Missionaries Fernandez: Ordination, On the Road & Seasons....Church Plants, Kenya, Uganda, USA

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Ordination, On the Road & Seasons....Church Plants, Kenya, Uganda, USA

Kenya/Uganda/USA

Greetings Family, Friends and Brethren,

Our hearts were blessed this week and another important milestone was reached by our Churches in Kenya when they ordained one of our long time faithful Deacons at the Landmark Baptist Church of Ndivisi. We have watched Deacon Wycliffe develop into a true Man of God who has a servant’s heart. He has been instrumental in the growth of His Church and has also been a key part in our building team to help construct the Churches on Mt. Elgon.

It has been said that the proof of all teaching is practice and our cups are overflowing with joy to see our precious people follow the Biblical pattern for ordination and to watch them move forward in their faith independently. 3Jn_1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. In addition to the ordination, Pastor Peter and our team of Pastors Baptized thirteen of our converts at the village of Chenjengi and organized them into another Scriptural New Testament Church. This village has been reached for Christ by Moses who the Associate Pastor and is sent out of the the Church we started at Mayanja in 2010. These are some of the converts Terry led to Christ and the same village that she contracted a bacterial infection combined with Malaria before we left. I know this newly organized Church has a special place in our heart.

It seems like the work of the Missionary Church Planter always involves burning the road somewhere in the world. The process of raising support and keeping support is one that can only be described as a grueling process that will wear you down and wear you out if you let it. Within the last eight days Terry and I have traveled to Northern Georgia to pick up chairs for the Florida Plant as well as attending two deputation appointments at First Coast Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville and Thirtieth Ave. MBC in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Dr. Bill Pennell, Missionary Ukraine & 30th Ave. MBC

All the while we continue to meet with our group of believers and build a team to reach Florida for Christ. Each and every step of this transitional process is done in faith as we try to share our hearts and vision for the work God has called us to do on a limited basis in Kenya and our newest Church plant in Brooksville. We are thankful for the many ministry partners who have contacted us to let us know that “Tuko Pamoja”, which means “We are Together” in Swahili. It brings great comfort to our hearts that most our ministry partners are partnering with Chuck and Terry Fernandez wherever God leads and not just East Africa. Any change in life and ministry brings some apprehension; however we have trusted in the Lord for His protection and provision thus far and will continue to depend on His grace, power and wisdom as we press towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. One of the recent changes that have taken place in our life and ministry is that we have a new “Sending Church”, the First Baptist Church of East Bay in Riverview, Florida. Pastor Tim Myers and His wife Sheila have a tremendous burden to reach the lost and particularly are interested and experienced in planting churches in Florida where they have facilitated the planting of a Haitian Church, a Spanish Church as well as another English Speaking Church.

Dr. Tim Myers & Wife, Sheila, 1st Baptist Church East Bay

They have supported our work in East, Africa from the beginning and are excited to be a part of what God is doing in our lives and ministry. Our team is stronger than ever and still includes Pastor Tim Johnson and the Dean Springs MBC church family as the Co-Sponsor of our work. Incidentally, Dean Springs MBC will be celebrating their 100^th Anniversary this November. Now that is something to praise the Lord about.

Pastor Tim Johnson & Wife, Crystal, Dean Springs MBC