BEAR VALLEY INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES, TAMALE - GHANA
JANUARY 2024 OPERATING REPORT
The year 2023 ended successfully on a high note; giving us a lot of anxiety for the year 2024. We give glory to God for crossing all of us through into the year 2024. In the month of January, 2024, we kicked started the year 2024 with lots of hope for the future. We started 2024 in higher grounds, praying that the year will move forward in a very positive direction as we are hoping for. We wish all a happy new year. And we hope the Lord keeps us all safe till the day appointed for eternity. Below are a series of activities we engaged in the month of January 2024.
KPALSI SOUTH CONGREGATION
Leadership is one of the greatest arms of the church that can bring growth in all areas of every congregation. Leaders were appointed in the year 2023 for the Lord’s church in the local congregation in Kpalsi South. We saw it necessary, for a smooth progress of the congregation, to reinforce the leadership in January 2024 for a more effective and sound running of the congregation. New leaders were added, while some of the old ones were replaced, and some moved from where they were serving to a more suitable area. We praise God for guiding us as a congregation to run effectively.
We also in the month of January hosted a love feast that brought together members of our congregation, neighbors (most were Muslims) and sister congregations in Tamale. We took advantage of the event to share the word of God and we shared some physical supper with them. It was an admirable event.
In the month of January 2024 also, one soul was added to the Lord’s church by the grace and mercy of God. We praise God for the many blessings we continue to enjoy.
Kpalsi South congregation indeed received some extreme blessings in January 2024. Brother Steven Ashcraft was also in Tamale, and did bless us with some great spiritual meals on giving. We pray that the Lord gives long life, peace and good health. We pray not for only him, but him and his entire family.
EVANGELISTIC STEPS
It is emphatically true without a bit of doubt that evangelism (soul winning) is the center of God’s heart. Christ died because of souls. He died to seek and to save the lost as stated in Luke 19:10. Brother Steven Ashcraft, with his absolute commitment for mission work and souls, was in Ghana in the month of January, and came to Northern Ghana, precisely Tamale to embark on some fruitful activities towards our evangelistic efforts. Haven inspired us to increase our evangelistic efforts by establishing evangelistic teams across Northern Ghana, it was necessary for him to come evaluate, strengthen and encourage us for the work ahead of us.
STAFF MEETING: Brother Steven’s first activity when he arrived in Tamale was to hold a staff meeting with the resident staff in the school to evaluate the work being done. He took time to guide and instruct us on the way things could be done more effectively for a much better result. Some of the things discussed were related to administration, recruitment for the next batch, the need for better team work, the evangelistic efforts within Tamale, and the entire Northern Ghana and also cross border evangelistic work. We had a very successful discussion with a wonderful and harmonious end.
MEET WITH EVENAGLIST TEAMS: The second meeting he held was with the evangelistic teams established across Northern Ghana. Brother Steven took time to define our common goal, which is to save souls and establish and maintain strong congregations. He further gave some ideas and ways we could achieve this goal. Provision was made for individual teams to make a brief presentation on how each of them goes about their work in their localities. Brother Steven came back to encourage each of them and gave his comments on what they could do better for a much better result.
MEETING WITH EVANGELISTS FROM TOGO AND GHANA: Brother Steven also held a meeting with the Tamale staffs who are into evangelistic work with two evangelists from Togo to exchange some knowledge and ideas to see how possible we could collaborate to work in the border cities between the two nations and possibly other nations that share borders with us. There is also currently a denominational preacher and members' conversion lessons that are going on in Tamale that we in Tamale learned from the brethren from Togo through Brother Steven. Their presence was an opportunity for us to tap into their success stories and make good use of it. Meeting them gave us a better perspective of what works better for that and what doesn’t, with them being the pioneers. We also considered the need for us to work together in our efforts to reach out to some of the Francophone nations. It was also a wonderful meeting.
MISSIONARY JOURNEY TO SAMPA (GHANA) AND BONDOUKOU (IVORY COAST): The two evangelists from Togo (Fidele and Cephas), together with Brother James Legend (Ghana Tamale), embarked on a missionary journey with Brother Steven Ashcraft after the meetings in Tamale which all took place between the 12th and the 15th of January, 2024 to Sampa, under the Bono Region in Ghana.
At Sampa, they met with the Preach for the only congregation in Sampa and some of the sisters who were available to discuss matters of the church and possible evangelistic work. We had a very smooth discussion, where we considered the possibility of the brethren in Sampa working with the Brethren in Bondoukou for effective missionary work. It was a very fruitful dialogue, which got the preacher for Sampa (Brother Sa-Yaw David) inspired to join us to cross the border to Bondoukou to meet with the Brethren there for better conclusion.
We all crossed the Border into Ivory Coast, to meet with the brethren in Bondoukou. Brother Koffi Roger, an evangelist from Abijan in Ivory Coast also traveled to join the team at Bondoukou for the missionary journey. We met Brother Amadou Logossina Quattara, who is the evangelist for the congregation in Bondoukou town in his residence. A very fruitful meeting took place, but was inconclusive, because it was necessary to have some of the evangelists who are from that locality, and are working with Brother Amadou to contribute to the discussion. Brother James and Brother David (from Sampa) who are Ghanaian were tasked to return to Sampa and lodge, so they hold a meeting the following day with Brother Amadou and all the concerned evangelists included to find a way forward. Brother Steven and the rest of the team lodged at Bondoukou that day, which was the 17th of January, 2024 so they could continue with the missionary journey forward, toward Sera-León, Liberia, Guinea etc.
As planned, Brother James and Brother David went and lodged at Sampa, and returned to Bondoukou on the 18th of January, 2024 for the meeting. Four additional evangelists join the meeting together with Brother Amadou, James and David. A very fruitful conclusion was drawn at the end of the meeting. The Brethren from Bondoukou were ready and did accept to team up and work as a team to help strengthen, restore and plant new congregations in their area. They also saw the need for them to train up leaders and possibly also implement the denominational program to help convert denominational pastors and leaders into the Lord’s church. We also agree that the brethren from Ghana and Togo make time and join the brethren in Bondoukou to inspire, encourage and help in their efforts. After the meeting, Brother David and James Returned to Ghana and James proceeded from Sampa to Tamale. We praise the Lord.
AIDING WORKING EVANGELIST
In the month January 2024, as part of the efforts of Brother Steven to encourage evangelists who are doing their best for the work of our master Jesus, he made funds available to purchase a motor bike for one of the committed preachers in the Upper East Region. He is Brother Elijah from Sandema, who works for the Sandema Wiega Congregation. He is also working with the Sandema Bolga Evangelistic team. Brother Elijah was very appreciative with support given to him to aid him in his work as a preacher. He pledges to do his best to use the machine for the interest of Christ. Words of encouragement were also given to him during the presentation ceremony.
JOINT EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN
Towards the end of the month of January, we embarked on a joint evangelistic campaign to the North East Region, precisely, Bunkpurugu. We embarked on a one week church strengthening mission. The Tamale evangelistic team together with the students and the Bunkpurugu team came together to embark on this one week journey. We had a very fruitful journey. We had door to door or one on one studies with individuals throughout, as well as the public preaching in the evenings.
Topics treated at the public preaching were, the three dispensations, the one true Church, The Holy Spirit and Miraculous Gifts, Worship of the Church and the Judgement of God. Indeed, all the activities that took place were worth it. At the end of the program, 28 souls were added to the Lord’s Church, with 5 restored successfully. We give God the glory.
It is our hope that God will help us do more for His kingdom this year forth.
Thank you,
Bear Valley Tamale