traveled back to Mt. Elgon for evangelism in a village called Namarambi. God was really watching over us on this trip as there was a tanker hauling gasoline that rolled over in front of us blocking the road. The driver was unhurt but thousands of gallons of fuel were pouring onto the road and into the ditches where locals were trying to scoop it up with everything from plastic bags to milk cartoons. We decided to make haste and get away from the tanker as fast as possible due to the fact that over one hundred and fifty people were killed last year when a tanker rolled over and ignited killing all those within the immediate area. It was the first time I have ever driven through a river of gasoline to get away from danger. God answered our prayers and gave us traveling mercy once again.

Coming alongside the new Churches for evangelism continues to be a high priority of our ministry.

I think the old Preacher, William Sanster said it best when he said,

“On his way to preach the gospel the most modest man may whisper to himself, 'Nothing more important will happen in this town this week than the work I am about to do.' ”

God is not willing that any should perish but I often wonder if we have the same kind of will. While you cannot put a price on the value of a soul we are increasingly seeing the bigger picture of our ministry and that is training the people to do evangelism. There were over thirty of our brethren that came out for evangelism. You know that God is really moving in the hearts of His people when you can get thirty Christians to get out and share the love of God through the gospel.

Part of the Team

In heaven they say: "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever! Amen!" Terry led a team of four women that had a great day in the village.

One More Soul

These women have never had another woman to personally teach them how to live the Christian life and serve the Lord. They continually tell me how much they love her and what a difference she is making in their lives. My personal ministry is blessed and compounded tenfold because God has given me a help met that is able to mentor and teach the ladies and children.

Celina Believes

I led a team of seven who listened and watched intently as we taught them how to become fishers of men. Great Christians over the years have invested in our lives and taught us how to become fishers of men and now we are simply committing to faithful men the things that we have been taught, who shall be able to teach others. Many professed Christ and also made commitments to follow Jesus in scriptural baptism next week. One of the members of our evangelism team was a young Turkana Pastor named Steven Lobolia Echom who was visiting Western Kenya.

Steven Lobolia & Pastor Peter

We met Steven in 2006 during our survey trip. His heart for the Lord and the lost made an immediate impact on us. God is using him to do a great work in an area near Lake Turkana and it was a real pleasure to spend some quality time with him while serving the Lord together again. Thank you for your continued prayers as we feel them and see them being answered on a daily basis.

In His Service,

Chuck & Terry Fernandez

Kenya, East Africa

Phil. 4:13

Journal Blog: missionarieschuckterryfernandez.blogspot.com

Three Stones Evangelism, Construction & Sunday Services

2011-08-01T06:39:00.000-07:00

Local Directions along the way for Evangelism Team

Last week was one of those weeks was when you look back and see that much was accomplished but you are left trying to catch your breath and wondering where it all went to. While it feels like it was a blink of an eye we are thankful most of what was accomplished has great eternal significance.
To start with, in addition to our regular ministry responsibilities we have returned to school for our third term of Swahili with our teacher Wycliffe. We have been blessed with a teacher who has been teaching Americans and Europeans Swahili for over twenty years. There is a vast difference between conversational Swahili and biblical terminology, and given the fact that the majority of our ministry involves communication we want to be as effective as possible for God’s honor and glory. The investment of time in language studies will help push us to the next level which is beyond the conversational realm. We have come a long way and we receive high marks from our Kenyan brethren but we know we need to go further. Our work this week also brought us back to the interior village known as Mawe Tatu or Three Stones with Pastor Shadrach for evangelism.
Evangelism Team

There were nineteen folks that showed up to share the love of God through the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a blessing for Terry and me to come along side of our brethren who have a burden to reach their lost family members and neighbors. Terry's Team

Our team of soul winning gospel preaching members is growing with each passing week.

We hiked down muddy trails passing through corn fields, over creeks and hills to bring the good news of the gospel to those who have never heard.
Rom 10:14 "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? "
There were thirteen precious souls who made professions of faith in the Lord Jesus and were added to the book of life.
My team shared the gospel with a Mama and her four sons who were repairing a washout with large stones on the trail in front of their home.

The Mama said she had received Christ some time ago and has been praying for her sons to be saved. God answered her prayer on that trail as each one of her sons received Christ as their Savior. Praying Mother and Answer+++

Not only was there great joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth but there was also great joy in that faithful mother when the burden of her sons salvation was lifted. The blessed part of obedience is that you never know how God is going to use you to answer others prayers until you obey. Lest you think people are making professions of faith based upon our race, Terry and I are not there to be out front and the lone soul winners but rather to train and to support the Churches efforts to fulfill the great commission. Our Kenyan brethren are far more effective and are winning many more to Christ and for that we say, “praise the Lord!” for that is the ultimate fulfillment of our calling.
Timbers for Trusses

In addition to evangelism, this week the trees for building the new sanctuary have been cut and transported to the Pastors house for processing. I am not sure I can adequately describe how labor intensive this work is being armed with only a chain saw and an ox cart.
Timbers for Posts

You cannot call Lowes or Home Depot here and have the wood delivered to your plot. The Pastor and the members of this church definitely have a will to work for the Lord. Pillars should go up this week and trusses the next.

There is such an excitement in the air over what God is doing in this church and village. Sunday services were under the tent at a village called Mayanja which is located at the base of Mt.Elgon. Now when I say at the base, I mean it is literally located at the base and even during the service you can catch yourself gazing upon God’s creation and the beauty of the peak of this mountain where much of our work has taken us. This was our first visit back to this new church plant since we left for furlough. Being deeply involved in this church plant from the initial evangelism visits I can’t help but to evaluate the work there after what has been one year now. It does our hearts good to see the Landmark Baptist Church at Mayanja growing in so many ways. For example, we find members who have been saved and baptized over the last year still faithful. I know that should not be anything out of the ordinary but during an age of worldwide apathy it is a victory in itself. We also find the church family in unity and harmony as they work together as a New Testament Church.
Youth Choir

This provides an environment where new converts are being added to the church regularly. There are also four new preachers who have been called and are currently being educated and trained.
Youth Drama

Finally, the young Pastor Nixon has withstood many personal trials over the last year. I do not have liberty to publish what they are but what needs to be said is that while Satan has unleashed an onslaught of attacks on this young man of God he has stood and been found faithful. His faithfulness has been blessed by God and the members of his church love him as they can clearly see what his faith is made of. There is so much more taking place in our lives on a daily basis but I try to keep my journal blog as brief and pointed as possible while trying to recapture a glimpse into the work God has called us to do. We covet your continue prayers.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya

Phil. 4:13

Blog: missionarieschuckterryfernandez.blogspot.com

The Heritage of the Lord & A Heart Like a Burning Fire

2011-07-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

Terry & Mama's Ministry

We are ever mindful that life is but a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. But from time to time God shows us just how fragile the silver cord of life is through the experience of death. It seems all too often, here in Kenya, we are attending funerals and burying precious little children as was the case this week. I was asked to preach the message of a little three year girl named Michelle who lived near Mt. Elgon. It is heart wrenching to watch the mother and father grieve over the loss of their child and had it not been for the Lord Jesus and the Word of God it could have been unbearable. We do mourn, but not as those who have no hope. There was great strength and comfort knowing that the Word of God teaches us that Children are the Heritage of the Lord. It is this thought that I shared with the family as well as hundreds of village residents who attended the funeral. While the burial methods and procedures are very different from our country, the faith in our risen Savior brings us back to common ground in which we find comfort. The attachment Terry and I have to these villages are growing well beyond the visitor realm and our relationship to them is becoming more like residents after laboring in them for what is turning into years instead of a day, a week or month. Sharing these types of experiences with the people God has called us to minister to opens so many doors of opportunity to share the love of God through the gospel. Please pray for this young family during the weeks and months to come as there is a huge hole in their heart from a little empty chair at the dinner table. Most of the time we share and document our work through pictures but we just did not have peace to take pictures during the funeral service out of respect for these two young mourning parents.

Our travels also took us to the village of Mawe Tatu/Nzoia to deliver the new sign to Pastor Shadrach and the members of the Landmark Baptist Church (LBC) in preparation for building. New Sign for Landmark Baptist Church

It had rained all night so the interior roads were nearly impassable but we thank God for four wheel drive as I do not believe it is possible or wise to travel anywhere into the interior of Africa without it. This church was our first Church plant and it is going exceptionally well.

The members and their young Pastor have really grown in the Lord and it was a blessing to be reunited for the cause of Christ with both old and new members alike. It seems as if they are not sure if missionaries will ever return when they go home for furlough so needless to say, the people were so happy to see us again.
Terry and Women Ministry

We brought two young men with us who have been attending our Eldoret men’s bible study. Since LBC Mawe Tatu is our closest church to Eldoret it is here that we baptized those who are saved through the Bible Study and it is here that we take these young men for additional training under the leadership of one of our finest National Pastors (Shadrach).
One of the young men whom I led to Christ over two years ago has surrendered his life to the ministry and is asking the LBC at Mawe Tatu to send him to his home region near Lake Victoria to reach his tribe with gospel of Jesus Christ.
While I taught on the early church, Kennedy preached a very powerful and personal message from Exodus 4 where God called Moses to bring forth the Children of Israel out of bondage. Kennedy Preaching

I have seen and experienced this type of very personal call by God Himself to go and preach the gospel. It was clearly apparent through the preaching of God’s word that Kennedy has within him what Jeremiah described as a burning fire; Jer. 20:9 But His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones.

Please pray for this brother as he will be traveling to Lake Victoria the first week of August to continue a work that we started in a fishing village called Wichlum back in 2009. There are a group of fishermen there whom we led to Christ and are now assembling themselves on a weekly basis for Bibles studies. They have grown in numbers and now are in real need of some leadership. We have taught, discipled and mentored Brother Kennedy and now God has called him to reach his people. Terry and I are truly blessed to see what is described in the book of Acts as
"God’s hand with us, many believing and being turned to the Lord." While on furlough I was somewhat challenged at a mission conference that we should be working in large cities rather than villages, however, after seeing what God is doing in our lives and in the lives of many others I am certain we are exactly where God wants us. For it could be out of one of these villages that God can call the next apostle Paul.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Bike Tow Kenya Style

Kenya

Phil. 4:13

“On the Hook” and “In the Valley”

2011-07-18T03:42:00.000-07:00

Young Preacher Thomas

Keep in mind we are from Florida, and in boating terms, “On the Hook” might mean to be anchored somewhere in a body of water but in automotive terms it means to be broke down and being towed in by the tow truck. That is precisely what happened this week as we traveled to a village in Western, Kenya known as Mawe Tatu. Our plans were to secure trees to be cut and processed for the new sanctuary there but about half way into the trip the front driveshaft came apart ripping out the main wire harness as well as severing the fuel lines. Needless to say, it was a huge mess that left us stranded for hours while waiting for the tow truck.

Waiting For Tow Truck

Then when the tow truck arrived it left us wondering if it was capable of towing the Rover back to Eldoret. (Refer to Pics)

In any case, we made it back safely but had no transportation for several days.

As always God knows what we need and this set back actually forced us to take a few days to rest our bodies and particularly our backs after the rigors of moving back into the country again. Once the Rover was repaired it was immediately back on the road carrying us deep into the Kerio Valley to visit the Pokot village called Chepsabei.

We thoroughly enjoy working in this hot and rugged land and we praise God for leading us to work there. Every trip there has moments of sheer joy. For example there is the descent into the valley from an elevation of approx. 6000’ to desert semi-arrid elevation below 1000’. Just at the peak of this descent we can look miles out into the valley with great anticipation knowing that God has called us to this region to reach the lost and He is doing a work in the lives of many people who live there. There is also great joy in seeing these young believers and followers of Christ praising, learning and growing in their faith.

Terry With Old Mama

The work with the Pokot tribe was the last work we started before we left for furlough. Needless to say, we were anxious to worship with these new believers and to see how they were progressing in their walk with the Lord. A young Kenyan national preacher from the Mt. Elgon region named Timothy has been leading this work in our absence and has done a great job of teaching these young believers the Word of God. He loves them dearly and they love him so much they have given him a Pokot name. His Pokot name is “Loquardo” which means: LIGHT. Tim & Tom....Pokot Tribe

Not only has he done a great job of continuing the work but God has blessed him with two young men from that village who have surrendered to the gospel ministry. This is an answer to our prayers. As I have explained to Timothy, our mission with the Pokot is to bring them to Christ and to train up leaders and God called preachers from Chepsabei so they will eventually have a Pokot Pastor and Pokot Missionaries to carry the gospel further and deeper into areas which are inaccessible to us. It was a thing of beauty to see these two young preachers inter act as they led the people in singing and teaching the Word of God. There is something special about two young men purposing in the heart to be living sacrifices for our Savior as they fulfill God’s will for their lives. What a powerful team God has formed as it is apparent that their souls have been knitted together to do God’s Work as they minister to the Pokot tribe. God is an awesome God!

I preached from the book of Acts on Why and Where they were first called Christians.

Over the next few month’s we will teach on baptism and basic discipleship to prepare those who have professed Christ to be baptized and organized into a New Testament Church. While the numbers were down due to a large village wedding, this village is being transformed by the love of God through the gospel one person at a time.

People of Chepsabei

We were able to supply the most recent converts the Word of God by giving them solar powered audio Bibles thanks to the special offerings given by our brethren in the USA. Your sacrificial gift has blessed these new Pokot believers.
Asante Sana = Thank You Very Much.

We always depart with great joy in our hearts over what the Lord is doing in this large somewhat obscure village in the Kerio Valley known to us, the residents and God.

Circle of Prayer

The climb out of the valley is very hard as the mountainous road is rough and rocky but at the peak of the climb we are always rewarded with a blast of cold air from this high elevation. It is so refreshing after working in the 100 degree heat.

We say thank you Lord.

Please keep us in your prayers this coming week as we do have trials ahead of us but we know God’s grace is sufficient.

2 Co 12:9 And He said unto me,

" My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. "

God Bless You,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya, East Africa

PS: Special Thanks to First Baptist Church of Eastbay and Anchor Baptist Church for supplying 100 Solar powered audio Bibles.

Foreign but Familiar...Hitting the Ground Running

2011-07-11T04:48:00.000-07:00

Landmark Baptist Church of Namarambi

located at the base of Mt. Elgon.

International travel always leaves something to be desired unless you enjoy being crammed into a plane with a couple hundred people and basically unable to get comfortable for sixteen hours of flying. However as bad as it is, our flights from Orlando to London and then from London to Nairobi went smoother than ever. Even with having to switch airports in London, from Gatwick to Hethrow with ten pieces of luggage worked out better than planned. I say all that to say that God really blessed our travels as we returned to Kenya this week.

There is a strange feeling after leaving family

Grandson Chuckie

and country to do God’s work on the foreign field for without a doubt you know you are on foreign soil but you also have great peace in your heart that you are at home in the perfect will of God. It is also comforting to have familiarity with the place God has called us to. While we do not consider ourselves veterans we are also not new to Kenya. The sights, the sounds and the smells had become so common place to us that we hardly notice that we are foreigners in a familiar land. Namarambi Youth Choir

Getting settled back in Eldoret has had its challenges but nothing that is unusual with the re-entry process. With jet lag trying to hold us back and with a heart of desire to see our brethren pushing us forward we hit the road to two village Churches in the interior on the Lord’s Day. One thing I learned while in the USA from feedback given by our American brethren was that people who read our reports really have a hard time getting a handle on what villages and churches we are working in. That is perfectly understandable because who could possibly place the village churches in the interior of Kenya on a continent as large as Africa. With that said, I will attempt to be a little more descriptive so people can follow our work when writing my journal blog. Probably more important than the location are the beautiful people God has called us to minister to. We visited the Landmark Baptist Church of Namarambi and the Landmark Baptist Church of Ndivisi both located at the base of Mt. Elgon.

Ndivisi Baptist Church located at the base of Mt. Elgon.

It was exciting for us to see their continued growth of both churches spiritually and physically in our absence. There were many new faces of people who have been saved and baptized while we were in the states as well as those faithful members whom we led to Christ during our first term which is a solid indication of Churches built on God rather than man. When our life’s work is over we want to leave something behind that God continues to get glory from. During Sunday services we were also reminded how much we love worshipping with our brethren in Kenya.

God’s presence was felt as He was worshipped

from the heart.

After services I was able to spend time with Pastor Peter who I consider my right hand and the best soul-winner I have ever known to make ministry plans for the remainder of this year. Those plans include upcoming evangelism crusades, training seminars, buildings and outreaches. Working with six Churches, training twenty-one preachers with three new preaching points while pushing the gospel into unreached areas provides more ministry opportunities and challenges than we could have ever dreamed or expected. We believe and know that God is with us as He has shown Himself faithful by providing the necessary partners and workers to fulfill His calling on our lives.

Thank you to all who regularly pray and financially support our ministry as it would not be possible without either.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya, East Africa Terry & Beatrice

Phil. 4:13

National Meeting, Remembering Joplin and War Hero’s

2011-07-04T04:15:00.000-07:00

Pastor Tim & Crystal

We have logged over 5000 miles during the last two weeks of travel while attending the national meeting of the American Baptist Association in St. Louis, Missouri. We also visited Churches in Alabama and Arkansas on the way up and back. These meetings were kind of the grand finale to our deputation efforts to promote our mission work in Kenya. With over two thousand in attendance it was great to reconnect with our supporting Churches, make contact with new Pastors and Churches as well as have fellowship with other missionaries. We are so thankful for all those who share our vision and burden to reach the lost and are willing to partner with us through prayers and offerings.

We were also encouraged by the feedback we received regarding work and we know God is going to do great things if we continue to follow His leadership and put Jesus first in all things. On our way back from St. Louis our GPS routed us through Joplin, Missouri which afforded us to see the destruction left in the wake of an F5 tornado.

Our hearts were truly broken as we traveled through neighborhoods which were leveled by what can only be compared to a huge explosion which took out a third of the city. I have attached two photos, one taken the day after the tornado hit and one taken thirty days later in which cleanup is still currently on going.

It was amazing anyone survived the utter destruction brought by the massive storm. Please continue to pray for those who lost loved ones and for those rebuilding their lives as they will never be the same. Words cannot describe the scene as we never have seen anything close to that kind of power and destruction before.

During the course of our travels I also had the opportunity to visit with some real war hero’s. The first one I met was a War World II Veteran named Johnny Bell, who by way of recent marriage to my sister-in-law Karen is now my brother-in-law. Never thought I would ever have a brother-in-law who landed at the Sicily, Angio and Salerno invasions but I do now and I am thankful for His service.

To sit and listen to the war stories against great odds is a reminder that great men made great sacrifices to make this a great nation. During our time in St. Louis we met some other war hero’s near the Mississippi river who were there for “Marine Week”.

The young Marines we met were veterans of the Afghanistan War and have also made a great sacrifice for our country. Marines have a special place in our hearts because our son Chuck III is an “Iraqi Freedom” war hero.

From the time of the Revolutionary War men have been fighting for the many freedoms that we have a tendency to take for granted. Thank God for men that believe enough in a cause that they are willing to fight for with their very lives.

Our son, Chuck III, sees his new son, Chuck IV, for the first

time upon his return from war....

On this Fourth of July weekend I need to wish my Mother Happy Birthday!

She has influenced my life in so ways and is currently instrumental in getting our blog published so others can share our journey of faith.

Lord willing, our next journal will be from Kenya as we fly back on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. Please pray for traveling mercies, our children/grandchildren and our mission work. We say goodbye to our children & grandchildren with heavy hearts but we are excited to see what God is going to do during our second term.

We have laid a foundation on which we will continue to build and we are looking forward to going further in our faith as well. May God Keep you and Bless You and to God be the glory.

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Phil. 4:13

Wonder Working Power, Tea with Terry & A Book of Stamps

2011-06-07T04:08:00.000-07:00

Mission Conference

Nursing Home Ministry

Our time in the USA is drawing to a close and as our July 5^th departure date approaches we are making a short list of items we need and want to take back to Kenya. Coming home on furlough gives us a unique opportunity to carry back a small quantity (less than 50# per tote) of items which are not available in Kenya. We also still have two mission conferences to preach over the next month in Alabama, Arkansas and attend the National ABA Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Since our last report we have visited as many Churches in Florida as possible to share our hearts burden for the people of Kenya and to raise funds for our second term. God has continued to bless in a great way by providing the funds needed for the work we have started on Mt. Elgon and the Kerio Valley and we also have we raised the needed funds to build two more sanctuaries.

We also thank the Lord for Churches like: First Baptist Church of Eastbay, Anchor Baptist Church, Springhill MBC and Baumhauer Road MBC who have partnered with us to purchase over one hundred Solar Powered Audio Bibles for the Pokot tribe we are working with in the Kerio Valley.

We can clearly see God’s provision to get the gospel and the Word of God to those who need it.

Nursing Home Ministry ***CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE FOR BETTER VIEW

Not only have we been blessed by God’s provision through our furlough/deputation time but we have experienced His power while home. While it seems we see the Lord’s power manifested on a regular basis in Kenya, it has blessed our hearts and encouraged our faith to see God still moving in the hearts of people in our great nation as well. His power has been made known through the salvation of dozens during our revivals, mission conferences, prisons, nursing homes, Christian schools and regular services. We have also seen many people rededicate their lives to the Lord Jesus, surrender to the ministry, to the mission field, for baptism and make commitments to sacrificially give to God’s work. We say praise the Lord for His " power, power, wonder working power in the precious blood of the Lamb."

Last month the Ladies of our Church showered Terry with gifts of love during an event they called “Tea with Terry”.

It was a great encouragement for them to recognize her work in Kenya as she labors by my side. She gave them a short devotion and left knowing our Church appreciates her as a missionary’s wife on the foreign field.

It has been our desire that while home on furlough or traveling the country on deputation God would use us to exhort and encourage His people. But most importantly we pray God will be glorified in our lives. “Let others see Jesus” in me is more than just a song but rather the purpose of our lives.

This month I have also had the privilege of preaching two more prison revivals at Cross City Correctional institute. We had great services with men that have a hunger for God. I preached on “Abiding in Christ” and “Finishing the Course”.

Kenya has changed us in the sense that we have learned from a culture in which relationships with others are placed above all things. We have adopted this mentality and it has help deepen our relationships with those we come in contact with over time. There were two things that really touched my heart during these meetings. One was a young man that came forward at the end of the service and said that he wanted to support our ministry but did not have any money. He wanted to give the most valuable possession he owned while in prison, a book of stamps. Like many of the offerings we receive in Kenya, they would appear to the common person of little value, however, in the sight of the Lord they are of great value like the widow: Luke 21:3

And He said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: Luke 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Not only did we receive this great offering but I also received great encouragement from a letter written by one of the men I have been ministering to for years. These are His words: “Dear Brother Fernandez, Please know that you are in my prayers and thoughts and I thank you for being such an example to me and the men of what we are suppose to be as a follower of Christ and as a minister to others. I thank God every time I think of you because of the inspiration and encouragement you have been to me. I am certain the Lord Jesus smiles down at you and your wife as you both serve him. Please pray for me that I may be all our Master (Jesus) wants us to be for His honor and glory. Thank you for giving to the Lord as we are lives being changed.”

Please continue to pray for us and our family as we make our final appointments and final preparations to return to the work God has called us to in Kenya. Thank you for allowing us to share our lives with you. We covet your continued prayers.

May God Keep You and Bless You,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Phil. 4:13

T-Ball, Inverness Christian Academy and Revival

2011-04-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

ince I am used to writing weekly journals these monthly journals are proving to be difficult given the fact that we are busy trying to maximize and balance our time between our family and ministry needs. With 90 days left in country our schedule is absolutely crammed full of activities. We are visiting as many as three different churches per week, attending mission conferences and preaching revivals. While we count it a privilege to serve the Lord and continue to push towards the mark of our high calling we are also enjoying those simple but precious moments in life that God allows us to experience while home on furlough. It has been a blessing to share quality time with our children: Chuck, Carla, Son in law Kevin, Vinny and grandsons: Little Chucky & Kason.

We have been able to attend several T-ball games of our grandson Chucky

and have enjoyed special moments like taking our little grandson Kason on a tractor ride.

What every Grandpa lives for!

Terry and I also enjoyed a morning with the students of Inverness Christian Academy when our school Administrator Dan Riley, who has visited us in Kenya, ask me to preach chapel. We showered the kids with small souvenirs from Kenya and taught them about our mission work.

It was a blessing to be able to teach them about the great commission but it was also a great blessing to see how Inverness Christian Academy has grown into a God honoring Christian School.

Bro. Riley has built on our vision and efforts to start a Christian School ten years ago and taken it to a whole new level. Last week we were in Broken Bow, Oklahoma preaching a revival with Pastor Jimmy Jones and the Members of Eastside Missionary Baptist Church.

We saw evidence of revival break out in so many ways. Not only was there Godly sorrow seen in the alter every night with God’s people praying and weeping for the Lord but we also saw the revival break out in our visit to the local jail.

Our original plan was to baptize seven men who had accepted Christ however while I was teaching these seven men about the deeper meaning of scriptural baptism from Romans 6 there were three more men who came under conviction about being lost without Jesus and came asking us how to be saved.

Jail Baptism Candidates

Much like the Phillipian jailer but these were inmates.

Acts 16:29

"Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, Acts 16:30 and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Those three received Christ and we ended up baptizing ten inmates.

Public Profession of Faith

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound!

(Buired In His Likeness)

Pastor Jimmy also used the revival as an opportunity to help us raise funds to build two more sanctuaries in Kenya. He sponsored an event called “Kans for Kenya” in which three other local ABA Churches participated. The “can crush” was awesome

Can Crush

and when added to the offerings each Church brought there was over $7,000.00 raised to help Pastor Shadrach build the sanctuary at Mawe Tatu and for Pastor Alex to build the sanctuary at Cheptabrubru on Mt. Elgon.

Terry helping in 'Can Crush'.....

To God Be the Glory!

It amazing to see what God can do when God’s people pray and give. It definitely is a sacrificial offering that touched our hearts. Please continue to pray for our upcoming revivals and meetings as we are currently in Arkansas. Thank you to all who support this great cause through both prayer and finances and thank you for taking time to share this journey of faith with us.

God Bless You and Keep You,

Bro.Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya, East Africa

Currently in Little Rock, Arkansas

Phil. 4:13

Prisons, Nursing Homes & Mission Conferences

2011-03-01T07:34:00.000-08:00

March 1, 2011

According to the dictionary: furlough is a temporary leave from duty, however, furlough as applied to foreign missionaries is far more complex than just a temporary leave from duty.

Granted while on furlough we are removed from the country and culture where God has called us to serve, but our duty as missionaries and Christians continue as we strive to glorify God at home and abroad.

From our perspective, furlough might be better defined as follows.

A. Rest:

It has been vital for Terry and I to rest from the rigors of serving in Kenya.

At the end of two years of deputation and two years of service we felt like we had taken a severe beating both physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Terry and I both have had to deal with health issues while home that are directly attributed to our field of ministry, Terry's landed her in the hospital last month for emergency surgery.

It is as if our tanks ran dry the last few months in Kenya and it is as if God is recharging our batteries and healing our bodies for our next term.

B. Reconnect:

During furlough we have had the opportunity to reconnect with our family. We have enjoyed spending quality time with our children and grandchildren as well as our extended family. The time we spend away from them is invested in the kingdom of God and is well spent but is never to be regained. So we cherish every moment with them during our furlough. Modern communications like email and phone service help us stay in touch but is no substitute for sitting down at a meal and sharing each other’s lives together. This time of furlough has also given us the opportunity to reconnect with our sending church.

Our sending church is also our home church and it is at Ft. Cooper Baptist Church that we have made almost every major spiritual decision in our lives.

Pastor Marne Palmani, Ft. Cooper Baptist

C. Revival:

It is our prayer that God will not only give us personal revival while home on furlough but that we may be used of God as a vessel to help revive our Churches here in America especially when it comes to missions and missions giving. To that end we have preached in seven different churches,

First Baptist Church....Eastbay

attended three mission conferences, preached in prisons and nursing homes.

While the prisons and nursing homes are not churches they are a labor of love as I have preached in both frequently over the last ten years.

My heart goes out to both parties who seem to be in captivity, one by poor choices and the other by health issues.

D. Resupply:

Unfortunately it is also necessary to continue our efforts to raise funds for the work in Kenya. Through God’s help we have purchased five plots and now have three sanctuaries nearing completion. That still leaves us two more sanctuaries that need to be constructed which we do not currently have funds for. In addition to building my hearts prayer is that God will provide one hundred more solar powered audio bibles for the Pokot tribe we have been working with in the Kerio Valley.

Finally, we have to continually make efforts to seek new churches that will partner with us on monthly basis to replace those lost over the last year due to the economic downturn.

We thank God for his provision and by faith we believe he will continue to provide for His work.

E. Relinquish:

The works we have started and the people God has united us together with to fulfill the great commission need time to stand on their own faith.

While we have played an important role in the salvation of hundreds, planting churches and discipleship we must remember that they are God’s people and it is God’s work.

It seems that the longer we are there the more that they depend on us and I believe God will use this time to grow them spiritually.

Our hearts desire is to come alongside of them rather than 'lord over' them and to help them grow into mature Christians that will reproduce their faith in the lives of others.

The delicate balancing act may best be described as helping and encouraging their faith without hurting them by creating dependence.

Please continue to pray for the people of Kenya and us as we will be traveling to Oklahoma and Arkansas to preach two revivals as well as visiting supporting Churches.

Thank you for your prayerful support.

Chuck and Terry Fernandez
Kenya, Currently on furlough

Phil. 4:13

“Is There Not A Cause?”

Pastor Tim Myers & Wife, Shelia

January 2011 Furlough and Family

2011-01-28T03:39:00.000-08:00

We have been back in the states for one month now and it seems like yesterday we were landing at the Orlando Airport to spend the holidays with our family. The pace of life in our great country is unreal and it often leaves us holding on for dear life just to keep up. While time is flying we are enjoying and cherishing every moment with our family and friends. Terry and I just returned back from a trip to Puerto Rico with my father, our daughter and her husband. We had an amazing week of snorkeling and touring the Island as well as visiting Uncles, Aunts and Cousins who live there.

This upcoming weekend we are traveling to Georgia to visit a church that is interested in supporting our work in Kenya. It marks the beginning of some traveling we will be doing while home on furlough which includes: three mission conferences, three revivals and many meetings on a weekly basis. We ask for continued prayers with regard to these upcoming meeting and for traveling mercies. This week I received pictures of the work at the Landmark Baptist Church of Kipsigon on Mt. Elgon from Pastor Peter.

It does our heart’s good to see God’s people continuing to build on the foundation we laid before we left.

Thank you for tuning in to our journal blog. I will try to update the blog from time to time to stay in touch.

May God Keep You and Bless You,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya

Phil. 4:13

December 29, 2010 Home for the Holidays

2010-12-29T08:02:00.000-08:00

It has been a long journey but we are back in Florida for the holidays. It is always fun to be met at the airport by our children and grandchildren. We are blessed. Thank you for all your prayers as we narrowly escaped London's snow. As always God is good to us and we were one of the few flights that made it in and out before the snow came again.

Have A Blessed New Year,

Chuck & Terry Fernandez

Currently In Florida on Furlough

2010 Year End Review

2010-12-29T07:16:00.000-08:00

As 2010 comes to an end we are able to look back and see what God has done in our lives as well as in the lives of others. Our hearts desire is to see people come to know Christ as Lord and Savior by the way of salvation. Through numerous evangelistic campaigns and many outreach efforts we have seen over five hundred people make professions of faith in Christ during 2010. This has been accomplished through the power of God one person at a time and house to house. While we praise God for these new converts we also praise him that most of these precious souls are connected with one of the five Churches we have planted while in country. There is not enough room in this report to share with you the testimonies of those newly saved but we have seen hundreds of transformed lives that are now disciples of the Lord Jesus. Numbers are somewhat impersonal but this number represents people that we know, people that we love and people that we are continuing to teach the Word of God.
These are people Terry and I have personally witnessed to and have names like: Ben, Mganda, Rafael, Ouma and Teresa. To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
With new churches planted we prefer our national Pastors to baptize their new converts, however, from time to time they do ask me to baptize which I am honored to do. While there were hundreds baptized through the local churches I personally baptized one hundred and five. We praise God that these new converts have followed the Lord in scriptural baptism as they start their new walk with the Lord Jesus.
Matt. 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”.

We have organized two new testament churches on Mt. Elgon this year with new converts that have coveted together to keep the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ. One is located on top of the mountain and one is located at the base. It has been exciting to see these New Testament churches follow the pattern established in the book of Acts as they come to life with people that we have led to Christ and have a desire to follow Jesus.

1. They gladly received the word,

2. They were baptized,

3. They continued in the apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread & prayers.

These two new mission points which are located in North Pokot at a village called Chepsabei and Lake Victoria at a village called Wichlum, are some of the most exciting new works we started in 2010. After multiple evangelism campaigns into these villages there are now large groups of believers that are meeting on a weekly basis to study the word of God. We are in the process of teaching and training leaders to continue the growth of these new believers.

2010 brought us into the building phase as we have built two permanent sanctuaries with a third currently under construction. In addition to preaching the gospel and discipling new converts, we have provided humanitarian aid to the people of Kenya in various forms. While this is an area that we do not report a lot on, it is an area of ministry that we feel is very necessary. The type of aid we rendered in 2010 included: clothing, pillow case dresses, reading glasses, safety glasses, food, water and witness dolls for children. Medical aide includes: treatment for malaria, skin diseases, broken bones and burns. Throughout Jesus ministry he would look on the multitudes with compassion and would often met their physical needs as well as their spiritual needs. Thank you to all who have partnered with us during 2010 in prayer and finances to preach the good news in Kenya. Through your faithful support we have also distributed hundreds of hardback & solar powered audio Bibles.