Another Christian Wedding in Cambodia...

Dear brethren,

It's a joy once again to be able to report of the recent ongoings of Christ's work in this part of the world! I appreciate all of you who are interested and are supporting us financially and spiritually. We understand the power of prayer from our brethren (Jas 5:16-19) and we are grateful for the generosity of your financial sacrifice leaving us an example to do the same for our people. 

In the past couple of weeks we've celebrated a wedding ceremony between two beautiful Christian couples who've studied at International Bible Institute of Siem Reap. Sophal, who is a graduate of IBISR and is currently serving God in the Svay Rieng Province near the Vietnam border, married Kosal, who is one of our second year students and will be graduating this August. Sophal and Kosal will begin work in Kosal's home town, Battambong Province, which is about 3 hrs away from Siem Reap. Sophal will leave the work in Svay Rieng (9 hrs away from Siem Reap) with another IBISR couple (Saran and Ussa) to take care of. They plan to start a new congregation in Battambong and have our full support. We are excited for them and we ask that you keep them in your prayers as they begin a new life and work together with God!

Phanat

Posted on May 27, 2012 .

Classes, Graduation, and Recruiting in Ghana...

Brethren, I bring you (shalom) greetings from Israel. The trip deepened my confidence in the Word of God. What a privilege it was to set my feet along some of the paths my Master trod when He lived on earth! I am grateful to the Bomso church in Kumasi who gave me the package and brother John Essel of Accra who paid for Ruth to accompany me on the trip. We took some pictures which I am going to put together with some thoughts and notes. I got back last (Saturday) night very exhausted from all the walking we did in the eight days in Israel and the long return flight. I sure am glad I got this opportunity.

At school we are currently doing short courses on … (1) 1 Corinthians - Juniors (Matthew Ackah, Instructor) (2) Prison Epistles - Juniors (Charles Mensah , Instructor) (3) Biblical Interpretations 2 - Seniors (Matthew Ackah, Instructor) and (4) Hebrews - Seniors (Charles Mensah, Instructor).

Ahead of us before the quarter’s work is out will be the final classes of the Master’s program to be taught by the Bear Valley President, scheduled for May 28 - June 8, 2012. We are hoping to graduate our first master’s students come November 10, 2012. Those in the bachelor’s program will have their final classes, August 3 - 24. Thus, along with the master’s, there will also graduate some certificate and bachelor’s students. Our next graduation day will be a great milestone in the history of the school - the first time to award bachelors and master’s degrees.

On recruitment, we have 12 prospective students to date. We are going to use the break between this and the next quarter of school to visit churches and find some more. In the month of July, we shall test, interview and select a target number of 14 for the 2012/2013 academic year.

Joshua Aidoo, one of the instructors at West Coast, led a team of ten men to Cape Coast in the Central Region for a 6-day evangelism effort, April 16-21, 2012. They preached at dawn and in the evenings, and used the mornings and mid-afternoons for personal evangelism. Some twelve precious souls were baptized. Interestingly, a Moslem, who was the youth organizer of the Islamic community in the Central Region, lodged them in his newly completed house. He was interested in the message they proclaimed but would not be converted because of the position he held in the Moslem religion.

The rains have started and have already done much more damage to our access road to the school. A very frightening storm passed through the campus tearing off tree branches felling a couple of tress, but no damage was done to our buildings; we are thankful.

Thank you and bye for now.

DANIEL

Posted on May 27, 2012 .

22 Graduate In Denver...

The Bear Valley Bible Institute is proud to share in the work of training men to preach the gospel. Over the past 47 years more than 1,000 men have attended the Bear Valley program and the school has produced preachers who have taken the gospel to nearly every corner of the world. It was a special day to share in the graduation ceremony of another great class of students, many of which will now enter into full time ministry.

Fourteen years ago the Bible Institute began partnering with congregations and various works around the world to participate in the same task of preparing men for the work of ministry. It has been an incredible privilege to work side by side with those who are laboring diligently at a number of different mission points. Thank you for the tireless effort you put forth to evangelize the lost, encourage Christians in faithfulness, and train men each day to fulfill their ministry. You deserve far more credit than you receive.

Several of these schools are working to complete classes for their upcoming graduations. There is something special about reading reports from locations where the results are the same. A number of men are stepping into the work of the Kingdom. As with all of these men, we ask you to pray for them as they fight the good fight of faith.

It has been an exciting week in the extension program, so on to the other reports...

Coordinator Updates
Reports from the coordinators are now located on the website, under Staff Reports. The address is /extension-schools/

The latest report from Jerry Bates is located here.

Extension Reports 

Plant, Water, and God Made It Grow: As the seed of God’s word is being planted and watered, God is giving the increase in Cameroon.

Church Is Assisted By Students: Students in Honduras are working to help the church grow in and around the city of Danli.

Campaign Time Has Arrived: Short term missions began in Arusha, Tanzania as guests from the U.S. are working to share the gospel. 

Final Thoughts
Thank you for reading the reports this week. I am so encouraged with the development of work. I am also thankful to each of you for your continued support of this work. You are incredible. The sacrifices you make help keep this work going and our God is glorified.

I pray you have a great week.

God bless
Bob

Posted on May 20, 2012 .

Church Is Assisted By Students...

Yesterday, brethren Luis Camacho and Jerry Bates accompanied us in the evangelism and were able to have a panorama of Danli and of the people. Below is a report about the activities of students at BIH.

Jose Cruz is helping the church at El Zarzal, the congregation where the school is located. He helps with the songs and the preaching. Also, on Sundays he gives classes to the people. Saturday, he went with me and gave a Bible study. 

Jose Antonio is helping brother Oscar at El Empalme de trojes. He is evangelizing each Saturday and helps with the singing and preaching. 

Jairo Irias is helping the congregation at El Zarzal. He is going each Wednesday with Jose Cruz and Jose Antonio to preach the gospel at a place called Los Robles. Saturday he went with Luis Camacho and Jerry to Los Robles to give a Bible study to a contact. 

Enrique Figueroa is helping the church at Coyolar. On Saturday he leaves together with the preacher to preach the gospel and they have realized four baptisms, one wedding, and he is helping the preacher with the singing and preaching.

Porfirio Gonzalez is preaching in the church at El Carmen. There he helps the local preacher in evangelism. Also, he visits the church of Christ in La Union and helps brother Yoni (his son and a graduate of IBH) in the preaching and the evangelism.

Gustavo Reyes is helping the church in Cuyali. Saturdays he is going to a school to take classes in mechanics. When he leaves there he visits brethren and Sundays he helps the preacher there whether in singing or in preaching. His wife is pregnant and he is very happy.

Everything is very well and the brethren are very motivated. 

God bless
Nery

Posted on May 20, 2012 .

Campaign Time Has Arrived...

Greetings Fellow Servants:

It is our prayer that this Short Report finds you all on the bright side of life, blessed beyond measure. What a joy it is to serve the living God. We thank Him for your prayers and all you mean to His Kingdom.

Campaign time is here! Jimmy Gee’s sister, brother-in-law, nephew and others have been working with the Kisongo congregation this past week around the ACSOP. Three souls are the result in the first week alone. Today they also began a week long Marriage Seminar. 

Yesterday, Stephanie, Anita, Jane Massawe, Neema Martin, and Paulina Elibiriki participated in a Ladies Day at Mto wa Mbu. With 56 Christian Ladies present, to say it was a grand day would be the understatement of the month. Among the ladies gathered, about 15 were Maasai women from one of the new church plants from Mto Wa Mbu. They sang some songs in their language. The topic for the day was ”What will your Legacy be?” They studied together the legacies of Eve, Athalia, Hannah and Mary. The men prepared their chai and mandazi’s (a local donut) along with a lunch of beans and rice and oranges. They had a great day together singing, praying and studying the Word of God. 

Next week we will welcome our co-workers from the Second and Adams congregation (Elk City, OK), Penny Cabler, Gary, Hannah, Rachael Box, Forrest, Teresa Rachels, and Caitlin Middleton. The primary work at the end of the month will be at Maji ya Chai. 

During this same time frame, there will be a campaign at Babati. This campaign has been planned and will be executed by sister congregations around the Arusha/Babati/Mto wa Mbu areas.

The second week of June we will host our brothers and sisters from the Hoover congregation (Hoover, AL). During this week we will take part in campaign work at Arusha, Njiro, Kioga, and Kwa Mrombo. 

Our pre-campaign efforts are well underway. Over the next four weeks, our hope and our goal is to distribute thousands of Bible tracts, sign up hundreds of Bible Correspondence Courses, conduct many one-on-one Bible Studies, and put into the hands of 1,000 souls, the Word of God via Bibles. 

We lack only the following; God grace, mercy and peace and your prayers! May the next few weeks glorify God and may the activities bring the saving message of God’s Word to many lost souls. We close thanking you all for your part in God’s work here in Tanzania. 

In Him, 
Cy, Stephanie and Granny

Posted on May 20, 2012 .

Plant, Water, and God Made It Grow...

Dearest in Christ,

Many thanks to God for His great care and love over us and His protection over us here as we go about our work. On behalf of the students, staff and members of our congregation here in Wotutu and many brethren over the country we send our love to you, your family and the church where you worship.

Some planted and others watered. That is what happened in the life of brother Nicholas’ mother this weekend. CBIW students always visit her when they are passing through their village for mission work. The mom was worried when they told her about salvation in Christ only. When brother Nicholas visited her this weekend, she asked for more explanations over what she heard from other students and finally she obeyed the gospel yesterday. Wow! The angels rejoiced with us and the church in that community. Please join us now to rejoice that finally the mother of brother Nicholas is now a sister (sister Agnes Wase). Bravo to our King.

Last week was great as some lecturers are already finishing their long courses. Some will do revisions as we shall start writing exams on the 28th of May. Please keep the students in your prayers as they grow in their studies of His word.

This weekend was also a busy one for us as we decided to send students to 10 different congregations for visiting and evangelism. Some were to attend a funeral of one of our brothers, Makume Ngalamen, who after his conversion gave his house for the church to continue to worship there. We thank you for your prayers for traveling mercies as we are all back on campus safe and sound.

Our students went out to preach and teach house to house and also to nurture souls that are already in the body of Christ. They were ready in Mondoni moving from house to house to spread the truth.

I went in a four wheel drive car with some students to a village where only four wheel drive cars can plough. The gospel is for all. Thank you for making it possible for us to go beyond hills and valleys to make known the gospel to as many as we can.

I preached during the funeral of the falling brother. He was devoted and gave his house for the church to use it for a worship place. Keep this young struggling congregation in your prayers so that the wife may see the truth and obey it now. The funeral was attended by over 200 persons who listen to the truth openly away from the Roman Catholic doctrines. This village is dominated by Catholic doctrines. Even the government cannot oppose. Many thanks to God as the pure gospel is penetrating slowly, but surely. We have 14 Christians already there and they need a permanent preacher to help them grow.

The Big Bekondo congregation is an old congregation but very weak, but since the coming of CBIW, the story has changed. Change has taken place and the chief of the village is very impressed with the activities of the church. Our constant visits there are helping the chief and his family to come very close to the gospel. Keep our efforts in your prayers.

Please continue to pray for this congregation. We are dire need of a full time permanent preacher. The presence of a preacher there, as they confessed this morning, will help many come to the truth and to abandoned fetish and “ju ju” practices which is common among the villagers.

There is a family that came appreciating God for delivering them from errors all these years, oh oh. With tears they said they are not only happy, but they are lucky to be members of the church of Christ in the heart of all kinds of Pentecostalism. Our efforts in this community are being seen as souls are realizing the truth and are coming to study more. This family named their baby Elangwe after me because our efforts to preach the gospel led them to know God and they are ready to make Him known to others. My name in their family will always provoke them to share the gospel to others as we are doing. CBIW is ready to go to all the ends with the gospel. Thanks again and again for making it possible for us to go and also to send many so as to preach and teach. God bless you as you keep our work in your prayers.

Plans
1) We are still planning to make the trip to Batoke for the establishment of a new congregation there.

2) More demands are coming for us to send students for preaching and teaching during weekend evangelism and during campaign.

3) We shall host the preacher’s wives forum in the Wotutu congregation on the 31st of May. Please keep that program in your prayers. It will be the first of its kind in the entire country.

4) We are praying and waiting to welcome our visiting lecturers who will come come June 2nd and 9th.

5) Please, I am still keeping my hopes alive for the conference which I plan to attend in August in Zambia. Please your help will make it possible for me.

Appreciations
We praise God for all He is doing to us here and we equally thank you for availing yourselves to the Lord to use you in the way He is using you to accomplish His purposes here in Cameroon. You are always in our prayers and we are happy to know you and we are happy to work with you in this soul saving team. My family sends their love to you all. Please do your humble best to share this report with others. God bless and watch over you as you devote yourselves during this week.

Elangwe and family
By His grace director CBIW

Posted on May 20, 2012 .

Graduation 2012...

This is the last week of the quarter at the Bible Institute in Denver and the last week of classes for a group of men who will graduate next Sunday morning. I am constantly amazed how quickly students begin and end their training. It seems like only yesterday these men were beginning their studies and now they are entering the work of our Lord. I am thankful to have been a small part in their training and I look forward to seeing the great service they do in the Kingdom.

May will also bring graduation for others in the Extension Program. Several schools will be graduating men who have been preparing themselves for the Lord’s work over the last two years. We will have reports about these graduations as we receive them in the next few weeks. 

It is an exciting time in the church as we continue to see God’s hand in the growth occurring around the world. The seed is being planted and watered and God is giving the increase. Each week we read about more souls being brought to the Lord through the preaching of the gospel of our Lord.

Now on to the other reports...

Coordinator Updates
Reports from the coordinators are now located on the website, under Staff Reports. The address is /extension-schools/

Here is the report is from Wes Autrey concerning the work in Cambodia and plans for the future. 

Extension Reports 

Denominational Deaconess Becomes A Christian: The power of the truth brought a major change for one lady serving in a denomination.

Preparing For Extension Training: Plans are all coming together for the beginning of an extension school in Asunción, Paraguay. 

Dangers Of Backsliding: One of the lessons presented about the Dangers of Backsliding shows the need in Uganda.

A Special Thank You: There are a number of workers around the world who are contributing to make a great difference for the work in Arusha, Tanzania.

A Note Of Thanks: After an intense week of concern over Sean Hochdorf’s physical health, he is back home and recovering from surgery. 

Final Thoughts
Thank you for the blessing you are to the work of extension training. It will be a busy week in preparation for graduation, but a constant reminder of the purpose in the work of training men to preach the gospel. Several factors are involved in pulling everything together for the success of the work here and around the world.

We are privileged to share in this effort with some of the most wonderful Christians I have ever known. I count it an honor to be a part of the Lord’s Kingdom and this work. Thank you for having the vision to see the need and benefit of training men to preach.

God bless
Bob

Posted on May 13, 2012 .

Final Quarter For IBISR...

IBISR (International Bible Institute of Siem Reap)
God continues to look upon our preaching school with mercy and kindness in Cambodia. We are entering into our final quarter for the second year students. With that said we continue to restructure our curriculum to try and make this school self sufficient. This is a daunting goal, but Phanat (Director on site) continues to lead in this area. We have discussed many ways to help make this a possibility and are working hard in our short term and long term goals. We will continue to need your prayers on this behalf as we want to make the Extension school in Cambodia a self supporting, doctrinally sound and exciting place to study and preach God’s word. We are very excited about the plans ahead.

Plans Ahead
Here are just a few of the ideas that are already being implemented to aid in the success of the school: Having teachers teach one or two full days a week and then being able to work the others so that they can get off foreign support. Having new students pay for their own food (with some exceptions) this is the norm in Cambodia even though they are very poor. We hope to be able to arrange the schools schedule in a manner that allows the students to take a day off each week to earn some money or go home to help their families out. Phanat has a parcel of land near one of the villages and they will soon start learning to grow certain crops to eat and also sell in the market. Chann, a teacher at the school and also minister at the church in Siem Reap, is learning to raise pigs to sell. We have plans to have experts in this type of self supporting education go over and teach them how to become more self sufficient. This is a very exciting time for them as they see the benefits of being self supported and have hope in the physical nature as well as spiritual.

Prayerful Needs
Please pray for the work being done in Battambang. After many weeks of long trips and many hours of study the work has run into some resistance by some Pentecostal denominations of Korean persuasion. The ones who have been studying with our Christians apparently were in a group that does not agree with obeying just what the Bible says and they also have run into the common temptation over there as to “what will you give me if I join your church” mentality.

Churches
The largest congregation continues to be that in Siem Reap and is doing well. They continue to grow and teach the word strongly in Siem Reap. They are to be commended in their giving as they do not make much at all but they continue to help support their preacher Chann, the nearby Christian run orphanage, and some things regarding their building. Their confidence in the Lord is uplifting, encouraging and heartening.

The church at Leang Dai village is still growing and we hope to have some more young men from that village take a look at enrolling in the school of preaching.

The church at Takam continues to be one of the fastest growing congregations. Although it has slowed down some we continue to see interest in learning God’s word and they have many children growing up learning the Bible and the hope that God offers. We have 3 young men currently enrolled in IBISR who will go back to their home village of Takam and continue to work with that church. A young man named Lon, who will be graduating the first of August, has expressed interest in being a leader there and is a very good student of the word. Please pray for these young men and the church at Takam.

The church at Svey Reng needs your prayers as we have 3 graduates working with that small village. They are a long way away from the personal support in Siem Reap and must work very hard at penetrating the peoples hearts there.

Trip & Thanks
I will be traveling to Cambodia the last week in July and the first week in August. Please remember me in your prayers and support. I’m still amazed as to how fortunate I am to be in this environment and have you to thank for helping make it happen. It is good for me to remember how the One Church supports the good works in the mission fields. I look forward to reporting to you again as we see Gods Kingdom grow in both Spirit and in number in Cambodia!

Peace in Christ,

Wes Autrey, Cambodian Coordinator, BVBID


Posted on May 13, 2012 .

A Note Of Thanks...

Just wanted to drop a line to let everyone know how grateful I was/am for your constant prayers and requests to check on my condition. I would be lying if I said having surgery in Africa wasn't a scary proposition. Truth be told, I received great medical care and was treated very well. I returned home on Thursday via Cy Stafford's Toyota chariot of compassion and patience. I have been told to take it real easy for a couple of weeks and to stay off the extra smooth Tanzanian roads for at least a week. With the vast number of notes and comments made on my behalf you have encouraged me and my family immensely.

Thank you so much,
Sean

Posted on May 13, 2012 .

Preparing For Extension Training...

SPECIAL REPORT: FURLOUGH 2012

Furlough Travel: Andrea and I are home on furlough! We are so excited to get to see our friends, family, and loved ones! During our travels from Paraguay to the USA, we stopped off for a few days in Costa Rica to visit with our friends and former classmates at Southwest, Moises and Maritza Umaña. What a wonderful work they are doing in La Fortuna and it was a real joy to get to visit with them. During this furlough, I also got to attend a Spradlin family reunion where we had 5 generations of Spradlins under one roof! Of course, we took a photo for prosperity (look for it on my Facebook page).

Reporting: Our main focus for furlough is to bring a report for what is happening with the work in Paraguay this past year. We have already had the opportunity to give our report at the Palm Beach Lakes, Buda/Kyle, Dripping Springs, Johnson City, and Poolville congregations of the church of Christ. It was SO wonderful to get to see all of our loved ones in each place! The Lord has blessed us with safe travel and health, well .... except for the little episode of Dengue Fever I had! But, all is well now and we are continuing on to Margaret Street and Central Avenue congregations, along with some other reporting opportunities. Thank you for all the encouragement that you give us and we ask that you please keep us in your prayers.

Recent congregational developments and activities:
The men of the congregation have met, prayed, and deliberated over the idea of starting a Bible school in Paraguay. They have decided to partner with Bear Valley Bible Institute in Denver with hopes to begin the school in March 2013. We rejoice in their step of faith and pray this will indeed produce much fruit for the church in Paraguay by training many workers for His kingdom! 

Congregational Retreat – many of our members spent a weekend at a church camp located just outside the city, enjoying some great fellowship, singing, Bible study, and Bible lessons. Our theme was “Good Soldiers of Christ” and we focused on the spiritual battle that we must fight everyday. Most exciting was that about 50% of those who attended were visitors! 

Recent conversions / identifications / restorations:
Baptized! – Mabel Ortiz - We are rejoicing over the baptism of Mabel Ortiz!!! Mabel came to us through our English Campaign where we use the Bible to teach English. Andrea has been studying with her since September, utilizing the Searching for Truth material, and she has been attending services regularly for several months. Andrea is thrilled to have Mabel, not only as a very close friend here in Paraguay, but now as a sister in Christ!!! Brittnea Yegros is currently studying Searching for Truth with her daughter, Ivanna, and Andrea has plans to reach out to the rest of the family after furlough. Please keep Mabel and her family in your prayers.

Troy Spradlin

To see the full report with pictures, click here.

Posted on May 13, 2012 .

Dangers Of Backsliding...

Dear brethren,

We are doing fine here in Busia Uganda. We do thank you very much for all your support that you are giving to us here at Uganda School of Evangelism. Today we worshiped at Nandwa Church of Christ. The service was conducted by the brethren from Congo. Brother Abwe preached a very good lesson about backsliding and its danger. It is a good lesson needed  by many people in Uganda. Ten students worshiped in Nandwa but others went to different congregations where they have been assigned. 

The school is starting our village evangelism soon. Last Saturday we were supposed to visit Sirere village, but a member of that congregation came and requested us to go next Saturday. Pray for us so that the churches may benefit from this program. 

On the 18th May 2012 I will leave Busia going to Nyahururu in Kenya for gospel campaign. I will be traveling with Daniel Oloo our graduate who is the contact man in that area. I will coming back on Monday 21st May. Keep us in your prayers. 

Yours
Francis Wechesa

Posted on May 13, 2012 .

A Special Thank You...

Greetings Fellow Workers,

Stephanie, granny and I want to thank each of you for making our life worth living, in the Lord. We are the recipients of your continued prayers, support and generosity and for this we thank you and we thank our God for you. It is our hope and our prayer that God is blessing you in all the right ways and beyond measure.

A special thank you to all who have been praying for our brother Sean. His surgery went well and he is now home recovering. Things could not have gone much better under the circumstances and we know this was made possible by the power of God through your prayers. 

A Very Special thank you to our Church family at Westside (Salem, VA). We are most thankful for the packages of goodies you sent our way. They really brighten our day and are a constant reminder of your love and concern for us and all God’s workers. We are especially thankful the continued support you give in making it possible for the ACSOP to do what is needed in the training of faithful Gospel preachers. Oh yes, there is more; we thank you for the “Gimmie Five” service project you engage in. The Gospel is spreading throughout Tanzania and countless souls are being saved and fed. Thank you so very much.

Thank you brother and sister Tullstar (Diana, TX) for the videos from the various brotherhood lectures. They are a great encouragement not only to us personally, but to many others to who we share this great resource with. Thank you for “going the extra mile” and for thinking of others!

Thank you dear sister Leadale Simpson (Rockford, IL) for the package of Bible tracks and other wonderful resource material. The material will be so very useful and will impact many souls with the Truth of God’s Word. 

Thank you to the young people from the Westside congregation (Yorktown, IN) for your encouraging notes. They put a smile on our face, joy in our hearts and lift our spirits each time we receive your sweet notes. Thank you for thinking of us. You remain in our prayers.

A very special thank you to all the faithful mothers! For the good you do, the examples you are and for the lives you change in a way only a mother can, we thank you, we thank God for you and we pray a very special blessing be yours this day.  

To all who make God’s mission work possible here in Tanzania, we say THANK YOU! We are among the most blessed on this earth. May your week be all you hope it could be. May your life impact some lost soul in such a way it leads them to the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

In Him, 
Cy, Stephanie and Granny

Posted on May 13, 2012 .

Denominational Deaconess Becomes A Christian...

Dearest in Christ,

Greetings from the staff, students and members of the Wotutu congregation. It is our joy to share with you what is happening here in Cameroon. God is still working in us as we carry the gospel to the hearts of many who are eager to listen and, at times, difficult for them to make decisions because of their denominational beliefs. We appreciate you for standing by us and helping us to spread the good news here in Cameroon.

The echoes of our morning preaching through the PA system keep touching the lives of many. Many will call to ask questions or call us to come and study with them in their homes. Sister Linda met with one of our student’s wives who lives off campus to kindly call the husband to come and share the gospel with her. She claimed to be a deaconess in a denomination in Wotutu. When she saw the truth, she obeyed the truth. Keep her in your prayers to grow in the knowledge of the truth so that through her many will come to know Christ and will make Him known to others.

The week was great as we had all our classes without any problems, except for the fact that the student’s dormitory was without water as the entire community needs to pay an annual levy. We had no budget for it but we are struggling to see how we can get it paid soon.

I went to another village to nurture and evangelize the gospel, a far away village. It was a difficult trip but we praise God that many listened to the saving message and many were encouraged to remain faithful. Keep the work of the Church of Christ in Koba in your prayers. A brother developed much interest in coming to CBIW so as to be trained. The interest and demand to be trained is coming to my office daily but we need just a few to be trained because of the available facility.

One of our students, brother Ngoe Nelson, preached house to house. Many are eager to listen and admire the truth, but it is difficult to make a decision. We shall continue to plant and water and God will give a great increase in His due time.

I preached this morning in Wotutu. We are still encouraging our Christians on WHY AM I A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. It is nurturing our Christians and at the same time we are exposing the importance of being in the church of Christ through our powerful PA system, as we broadcast our services live with passion through any FM or AM media. Glory to God for those who believed in us and provided this instrument to us. God will richly bless them.

The children in our congregation received their lesson outside the hall today because we don’t have space for them in the hall. Please pray for this, because when the rain fully comes I don’t know what we will do with our children.

As we carry the gospel to the hearts of many, many turn to remain behind because of their cultures which they think the gospel will destroy it. One young nursing mother is bound to dress a certain way for one year after delivery, as their cultures stipulate. The power of the gospel can help this young girl know that in Christ there is freedom from sin and other satanic spheres. Please keep the work here in your prayers.

Plans

1) Some students will go to Nyandong village this weekend for the funeral of a brother where the young congregation worshipped all this while since the establishment in his house. The church is located in the heart of Catholicism there so we shall use this opportunity to expose the pure gospel to the community.

2) We are still planning to fully establish a new congregation in Batoke and other villages around.

3) Please, I am still praying and trusting God for providence for my trip to Zambia in August for the conference (www.aca-zambia.org). Please it is a rich program for the church here in Africa. Being part of it will be of great help to my ministry. Please help me be part of it financially.

Keep us in your prayers and pray for all our endeavors here. We appreciate God for using you to be part of the accomplishments in His vineyard here in Cameroon.

Do your best to share this report with others who may love to be part of this soul saving team. God bless you and watch over all you do.

Elangwe and family
By His grace director CBIW

Posted on May 13, 2012 .

The Cycle Of Extension Training...

As the Bear Valley Church of Christ begins it’s journey into the next 50+ years of serving the Lord, Sheryl and I will soon begin our 5th year working at the Bear Valley Bible Institute and our 4th in the Extension Program. This has and continues to be the greatest work I know. The opportunity to be fellow-workers with the greatest people I know in training men to preach the gospel is nothing short of incredible.

This month the Bible Institute will see another class graduate. It has been an honor and a privilege to have a small part in working with these men over the last two years. It is also encouraging to see them prepare for the work and then enter into the harvest. I ask that you pray for these men and the work they will be doing for our Lord.

I am excited that several of these men have plans to be a part of the Extension program at some level. More than a few have expressed their desire to teach short courses. One will be leaving this summer to work full time with the school in Tamale, Ghana. Several will be working on continuing their education at higher levels. Others will be sharing the gospel of Jesus with the lost throughout this country and assisting congregations in spiritual maturity. All of them will be serving the Lord and helping the Kingdom of our God grow stronger.

As the program in Denver grows, it is also great to see the work growing around the world. To read about the diligent men and women of God working to spread the good news about our Lord and Savior, working together in a global effort to grow the Kingdom, is amazing. I love reading each week how God continues to work mightily through you!

Now on to the other reports...

Coordinator Updates
Reports from the coordinators are now located on the website, under Staff Reports. The address is /extension-schools/

Click here to read the latest report from Donnie Bates about his trip to Honduras. 

Howell Ferguson’s report is located here. Click to view.

Extension Reports 

Gospel Brings Two Souls To Christ: The outreach of students in Cameroon continues to bring others to Christ. Two precious souls were added this week.

Ukraine Graduation Is Near: Class is coming to an end as five students prepare to graduate in Gorlovka, Ukraine and enter into the work of our Lord.

ITL Is Reaching Guatemala: The work of students and graduates in Guatemala is making a difference in reaching out to many.

Maturing The Church In Cambodia: As the church continues to mature in the faith, their involvement in supporting local men increases.

Growth And Students Prepare: As the church grows in Uganda, more students prepare themselves for the work.

ACSOP At Work: Previous students at the Andrew Connally School of Preaching are making a great difference in Tanzania. 

Final Thoughts
A note of gratitude to each of you for the sacrifices you make to see the work of Extension training continue. Several of you are involved in the financial needs of the program. Several are the staff on the ground making the day to day operations function smoothly. Several serve as the hands and feet on the US side to ensure the needs are being met for each location. Several of you are willing to travel and teach. Several of you, if not all, are making requests at the throne of God for the success of this work. Still, there are many who are sharing the news with others and encouraging those who are involved in the Extension program. 

Thank you all!! You are needed in every way. I am reminded of how Paul describes the church as a body and how each part is necessary for the body to function as intended. This is true physically and spiritually. It is also true concerning the Extension Program. When everyone is doing their part, this work functions as God intends. Again, thank you!

God bless
Bob

Posted on May 6, 2012 .

Growth And Students Prepare...

Dear brethren,

We do thank the Lord for the good health He is giving to us. Thank you for your support. For you who are supporting us financially, may our God continue blessing you, and for those of you who only pray for this work, continue doing so, for through your prayers a lot is being done.   

Last week I had traveled to the central province of Kenya and a place called Karatina. Karatina is about 100 km from Nairobi. The Karatina congregation had a gospel campaign which lasted for five days, starting from 25th April to 29th April. Two people were added on to the Lord's body  and they will be congregating with the Karatina church of Christ. 

For me I left Busia Uganda on 27th April and traveled the whole night and reached at 9:00 am the following day and I joined them to go house to house. We were divided into four groups. In my group we visited four homes and we were warmly welcomed in each home we visited. It is our prayer that the seed we planted will germinate.

In the afternoon I was given a chance to teach one lesson, The Church's Responsibility to those who teach them the word of God. On Sunday during Bible class time, I taught about the importance of the Old Testament a Christian. These lessons are much needed here in East Africa as there are very few congregations that support their preachers and teachers. Most congregations where I have taught these lessons have changed and they are giving something to their preachers and that is a good sign of maturity.

These churches, after hearing a lot about the school, one of their members, who is currently living in Nairobi, is willing to come. He might join the school during the next quarter in the English class. The church of Christ that meets in Bujumbura city of Burundi have recommended brother Emmanuel Byamungu and he will be joining the school next quarter. He will be taking a place Samuel Akilimali from Congo, who will be leaving at that time.  

Brother Byamungu knows Kiswahili and French, so we will be putting him in Kiswahili class as none of us can speak French. After his arrival we will be having now students from Kenya, Burundi and Congo. Churches of Christ in Kenya High Lands in a town known as Nyahururu have asked me to speak to them as from 17th to 20th May. Right now we have one student from this area. Migori church of Christ in South west of Kenya will also be having their gospel meeting from 25th to 27th. They have also asked me to go and teach those two lessons. I do use my old Toyota Surf which needs a lot of prayers. It is very easy for it to break in the middle of no where. Pray for us as we travel.

May the Lord Bless you all. 

Yours  In Christ
Francis Wechesa

Posted on May 6, 2012 .

ACSOP At Work...

Dear Supporters, Family and Friends,

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Any small deed DONE is greater than the grandest intention THOUGHT OF.”  

At the last missionary devotional, Cotton Box brought the above quote to our attention. Whether it is original with him or from another source, the statement is certainly true and is worth remembering. Don’t discount the small kindnesses you perform each day...each has its own special value (a cold cup of water...) and it only takes a spark to start a flame. 

This past week has been a particularly stressful one for Trina. Health issues (stomach bacteria and a terrible sty on her eye), inside-house painting  which also turned into floor painting (the furniture had to be moved TWICE), dealing with the chaos of an “upside-down” house, other side issues plus the “normal” day-to-day responsibilities/work of taking care of a family of 11  have been especially “challenging” (translation: it has taken much extra effort to maintain a positive attitude and to behave properly and failing on many occasions!)

Because the painting was something the landlord was asked to do, Trina said many times, “ME AND MY BIG MOUTH!” After painting some floors, the workmen first said, “No water on it for 2 days.” Then later, “Make that 3 days.” Next day they said, “Don’t use any soap.” What? Never again use any kind of soap on the dirty floors or the paint will come up? After examining the paint can, we saw it was actually roof paint (although when they began the project they assured me the paint was “special for the floor.”)

The landlord gave them permission to buy REAL floor paint (oil based) so now we GET to move some of the furniture (and thus turn the house upside down again) a THIRD TIME. Afterwards, the entire neighborhood has been invited to a farewell party as the “men in the white coats” haul me off to the “hospitali la kicha” (Swahili for “hospital of the insane’). Our company arrives in one week and the energy level is about half of what it used to be. Thankfully, we have four wonderful older daughters who are a great help to us and without whom we may not have survived this past week. We’ve moved houses about 30 times in our 23 years and this painting ordeal was/is about equal to some of our difficult moving experiences!

However, when we think about our co-missionary (Sean Hochdorf) and the issues he has faced recently, we have no reason to complain! He “upstaged” me and my problems (ha/ha) greatly with his appendix problems. Thank you very much for your prayers on his and his family’s behalf. Along with our director, Cy Stafford, they are in Nairobi at the present awaiting possible surgery. Before operating, it was recommended that a CT scan be done to rule out other problems. After checking at FOUR different medical facilities in Arusha and Nairobi and being told (at all four) that the CT scanner was broken, one was finally located. Sean had already sent his passport to the American Embassy in Dar es Salaam to get extra pages added. When the need to travel to Kenya came up, that process had to be expedited. Jimmy has been in contact with the Hochdorf’s almost daily but we’re sure they even had more problems than what we heard about. The Hochdorf family hasn’t even had time to really get settled (their container full of their household supplies/furniture is still sitting in Dar es Salaam with “issues” of its own). The devil tries hard to discourage God’s Work in Africa (maybe for good reason because it is so successful) but when one perseveres, God rewards greatly. The missionaries feel fortunate to have both Dr. Smelser and his wife Nancy, and Stephanie Stafford (RN) here to give assistance/advice. Please continue your prayers for this family and for Sean’s quick recovery.

The construction work on the Ladies’ and children’s classrooms continues at the Kisongo church building. Metal bars on the windows (a must in Africa) and metal doors were installed this past week. Due to a problem with the locks, we could not get inside. So the ladies and children joined the men’s class on Acts (Ahimidiwe taught). Jimmy taught the New Converts Class and preached (to a packed auditorium) a powerful sermon on being “Imitators of God.”     

Grace, a 15-year-old friend of Abigail (whom she studies with nearly every Sunday), attended both Bible study and worship today. She has several relatives who are Christians and came with her aunt. While Grace’s father may prevent her temporarily from being baptized, he is not preventing her from learning the Truth. To God be the Glory!

Lindsey has been trying, unsuccessfully, to study again with a young lady named Jackie (18-year-old neighbor of new Christian Teresia). Some time ago, we reported that at the first study Jackie said, “Without God life is nothing” when asked why she wanted to study. Jackie was not home at the last scheduled study. She is busy with school, Girl Scouts and spends about 3-4 hours each Sunday at the Pentecostal denomination. Lindsey heard that Jackie’s mother did not want her to study (We’re supposing she is afraid she will leave the Pentecostal group as Teresia did).

You may remember a visitor named Esther (who travels to different area villages selling onions and tomatoes). She has agreed to a Bible study but couldn’t give us a day and time. Esther is supposed to call this week when she figures out her schedule.

“I’M SURPRISED YOU WOULD TREAT THE BIRTHDAY BOY LIKE THIS,” Elijah replied Saturday morning as we required him (and David) to go outside for 30 minutes due to running and screaming in the house. We celebrated Elijah’s 6th birthday yesterday in “military” style and putting candles in donuts that Heather made instead of a cake. (Speaking of Heather, she is so excited about meeting the Akins in Nairobi that we may have to tie her hands behind her back to keep her from packing her suitcase so early!)

THE ACSOP AT WORK. Last week, we reported on a story that now we have more (and perhaps different) facts about. Felix Myombe, 2007 ACSOP graduate, returned to his home congregation in Mbeya (south Tanzania) to begin working with the preacher, Edwin Tusekelege. During the 2 years Felix worked with Edward, part of his evangelistic work included teaching Bible knowledge in a local secondary school. Because the administration required a two-year teaching certificate (for him to continue teaching) he enrolled in a teachers’ college at Morogoro. While there, Felix began a campus ministry where he invited fellow members of the church (three) and others to study the bible and fellowship together. As part of this ministry, he enrolled 46 fellow students in a BCC written by Roger Dickson (missionary to South Africa). During their study of two years, the students began to understand Bible authority and realized that all religious questions should be answered strictly from the Bible.

After completing the course, Felix decided to award the 46 students a certificate in a special graduation ceremony (a week before their graduation from the teachers’ college.) Felix requested that Christopher Mwakabanje (ACSOP Director of Swahili Program) attend as the guest speaker. After the ceremony, the students stayed an hour and a half asking Bible questions. The Senior lecturer of the teacher college attended this special graduation ceremony and made this profound statement, “How can we deny what you are saying because it is coming from the bible?” Very impressed with both Felix and Christopher, he promised to allow the campus ministry to continue although Felix has graduated. 

What really struck us as amazing was the reason stated by Felix as to why he began the campus ministry. While attending an ACSOP class (Kings and Chronicles) his instructor (Christopher Mwakabanje) told the preacher students: “when you move to new place, it is easy to hide who and what you are because no one knows you. In order to keep from falling away and living in sin, live your Christianity for all to see.” When Felix moved to Morogoro to obtain his teachers’ certificate, he remembered this and knew he should do something public to help himself stay faithful. So the campus ministry came to be. As a result, 46 nonchristians have studied the Bible for 2 years. As yet, none have become Christians but we know God has promised that his word will not return unto Him void (Isa. 55:11). Please say a special prayer that these students will obey the Word they have been taught. We are thankful to God for Felix, Christopher and the ACSOP which is made possible by people like you who are willing to sacrifice and do without some luxuries and conveniences so that word can be taught in TZ and all of East Africa.  

With Love from Africa,
The Jimmy Gee family

P.S. There will be no report next week due to the trip to Nairobi to pick up the Akin family.

Posted on May 6, 2012 .

Gospel Brings Two Souls To Christ...

Dearest in Christ,

Accept greetings from this end. We do hope you are doing great. We just finished our worship while you are either half way into yours in the USA or almost preparing to go now. We had a great worship service and we wish you same over there.

The work of the school and our congregation here and nearby ones are doing great. The students of CBIW are doing fine in health and studies.

The Wotutu congregation worshiped this day with a dark atmosphere as one of our brothers, Vincent Chamboli, who stayed very close to the church hall lost his daughter of 3 years after suffering from severe anemia. It was really sad to this young couple and to the congregation here in Wotutu.

This week we decided to pay more attention to visiting our Christians who will intend to invite their friends to await our students in their home. The exercise was wonderful and the students and some leaders of Wotutu congregation had ample opportunity to encourage and also share the gospel to some members of the families who are not Christian. The exercise went on well and the Lord added two precious souls into His church in Wotutu.

The gospel was also shared in our young congregation Mondoni village, Tole and Matoh Butu, as 5 students were signed out for weekend evangelism in those locations. Thanks for being part of this work. It is cutting across to many localities and many lives are being touched.

The radio program, through our PA system, is cutting across many in our community and the surrounding villages. Three, first time visitors, came to worship today with the church  here and confessed the truth and exposure of truth from that program. Keep them in your prayers to obey the truth and escape corruption in this world (Acts 2:40).

The students are progressing and we shall start exams for the second quarter on the 28th. Keep the students and staff in your prayers.

Plans
1) During the third week of this month we shall move to a new village, Ebnimi, for the establishment of a new congregation there. Keep this work in your prayers.

2) The Batoke mission work is still pending. We are praying to move, but the takeoff seems slow. We do not want to force ourselves to go. God is in control.

3) The preacher’s wife forum will be held in Wotutu on the 31st of May. It will be the first of its kind. Keep it in your prayers, as older preacher’s wives will come and help teach their experiences in the mission field to these young ones before they get there.

4) Please keep my trip to the conference in Zambia in your prayers, as I am having the interest, but the means are not there. If you can be of help then it will make it possible.

Thanks for all you are doing for the work here, God bless you and your entire family. Continue to share this with others who may one day happily be part of the work.

Prayer Request
Please keep me father-in-law, brother Paul Fon, in your prayers. He was diagnosed now for prostate cancer. God bless and watch over you in all your endeavors throughout the week.

Announcement
Brother Nda Mesach over the weekend went for his traditional marriage with sister Odilia. Keep them in your prayers to be happy as they join together to serve the Lord. I will share pictures of that with you next time.

Elangwe and family
By His grace director CBIW

Posted on May 6, 2012 .

Ukraine Graduation Is Near...

Hello dear brothers, families and churches. 

Finally the warm weather settled here in Ukraine, and summer is knocking on our door. Our country is getting ready for the EURO-2012 soccer championship, which will take place in June. There will be many tourists and foreigners, so the prices of food and other goods are slowly rising.  We hope that this event won't make a huge impact on Ukraine's economy, and after the soccer championship prices will stabilize. 

The Institute is doing well. Second-year students are looking forward to May 26, which will be their graduation day, and they will receive their diplomas after completing the program. This year we have five students graduating. Two of them have already started preaching at their hometowns, and we hope that all of them will keep spreading the Gospel and be faithful and devoted to God’s people.   

In April, we had several events with the students: played volleyball together, had barbecue, cleaned the territory and the building of the Institute (e.g. washed windows). Some may consider these events as minor, unimportant and not worthy to be mentioned, but I think that they help in bringing people together and creating bonds. Often during such events, many brothers and sisters open up and share their thoughts and views and start trusting one another. I love my job and believe that this positive example that we set at the Institute will be remembered by students and will be reflected in their ministry for God's church. 

In previous letters I wrote that we have an opportunity to teach leaders of the Baptist churches that split from the Baptist union and now became independent. In the middle of April, I traveled to their congregation, which is located about 80 km from Gorlovka, and I had an opportunity to preach and have personal conversation with the leader of that congregation. I don't know what the outcome will be, but now they listen, think about and accept some points of Biblical teaching. Teachers of the Bible Institute made a decision to take turns and visit them every month and teach them the sound Biblical doctrine. If any of you have an experience of converting people from denominations to the sound doctrine, please write to me. I always try be careful and understand the dangers of communication with denominations, but if people are listening and ready to accept the sound teaching, I think, we should preach the truth. 

I keep looking for the prospective students. We have less people willing to enter the program this year than in the past. Please pray for us to meet with faithful Christians who are ready to commit themselves to service for God. Together with students, I have visited the Church of Christ congregation in Mezhevaya. There was a wonderful Sunday service, and Dennis Petrov made a presentation of the Institute. The biggest downside is that churches of Christ in Ukraine are small in size, and they consist of women mostly. This creates another difficulty in finding students for the next school year. 

Denton Landon arrived to teach at the Institute, and we thank God for his safe arrival. We are also looking forward to seeing other teachers who will come to teach in May and June. We pray that their travels to Ukraine are safe.   

We have planned to organize a youth conference in May, and its topic will be: "Dating: Do We Need Boundaries?" and, if any of you were closer, I would invite you to come, too. Also there will be graduation and Master's program will resume in May.

I want to thank you for your support and trust, and that you are interested in God's work here in Ukraine. Students send you their greetings and the best wishes. We pray for you and for God's churches in the US and all over the world. 

If you have any questions, wishes or comments, I would be glad to hear and respond to them.

Your brother and coworker,
Dennis

To read Dennis' report and see the pictures, click here.

Posted on May 6, 2012 .

Maturing The Church In Cambodia...

Dear brethren, it is with joy that I write to inform you of what's going on with the work of Jesus Christ in Siem Reap, Cambodia! As some of you may know, we are approaching our final quarter for our 2nd year students. We are already starting to make plans for the graduates as to where they will serve upon graduation and also for future students to enroll in IBISR. 

One very exciting bit of news is that we are taking small steps to becoming autonomous. The local church has plans to fully support one of the graduates who is going to go back home to preach and grow the congregation there. His name is Lon and he will be going back to Takam village to be the point man there. I am very excited and impressed that he is willing to go back home and work with the brethren there. It's impressive because most village students who've come to Siem Reap want to stay in Siem Reap and work in the city because there's more opportunities here. 

It's just like the church in America who sponsors a foreign student to learn the Bible, but instead of going back to his country, he stays in America because of the benefits thereof. That is why it's impressive to me and that's why the church will do whatever is necessary to support such a one. 

I am also excited because the church has shown her stewardship and spiritual growth by taking the initiative and responsibility of supporting one of her own instead of relying on American funding to pick it up. It may not be a big deal to some, but if you take into consideration the fact that 5 or 6 years ago, in this area, people didn’t even know what the Bible was, we had to start from the ground up to where we are now. It truly is incredible what God has done in these past few years! We serve a wonderful and powerful God and he deserves all the glory and honor and praise!

Phanat

To see Phanat’s report with a picture of Lon, click here.

Posted on May 6, 2012 .