Pokot Outreach becomes Landmark Baptist Church of Chepsabei

                                    Not ALL Fun!

After one year, what started with a burden to reach the Pokot tribe in the Kerio Valley has developed and been organized into the Landmark Baptist Church of Chepsabei.

We baptized twenty three charter members into the church this week then that followed their baptisms by voting on their new Pastor Loquardo, the church secretary and church treasurer.                   Baptism

We have not been in any rush to plant churches, however, God continues to assemble born again believers and call men of God to Pastor them. Church planting is a humbling experience as we watch God work in individual lives as well as the villages He has put on our hearts. It is hard to describe the incredible transformation that has taken place in Chepsabei since that first Spirit led day God brought us there to preach the gospel. No missionary, no church had ever entered into this village that was living in total darkness but praise be to God they have seen the light and it is truly radiating throughout this village.
2 Co 4:6..." For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. "
 We now see individuals who were living with such oppression upon their lives through drunkenness and witchcraft that they are now totally delivered and set free to live for God. 
At this point, there is so much joy, happiness and unity within this group of born-again believers that is literally contagious to those of us who are working to teach, train and disciple this group as well as many of their fellow villagers who are enjoying this sweet fellowship.                       
                                       Solomon's Family

This Church plant, which is our seventh in the last three years, has also been an incredible faith builder for our team of six who were on the initial survey trips into the Kerio Valley to work with the Pokot tribe.    Teresa Baptized

 

I still hear those men regularly reference how God directed us to Chepsabi while seeking His will for us to reach this tribe for His honor and glory. It was an awesome experience and we will never forget how His presence was so strong, so real and so powerful.  
We have enjoyed God’s goodness and His sweet presence in such a way that we want others to experience this personal relationship with our God through His Son Jesus. This work has been a team effort as Terry has been teaching the ladies and we have had a rotating team of preachers from Mt. Elgon come on a weekly basis.

The believers of Chepsabei are already having an effect on the neighboring village of Asilong as some have also been saved there. God has called another Kenyan National preacher to work in this village. Our love for these folks grows deeper with each passing day as we continue to invest our lives and the lessons God has taught us into the lives of these new believers. Our work is more than nameless people, nameless villages and nameless Churches but is rather deeply personal as Terry and I form close personal relationships with people that will last throughout eternity.
                                      Church Vote

 

This approach to mission work involves time, energy and commitment to those who we bring to Christ but is one of the richest and most rewarding experiences a person will ever have. It is our conviction that these types of deeper discipling relationships are what Jesus modeled for us as he walked, talked and taught His apostles for some three and half years. This is “Great Commission” centered mission work as commanded by our Leader and Savior.  
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.
In Closing, We want to give special thanks to the ladies of First Missionary Baptist Church of Auburndale, Florida for making pillow case dresses and shorts for the children of Chepsabei.       

Terry Helping

Dressing Little Ones

New Dresses

Sisters

New Shorts

Happy Girls

We covet your continued prayers and we need your continued support to be able to reach the lost and disciple the saved here in Kenya. 

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya, East Africa

Phil. 4:13

Lake Victoria Crusade & Revival

We spent the last five days at Lake Victoria working in the fishing village of Wichlum and as well as the neighboring village of “Got”.  This was our third mission trip to this area and was by far the most powerful yet.  The camping was rigorous and the pace was intense but as the Bible says," great grace was upon us all."

Our introduction to the Luo tribe and the Lake Victoria mission started in 2009 when I led a young man named Kennedy to Christ. He became our traditional hunting guide for antelope and gazelle.   However, God has used those hunting trips in a way that we never could have expected or imagined.   During the course of our trips we have brought Kennedy’s family to Christ and did some village evangelism in Wichlum.   
                                           Kennedy Sharing God's Word

So I guess you could say we went hunting for animals but ended up fishing for men.  This third trip was no longer about hunting but was solely ministry related.    We have seen over one hundred profess Christ in this rough fishing village where there is not a single Church.
After each trip we would leave the new believers with Swahili John & Romans as well as some basic discipleship material.                                                                  Swahili John & Romans

Now God’s amazing grace and life changing salvation never ceases to amaze me but what is also amazing is how the way the Lord works in the lives of these new believers who have been saved and personally calls others into service.   You see during our absence from year to year there have been a group of believers who started assembling themselves on a weekly basis for prayers and Bible reading.    This group has been led by a fisherman named Jackson who has taken the initiative to lead them and also started doing evangelism in the neighboring village of “Got”.
                                         Evangelism Team

I will never forget the day we led Jackson to Christ as he was just returning from a night of fishing with three small fish on a string.   (Talking about scripture coming to life!)
                                    Chuck & Jackson

From the very first day he professed Christ he took us around to visit his neighbors to preach the gospel and now his entire block of neighbors are born again Christians attending His bible study.  We could hear several of Jackson’s fellow fishermen say, “If God can save Jackson and use him to do His work, all of Wichlum can be saved.”   Jackson Baptized

 Given the move of God upon these folks lives our team thought it was time to come along side of this group who have proven themselves faithful even without a Pastor or Church to encourage their growth and strengthen their young faith.
We did two more days of evangelism in Wichlum and we also had a three day tent revival.

There were 56 who made professions of faith on this trip and we baptized 32 who have been patiently waiting for over a year to follow Christ in scriptural baptism.
                                          Lake Victoria Baptism

Scriptural Baptism

Jackson has surrendered his life to the ministry and we are in the processing of training him and equipping him to do what God has called him to do.   One of the saddest visits we made was on the first day at the house closest to the plot where the tent was set up where we met a young backslidden preacher.   Very sharp, very articulate, with a very clear account of salvation but now a drunkard who has wondered far from God.   Here he sits in the middle of a village of over 3000 people who are lost without Christ wasting his life with riotous living.   We tried to encourage him in the Lord and he attended the meetings two days but was missing on the third.
His name is James and he could use our prayers.
The Mt. Elgon and Pokot Ministry are areas that God really burdened us to reach but in His great love and through His sovereignty He is raising more men of God to reach into this region of Lake Victoria.   We covet your continued prayers and thank you to all those who partner with us to fulfill the great commission.              

        In His Service,

        Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

        Kenya

Planting Trees, Bearing Fruit and Building Dedication

While delivering pews to the Landmark Baptist Church of Mayanja this week, we were asked to do something that was a new experience for Terry and I since we started our mission work here in Kenya. Pastor Nixon and the members of LBC Mayanja gave us two trees to plant on the new plot which was purchased last week. Now I am sure of the significance of tree planting in this culture, and even in our culture, tree planting means different things to different people.
For example: it has been said that,
           “He who plants a tree, plants hope”.

It has also been my past experience that trees are planted in memory of someone as well as to coincide with the laying of the foundation of a building project. Regardless of the intent, here is how it spoke to my heart. As we placed the young saplings into the prepared holes my thoughts were all about bringing lost people to a relationship with God Almighty through His son Jesus and then seeing them grow and mature in their faith as a part of God’s local New Testament Church while producing much fruit along the path of their life.    Delivering Pews

The symbolism regarding the church itself was equally compelling as we have been privileged to take part in the greatest endeavor on earth, Church Planting. We have had the high privilege of planting new Churches with new believers who have coveted together to keep the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Landmark Baptist Church of Mawe Tatu (3 Stones) with Pastor Shadrach where we participated in the building dedication service yesterday.
                                       Dedication Prayer

The members decorated the mud building in such a way that it was absolutely beautiful.
It just proves that you can still give God your best regardless of your social economic status anywhere in the world. We came along side of Pastor Shadrach at the beginning of 2009 to help him fulfill his calling in this new village.                                   Congregation at Dedication

The Church was started in the Pastors house with his young family. It was planted with days of preparation through prayer, fasting and village evangelism as we began to reach his neighbors with the gospel. The church began to grow as his neighbors began to make professions of faith in Christ and followed Jesus in scriptural baptism. The growth would continue week after week, month after month and now after some years we see men and women of God who are maturing into saints of God who are bearing much fruit in their life. These mature men and women are now becoming seasoned and have been well trained and well equipped to do the work God has called them to do.

The significance of the Church far exceeds the size, style and shape of the building and as we learned as children, the people are the church. We praise the Lord and give him all the glory for providing a sanctuary for these wonderful saints of God to assemble themselves through the sacrificial offerings of God‘s people in America. The Pastor and members are thankful for those who have partnered with them during this building process, but make no mistake that they also give God the credit and glory for this great provision. They, too ,have given sacrificial offerings towards the building of their sanctuary. Pastor Digging Outhouse

Pastors from the six Churches we have been working with were able to attend this special day of celebration.
                                  Dream Team

We have learned the importance of creating a fellowship of Churches as there is strength in numbers and it is our hearts desire that if we plant one church there would be at least four more close enough for training and fellowship.
                             Terry and Wamama

 

The day ended as you might have guessed with another tree planting at LBC 3-Stones where I planted an avocado tree.

My hope is that this tree too will bear much fruit that we will enjoy for many years to come.

John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:

that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you. "

In His Service,

                                                        Candy Time

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez, Kenya

Phil. 4:13 
   Little Worker at  Landmark Baptist Church

No End In Sight, Evangelism, Plot Purchase & Lemons

We currently have two sanctuaries under construction which are nearing completion. While the members of the Landmark Baptist Church of Kipsigon and LBC of Mawe Tatu have carried the load during the building process we have been behind the scenes constructing windows, doors, pews etc... This week we completed the pews for the LBC of Three Stones minus one board which we lost during the trip on the rough and rocky roads. I can’t imagine how that happened?

While the physical work of building the sanctuary of the Landmark Baptist Church of Mawe Tatu (3 Stones) comes to an end, I look on the horizon as we prepare to start two new sanctuaries on Mt. Elgon and believe there is no end in sight, at least in the foreseeable near future. We also realize that Church planting does not end with the building of the sanctuary, and we will invest many more hours, days and weeks of coming along Pastor Shadrach and his congregation to encourage, to teach and to enjoy the sweet fellowship that started almost three years ago while serving our Lord and Savior together.  

This week we also did evangelism with the members of the Landmark Baptist Church at Mayanja. 

Before we did evangelism we surveyed the new plot which we help them purchase this week by faith believing that God’s people who believe in the great commission will continue to support this young church.     Group Church Plot

The plot is approximately a ½ acre and is located right smack dab in the middle of the village which has a population of over one thousand. We stood on the crest of the hill where the plot is located and looked out over kilometers of the sprawling village with mud houses and thatch roofs and thanked God for Pastor Nixon and the New Testament church that is growing spiritually and physically each week. We have experienced the grace of God in this latest church plant as there have been many trials in just arriving at the exact location the Lord wanted these people to meet.
                                If my memory serves me correctly, this will be the forth meeting place this young church has had in one year and a half but we praise God that this is the right place and they will no longer have to rent or borrow a plot to assemble themselves to worship the Lord. They will still meet under a tent during the meantime, but we thank God He has provided a plot that can never be taken away from them. There are many things that impress me so much about this Church.
Number one: they have stayed together in unity during the trials of moving from place to place.
Number two; this is one of the only Churches we have where the men actually outnumber women.
This is definitely the exception to the rule here in Kenya as the women seem to be the ones who make up most of these churches in these early infant stages. However, Mayanja has strong men who are the leaders of this work.
Men like: Moses, Fred, Chester and Dismes have stepped forward to proclaim God’s word in their village.  
                             Pastor Pete & Chester Moore 

This was clearly evident as they led our evangelism efforts alongside their young Pastor this weekend. As we went house to house my heart was beating a mile a minute from the joy of seeing these men unashamed to be called Christians and introducing their neighbors to us and the Lord through the gospel. We realize that one of the most important parts of our personal work is teaching these folks to share God’s plan of salvation so they can do the work in their village and abroad long after we are gone. You can tell they were listening intently as we shared God’s love with their friends and neighbors and preached God’ word. We are committed to this mentoring and training process until they become “fishers of men”. This is all part of the process Jesus used to train men that would turn the world upside down with the soul winning, life transforming gospel.

New Testament Christianity is alive and well today as the baton is passing from believer to believer until Jesus returns. As we travel this journey of faith, God continues to do a great work in our lives through his infinite grace and mercy.
                         Happy Servants.....of Christ!

In closing, I have to let you know how tough my wife Terry is. The last two weeks she has experienced the same symptoms that landed her in the emergency room during our furlough to remove a urinary tract blockage. She has been in a lot of pain from what we believed to be more kidney stones which also makes her violently sick.
After several sleepless nights of pain and sickness and after much prayer we found an online home remedy which said straight lemon juice actually dissolves kidneys stones. Needless to say, we went out and bought every lemon at the local market and began juicing. Even though the straight lemon juice made her sick, it appears after three days that it may have worked and has passed those painful stones.
In addition to this bout of kidney stones she took a hard fall while crossing a creek during Saturday’s evangelism. She is one tough cookie and there were around twenty who professed Christ on Saturday because she loves the Lord and gives of herself sacrificial. 
                                        Terry & Carlitos  

Thank you for praying for us daily!

In His Service,

Chuck & Terry Fernandez

Kenya                                   Got Chickens

Phil. 4:13 

Women’s Seminar & Collard Greens 101

Winston Churchill once said,

                       “My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.” 

     There are many days when I could echo the sentiments of Churchill about my wife, Terry, and none more so than this week as she held a two~day women’s seminar

     for the ladies of our churches near Mt. Elgon.  

     There were over seventy women present from six different churches and four different tribes, many of whom traveled as far as seventy kilometers to attend and many with babies on their backs. 

     These types of major contributions to my ministry not only compliment everything I do as a missionary but also serve as a great reminder that we are a team. It is a blessing to not only have Terry by my side but to have her taking the time and initiative to teach the Momma’s in our work.   

                                       Old Mamam

     Terry has taken what she has been taught over the last twenty plus years while being faithful to the house of God and given it to the Momma’s that she loves so much.

     What an unbelievable asset she is to my ministry! 

                            Mama Violet & Terry

     With a wide range of ladies present, representing a wide range of Christians in their walk with God, she started the seminar by reviewing a basic discipleship course.

      She then taught the ladies how to do one-on-one evangelism, which the more mature Christians have been asking her to teach since the last seminar. 

Student Group

         The second day she taught them the

 fruits of the Holy Spirit.

     Words cannot describe how much the women love Terry and how thankful

 they are that she would take time to teach them how to become Godly women.  

      While Terry is honored to teach the ladies they seem to be so honored to have someone to teach them in a seminar designed specifically for them. It was heavenly for us (men) to sit outside and listen to the praise radiating from God’s women as they sang in unison.   

For Terry it was simply doing God’s will for her life as a missionary wife and being obedient to scripture.

 

  Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

  Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

  Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

  This is what I like to call 'collard greens 101'.

     One of the many talents that Terry excels at, is cooking. She is particularly known for her collard greens which she learned how to cook from her grandmother, Mamie Moore ,and my grandmother, Lula Baxter, both southern girls.

     She is still giving God her best by continuing to pass on the Biblical lessons she has learned over the years and what a difference she is making in their lives. I know all of these women are very special to Terry but she was especially blessed that a young Pokot Lady named Elizabeth whom she led to Christ last year traveled all the way from the Kerio Valley to be taught by her mentor.

Pokot Convert, Elizabeth, and baby......

     Elizabeth gave a beautiful testimony of being led to Christ by Terry on a dusty Pokot trail last year while she was gathering fire wood and how her life has been forever changed by the Lord.  

     Needless to say, there were few dry eyes.

     Terry’s women's ministry is a beautiful picture of what Jesus did with His disciples as He developed them into the future leaders. He spent time with them, He nurtured them, He confronted them and He inspired them. The legacy that we leave behind will not necessarily only be the number of Churches planted but rather in the number of lives changed by the power of God who will in turn continue the work that we have started through their local church.

     We are still a little weary from our travels this week as we slept in the village which of course gives one a perspective of village life. Outdoor showers and facilities with no electricity or running water are a reminder of how blessed we are, but there is also something special about waking up in a remote village with the solitude of a beautiful sunrise accompanied with the sounds of the roosters crowing and children laughing.

Little Carlos

  

     We are incredibly privileged to have men and women that have a longing in their hearts to walk with God and are willing to let us teach them the things that we have been taught by our Pastors and mentors over the years.

     What calling could possibly be higher?

     Please continue to pray that God’s Spirit will teach us and lead us as we teach others His Holy Word.

In His Service,

Chuck & Terry Fernandez
Kenya

Phil. 4:13

Foundations, Finishing Touches & Insiders

The building process which we are currently experiencing in several different villages, reminds us that we are laying new foundations and building on these foundations each day of our ministry. We are making every effort to build on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ so that each and every work will stand and be sustained upon Christ alone.  

The Bible says,

 "except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." 

Our constant prayer is that the Lord will build the house as we labor. We have also put forth much effort into preaching the gospel where Christ has not been named lest we build upon another man’s foundation. I can’t help but to compare the work of the latest of two sanctuaries nearing completion with the building process in the lives of God’s people. What started in almost all of our works with new converts, in a new village, is beginning to blossom into growing and maturing saints of God who have coveted together as a Church family to carry out the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This building process is producing great joy in our lives.  
While we are working to help some reach their fullest potential and full maturity with finishing touches we are also laying new foundations that will require years of building. In addition to this week’s language studies, translating and bible studies we traveled back to Mawe Tatu (3 Stones), to deliver and install windows and doors on the sanctuary. 

         Drilling and Preparation 

These are some of the finishing touches to prepare for the sanctuary dedication service scheduled in two weeks.                        Japheth & I

"Knock....and the door shall open"

Other than a sunburned head from wearing a visor instead of hat, we had a great day in the village working alongside of God’s people.             Side View

I keep forgetting that while we are living and working at high elevations we are also located at the equator and the sun is strong enough to burn tender bald heads. The long term investments we are making into these churches are beginning to produce a new perspective of life in these villages. While we do not live in the village, the considerable amount of time we are spending with them is leading us to be known as residents instead of visitors.

Once people saw us in the village and wondered who we were and what we were doing but now our status has changed as we continue to build on the foundation that was started over two years ago. We are now known by name and welcomed as residents of the villages we are working in.  

Nowhere is this more evident than in the lives of the children who once feared us but now are always the first to welcome us and call us by name and now we find many who are named after us. Instead of being outsiders looking in we are now connected to these people through Christ. 

 As we worked installing the doors and windows, Terry was teaching the kids new songs and how to play some new games.             Singing Tony Chesnut

Candy Time

After the doors were installed Terry helped the women mud the exterior around the windows and doors.  

Working Women

There is so much going on right now that I can’t fit it all on one page but we also have some really exciting new foundations that we see on the horizon of our ministry in the very near future.    Work Crew

We need continued prayers for wisdom and discernment, love for the lost, the Lord, God’s people and for strength and power to preach the good news of the gospel.  

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya

Phil. 4:13