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
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