Our God is able to do what no man can do. He took us through 365 days with joy, favor, good health, and above all, love that binds us together.
We pray for a happy and prosperous new year to the big Bear Valley family. It has been quite some time that you haven't received my report out there. But,I am pleased again this morning as I report to you on how the work is going on in Cameroon and in Mbanga in particular. My family sends special greetings to you all over there. The staff of the BVBIC-Mbanga also send their greetings and appreciation for your partnership in the year 2019. The students send greetings and appreciations also. This photo was taken during the meeting held with the instructors and the students as we begin this 4th quarter of the 1st year with our 3rd batch of students. The Mbanga Balong assembly also send salutations.
Let me beginning with the work of BVBIC-Mbanga. We ended with the last quarter successfully. Both students and student’s wife had their short course after the main part of the quarter. During the short course, we had brother Evaristus and brother Nicanor teaching the sisters while brother Desire was teaching one of the short courses to the students on the book of Galatians. It was great to have the alumni coming back to help their own alma matter.
God accompanied us through this period and next on our scheduled was the long-awaited annual lectureship of the churches of Christ in Cameroon that was to be hosted by the campus church of Christ here in Mbanga. Both BVBIC- and all were involved both the BVBIC-Mbanga and the Mbanga congregation were involved in the planning and hosting of the lectureship.
It was a great gospel lectureship. About 600 persons were present all together and God added 5 souls during the 5 days of lectureship and evangelism in Mbanga. Our next rendezvous will be in Bangante.
My beloved brethren, the field is vast but the laborers are few. God has blessed us this year with a big number of students to facilitate the work in our institution. The newly created congregations are experiencing rapid growth in some areas such as Loum and Banjock. The brothers are ready to sacrifice all their time just to go and preach and struggle to come back by Monday morning and continue with studies that same morning even after a sleepless night.
About 15 souls have been added to the church in these new areas as well as 4 restored brethren. Bibles are handed over to all of these converts some in French and some in English. Some are given to prospects who are in need. May God bless you as you put these assemblies into your prayers.
Here are the results of the third quarter field work for the students in Mbanga. 16 brethren went out to 14 assemblies and spend 2 weeks with each before they went for holidays for 10 days. Our students went as far as to Tchad republic and to the far north regions of Cameroon. Actually 2 were programmed to go to the far north but as the demand became high, I finally send 3. The third was out of my sponsorship as God blesses me. Our students all together had 35 baptisms, 5 restoration and the restoration of another big family that had abandoned the worship of God in favor of a denomination. One newly assembly was established in Tchad during this field work and many souls listened to the gospel in one way or another.
The school of preaching in Mbanga is doing her best to reach all the corners of the earth. If we could also have a “Gospel Chariot” for evangelism, it would help us to get into the interior of some new areas that I, Ititi Benedict, the director has seen to be fruitful for evangelism.
Up-coming events:
The school is preparing for her first evangelistic campaign of this year to Santcho next weekend. We are praying to our God for it to be a success.
News Break:
Our morning radio program is moving on well every day as from 5 am from our campus. Thanks so much for the equipment and the prayers. We receive this new year with some increased amount of seriousness in our work due to new opportunities like this one.
Yours in the service,
Ititi Benedict and wife, my mission partner