Meet Jesse & Jessica Fernandes
Jesse grew up in the Roman Catholic Church before devoting his life to Christ over the last decade. He is a US Army Veteran, former Real Estate Broker and owner of multiple businesses before selling all to answer a call to full-time ministry as a Pastor. He met and married his wife, Jessica, the former Children’s Director at their home church, and led multiple youth and adult mission teams to Costa Rica & Ecuador.
Jessica grew up in a Christian home with a heart for the lost. Before marrying Jesse, she served on multiple domestic inner-city mission trips and international missions from Thailand to South Africa.
Collectively, they completed graduate and postgraduate degrees from Liberty University in Religion and Theology, Child Development, Early Childhood and Elementary Education. With a blended family of seven children, we've sold all to pursue an calling to share the message of hope in Christ with our four remaining children (15, 7, 3, & 2 yrs old).
We share a passion for the gospel, a heart for discipleship, and a burden for the lost and broken people who need the hope of Christ. Our mission is to live out the gospel and equip others to do so in practical ways by discipling through sharing life intimately.
Why San Lorenzo, Manta, Ecuador?
In 2019 God birthed a dream. Jesse joined Liberty University's resident biology students led by Dr. Kyle Harris which toured Jungle Kids for Christ. The experience marked him to return and ask his wife to consider moving. She said "NO!" Fast forward, Jesse answered a vocational call and Jessica to motherhood and homeschooling.
By 2023, the initial calling grew into a burden. In leading a mission team to San Lorenzo, Jesse learned of this small fishing community and the lack of biblical teaching. Jessica knew before Jesse's return that another ask to move would ensue. Today, as a family, they're answering a call to love on this community.
We arrived in October of 2024 and February 22, 2025 marked a milestone as we opened our home church, Próximos Pasos (or "Next Steps" in Spanish). God's moving and the ministry and community are thriving as we hosted and celebrate our first annual Fall Festival on 10/31/25 and Baptisms on 11/1/2025. Graduating students from our youth ministry are pursuing vocational calls and they/we need your support!
Jessica grew up in a Christian home with a heart for the lost. Before marrying Jesse, she served on multiple domestic inner-city mission trips and international missions from Thailand to South Africa.
Collectively, they completed graduate and postgraduate degrees from Liberty University in Religion and Theology, Child Development, Early Childhood and Elementary Education. With a blended family of seven children, we've sold all to pursue an calling to share the message of hope in Christ with our four remaining children (15, 7, 3, & 2 yrs old).
We share a passion for the gospel, a heart for discipleship, and a burden for the lost and broken people who need the hope of Christ. Our mission is to live out the gospel and equip others to do so in practical ways by discipling through sharing life intimately.
Why San Lorenzo, Manta, Ecuador?
In 2019 God birthed a dream. Jesse joined Liberty University's resident biology students led by Dr. Kyle Harris which toured Jungle Kids for Christ. The experience marked him to return and ask his wife to consider moving. She said "NO!" Fast forward, Jesse answered a vocational call and Jessica to motherhood and homeschooling.
By 2023, the initial calling grew into a burden. In leading a mission team to San Lorenzo, Jesse learned of this small fishing community and the lack of biblical teaching. Jessica knew before Jesse's return that another ask to move would ensue. Today, as a family, they're answering a call to love on this community.
We arrived in October of 2024 and February 22, 2025 marked a milestone as we opened our home church, Próximos Pasos (or "Next Steps" in Spanish). God's moving and the ministry and community are thriving as we hosted and celebrate our first annual Fall Festival on 10/31/25 and Baptisms on 11/1/2025. Graduating students from our youth ministry are pursuing vocational calls and they/we need your support!
Our Nonprofit
Equipped World is a ministry of the non-profit organization Perception Funding.
This is an exciting partnership as Perception has another ministry in Ecuador that has been doing ministry for 20 years. Equipped World is excited to join this team to be the next generation of the body of Christ and to help carry on the legacy as we share the Gospel with the local people.
PLEASE NOTE: 100% of all donations through Equipped World supports Jesse & Jessica Fernandes' ministry.
This is an exciting partnership as Perception has another ministry in Ecuador that has been doing ministry for 20 years. Equipped World is excited to join this team to be the next generation of the body of Christ and to help carry on the legacy as we share the Gospel with the local people.
PLEASE NOTE: 100% of all donations through Equipped World supports Jesse & Jessica Fernandes' ministry.
© Equipped World | A Ministry of Perception Funding