Missionaries Fernandez: Muslim Convert, Tabernacle in the Wilderness and Namarambi Tent Raising

Monday, December 21, 2009

Muslim Convert, Tabernacle in the Wilderness and Namarambi Tent Raising

With time running short we are desperately trying to achieve our year end goals as we will be returning to the United States early next month for our daughters graduation, missions conferences and a prison revival. This week we had a record high eighteen men attend the welders, fabricators and mechanics weekly Bible study here in Eldoret. These meetings continue to be fruitful and now the original 4 men are inviting fellow WFM’s to attend and to come to Christ. One such young man who attended this week is named Mganda who is a Muslim from Uganda. Some of the men in this group have been praying for this man as his life has been spiraling out of control in more ways than I can mention.

However, at the urging of his co-workers he attended this week’s meeting to learn more about what it means to be a Christian and how to become a Christian. At the end of the teachings he came forward to express his desire to follow Christ. This is God’s amazing love and grace in action. The prayer and the burden that these men have for their lost coworkers are being answered one by one.

There is true hope for those that are heading down the wrong path as this is the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. What impresses me through this bible study and outreach is that while I initiated the bible study with a few friends it has continued to grow each week and I have not made the first visit to invite these newcomers. They have all come through the invitation of their friends and coworkers who have been attending. What an impact this small group is having on the community as these men truly want to live for God. Praise the Lord for His mercy endureth forever! This week we also completed the construction of the last of three tents we will have put in place this year. With Terry’s help I fitted and finalized the construction here at the house before we took it out to Western Kenya to set up. Setting up these temporary tents reminded me that it was a tent that God commanded the Children of Israel to set up as a temporary tabernacle for their worship. This first mentioned principle is found in Exodus 26.

SURVEYING

In addition to the children of Israel utilizing a tent for worship I find we are also in good company with the Apostle Paul who was a tent maker Acts 18:3. So while we are somewhat forced to use these temporary tents due to simple economics we are following a Bible precedence that was affective for a given period. This step will also allow these young churches to grow until such time as God allows them to build a permanent building. Yesterday Terry and I traveled to a village called Namarambi to help Pastor Daniel set up the tent for Sunday services. Pastor Daniel was so happy to have a plot that is paid for and now a tent to worship under. Their faith has truly been tested over the last six months as they

have had to move from house to house to worship but now they are praising the Lord for providing a place that is paid for and they cannot lose. As a handful of believers we held hands in prayer Happy Pastor

asking God to bless the plot and tent. Our prayer was that the small plot and tent would be a place of prayer, a place of power, a place of preaching and a place that God Almighty would fill with His presence. It is a place that we prayed would bring Jesus honor and glory through the surrendered lives of individuals. It is a most humbling experience to stand in the center of what is Holy ground because as we have sought God’s will and we have obeyed Jesus commandment to be witnesses unto Him as well as teach all nations. There is no fancy building, no padded pews, no steeple or sign but what a privilege to allowed to be a small part of a great work. This week we ask you to pray for this young work at Namarambi and also remember Terry and me as we TENT CREW