OPERATING REPORT FOR THE MONTH OCTOBER, 2021
The month of October 2021, was indeed a very busy, well-used, and a very fruitful month for us in the Bear Valley Institute of Biblical Studies in Tamale. Busy because we had our students back on campus to continue with their academic activities, as well as us harvesting our farming produce for the school, especially the soybeans and the maize. The busy nature of the month even made it a joyful month for us since we were created to work and serve our Lord. We give God the glory.
TWO DAYS REFRESHING AND EMPOWERMENT
The month of October 2021 started with two days of instructors and Director’s empowerment program with Brother Steven in Nsawam Adogyiri congregation auditorium. The event brought together almost all instructors and directors of Bear Valley Institutions in Ghana. The Coo-Ordinator for Bear Valley Schools in Ghana (Kojo Acquah Beenyi) was also present at the event. We were taken through the standard Syllabi that need to be implemented by all Bear Valley Schools globally. How to effectively run administrative activities in all campuses smoothly was also looked at. The need for consistent communication between schools and the Coo-Ordinator was also dealt with properly. Reporting of Financial and Operating reports were also considered as an important element. We were also taken through some highlight areas on the Research and Writing course smoothly and were told to include it in our courses.
ADMINISTRATION AND ACADEMIC WORK
Office activities are smoothly moving forward in harmony. Working as a team, we continue to maintain good communication in all the things done within the school administratively. There is a great harmony between the staff. We are also able to co-operate successfully and consistently with our Coordinator (Kojo Acquah Beenyi) on issues beyond our capacity. He has been a great support for the Tamale campus.
Between the 4th and the 29th of October 2021, four courses were taught successfully. These courses were; Old Testament 4, which was taught by Brother Albert Tamanja Malir, 2 Corinthians, taught by Brother and Director Adjei Mensah and Denominational Doctrine, also by Director Adjei Mensah and the Life of Christ 3 by Brother James B. Legend.
VISIT
We were blessed to receive Brother Steven Ashcraft in Tamale in the month of October 2021 to look at several issues that concern the development and growth of the school. His visit was a very fruitful one as many things were discussed on administration, academic issues as well as the Kpalsi South congregation. He also while he was here in Tamale, hosted three brothers from Togo to discuss the progress of work in Togo. We in Tamale were blessed to establish a great relationship with our brethren from Togo. His visits to Tamale always bring us many positive benefits. We continue to wish him and his family well in all their days as they work tirelessly and sacrificially to progress the course of Christ in Africa and the world at large.
FUNERAL
One of our hardworking students who was enrolled into this current batch of students couldn’t return back to school when the school reopened. He was taken on by a short ailment just one week after school resumed and he couldn’t join his colleagues. He passed on in that same month. The Director, the staff and some of the students attended the funeral. A donation was made to support the family. He is in the person of Brother Batimor Philemon. It is our hope that he has done the will of our Lord while he was on earth. Amen.
BENEVOLENCE
Brother Joseph Ayimbila, a brother from Agatusi community in the Upper East Region who is residing in Tarkwa in the Western Region came to seek medical treatment for his wife at the St. Lucy Hospital. It became difficult and he had to come and lodge at the school for some period of time for the doctors to handle the situation. He became very motivated and happy about the great investment made in Tamale to train up preachers to go preach the Gospel. So, he purchased one (1) box of pens to support the school and the students.
SCHOOL FARM
Harvesting of the school farms produce was done successfully in the month of October, 2021. The soybeans which we did at Sanguli and that of the Maize at Chamba respectively. We did five acres of each of these crops. The harvesting of the Soybeans brought together several congregations in the Sanguli, Zabzugu and Tatale Area. Congregations like Nbolado, Zabzugu, Jomoani, Osonado, Bipkajab, Kparibontaabo, Nkpani and Sanguli. It was a great communal labor that we organized to do the harvest. It brought together 16 preachers of the Lord’s church that are all products of Bear Valley Institute. We had a great fellowship together and also took the opportunity to charge them to all work in the interest of the school and the Lord’s Church. We took the privilege to canvas for students for our next batch. Brethren were happy to be of help to the progress of the school. In all we had 10 ½ bags of soybeans to the glory of the Lord. These 10 and half bags of soybeans were to be sold now, we are going to get about ₵4,000.00, A profit of ₵1,500.00 and more because ₵2,500.00 was invested in it. If stored for a period of time, we are likely to get a 100% profit of our investment.
The Maize at Chamba on the other hand couldn’t produce much because of the rain pattern. However, we had about five bags of maize which if sold now, could produce an amount of about ₵1,300. This will mean, we didn’t realize any profit from the maize because of the rain pattern. ₵2,500.00 as well was invested in the Maize farm of five acres respectively. In all, it would still mean, we haven’t run at loss in the investment we made on the farming project. There is the likelihood that we will make a profit more than ₵1,500.00 in totality. It is a good beginning, and I believe we can do better if we choose to continue in the coming years with the help of God.
Note; these farming projects have the potential of helping us have fellowship with our past students as well as an avenue we could use to recruit students if utilized properly.
SOUTH KPALSI CONGREGATION
We glorify the Lord for His kind mercies and grace upon the Kpalsi South congregation. One soul was added to the Church in the month of October, 2021. We give God the glory for His saving grace.
PERSONALITY PROFILE
A 23 years old young man Emmanuel Balefam from Gbingbani in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo district of the North East Region is the person we profiled in the month of October.
Born by Yadabe Balefam Samuel and Tibiana Balefam, who are both members of the Lord’s Church in Gbingbani is a very tall slim young man that have chosen to educate himself in the Bible (in Bear Valley Tamale current batch) and to preach the saving Gospel of Christ to the world. His parents were Christians before he was born.
His father encountered the gospel of Christ in 1998 when he was on his way to another community to perform a sacrifice to his gods. According to him, though that very day he didn’t give his life to Christ, his heart was troubled. He went further to perform his sacrifice, but not with joy. Some weeks later, he encountered another group of people of the Lord’s church preaching the saving grace of God in his village. This time around, he gave himself up for baptism. From there, the church was established at Gbingbani. His wife also got baptized and his children as well. Making his whole family a Christian home.
Brother Emmanuel Balefam was therefore born into a Christian home and it wasn’t difficult for him to come to Christ. In Northern Ghana, if the family head isn’t a Christian, sometimes, it will be very difficult converting members of the family. Emmanuel gave his life to Christ on August 10th, 2017.
Emmanuel is a Senior High School graduate with an excellent result but yet decided to come to the Bible college. The preacher for the Gbingbani congregation, though not a trained preacher, left the congregation in 2019, and it was then difficult for them to be able to worship the Lord properly. Upon completing Senior High, he negotiated with his father to come to the Bible college, so he could come and be of help to the congregation. When he had decided to come to the Bible College, one of our past students (Bintim Eric) got engaged with the congregation at Gbingbani, yet brother Emmanuel said, no turning back. While in the college, the earlier parts of this year 2021, he had a scholarship he had applied for in 2020 to continue his secular education in the University. He decided he isn’t turning back any longer. Emmanuel Balefam is currently one of the most intelligent students of our students. He is now engaged in farming apart from Biblical education. One of my visitation’s journeys with Brother Steven, we went to Gbingbani and his father told us he had taken their preacher to be one of his sons. So, whatever he does for his children, he does the same for the preacher. That man is Emmanuel Balefam’s father. Emmanuel by all standards is a great student and positively going to be a good preacher for the Lord’s Church and possibly the school as well.
Glory and honor to our glorious Father for his mercies, Amen.
Thank you,
Bear Valley Tamale.