REPORT OF THE BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE – WARRI CENTERS
JANUARY –MARCH 2023
INTRODUCTION
This is another opportunity for us to express our profound gratitude to God Almighty for His graciousness toward us. The gospel work is growing and the current awareness is permeating the fabrics of the Nigerian space. The Bear Valley Family and her excellent workers are reaching out and are getting more courageous in disseminating the Word into hinterlands. Our gratitude again, goes to the Bear Valley Family in Denver USA for their unflinching support. We pray for all those working hard in this partnership as well as our support groups that God continues to keep us strong as we carry on the gospel work.
ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
DSC CENTER
Studies started in high spirit at the DSC center of the school. Godwin Ojocheogwu discussed the book of Galatians. The book of Galatians emphasized that Christians are justified by faith and not by the works of the law (Circumcision, Sabbath, animal sacrifice etc) as meritorious works. A total of twenty-one (21) students wrote the exams.
In the month of February, Solomon Usim, taught Church History. The study emphasized the prophecy of the departure from the New Testament teaching as well as the persecution that lasted through the first three centuries. The study concluded with the history of restoration. A total of eighteen (18) students sat for the exams.
In the month of March, Abiola Vincent Ojoade taught the course, The Life of Christ III. In the study, Luke presented Jesus as the Son of Man, who came to seek and save the lost. A total of twenty (20) students sat for the exams.
PTI CENTER
The PTI Center resumed studies in January and Solomon Usim taught the course Christian Evidence. The course had a great impact on the students as many of them found new reasons to believe in the existence of God. The study material was elaborate and strengthened the faith of both the students and the instructor. A total of eleven (11) students sat for the course.
In the month of February, Meredith Ovwromoh, handled the course 1st and 2nd Peter and Jude at the PTI center. The General Epistle was written to strengthen the faith of Christians under persecution elucidating the dramas that comes with living a Christian life and the reward that awaits those who will stand firm till the end. Twelve (12) students wrote the exams.
Moreover, in the month of March, Solomon Usim, taught the course Homiletics. The course focused on sermon preparation delivery. It helped the students understand that in sermon delivery, they must not just be prepared but it must be manifestly and undoubted be clear that they have been prepared during the delivery. Further, the course insisted that preachers must preach the word in season and out of season. Finally, we must stay with the Scripture in the preparation and delivery of sermons. A total of twelve (12) sat for the exams.
CAMPAIGN PROGRAM
On the 18th of February 2023, one of the Bear Valley students, Michael Itenegbedia, preaching for the church of Christ 4, Ejemuderoke Street, Off PTI Road Effrune, Delta State, invited the students for a one-day door to door evangelism. The students came out in their numbers and evangelized mainly, Ovie Palace Road and its environs. The evangelism yielded two baptisms. The Bear Valley Evangelism programme has revived evangelism especially in my own congregation, the Church of Christ Okoh. The revival has led to baptisms to the glory of God’s name
CHALLENGES
The first quarter of 2023 has been one of a kind. The Nigerian experience has really been a difficult one. We started the year with the news of a new monetary policy aimed at creating a cashless economy or recouping monies that were not in circulation and were not in the banks. It was that so much money was hidden by citizens in various secret vaults. Deadlines were given by the Nigerian government, requiring every citizen to take their monies to the banks. After the monies were deposited, the new naira notes were not given out by the banks, thereby creating a cash crunch. This created a terrible situation for the country such that there was no cash to buy or sell and bank transfers were so poor. Petrol scarcity exacerbated the already existing epileptic power supply. The effect of all these were that Bear Valley students paid more to get to school, that is, for those dedicated ones, while some could not attend for the same reason. The election created a tense situation for all. Thanks be to God that we navigated through all that and are recovering gradually. We solicit your prayers for a better Nigeria.
BREAKDOWN OF THE FIRST QUARTER’S EVENTS
1. Number of Students- forty-seven (47)
2. Number of Campaigns held by students/teachers this quarter- one (1)
3. Number of Baptisms from Evangelical work by students/teachers this year- twenty-one (21)
4. Number of New Congregation Planted-None
5. How many Teachers are in the school? Four (4)
6. Number of Churches Restored-None
CONCLUSION
The first quarter has indeed been fruitful. We pray for more grace and support as we navigate through the second quarter. We pray that God guides and protects all our support groups and our coordinators who travelled to oversee the works over here and in different countries of the world.