Gueckedou, Guinea Bear Valley Bible Institute Activity Operations Report for March 2020
Grace and peace be unto you all, supporters, well-wishers and friends of the Guinea Bear Valley Bible Institute in Christ Jesus, our Lord. The month of March has ended, but it was special for us - having an extra ordinary historical event, the first of its kind ever to be remembered in the life and history of this institute and for the church in Guinea! It has to do with the graduation of the first batch of students, 15 evangelists trained to expand the borders of Christ’s kingdom.
The presence and activities of the BV Bible School in this Islamic dominated country of Guinea are remarkable! It shall be said and hereafter ever be remembered that the Lord’s church in Guinea has but one mark of distinction, a "School of Biblical Studies". During the month under review, a few other, but equally important things did take place and I am glad to give you a briefing of these in the order of their occurrence.
Evangelism: A total of 12 persons were converted as a result of evangelism, the usual congregational visit and the 2 baptized during the Bible teaching seminar of the graduation week. These 2 were “visiting members” of the congregation at Nongoa.
Well drill / Agriculture-land: It is good news for Gueckedou, Guinea Bear Valley School Agric-land. Healing Hands International has begun to provide funds for the offer of the agriculture program. Through the Bear Valley Administration a check of the amount needed to drill the well has been made available. Thanks to you, HH.
The Graduation Week – the most historical event yet: The week of 9th to 14th March had been a very busy and important one in the history of the school. There were 3 important events:
a. Graduates and their wives’ seminar – 9th to 10th
b. General Bible teaching seminar 12th to 13th
c. The first batch’s graduation ceremony – 14th March
Some of our special invited guests did not attend due to hesitation for the treat of COVID -19 and other problems. Notwithstanding, a lot of others even non-invited persons within the country were here. The number of participants to each of the programs exceeded our estimates and that was a problem, but a happy one and so we handled it with satisfaction. Some 300 instead of 210 attended the Bible teaching seminar – 2 conversions. And some 600 instead of 420 attended the graduation ceremony.
Then there were many participants from Sierra Leone and Liberia including our able colleagues, the Administrators of the Bear Valley Schools. Also present was Dr. Tom the President of JOS School of Biblical Studies, Nigeria. Needless to mention our Coordinator Steve from the USA. Indeed the program was well attended and what gave it more weight was the presence and remark of the number 1 citizen in the whole Prefecture of Gueckedou, the Prefect himself. This event which was the first of its kind not only for Gueckedou, but for the whole of Guinea will ever remain in history. The local Press who transmitted the message to the National radio was here! As for the rural radio, all the speeches of: the Bear Valley Coordinator, the Gueckedou BV Director and that of the Prefect were repeated for 3 consecutive days with special appraisal remarks. What an important event!
The Number of Graduates
A total of 15 evangelists out of 19 students initially enrolled in March 2018 completed the course and were awarded Certificates / Diplomas. It might be of interest to mention in passing that during the first and second year course of study, these students with the help and support of the staff converted a total of 74 plus 234 =308 persons which made the 3 plus 9 = 12 congregations planted!
Conclusion / Graduation support and Contributions: We are grateful to all of you who participated in whatever way - be it by your presence, financial or material support to make this program a success. We acknowledge the risk some of you took at such a crucial time as it was to come and support us. You did it for Christ and that is why He guided and protected you.
Our Coordinator, Steven Ashcraft is to be commended for his great courage and support! We also received an equivalent of $85.00 from Brother Ismeal Kendor - USA and $50.00 from brother Esang Akpanudo, Nigeria - amount intended to support agriculture land purchase. The brethren from Sierra Leone especially the Kailahun District contributed a tin of 20 liters palm oil and an equivalent of $11.00. Within the country, several congregations contributed rice and palm oil. Others such as Conakry and N’zerekore made a representation who delivered symbolic contributions in cash.
God is to be glorified!
May He also protect His people and wipe away the deadly virus. We thank you all!
Francis