Mudding the Sanctuary & Ordination Service

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With framing complete and what I call the stingers or ribs in place it was time to construct the walls of the new sanctuary which are made of mud. Like most events here in Kenya, mudding the Church is a huge project but is also a huge social event.

Not only did Church members turn out to help construct the walls but neighbors and friends assembled themselves to mix mud by foot and place it on the walls layer upon layer. The mixing process might best be compared to the making of grape juice in the biblical days of the wine press.

There is no concrete truck that you can call to bring concrete to pour footers or walls but there are God’s people who were so excited about building the house of the Lord. While step one of the mudding process was completed with a foundational layer there are still three more layers made of different textures to be applied.

If finances allow we will put a thin layer of cement over the mud for longevity. There was definitely an aire of excitement and pride as we gathered ourselves in the newly constructed sanctuary for a solemn

             and holy occasion on Sunday.

We met to ordain a special young man named Nixon into the Gospel ministry. Ordination continues to be a great tradition that began two thousand years ago with our Lord’s Apostles.
After the presbytery met to question the candidate, the charge was preached and we gathered around and laid our hands on our Christian brother, a man called of God to carry His Word to a lost and dying generation. In doing so, we publicly acknowledged our own confidence in Brother Nixon; in his calling into the ministry and in his ability to carry out that ministry, with the help of the Holy Ghost. For over a year now we have worked with Nixon as he has taught the people in a village called Mayanja.

We have watched him seek God ‘s will and then follow God’s leading as he has proven himself to be a man of God that loves the Lord and the people of Mayanja.
The apostle Paul told young Timothy:
2Ti 3:10 " But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose & faith."
We can say this same thing with confidence about Nixon.

We know his doctrine, we have observed his manner of life, his purpose and his faith.

Following the ordination service we presented Nixon with a lamp and a Bible to equip him to study God’s Word.

Terry also gave his wife Gladys a new Bible as we know the importance of the wife’s role in the ministry.

Please pray for this young couple as they strive to serve the Lord in Mayanja. We continue to be encouraged by what God is doing as each new week seems to bring blessing after blessing.

We also count it a privilege that God would allow us to be a small part of this great work.

May God Keep You and Bless You,

Chuck & Terry Fernandez
Kenya, East Africa

Phil. 4:13