New Bibles, New Plots, New Homes on Mt. Elgon & New Beginnings

New Bibles: Solar Audio & Hardback 

 

 

While we are diligently working here in Florida, our brethren are continuing to provide New Converts with the Word of God in the Kerio Valley and Mt. Elgon.    At the close of our last mission trip, we left hundreds of Bibles (solar audio & hardback) to be distributed by our National Pastors as they see fit over the coming months.   Below are some pictures of those who have received Bibles as a result of our many ministry partners who see the need and carry the burden to supply new converts with the Word of God.

Thank you to all who have given to this worthy cause and as you can see, your gift continues to bear much fruit and happy converts.   

The above picture is truly worth 1,000 words!

This young lady is truly is actually kissing her new Bible.  It gives us great joy to see people who love and cherish the Word of God so much. 

New Plot: Landmark Baptist Church Chesokwo

The Pictures (Below) are of the survey and plot purchase for the new sanctuary of the Landmark Baptist Church at Chesokwo.   The pictures are foggy and hard to see due to freezing fog at over ten thousand feet above sea level.   It actually snowed after these pictures where taken.   I've snow skied all over the world, from the Tyrolean Alps to the Colorado Rockies in all kinds of conditions but I've never been colder then the cold damp nights I have spent in these villages on Mt. Elgon.   This plot purchase and subsequent sanctuary construction will be the twenty fifth Terry and I have had the privilege to be a part of through our Kenya/Uganda Church development ministry.  In our hearts and minds, we are one quarter of the way to what we believe God is going to do as we pray for one hundred Missionary Baptist Churches in Kenya/Uganda and Florida.   Why not dream big and have faith in a great Great God?   "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God".   William Carey  

 Many of the Mt. Elgon Landmark Baptist Pastors gathered together for the plot survey and purchase on this foggy freezing day.  Their faith is strong and they praise the Lord for what He is doing on Mt. Elgon.

If you look close enough you will see how cold they are. 

Chesokwo is actually known as the village of caves.  Many of the villagers actually

       live in caves.

New Houses: Pastors Rebuild Lives

 
The pictures below are Pastor Victor of Landmark Baptist Church at Cheptandan and His family standing in front of His new house.  He is one of the five Pastors whose homes were destroyed in the latest round of violence.  

Our ministry partners help purchase tin roofing for these Pastors to rebuild their homes and lives.   The walls will be filled with mud and coated with clay to seal the structure.  This is very indigenous construction on Mt. Elgon as well as much of Kenya.   Hope to post pictures of the rest of the Pastors homes as they rebuild also. 

 New Beginnings:  Sanctuaries Rebuilt

 The Pictures below are of one of the largest Landmark Baptist Churches on Mt. Elgon which is located at the village of Cheptkurukuru.  The top picture was taken immediately after the violence and destruction.   As you can see much of the tin was been stolen from the roof and sides.  Some of the structural part of the sanctuary had actually been burned.   The second picture below is the same sanctuary recently rebuilt.   The members of the Church are returning one by one to rebuild their lives.   As I post this update, we are in the process of rebuilding the sanctuary at the Landmark Baptist Church at Cheptandan.  Hope to be able to include those pictures in the next update as well.  The last Church which will need to be rebuilt is the Landmark Baptist Church at Chemta.  Everything was stolen at Chemta including the steel poles and trusses, wood and tin sheeting.   The approximate cost to replace all of this is $4000.00.   Please contact me if your Church is interested in adopting this sanctuary to help our Mt. Elgon brethren rebuild their sanctuary.  

     If you or your Church are looking for VBS project or just want to be a blessing to those who have lost so much, please designate special offerings, "Mt. Elgon".

 Please continue to pray for our Mt. Elgon brethren who have truly experienced the trial of their faith through times of tribulation.  

We are glad to report that they have not only survived this tribulation but their faith in the Lord has been strengthened.   May God continue to be glorified in all of our lives and may we be found even more faithful as we look forward to the day of our Lord's return.    Terry and I thank each and every ministry partner who rejoices with us when we are on the mountain top and who carry us in prayer through the valleys of life.  God is using you in a mighty way to carry out His great commission work to to the uttermost parts of the earth. 

 

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya/Uganda/Florida Plant

The Florida Plant Updates

Highways andHedges

  The Florida Plant side of our ministry continues to experience spiritual and numerical growth as we go out into the highways and hedges to bring them to Christ.   We go because we are commanded and we go for the glory of God, motivated by our Love for Christ.  As you can see from the below pictures, Terry continues to do what she has done in Kenya/Uganda and Florida to compel them to come that our Fathers house may be full. 

Luke 14:23  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

The Bible says there is weariness in well doing but we shall reap if we faint not.  Gal. 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  Along the journey of faith and ministry, it is easy to become weary in well doing but the Lord in His graciousness always seems to come through with an extra measure of grace just at the right time to supply His servants with what is needed to go another mile.  That extra measure of grace sometimes comes at the end of a long van route when you see the precious children God has entrusted us with to bring to salvation and to disciple them. Such is the case with the picture below of these precious girls Terry brings in on her van route.   We praise the Lord for the privilege and honor to go in His name.

 Salvations and Baptisms

 We continue to see a steady number of people professing Christ as Lord and following Him in scriptural baptism.    Over the last month we have seen an entire family trust Christ, one of our Adult van riders and one of my lifelong friends as well.   Pray for these new converts as they start to obey the commands of God in the newness of life.   Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

Funerals, Hospital & Deputation Visits

Being a Missionary Pastor involves much more than just preaching the gospel to the lost, for as the Church continues to grow, so too does the Pastoral care side of the Church plant which  includes , counseling, funerals and hospital visits.  And if having a ministry which spans two continents with Kenya/Uganda Church development is not enough, add the perpetual cycle of deputation needed to sustain these works and you have a very busy Missionary and Wife.   Keep in the mind, these are not complaints, but an attempt to share this journey of faith with our supporters and a reminder to self and those considering Mission work,  it is not easy.   If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.  

 Prison Ministry

 In addition to the aforementioned ministry responsibilities, the Prison Ministry continues to grow.   Our Spanish students are becoming serious workmen of the Word of God. They are learning how to rightly divide the word of truth and solid Baptist Doctrine while doing it.   Next month, one of our English disciples who has surrendered to preach the gospel will be released and start to preach on the outside of the prison walls.   We look forward to helping Him fulfil God's will for His life. I'm often asked why I go into the prison each week when I have so much on my plate?  The answer is simple, It is a labor of love for those who might be seen as the outcasts of society and besides, I just love seeing God transform the lives of men who most would say are unredeemable.  Each week I'm reminded that nobody is beyond the reach of the love and grace of God.  2Tim. 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Needing Space

 We have reached  somewhat of plateau due to the limitations of the building we are currently renting.  We ask you to pray for us as we look for a larger building to rent and weigh out our options.   Our current building will hold one hundred on a good day and we have been running at 85% of our capacity before summer, so we know the reality is if we want to continue to grow we are going to have to leave our comfort zone and move.   We believe God will not only direct our paths but he will provide for His work.    Isaiah 54:2  Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;

 Terry and I praise the Lord for each of our ministry partners and for all who allow us the opportunity to share what God is doing in our lives and ministry. We covet your continued prayers.  

 In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya/Uganda/Florida Plant

 

 THANK YOU FOR: