Missionaries Fernandez: Ordination Service in Kerio Valley

Welcome Committee

Video

Let me preface this journal entry by saying thank you for your faithful prayers of healing as we are seeing and feeling the results in my back. I have been able to stop taking muscle relaxers and pain medicine for the first time in some time and I am just using heat and anointment's to continue the healing process.

James 5:15 "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

Much of this week was spent preparing for an ordination service at our first Pokot Church located in the Kerio Valley. There are many lessons I try to teach the men we work with and one of them is to be prepared and organized in everything they do.

I have found the art of this teaching is to give the right amount of input at the right time so that they might have the ability to carry out these big events without me and so they can develop their planning and preparation skills to do what God has called them to do. God has called me to lead these young Men of God, however, I have found that the best leaders and teachers are those who are able to do so in an almost obscure style so that the people are learning and growing without hardly knowing they are being led.

It is important for us to trust our people enough to gently guide them and let them make mistakes along the way while helping them learn from their mistakes.

I have no claim to fame with regard to leadership, but I have been mentored by some fine Godly men that I have learned much from over the years. So while the Ordination for Pastor Timothy Loquardo was not what I call picture perfect logistical planning, everything went off in fine fashion and was Biblical as well as God honoring.

We had distinguished guests along with all of our ordained Pastors attend the service.

Our honored guests included two missionaries from Southern Sudan, one from Turkana, the Chief and Sub Chief as well as many of our local friends.

Chief & Pastor Loquardo

Both Pastor Timothy and Sarah had family travel from great distances to partake in this powerful and solemn occasion to ordain this special young man into the Gospel ministry.

Certificate of Ordaination

God's Man & His Wife

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.

presbytery prayer

Laying On Of Hands

Older Pokot Church Members

In doing so, we publicly acknowledged our own confidence in Brother Timothy Loquardo; in his calling into the ministry and in his ability to carry out that ministry,

with the help of the Holy Ghost.

For over three years now, we have worked closely with Timothy and have seen great growth and maturity beyond his years. 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 Pokot people of Chepsosabei.

Showers of Blessings

As the apostle Paul told his 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 Timothy Loquardo.

As we watch these men get called by God, one by one and then watch them mature into stable Men of God we can clearly see God’s hand upon them and at work sculpting them. God started preparing Timothy for this work long ago as his father and all five of his elder brothers are Pastors, Missionaries and Preachers.

What a family legacy that he is continuing.

Father & Son Legacy

Terry and I continue to find out the existent of our testimony and influence through small events that take place during each trip to Pokot.

As we traveled into the Kerio Valley, the van of Pastors family and guests that followed us was stopped at a police check point near the Uganda Border and questioned about where they were going and what they were doing.

After a few minutes of questioning, Pastor told them they were going with Missionary Carlos to attend an ordination service. They said at the mention of my name they were welcomed and treated in a nice way because they knew that I had given them water, Bibles and tracts on every occasion we had to meet with them.

It goes to show that we need to keep a good Christian testimony with everyone we meet.

I had no idea they knew me by name, but then again we are the only white missionaries working in this area.

Traditional Hunters Pokot Tribe Cheposabei and Missionary Carlos

The ordination service itself lasted five hours but because it was so powerful and spirit filled, it felt more like an hour or two.

God blessed us with His presence in such a great way that everyone left with cups overflowing.

From the goats that were slaughtered along with the massive amount of food I would also venture to say that everyone left with bellies overflowing in addition to their cups.

There so many special things about the ordination that I would like to share, however, my heart was continually drawn back to the impact that this service would have on this young Pastor and this young group of believers. It was yet another opportunity for the members of this church and their Pastor to be unified in Christ.

At the close of the service, Pastor and His wife were showered with gifts of goats, chickens, eggs and traditional Pokot clothing.

Terry Congrats

They have truly won the peoples hearts and have really assimilated with the Pokot tribe. Please pray for Pastor Timothy Loquardo, Sarah and their children, Jill and Joy as they minister to the people of Cheposabei. It is yet another marriage made in heaven.

Timothy & Sarah