Bear Valley Bible Institute Report – 2024-2025
The year 2024 has come to an end. Currently, three students are studying at our institute, and two of them will graduate this year. We continue to make every effort to increase the number of students.
Initiatives to Attract Students
To attract more people to the institute, we have launched online courses on various topics, such as Time Management and Financial Stewardship. People are joining these courses and participating remotely.
At the end of January, we will also begin an in-depth Greek Language Study course. These efforts aim to keep the institute visible and help people learn more about our programs.
Courses Taught This Year
This year, we have offered the following courses:
• In January, I taught the course on World Religions.
• Alexander Ratkevich taught the second part of Homiletics.
• Currently, Michael Underwood is teaching the course on Prison Epistles.
Visit to Missionaries in the Czech Republic
During the winter break, we visited Bear Valley missionary Tony Orlean and his wife, who are currently serving in Olomouc, Czech Republic. They are in the early stages of establishing a church there. While their congregation is still small, it includes a Ukrainian family and a few local Czech individuals.
We pray that the Lord blesses their ministry. We hope that our visit was an encouragement to them, as they were to us.
Churches in Europe remain very weak, as many people are primarily focused on earning money and material pursuits. Please continue to pray for the church in Europe, that materialism and distorted worldviews do not consume the hearts of its people.
The War in Ukraine
Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine continues with no visible changes on the battlefield. Soldiers and civilians lose their lives daily, and the frontline is gradually moving closer to central Ukraine. Large parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as parts of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, remain under occupation.
We ask you to continue praying for the following:
• The recruitment of new students for the upcoming academic year.
• The Church in Ukraine during these challenging times.
• Wisdom for preachers and teachers as they carry out their ministry.
Family Update
My family and I remain in Germany, where we attend a church in Leipzig. We also have a small Bible study group at our home, for which we are very grateful.
Encouraging News from Uzhhorod
In Uzhhorod, our brother and teacher, Oleg Fofanov, continues to baptize new believers, and the church there is growing steadily.
Special thanks to Brother Terry Harman, who has been holding online classes to support this church.
Gratitude
We are sincerely thankful to all sponsors, teachers, institute staff, preachers, and everyone who supports our work. Your contributions and prayers are invaluable to us.
With love and respect,
Your brother in Christ,
Denys Sopelnyk