Souls being saved in Tanzania

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? (Romans 1:14-15). These are powerful statements made by the Apostle Paul showing the importance of both parties being included in the process of bringing one to Christ. The Apostle is insisting on the important of hearing the message which will save them but also showing the important of the messenger too, since “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…..,” (Hebrews 1:2) and the Son has commanded His disciples to go in to all the World and preach, (Mark 16:15-16).
 
 "This world is not safe without Jesus, that’s why here at Andrew Connally School of Preaching we are striving to go out and reach as many as we can before it is too late. Our students have been sent out on the weekends to help the surrounding congregations. The following has been the school’s accomplishment since the third week of February 2019. 92 New classes were established, 63 old classes were still being followed, 38 souls have been restored and 9 new souls have been added in His Kingdom.
 
"All these and many other good things are going on in the Lord’s Kingdom, just because you have partnered us in working for His course and bringing many to HIM. Thank you so much for your support and prayers. Please keep our students in your prayers, as they will be going back home. To God be the glory both now and forever."                                         

Charles Mwanga

Counting victories in New Zealand

We are about to enter the last six months of this term, and perhaps the final six months of BVBINZ…for now. It seems that, by December, we will have trained all the Christians we can in New Zealand, so we will put the work down for now. The way that we have had BVBINZ set up will allow us to pick it back up in the future if another student body is ready to enroll. 

We have enjoyed the adventure that BVBINZ has provided. We have worked hard to train several men and women of God for ministry. We are all thankful for those who have sacrificed to make this possible. But we are not finished just yet.

In this past month, we have had another full-time student—Michelle—enroll in BVBINZ. She will continue studying with us through December. And even beyond December, we will work with her through independent studies.

We are working closely with Joziah Townsend to help him graduate in December of this year. He has proven to be a great servant in the church, and we look forward to seeing where God takes him in his ministry.

Lance Mosher, Director

Classes resume in Tamale

BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE, TAMALE GHANA

TAMALE GHANA

APRIL REPORT 2019

We are more excited for the good and perfect work God continue to do for us in this ministry in which we are proud to be part or members of life saving or transforming. In that, we remain committed to thanking and appreciating you for your faithfulness and consistent support. We shall carefully and consciously manage whatever is kept in our custody as a faithful steward of Christ.

SCHOOL REOPENED

The school has reopened on April, 8th 2019, as indicated in the last month report. Fourteen students happily reported to start the academic work that would thoroughly equip them for every good work into saving souls. It is our prayer and hope that the remaining prospective brethren who have also picked the admission forms and submitted them will possibly make it next term as we have assurances from some of them. Nothing should hinder them to denounce their conviction in Christ. That is our plea to you to pray with us.

LECTURESHIP

The first week, Brother James Legend treated Hermeneutics 1 with the students. This course was successfully taught and students examined with performance encouraging. Second week, Brother Adjei Mensah Daniel took students through “The Scheme of redemption”, this course too was fairly treated as well and test conducted respectively and students performed wonderfully. Third week, personal evangelism 1 was also handled by Brother James Legend.

There was an intensive teaching and learning for three days in class room and three days for one on-one Personal Evangelism, Students were monitored by the instructor as to how to approach their prospects, one sister Evelyn from Volta region who when she migrated to Tamale became a member of one the denominations was restored and has since be active. Although there was no positive response as a result of Tamale being the Islamic community or dominants, but some prospects were figured out and we dedicated some students to constantly visit them so that with the support of your prayer and our prayer God will choose His people for us.

Fourth week, “How we got the Bible” was also treated by Brother Albert Malir with the students, class work and final exams was conducted and students performance improving. Fifth week, “TheOld Testament 1” was handled by Brother Francis Ayine , there was that kind of inculcating teaching  and learning between instructor and students with Students performance after exams satisfied. The last course which was “The Cost of discipleship” for the term was also dealt with by coordinator of Bear Valley Bible Institute in Ghana Kojo Beenyi Acquah. Class work and final exams was conducted respectively and students performance improved. We pray for the successful end of the term and also happy to announce to you that students are going on 17th 05, 2019 to visit their congregations and families and also do their farming work as this season is favorable for planting. The school will be reopened in July 14th, 2019. It is our prayer and hope that God will help us all to live to see these faithful days as we geared toward the activities of the year {seminar, campaign & graduation}.

ADMINISTRATION

We are working collaboratively with the students, coordinator, short course instructors, board members and all members of the Church to make the school conducive and philanthropic for all humankind who wish to know the truth about Jesus Christ and His Church. The school campus, baths and latrines are tidying every day. Part of the school land is cultivated with yam and the remaining part would be used to cultivate maize, generally school environment is decent for one to behold. Transition is made successfully, the other class room by the school office is used for Dinning hall, and Brother Albert’s wife Afia Modesta is the cook, we are making progress in all administration activities. The church blocks that are molded in the school campus are conveyed to the church plot bit by bit by the students and we are happy for that, these students are hard-working, well behaved to be leaders of the Lord’s church. We have extended water to where the food is cooked to lessen the work load on the cook.

We went to Ghana Revenue Authority to secure Tax Clearance certificate {Tin} to enable us obtain the school and church land document completion and we were told to apply which we did and waiting for their response. When this {Tin} certificate is ready we shall forward it to the lands commission for further documentation.

May the peace and joy of God rest upon us all amen!

A busy week in Mbanga

My beloved people of God,

We Greet all in Jesus name. It is great to have you on our page again this morning. The Lord granted to us a gift of life this day. We give him all the glory. We had a beautiful week with the work in the vineyard of God almighty. He gave us another opportunity to exploit the world. It is a time to reflect on many things and we thank God for every possible solution. Accept salutations from my lovely wife and from my household.

 Just like we made mention in the beginning, the week was a very busy one. That is why there is some delays in sending this report.

Visibility work done in Mombo

Working in collaboration with brother Giress and brother Alfred, I made them travel to Mombo which is a subdivision next to Mbanga, for a visibility study. The report on the ground is promising as we met some internally displaced Christians during our second missionary trip to Mombo just within one week. We are already developing strategies on how to begin work in this community and in the space of no time, the wife of one of our present students shall be living in that community. A site for worship is one of our main difficulties and next will be worship setup such as benches, a table, and some other few things. I believe God is going to do great work in that community and its surroundings.

The students also took part at the burial ceremony of our little sister who died in Mujuka and was buried in Kombe. Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. It was time to mourn with the bereaved family and her little classmates who were just from writing the entrance exams to the secondary school in Cameroon but could not see their class mate there. It was a pitiful situation. God has a reason for everything. May her soul rest in peace.

Preachers forum in Bonaberi.

Present this year in the annual preacher’s forum in Bonaberi in Douala were some graduates from both our schools. All the instructors of Mbanga were present as well as some present students in Mbanga. It was a good one as we had lot of good lessons to study about. The next forum shall be in Bamenda.

We had on our very busy schedule 20th of May celebration.

This year’s national day celebration on the 20th of May was blended with the students and some members of the church who took part in the march pass as you can see with the placard. Our goal is to let the people of Mbanga know about the work of our school and the church in our locality. We had as one of our tasks the responsibility to share tracks to many people and by his Grace we shared about 1500 tracks along with world bible school lessons with our phone numbers on them. We are now waiting for the outcome. Thanks to our donors, the tracks have gone a long way to help many areas in our country. We pray and requesting for more of these different tracks and books. Thank you Barry Baggot with French World Outreach, Mission Printing, and others. We shall continue to preach the word. Oh, how I wish we could have a radio program in Mbanga so we could send the message more to the street, quarters and all over the surrounding villages. Please send up prayers for the work in Cameroon 

 The students are also doing great in class work.

 As days goes by, we are becoming closer to the end. The students are now becoming used to their new way of life in the campus. It is not easy for them to meet up with the climate change. Some are passing through a very difficult time as they repeatedly going to the hospital. Brother Prince, Bertrand, and Romains have visited the hospital in Mbanga and Douala and Bertrand have been asked to go for scanning. Some are getting some relief through our first aid box with the aid of brother Bako who is our student doctor. We pray for their good health in order for them to concentrate on studies. 

We shall begin with exams next Monday 27th of May. Short courses shall begin on the 3rd of June. May God be their guide.

May the Lord be with our mission work in Cameroon. The congregations in Cameroon are seriously waiting for our coming missions. Brother David, we welcome you and your team in Cameroon this June.

 Our graduates  

This is brother Memvi who graduated last March in Mbanga and is now working with the congregation in Mbalmayo. Information is reaching us that brother Memvi has been attacked by a stroke so that both of his legs are been paralyzed. My beloved brother Memvi is undergoing treatment in Yaounde but in a local way due to lack of finance. Even though he is receiving only local treatments, he Is asked to pay 7500 frs ($13) on daily basis. This few days old preacher seriously needs assistance to improved his health condition. Calls are already reaching us from the congregation that we should be sending students to come and help in preaching for they are still very young. This is one of the congregations established with the help of our Bible Institute.

Our graduates are in the field doing their work. Continue sending up prayers for them. A new congregation is about to begin in Douala as brother Raul who graduated In March, is following his goal to implant an assembly in a village of Douala. Brother Nicanor, who preaches to the refugees in Douala, is passing through a very long distance to come and do his job. He is soliciting for a place of worship. It    not been easy with the new beginning. More prayers are needed for these guys.

Thank you for your prayers and support,

Ititi Benedict

A special tribute in Wotutu

Dearest in Christ,

Greetings from Wotutu although I am in Douala now to send this report because the internet in Limbe is not strong enough to upload my pictures. Every Monday that I am supposed to send my report is ghost town on this side.

We are getting some relative calmness now in Wotutu for a while now and we give God the glory. We do hope this report finds you doing great. We are here and all of our activities are ongoing without any interruption. Keep us in your prayers.

 The Bear Valley Bible Institute Wotutu is fine and healthy as studies are going on without any problem. The military who are based in Wotutu now make sure peace is attained and are very appreciative to the church of Christ Wotutu through our early morning preaching and our daily prayers for peace to the entire nation. Students are gaining knowledge and are zealous for the work of God.

One of our daily wear in the preaching school is green. The green this year was changed and dedicated in memory of ELDER BRUCE of the STC congregation who oversee the work in Wotutu. The inscription is in gracious memory for the fallen hero Elder Bruce. We remember him for his love for the work here and for his personal love for me when I visited the STC congregation. He was full of fun. God bless and watch over his family.

The week was busy as students regularly ended classes and jump into the van for evangelism. We started the new work in Botaland village which is a new work. Evangelism is our mission and our mission is evangelism. In Botaland we went from house to house evangelizing to see how we could rob from the strong man’s house as we were pointing the truth to prospects and helping them to see the need to obey the gospel. After pointing out the truth, a Mission Printing tract is left behind for further reading.

This is Botaland village. It is one of their streets. This village really needs the gospel as one old man about 89 years confessed because of the rampant witchcraft in almost all the houses, and gross enmity among villagers. The truth has come to stay and the power of the gospel will help many who open up their hearts to follow Jesus. We told him and have assured him that God will do His work in the lives of many.

We met busy people who were busy to make themselves more beautiful but they gave us their time and listened to the word of God because the word transforms and make them more beautiful inside and outside.

PLAN

We have the annual preacher’s forum coming up in Douala. Keep the program in your prayers as preachers from all over the country will converge there to discuss pertinent issues affecting the church in Cameroon.

APPRECIATION

God bless you. Thank you for all you do. Keep doing it because it is good. Lives are being touched and God is being glorified.

Elangwe and family

By His grace director BVBIC-Wotutu

Graduation in Ukraine

It was my honor and pleasure to attend the graduation ceremony of the Bear Valley school in Bila Tserkva, Ukraine. This school is special in many ways, one of them being that it was the first Bear Valley international school. Beginning in 1997, it is the longest running school.

Director Denis Sopelnik does an outstanding job and he is assisted by Coordinator Terry Harmon. The school in Ukraine has a pool of outstanding and experienced teachers and the church nationwide is constantly being blessed by their efforts. Supplementing their work are teachers from the U.S., such as Jim Sherman, Denton Landon, Mike Underwood, and L.T. Gurganus.

While this years class was smaller than usual, next year’s promises to be a little larger than usual and currently recruiting is ahead of pace from last year. May God bless the strongest school of preaching in all of Europe!

Keith Kasarjian

Successful campaign in Harare

According to our 2019 plan, BVBI-Harare Extension planned to start new work and we are pleased to say that we are right on track. Dzivaresekwa Extension is the place we hope to make this dream fulfilled. Dzivaresekwa Extension is six kilometers from Dzivaresekwa (were I reside).

Last weekend, 18 and 19 May 2019 saw us taking the first step in making the dream a reality. A team of eight (8) spent hours in the streets of this location distributing tracts, booklets, sharing the Word with people and meeting people who were interested in the Word. We subdivided ourselves into two two and the work was done so well. It was such a great experience to all who attended and the interest shown was just so inspirational. 
After walking in the streets of Dzivaresekwa Extension, the team withdrew for feedback - see photo Weekend Evangelism 2 and 3 - but as duty calls the feedback turned into more Word sharing moments as passersby stopped by for the tracts, booklets and to receive a share of the Word.

During the exercise we met 168 people, distributed 300 tracts and booklets, and distributed thirty-seven (37) World Bible School introductory lessons. During the exercise we also managed to meet a family who are members of the church and were members of Alaska Mine church of Christ in Chinhoyi - Mashonaland West province. They have been staying in this area for two years and according to them they have not been meeting with the church unless if they travel back to their home congregation, that is once in a long time. Again we met another lady who said she is a member of the church but she could not find the church in the area and she is ready to come to church. 

STUDENT RESPONSES:

Tonderayi Kafile: "I personally realised that its easier talking to people in the streets other than visiting their homes. Firstly maybe because at their homes they will be bound by their different beliefs. Then secondly some women are not comfortable to have people discussing anything at their homes due to homes rules and regulations put by their spouses.Also the insecurity caused by poverty ie having nothing to feed the visitors also makes them uncomfortable to have visitors at their homes but in the streets today it was marvelous they talked freely brethren thanks for the experience bro Suwari."  

Brian Matutu : "It was certainly an eye opener for me.  Although it was not my first time I can confidently say it was my most successful outreach.  
Firstly the tracts were very appropriate and effective.  The reception and interest from all prospective was humbling. Not even one prospective was antagonistic. Even those who initially appeared skeptical eventually changed as discussions proceeded. More than 90% of those we met promised to contact the contact names we gave them.  Sister Ncheche and I were also extremely edified by the experience.  We certainly look forward to a similar exercise. 
All thanks to you for guidance and to our mighty Father for his grace."

Richard Nyamanhindi : "A day well spent. Literature was appropriate with diversity and the aspirants were receptive, keen and ready to hear the word. Some were eager to know where the church is. People are hungry for the word. Street evangelism is not as difficult as we think. It was a fruitful day inherently and with those we discussed with. Follow up is indeed necessary."

Edson Julius : "I enjoyed every moment. This was an eye opener,surely we can reach out to many people by these arrangements .This method is effective and exciting."

As a way forward, brother Batsirai Zisengwe (in blue coat) is making some arrangements for a place were we will start assembling. As that is being done, we are planning to have preachers who will go for another round of evangelism, and this time house to house and followups on the addresses and promises we got last week. Westgate and Dzivaresekwa churches of Christ have agreed (in principle) to work together in this work and we also have a preacher in this area, Leonard Magaya. He has also agreed to be involved in the work. In the meantime BVBI-Harare Extension is working hard to start this work and establish this work.

May you please pray for this work.

Stay blessed and be a blessing to all,

Howard Suwari                            
4277 First Street
Dzivaresekwa 1
Harare, Zimbabwe

Youth Forum in Takoradi

Dear Brethren,

We send greetings from West Coast School of Preaching, Takoradi, Ghana, West Africa. Thank God we are also doing well and by His grace we continue to see progress in our work here at West Coast School of Preaching.  I am glad to send to you report on our operations and finances for the month of April, 2019.

CLASSROOM WORK

Regular classes were held until 18th of April, 2019 when we had a break. The part-time classes continued throughout the period.

CAMPAIGN FOR CHRIST

Two of our immediate past students organized campaigns during the period in their respective congregations. There were three (3) baptisms in the first campaign while five (5) backsliders were spotted in the second one. Efforts are continuing to restore them.

PERSONAL EVANGELISM

The congregation at Fijai where brother Francis Ayillah preaches organized house to house evangelism. Two of our part-time students also worship here. Two baptisms were recorded during the period. There were other reports from two of our part-time students in the Central Region and in the Eastern Region where evangelism campaigns were held. A total of four (4) baptisms were recorded in those two campaigns.

YOUTH FORUM

Brother Joshua Aidoo organized a one-day motivational youth forum for churches of Christ in and around the Sekondi-Takoradi area. As first of its kind, observations were that the program be adopted and held twice every year. There were about two hundred and sixty (260) youth in attendance including some preachers in the area. These members were drawn from various congregations that uphold what is taught by the Bible and for that matter, West Coast School of Preaching. Brother Joshua has a vision of raising the image of the West Coast School of Preaching so high among the churches of Christ Bible institutions in both the Central and Western Regions, and so, coming up with this youth forum is one of the means to achieve his goal. The theme of the program was : “Preparing a Purposeful Youth For The Future.” And the topics discussed were: (1) “Never Give Up On Your Hopes And Aspirations—By Joshua Aidoo; (2) “Innovation And Entrepreneurship: The Solution To Youth Unemployment”—brother Emamanuel Justice Ofori (a part-time student); (3) “Persistence: The Key To Climb The Success Ladder”—Joshua Aidoo.

POULTRY PROJECT

We have just completed sales of our birds. We will try to include a comprehensive report in our next report.

Thank you and may God bless us all.

Joshua Aidoo

Classes resume in Accra

PROLOGUE:

By the words of the school, praise be to the Almighty God who has opened a new door of glory and continually blessing the school with understanding, wisdom and increasing daily the number of students. Blessings to our fellow brethren who in diverse ways, helping to increase the teaching of truth and generously giving to the glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ. May you flourish daily.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

We are grateful for reopening. New courses are actively ongoing for this 2nd Quarter of the last academic year, 2019. All instructors are greatly partaking their responsibilities in the teaching work except Kojo who has travelled to USA and on his return, 31st April, will be taken two full courses for the two short course period.

The students, 12 in number per our records, 11 are present taking their classes regularly except one student by name, Joseph Boafo who has not been regular due to his work yet will not be graduated until he has met the academic requirements for the pass out.

In this 2nd quarter, the students are studying 1 & 2 Peter; 1 & 2 Thessalonica; Old Testament 5 (Study of the Minor Prophets); The Book of James; The Book of Romans, Christian Leadership, communication skills and IT.

STUDENT’S PERSONAL WORK

As the work of the Lord demands, our students embarked on personal evangelism work at Obeyeyie, a town within Amasaman – Accra. They have baptized four (4) souls for Obeyeyie congregation. We are grateful to the Lord for this mission.

STUDENT’S VISITATION ASSIGNMENT

As part of the school’s academic exercise, our students are on the process of visiting various churches for their practical activities in the Accra – Eastern Region vicinity. This exercise will be carried out for a quarter and then rotated. With this, our students will experience various environment and strengthen them in the work of preaching and church management.

As per our request, pray with us.

Southeast School of Evangelism

Continued progress in Takoradi, Ghana

Dear Brethren,

I send sincere greetings to you all our beloved brethren and thank the most High God for keeping us all safe throughout the month of March, 2019. Our success on this end has largely been the strength the Lord has bestowed on you for you to continue to give us the backing to be able to go through these years of operation. We are sincerely grateful to you all. May He continue to bless us all.

CLASSROOM WORK

We had an intensive and successful classroom work with both instructors and students (regular and part-time) being punctual to class enhancing teaching and learning period. All eleven (11) regular and twenty-two (22) part-time students co-operated for the success we achieved during the period.

PERSONAL EVANGELISM

After taking the regular students through a course in Personal Evangelism during the period, there has been some encouraging reports from the regular students who have demonstrated their skills around the school area and while at home with their various congregations resulting in some baptisms.

CAMPAIGN FOR CHRIST

The congregation at Mpintsin where brother Joshua preaches organized a 5-day night street preaching. Speakers were brother Joshua Aidoo and Douglas Armah, also an instructor at West Coast School of Preaching. The program was streamed live on Facebook. Also the congregation at Kwesimintsim where brother Charles King Arthur preaches organized a 6-day house to house evangelism and night street preaching. This program was also hooked to one of the radio stations in Takoradi. Some of our past students and brother Joshua’s evangelism team joined the congregation in this program. Ten (10) souls were baptized here.

POULTRY PROJECT

Our latest birds are growing well and are due to be sold next month.

 Again I want to express sincere appreciation to you all and appeal for your continuous prayer for us as we do same for you.

Thank you.

Joshua

Fundamental courses in Arusha

Dear brother,

I hope that you are doing well, and especially in the Lord’s work. Here is the ACSOP monthly report. The work is going well here at Andrew Connally School of Preaching, we are almost to the end of the second quarter of this year. We have already done with the long courses and now we are in the short courses.

Both classes have two short courses- In last week the second year class had “Hebrews” as a short course and Charles Hebeth is the one who taught, and in this week Ahimidiwe Kimaro is teaching “Life of Christ 3”. In last week the first year class Justin Maynard taught the book of Acts, and in this week Jimmy Gee is teaching “New Testament Church”.

After these short courses the school will be closed and the closing day will be Friday, May 17th, 2019 and the opening day will be August 5th, 2019. While the reporting day will be August 3rd, 2019. Now the ACSOP faculty members are on preparation of the goodwill trip, that trip will start after the evangelism campaign which is continuing here in Arusha.  The purpose of that trip is to visit ACSOP students to see what they are doing to help their local churches to grow and also to advertise the school and its mission. And after this the school will be in preparation of welcoming master’s program class in the last week of July.

We know that you are normally praying for this work. But now specifically we are asking for your prayers in these school programs as we have mentioned above so that we can achieve our goals on this work. May God bless you brother.

In His Service,

John B. Haule,

The Acting Dean of Students-ACSOP.

An amazing transformation in Ukraine

Dear brethren,
Last month was really busy and productive.
The Bible Institute had L. T. Garganus teaching the course on Jeremiah and brother Dmitry Galuik who came to teach Luke. The first year students had Ezekiel (I was the Instructor) and currently they are studying Daniel with Albert Bagdasaryan. The second year students had 1 and 2 Corinthians and Personal Evangelism (Dennis Sopelnik) and Revelation (Andrew Zhuravlev). As you see, the schedule is very tight. All Instructors send some homework as well, so students don't have much free time. I feel that busy schedule helps our students learn how to deal with stress as well as sluggishness. I've noticed that the second year students manage their time much better and have enough time to study, workout, etc.

In a few weeks we'll have summer break and our students will start evangelical practice. Usually they return to their home congregations and help with activities there. They also receive assignments from the Institute, such as to teach some lessons and deliver sermons, help local preacher to visit brothers and sisters, help with building maintenance and run errands. We want them to get skills for successful work with people. They can't get them by sitting in the classroom most of the time. The good servant of God needs to know how to interact and communicate with real people.

I'd like to share with you a life story of one of our graduate. On May 25th he will get a certificate on successful completion of all the study courses assigned by the Bible Institute Administration. His name is Sergey Khovrich, he is 50+. Half of his life he was incarcerated because he was a criminal. He was a figure of respect and authority in criminal circles. But the Gospel touched his heart while he was still in prison. First those were denominational teachers who brought them the New Testaments and taught false doctrines. By studying the Bible, Sergey noticed that a lot of doctrines differed from the ones from the Word of God. It was a few years before he met evangelists from the Church of Christ. From that moment on his life's changed. He found the Pearl he was searching. Being released from the prison he was faithful in attending church services. It was not typical for a prison convert because most of them loose their faith and return to the old life style upon their release. Later Sergey had found out about our Institute from the leadership of their congregation and they contacted me. He was interviewed, got his medical papers and came Bila Tserkva to study. I had my doubts knowing his history. But God does unbelievable. Sergey proved to be a decent student who took his studies seriously. He was a good example for other students. Now he wants to work with difficult people with the problems similar to the ones he used to have. When contemplating this I realize that our work is not in vain. Doing God's will step by step, we see changes in people's lives. 

We are thankful to all brethren who sacrificially donate to our ministry and trust us to use these funds for sharing the Gospel.

We pray for brother Keith Kasarjian's, his son and Jim Sherman's safe travels and as well as their ministry.
Our spiritual family sends their greetings and gratitude.
Your brother and co-worker,

Dennis Sopelnik.

Turmoil and triumph in Haiti

PJ Hardy and I are in Haiti at this time visiting with the students and teachers and working on a few other projects.  This is our first trip since January due to violence and unrest.  One of our directors is a policeman and met us at the airport to drive us to the school.  Due to unpredictable gang violence, the local directors have advised us not to leave the school property without Brother Beaubrun, the police officer.  Although, the area where we are located seems very quiet at this time.  

The work continues to move forward with people obeying the gospel.  So far this year we have had more than one hundred baptisms.  This brings the total to more than 1,000 since August of 2014. To God be the glory.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers.  

I plan to return in July and will spend about four weeks.  We have graduation on August 3rd, if there is no violence at that time.  

Thanks for all your help.

Larry Waymire 

A new church plant in Abuja

REPORT OF EVANGELISM FOLLOW-UP BY BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE ABUJA.

On the 23rd April 2019, the Director BVBI-A, Alabi Samson and two instructors of BVBI-A, Abiodun Adegoroye and David Akpata, accompanied by Fidelis Daniel (Student Preacher from WNCC, Abeokuta), embarked on an evangelism follow-up trip to Gaku village, directly behind the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, to contact a listener of the Radio program 'Let the Bible Speak', Mr Daniel.

On arrival (after a long drive and search for the place), the team met with the man (who is blind) and seven (7) other members of his family (wife and six children). During the interaction, questions were asked about the church of the Bible, baptism and scriptural mode of worship, etc., and answers were given scripturally to the satisfaction and understanding of the prospects. This led to the request to meet (worship) with the family and others on the following Sunday, which was gladly accepted by the team.

On Sunday 28th April 2019, a team comprising of ten (10) members of the church, which includes three (3) students of BVBI-A, worshipped with the family in Gaku village. Abiodun Adegoroye taught a lesson and a student of BVBI-A, Phillip Terhumba preached a sermon in Tiv language, the language of the prospects. The church began quietly with the baptism of five (5) souls after worship in a stream close to the village. The baptized family are part of displaced and dispossessed people in Nasarawa State by cattle herdsmen. According to them, they narrowly escaped with their lives without taking any of their properties out. The gathering had a collection of N13,000.oo (thirteen thousand Naira only. There were eighteen people in worship in Gaku on this memorable day. The reality of the establishment of a congregation in this village later informed the decision to organize an evangelism campaign in the community for the building up of the church and edification of the newly baptized by the BVBI-A and WBS Abuja team, using the BVBI-A students for the outreach program.

Follow-up evangelism and worship continues every Sunday in the month of May and June by students of BVBI-A and instructors of the school in conjunction with members of the nearest local congregation to Gaku.

Details of the evangelism campaign proposal will be communicated in due time, after due consultation with the team members.

Thanks and God bless you.

Alabi Samson

Director, BVBI-A

A new class of students in Mbanga, Cameroon

For the greatness of God is upon His chosen ones, a peculiar people. We are happy to be part of this great work going on in Cameroon and in Mbanga in particular. 

 Greetings to the family of God over the seas and oceans, thousands of miles away from my community. I know it has been for so long that our communication process has been suspended due to much commitment accompanied with some family challenges. Never-the-less, our God is great for taking us through these moments of crisis in my family. So long as God is still sitting on the throne, so long as my Lord liveth, my hope is in him for he is the lion in the tribe of Judah.

To begin with this day, it shall be the Church of Christ in Mbanga that sends salutation. The church in Mbanga is rapidly growing in number and in strength. The church is not totally depending on the students any longer to serve during worship as we are growing and nurturing into maturity. As many continue to flee from the crisis in the English speaking part of our country, or look for a place to send their kids to school, our number also keeps on increasing and by so doing, our students study room that we use for worship becomes smaller and smaller and can at times no longer contain all of our worshippers and so there is an overflow outside. The church is really in need of her own building and is pondering about it at church business meetings. Let us stay in prayer.

 My wife and I regret the loss of her mother, sister Ajoke Magrete. She came for the graduation ceremony in Mbanga in March but only the remains were taken back to the Southwest region for burial. God sees and knows everything. I am happy that she died in our hands even though we fought with her illness for close to a month before God finally called her to rest. This is sister Magrete on the photographs. The next is her children, in-laws and grandchildren after the burial.

 My wish is that you commit this family into God’s hands and especially my wife who is still in the village to round up with family discussions. She is in need of plenty of comfort but I had to rush back home to take care of the family, the church, and the school of preaching. Jesus Christ is Lord.

  A DIEU mama. We really love you but God is happy to receive you now.

 The BVBIC-MBANGA also sends greetings 

The old have gone and new have come.

 The men in blue you see are the graduates from the second batch of students and the men in white are the third batch. The students are doing well as they are still on observation, but some of them are already going out for evangelism on weekends to some areas for intervention. I believe this is going to be a great batch. I believe 3 is always great! We are already planning for our first mission work this June. Our mission work will be to Garoua and but mostly to Ngong were brother Mamoudou Estephane, a graduate from the first batch, is the minister.

It was also good to meet up with some graduates in the field and to see their work. I began with Mamoudou and Victor in the North to know how they are faring and to receiver some testimonies of the work from members of their congregation. It was good to have such a great trip. I think that is needed each year even though it was very painful and stressful. 

Thank you so much my beloved in the Lord. We also had about 4 souls added to the church in Mbanga since the coming of the new batch of students.

Thanks for your sincere work in the vine yard

The staff and administration of BVBI-M

Good and bad news from Arusha

Grace and Peace to you friends. 

This week I have good news and bad news to share with you.  Let's start with the bad news.  We've been praying for rain to help the farm, but we got more than we bargained for!  A cyclone on the southern coast pushed enormous amounts of rain to Arusha.  The school had some flooding and more than 500 of our chickens drowned.  While this is a significant setback for the farm, the team is already hard at work making the best of the situation and figuring out how to recover.

Speaking of recovering, that brings us to the good news.  Our brother, Yusuph Mdaki brings cause for celebration from the Imalamagigo church.  This congregation had previously fallen away.  He writes: 

"Remember, this congregation was the first congregation to be planted at Ushirombo and had more than 120 believers. Many of them backslid because of the two things, first there was no preachers and second, no place for gathering"

Now an ACSOP graduate is ready to work with them, and a Christian has volunteered his home to host the congregation.  They went to the homes of 50 families with the result that 40 families (consisting of 77 people) have been restored!  Let us praise God for this wonderful news, and pray for the future of this congregation.

Till all have heard,

Daniel Gaines
Director
Tanzania Missions

Continued development in Zimbabwe

APRIL 2019 NARRATIVE REPORT

INTRODUCTION

Preachers are not trained in a day. Several building blocks are needed and are laid carefully till we get a quality and competent product. At the end of every month, we look back and see how far God would have taken us in this endeavor. It is our joy to report on the building blocks that we laid in the month of April.  God’s favour has been upon BVBIZ and to this we remain grateful. He has used several of you to get us this far. Besides the value added to the students, more value has also been added to the institution, Bear Valley Bible Institute Zimbabwe.

1.0 SIGN LANGUAGE

Everyone deserves to hear the word of God. BVBIZ takes this seriously. From the 9th to the 17th of April we had the second session of “sign language” training. The first was held last year. BVBIZ students are now conversant with sign language and can now comfortably share the word with the deaf. Great appreciation goes to an anonymous sister who has sponsored this program twice.

2.0 PARTNERS FOR AFRICA

BVBIZ was blessed to receive Dorean Flynn  and his team of Partners for Africa. His work is bare for all to see especially within the churches in Bulawayo and Matabeleland provinces. His organization has also drilled boreholes for communities. It is this organization that blessed BVBIZ with her first borehole in February this year. The team visited the institution with 3 seasoned preachers from the U.S.A on the 11th of April and they had quality time with the students who are direct beneficiaries of the borehole they drilled.                  

3.0 EVANGELISM

Evangelism continued in the month of April. This took place at two levels. Students continued to go out for weekend evangelism every Saturday and Sunday. Areas that were covered included Mambo, Mkoba 12, Nashville, Julena, Midlands State University and Kwekwe.

Besides weekend evangelism, there was a one-week campaign that also took place at Mkoba 4, Mhoba 12 and Chikuku in Masvingo. The congregation at Chikuku was started by BVBIZ in 2017 during the school’s first field program. At this year’s campaign, students were joined by Brother Mashaba of the Gospel Chariot. Students were distributed as follows;

Mkoba 4     :           K.Dube, B. Tengulachepa, T.Kamungeremu, M.Phiri

Mkoba 12   :           T.Dube, T.Chikuni, T.Mangwanda, G.Ndoro

Chikuku       :           S. Tsikada, C.Muzambi, V.Gandiwa, B.Tiyani, I.Mupanduki

The following were the results of the work that was done in April

Total Hours of work                        138

Total sermons                                  11

Total song leading opportunities  25

Devotions (homes)                          18

Devotions (clinics & schools)         5

Counselling sessions                        4

Total prospects                                 260

Lessons taught                                  120

WBS Lessons distributed                66

Tracts distributed                            165

Total restorations                            1

Total baptisms                                 10

4.0 FIELD PROGRAM

From the 22nd of June to the 8th of September, BVBIZ students shall be going for their field practicum in different areas. This is over and above weekend evangelism and one week campaigns that are done every term. In the May report, we shall publish the list of areas that shall benefit. The list will also include names of students who will be going to such areas. This is the time when students will have a longer period of putting theory into practice.

5.1 MIDLANDS GOSPEL MEETING

The Midlands Gospel meeting took place from the 26th-28th of April at Kwekwe. Midlands is one of the provinces with very few congregations in Zimbabwe. BVBIZ rallied the province and the preachers to rise to the challenge of growing the church. Implementation of some of the resolutions will be reported in the subsequent reports. BVBIZ had several opportunities to lead in various capacities during the services that were being conducted there.

6.0 DEVELOPMENT AT SITE

Several developments have taken place this far. Where technical expertise is not needed, students have provided labour. Some of the developments that have been done include;

·         Drilling of 2 boreholes

·         Installation of a solar system and a tank on one of the boreholes

·         Production of a topographical map indicating the site’s bounderies

·         Construction of a room that is used for security purposes and as a store room.

·         Digging of a 9m long and a 3m dip pit for use as a pit latrine (toilet)

In the month of April, a 6m x 4m room was fully constructed. Great appreciation goes to Bear Valley Bible Institute International for providing the funds to construct this room. Another one is under construction using funds raised locally and from savings made. The second room is expected to be complete by the 5th of May. 5 more rooms are needed for BVBIZ to move to this site. Bricks will be molded on site. A solar system will also be needed since there is no electricity in the area.

Besides the construction of buildings above, the following will needs to be done

·         Planting of an orchard (for the provision of food and income to the school).

·         Purchase of beehives for a bee keeping project. The site has a lot of trees which can be used to have this done

·         Construction of fowl runs for poultry projects

·         Preparation for about 2 hectares of land for farming in two stages. Our wish will be to have the first hectare under drip irrigation.  US$2000 is needed to get this done.

7.0 ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Students continued to enhance their skills. After obtaining skills in cabbage production, currently they are working on the raising of tomatoes. The goal is for them to have a source of income as they preach after graduation and furthermore, teach their congregants life survival skills.

8.0 BVBIZ STRATEGIC MAP

BVBIZ is following a 3-year map. This strategic document continues to give strategic direction to the institution. This is a product of the Board, management and other stakeholders. Several efforts being made are in line with this. This month we remind and upraise you, our most esteemed stakeholders, about the existence of the school’s strategic plan. Our desire is for more people and congregations to partner with us in achieving this endeavor. You can always play a part. We include in this report, a small section defining who we are. This is included hereunder.

This plan is intended to ensure that the institution’s core business of training and developing manpower progresses unhindered. The main focus is to direct the institution to become a leading and preferred institution. By 2020, the following should be happening;

·         BVBIZ should produce highly qualified, equipped and competent servants through a robust training and development program.

·         To have an institution with a highly structured program for human capital development that will drive the core business of training and developing servants of God.

·         To have a well-structured resource base that steer the training and development of servants of God.

·         To have an institution with state of the art structures and equipment that will aid the institution to achieve her vision.

VISION

To be a leading and preferred spiritual and academic centre in Zimbabwe and beyond

MISSION

To empower men and women through training and development

VALUES

Biblical Restoration: We believe in teaching what the Bible teaches and be silent where it is silent

Spirituality: We nurture souls to be Christ centred

Integrity: We believe in integrity and strive always to meet the standard of Christ

Stewardship: We believe in honesty while managing resources under our care

Accountability: We are committed to transparency in the employment of resources

Excellence: We strive for higher academic standards .

CONCLUSION

Many things are taking place at BVBIZ as we desire to fulfill our core business of training and developing servants of God. This can be seen by some of those activities highlighted above. This could not have been possible without sacrifices being made by the Woodland Oaks congregation and other various partners both local and international. To God be the glory.

Mathew Muchingam

Director, BVBI-Z

Local church helping in Liberia

Dear Brethren,

Sincere greetings to you and appreciation for all you are doing for the Lord in this part of the World. It is my pleasure to be able to share with you these good news from our work here in Liberia, West Africa. I hope you enjoy reading them and be encourage by them.

GOSPEL CAMPAIGNS

At the beginning of our first year second quarter activities in March, the staffs and students of the Bear Valley Bible Institute Liberia took on two towns that have been calling for the establishment of the church through the Radio program. We went in and stated a house to house evangelism and public preaching for a week. These two campaigns was very successful, being blessed with 43 person obeying the gospel through water baptism. Two new congregations were also started in these two towns with 9 old Christians restored to the church. Our new students are very zealous and I appreciate them so much for their hard work and love for the Lord's work.

Brethren, More campaigns could be done to many communities that have never hear the truth message of God if we can have the financial support to go. If you are interested in saving lost souls for God's kingdom, please partner with us.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

After the campaigns week, we are back in school and continuing our usual classroom activities with all 23 students present in school. All our instructors are also in readiness in Preparing our future ministers or preachers. Our focus for this quarter is on the following topics:

Homiletic-I

Hermeneutic -I( Biblical Interpretations)

The Book of Acts

The Life of Christ- I

The New Testament Church

The Godhead

HELP FROM LOCAL CONGREGATIONS

Since the school supported by you is a way of helping our own people in Africa, especially in Liberia to train men for our congregations here and compliment your wonderful efforts, we are taking the message to our people (local Congregations) to see the need to help the school with whatever they can to help your efforts. One congregation that have understood the message and have started helping the school every first Sunday of a month is the Ganta Church of Christ. They among themselves have decided to bring individually whatever they can on the first Sunday of every month to help the school. We ask that you pray for them and other congregations to follow suit.

APPRECIATION

We are so very appreciative for each of you as you make it possible for the work here to go on. May God richly bless you for the sacrifices.

In Him,

Robert P. Dahn, Jr.

Director- BVBI-L

Nationwide gathering in Zambia

We greet you once again from Luanshya, Zambia! Our prayers are that you and the rest of God’s family there are doing well both in your health and work.

We are also doing well and the work of the Lord is going on very well. We are very glad to report to you that we had a very successful gospel campaign which was held in Lusaka from 19th April, 2019 to 22nd April, 2019. We had a good number of both young and old from different Provinces of Zambia participate in program. The theme for the meeting was “Living the Calling” and each lesson taught emphasized the importance of living out the calling each one has received from the Lord. We also asked three of our former students Clive Kabika, Andrew Mwila and Albert Phiri to accompany as during this evangelistic tour. We were particularly impressed with Albert Phiri who has so far this year baptized two (2) people in his efforts of preaching Christ. We included the trio in our team because we believed that they could be a great encouragement to our current student body as they evangelized. We had a good experience for the work was well done and the students worked together in partnership with brethren from across the country. The meeting served as a reminder to all the youths who were present to be enthusiastic in their Christian living.

Brother Fred Kanangu was among the four keynote speakers who spoke during the meeting. And the lesson that was assigned to him was “Self-Examination”. Brother Cephas Mwamba in his capacity as Dean was asked to make a presentation about the school. In his presentation, Cephas explained the process of application and general entry requirements at BVBI-Zambia. His talk excited both youths and men who asked a lot of questions which he ably handled. At the end of the meeting the following statistics were recorded: Ten (10) souls were added to the Lord's body through water baptism, these were Prosper Kapinga, David Mulenga, Ruth Phiri, Mary Kaniki, Kama Zyu, Sela Nalomba, Stephany Chanda, Agatha Simukonda, Linda Kalebwe and Felix Mpundu. In addition twenty-two (22) peoplewere restored back to the Lord. Most of those who were restored had strayed Pentecostalism and Seventh Day Adventism. On Sunday during the worship assembly attendance we had 1,230 in attendance.

Our students participated immensely in most of the activities of the meeting including leading in singing and small group discussions. They represented the school very well. We will soon make arrangements for our next gospel campaign meeting; such meetings are helping very much on our practical work. We have already received a Macedonian call from Northern Province and we intend to do more on the Copper-belt Province where we are.

We continue to sincerely thank Woodland Oaks Church of Christ for the financial support and indeed their constant prayers for the success of the work here in Zambia. Without these the work of the school here will be very difficult to do and accomplish.  

We love you dearly and may God richly bless you all!

In His Service,

Cephas and Fred

Exciting lineup of classes in Nigeria

Beloved in Christ Jesus..

Greetings from your fellow brethren in Nigeria, most especially most especially the BVBIN and SWSE Ibadan main campus located in Butubutu Village via Badeku/Jago, Ona-Ara L.G.A Oyo State.

Here are some of the report of our activities in the lord for the month of March 2019.

1. OVERVIEW

i.  3RD semester classes continue

ii. Evangelism in Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ekiti State

iii. Bachelor’s degree program commenced

iv. WBS Seminar in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

2. THIRD SEMESTER CLASSES CONTINUE:

This semester classes begins on March 18 and will be concluded on March 10,2019. A 3 days Mass Evangelism will hold in Odo-Sida area in Ondo town, Ondo State from May 3 through 5, 2019. The instructor for this Semester are: Bro Kayode S Eniafe who is handling OTP(minor) & OT Wisdom-2, Bro. Abiola J. Olusoji handling 1&2 Peter & Jude and Christian Home, Bro Isaac Olaniyan handling LOC 2 and Hebrews,Bro Ojo Olugbenga handling Biblical Eschatological and 2 Corinthian, Bro.Silas Guda handling Bible Geography and Romans, Bro Abraham Idu Yeje handling 1&2 Thessalonian while I, Bro.Makinde is handling NT Church-2(Worship),Preacher's Work & Life and Teach with Success

3.EVANGELISM: Our Students continued in  the evangelisation of cities and villages in Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ekiti States throughout the weekends in the month of April 2019. We evangelized Gbongudu and Kute-Ibadan, Ikoyi-Osun State, Ajibawo-Ogun State, Adeyemi area-Ondo State and lastly, Igbara-Odo-Ekiti State and the Lord crowned our efforts with five restoration and a convert.

4. BVBIN BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAM. As the Lord would have it, the first two classes in the Bachelor’s degree program came up at Anuoluwapo’s library in BVBIN and SWSE, Ibadan compound between April 1 through 12,2019. Bro Isaac Olaniyan taught the first class on Research Method-1 while I, Bro Makinde took the second class on the Fundamentals of Faith. Sixteen Students registered for the degree program presently, more serving gospel Preachers are expected to join the August 19-30 classes which will feature Bro Isaac Olaniyan and Bro Steven Ashcraft.

5. WBS SEMINAR: The World Bible School Seminar held in Afaha Obio Eno, between April 12-14,2019 resulted into conversion of six souls and hundreds of WBS lessons were shared and One hundred and Fifty copies of VOTI Volume 99 were freely distributed.

6. ABOUT A STUDENT: Ohaebuka Chinonso Philemon is one of our year 2 students. Presently serving as an evangelist of a congregation in Adeyemi Aea of Ondo town in Ondo State. Born to the family of Bro Cletus Ohaebuka in April 1995 at Imo state. His mission is to be one of the competent gospel ministers in Nigeria in the nearest future.

7. OTHER COMMENT: I taught on Life Ordered by God’s will on April 14 and Patient in Suffering on April 28,2019 at Onikokoro/Gbongudu Congregation during the Sunday morning Bible Class . I’m now teaching on Prayer-Our great privilege in our Wednesday Bible Class. I started the class on April  17 and hope to conclude this class on June 2019.

CONCLUSION: We thank you all for your love and partnership, may the Lord continue to bless all our efforts in his vineyard in Jesus Christ name,Amen.

I remain your fellow servant of God, MAKINDE Ebenezer  Olufemi (Director of Studies, BVBIN & SWSE-IBADAN and WBSFUW)