Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Witch Doctor Saved!


Witch Doctor Saved!


The (below) picture is of a former Witch Doctor of over sixty years who has received Jesus as His personal Lord and Savior.   The Lord has radically changed this mans life and He has become a great testimony to the entire village and region of God's amazing grace.   He is receiving His first Bible after following in scriptural baptism and discipleship training.   He is yet another great example of why supplying Bibles through our ministry is so very important.  Many of the new Church plants in remote interior villages have to face the wrath and anger of the local Witch Doctor during their early years but greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.  Generally speaking this confrontation takes place as a result of the village becoming a prominently Christian village which no longer needs or desires His controlling demonic influence.     

Rom. 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 
 
  New Outreach at Namanje


The (below) pictures are the latest outreach at another newly reached village located at the base of Mt. Elgon named Namanje. 
These new outreaches really touch my heart as I know the power of the preaching of the Gospel and I love seeing the Lord's servants out in the highways and hedges reaching the lost.   Additionally, it is a blessing to see these new converts being discipled and eventually baptized and organized into another local New Testament Church which has the potential to raise up and send preachers and evangelists.   Eph. 3:21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Please pray for these new believers and as you view these pictures I ask you to make a few observations with me about their condition.   #1.  Humility:  They have simply gathered together in the woods to hear the good news of the gospel the evangelists have brought them.   #2.  They have no Bibles:  Look carefully, the Evangelist is the only one who has a Bible as He preaches God's word.   They will need to grow in their new faith and that will only happen as they learn how to rightly divide the Word of God.  They will need to learn how to defend themselves from the wiles of the devil but how will they be able to stand without the word of God.   A large part of our ministry is supplying these new converts with the Bibles.    We ask you to prayerfully consider helping us supply them with Bibles.    #3.  There is no sanctuary or roof over their heads to assemble themselves for worship.   There is no tent, no pews, just a group of new believers who are hungry for God.   Over the years we have not started new works with a building project but we do partner with them to provide a tent during the early years.   As you can see, this group is already too large to meet in a house and is in need of a tent.    Make no mistake about it, even though there is no building, this is what the Church looks like.   
      

Together we can make a difference in the lives of these new believers by supplying them new bibles as those seen in the (below) being delivered to Cheptabrubru on Mt. Elgon.     

 

Building Blocks   

 The pictures below are of God's provision and blessing for the dormitory and classrooms at the new Landmark Baptist Bible Institute located near the base of Mt. Elgon.   We have purchased 5,000 bricks, tons of sand, bags of cement and rocks  for the walls.  Remember we had already constructed the roof for both buildings earlier in the year.    As I look at the bricks I'm reminded that God's grace is great upon us corporately but individually I'm reminded that those bricks represent individuals & Churches who believing in supporting missions through their offerings.   Furthermore, as I look at the pile of bricks I see a lot of work to construct the walls but I also see the sacrificial giving as each brick represents an individual who has worked to earn each dollar and then gives it freely so that preachers can be trained and sent out to preach the gospel.    God's work done God's way will never lack God's supply through local New Testament Churches. 
We thank you for giving so that others might hear the good news! 


 
NOTE:  At first glance of the (above) picture you see large rocks which will be used in the construction of the walls.  However, it must be pointed out the these rocks need to be broken down into small rocks by the members of the Church.   These rocks are illustrative of our working relationship with these Churches to provide them with the building blocks necessary for them to build.   But they share in the responsibility to invest in their Church and ministry because ultimately it is theirs to grow and maintain.  Pastor, what you congregation say if you ask them to break rocks for a week?   Matt. 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  

Mama Atai & Mzee Masai
 The (above) picture is of two beautiful people who are near and dear to our hearts.  He is known as Mzee Masai and she is affectionately known as Mama Atai.    They 105 and 101 years old and are two of our earliest converts from the village of Ndivisi which is located at the base of Mt. Elgon.   The year of their conversion was 2008.  Don't get me wrong, all of those who God gives the increase to bring to Christ are special.  But we remember these precious folks because the evangelist who brought us to them to share the gospel had been praying for their salvation for seven years.    In this case, God would use White Missionaries from America to be the ones chosen to bring them to the saving knowledge of Christ.  After the received Christ they immediately followed in scriptural baptism and have been faithful members of the Landmark Baptist Church established at Ndivisi.   While they are up and age, they still attend regularly but have to be reminded what day is Sunday.    Their house is one of the first houses we visit each time we return to Kenya. 
 
Terry and I want to wish you all a Happy and Bless Thanksgiving!   

Thank you for the opportunity to share our journey of faith and for every prayer and every dollar given which enables us to do all that we do for the glory of God!

 

 


In His Service,

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




Moving Day, Acts 20:20 & South America Missions


Moving day has arrived and the new modular building we have been needing and praying for has finally arrived.   As you can see from the picture below, it arrived on a truck and trailer which provides immediate use.   Well, that is after all the permitting, blocking, wiring, cleaning and ramp construction.    Nevertheless, God always provides and while we have constructed thirty four sanctuaries in Kenya and Uganda this is our first building project in Florida.   The modular building brings us to the point of total utilization of our current rented property by maximizing every square foot.   If we leave our current property we will have to take it with us, but that's why it is mobile.   We have always said that we don't believe God will bless us with something bigger till we have been good stewards with what we have.  What we have had is basically a shed and sanctuary but now we have room for expansion for our youth ministry which frees up room in the sanctuary as well as providing a fellowship hall.  Remember we have used a tent for our fellowship hall for four years now.   The tent served its purpose but its a lot of work to set up and tear down and is very hot to use during the summer.   With that said, the tent is a connection we have to Kenya and Uganda and is deeply embedded in our ministry methodology.    I did not realize the full extent of the tent connection until my last trip to Kenya when our Pastors saw the pictures of our tent in Florida and it resonated with them in a great way.  Here is why,  #1: they saw that we are not too good to do what they do and #2: the Missionary has not ask them to do something that we are not willing to do.  Remember we have been using tents for new Church plants in Kenya and Uganda for many years now.  After set up and a last minute electric hook up we dedicated the building during our annual fall festival campaign.   Everything we do thru the Florida plant is purposed and Great Commission centered.    We thank God for His hand of grace is good upon us.    



As you can see from the pics below,  the modular building was decorated nicely and seats 80-100 people.   We had many special guests on dedication day to include Missionaries Temple & Annie Meek as well as German and Barbara Rivera from the Prison Ministry.   The food is always great in the south and the fellowship was sweet with over hundred in attendance. 
 

                                         The Fellowship of the Believers
Act 2:42  "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."  
 
Acts 20:20 In 2020  
Act 20:20 " And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house." 

 As you can see from the (above) & (below) pictures, we have started our Acts 20:20 outreach campaign.   Would you pray for us as we obey the Great Commission to preach the gospel unto the uttermost parts of the world?   We do not claim to be the best at outreach promotions and campaigns  or anything for that matter but we are willing to go in the name of our Lord anywhere, anytime to anyone.    The Acts 20:20 campaign is simply a prayerful goal of: twenty professions of faith,  twenty baptisms & twenty new members in 2020.   Now you might be thinking to yourself, "self, its not 2020 yet so why are they starting their 2020 campaign in 2019?"   Here is the answer; because we are so excited about what we believe God is going to do thru the Florida Plant in 2020 that we didn't want to wait to get started.  God is already opening many doors and hearts during our early efforts.   1 Cor 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1 Cor 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1 Cor 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1 Cor 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 


Our van fleet stands ready to be the vehicles we use on a weekly basis and we pray God will help us fill two them times over to bring them in from the fields of sin.  Pray for us brethren.  Jude 1:22  And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jude 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

 
Prison Ministry Update

One of the most fruitful parts of our ministry is the prison ministry at Cross City Correctional Institute.   God is giving us the opportunity to disciple dozens of men through this ministry and we are seeing great growth in their walk and service to God.   Cell phones and cameras are not allowed inside the walls of the prison so you will have to take my word when I say that lives are being transformed by our Lord and Savior through His word accompanied by with the Spirit of God.   One of the things I have noticed particularly among our Spanish brethren is that we are teaching, training and mentoring men who God is sending out as servants and witnesses as they are released and return to Columbia, Honduras, Ecuador, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Mexico.  Its exciting to know that God uses our humble efforts to potentially send out Missionaries to South America.  I often say that  

you don't have to travel to South American countries to reach South Americans.   

1Cor. 9:22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.       

  


Thank you for the opportunity to share our journey of faith and for every prayer and every dollar given which enables us to do all that we do for the glory of God.   We also ask those of you who take time to read these journal entries/blogs but do not currently partner with us to prayerfully consider partnering with us and be a part of this great work God is doing through His servants.        

 

 In His Service,

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

 


 

Tuesday, October 15, 2019


Two Weeks in Uganda and Kenya 

These short term mission trips to Uganda and Kenya are super intense but also super rewarding as they afford us the opportunity to remain connected with the precious people and Churches God has allowed Terry and I to be apart of over the last twelve years.   It also gives us two weeks of "the abandoned life".   Pastor Russell Bailey and Bro. Gary Weidenbach are both veterans from previous mission trips to Kenya but this would be their first opportunity to cross the border into Uganda.  
 
 As you can see from the below pic, we camped out during our trip in remote interior regions for two reasons.  #1, It makes very efficient use of our time and resources as it enables us to travel to a region (in this case the Kerio Valley) and stay there for extended periods of time.  #2,  Camping out in these interior villages gives us an experience and connection with our National Pastors and brethren that is simply not possible from a lodge or hotel room.  We wake up to the birds singing, the roosters crowing, the goats moving and the Pastors family going about their daily chores.   They also know that we truly love them in Christ and care about their life beyond ministry when we sleep where they sleep and eat what they eat.  Its not easy but then again, but as my Pastor often says, "if it was easy, everybody would be doing it."  
   Village Evangelism
One of the primary purposes of these trips is to support our National Pastors and Churches as they continue to preach the gospel in neighboring regions and villages. 
The work that God has allowed Terry and I to be apart of has grown to forty four New Testament Churches,  dozens of Bible studies and over one hundred villages in Kenya and Uganda where the gospel is being preached.   We supported those efforts through village evangelism with the established Churches at Soysambu and Morrerweis as well as evangelism at two new unreached villages at Evaklet and Luguru.   These efforts resulted in dozens of professions of faith in each village.   As usual, our National Pastors will follow up with those new converts to disciple them, baptize
them and unit them with the local Church through membership.    We thank Bro. W.A. Dillard and FISH ministries for providing us with Swahili John and Romans to use in these efforts. 

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 always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
  

Pastors & Preachers Seminar
As new villages and converts are reached with the good news of the gospel, God is calling new Men of God to preach His word.   With the number of new preachers reaching one hundred it is no longer feasible to bring them all to Mt. Elgon for seminars and training, so we now are hosting two regional seminars.   Week one we held a seminar in the Kerio Valley for our Kenyan and Ugandan preachers from the Pokot and Karamajong tribes.   Then during week two we held a second seminar for those Pastors and Preachers in the Mt. Elgon region & Lake Victoria.    My lessons taught and reinforced our doctrine,  Bro. Gary taught on Family Ministry First and Bro. Russell taught on Spiritual Warfare.   Its truly an honor to invest in the lives and ministry of these Men of God.  Our prayer is that we strengthen and built them up  so they may continue to do what God has called them to do.

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses,
the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach each other.
Healthy Churches
 
The Landmark Baptist Churches of Kenya and Uganda we visited all showed signs of spiritual health and vitality.   They are all involved in reaching new villages with the gospel as well as training disciples and all have some form of building projects on going.  The picture below is Bro. Gary Weidenbach preaching at Kakaron, Uganda.  Terry and I help establish this Church in 2010 and we have recently partnered with them to build the sanctuary.  They are now making bricks (seen in background) for the walls of the sanctuary.  
Note:  The man to the immediate left of Bro. Gary was murdered for his land two days after this picture was taken.
                                            Please pray for his family.

(Below) Part of our foreign mission work includes providing Bibles for new converts
We have expanded this part of our ministry by providing solar powered audio Bibles in both
the Pokot and Karimajog languages.
Rom. 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God..
 
                   Healthy Churches are revealed by more
than just the number of members and building progress.  For example,  after Sunday morning worship service at the Landmark Baptist Church at Mayanja, we departed to attend another worship service at the Landmark Baptist Church at Chenjengi.  Pastor Chester Moore announced that the entire Church would be walking to a neighboring village to do village evangelism.    These are the types of stories that reveal a heart of love for God, their neighbors and their obedience to the Great Commission.  
They did so of their own convictions and without our mission team.
                                        To God be the Glory!  
Thank you for the opportunity to share our journey of faith and for every prayer and every dollar given which enables us to do all that we do for the glory of God.   We also ask those of you who take time to read these journal entries/blogs but do not currently partner with us to prayerfully consider partnering with us and be a part of this great work God is doing through His servants.   
 In His Service,
Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya/Uganda/Florida Plant
 
 

 Bricks Needed 
We were also able to see the progress of the dormitory and classrooms for the Mt. Elgon regional Bible Institute as both buildings have roofs up.  Praise our Lord!  We now need 10,000 bricks & cement to construct the walls.   If you are interested in partnering with us, the bricks are only 10 cents each and cement is only $10.00 per bag.  We ask you to prayerfully consider this need. 

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Florida Plant: Building & Baptisms


Florida Plant Building Need  Baptisms & Ordination
  FLORIDA PLANT BUILDING NEED 
The (above) picture is the final piece of the puzzle with regard to maximizing the use of the current facility we are leasing on a monthly basis for the Florida Plant.  God has allowed us to partner with our Kenyan/Ugandan brethren to build thirty sanctuaries as well as the Bible Institute which is currently under construction over the last dozen years.  Praise Our Lord for His provision through the many individuals and Churches who believe in the Great Commission centered work God has called us to do.   We now find ourselves facing another building need but this time at the Florida Plant.   We have knocked out as many walls as possible to allow for continued growth but that has come at the expense of classroom space.  The shed we use for the Jr Church provided temporary relief but has also become overcrowded (BELOW) PICS.  So we are left with the option of looking for a new facility to lease or add another portable structure to our current facility.   We have agreed to purchase the (above) portable structure which will be moved and set up on our current property.  It is a 24x44' modular educational building which will be used for Jr. Church and double as a fellowship hall.   We have to use an outside tent for fellowships so it will be nice to be able to have meals on the grounds indoors.  

As you can see from the below picture, the new portable classroom will provide sufficient
         space for continued growth...

 Our "African" mentality has made us very frugal and we have tried to be good stewards with all that God has allowed to be apart of.   I believe this new addition is a low cost building which stays true to that ministry methodology.    We need a few ministry partners to come along side of us to bring this project to fruition.    If you can't give, you can pray that the Lord will provide for this worthy cause.   And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.  The below thermometer is where we currently stand with fund raising.   

 
Salvations & Baptism
 As you can see from the (below) pictures, we are experiencing a steady flow of professions of faith and converts following the Lord Jesus in scriptural baptism.  After salvation and baptism we are privileged to carry them through a comprehensive discipleship program to help ground them in their new faith.   Many of our new converts are children but as you can see from these pictures, some are young adults as this young married couple trust Jesus as Lord.  

 Ordination Service 
We also had the recent privilege to ordain Bro. Brian Canaday into the gospel ministry.  He has been a humble servant of God for many years and has been a blessing to the Florida Church plant.   As our ministry spans two continents the Church plant needs a trusted and proven Man of God who can fill the pulpit and lead services in my absence on a regular basis. 

 We look forward to connecting with you in Knoxville at the ABA annual messenger meeting. Stop by our booth and say Jambo! Hola! or Hello!

Thank you for taking this journey of faith with us and we covet your continued prayers as we press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.      

In His Service,
Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya/Uganda/Florida Plant


 

Monday, May 20, 2019

KENYA/UGANDA MISSION DEVELOPMENT

k
Kerio Valley, North Pokot
Our Mission Team for our recent trip to Kenya consisted of my Pastor, Dr. Tim Myers, Myself and one of our newest additions to the Florida Church Plant, Maynard Saucier. 
Small teams help us logistically and enable us to accomplish more as we travel lighter.
Sometimes less is better and that is definitely true for our ministry and these short term trips.
The (above) pic is taken from the edge of the Kerio Valley as we descended to North Pokot.

As you can see from the (above) pic,  we required five star accommodations as we camp out in these remote interior regions.   Feel free to accompany us next time as we vacation in luxury!  Seriously,  there is no better to way to do ministry and connect with the people God has called us to reach.    Sleeping in these villages demonstrates great love and commitment for them,  the Lord's work, and builds relationships in a way that simply cannot be done from afar.    You'll know the home and heart of the people when you wake up to the roosters crowing, the goats and cows moving and watching their family get up and get moving for a new day.   Eating what they eat and sleeping in their compounds brings our relationships to another level.    When we say, "tuko pamoja" which means "we are together" in Swahili, we mean tuko pamoja.


 The above pictures were taken during our evangelism efforts in the Pokot village of Chepsabei.   I'm not sure of the total count our National Pastors Led to Christ but I know there were many that day near a new well which the government has recently drilled.   We praise the Lord for every new convert but the well is truly a blessing to this village which is the site of our first Pokot Church plant.   During our early years of working in this village the Chief, the Elders and the members of the Church would regularly ask me to drill a well.  Terry and I really struggled with this as we knew it would be a blessing but we also knew they have survived by retrieving water from a not so nearby river for possibly hundreds of years.   We always believed that our main focus should be and needed to be evangelism, discipleship and Church planting.    We wish we did not have financial constraints but that is also the reality of being a Baptist Missionary.   So needless to say we believe if we concentrate on the eternal things, God would take care of the physical things which he did by providing a new solar powered well and a huge new silver storage tank which towers over the village some fifty feet, (the only one around for miles).    Matthew 6:32 & 33 really came to life in the Kerio Valley and while they know they government brought the well and water tower, they give God all the praise and all the glory.   Mat 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.     
 

In addition to village evangelism, we held seminars at multiple locations to build up and encourage our Pokot brethren.    Bro. Maynard taught on the life of Christ,  Dr. Myers taught from the book of Acts and I taught on knowing and identifying false Prophets.   People come from far away to hear the Word of God taught at these seminars.   What a privileged, honor and responsibility to help them rightly divide the Word.  

The above picture is of Bro. Maynard giving a blind Pokot Mama a solar powered audio Bible.   We know these Bibles are invaluable to those who cannot read or write but there are also these elderly Pokot Saints who can only hear due to blindness.   Rom_10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Karimojohg Tribe
Each and every audio Bible we  give away is a great blessing,  however the (above) picture of Dr. Myers giving out this one is truly awesome and special.   The lady who received the audio Bible is from Karamoja, Uganda.   She is the first of the Karimojong tribe of Eastern Uganda to receive the Word of God in her mother tongue.   This is exciting news as the Churches God allowed Terry and I to establish are now sending out evangelists two by two to reach unreached people groups and forgotten tribes.     Thank you for those of you who partnered with us financially to buy these Bibles. 
Tandaposa & Dr. Jackson
The (Above) picture is of Dr. Jackson and His wife who are the newest addition to our ministry team in the Kerio Valley.   They are from the village of Tandaposa where God has called Him to preach.    This is yet another new village our Landmark Baptist Evangelists have reached with the good news of the gospel.   Not only is it exciting to see God calling new men but while we were there, the village Elders donated a plot of land to build a future sanctuary.   There is also a very deeply personal praise from my heart in the calling of Dr. Jackson.   For it was only a few short years ago the fisherman, Pastor Jackson Ocouth from Lake Victoria went home to be with the Lord.    We know we will see Him again one glad day but we sure miss him dearly and it definitely comforts this Missionary's heart to know another Jackson has been called to preach the gospel.  Please pray for these new Preachers, Villages and Servants of God.   Thank you for taking time to travel our journey of faith with us and for all who faithfully support us through prayer and finances.   We can't do all that is being done for the glory of God without you and we need your continued prayers as we balance our foreign mission work with the Florida Plant and Prison Ministry.   

BIBLE INSTITUTE: DORMITORY AND CLASSROOMS
Our second week in Kenya was likened to the first in the sense that by God's grace we crammed about a months worth of work into a weeks time.  The focus of week two would be buildings, seminars and evangelism at the base of Mt. Elgon and Lake Victoria.   Part of that building process would include laying out the foundation for the dormitory and classrooms to train and equip our National Pastors to do what God has called them to do.     We have used the traveling seminary method for many years now, but the work has outgrown this method and needed a permanent place to bring these men of God to on a regular basis for teaching and training.   As I have mentioned in previous posts, the capabilities of the host Church and village were no longer adequate to host as many as one hundred Pastors, Preachers and  Evangelists at one time.    The location at the base of Mt. Elgon is as central as possible to service Mt. Elgon, Lake Victoria and the Kerio Valley.   We have prayed over this need and vision for many years now and we praise God for His hand of grace continues to be great upon us.  He also continues to provide through His local New Testament Churches as well as individuals He is using to accomplish His will and His work.    Thank you to all who have given to this worthy cause. 


 As you can see from the (above) pic,  Brother Maynard help lead the efforts to layout the dormitory and classroom for the Bible Institute.    He is an expert when it comes to building and construction and he is the type of man who you point in the right direction, turn Him loose and stay out of His way.  The truth is, our Kenyan & Ugandan brethren are perfectly capable of doing what we did with regard to construction as we have partnered with them to build twenty seven sanctuaries over the last twelve years.   However, they do love the enthusiasm and encouragement we bring during these short term trips and if we accomplish nothing else, we want to encourage them.   Our goal is to be a blessing to them and for them to say what was said of Paul and Barnabas to the believers of Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.   "It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.   Acts 15:25  
In addition to the construction projects, we took time out of each day to teach those who had gathered in the middle of the week to meet with us at the base of Mt. Elgon.    Their hunger for God's Word was and is inspirational and challenging as there was always time made for Dr. Myers (Below) to teach them the truths from God's Holy Word.   

                                                           BAPTISM
One of the highlights of our trip was Bro. Maynard following the Lord Jesus in scriptural baptism.   Bro. Maynard has been a part of the Florida Church plant now for over a year and has been wanting to unite with us.  He was born again a few years ago but had not been baptized under proper Biblical authority.    Needless to say the Florida Church plant voted to give Pastor Peter Barasa (below) the authority to baptize Brother Maynard at His request on the Churches behalf.    We were excited to see Him obey the Lord's command and receive Him and His wife Julie who had scriptural baptism as the newest members of the Florida Church Plant in Brooksville, Florida.   How many white people can say they were baptized in East Africa?  It was for sure a great experience for all who witnessed this joyous occasion.  I later asked our Kenyan brethren if they had ever seen or heard of a white person being baptized by a Kenyan National? They responded with huge smiles on their faces, that Bro. Maynard is the first.   

The second construction site (below) was in a village named Chemondi.   You can see the steep western face of Mt. Elgon in the background of this picture.   This Landmark Baptist Church was organized eight years ago and has been meeting under a tent for the entire time.    We have done our best to move these Churches from houses to tents and then into a permanent building within approximately 3-5 years, however Chemondi seemed to fall between the cracks of our rapidly expanding ministry capabilities.    When our sending Church, 1st Baptist Church of East Bay, heard that the LBC at Chemondi had been faithfully meeting under a tent for eight years they immediately voted to partner with them to build a permanent sanctuary.  How many of us would be willing to set up and take down a small tent to meet under for even one year?   God has used Dr. Myers and our sending Church to evangelize, plant, organize and establish Churches all over the world for decades now.   Terry and I count it a blessed privilege to be small part of their Missions program.   
 

As you can see from the (below) picture, our last leg of the mission trip brought us to the shores of Lake Victoria.    We held a seminar at the Landmark Baptist Church at Wichlum Bay which is a large fishing village.   The brethren at Lake Victoria are predominately of the Luo tribe and this region seems to continue to be the hardest area to evangelize, disciple and organize Churches.   I won't get into all of the cultural reasons but we thank God for those who have stayed with the faith they have received from us which we have received of the Lord Jesus.    We believe God is still working in their lives and while the fruit may be in smaller quantities, it is no less important.    
VILLAGE EVANGELISM: LAKE VICTORIA
We were originally scheduled to do village evangelism at a new village near the lake,  however I felt led of God to help one of our struggling Churches, LBC Got with village evangelism.   This is the Church that has lost two great Pastors to malaria and balharzia over the last several years and has been on the verge of closing its doors.   I realize that the work God has allowed us to be apart of in Kenya and Uganda has regularly produced new and exciting reports but the reality is there are some Churches, while few in number, that are really struggling.   LBC Got is one of them.   Nothing I know of revitalizes a Church more than a good dose of salvation by seeing people saved and baptized on a regular basis.    So rather than focusing on a new village we wanted to invest in this struggling Church one more time.   We saw many trust Christ as we hiked the dusty village trails preaching the gospel and the word was spread throughout the village that the Church is still going on.  
 Please add this Church to your prayer list:
                                                LBC at Got.     
 
Another highlight for the Missionary was to be able to meet with a few of our key men (BELOW) from each region and map out our ministry strategy to include specific villages that need to be prayed for and reached with the gospel.    We fully acknowledge and understand that all that has been accomplished for God's honor and glory has been by His Spirit and His Power.  For without Him we can do nothing but with Him all things are possible.   We also know that He provides, directs and blesses according to His will.   Our desire has and continues to be to seek His will as we charted, plotted and direct the resources necessary to fulfill the Great Commission for such a time as this.    The most productive work done for our Lord is in the center of His will and time is too short to be plowing,  planting and watering in the wrong place at the wrong time.    We often refer to that type of ministry strategy as doing the right thing the wrong way.    God knows best and is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above that which we are able. 

NEW HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH...(below)
In Closing,  these return trips to Kenya on a regular basis are both exhausting and encouraging as they are very intense physically and spiritually.  However, with God's blessing we were able to accomplish most everything we had on our schedule and even somethings which were not scheduled.     We thank you for the opportunity to share our journey of faith and for every prayer and dollar given which enables us to do all that we do for the glory of God.   We also ask those of you who take time to read these journal entries/blogs but do not currently partner with us to prayerfully consider partnering with us
and be a part of this great work God is doing through
                       His weak and feeble servants.  
 
In His Service,
Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya/Uganda/Florida Plant
                                                 JUST 4 FUN!