55 converted in Cameroon

Dearest in Christ,

We send you greetings from the beautiful nation of Cameroon and more precisely from the village of Wotutu. I write this report with great joy in my heart to be able to share with you what made news in Cameroon last week. We had a 5 day break here in BVBIC-Wotutu and we used those five days to make Jesus and His church known in Ashum community. This took us to 3 other villages sharing common boundaries with Ashum, which was our main target, Some brethren whose village of origin is Ashum decided to invite us to come and help established a congregation in their village. They don’t live there but they want by all cost for a congregation of the church of Christ to be in their village, so that their friends, family members and strangers can possibly come closer to the truth. 

They called it the Ashum for Christ project. They supplied the accommodations, food, and medicine for us as we spent time sharing the good news. It was awesome for us to be a part of the calling to go to Ashum and preach. As I write this report, all of the students, some staff, and some graduates that we took to Ashum, are all back safe and sound, although we are all very tired and worn out because of the intensive work and the long distances that we covered. Thank you for your prayers towards this project.

The good news is there were 55 new converts and 9 restored Christians. It was amazing to harvest 55 souls with 5 days of our break. This is the highest number of baptisms at one time for any program in Cameroon. In 2003 during a lectureship 54 baptisms were recorded. This week we break that history. A new beginning has just begun in Cameroon. Please, please pray for us and the work in our hands. We shall have some challenges but it is clear that the field is ripe. We established 3 new congregations. Ashum, Bakebe and Nfaitock villages now have congregations. Eyang was revived and restored. Please keep these works in your prayers. Our students will begin traveling long distances every Friday to make sure these congregations are nurtured and kept safe.

We are looking for more evangelistic opportunities to virgin land.

APPRECIATIONS

God bless you. May the good God that has allowed you to stand with us to help expand His kingdom, bless you and grant you your heart desires. Keep up the great work. Please share this good news with others.

Elangwe and family

By His grace director BVBIC-Wotutu

EVANGELISM IS OUR MISSION AND OUR MISSION IS EVANGELISM. 2TIM2:2; 2TIM4:2

Brighter days ahead in Tamale

BEAR VALLEY INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES, TAMALE, GHANA.

The new management team of the school gives glory to the Lord for His support in our struggle to bring the school back to life. The team took over at the time the school was almost closed down. The school was having seven students and out of the seven only three were having Junior High School certificates. Apart from the poor enrollment with the low educational standard, the school compound was turned to forest and home of goats, sheep and fowls. A lot of negative comments were said about the school and that the school cannot longer see any progress due to the situation in which it was at the time.

The roof of the building was leaking all over and parts of the walls were almost fallen apart which the new management put in order. There are still some other things realized not being in good place that the team is trying to put them one after the other as and when the opportunity and funds come. 

The New Enrollment:

The effort made by the new management with your prayers to make things put in other and in place, we are now able to enroll 14 students that commenced the new school year on the 10th July 2017. Though we have not met our set goal of 16-20 students yet, the 14 in number is a great change. We are still campaigning for more till the end of 2017.

The School Farm:

The new management team with the new vision has converted the one and half acre land of the school that was turned from forest to maize farm. This farm when well manages can provide food for seminars and students which can help reduce some financial burden of the school, especially the seminar feeding expenses.

The Land Lease:

We have also much work with the land lease documentation of the school land   that has been delayed for a very long time. What is left now is for Steven to come with the original land documents for the chiefs to sign to make it mature for ownership registration.

The Tamale Team

3 new congregations and 15 baptisms in Zimbabwe

INTRODUCTION

In the little time that BVBIZ has existed, the school continues to be exposed to new things. Many plans have been made and continue to be made. It has succeeded in some, while forced to go back to the drawing board for others. One of those that came to fruition is the first ever Field Program. In this July report, more space shall be dedicated to report on what is transpiring in the field as students are putting theory into practice. 

ANOTHER TERM ENDS

Another term of learning ended on the 13th of July. Final examinations were successfully written and compilation of results is in progress.  Averagely, the performance of students is satisfactory.

PROVINCIAL WORKSHOPS AND LECTURESHIPS

Mashonaland West Leadership Workshop - The school was invited to a provincial workshop for church leaders. This took place at Chirau on the 15th of July. The theme was “Leadership and Evangelism.” The Director and one our teachers, Howard Suwari presented lessons. The leaders went into a planning session after the presentations.

Matebeleland Lectureship - This lectureship was held from the 28th to the 30th of July. Brother Ishmael Mutichu, our full time instructor and Mathew Muchingami, the director, were part of those who attended. Brother Muchingami presented a topic on “Developing a Self Sustaining Church.” 177 people were in attendance. 

APPLICATIONS FOR 2018 INTAKE

BVBIZ is welcoming applications for the 2018 intake (second intake). Some have already been turned in. 

FIELD PROGRAM UPDATES

Preparation - Several efforts were done to prepare students for field program. Several lessons and workshops were done. At the end of the term, Brother Gushakusha, a personal work teacher, came to fine tune the students for the work ahead. The leadership class also benefited in one of the sessions. The ladies were also taught by Brother Gushakusha’s wife on the “Preacher’s Wife and Work.” In one of the pictures attached, students and the leadership class are taken through some essentials in Singing and Personal work.

Farewell Dinner - Before students left for their field practicum, a farewell dinner was held for them by congregations in Gweru. Every weekend, students have been going to these congregations for their weekend evangelism. BVBIZ appreciates this gesture. Each of the student was given a few toiletries that were going to help them for the first few days.

Deployment - Students were deployed to their camps from the 14th-17th of July. Over 1500km were covered in taking the students to their centres. Unfortunately, the vehicle being used broke down in Masvingo (about 160km from Gweru) on its way back to Gweru. About $450 is needed to get it back on the road.

Tracts - BVBIZ received a consignement of tracts  (from Mission Printing) for use in evangelism through Jubilee church of Christ in Mutare. These shall be an important tool for students in our evangelism efforts.

Follow Up - Teachers have already made their first follow up of students. Each teacher is expected to stay a minimum of 2 days with his team. Besides, these teachers, our students are learning from experienced preachers whom they are working with at the various congregations. News from the field so far indicates that all is going on well. Congregations are doing their best to take care of the students. In one of the attached pictures, a student is pictured working with one of our oldest preachers in the country, Brother Mupanduki of Gokwe Nembudziya.

New Congregations

BVBIZ is happy that 3 congregations have been planted. The first was at Deure in Masvingo Province. The team of students at Triangle was at Deure (the home area of Dzingai Mugova, a preacher at Traingle and BVBIZ ambassador for Masvingo province), about 10km from Jerera Growth point. A few other preachers for the Gospel Chariot in Masvingo were present.

The second was at Chikuku, again in Masvingo Province. Brother Panganai Toperesu (the man at the far right in the picture below) and his wife have been instrumental in making sure that a congregation is established in their home area. They are sponsoring the work. BVBIZ also appreciates Brother Auswich Mashaba of the Gospel Chariot for being with the students for a week and evangelising the area. Please see an attached picture of one of the newly planted congregation.

The third congregation is now at Insukamini. A congregation once existed there. The work failed 3 years ago. It is a joy that BVBIZ has resuscitated the work.

CONCLUSION

Finally we would like to thank you all for your moral, spiritual and financial support. Our request this month is that you keep remembering the students who are in the field. This is a new experience for them. Our desire is that the world be won for Christ. To God be the glory!

Your brother,

Mathew Muchingam

13 prospective students in Ghana

SOUTHERN INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES (SIBS) ACCRA

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” – II Peter 1:2 The entire student body, with their instructors and all other working force of SIBS, extend warmest greetings to our sponsors, donors, friends and well wishers. We are much grateful to our LORD God and also to our sponsors and donors. We appreciate all that all that they continue to do for the institution.

RESUME AND REGULAR CLASSES
While the Week-End Department continues in their normal classes, the Regular Department had just return from holidays and classes began on July 10.

STAFF MEETING
During the month under review, the entire Bible Instructors met with the Director of the college (Brother Seth Osae Larbi) to evaluate the school. Some of the issues that were put on the table for discussions were are as follows:

Potential Students
On records, it was found out that 13 potential students had applied for admission. As a result of this, the house decided and agreed upon that September 8, 2017 should be a day to interview these students for formal admission.

School land
During the meeting a delegation was formed to make a follow-up to the land to ascertain the progress on it. It would be recalled that, the former owner was then farming on it when management made a trip to it. The outcome of the visit will help management to plan toward the land.

Evaluation of the school
On the evaluation of the activities on campus and of course the entire institution, it was found out that, relationship between students and instructors were very cordial. Students are punctual and assignments are submitted on time.

Administration
Asserting the work done so far in the office, the entire teachers at the meeting, praised the administration so much so well that if it the office was the best would be among the best.

Compiled by Emmanuel Amoo-Gyimah

78 baptisms in Liberia!

Dear Brethren,

We bring you greetings from the Bear Valley Bible Institute- Liberia, hoping all is well with you and your family.We are all doing very well here and grateful to God our merciful father for everything.

CAMPAIGN

What more can we say after this campaign, than to thank God and give Him all the glory, praise and honor for the increase He gave (I Cor.3:6) through the campaign team. We spent twelve (12) days in three different towns on our usual house to house evangelism and public preaching and the results were very overwhelming. Sixty six (66) people accepted the gospel message and were baptized into Christ. Meanwhile, it is truly a blessing and great privilege to be part of a team that is willing to go all out with the saving message of our Lord.

VACATION

The students are now on vacation and report from their various locations proves that they are all doing very well. They are all  working actively with their local congregations in teachings and preaching and carrying out more house to house evangelism. And their efforts has already resulted in twelve (12) new baptism and some restoration of falling members.

APPRECIATIONS

We first of all want to thank Brother Steven Ashcraft who raised the extra funds for us to have more than one campaign in this quarter. we also extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Bear Valley family for their support for the school here.Many thanks to all of you for your continue services in the Lord. May God richly bless you.

In him,

Robert P. Dahn Jr.

Life and death in Nigeria

Dear fellow ministers of God, 

Greetings from BVBIN and SWSE, Butubutu,Ibadan and fellow WBSFUW in Western States of Nigeria .

Reports reaching me so far from the students in teaching practice show that their joints effort with the preacher and brethren of the congregations where they are currently serving have results into conversion of 20 souls and restoration of 25 erring Christians and 300 WBS introduction lesson collected from the students. 

Beloved, I taught yesterday on Life after this Life (Luke 16:19-31)at Onikokoro / Gbongudu congregation in Ibadan while Bro. Lawrence Dada admonished the church on Freedom from sin. We are 55 in attendance with total collection of N3,220=

Over 200 preachers and WBSFUW from Western States of Nigeria was in attendance at the burial ceremony of late Bro. Emmanuel Adediran in his house -Academy Ibadan on July 28,2017. Over 1,000 brethren witnessed the burial of this faithful man of God. 

NOTE : It 's a pity to inform you that our school van just break down after the Saturday visit to a WBS student in Kukumada area of Ibadan in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State .As of this morning the mechanic is yet to find the mouth piece of the engine that cause the van from moving. 

Zambian students making a difference

Greetings!

This is again another opportunity to write and report about the school activities during the month of July, 2017. 

It is incredible to see that in the next two weeks, our students will finally complete their two years of study here at Bear Valley Bible Institute Zambia. They are now busy preparing for their final examinations in four remaining courses. These courses are: Christian Ethics, the Book of Revelations, Denominational Doctrines, and Church Development. They are really excited to finish and eager to go out and preach. 

Apart from the demands of these courses, they are also tirelessly laboring with the surrounding congregations of Luanshya and Mpongwe districts. Students have been active in visiting the sick at the two hospitals that we have here in Luanshya. These are the places where much of our evangelism efforts have been made and students have set private studies after class hours. We have not spared our students because we need them to be more practical before their final completion of training this quarter. Each student has made tremendous progress in what they are doing now. 

Albert Phiri is regularly preaching at Mgengelwa Church of Christ in Mpongwe district. Before Albert came to school, this congregation depended mainly on regular members for preaching each Lord’s Day. And this type of arrangement made this church to stagnant in growth for many years. But since Albert begun helping, we can safely say that there is a steady growth both spiritually and numerically. Looking at what this young man is doing to foster growth of this congregation; it is without a doubt that a lot will be achieved even when he graduates from Bear Valley Bible Institute Zambia in two weeks time.

Clive has positioned himself at Luanshya Central Church of Christ in working with the Sunday school children. He wants to help the church by working with young children. He together with the leadership of Luanshya Central has formulated a plan that will continue catering for the young ones not only at Luanshya Central, but throughout the Copper belt Province of Zambia.

Boniface continues working with Mikomfwa Church of Christ in Luanshya. It is worth noting that this congregation is the one Brother Cephas Mwamba, one of the lecturers at BVBI Zambia, is working with. We are very glad to report that these brethren are working very hard to see that Mikomfwa church grows both spiritually and numerically. It is also worth to note that, this month they have taught and baptized four new members at Mikomfwa church. The profile of the Kingdom of God can only expand through such efforts. We thank God for results like these!!

Stephen and Joseph are also very busy helping with Baluba Church of Christ in Luanshya district. Again and again, the entire student body has been asked on several occasions by the brethren from Roan congregation here in Luanshya to help them in building the church building. Most of our students are not only super students in academics and preaching but they are also good bricklayers and plumbers.  We can humbly boast that these students will really make visible influence in the world when they graduate from the school.  

We continue to be very grateful to the Woodland Oaks Church of Christ for the continued support of the work here. Moreover, all your efforts and prayers for the work here are highly appreciated.

Zambian Team

Campaign prep in Cameroon

Dearest in Christ,

We send greetings from your brothers and sisters here in Cameroon. We are always grateful whenever we have an opportunity like this to share the great work the Lord is doing in His kingdom here in Cameroon. Every day we see that God is busy accomplishing His will in our lives and the lives of many others. That is why there is always news to share with you who are attached to us with in the Lord and His work here in Cameroon. We are happy to take the time to share the news with you, so that you too can see what He is doing here and we all give the glory back to Him,

Last week was also great as weeks before. We have one thing that we can do and do it well. We train men to preach and to save souls. We do that weekly and this week as well we were in that same business of preparing men for full time ministry. We can see with our eyes how they are excited, how they are committed towards that time to be free from school, and also how they are more committed to the business of saving souls using the great knowledge they have gained by what they have learned in BVBIC-Wotutu in the classroom and the application of what they have learned in the field. Keep our students in your prayers as the devil goes up and down looking for ways to distract, discourage, and reduce their zeal, for the devil is aware of what these brothers will do to the kingdom of darkness when they are fully baked and ready for the Master’s use.

PLANS

We are on the count down now to move to Ashum for what we are calling the Ashum mission. We are going to this village with all our students and many of our graduates to plant a new congregation there. We have prepare tracts, some Bibles, communion cups, communion trays, and many other things which will be needed to fully equip this congregation so that it can stand to help to the gospel to also reach three other nearby villages. Please, please pray for this work. We shall share the outcome of this mission with you this weekend.

APPRECIATIONS

We say thanks to God for bringing you in our lives and our ministry.  Your involvement in the work has made a great difference and we thank God for you. We are doing that daily. If not of you, we still doubt how this would have been possible. I will continue to plead for a motorbike on behalf of preachers here who are laboring tremendously. A motor bike will help them move to other locations for the work of preaching. Some preachers preach in two or more congregations each week. It is not easy to make for them to MAKE IT ON FOOT FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER. PLEASE! PLEASE! A VOICE SOMEWHERE IS YELLING FOR HELP. Please share our reports with others.

     Elangwe and family

    By His grace director BVBIC-Wotutu

EVANGELISM IS OUR MISSION AND OUR MISSION IS EVANGELISM.2TIM2:2 2TIM4:2

Grand opening in Mbanga!

Dear Brethren,

The showers of blessings that flow into our lives every day are like the four streams that flow from the Garden of Eden in the days when Adam and Eve were still the original inhabitants of the God given area which was demarcated with wonders of God. It is rainy season in Cameroon and it is wet everywhere, not only with running water, but also with the blessings of the almighty God. Our mission is evangelism and evangelism is our mission.

I am happy to be able to give you up to date information on our missions in Cameroon and in Mbanga in particular.

You just can't imagine how time flies. We are already in the month of August and in less than no time, we shall begin our quarterly exams and then begin with another session of short courses. We are proud to tell you that the brothers are growing and we see changes in them beginning in the dormitory, and going on from there. 

The congregation in Mbanga is inviting you for her fellowship meal and a grand opening of their school auditorium on the 20th of August 2017. This will be an occasion whereby all our neighbors will be invited from both the former area and in the present area. This will also call on the presence of some village authorities such as village head, and quarter heads with a hand full people to accompany them. It will be a great day for evangelism with very powerful lessons. May we commit all of that into Gods hands through our daily prayers.

In one of the pictures, you will see me, brother Ititi, standing with a young man or sitting with a young man. This is brother Joseph who was Christian in the church in Kumba prison but who released on this day. He was almost stranded in the city until when he set his eyes on my younger brother Olivier who accompanied brother Agbor James, the prison minister,  just last Sunday before his release. But it turned out that this was a great moment for this brother who was just wandering in the city. God used us to get him out of this stress. After giving him food and water, brother Leonel gave him some words of exhortation as he exposed what caused him to go to prison. We concluded with a word of prayer that I offered to him on behalf of the church. I then gave him some addresses of the congregations around the area where he was going and then helped him by giving him some funds for transportation fare to Muyuka then finally to Muyenge.

We worshiped with the congregation in Bomono ba Mbenge where the congregation around the Moungo zone gathered this week end for a monthly campaign. About nine congregations were present. Our Sunday worship was over 100. Our next venue will be in Bekoko come August 27th. God blessed this mission with 2 baptisms and 5 restorations. This was our first time to represent Mbanga in this gathering. Our present there made us to know a lot about the Moungo zone and their difficulties. Where we worshiped yesterday was an obsolete building and with rains during worship it was not easy. Some of us were in the rain even though we were inside the house. I commit these assemblies in the hands of God. May we also pray for the new converts and those restored.

I shall joined the team to Ashum evangelism campaign come Wednesday where I shall present a topic in a public, open air lesson on "Jesus and His Church."

Accept greetings from my wife Mary and the congregation in Mbanga.

From the slave of God,

Ititi Benedict.  

72 baptisms during break in Arusha

Students recruitment trip!

How then will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THING!”  (Romans 10:15 NASB)

It was a long and blessed month of July, when I and Michael traveled to visit our up coming graduates students. Along with other activities, we were able to meet with brothers and sisters in Christ of various congregations in Tanzania. Truly speaking we had a wonderful trip to the northern part of the country.

This year we have 15 students who are going to graduate from the Swahili class (14 from Tanzania and one from Kenya) and 9 continuing students from English program. All of our students are doing a wonderful job, it is good to see them are involved in church work in some way. Most of them are preaching on regular Sunday Bible class. They shared with us a number of successes from their evangelistic effort. A total of 72 baptisms from our students during this holiday break were reported. Please continue to pray for these precious souls as they continue to grow and mature in Christ. 

On our journey, we made several stops to meet with our former graduate students. It’s good to see that most of them are faithful in the Lord. Lucky enough most of them are still involved in recruiting process as they stand as good ambassadors for Christ and the ACSOP. Our numbers here grow year after year, since 2003 up to last year we have had a total number of 152 graduates. 

The main purpose of our journey was to visit our coming graduates in their local congregation and encourage faithful men from their local congregations to send them to school. These students will have opportunity to be trained for two years and go back to their local congregation to work with their natives.

For the next year Swahili class, more than 12 applications have been turned in already. I have about 15 applications, which are not complete. The school expects to register over 30 students next year. The school is marked to be the best school in the northern circuit of Tanzania. Over 10 new congregations have been established for the past two years by our graduates and this is mark as among many other successes for the school.  

The school is still on holiday, but believe me all the teachers and staff at the school are busy working. We have had a number of brothers and sisters visiting from USA, working with local congregation in the cause of Christ.  Teachers are preparing good material for teaching in coming classes. Please keep this good work on your daily prayer, because that is what is pleasing in the sight of God.

In Christian Love,

Godfrey Mngoma

Dean of Students - Andrew Connally School of Preaching

A Bear Valley Bible Institute International extension school

Arusha, Tanzania

Student campaigns in Nigeria

Dear fellow soldiers of Christ, 

Greetings in Jesus Christ name from students and staff of BVBIN AND SWSE, BUTUBUTU, IBADAN and fellow WBSFUW team in South West Nigeria. 

I am glad to inform you that a soul was added to the Lord 's Church as the results of our students weekend evangelism in Butubutu village last Lord 's day, 16th of July 2017. Tuesday and Wednesday, July 18 &19 was set aside for practical exam on Homiletics at BVBIN AND SWSE, BUTUBUTU, IBADAN. All our students were in the campus to present a 20minutes teaching on Topical and Textual sermon in preparation for a month Teaching Practice( Practicum) between July 21-August 20,2017.

Presently, four of our students are with me and Bro. Dele Shotola in Okitipupa town for a week preaching program in Ode -Aye with the intention of planting a Lord 's Church in Ode -Aye town of over 10,000 inhabitants. Four will be serving in Ekiti State also , four in Taraba State and twelve in Lagos State. Seven students will serve in Oyo State ,two in Osun and a student in Kogi State. Only one student is joining us in this last outreach from BVBIN & SWSE -Lagos Campus. 

This last teaching practice for the year 2017 will cost us about $500 for transportation and printing of tracts in our native language, that is, Yoruba language which are already shared for the students before we left Ibadan campus on Thursday afternoon. Each of our students travelled with the Mission Printing tracts, 5 copies of VOTI VOL 91, and two pack of 5 of our local tracts for the one month Teaching Practice. 

Sincerely His and yours..... Makinde Ebenezer Olufemi (Director of Studies & Chairman of Administrative Council, BVBIN & SWSE, Butubutu, Ibadan and WBSFUW)

Many souls being saved in Chimala!

EVANGELISM REPORT

Hello brethren we are very glad to let you know the great work which has been going on here at CBI around the vacation period.

As well we have been receiving reports for the students this week and they have done great job in their vacation. They were giving lessons, tracks, visiting peoples, and churches, having campaigns and seminars in their home areas as we here at CBI were doing with teachers and preachers.

As a result, from May to June we had 47 Baptisms and from students report we have 94 Baptisms and 23 restorations. This makes the total number to be 142 Baptisms and 23 Restorations.

The update from January – March were 169 baptisms and 67 restorations, on April we had 18 baptisms and 4 restorations. The conclusion is from January to June we have 338 Baptisms and 98 Restorations.

Lastly we thank God and you all for your prayers and supports. Keep praying for this great work which our Father of heaven Hasgiven us.

Thanks

Joseph Haonga on behalf of CBI Team.

Continued success in Wotutu

Dearest in Christ,

Calvary greetings from your brethren here in Wotutu village and to you. We do hope that you, the entire church family, and your biological family are doing well in all that they do.

Last week in BVBIC-Wotutu went on well. Students are growing but some are still weak in assignments and other academic work. Keep them in your prayers because that is why they are here. They must validate courses within the time frame.

Weekend evangelism this week was characterized with lots of rainfall. It was very severe and hampered movement to many villages. But, of the students who went, some reached their locations late on Friday night and others could only make it to theirs on Saturday afternoon. They did their best to go house to house to share the gospel message and also to nurture congregations. Our dreams our alive and we thank God for it. We also thank you for making it possible.

As I write this report, all the students who went out, are back home. Some came back sick and with pains because of the nature of the roads. But, our nurse, sister Senge was there to help get them back on track to be ready for classes that will continue tomorrow.

PLANS

We have a serious church planting mission coming up in August in Ashum village. We shall have a mass evangelism campaign there. Some of our graduates will come with us if they desire to do so. Our sister school in Mbanga will be part of the mission also. Please keep that dream in your prayers as this is a virgin land mission. IT IS TERMED “ASHUM FOR JESUS.” We are going to evangelize, to plant and to begin nurturing every week as we shall be sending students there to keep watering so that the gospel will multiply as He wills.

Appreciations:

God bless you for your prayers and support. Keep it up. God will reward you in due season. Do your best to share our report.

Elangwe and family

By His grace director BVBIC-Wotutu

 EVANGELISM IS OUR MISSION AND OUR MISSION IS EVANGELISM. 2TIM2:2, 2TIM4:2

My visit to KSOP

My last visit to Kenya was in 2012 to make final preparations to start the Kenya School of Preaching and it started in October of that year. It has since graduated 33 men and now has a full class of 20 that is nearly halfway through the program. To say that it has been successful would be an understatement!

KSOP is in many ways a second-generation Bear Valley extension, with it's Director and faculty all having attended and graduated from the Andrew Connally School of Preaching in Arusha, Tanzania. I was blessed to have taught all of them between the years of 2004-06.

While there, I taught the students and met daily with Director Charles Ogutu and Academic Dean, Elias Omolo. These men are bright, conscientious and hard-working. We also discussed plans for the future and I can tell you that the future is bright for KSOP! 

KSOP is a team effort. A special thanks to the Charlotte Avenue church of Christ in Rock Hill, SC for its sponsorship and continual support, Coordinator Mike Reese, and to Brandon Kerns. Together, great things are happening for the Lord's church in Kenya!

In Him,

Keith Kasarjian

Rainy season in Cameroon

Dear Brethren,

We bring greetings from Cameroon in Africa. We are reporting all the way from Mbanga, in the Bear Valley School of preaching. It is great to work in the vineyard of the LORD were Christ has given us the power to preach His word. Jesus said, "Go and make disciples." We are glad to be part of that great commission. We shall keep on doing His will until Christ comes again.

Our work in the school of preaching and the assembly are still alive and with soundness of mind. Due to some inconveniences, we are sending this report a bit late. Tiredness and fatigue have been in us since yesterday. We reached home late at night and after traveling a very strenuous route on foot from Nkoka to Mboukoh, with very heavy rains, in a very thick forest, and then down very muddy roads. But, we thank our God that we made it home safely.

Our weekend was characterized with the burial of the remains of the mother of evangelist Mokou Bernard who is an instructor in our school of preaching and also a the preacher of the Nkongsamba Church of Christ. She died at age of about 105 years. Even though she could not walk out any more for worship, she was a faithful Christian.    

We decided to go to that village earlier not only to prepare the ground physically, but also spiritually. It is where we spent much time doing evangelism and making a lot of prospects. Some even came to confess their sins. We are creating more awareness to the people of that village. Tracks and Bibles were distributed to some both in French and English. A few other brethren traveled to other fields for mission work and also came back home successfully.  

The students are growing, and especially now that we have started the course Homiletics. Reports from some members of congregation where the students are preaching show appreciation for the growth as to compare to what and how they were preaching some weeks ago in the last quarter. A teacher will always want to know that the students are doing well. Let us always put them in our prayers.

We are in the rainy season in Cameroon and everywhere for us to travel now is a difficult task since most of our roads are earth roads. Places are also really cold out there these days so our students now dress with thick dresses.

 We are using our new site permanently. Our lighting system is shining already so we have stopped buying fuel for the generator on daily basis. We only keep it ready so that when there is no power we can turn it on.

Our next mission will be coming up this weekend around the frontier of the western region in the Adamawa region. This region is even made up of a lot of Muslims. The Lord shall add those who become His in his own to His church. This might be the first time that the church is going to that area. If it works out well, then we shall be there if we can get there. But if not, then when places are dried up a bit, the work will be carried out.

Your brother,

Ititi 

A "new" student in New Zealand

There's a new student in New Zealand. Kinda. Click HERE to see what I'm talking about, as well as the courses offered this quarter. 

Visiting graduates in Ghana

VISIT TO THE PAST STUDENTS AND CAMPAIGN FOR NEW STUDENTS.

As it has been the custom of the school to visit and see the work of the past students and also give them some encouragement to work in good spirit, we went round to some places to see where and how our students live and also their work with the Churches.

TRIP TO UPPER EAST REGION

Wiaga: On the 31st May we went to Wiaga in Sandima area to visit Elijah who is one of our past student. In the evening we had fellowship with the congregation and took the advantage to discuss with them the responsibility to take care of the preacher while he works with the Church. In fact the discussion went down well with all of us.

Sumbrugu: On the 1st June in the next morning we saw Elijah off and came down to Sumbrugu in Bolgatanga area to visit Jacob Awuntoya another past student of the school and also to see the work he is doing for the Lord. We found out that Jacob was doing a good job for the Church and the members also were responding to his needs according to their strength.

Tongo: On our way from Sumbrugu to Tamale, we stopped at Tongo to see Listowel. Listowel was among the first butch of students of the school but he later left the course uncompleted. The Tongo preacher recommended him as a hard working brother when it comes to Church work and for that matter he made him to handle a congregation with the little training he had from the school. So we encourage him to come back to continue and complete the course. Thank God the preacher is behind him to come and continue the course.

TRIP TO NORTHERN REGION

Kanimoni: On the 2nd June we continued with our trip to Kanimoni in Yendi area where Anthony one of our past students is working. We had a warm fellowship with the entire congregation and that gave us the opportunity to discuss with the congregation their responsibility to support the preacher to be able to work effectively and on their part they promised to do so henceforth.

On our departure, they gave us a big chicken to show their gratitude for visiting them. Having many days ahead of us to go, we gave the chicken to Anthony for their use.

Yendi : From Kanimoni we came down to Yendi  to console the family of the late brother Fushieni. He was one of the Board members of the school. In our interaction with the widow we realized that life was unbearable for her and their three kids and on behave of the school we offered five hundred Ghana Cedis to help with their upkeep.

Nakpache: After Yendi we moved toward Nakpache to visit Abukar. Abukar is our past student working with the Church in Nakpache. We held the Bible Class with the Church and had fellowship with them just as we did to other Churches visited before; during which we made it known to them that it is their responsibility to support the preacher to be able to work. Thank God the preacher himself confirmed that the Church is supporting him within their ability.

Chamba: Having left Nakpache we came to lodge in Bimbilla and continued with our tip to meet Albert in Chamba the next day on the 3rd June 2017.

The Church in Chamba received us with much love and we all interacted together in the matters of building the strong Church in Chamba and the Northern Ghana as a whole. Albert is a hard working preacher in the Lord’s work in Chamba.

Nakpa: On the 4th June we made our final visit to Nakpa and had our Sunday worship with the Church there where another past student Lot Nlakidi is working. We had the Sunday Bible class with them by Brother Francis and the sermon by Brother Alex. It was very good fellowship.

Having brought our visitation trip to an end at Nakpa, Brother Steven Ashcraft moved toward Southern Ghana for a planned evangelism, Brother Francis also went back to Accra, and Brother Alex remained in the North.

All the past students visited are hard working in their various communities to win souls for Christ. We thank God our labour is bearing fruit.

New Enrollment: We are still campaigning for more students to bring a great change that will take the school to a new level. This month we registered three more students who are ready to come to school on July 10th. Joel is coming from Kpandai, Abraham from Zabzugu, and Timothy from Bolgatanga but lives in Techiman. We will continue to enroll to the end of July 2017.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY WITH US, TOGETHER WE CAN DO MUCH FOR THE LORD

In Him,

Alex Jabado

Tamale, Ghana

An update from Accra

Warm greetings from the entire teaching staff and non-teaching and the students from Ghana to brethren in the United States. The same greetings are extended to our friends who continue to read our report from the internet.

The Lord had made it again. He has taken us through the first six months of the year 2017. Hopefully, He would see most of us to the end of the year. Amen.

FARMING ON THE SCHOOL LAND
Management together with some of the students paid a visit to the school land only to found out that the former land owner was now farming on it. As a result of this, the plans that our students would be farming on it, had been rescheduled to the next season. However, management had asked him to stop his project after this season.

Since the school is yet to make use of the land, to some of us, the farming the former owner is doing on it, is a blessing in disguise. Had it not been so, someone else would have capitalized on the situation on hand for something else.

FOLLOW-UP CAMPAIGN
It would be recalled that the present group of students were able to establish the Lord's church at Satellite near Kutunse, about twenty-five minutes drive from the campus. During the month under review, the entire twelve students body teamed up with eight other preachers to do a follow-up campaign to strengthen the brethren there.

Besides this, the brethren went for house-house evangelism and tracts distributions on the streets. This campaign started from 13th to 18th June. A week long programme. While all these were going on, these campaigners were being "blessed" with heavy down pour of rainfall. Hence no picture were taken. On the last day, being the Lord's Day, brethren met for the first time in their own building (shed) to worship.

BAPTISM
As I would term, those rains during the week were showers of blessings. Five (5) baptisms were recorded. Besides the baptisms, a couple who had moved to the area introduced themselves as members of the church. They had been in town for some weeks without knowing the church was in town. The couple worshipped with the church on that Sunday.

STAFF MEETING
Brother Steven Ashcraft was in Ghana during the month of June. As such he held a fruitful meeting with the teaching staff, namely: Emmanuel Odeng Larbi, Kojo Acquah Beenyi, Kwabena Gyan-Mante and Emmanuel Amoo-Gyimah. The director of school Brother Seth Osae Largo was present.

Recorded by: Emmanuel Amoo-Gyimah

More good news from Ukraine

In Ukraine, current students are using their break to gain practical experience, graduates are making an impact, and new students are enrolling! The news is exciting and you can read about it HERE

Celebrating a great 1st year in Zimbabwe!

BVBIZ opened doors to her first students on the 6th of June 2016. It is now a year. The road has not been easy but we thank God for what God has continued to do, especially seeing us though the past 12 months. This has been a learning curve and we are hoping that the next 12 months will see BVBIZ rising to a higher level in several fronts.  We also remain grateful to all who partnered with us, one way or another, in the past year.

All areas, except one, where students will be going to, were visited and successfully surveyed in the month of June. The task was to prepare congregations for the program and for them to appreciate how the program operates. In the process, we had to see the accommodation where students will be using for the 8 weeks.  It was indeed a busy month.

There is no church at Chikuku (150km South of Mutare along the Mutare-Masvingo Highway). We are hoping to start a new congregation in the area. Two students shall be deployed there. On the other hand, a congregation once existed at Insukamin (20km West of Gweru). It stopped existing 3 years ago. BVBIZ shall work in the area during the 8 week period. We hope to resuscitate the work.

Each congregation will be expected to provide accommodation and meet the food requirements of students.  Separate arrangements have been made for Chikuku and Insukamini. About $1000, outside the school’s budget shall be needed on the part of the school for the program to run smoothly. BVBIZ seeks help on this. The money will be used for the following;

Surveying of areas and preparing congregations (this has already been done and will be reported in the July statement)

·         Travelling of students to centres and back

·         Travelling of teachers and their subsistence when away

·         Back up in terms of food and toiletries

Your borther,

Mathew Munchingam, Director BVBI-Z