Continued success in Guinea

Dear brethren,

Here is the report of activity operations for the month of May 2018.

Classroom: There were 2 of the 19 students who did not fully end up their classes. This was due to illness on the part of one and family problems on the part of the other.

Student Justine, who had the family problem has returned and has taken extra classes to cover up. On the other hand, student Saa Nestor Millimouno is still sick and has not returned.

The rest of the students made additional progress in their class participation and academic performance.

Evangelism: Since this is a regular routine, we and our students are especially every week-end on the field in and around the town. Though there were no direct conversions under this activity (except the follow-up of our campaign week which added 3 more souls to that work), many of the prospects are visiting to participate in Sunday worship. The radio program is making some impact as we receive calls from some of the listeners. Some in 2 villages around Gueckedouare calling on us to visit and talk to them. One man said to Philippe, the host preacher, “it is for you people that I bought a radio”.

Campaigns: The first week in the month of May was our campaign week and it was fairly successful. All, but 2 of the students participated and we divided ourselves in 2 groups, but to evangelize in 3 communities – 2 villages and a quarter in town.

I was a leader in one of the groups along with Antoine and we were sent to revive one village congregation that had almost died. You will see photos of where they assembled as we teach. The restoration was successful and there were 5 additional conversions on the Sunday of May 6, but some of us had returned to town for worship in the new congregation at the school.

The other group, led by Philippe, the host preacher visited and revived the church in a nearby village, Bandalo-camp. Shortly, they returned to evangelize the Solondonin quarter where the host church has her worship hall. Motor bikes were chartered for the campaign and I managed to get a photo of the other team on the 2nd of May.

Finally, student Michel who upon his request was sent to his village at Bandalo-leh to prepare the way for his people to receive the gospel returned to campus on Sunday morning, the 6th of May so that our follow up on the 7th and 27th May resulted in 5 and 3 conversions respectively. Sunday worship in that village started on the 13th and the attendance is now between 16 and 18.

Personal Profile: Emile Millimouno is one of the security men on the school campus. Both Emil and his wife are members of the Lord’s church. He was converted around 1994 during the time when we preached the gospel in his village of Dawa. Though without formal education, E mile is a devoted Christian man who is very regular in worship with his family regardless of the 6 to 7 kilometers distance away from Gueckedou where they now worship. There is a stable congregation (about 20 years old) in his village which is some 32 kilometers away from Gueckedou and he was one of those who helped to strengthened it.

Emile is very humble and willing to serve not only the staff, but also to help the students in almost everything they need of which he is capable to do on campus.

He was the first to begin to discuss biblical truths with his fellow security man about the church before we could preach to him and his wife. Though not yet converted, the man and some of his children are now regular in worship.

Because of his dedication to the faith, Emile does his security works regular and faithful. He is liberal and has little or no concern to limit his services even if his work time is over and that is one of the reasons why his name is popular on campus especially with the cooks.

Thanks

Francis

Excitement in Zambia

The school has entered its sixth weeks since the studies begun and we will be changing the quarter in two weeks’ time. We continue to be very grateful to God for such an opportunity of teaching these men. Zambia is well represented by this intake, having six married and the rest single students.

Our last report we did not mention two more students who have since reported to bring our number to fifteen; Frederick and Simon.  Fredrick Mwansa is a native of Samfya District of the Luapula Province of Zambia. Brother Fredrick is married and has four children. He is one of the leaders at Munuchi church of Christ in Samfya. In spite of him being older than the rest of the students, he has proved to be a force to be reckoned with. He is much focused and understands what he needs to do as a student of the Bible and also as a preacher of the gospel of Christ. We are happy to have Brother Fredrick as part of the student body here at BVBI-Zambia.

Simon comes to us from the city of Kitwe, Copper Belt Province of Zambia. Brother Simon is a member of Wusakile church of Christ in Kitwe. He is single and very eager to learn. He came late because he was preparing to rewrite his GCE (General Certificate of Education). Simon’s interest in advancing his education is commendable and can be used to further the Lords Church. 

Students have easily adapted to all the programs of the school and they seem quite eager to learn. Such eagerness is what we need as a church in Zambia to mitigate for the lack the church has. We have noticed with concern that paucity of trained preachers in our nation. For a long time congregations have been planted and left alone at a time they were still in infancy and in need of guidance and spiritual support from Evangelists. BVBIZ – Zambia is here to take care of such a disparity.

BVBIZ – Zambia, in a bid to offer practical training to students, has embarked on weekly outreach programs. Through these efforts, we have help revive a congregation that was taken by Pentecostalism with a Membership of eighty six (86). This ambitious evangelism program is being spearhead by Brother Cephas Mwamba. All the students are expected to go for evangelism every Friday afternoon in neighbouring townships. Students have been teaching the Bible to people which has resulted into one Baptism at Mikomfwa Church of Christ. While doing evangelism, the students are accompanied by the instructors. In addition to evangelism, on the 22nd June, 2018 (Friday) the students visited Husitine Simuyemba’s family. Husitne is one of our students. Brother Husitine's father suffered a partial stroke. And the students felt duty bound to visit him and offer support as they sung and prayed together.

The first quarter will end in the second week of July.  Brother Kennedy Mukuka will be teaching in the second quarter “Personal Evangelism 1”. This course is indeed very important because it will equip the students with some skills on how to conduct Bible studies (one on one). This course will be given uttermost attention considering that we want to take our students even more in vineyard of our Father. 

Our students have so far taken the following courses:

Scheme of Redemption –Brother Donnie Estep

How we got the Bible – Brother Fred Kanangu

Old Testament 1 - Brother Cephas Mwamba

English 1 and Greek 1 – Brother Cephas Mwamba

Cost of Discipleship – Brother Cephas Mwamba

Christian Evidences – Brother Fred Kanangu

Personal Evangelism 1 – yet to be taken

The following courses will be taken in the second quarter:

-Biblical Interpretation 1 (Introduction to Hermeneutics)-Brother Kanangu

-Life of Christ 1 (Overview of Four-fold gospels) – Brother Cephas Mwamba

-Public speaking 1 (Intro. to sermon preparation and presentation) - Brother Fred Kanangu

-Acts- Brother Cephas Mwamba

Short Courses- the New Testament Church (One True Church) & Personal Evangelism 1 –Brother Kennedy Mukuka

We continue to give thanks to our God for the financial support and all the encouragement in this good work we have continued to receive. We will likewise pray that God will bless the works that you all are involved in as well.

In His Service,

Cephas and Fred

Prayers requested in Cambodia

IBISR REPORT

We are truly grateful to serve the living GOD, and we are also very happy to work with you in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here are some of the activities of the Siem Reap International Bible School and the Church for the month of May 2018.

School

We continue to discuss with our students the subjects (How to be a good student) and (How to preach the gospel) taught by Darat and Piseth.

The students of the IBISR have indeed had a great influence because of their Bible studies. Specifically, some of the students went to a village to share the gospel to the people there.    They have also learned a lot of things from their own experience. This is important in many ways including enriching the roots of young Christians and displaying God’s love to the     Cambodian nation. Between school work, part time jobs and church work - the students help many citizens and sister and brothers in need.

One more thing we always thanks our big brother Wes Autrey and his family. They always encouraged us and helped us to grow in God’s family.

Church

We are so glad that there is another soul included in God’s life-book!  Mical has been studying God’s word, worshipping regularly and made this eternal decision to be a citizen of God’s  kingdom. Mical is from the USA but lives here now.

We are so thankful for the members of the Church and families in Church of Christ in Siem Reap who continue to meet and strengthen one another.  We also also thanks for women’s classes each Sunday afternoon, as they are soul winners and good workers for the Lord.

Pray

Please remember us in your prayers for:

1. Women to be unified. - Unity is what will keep us strong and make us stronger.
2. Construction of the school building. - We are adding a classroom area on top of our current building.
3. The process for the next class. - Graduation is this July and we are currently searching for new students beginning in the fall.
4. The leaders in Siem Reap Church. - We are young in Christ, growing in numbers and strong in faith.

We are thanks you for your prayers and partnership.

LOVE YOU IN JESUS’ NAME.

PISETH

Classes, campaigns, and chickens in Takoradi

Dear Brethren,

We greet you all once again from the WCSOP, Takoradi – Ghana. Once again we are grateful to be reporting to you our activities.

CLASSROOM WORK

Thank God our classroom work for both the regular and part-time students went on successfully. Both teachers and students were on hand and on time which resulted in effective teaching and learning. There was an end of term examination for the regular students which was also taken by all the students.

EVANGELISM/BAPTISMS

Again, both instructors/students’ efforts resulted in the baptism of 10 souls. We ask for your prayers for the new converts to grow in faith and knowledge of God.

HHI SUPPORTED POULTRY PROJECT

The school’s poultry project is also going well. We have completed selling the last batch of birds and have placed another order of 300 birds to be delivered within this month. Out of the 300 birds, 16 died out of it. These usually die when there are lights out and in their struggle to seek for the feed, they trample upon themselves. This lights out has been our greatest challenge. Also during the period, the prices for their feed went up on the market.

We have just return to the classroom after a month break. Classes have started for both regular and the part-time.

GIFT OF FURNITURE

A Christian brother returning from a trip to London brought us eleven tables and chairs to be used in the classroom. The school spent 235 Cedis to transport these from Accra to Takoradi 

GRADUATION DATE

The date for our next graduation has been scheduled for August 25, 2018. Thirteen regular students are graduating after the two years course of study. Since brother Toby would be in Ghana for this year’s Seminar for Preachers and church Leaders around that time with another elder from the Howe church, we would be sending them the program soon for them to know which part they would play on the day.

CAMPAIGN FOR CHRIST

Also, we plan to have a Campaign for Christ before this last batch of regular students leave after Seminar. This is also scheduled for August 27–30, 2018.

God bless you all.

CHARLES

39 students in Arusha

We thank God for our second quarter has ended very well, our students have gone home to meet with their family and spend time with their local congregation. A total number of 39 students both in Swahili and English class have been receiving training so that they can be helpful in their community. These students are expecting to return early in August for their third quarter.

As they spend their holiday break we expect them to preach at the congregation and evangelize the community. Please keep these men on your daily prayer and they continue to grow serving our master in the Kingdom. This year we are expecting nine students from the second year to graduate and go out to fight the devil. Also Pray for them so that when they come back they can finish their remaining hours of class.

Just to let you all know how blessed month of June for the Lords Church at Kisongo. This year more seeds have been planted and our God has put the increase, we had a number of evangelist both local and from USA working with church members in congregation around the area of Arusha. Their effort has resulted into over 67 baptisms. We are glad to see that local preachers are still on the ground knocking doors and continue with the follow-ups, more that 120 bible classes are still waiting to obey anytime. We continue to pray for this wonderful work of the Lord. 

Our God is great and has always been faithful in His promises. Thank you all for your love for the Lord and His church, and especially who continue to support and dedicate your time to see the Kingdom continue to expand in Tanzania and beyond east Africa.

In Christian Love, 

Godfrey Mngoma

Dean of Students, Andrew Connally School of Preaching

A Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver extension school

Arusha, Tanzania

An update from Togo

Dear brothers in Christ

It is a pleasure for me to write to you today to share this grace that the Lord grants us in the work of the Lord at the Bear Valley Bible Institute in Kpalime (Togo).

We have just started the courses for the second term of the sixth class of which the number of students is twenty (20). They follow the courses attentively and minutely as some come from the denominations and want to understand very well the courses

Second quarter courses:

1. The Christian home

2. Christianity without denomination

3. Spiritual maturity

4. A study on sin

5. The cult of the New Testament

6. Christian influence

Classes open each morning from 7:30 am through devotion which each student on the “student program” or “time table” passes on to others to preach and the others follow with attention after a teacher does the remarks on mistakes made, so every student has his turn

Classes: the timetable (10 hours a day except Wednesday 6 hours only during the morning).

Morning: 4 hours of lessons

Classes begin at 8:00 am to 10:00 am and the pose or recreation: 10:00 am to 10:30 am, the second part from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Evening: 2 hours

Classes from 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm and one hour from 4.00 pm to 4.15 pm, the second part from 16.15 pm to 17.15 pm

Evangelism: the teacher’s staff has decided that every Friday students come down to the streets, houses, villages for the distribution of biblical booklets and to do personal studies with people who give them time. They go in groups of five (5) under the supervision of a teacher or an active evangelist. We want that each student can do the work of evangelization like personal work at his place. In May, their fate for evangelism gave one baptized.

Challenges: a new congregation established in the village of AKATA. We sent the students to do the practice in this village. For a whole day they were in the houses accompanied by evangelists two by two for an efficient work. At the end of the evangelization campaign there are 4 baptized people. So after doing the theory and also do the practices.

May the peace and grace of our Jesus Christ fill all his blessings for the support you bring to the Institute.

Thanks

Your brother

NYEMANTA Essotena

Continued progress in Sierra Leone

Hello brethren in the lord.

We thank God for possessing a piece of land for the school in Sierra Leone.

Above is a photo of the land purchased measuring (0.5915) hectare of land, followed by a rented house for the School. We want to appreciate the good work you are doing in support of the gospel in this part of the vineyard.

AGRICULTURE

We have developed a bigger garden for agriculture farming than last year. We have established a farm for the school which contained a mixture of crops predominantly groundnuts

STUDENTS PARTICIPATION 

Short and long courses conducted by our lecturers with Students fully participating in the teaching and preaching process in the classroom

CAMPAIGN FOR CHRIST

After series of visitations and house to house evangelism within the Kenema communities, we are going for an outreach campaign in all the areas we have visited  to spend a week long teachings and preaching program, starting from the 18th to 25th June.2018.  A report will follow later.

We ask for special prayers from all the brethren

Thank you.

In Christ

Bro. Ishmael S. Bangura

Campaign in New Zealand

Greetings! We are all trying to catch our breath. We just completed a North Island-wide campaign and camp/lectureship. Thirty-four Christians from the USA came to New Zealand to work with 11 congregations in New Zealand to contact over 8,000 homes for Christ. All of our Bear Valley students and New Zealand staff were involved in the campaign. 

We also hosted our second annual lectureship, which was grafted into the Porirua church’s annual Queen’s Birthday Weekend Camp. We had a record attendance of 144 people on Sunday morning, with at least twelve congregations represented. All of the lessons were presented by people somehow connected to Bear Valley. You can listen to the lessons presented at the lectureship at this link.

At the end of next month, we should be graduating our first three students. It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this for two years already!

Thank you for your love and support of this work. Please keep praying for us. God bless you!

 
Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director

Graduation in Trinidad

Last year the Trinidad School of Preaching (in existence for over 40 years) and Bear Valley joined hands to raise the bar in that good school. The current faculty has now earned the Bear Valley degree. We are grateful for this partnership and look forward to what it will do for the Kingdom. See the report and pictures HERE

Graduation in Zimbabwe

The Bear Valley extension in Gweru, Zimbabwe just celebrated their first ever graduation. I am proud of the students and staff of this fine institution and you will be VERY impressed to read what they have already accomplished. Simply click HERE

The gift of a library!

Recently the good McDermott Road congregation in Plano, Texas decided that their church library wasn't being used much by its members and could surely be put to better use somewhere else. They made it known that their library was "up for grabs" and as you can imagine, there were many suitors. However, the chose the Bear Valley extension program to receive all 2,000 volumes! 

Missions minister Mark Bryon said, "The Bear Valley extension program most suits the desire we have for the continued use of this library." We are beyond thrilled! Obtaining books for extension schools is a constant need and this is literally the answer to many prayers. We also appreciate their great pulpit minister, Wes McAdams. 

But how do we get the books to places like Ghana, Liberia, and Kenya? That's where our good friends at Mission Printing come in. They are letting us put boxes and boxes of books into their containers that are already headed to the countries where we have schools. And the best part? They don't even charge us to do it!

Mission Printing Vice President Richard Renfro told me that he believes their partnership with Bear Valley is a great relationship because they continually provide printed, evangelistic tools to our schools and students. Indeed it is a beautiful symbiotic relationship and we appreciate them so much! Check them out at http://www.missionprinting.us/index.html

We are blessed to have so many partners who also share our belief that training preachers all over the world is the most effective and efficient way to carry out the Great Commission. 

Keith Kasarjian

GREAT news from Zimbabwe!

INTRODUCTION

BVBIZ continues to make her own history. Many are slowly choosing to be part of this process. Indeed many things continue to be achieved. This could not be possible without the moral, spiritual and financial support we keep receiving from far and wide. Because of  this support, BVBIZ confidently gives the following report of what transpired in May.

NEW CLASS

BVBIZ now has a new Full time class currently consisting of 10 men. It started its classes on the 15th of May. Of these, one is married while the rest are single. We are expecting a couple to join the class this week.

Besides the biblical courses, there shall be training in the following areas this term

·         Drip Irrigation

·         Poultry Production

·         Vegetable production

·         Sign Language Basics

DONNIE ESTEP’S VISIT

We were blessed yet again to have Donnie Estep with us from the 27th of May to the 2nd of June. He spend the greater part of the week teaching the “Scheme of Redemption” to the new class. He had an opportunity of teaching at a mid-week service at the Nashville congregation.

LAND

God answers prayers at his own time. It has been almost 2 years waiting for the Ministry of lands to act on our application for land for the school. On the 24th of May, we were alerted that the papers are ready. The land measures 6 hectares and is located about 9km from where the school presently operate from. The land shall be on lease. The gazetted lease fee is $208 per month for schools culminating to $2500 per year. This is compared to $7200 the school is paying annually in rentals. The $2500 need to be paid at once. Once it is paid, operations on the land can start. The present challenge is the $2500. BVBIZ is appealing to individuals and congregations to help. Whatever amount will be greatly appreciated.

FIELD PROGRAM REPORT

This year’s field practicum came to an end on the 28th of May. This 2 month program gives a student the opportunity to practice what he would have learnt from the class. Our appreciation goes to various congregations and individuals who managed to accommodate the students and the expenses they went through to feed them. Some fell ill along the way, but funds were provided by the congregations and individuals for the students to receive medical attention. BVBIZ remains grateful to this partnership. 2 congregations where started during this two-month period and 105 souls were baptized. 

ONCLUSION

We keep praising God for what he continues to do at BVBIZ. To Him be all the glory! Thank you all for the support. In the next report, we shall give the highlights of the school’s first ever graduation ceremony.

Mathew Muchingam

Director, BVBI-Z

Agriculture education in Ghana

Prologue

We are more grateful to the Lord for the peaceful ending of the month. Also, we ask the Lord and our Saviour to strengthen our supporters for their heartfelt giving and their remembrance in prayer for the progress of the School. God bless you all.

Class and Practical Activities

Instructors are effectively handling their courses as their usual responsibility and as according to the school’s curriculum. Currently, we have all the students present for each course and all are making headway to the fullness of their programme in two years time.

Interestingly, they also had their practical work on “Plant Budding” which took place at Brother E.O. Larbi’s backyard garden, Hebron (Dobro – Medie Rd). This study was to bud late valencia, red blood and tangerine orange to a lemon plant. They were more excited for these programmes which added to them new ideas.

Campaign activities

As part of the school’s curriculum, two of the students and an instructor went on a survey at an area under consideration, Rock City Church of Christ, Kasoa – Accra. The campaign will be carried out on 4th and ends in 10th June, 2018.    

Faculty and staff at Southern Insitute of Biblical Studies

Wisely using time in Tamale

We are grateful to God for the month of May 2018. Thanks to God for your consistent blessing and support for the Bear Valley Bible Institute, Tamale, Ghana.

STUDENTS ON VACATION

The students are still on vacation and are expected to be back on July 1st, 2018. Information from our contacts to them is encouraging as they are focusing on their farming activities and ministerial work effectively.

EVANGELISM AND VISITATION

We visited the High Schools in and around Bimbilla and Tamale and had some discussion with the members of the church in the schools and they were so excited to meet us and wish we could establish weekend classes for them. The schools we visited are Bimbilla Training College (BISCO), Tamale Traning College (TATCO), Tamale Senior High (TAMASCO), Business Senior High (BISCO) and Bagabag Training College (BATCO). We have started the process by sending letters to the school authorities for permission so we can go and preach in the schools.

We continue to study with many people in the area in other to have the Church meeting in the school. Wednesdays and Saturdays are allocated for personal work so as to have effective results. We hope much will be done when the school re-opens. We are hoping to have some souls won for the Lord in coming days.

ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES

The school compound is being kept clean, electrical works have been done, dead bulbs being changed, some locks for doors that were not working being fixed and all keys have been tagged with numbers to their door.

SCHOOL/CHURCH LANDS

We have visited the Lands office and have submitted the papers and made payment for the necessary documentation. The payment is the yearly stool land fees.

GOAT/SHEEP SUPPORT

Brother Abukari Dramani of Gbungbaliga Church of Christ has qualified and successfully received the sum of four hundred Ghana cedis (¢400.00).  He is one of our past students of the first butch and preacher for the Gbungbaliga congregation. This is a project to help our past students to raise goats or sheep to support themselves as they continue to preach the Word of God.

Thanks for your support and may the Good Lord richly bless you.

The faculty and staff at Tamale Insitute of Biblical Studies

Graduation in Ukraine

Dear brothers and sisters,

This year Bear Valley Bible Program in Ukraine had 7 graduates. They received their graduation certificates and memorable gifts. It was a great honor for us to teach these people during the last two years. They took all courses assigned by the Institute's faculty and successfully passed them all. Since the studies at our Institute are so intense not all people who had joined the program two years ago were able to complete it. So these 7 graduates made us proud and thankful to God and we will continue to pray for them and help them be faithful workers.

I'd like to write a few words about each of them.

Alexander Belorusov returned to his home town of Zyrgess. That territory is occupied by pro-Russian terrorists but thankfully the church of Christ continue to gather for services. He'll be preaching in this congregation and implement the knowledge that he obtained with us.

Valentin Tsiopa will most likely stay in Bela Tserkva. He has proved himself to be a very diligent student who has demonstrated good results. He has found a secular job but he is still able to assist the Church in Bela Tserkva and is planning on joining our Masters' Program. He has a lot of potential to become a great Bible teacher and hopefully serve our Institute in the capacity of Instructor later in life.

Arthur Ivashkiv returned to Kramatorsk. He plans on helping the Church of Christ in Slovyansk by preaching and teaching the Bible classes. By his first education he is a History teacher, so he plans to get this kind of job again and serve the local church as well.

Dmitriy Levenets returned to his home city of Ternopil. He also helps the local congregation. At present he's got a job at a local factory where he is employed as a security engineer. He and his wife serve the local congregation after work. His wife Kristina teaches the Sunday school and is actively involved in other church activities.

Arthur Litvinenko returned to Lviv. He plans on actively helping the Church as a youth minister. He will become an irreplaceable helper for brethren (our former graduates) who founded the Church of Christ in Lviv some years ago.

Iliya Semikoz will be working with the Church in Brovary. The congregation was established by our Instructors a year ago. Now they need help with their youth ministry. Iliya has a lot of potential and desire to serve in the vineyard of the Lord.

Marina Gurkova was a very disciplined and knowledgeable student. She will stay with our Institute as a secretary, librarian and interpreter. She has a kind heart and has always helped the congregation with ladies' and children's classes.

Last month Jim Sherman worked with us. He does so much for our Institute every time he comes. He taught "Life and service of a Minister" and "Epistle of James" courses. We are very thankful for his service and his love for Ukraine. 

For the next school year we have 4 recruits, potentially our new students. And there are a few other men who haven't committed to the Program just yet.

It's time for our summer practical work. The students who got promoted to the second year of studies also returned to their home congregations. We have 8 second year students and we are actively preparing for the next school year.

To make sure our students will successfully continue their education we have to have reliable financial support. I am asking everyone who reads this letter to help us raise funds for our Bible Institute in Ukraine. If you'd like to be a part of this great work please contact Terry Harmon at (harmon99.th@gmail.com). Terry Harmon is the Coordinator of Bear Valley Bible Institute in Ukraine.

We send our greetings and express our sincere appreciation for your work and for your support of our ministry of training preachers.

Your brother and co-worker,  Dennis Sopelnik.

35 baptized in Nigeria!

Greetings from BVBIN and SWSE, Ibadan and fellow WBSFUW in South West States of Nigeria. All our students are now fully back in Butubutu campus for 4th semester classes. Below are the end of the month of May report :

OVERVIEW : From the report gathered yesterday from our students, it shows that two congregations where planted during the five weeks break /vocational weeks by the joint effort of the students with the congregations where they served. Total converts of 35 and 27 restored. 

SPECIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS :With the support of Bro. Steven Ashcraft and associates, we were able to purchased 30 mattresses for the students use and in preparation for our forty coming 15th annual Bible Lectureship and graduation ceremony that by God's grace will come up on August 22-24,2018

FOUTH SEMESTER CLASSES :

Bro.Kayode Eniafe will be teaching on Old Testament Prophets (Major), Evangelism -2,Evangelism-3,and Church History. Bro. Abraham Yeje will be teaching on 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. Bro. Gbenga Ilori on Life of Christ -4(Christ's Ministry ),Bro. Silas Guda on The book of Romans .Bro. Abiola Joseph Olusoji on the book of Revelation. Bro. Isaac Olaniyan on Leadership  and Christian Disciplines (Ethics) while I, Bro. Makinde Ebens will be teaching on Research Methods, Discipleship Training, Homilectics -3 and Practical (Subject and Textual Sermon) 

EVANGELISM :Students were divided into four groups for last week weekend evangelism /campaigns (May 25 ,26).The first group led by Bro. Kayode Eniafe worked with Egbeda congregation. Second group worked with Badeku Congregation and the third group with Bro. Dele Shotola in Felele Congregation in Ibadan while the fourth group worked with Bro. Emmanuel Godwin at Igbara -Odo in Ekiti State

Our students as usual will cover at least four out of the six geographical zone of our country, Nigeria. Ten to twelve will be working in Taraba, Benue, Kwara,Kogi and Abuja. Ten to fifteen in the East and the South while the remaining students will be serving in Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Lagos,Edo and Delta state .

OTHER EVENTS :Lord 's willing, I will be leading a group of students and instructors of BVBIN and SWSE, Ibadan on June 8th through 10th for the restoration of the Lord 's church in Bachita town, Kwara State and on June 15th through 17th will be evangelizing Badeku town with the students and instructors of the school in Butubutu campus .

CONCLUSION :Brethren, we thank you all for your partnership and love toward the growth of the Lord 's church in Africa and beyond. May the Lord continue to bless all our joint effort in Christ name, amen. 

I remain your fellow labourer in Christ 's vineyard...... Bro. Makinde Ebenezer Olufemi (Director of Studies & Chairman of Administrative Council, BVBIN & SWSE, Ibadan and WBSFUW) 

Evangelism in Kenya

The students have  been going out on weekends  and have served 19 local congregations mostly in Western Kenya. As a result, eighteen (18) souls have been baptized into Christ and 39 individuals have been restored back to fellowship.

While the students are away,  the  faculty visited  different churches where we have been invited  in gospel meetings or seminars, and as we do so, we recruit students for the new intake. That will  take place soon after the forthcoming third graduation on August 25th, 2018. The last two weekends, Charles visited a church in Kakamega while I attended a gospel meeting at Malele.

In this week and in the next, we have Wayne Burger from Bear Valley teaching the book of Revelation and the Scheme of Redemption. We appreciate his presence as he divides the word  of truth to the students.

We are glad to have the new facility/ campus and now we are working on beautifying the  compound by planting trees  and flowers. A challenge we experience as one enters our new big library, books  are still  few and many shelves  are  empty. It  is  our prayer that whenever brothers come  to  visit  with  us, they will bring  with them, good conservative Christian books.

Thanks  for  your  prayers on our  behalf,  and  be all blessed.

Your brother,

Elias Omollo

Dean of Students, KSOP

A new class in Guatemala

There is a new class of students in Guatemala and you can see them, as well as read about them, by clicking HERE.

A new school in the Philippines

For more than a year we have been working on a possible new school in Cebu, Philippines and on May 14, 2018, with the help of many, it came to fruition! Under the leadership of Director, Neil Emperado, everything is off to a great start.

We had seven "for credit" students and several others who audited the course I taught on "Sermon Preparation and Delivery". Students will come to Cebu for one week every month and complete a course from the Bear Valley curriculum. 

Cebu is the second most populous province in Philippines with a population over 3 million souls. While some students are from Cebu proper, others come from nearby islands. The need for the school here is great and we are happy to partner with so many faithful brethren to make it happen. A special note of gratitude goes out to Wayne Barrier, whose idea this was. 

Much credit is due men like Reuben Emperado, who has spent his life in preaching the gospel all over central Philippines. It is because of those like him, that the church is alive and well and in need of even more preachers. As such, he is wholeheartedly behind this effort to train the next generation of preachers who will take the good news to those who need it. 

For Him,

Keith Kasarjian

Off to a great start in Guinea

Dear brethren,

After the activities of March, Bear Valley Guinea successful accomplished the following major expectations for the month of April. These are:

Classroom: All 19 students went through the April lessons which also concluded our first quarter classes for this first year. Since most of our students are adult men who had left school for a long time, it was a matter of necessity that these men take some time of concentration to awaken their minds for another academic challenge. Therefore every student was required and encouraged to participate in oral reading, asking and answering questions, various assignments, memory work, etc. Preaching during the devotional periods was the only exception for the months of March and April scheduled only for the men previously serving as preachers and teachers in their home congregations. This was necessary also to permit time until "Public speaking" scheduled for the second quarter could be taught. With these backed by some general and personal counseling, there was an improvement in the students' performance from the previous 60 percent in March to about 75 percent in April.

Evangelism: This work by some of the students, staff and the host church members who went out to preach by different methods such as by extending invitation to non members all resulted to the conversions of 6 persons.

Challenges: It was a tense challenge in the absence of our own copier to meet up with the required quantity of study materials for students and staff. It greatly affected our monthly financial balance "carried forward" of March which we were building up for some other project activity in the future.

During the period we have come to realize that we must begin to send out some of our students to weaker congregations around and prepare to revive others that have died or almost died down. Our May report during which month we conducted a successful gospel campaign will reflect more on this.

Personal profile: Saa Philippe Tolno, a member and preacher of the Solondonin, Gueckedou church is one of the regular staff here on campus. He is married and has 3 children.

Philippe's conversion in 2003 from the Free Pentecostal denomination was of great interest. While working with the GTZ organization in the refugee camp of Dabola came across a young man carrying one of our study materials -  "Church of the Bible" which attracted his attention. After convincing the man to allow him read it for some time, Philippe started and his interest grew as he realized how the Lord's church is unique. He therefore bought a copy book and 2 pens - blue and red with the plan to copy the entire book so that he could afterward carefully study the materials and then try to start that church. He was now at lesson number 8 when Osman Shekey, then preacher of the church which was in that refugee camp who was strolling the camp met him. Through a brief discussion, Philippe understood that the church was already in that camp and therefore desired to be a member. However, he had some particular questions and because the preacher could not satisfactory convinced him, I was sent for and had to travel some 450 klm. 

On arrival I saw the evidence of his faith and interest for the Bible church. He afterwards was converted and on another occasion led us to a group of some 10 men and women 9 of which were also converted from the Shekina denomination with which he had started to affiliate. 

Philippe's interest grew in the faith and I was moved to answer his request to help him get a formal Bible training. Saa Philippe Tolno therefore became the first Guinean brother to attend and complete a 3 years Bible training at Benin.

Philippe has since returned and had been serving not only as the preacher for the first of now 3 congregations in Gueckedou town, but also helping to strengthen and establish weaker and new congregations respectively.

As many other preachers in the country, Philippe had a small support and tangled by the needs of extended family his living conditions were not very good. Therefore the Gueckedou denominational pastors (many of them well supported) made mockery and tried to draw him over, but Philippe will always say "this faith, if I die in it even if it's for poverty then I have won". 

Our desire for a Bible training center in Guinea -Conakry has been long therefore as soon as Steven made the first contact with me in 2017, brother Philippe and his though small, but dedicated congregation was in turn my first contact. During the months that followed Philippe led his congregation in prayers and fasting and in every other thing it took on their part as per their ability such as to find students to succeed the establishment of Bear Valley Bible Institute in Guinea.

Three members of his small congregation form part of the 19 students drawn from 9 congregations in the country. It was one of the 3 students that top the class out of all the academic and practical lessons for the first quarter.

Philippe is one of the regular staff on campus and is often counselling those students with such academic need.

He is a good singer. The local radio program is introduced and closed by a very nice recorded congregational song which he led.

I am proud of his faith!

Your brother,

Francis Sahr Musa

Director, BVBI-G