Missionaries Fernandez: Tent Making and Ordination

Monday, October 31, 2011

Tent Making and Ordination

Much of this week’s activities included making a new tent and pews for the work in Lake Victoria. Purchasing steel, cutting, fabrication, painting and assembly was all part of our regular ministry duties. We will be traveling next week to the fishing village of Wichlum again to deliver the tent and to do some teaching and training of the man God has called to preach there. The highlight of this week’s work was the ordination service of Pastor Peter Barasa. It was a good thing we completed the tent for Wichlum as it was needed along with two other tents to hold all the people who came to Ndivisi Landmark Baptist Church to be a part of the ordination service for this special Pastor and preacher. From the first day we met Pastor Peter and teamed up with him to reach the lost on Mt. Elgon we knew there was something very special about him. Every once in a while God will allow us to be a part of a special person’s life and they impact your life effortlessly while just being who God made them to be. This is the case with Pastor Peter, his heart for the Lord, his love for the lost and God’s people is something that is rare to find in this day and age anywhere in the world. After almost three years of working side by side to preach the gospel on Mt. Elgon, the Kerio Valley and now Lake Victoria, we have grown to love and respect him in a great way. It was an honor to ordain him as a preacher of the gospel and to be his brother in Christ.

This was the largest event we have experience during our ministry thus far and was one of the most joyous events. Terry and I were so happy to see the outpouring of love expressed to honor this sharp young man who has surrendered his life to preaching God’s Word. Pastor Peter’s family, friends, neighbors and Church members all testified of a life honoring God.

Pastor Peter & Family

For my part, I taught on the qualifications of a Pastor and the qualities of a “good shepherd” as well as serving a member of the presbytery.

After the teachings and the preaching of the charge, the presbytery had an opportunity to publicly ask Pastor Peter questions concerning his doctrine and biblical knowledge which he answered with great command of the scriptures. He has not only been a great leader within our team but is also a great student of the Word. The ordination process was yet another opportunity to teach the younger men of God the method and biblical tradition that has been practiced by the New Testament church for over two thousand years. Praise the Lord we have a biblical pattern to follow! After he was thoroughly examined along with his wife and children, the presbytery prayed for him with the laying on of the hands.

1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Pastor Peter now is not only a phenomenal man of God but also carries one the highest honors and stamp of approval as a God ordained preacher of the gospel. A Kenyan tradition we have grown to love was at the conclusion of the ceremony when all those in attendance give Pastor Peter and his family a love offering. What makes it is special is that the offerings include: live chickens, bananas, corn, beans, tea cups, lanterns, a live sheep (fitting for a shepherd) and of course money. This shower and outpouring of love really touches our hearts every time we experience it.

As special as this was I believe the most precious moment may have been just before the dismissal prayer and lunch when the newly ordained Pastor, his wife Sporta (who Terry has gotten close to) and their five children sang a special.