Dear fellow ministers of God,
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you all from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ who is our hope and our strength.
CAMPUS CHURCH: Due to a month of teaching practice for both year one and two students of the Southwest School of Evangelism (SWSE), we were very few in attendance for the morning and evening devotion and Wednesday Bible class at Butubutu campus church. The morning and evening devotion is being rotated between me and brother Abraham Idu Yeje, our campus minister since July 12th. On Wednesday, July 12th, for Bible class I taught on “Help from Above” (Psalm 121). On July 22nd, I taught on “God's Channel of Salvation” (Gen. 6:1–6; Matt.18:13-19), and on July 29th, Lord willing, I will teach on “An Empty Manson” (John 14:1-3).
ONIKOKORO / GBONGUDU CONGREGATION IBADAN: Two SWSE students, brother Destiny Elijah Sunday and brother Gabriel Ishom are serving for a month at the Onikokoro /Gbongudu congregation and they are in charge of our Wednesday Bible class, Saturday youth class, and also leading the church in evangelism within and outside our environ. On July 12th, brother Gabriel Ishom taught from the book of Jonah 1-4, while I admonished the church from Jonah chapter 2 (cf. Matt.14:22ff, John 11) titled “When Things Fall Apart, What Is The Way OUT?” On July 19th & 26th, I taught on “The Highway to Heaven” (Isaiah 35:1-10). Brother Makinde John admonished the church on July 19th on “Getting your Focus Right” (Col.3:1-4), and brother Destiny Elijah, on July 26th, admonished the church on “Peacemaker.”
THREE DAY OPEN AIR BIBLE LECTURESHIP: The three day open-air Bible lectureship organized by the Onikokoro / Gbongudu congregation was another success, even though there is no convert yet, but we thank God that the inhabitants of Gbongudu ,Olukotun and Olosun were receptive to the truth. The theme of that lectureship was “Salvation in Christ,” from July 17th to July 19th, 2015.
Brother Gabriel Ishom did a comparative between the Ark of Noah and the church of Christ on July 17th. On Saturday and Sunday evening, I spoke on “Jesus Christ as the Last Prophet” from Deuteronomy 18:14-19 and the only way to the Father.
13TH ANNUAL BIBLE LECTURESHIP / GRADUATION: This year’s annual lectureship at SWSE Ibadan main campus will witness the presence of two seasoned ministers of God from America / Bear Valley Bible Institute International of Denver, Colorado, in the persons of brother Steven Ashcraft and brother David Ballard. Also, all arrangements have been concluded to present all our year-2 graduates with a box of gospel materials each sent to us by Mission Printing, Inc.
We are looking forward to accommodate and feed over 200 brethren from all parts of our great country-Nigeria. The sum of $500 is budgeted for July 10th - August 11th for students TP and $1,500 for this year’s annual Bible Lectureship / Graduation. Brethren, we do not have enough strength to carry this load alone! We therefore humbly appeal to godly men and women in USA and Canada to please assist us as usual through any of of these men of God: brother Doug Wheeler, brother Steven Ashcraft, brother David Ballard, brother Bob Turner, or brother Bill Pennell, a close associate of brother Doug Wheeler and the VP of the African Christian School Foundation. No amount is too small or big to partner with us in these notable events at Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
Gospel literature from World Evangelism, World Bible School, Mission Printing, the late brother John Waddey, the left over VOTI vol. 83, and the new edition of Voice of Truth International Vol.84 will be freely distributed to all participants, while regular recipients of VOTI that are not present in the forth coming 13th annual Bible lectureship / Graduation will receive their package for distribution by mail. After the end of the 4th semester tests, ten of our present year-1 students will be graduating with a Diploma in Biblical Studies, while nine will be graduating with Advanced Diploma / BVBI certificate on August 28, 2015, Lord willing.
Due to the importance of the BVBI Certificate on the continent of Africa, six out of the present twelve instructors at SWSE Ibadan & Lagos campus were also engaged in seventeen Bible related courses in early September 2014 through July 2015 to qualify for the award of BVBI certificate.
CHANGE OF NAME: There is a move to change the present Southwest School of Evangelism, Ibadan and Lagos campus, Nigeria to Bear Valley Bible Institute-Nigeria, Ibadan in the near future to make all the Bible school extension sites affiliated with Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver, Colorado USA wearing the same names and operate under the same umbrella, which will be more effective and more efficient. This arrangement will be put into action whenever the BVBI complete the logo and meet with the contributors to SWSE Ibadan, Nigeria most especially brother Douglas M.Wheeler, SWSE-Patron and Special Adviser.
REPORT FROM STUDENTS ONE MONTH TP: Reports thus far received from our students show the conversion of twenty-five souls and the restoration of twenty-five erring Christians. Brother Shotola Segun Emmanuel and brother Ishkwu Samuel Chukwuenekwe recorded the highest converts so far. The Lord blessed their efforts with Abusoro brethren in Akure, Ondo state with five souls on July 12th, 2015. To God be the glory!
Brethren, I will always thank God that you are all part of my life and my ministry! Thanks for your continuous support for the Lord's work in this part of the world called Africa. Remain blessed and always remember the word of our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 6:38 and 1 Corinthians 15:58.
I am looking forward to meet you all in heaven after our journey on earth!
Your fellow faithful servant of the Lord Jesus,
Makinde Ebenezer Olufemi
(Director of Studies)
Southwest School of Evangelism (SWSE), Ibadan & Lagos, Nigeria - West Africa