Karimojong Reached with the Gospel & One Million Needed

Karimojong Ugandan Tribe reached for Christ

   Please pray for us as we return to Kenya/Uganda next week to encourage our brethren on Mt. Elgon, the Kerio Valley and Lake Victoria.   Over the next two weeks we will do village evangelism, building projects, seminars and distribute solar powered audio bibles. During our years in Kenya as full-time residents, Terry and I have worked with the Luhya tribe, the Luo tribe, the mountain Maasi tribe and the Pokot Tribe.     As you can see from the (above left) picture, we are now carrying a new language which is for the Karimojong tribe of eastern Uganda.   This is exciting news as the Churches God allowed Terry and I to establish are now sending out evangelists two by two to reach unreached people groups and forgotten tribes.   We stand in awe of what God is doing through His faithful Churches and we rejoice to see people who have not heard the gospel gladly receive His Word.   We glory only in the cross and praise our Lord for His great love and grace which is great upon us.   It does our hearts good to be able to hand deliver these one hundred and fifty audio Bibles next week so new converts can grow in their faith and walk with God.  Thank you for those of you who partner with us financially to buy these Bibles and to those who pray for us regularly.   

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Kerio Valley Herdsman (below) learning how to use his audio Bible.

ONE MILLION NEEDED???





  The (Above) picture is over fifty years old and is a reminder that the goals and objectives we set for our ministry are very much in line with what has taken place in our great nation over the years.   History does repeat itself and as I reflect back on our Missionary Baptist Heritage, I see faithful Men of God laying the foundation for a dormitory facility at the Missionary Baptist Seminary & Institute in Little Rock, Arkansas.  To be used to house Preachers of the Gospel while they are being taught how to rightly divide the Word of truth.  My research tells me that their efforts to build what God had put on their heart would require one million dollars.   The Kenya/Ugandan Mission Development side of our Ministry is now at a place with thirty six Churches and nearly one hundred preachers/evangelist that we need to build a dormitory at the base of Mt. Elgon to house these Men of God as they receive necessary training.  During our upcoming trip to Kenya we will be forced to do regional seminars as there is no place for the men to sleep in the village which normally hosts these training seminars when we bring them all together from the three regions.   We use to bring the men together and they would sleep at the houses of the members of the hosting Church, but the group has outgrown these capabilities.   We have purchased a plot of land by faith believing that God will provide the Million needed to build the dormitory building.  Now, before you lose your mind, that is one million Kenyan shillings, not one million dollars.   Ok, you can take a deep breath because that equates to ten thousand US dollars ($10,000) which is a relatively small investment to make in the lives and ministries of these Men of God who are reaching more people for Christ each year than just about any other group in the world.   I don't want to call it a necessary evil, but I will say that asking for help on a continual basis year after year wears on the heart of the Missionary.  So to that end, I will tell you what my Pastor, Dr. Tim Myers taught me which Dr. Albert Garner taught him.  "Pray to God and tell the people".  (Repeat) "Pray to God and tell the people".  We humbly submit this need to God and His people, trusting that God's work done God's way will not lack God's supply.   Please pray about this major piece of the puzzle as we try to put these pieces in place to promote continued growth so that thousands more might be saved, discipled and many more Churches established.     

If you or your Church has any questions concerning this need, please feel free to drop me a line at missionaryfernandez@gmail.com

The group above are the Pastors which represent the Churches established over the last eleven years.  Keep in mind, this only one third of the preachers and evangelist we are currently working with.   

Phillipians 4:17  Not because I desire a gift:

             but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.  

Php 4:18  But I have all, and abound:

     I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things

         which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell,

               a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.  

Php 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need 

                       according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  

Php 4:20  Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya/Uganda/Florida Plant

2018 Year End Report: Kenya/Uganda Church Development

4667 PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

 

2018 has been a record year with regard to the number of professions of faith and baptisms on Mt. Elgon, at Lake Victoria and the Kerio Valley.  The collective Great Commission centered efforts of the Churches Terry and I help plant or have subsequently been planted over the last ten years and have resulted in 4667 professions of faith and 1343 baptisms during 2018.  To give perspective to this amazing work God is doing through these faithful Men of God on Mt. Elgon, the Kerio Valley and Lake Victoria,  I have included the total number of professions of faith in 25

States and 25 countries over the last year which is 12,294 in and through the

American Baptist Association.

Mungu Anaweza=God is Able!

New Churches continue to be organized and the Kenyan/Ugandan Churches which we include as part of the Church Develop side of our ministry now have grown to (37) in number.  They continue to bear much fruit through village evangelism as Evangelists are being sent out of each church two by two to preach the gospel hut to hut, and heart to heart.  Remember, when we are not there to provide transportation with a Turbo Diesel, they are biking and hiking by foot to teach all nations and every tribe about Jesus death, burial and resurrection. Their love for Christ coupled with a burden for the lost can be clearly seen through their consistent evangelism efforts year after year.  Please continue to pray that these servants will be steadfast, immovable and always abounding in the Lord.   You will find I have also included each village by name from the three regions our work encompasses.     ( Below Is a pic of the Pastors, many whom we personally led to Christ who love our Lord and are obeying Him by carrying out His Great Commission) There are also over fifty more evangelist's not pictured who work beside these Pastors doing evangelism.  

(27) Mt. Elgon Landmark Baptist Churches Kenya/Uganda

 

LBC Mawe Tatu: 28 saved/ 18 Baptized,  LBC Soysambu: 12 saved/ 3 Baptized, LBC Namarambi: 75 Saved/ 17 Baptized, LBC Chelekei: 129 Saved/ 43 Baptized, LBC Matili: 9 Saved/ 2 Baptized,

LBC Chenjeni: 126 Saved/ 24 Baptized,  LBC Mayanja: 56 Saved/13 Baptized, LBC Kibuki: 49 Saved/

5 Baptized, LBC Sirongo: 113 Saved/ 77 Baptized, LBC Chemondi: 103 Saved/ 53 Baptized,

LBC Cheptabrubru: 189 Saved/ 25 Baptized, LBC Kipsigon: 66 Saved/28 Baptized, LBC Cheptguruguru: 183 Saved/ 40 Baptized, LBC Huruma: 177 Saved/ 103 Baptized, LBC Chemta: 82 Saved/ 34 Baptized

LBC Panandeka 260 Saved/ 38 baptized, LBC Cheptandan: 147 Saved/ 55 Baptized,

LBC Chesokwo: 176 Saved/ 85 Baptized, LBC Cherwondoi: 224 Saved/ 111 Baptized, LBC Ndivisi: 219 Saved/ 48 Baptized, LBC Saboti: 94 Saved/ 12 Baptized,  

LBC Butiru: 134 Saved/ 59 Baptized, LBC Cheptais 142 Saved/ 61 Baptized, LBC Kaboriot 117 Saved/ 67 Baptized, LBC Nalondo 159 Saved/ 66 Baptized, LBC Malomonye 188 Saved/ 87 Baptized, LBC Lunyu 191 Saved/ 120 Baptized.  

 

I fully realize that the names of the villages listed above do not register with you, but I personally, along with our team of USA evangelists have been involved in some of those evangelism efforts.    

The Picture (BELOW) are Eight of the Mt. Elgon Pastors preparing to go do village evangelism.  Our challenge has always been: "If we reach one village for Christ, why shouldn't we reach the neighboring five villages?"  Their love for the Lord as the Apostle Paul said constraineth them and has led to the salvation of thousands on Mt. Elgon.  It does our hearts good to see what started after the 2008 clashes is going stronger than ever by the grace of God and for the glory of God!

                             New Bible for New Convert at Malomonye, Mt Elgon 

Kerio Valley Landmark Baptist Churches Kenya/Uganda

 

The (below) picture is Pastor Timothy Loquardo and a young convert named Lokiru who is leading Pastor Loquardo to his home country of Uganda.  The area is called Karamoja and is some 200+kms from North Pakot where our Kerio Valley mission work started.

 

   They would spend several days in this new area visiting multiple villages preaching the gospel where they saw dozens of Ugandans profess faith in Jesus Christ.  Praise our Lord!!  Our prayer is that these converts will be organized into bible studies and eventually become New Testament Churches who will send out more evangelists until the gospel is preached to the uttermost parts of the earth.   Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

Our USA Team also spent three days in the Kerio Valley leading dozens to Christ.

     When looking at our year in review, we see God's hand of grace continues to be great upon us and we know that we could not do all that we are doing without a group of faithful servants and Ministry partners who come alongside us to fulfill the Great Commission.  Once again, thank you for faithfully holding the rope and thank you for allowing us to share what God has done in 2018.  To God be the Glory!  Great Things He Hath Done!!

 In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya/Uganda/Florida Plant

 

2018 Year End Report: Breaking Down Walls & Setting Captives Free

                                                                 Opening Up Parking Lot

2018 has been another year of building as we continued growing spiritually and numerically.  To facilitate the numerical growth we cleared the lot next to the building we are currently renting to increase our parking lot size.   The parking lot is the first impression and when first time visitors cannot find a place to park they don't feel very welcome.   We are thankful our Landlord allowed us to use the neighboring lot at no additional charge.   It has already been a blessing for special events. 

 

                                                                     BREAKING DOWN THE WALLS                  

While the parking lot expansion was timely, I can't say the same thing about the sanctuary expansion.    We have proven the well known Church growth principle to be true that states the following:  when you reach 85% capacity, you need to enlarge your building or you will return back to the 70%-75% level.    That is exactly what we experienced this year at The Florida Plant and I can sadly say that our recent renovations were about six month's too late.   Nevertheless, knocking out two walls, building a platform, adding 24 seats and adding a Baby Grand piano has been a welcome change to our faithful members as well as first time visitors.   Hey, nobody said we had it all together but we do learn some of our best lessons from experience.   As you can see from the (below) pic, the welcome expansion has also made our building feel more like a sanctuary.      

                                      (Above) Completed Platform with new Baby Grand Piano

SETTING CAPTIVES FREE!

My prayer is that you will become very familiar with the young man in the above pics.  His name is Ryan Smith and he is one of the men I have been discipling at Cross City Correctional Institute over the last few years.    It has been a real joy to watch this young man grow in his faith and answer the call of God on His life to preach God's Word.   He has been out of prison for four month's now and He is eagerly working through an intense Missionary Baptist training program.    Ryan believes God is calling Him to preach God's Word in and through our Prison Ministry.   Due to travel restrictions as a result of the conditions of His release, he is somewhat limited but we are traveling to him on a regular basis and he is attending two classes per week via Skype.   Last week he actually preached his first sermon since His release to the folks at our Church plant via Skype.  (Pictured Below).    My hope and confidence is in the Lord but it's a blessed privilege and honor to train up new Men of God.    I have seen a passion and love for Christ in Ryan that seems to be very rare in America but we have seen in the lives of the Men of God we have trained in Kenya and Uganda.   Please pray for Ryan as he fulfills his calling. 

(RYAN SMITH PREACHING HIS FIRST SERMON SINCE HIS RELEASE)

BEARING MUCH FRUIT

The Prison Ministry is not the only area of our ministry which is bearing much fruit.   Our youth ministry is also one of the most fruitful areas of ministry.   I often say, "if we cannot reach anyone else in America in 2018,  WE WILL REACH KIDS!"  Many say you cannot build a Church on youth but we believe God blesses those will love and bring children to Christ and consequently blesses the Church.   This is where having a Wife with a servants heart becomes a great blessing and asset to this Missionary.   Terry helps me run van routes, helps me schedule and train workers and is personally involved in discipling a handful of children at a time.    Don't worry, LOL, She's not a Youth Pastor, but she is one of the best youth workers I have ever known is better equipped than many Youth Pastors that have worked under my leadership over the years.    We have seen great growth and literal life changing transformation taking place in the lives of many of these youth.   Please pray for us as we need another van to start another route next year.  If your Church has one sitting and want to get rid of it, email me at missionaryfernandez@gmail.com.  

 

In order to facilitate continued growth in 2019 we are going to have to pray for God's provision and direction with regard to a larger facility for worship, education and fellowship.  (Note: Removing the wall took out two of only four classrooms we have).   We need your continued prayers and support as we press towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.    We have seen twenty seven professions of faith during the course of 2018 through various ministries and outreaches.  Twelve of them have followed Christ in scriptural baptism and are we are continuing the discipleship process of many.   137 was our record high in attendance for a special promotional event we held in November.  We could not do all that we are doing without a group of faithful servants who come alongside Terry and I to fulfill the Great Commission.  God's grace has been great upon us and we thank Him for our ministry partners who are faithfully holding the rope.  Thank you for allowing us to share what God has done in 2018.  We pray you have a Happy and Blessed New Year.

 

 

 In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis Terry Fernandez

Kenya/Uganda/Florida Plant

 

 

Witch Doctor Uprising, The Devil Tried to Kill Me & The Attacks Keep Coming

 WITCH DOCTORS UPRISING

We have encountered many Witch Doctors while working in Kenya over the years and actually seen some turn from their witchcraft and profess Jesus Christ. The first problems we encountered with Witch Doctors would be in the Pokot village of Cheposebei, which is located deep in the Kerio Valley.   After leading the majority of the village elders to Christ as well as the village Chief, the village Witch Doctor saw the control and bondage he had over Cheposebei beginning to slip away.   Consequently, he brought in five thugs to beat newly converted women who had been gathering together to listen to solar audio Bibles we had provided.   It was an effort to get them to renounce their new faith in Christ.   The Lord would intervene through the village Chief who would declare Chespabei a "Christian" village and would have the Witch Doctor and thugs arrested.    Little did we know that nearly eight years later the Pokot Witch Doctors, many who had been run out of their villages due to the introduction of the Christian faith would band together to force many to renounce their faith in Christ.  

 

We have always known that attacks would come upon the Churches we help establish but never knew what form they would come in.   The reports we have received indicate that the Witch Doctors banded together and went village to village forcing people to drink the blood of a bull and renounce their faith.    Those who refused were beaten with rods and had their mouths forced open with a stick while they poured the blood down their throat.   (Sorry for the graphic details but how else will you know the persecution they have suffered?)  Many endured this fate and many others fled to the neighboring part of the Kerio Valley on the Ugandan side where they regularly travel to graze their animals.    I am happy to report that three quarters of our Landmark Baptist Churches stood against the Witch Doctors and drove them out.  Not only did they quote 1 Cor. 10:21 but they literally put into practice. "1 Corn. 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and the table of devils....As of today, things have settled down and life seems to be getting back to normal for our Pokut brethren. How would your faith fare under this type of persecution???

The Devil Tried to Kill Me

 

 During the Witch Doctor Uprising, Pastor Timothy Loquardo (pic above with Terry) was forced to evacuate his family to Western Kenya.  While doing so he was run off the road and seriously injured on His motorcycle. He would spend a week in an Eldoret hospital and then another month of recovery before he could return to His Church in the valley.   Loquardo is truly a great man of God who has planted ten Churches on the Kenyan and Ugandan side of the Kerio Valley and is currently working in over a dozen more villages doing evangelism and organizing Bible studies.   When I talked to Him via phone from the hospital he said, "Missionary, The Devil tried to kill me".     I'll let you draw your own conclusions from that statement but we do know that the Bibles teaches that the devil goes about as a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour and comes to kill, steal and destroy.   Since Loquardo's accident and subsequent recovery we have helped him purchase a new motorcycle and he is back on the road preaching the gospel.   Praise the Lord for helmets and healing.  

Attacks from Within and Without

The attacks just keep coming.  Not only have we experienced attacks on our Churches and brethen from without as aforementioned.  But let me remind you we have had three Churches burned down on Mt. Elgon along with five of our Pastors homes destroyed this year.  Additionally we have seen Church members murdered on Mt. Elgon.   

 

As tragic as those horrific events are, we have also had to withstand some of the most painful attacks which have come from within.   We always knew in our hearts that the Churches Terry and I helped establish and organize in Kenya and Uganda  would come under attack. We fully expected attacks and prepared our Churches that these attacks would come from other false religions who would follow our footsteps.  But we never imagined we would have to defend our works from Churches of like faith who have tried to take advantage of the hard work Terry and I did during our time in country.   Not only would they try to capitalize on some of the pioneering we had done in the Kerio Valley, but there has been outright efforts to steal away some of the Churches from our fellowship.   We thank God that with the exception of a couple, they have withstood the attacks and have remained firm in the doctrinal foundation and fellowship we helped establish.   And then there is the political hit jobs that seem to be sadly prevalent in every associated work.   While I won't go into the dirty details, I will say that Terry and I have been the target of personal slander and jealousy from within our own Missionary Baptist Ranks.   We personally have never paid much attention to the political wrangling and positioning that takes place because we have been busy about our Father's business.  However we have been forced to stand in opposition when the weak in faith attack our integrity and character.   It has not been a pleasant experience but want our ministry partners to better understand how to pray for us.   Please pray that God will use these times of tribulation to make us more like Jesus and to be glorified in all what we do and experience.  

Thank you for your prayerful support and thank you for allowing us to give you a glimpse into our journey of faith.

In His Service,

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

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93,000 J & R, Highways, Hedges & VBS

93,000 SWAHILI JOHN & ROMANS

93,000 is the number of Swahili John and Romans Eastern Ave. Baptist Church assembled last month for distribution in East Africa.   Pastor Jim Callen invited Terry and I to celebrate this monumental day and update them on the ministry work we are doing in Kenya and Uganda.  Additionally, they wanted someone who could read and speak Swahili to them so they would know what the verses within the pages sound like.   We were also able to give them firsthand accounts of using these scriptures in over fifty villages over the last ten years and seeing hundreds saved from this very important tool in the hands of our evangelists.    It does our hearts good to be able to visit Churches that partner with us to reach the lost in Kenya/Uganda & Florida and we are thankful they are willing to invest "sweat equity" into the lives of thousands.   We also look forward to getting a small portion of these very John & Romans into the hands of our Evangelists on Mt. Elgon, the Kerio Valley and Lake Victoria during our upcoming trip.   Rom. 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  

DEPUTATIONS & MEETINGS

 The perpetual cycle of deputation, revivals, mission conferences as well as state and national meetings which started in 2006 is alive and well in 2018.    The Lord continues to bless our efforts as we maintain ministries in three countries on two different continents.  We have always believed that God has individuals and local Churches he has prepared and ordained to partner with us to fulfill His Great Commission work to the uttermost parts of the earth.    These relationships go well beyond the support check, and after many years have developed into friendships and bonds in Christ that run deep.     We know they are also "holding the rope" of prayer and encouragement while Terry and I are in the well digging and we have confidence that we can depend on them in time of need.   We have never played political games for favor and while we gladly associate with American Baptist Association, we trust in the Lord to provide.  He has never let us down and we thank and praise Him for the ability and opportunity to go in His name.  Hudson Taylor once said, "God's work done God's way will never lack God's supply".    With that said, we like all Missionaries have to replace and renew supporters who come and go through the process of normal attrition.     Would you consider partnering with us as we labor in Kenya/Uganda and Florida for the glory of God?    We pray as if it all depends on God and work as if it all depends on us.   We will connect you to people and places that you can only imagine or have seen on National Geographic as we obey God's will in soul winning, discipleship and Church planting.   Please pray for us brethren and consider us when looking for hardworking missionaries to support.

This Picture above is the Thompson family which is part of our ministry team and part of the key to our success.  We love them in Christ and as you can see from the picture we always look forward to seeing them in person.

They are such a blessing and encouragement to us. 

 Van # 3 Arrives  "Bring Them In!"

We purchased van #3 last month with the help of our ministry partners who see the need and carry the burden we carry to bring them in from the fields of sin.    Our ministry philosophy is simple; reach anybody and everybody, everywhere but we particularly have a burden to reach the children while their hearts are tender and open to the Lord. Remember that 85% of all who trust Christ generally do so before the age of 18.   The critics and doubters say there is nobody who wants to come to Church anymore in this Laodecian age we live in but we have found that God blesses those who will invest their time and efforts into bringing Children to Christ.   While there is also no magic formula for Church growth, God gives the increase in ways and avenues that we could not see or predict when we are faithful to bring the children in from the fields of sin.  The addition of a third van route will push our Florida Plant building capacity, however we know God will make a way

for a larger building in His time.   

 Some would gather roses across this path of life

And some would gather money and rest from worldly strife
But I would gather children from across the field of Sin
For I would seek a golden curl or a freckled toothless grin
For Money cannot enter in that land of endless day
And roses that are gathered soon will wilt away
For oh the laughing children as i  cross the sunset sea
and  the  gates of heaven swing open wide I can take them in with me.

  HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES MINISTRY

As you can see from the below pictures, Terry and I continue to take the Great Commission literally and we particularly love the story Jesus tells in Luke 14 when the Lord tells the servant to go out into the highways and hedges and compel to come to the great supper that His house might be filled.   Getting out into the community on a regular basis creates many opportunities for us to share the gospel and build relationships that cannot be built otherwise.   It does not matter if it is a village on Mt. Elgon or in the Kerio Valley, it does not matter if it is the Pokot tribe or a neighborhood on the West Coast of Florida, people need the Lord and we intend to tell them of the hope of heaven through faith in Jesus Christ.    

 VBS 2018

Last month we held our second annual Vacation Bible School at the Florida Church plant.  We certainly missed our brethren from Oakland MBC, Rusk, Texas who came down last year to help us with our first VBS, but the training wheels came off and our people pulled together to do a great job.    We had a dozen visitors but most of the children are regular attendees and have made professions of faith over the last couple of years.  So while VBS is often a great outreach for the church, this year seemed to be more of a continued discipleship program.  

 As you can see from the below picture,  we make every effort to ground these children in the Word of God by giving them their own KJV Bible.  We thank our ministry partners at Rose Lawn MBC for providing us with these Bibles to give out freely.   What greater gift can you give a child?   Rom.10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 Last but not least, the Florida Plant baptismal pool waters continue to be stirred on a regular basis as we bring folks to the saving knowledge of Christ and start the discipleship process.   Our baptismal pool is not as nice as the average MBC, but its a far cry better than the mud holes we have baptized converts in Kenya and Uganda.   We praise the Lord for those saved and following Jesus in scriptural baptism.  

Thank you for your prayerful support and thank you for allowing us to give you a glimpse

into our journey of faith.

 

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis Terry Fernandez

Kenya/Uganda/Florida Plant