Bear Valley Bible Institute Ekwendeni is one of the extension schools for BVBI - International of Denver Colorado. We are dedicated to training preachers the health Doctrine (Sound Doctrine). It has taken us 3 years to graduate the current class due to the breaks we had because of the pandemic. Otherwise it is a 2 years course to get one graduate. We are thankful that our students persevered all this long and today they have sung a song of Joy.
This month of October was a blessed month that we had 3 visitors from states; Brother Donnie came to teach short course from the 10th to the 14th of October, 2022, while Brother Tim and Mike from Hillcrest Missouri (USA) came to see the work of construction they have done through their congregation support and officially handing the building to the BV Ekwendeni school. It was a moment full of excitement for all of us including the traditional chiefs who came to witness this. The short course also ended with a graduation ceremony which took place on the 15th of October, 2022 whereby Tim was the guest of honor!
Seeing our graduating students, we were also excited with the news they shared about baptisms happening in their respective homes. It is really all about good news!
Short course
Donnie Estep taught the last class before the graduation and was impressed with the performance of the students and the change they have made so far. It really proved to him that he was teaching the graduates.
Graduation
In life there's alot of things people cerebrate and feel the joy of life, things like birthdays, weddings but more to this when someone finishes a higher diploma course at any institution, this too brings Joy and excitement. It was on the 15th of October 2022 when BV Ekwendeni new campus was covered in full excitement and joy. Students dressed nicely as they cerebrate their day of award after completing 3 years of Biblical studies. Chiefs around the school campus were invited, former students, one of Mzuzu Bible college teachers and not forgetting the congregation that has always been hosting our students that is Chinungu church of Christ members were available! We praise God for the joy shared. We had 14 students graduated this year.
Construction work
The construction work is in progress, as we reported that the hostels are finished, the toilets and shower rooms finished and now we want to start the kitchen and possibly the guest house constructed once the funds allow us to. The guest house is very important that it will be able to accommodate the short course teachers, visitors from states would be accommodated with no lodging costs as of now all visitors from abroad we have to accommodate them at the lodge but when we have the guest house at school campus, this could save their costings at the lodge. The Group Village Head has promised us in presence of our visitors, that if BVBI - International wants more development at the campus in Ekwendeni Malawi, they are happy to extend the land for us even more!
Baptisms
The students have reported 15 baptisms at the end of their practical work before their graduation and also 6 more souls restored. Our students are coming from almost the whole part of Malawi. We have students from Pharombe boadering Mozambique, Machinga, Blantyre, kasungu, mzimba, Karonga, Ntchisi and also Nkhataby districts. The news about school is everywhere. Our purpose is that as long as we have the Ability and Opportunity; Responsibility to train more men is with us - 2 Timothy 2:2
Next semester
Our next semester will reopen the first week of February, 2023. We like opening in this month, that we give enough time our students to cultivate their land and plant crops, as subsistence farming is our major source of food. November, December and January is farming time. This time we have 30 prospective students enrolled. Pray for their families as they have stepped into this path of learning God's word.
We always appreciate the effort the BVBI-International give us through monthly support. We remember you and your families in our daily prayers. God has a reward for you for this work. We also remember to give praise to God for the brethren at Hillcrest Missouri for helping us with all the construction work which is still in progress. God guide you in all you do to make sure BV Ekwendeni is independent with our campus well built. This has put the BV Ekwendeni school on the map with the good looking buildings.
There are still souls to be saved - Think Souls!
Yours truly brothers in Christ,
Ephron and Clergynton