Bolivia Bound, Constitution Service & Lake Victoria Challenges

Greetings Family, Friends & Brethren,

Please note; below are the attached April Newsletters for both The Florida Plant and East African Church Development for your printing and distribution.   We are still trying to bridge the gap from mailing out hard copies to emailing newsletters with our blog.  Please let me know if you still need a hard copy to post at your Church.   Today I will travel with my sending Church Pastor, Dr. Tim Myers to spend nine days working with two Missionaries currently on the field in Bolivia who are sent out of 1^st Baptist Church of Eastbay.

Our hope and prayer is that God will use us to encourage those men of God and to share the work we have done in East African Ministry in an effort to replicate the New Testament Church planting methodology we have used.   Please pray for God’s power, provision and protection as we continue to try to follow the His leadership in all we do.    Since our last posting, we have constituted the work we are doing at The Florida Plant.   We as a group of believers have followed the leadership of the Holy Spirit and not gotten involved in Mission politics in order to gain favor or fame and we have not allowed finances to dictate God will for our lives.    The Church is seeing people saved on regular basis, we are scripturally baptizing those converts and now we are organized to function as a New Testament Church and carry out the commands of our Savior.   After a year of worship we realize that we have faced and will face many more challenges but we also realize that our Lord and Savior will see us through.      

                                                                   Mary Baptized

                                                                   Jake Baptized

                  Signing ...Pastor Tim Johnson & Pastor Tim Myers & Missionary Chuck

                                                             Charter Members 2016

Please be mindful that while the new Church plant is constituted a work, I will remain on MISSIONARY status depending on designated funds to supply the basic needs Terry and I have.   We have trusted God thus far and believe he will continue to provide for us as we strive to serve Him with all our hearts.   The work in East Africa continues to produce fruit and challenges as well.   Last month we lost one of Lake Victoria Pastors with personal issues but thank God that another Man of God has been called from within the Church.   Continuity of the ministry can only take place when each Church and Pastor has prepared another “Timothy” to step in should the need arise.   This has been a priority lesson I have taught year after year in East Africa. 

                                                              New Pastor

Leadership Training

“Who will take your place”? 

 I am also thankful for two of our Landmark Baptist Pastors who traveled from Mt. Elgon to train the new Pastor and Church leaders and assist them through this transition.   Please continue to pray for all of us and thank you to each person and Church who supports us for the glory of God. 

In His Service,

Bro.Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

                                     Click below for April Florida Plant Newsletter

                                      Click Below for April Kenya/Uganda Newsletter

People of the Caves, Seminar & Families of Faith

CAVES

Greetings Family, Friends & Brethren,

We continue to see fruit abound by the grace of God from the work in Kenya and Uganda.   The latest news is that the gospel continues to push upward and onward on Mt. Elgon as Pastor Alex Kimtii and Pastor Peter Barasa went on an evangelism campaign last week to reach new areas and new tribes.  They accomplished both as they we able to preach the gospel to a new tribe which we have not previously reached on Mt. Elgon.   As they hiked with great effort at over 12,000 ft. above sea level, they arrived at a village called Chesokwo where people lived in and around caves.   These folks are of the Sabaot tribe and in an area so remote that Pastor Alex said he did not even know they were there.    Peter & Alex

                                  CAVES AREA

Terry and I worked with four tribes during our years in Kenya and now this is the fifth tribe reached with the gospel by the folks we have taught and trained.  I told the Pastors that they did not know the “People of the Caves” were there and we did not know of them but God knew they were there and sent them to preach the Gospel which they did.  Because they were obedient and concerned with the commission, forty eight villagers trusted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.    Praise God these men who have a burden for the lost and willing to make great sacrifice and literally hazard themselves for the preaching of the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth.   In addition to preaching where Christ has not been named we sponsored their first 2016 Pastors/Preachers seminar for the Churches we helped plant in Kenya & Uganda.    When I say we sponsored, I mean that we still assist with transporation, lodging and food as God’s men gather from Lake Victoria, Kerio Valley and Mt. Elgon.   It is a great expense but one well worth it as the old and more mature Pastors we have invested in are teaching and mentoring the younger men with the doctrine we have taught them.   2Ti_2:2  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

                                                           PETER

                                                PASTORS

The Florida Plant continues to flourish and produce fruit in all of our lives as we build a foundation for future generations to follow Christ.   We have surpassed what I would refer to as the curiosity or honeymoon phase and crossed into the steadfast and faithful phase which simply means we have separated those who are willing to covet together as a Church family to keep the commands of Christ with those who are just curious and passing through.    We continue to run between forty and fifty in number and have really developed into folks that love one another in Christ as we are in one accord for the glory of God.    Last week we baptized a young couple who we led to Christ some months back and with great joy we are watching them grow in their faith through our continued efforts to disciple them with in-home Bibles Studies.

                                                       JAKE

                                                         Tracy

Family Circle

Van

 Additionally our van route has added a dozen young folks and teenagers to our Church family through the efforts of my dear wife and her co-laborers and we are already praying for a second van to fill up for the glory of God.  If your Church has updated their vans and/or has a leftover older one that needs a home, you could be the answer to our prayers.   The methodology we are using for God to give an increase is labor intensive and requires consistent commitment but we have seen God bless this approach to the Great Commission everywhere we have labored.  Please continue to pray for us as we labor in Florida and as our folk’s labor in East Africa.  May God bless and Keep you in the center of His will.

In His Service,

 Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya/Uganda/Florida Plant

As you can see from this picture, our youth room is at

Max capacity and we are in desperate need of relief

our external classroom fund has stalled at $1500.00.

Could you help us?

Though He Slay Me, Shining Lights & Visitors

Greetings In the Name of Yesu Christo,

Hope you don’t mind me using the name of Jesus in Swahili but we still frequently think in and practice Swahili in preparation for my upcoming mission trip to Kenya & Uganda to teach, preach and check on the progress of the buildings under construction.   Many have asked of the condition of Pastor Jackson from Lake Victoria.   For those of you who do not remember or are new to our blog, Pastor Jackson is the fisherman from Lake Victoria we led to Christ in 2010 with three small fish in his hand coming off the water after a long night of fishing.   He has had trial after trial over the last few years to include losing His wife Carolyn to sudden and unforeseen illness.   He has been battling malaria, tuberculosis and infections that almost took his life.   In all this he has said what Job said during the tragedies of His life, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him”.   The below picture is of Jackson receiving treatment from a Doctor who traveled to His house to see him. 

 Pastor Jackson is recovering very slowly but needs our prayers as do his five children who now are without their Mother.  Full recovery may take years.   The work in Uganda continues to move forward with eleven more receiving Christ in the village of Sirongo which is on the Uganda side of Mt. Elgon.   Two Pastors from Mt. Elgon continue to travel there each month to disciple those who have received Christ.   We have the shell of one building up and are still in need of funds for the steel for the second Ugandan sanctuary.   We believe by faith that God will provide as he has for the sixteen previous sanctuaries we have constructed.
Uganda Mission Work

  
                            Eleven Professed Christ from the village of Sirongo, Uganda

The Florida Plant
Please continue to pray for God’s provision.

The Florida Plant side of our ministry is going on well by the grace of God.   We are laying a foundation in  the lives of those we have led to Christ over the last twelve months through one on one discipleship as well as building unity in a team of servants who will help us reach the lost for years to come.    Thus far we have taught Basic Bible Truths, Basic Discipleship and the Main Doctrines of our faith.    Terry and I continue to engage the community through a vigorous weekly visitation program that includes visiting first time visitors (we had ten last week) PTL, Van riders, Nursing Homes and networking through our in home bibles studies as well as using our regular attendees social circle to reach people for  Christ.

Thus far we have not had any shortage of people to visit and we believe God will build the Church if we continue to plow new ground, plant seeds and water them for the glory of God.    Our weekly average has settled in around 45 regular attendees and we had a high of 84 for a special event last year.   We will organize the work on March 20^th of this year and we are praying for 100 in attendance to this special service. 

                                                       Shining Lights In Florida

                                                            Lakeland Revival

Terry and I are also doing deputation work to replace the twelve Churches we lost when we came off the foreign field.   We realize that Churches have certain geographical areas to support missionaries around the world but also know that we must continue to rebuild our support base in order to effectively spread the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth.  We covet your continued prayers for the work in Kenya/Uganda as well as the Florida Plant and if you or your Church is looking for hard working Missionaries to support we ask you to prayerfully consider partnering with Terry and me.   Thank you for traveling this journey of faith with us.

In His Service

Chuck & Terry Fernandez

Bro. Chuck & Terry Fernandez
Kenya/Uganda/The Florida Plant

As you can see from this picture, our youth room is at

Max capacity and we are in desperate need of relief

our external classroom fund has stalled at $1500.00.

Could you help us?

 can see from this picture, our youth  can see fro this picture, our youth room is at Max capacity and we are in desperate need of relief.  Our external classroom fund has stalled at $1500.00. Could you help us need of relief.  Our external classroom fund has stalled at $1500.00. Could you help us?

Kenya/Uganda Church development              & The Florida Plant

Dear Ministry Partners, Please find the attached links below to our 2015 year ending reports for both Kenya/Uganda Church development as well as the Florida Plant. 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: Matt.  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. As we look back and review 2015, we can see that our lives and ministry continues to be consumed with fulfilling the Great Commission.  We are reaching the lost through the preaching of the gospel and we are disciplining our new Converts through the Florida Plant in Brooksville, Florida.  This is the seventeenth Church plant God has graciously allowed Terry and I to be a part of.   While we are laboring in Florida we continue to support the work that our Kenyan/Ugandan brethren are doing in East Africa.   Thousands are being reached with the gospel and new Churches are being planted at a record pace.  We only glory in the cross of Jesus Christ but we are thankful our disciples have taken our teachings and their love for Christ to a level that I am not sure would have been possible if Terry and I were still full time in East Africa.  We look forward to returning in 2016 to see what God is doing and to encourage them in their faithful service to our Lord.  We thank you for allowing us to share our journey of faith and we need your continued prayerful & financial support as our ministry expands beyond our own abilities.   In closing, I want to quote one of our Kenyan Pastors who recently said, "Let us not let what we do not have keep us from serving our God". May God continue to bless you and yours during this coming year. Looking and Longing for Jesus, Chuck & Terry Fernandez Kenya/Uganda Thank You For Supporting The Ministry of Chuck & Terry Fernandez, Pastor Tim Myers Sending Church: First Baptist Church East Bay Thank You for Supporting the ministry of Chuck & Terry Fernandez!  Pastor Tim Johnson  Co-Sponsor, Dean Springs MBC

The Holy Land, The Plot Thickens & My Confession

Where does the time go?   Still not sure we will ever be able to adjust to fast pace life in America but the more I watch and observe our friends, brethren and family here in the USA, I see everyone is struggling with busyness. Perhaps they just don't see it like we do. Terry and I are digging in our heels and regularly throwing out the anchor as best we can not to let schedules and opportunities keep us from experiencing the depth of relationships Africa has taught us, starting with our Lord and Savior and extending to those whom we love dearly.   The Florida Plant is growing slowly but surely and we have led twenty one to Christ by the grace of God.  We are also entering a new season of growth where we are starting to develop into a church family that is spending time together in settings beyond the worship service.   One of those experiences was a quick trip to the Holy Land. Before you get all excited, know that living in Florida affords us unique tourist opportunities like the Holy Land Experience in Orlando. 

While it is not exactly like visiting Israel and not entirely scriptural, there are some great exhibits and dramas that do encourage your faith.   So I guess you can say this was our first field trip as a Church family.   While we were in the Holy Land, Pastor Moses and some of His Church leaders took the funds we gave them and purchased our second Ugandan Church plot in the village of Kakaron. These types of events are a huge encouragement to the Church which has been meeting on a borrowed plot under trees and in a tent for around four years now. It is also a great encouragement for us to see the spreading of the gospel from Kenya into neighboring Uganda.

Surveying the New Plot, Landmark Baptist Church, Uganda

We would still love to come along side of this faithful group of believers at the 

Landmark Baptist Church of Kakaron, Uganda to help them at the very least put a roof over their heads.   However, working with our brethren in Kenya, Uganda and now the Florida Plant is starting to push our financial limits and while we are not full time residents in East Africa anymore we are still deeply involved in their lives and ministry.   If you or your Church would like to receive a blessing, this scriptural Church needs approximately: $1000.00 for Steel Poles, cement and transport costs, $1000.00 for trusses and transport costs & $1200.00 for iron sheets for the roof.   Terry and I have already stepped out on faith and purchased the plot for them.   They are willing of themselves to do the labor part and they will be responsible for finishing the sanctuary but we try to partner with them to get them out of the sun and rain. Please pray about helping our Ugandan brethren with this latest construction project and designate any offerings "construction".  While Pastor Moses and our Ugandan brethren finalized the purchase of the plot at Kakaron, Uganda, we baptized six young folks here in Florida.  

Our heavenly Father continues to answer our prayers with regard to the salvation and discipleship of those he places on our path of life.   Four of these youngsters are regular riders on our van route and two of them were our grandsons, Chuckie IV and Kason.   Last year as Terry and I were flying out of Kenya with her in great medical distress, and while looking out the window as Kenya became smaller and smaller in our sight, I leaned over and told Terry that I am afraid that everything we do in ministry from this point forward might be anti-climatic because of all the great things we saw God do and bless over our seven years of ministry in East Africa. I was wrong!  While the days of leading 800-1000 people to Christ each year and planting multiple churches simultaneously may be behind us we are still experiencing something more precious and priceless than all the years on the foreign field combined, and that is bringing our grandchildren to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and then scripturally baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost.   That is an answer to our prayers and a spiritual mountain for Terry and I both. Thank you for allowing us to share our hearts and ministry with you. We covet your continued prayers as we press towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.

In His Service,

Chuck & Terry Fernandez

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya/Uganda/The Florida Plant

Our Exterior Classroom fund for Jr. Church /Youth currently remains $1,500.00.

Would you consider a special offering to help relieve overcrowding of youth and so we can bring more kids to Christ?  Goal is $5,000.00.

Please be reminded that any and all Financial Support needs to be Sent to

Sending Church Information:

First Baptist Church of East Bay

10102 Old Big Bend Rd.

Riverview, Florida 33578

Or DONATE THRU SECURE PAYPAL ON RIGHT OF BLOG.

My Last Breathe, Uganda Update & The Battle Is Great!

We need your continued prayers for Pastor Jackson of the Landmark Baptist Church at Lake Victoria.  If you follow our blog, you know he has lost his wife to a sudden illness and is still battling for His life with a very serious illness himself.   Our Pastors from Mt. Elgon continue to travel to Lake Victoria to pray for Jackson and help him through this trial of life. 

 Jackson

Some of our Kenyan Churches have taken up special offerings to help Pastor Jackson with his mounting medical expenses as well as the expenses for His wife’s illness and burial.   We have sent love offerings to help him through this time and pray that he will recover and continue to fulfill his calling to preach the gospel.   His faith is still strong and I have been told that at the graveside of his wife, while suffering from His own sickness, he stood before the funeral procession and proclaimed that he will preach the Word of God until his last breath.  That’s the kind of dedication and commitment to Christ that we would love to see from all of our Children of faith.

 Children of Uganda

  The Uganda front continues to expand with Pastor Nixon on the Mt. Elgon side of Uganda and Pastor Timothy on the Kerio Valley side pushing the gospel deeper into Uganda.   Both men are discipling the young converts there as well as training men of God to step up to lead those works.   It is gospel preaching and scriptural New Testament Church planting being replicated before our very eyes.    The two older works are nearing four years old and we are starting to partner with them to build permanent sanctuaries.   We are praying that God will provide for specific Churches and individuals to partner with these young Churches to put a roof over their heads and give them a permanent meeting place to preach God’s word and worship the Lord Jesus.   Would you pray about helping these men build these two historic Churches in Uganda? 

The American Front finds us burning the road, which is the story of the life of a Missionary.  In addition to what Paul described as the care of the Churches in Uganda, Kenya and now The Florida Plant, we continue to fulfill deputation appointments on Sunday evenings.   Last week our Missionary journey took us to Alma, Arkansas to celebrate 100 Years of Ministry at Dean Springs Missionary Baptist Church.   Dean Springs MBC is the co-sponsor of our work and has been a great blessing to Terry and I for many years now.    It was an awesome celebration that involved great fellowship and powerful services with the alter full of God’s people thanking Him for a Church that has stood the test of time and faith.  

 

This week I used the Dean Springs MBC study to teach our people who have joined us in Florida Church plant the characteristics of a successful Church which has given God glory for a century now.   What a powerful illustration of God’s people who have coveted together to keep the commands of the Lord Jesus through the local New Testament Church.   I pray that we will be found so faithful.   The more time passes, the more we are realizing the gravity and severity of the terrible battle we are in here in the United States of America for the hearts and souls of men, women and children.   This is not news to those of you have been faithfully serving the Lord on the home front for decades but from our unique perspective we see the intensity of the battle of faith has increased one hundred fold.   We might compare what we are seeing today in our own country to the strongholds that witchcraft and idolatry had over many generations in the remote villages Terry and I have worked in East Africa for many generations.  The principalities, the powers,  rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places have such a foothold in our nation that it no wonder we are in the spiritual condition that is leading our nation away from God.  But thanks be to God that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.  Jesus is still the greatest need of every man, woman and child I thank Him that he is our Master and Commander.  Keep us in the your prayers and also note that we have joined the host of missionaries who will no longer send reports through snail mail but only through email.  Our sending Church will send a hard copy upon request.  Thank for allowing us to share this journey of faith.

Casandra Accepted Christ October 25, 2015