Joziah Townsend has officially graduated! On the first of December, we held a graduation at the Wellington church building. Todd O’Donnell came down from Foxton and delivered a lesson on the impact even one Christian can make on the world for Christ. Trevor Major from Auckland also flew down and shared in the keynote speech. In addition to Joziah, we also honored our two new full-time students: Monique Knopert and Michelle Stretch. Joziah plans to attend university next year and study psychology. Pray for him as he continues to use his knowledge and skills for the kingdom of God. Monique and Michelle hope to graduate next year.
Posts tagged #New Zealand
The Stewarts go to New Zealand
We are so grateful to have had Bill and Pam Stewart from Denver with us this past week. All together, they taught for about fifty hours. Bill and Pam taught a marriage enrichment seminar for the church in Wellington. Pam taught an Evangelistic Women seminar in Porirua. And Bill taught a short course on Revelation for BVBINZ. Could you imagine studying through the entire book of Revelation in four days? The students studied with Bill from 8am to 4pm for four days in a row. It is clear Bill is the man for the job. He knows the book well.
Today, I finished the first section of three in my Life of Christ 2 class. Graduation is in five and a half weeks. We are now working on the schedule for the next term.
Upcoming guests in New Zealand
We look forward to our time with Bill and Pam Stewart from Bear Valley Bible Institute. If the Lord wills, they will arrive on 12 October. They will be teaching a Marriage Enrichment Seminar in Wellington, Bill will be teaching a short course on Revelation in BVBINZ, and Pam will be teaching an Evangelistic Women Seminar in Porirua. All that in seven days!
I just finished putting together my notes and syllabus for my course next month—Life of Christ 2: Sermon on the Mount, Judgment, and Parables.
If the Lord wills, we will be graduating our second class on 1 December. This class consists of one student: Joziah Townsend. We will also be honouring our two new full-time students during the ceremony: Michelle Stretch and Monique Knopert. We hope to graduate them before the end of 2020.
Gratitude for BV in New Zealand
We currently have three full-time students, and they are all doing very well. Monique, our youngest student, and her mother came up to me the other day saying, “We are so glad you brought Bear Valley to New Zealand.” Of course, I had to inform them it wasn’t me, and I am also thankful to be a part of the Bear Valley family.
The specific reason on their minds was because some Jehovah’s Witnesses knocked on their door the other day. Typically, they would have said, “No thanks.” This time, however, Monique had just come home from class and had the Scriptures on her mind. She was able to engage in very thoughtful conversation with the nice lady at her door. They spent some time reading the Scriptures Monique brought up, and God was glorified. We are all thankful for what God is doing through BVBINZ. And we’re thankful for those who sacrifice for it to be reality.
Lance Mosher, Director
Counting victories in New Zealand
We are about to enter the last six months of this term, and perhaps the final six months of BVBINZ…for now. It seems that, by December, we will have trained all the Christians we can in New Zealand, so we will put the work down for now. The way that we have had BVBINZ set up will allow us to pick it back up in the future if another student body is ready to enroll.
We have enjoyed the adventure that BVBINZ has provided. We have worked hard to train several men and women of God for ministry. We are all thankful for those who have sacrificed to make this possible. But we are not finished just yet.
In this past month, we have had another full-time student—Michelle—enroll in BVBINZ. She will continue studying with us through December. And even beyond December, we will work with her through independent studies.
We are working closely with Joziah Townsend to help him graduate in December of this year. He has proven to be a great servant in the church, and we look forward to seeing where God takes him in his ministry.
Lance Mosher, Director
Door to door in New Zealand
Some students and staff from BVBINZ participated in a campaign this past month in Palmerston North. The majority of the work revolved around door-knocking and offering the community personal Bible studies. It’s normal in these campaigns for about a dozen people to say yes to a Bible study, and then most of them tapering off, until the local worker is left with two or three Bible studies.
This campaign was different. Even now, weeks after the campaign ended, Kent O’Donnell is studying with thirteen people originally contacted through the campaign! Because of that, our full-time student, Joziah, has stayed in Palmerston North to help with the studies, where he has been taking his courses with us online.
Lance Mosher
Great course offerings in New Zealand
As I write this, it is the morning of the final exam for my The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit course. The students have been great. I wonder what they would say about the instructor?
We have enjoyed the zeal of some new part-time students who have picked up some extra courses. One in particular has gained much confidence and has been placed on the preaching roster in Wellington.
BVBINZ Courses This Quarter:
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit (Lance Mosher)
Public Speaking 2 (Rod Kyle)
Life of Christ 1 (James Cammock)
James and 1, 2, & 3 John (Kent O’Donnell)
Christian Evidences (Trevor Major)
In Christ,
Lance Mosher
Director, BVBI-NZ
Real world evangelism in New Zealand
The first quarter continues well. We are grateful for our students, instructors, coordinators, and supporters!
The students in the Personal Evangelism 1 course have had 123 religious conversations, set fifteen Bible studies, and conducted nine Bible studies in the past month. Keep praying for them and the souls they reach out to!
Dora, one of our recent graduates, organised our presence in a local market in October. Our BV students participated by speaking to people and handing out literature.
Thank you to everyone who is interested in our work.
Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director
The first graduation in New Zealand
We made it! Our first school term has closed, and we have honoured three students for their hard work. They have taken 48 courses together. We have seen tremendous growth in them in the past two years. On the 29th of July, we were blessed to have Mark Reynolds from Bear Valley in the USA bring a fantastic sermon on “The Faith of Our Fathers.” We then held graduation at the Porirua church building for our students.
Jay was a banker by trade in 2016. He left his job to study in BVBINZ for two years. Having graduated, he will now work as a full-time evangelist with the church in Porirua.
Daniel was a builder by trade in 2016, and he put his career on hold to study in BVBINZ for two years. Now that he has completed the program, he plans to move to another city in New Zealand where the church could use some help. He will continue his work as a builder while applying his knowledge and skills gained at BVBINZ to the local work.
Dora was a school teacher in 2016. She left her job to study at BVBINZ. Now that she has completed the program, she is going to work full-time as a private Bible teacher, evangelising within the community of Porirua.
You can watch the graduation at this link.
This past month, we welcomed Mark Reynolds as one of our instructors. He did a great job teaching Leadership, and he clearly made a great connection with our students.
On the 4th of July, the Robert Swain family and I visited with the Morningside congregation in Auckland to promote BVBINZ. Robert preached on the value of knowing God’s word in a deep and meaningful way, and I gave some information about the school. Through that effort, we gained a new full-time student. We also provided information of the school to some faithful brethren who will pray for the work.
The new term begins the first of August. We look forward to keeping Joziah as a full-time student. We also will be welcoming at least three new full-time students: Giselis, Anita, and Monique.
Thank you to everyone who makes this work possible. Keep praying.
Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director
Campaign in New Zealand
Greetings! We are all trying to catch our breath. We just completed a North Island-wide campaign and camp/lectureship. Thirty-four Christians from the USA came to New Zealand to work with 11 congregations in New Zealand to contact over 8,000 homes for Christ. All of our Bear Valley students and New Zealand staff were involved in the campaign.
We also hosted our second annual lectureship, which was grafted into the Porirua church’s annual Queen’s Birthday Weekend Camp. We had a record attendance of 144 people on Sunday morning, with at least twelve congregations represented. All of the lessons were presented by people somehow connected to Bear Valley. You can listen to the lessons presented at the lectureship at this link.
At the end of next month, we should be graduating our first three students. It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this for two years already!
Thank you for your love and support of this work. Please keep praying for us. God bless you!
Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director
The final quarter is here in New Zealand!
We are excited to say that we have now entered the fourth quarter of year 2. That means that, for those three graduating in July, this is the final quarter!
We are also happy to announce that Mark Reynolds has joined the teaching staff of BVBINZ. He will teach his first course in July online, but he will also be joining us in person later that month, if the Lord wills. He will be our speaker at graduation on the 29th.
A week from today begins our next campaign. Some Bear Valley students will stay in the Wellington Region to work with about a dozen Freed-Hardeman University students to knock doors Porirua, Wellington, and the Hutt Valley. Others will join other FHU students in other parts of the country. In the midst of our campaign, we will all meet back together as we host our annual camp and lectureship.
We’ve been staying very busy working to get everything ready for the campaign and camp. Look for a detailed report in about a month’s time.
God bless you!
Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director
Making Plans in New Zealand
A few nights ago was my final class for Personal Evangelism 1 (Make Disciples Training Program). We will have a graduation of sorts for the class this coming Sunday, 15 April, where we will have our final numbers for religious conversations, Bible studies set, and Bible studies conducted. I hope to report on those next month.
We have begun seriously speaking to our full time students about their plans after graduation in July this year. One of them, Jay, will be working full time with the Porirua church after graduation. He will be preaching, teaching, leading singing, and conducting community evangelism. We really look forward to having Jay on our team full time!
We have been busy planning our upcoming campaign in May/June. We expect to have about a dozen Freed-Hardeman University students staying in Wellington to help us reach out to the community for two weeks. They will also attend our lectureship and camp. This year’s lectureship theme will be “Life After Youth Group: Growing Up With Our Faith Intact.”
The staff has also been recruiting, and it looks like we may have four full-time students and a few part-time students joining BVBINZ in August. We are also drafting up the schedule of classes for the next school years.
We are excited about the things on the horizon for BVBINZ. Stay tuned. God bless you. Keep serving Him!
Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director
Mass evangelism in New Zealand
Last month, BVBINZ had our third door-knocking campaign, which was organised by John Jones. We worked in the Wellington Region in Wellington city, Petone, Carterton, and Masterton to drum up some contacts for Bible study for the local Christians. We had about a dozen participants, including guests from the USA, Brittany and Scott Simpson. Unfortunately, we were all so busy with the campaign and fellowship, we forgot to take a group photo. The statistics from the campaign are:
- Days worked: 4
- Doors knocked: 1,132
- Conversations: 487
- Bible study contacts: 23
The BVBINZ students are over halfway finished with their Personal Evangelism 1 course, which is being fulfilled through the Make Disciples Training Program. You can read about the latest news at this link.
Thank you to everyone who is involved in making anything related to Bear Valley possible. To God be all the glory!
Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director
Personal Evangelism in New Zealand
We are happy to report on another busy month for the students and staff of Bear Valley Bible Institute-New Zealand. This quarter is very demanding for the students. For one, they will be taking two biblical language courses (not at the same time!), plus they are also taking my Personal Evangelism course, which requires them to close the books, go outside, and talk to people! In addition to that, next week, we will begin a local campaign to help up to four different congregations drum up some contacts for follow up work.
I am currently teaching my largest class yet with Personal Evangelism 1. I have thirteen eager students. The word training may be a more appropriate word, rather than teaching. Training requires doing that which is taught. The students are having to step out of their comfort zones this week to begin spiritual conversations with at least three people using the tools we have given them in class. I am taking them through the Make Disciples Training Program.
As always, we are very thankful to be a part of this work, and we’re thankful you are, too! We hope this brief report has encouraged you. Please continue to pray for us.
Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director
Exciting news from New Zealand
Is it already October? We in New Zealand are loving the change of weather. We are in full spring, and it’s looking like a promising summer. Thank you for your support of our work!
The Porirua church now has its own building. Previously, we were renting a school hall for two hours a week, but now we have a location with 24/7 access. Because of that, we have relocated the classroom from Wellington to Porirua. This allows us to have one more part time student, and it is closer to 90% of the current students and 100% of the staff.
Nathan Franson is currently teaching his second course in BVBINZ, and things are going well. As I type this, I can hear the muffled voices of the students and Trevor Major in the other room as they enjoy their first class of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.
We were blessed with a short visit from Mark and Mindy Reynolds. Mark is the Regional Director of BV in our part of the world. He spent some time encouraging the students and local staff. He also spent some time teaching in the churches and in my video studio. Check out his first completed lesson at this link.
Thank you all for your love and support. Keep praying for us. Keep the faith. Keep serving Him.
Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director
Good news in New Zealand
This month, we welcome Nathan Franson from California, USA, as BVBINZ’s newest instructor. He is teaching the students Biblical Interpretation 2 through Skype. The feedback from the students has been great so far. We are thankful for technology and those who helped finance our tech.
We are also happy to welcome Robert Fiddes as the newest full-time student.
As I type this, Mark and Mindy Reynolds are in Auckland, New Zealand, awaiting their flight to Wellington, where I will pick them up. Mark is the regional director of extension studies of Bear Valley that includes New Zealand. It will be his first time visiting the school here, and we look forward to his work for the next week.
If the Lord wills, the Porirua church will have a new meeting place starting in mid-September. For the past six years, the church has been renting a school hall for two hours a week. If this works out, we will have access to a building 24/7. In addition to all of the evangelistic and edification opportunities this building will open up for the Porirua church, we will also plan to use the building as a new BVBINZ hub, rather than having it in Wellington CBD. It will be a much closer commute to 90% of the students and 100% of the New Zealand instructors.
We are thankful to the Lord for you and your love for training men and women of God.
Keep serving Him,
Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director
A baptism in New Zealand
Bear Valley Bible Institute-New Zealand has officially been in operation for over a year. We are all better for the experience and knowledge we have gained. Thank you to all who have encouraged the work here.
A few months ago, the Wellington church received a visitor, Kevin. Right away, Daniel, one of our full-time students, spoke with him about Bible study. He agreed, and after a couple of months of study, decided to be baptized into Christ. We are thrilled to see our students reaching out to those who need Jesus.
Again, thank you for your love and support. Keep praying for our students and their studies!
Keep serving Him,
Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director
A "new" student in New Zealand
There's a new student in New Zealand. Kinda. Click HERE to see what I'm talking about, as well as the courses offered this quarter.
A successful lectureship in New Zealand!
Bear Valley Bible Institute-New Zealand’s first official lectureship is in the books! Every year during the weekend that leads into the first Monday of June (called Queen’s Birthday Weekend in New Zealand), the Porirua church hosts a camp and lectureship. This year, we held it also as BVBINZ’s first lectureship.
The first three lessons were by staff, and we taught on interpretation and teaching principles. The next three lessons were by BV students on case studies, applying those principles. Actually, the students taught four lessons, as during one lesson, Glen taught the men and Dora taught the women. The lessons were:
- The Error of Unprincipled People (Kent O’Donnell)
- Covenant Confusion (Lance Mosher)
- The Silence of the Scriptures–Permissive or Restrictive? (Rod Kyle)
- Case Study: The Thief on the Cross–Faith Alone? (Deo Asistol)
- Case Study: Gender Roles in the Church, Home, and Society (Glen Gawe [men] | Dora Lavea [women])
- Case Study: Music in Worship (Jay Pahetogia)
The Sunday morning at camp always has the largest numbers, as those who cannot stay at camp still like driving in to enjoy worship with us on the Lord’s Day. Deo Asistol taught the lesson that hour, and it was his first time ever preaching. He did a fine job. All but the one on gender roles were recorded, and they can be heard here.
We are continually thankful for all you do to encourage us at BVBINZ. We could not go on without your love and support.
Keep serving Him,
Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director
An encouraging update from New Zealand
After a furlough to the U.S., Lance Mosher has returned to the work in New Zealand. In addition to news about the work and his family, you will especially be interested in the campaign report found HERE.