Students Campaign In 18 Locations In Cameroon...

Dearest in Christ,

Accept greetings from this end. It is good to say hello to you. I am here to appreciate you for all your prayers toward our students as they were traveling to different locations for campaign.

As I mail you now, all the students arrived at their destination safe and sound. I followed yesterday to some locations to meet with students and see their welfare. They are doing great and we give glory to God.

I was able to visit the worship hall of Nake church of Christ waiting for the members to come for worship service by 9 am.

Before they travel, we had a prayer and fasting session before they left campus. The students are in 18 locations for campaign, some to virgin lands, to fully establish new congregations, like Bali and Nkongsamba,

Brother Nicholas Etongwe and Nda worshipped with the Bole church of Christ. Please keep all the students in your prayers. Due to the demands from many congregations, our students will be staying in congregations two weeks for campaigns instead of one week as usual. Pray for them so that their efforts will be fruitful.

Minister Mathias Takoh came all the way from Widikum Central church of Christ in Diche 2. He came to visit the students and to appreciate CBIW for their great devotions they did last campaign there. He taught church music in the Wotutu congregation. Keep him in your prayers. 

Appreciations
I thank God for you, for all your concern and support of the work here. Your great love for the work here is seen and God is blessing it. Thanks very much for that. I shall send a detailed report to you when the students return with their reports. 

Appeal
1) Keep the students in your prayers as they finish their campaign and later go to their villages for vacation. Our second year will start on January 6th and classes will commence on the January 9th.

2) Keep our congregation in your prayers. Keep the young converts in prayer. Please, if you can, help us with some Bibles. It will serve a great purpose.

3) Keep me in your prayers as I travel to my former school of preaching, NCI, in Uyo, Nigeria. It will be a time for me to learn from others, reflect and refresh before I return home to start fresh for the work entrusted in my hands.

4) We still cry for a van that will help us break grounds as we plant and water to win more souls for His glory.

Please do your best to share this report with others. God bless you. 

Elangwe and Family
By His grace director CBIW

Praying For The Plans Of 2012...

We are approaching the last month of the year. As we move ahead in our planning for 2012, we ask each of you to be praying about several specific areas within the Extension Program.

Be praying for the necessary funding for the work. Several of the schools presently have and will begin the new year with financial needs. Some of these needs will be monthly and others are for one time donations.

Be praying for the staff of the Extension Program. There will always be financial needs for these men. We ask for your prayers for them, as well as, their safety in traveling. Remember their families while they are working with the various locations around the world.

Be praying for the teachers and students in each location. These men make tremendous sacrifices to prepare themselves with the word of God. Their efforts to learn and use their training to reach out to others with the gospel is making a difference.

Be praying for overseeing congregations. The challenging economic times of our country have created financial concerns on the part of many. Remember these congregations, along with other individuals and congregations who help contribute financially to the work. 

Be praying for the development of new schools in 2012. We have a number of potential locations we are looking at in the new year. It is exciting to consider the possibilities before us. As we move forward in discussions with congregations to oversee these works, getting the necessary funding in place, as well as, working out the details with the administration in each location, please pray we have the wisdom to make the right decisions.

Be praying we can all increase our faith in the working of God in our lives. There is so much work ahead and God has blessed us richly. Let us continue to grow in our relationship with Him and develop the kind of trust needed to see this program reach its potential in training men to preach the gospel around the world.

The news this week sheds more light on the power of this work...

Coordinator Updates
Reports from the coordinators are now located on the website, under Staff Reports. The address is /extension-schools/

Extension Reports 

25 Added To The Church In Mbalangi, Cameroon: Recent campaign efforts by the staff and students at CBIW are making a huge difference for the Lord’s kingdom.

Gospel Campaign And Preacher’s Fellowship: A recent campaign and preacher’s fellowship in India demonstrates the growth of the work in Visakhapatnam connected to the school.

Students From Congo Seek Training In Uganda: Several men desire to attend classes at the Uganda School of Evangelism. Funds are needed to make it possible.

30 Potential Students Need Your Help In Tanzania: The program is growing in Arusha as more than 150 applicants desire to study the Bible. Thirty will need your help. Please read more.

One Memorable Graduation At ACSOP: The recent graduation of students in the Swahili program of the Andrew Connally School of Preaching was an event worth reading about. 

Final Thoughts
While Thanksgiving is behind us, my gratitude for you continues to be in the forefront of my mind. The opportunities we have in working side by side, sharing in the spreading of the gospel throughout the world is the most exciting and powerful work we can do. Your investment in this effort is and will continue to produce great dividends.

Thank you for thinking about the Bear Valley work of Extension Training.

God bless
Bob

Students From Congo Seek Training In Uganda...

Dear brethren,

Last week I did not send my weekly report due to the blockage of my e-mail. It has taken several days to figure out what I need to verify my password as somebody was tampering with it. I have managed today to follow their instruction and they have advised me to change it. 

Last week we worshiped at the Nandwa church of Christ. I had an opportunity to preach and my lesson was on how God promises to give us through our asking (Matthew 7:7-8). All our students are still visiting the churches we have planted and some also ask to go back to their home congregations on Saturday and be with them on Sunday. We usually send them two and if one wants to visit his home congregation, there is still one to attend to these churches. 

Yesterday we worshiped at the Haboomi church of Christ where Akilimali, from the Congo, works with Mangeni from the Bugati church in Busia. There was a death in the village so we were just 11 people as most members had gone to the funeral. My lesson was "God has granted to us  everything pertaining to godliness" (2 Peter 1:3-7). Four people came forward to be prayed for so that God may help them to have those virtues.

I received a request from the Congo brethren asking to be helped with funds so that they can be able to join school next year. One brother from the Fizi Church, one from Lweba, one from Mboko, one from Baraka, two from the Uvira congregation and also one from the Beni church of Christ. We can get students from the Congo if funds will be available. Each one needs about $300 dollars for their passport and $150 dollars each for transport, when they are ready to come. The new class is to begin on the 16th of April 2012. Let us work together and train these men so that  they may go back and evangelize the Congo. Four will be graduating next year. One is from Uvira and three from the Beni team. I would also desire to visit these brethren after graduation in March. I would be going with Paul as my co-driver. The trip would cost us $1000 dollars, that is for fuel, meals and accommodations. I would do the servicing of the vehicle myself. May the Lord bless you as you serve Him. 

Yours 
Francis Wechesa

25 Added To The Church In Mbalangi, Cameroon...

Dearest in Christ,

Accept greetings from your brothers and sisters in the Wotutu congregation and the students of CBIW. I do hope you had a wonderful time with family during the Thanksgiving celebration. My prayers for you are that God will give you more opportunities to thank Him.

Two brothers from BV came to teach short courses. We appreciated their courage and made them to be like Cameroon as we prepared for them Cameroonian fabrics as a tool for great remembrance. They arrived in the USA safe and sound and enjoyed Thanksgiving with their respective families. The foot prints will remain in the hearts of men here in Cameroon. In this picture is my son, Ray, who loves to follow me around. He meets me right at the pulpit as I preached. Please keep the young man in your prayers, Let me love the things of God as he grows up. He is one year and eight months now.

I am writing this mail with thanksgiving in my heart for a successful travel back to Wotutu with all the students and members of the Wotutu congregation who went for the Bible lectureship. Thank you for your prayers and your support.

Last week was historic in CBIW, because it marked the end of the first year of our existence and our joined efforts to train men to preach. I thank you for all you did to see us through this year. It was not easy but it was great and we give glory to our King for His great works that we saw and we have reasons to appreciate Him. Please, as we shall be sending our students for the last campaign for the year, we plead with you to keep us in your prayers for more successes.

After the short courses lecturers left our shores on the 22nd of November, the students rested for one day and we were on our way to Mbalangi Church of Christ, on their invitation for us to help spread the seed in their community. The location is about 75 kilometers from Wotutu. We arrived there safe and mounted all our tools for preaching right on time as the crowd of members of the church and the villagers of Mbalangi came out to listen and watch videos from the World Video Bible School through our projector. It was a great opportunity to scatter the Seed.

The preaching was done during the day and during the night, thanks to our powerful PA system and our power pack generator which will light the whole place and attract the crowd to come and see what is going on. I say thanks to the donor and God bless and replenish the source. The tools are of great help to the work here. God bless you. The gospel went out loud and clear and the preacher was able to see his Bible while his listeners were able to read and see the face of the preacher. The face of the church of Christ in Cameroon is changing daily thanks to the coming of CBIW. We are exposing many things for people to see the great family of the church of Christ.

I was able to teach this morning on the lectureship grounds to a crowd of 523 people who came en mass to worship the Lord, and some for their very first time to witness the worship of the New Testament Church. Great things are happening in Cameroon. Keep us in your prayers so that the work here will keep growing.

Our student, Tobias Sakwe, baptized our new sister, Lizet, yesterday during house to house evangelism. Remember our motto is, evangelism is our mission and our mission is evangelism. That sounds in the hearts of our students so they don’t misplace any opportunity to speak out the word to provoke thoughts in a prospect heart. We plant and water zealously so that God will help us rob from the strong man’s house.

Our student, Ngoe Nelson, baptized our new brother, Derick, to be added to the church in Mbalangi. Please join the host of heaven to rejoice for the 25 souls who were added into the body of Christ in Mbalangi within our four days evangelistic campaign in the village. Keep the struggling congregation in your prayers to take care of these babes, for them to grow to maturity. Keep us in your prayers to have the means to go back time and again to see how we can nurture the congregation.

The harvest is really ripe, but few laborers. I met with a sister who cried out to me to send our students to come over to Bali village where she stayed. There was a church in that village but all the brothers are backsliders, so she preaches to the rest of the sisters and follows all the items of worship. Wow, I will be sending a student there on the 2nd of December to go and help. Keep it in your prayers. 

PLANS
1) Next month we shall continue evangelism in Mile Four to fully establish a congregation there.

2) We shall move to Batoke village to fully establish a congregation there. 

APPEAL
We are still crying for a van for evangelism when we travel out for campaign. We spend too much because we rent a van to transport us. 

APPRECIATION
Thanks to God for the first year that has passed, even though with problems. Glory goes to God for all that we did throughout.

Thank you for your prayers and support to help us realize all this. You made our thoughts and dreams come to reality. Our prayers are that God bless and keep you as we continue to grow and work for Him.

Please do your best to share this report with others who may love to be part of our visions. Thanks for standing by us. I will love to welcome your thoughts and comments. 

Elangwe and family
By His grace Director CBIW

One Memorable Graduation At ACSOP...

Dear Supporters, Family and Friends: 

Our very busy week has ended and the new week has begun with a reminder from Earl Edwards that a Christian should focus on the “eternal” because the “temporal” will pass away (2 Cor. 4:18). Our appreciation is extended to this fellow worker for his efforts this week (preaching at Kisongo, teaching a one-week short course plus being the keynote speaker at the ACSOP graduation yesterday). Please pray for brother Edwards as he travels home tonight and tomorrow.

Many hours of planning and work went into making this graduation a memorable event. Christopher Mwakabanje, co-director of ACSOP (over the Ki-Swahili program), planned and orchestrated the ceremony, Stephanie Stafford and several TZ ladies decorated beautifully and also planned and cooked all the delicious food and refreshments. We were fortunate that the Ward Councilman accepted our invitation to speak. He remembered when the preaching school was first being built and expressed his appreciation to us. Because of the great needs that exist, he challenged us to build an orphanage, primary school and medical clinic. Jimmy encouraged the graduates with a lesson concerning “Jesus in Gethsemane” knowing that these evangelists will encounter many problems and challenges. There were other inspiring speeches also. We will try to have pictures in the next report.

This graduation day was extra special because this is the first graduating class of the Kiswahili program (instruction being in Kiswahili instead of English)! Now that there are qualified Tanzanian teachers, the ACSOP is able to accept students who only speak Ki-Swahili. These fifteen graduates, having studied the Scriptures for two years, are now equipped and trained to teach others. This class represents seven different regions throughout Tanzania, and one in Kenya. Some will establish new congregations and some will serve and strengthen the existing church in their home places. This graduating class brings the total number of ACSOP graduates to over ninety! We are confident that as they go forth, so will the Gospel! God promised that His Word would not return unto Him void. Please pray for them. Concerning the new year, the plans are to enroll 30 in the Ki-Swahili program (over 150 applications received).

Baby Jessica (abandoned in the ravine) is safe and sound at the Cradle of Love Baby Home. The relatives of the guard (whose children found Jessica) visited her and, to our knowledge, are no longer accusing the guard of selling the baby.

Please pray for Theresia (baptized after studying with Lindsey) because the Pentecostal denomination members took her to their house one night, spending much time in prayer hoping she would re-join them (especially the choir). They convinced her to attend their services this morning. Lindsey and her translator went to her house and talked with her today and are returning again tomorrow. Theresia’s mother is also a member of this Pentecostal group. 

Lindsey has a new study set up with Margaret (visited our services this morning) and Sid Aultman is due to arrive Tuesday night. Sid will continue evangelizing the Kwa Mrombo area. Some folks get this work “in their blood” and simply cannot stay away too long! We know the feeling and the excitement of being involved in such a challenging and rewarding endeavor. Thank you for all your prayers, encouragement and financial support! 

In Christian Love,
The Jimmy Gee family

30 Potential Students Need Your Help In Tanzania...

Greetings Fellow Workers:

We thank our God for His great mercies and love for all mankind. We thank God for each of you and for the good you do in His Church where you serve and here, where you participate in the many ways you do. We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with those you love.

Today was a special day in the history of the Lord’s Church here in Tanzania. Fifteen of God’s finest graduated the Andrew Connally School of Preaching. We have been privileged to have trained and graduated just over 90 evangelists. This class represents seven different regions throughout Tanzania, and one in Kenya. They go with new found knowledge and with the heart of a servant. We pray God’s richest blessing on them, their family, and their labors in the Lord.

Christopher Mwakabanje did a masterful job with this years graduation. Christopher is Co-Director with Jimmy Gee, Christopher being over the Ki-Swahili part of the program. This is our first graduating class in this new aspect of the work, Ki-Swahili. If the Lord wills, we hope to enroll 30 in with the new intake in February 2012. We have over 150 applications with new ones coming in each week. The Lord continues to “grow His work” and we desperately need trained evangelist to meet all the needs and opportunities coming our way.

A very special thank you to our dear brother Earl Edwards for a great work. He taught the first year students the books of 1 & 2 Corinthians. He was also our Keynote speaker at graduation, with a masterpiece for a lesson for the graduates. He will leave Sunday night. Please remember him in your prayers.

We need your prayers and your help! We need ten congregations / individuals willing to help meet this need / opportunity. We need $200 per month times the 10 students in order to maximize our upcoming intake. Can you help with $25, $50, $100 or even the whole $200 a month for the two year program? We need Elders willing to challenge the Lord’s Church with a year end, one time offering to meet this need. Can you help?

Almost without exception, a new congregation of the Lord’s people is being planted somewhere in Tanzania/Kenya/Uganda, East Africa. The “door of opportunity” is open. The Lord is blessing His work and He will continue to do so! So, will we answer the need? Do our part? Truly make a difference? We know you will and we thank you for your continued partnership in the Kingdoms work.

Great News! We have received almost all the funds needed for the new generator for the school. We only lack $2,000 to make the purchase and have it installed. What say ye? 

The good news continues to come in from the field. Souls are being added to the Lord’s Church daily throughout East Africa We stand in awe as to the good being done and we are humbled by your thoughtfulness, love and support. May our God bless you all, in all the right ways. Come see us when you can. Stand with us in the True Gospel. 

We close with an offering: Stephanie and I will be in the States during the months of February and March of 2012. Our calendar is filling up fast. If you have a desire to have us come and report on the good being done, please drop us a note and we will do our best to make it happen. Until all have heard! 

In Him,
Cy, Stephanie and Granny

Gospel Campaign And Preacher's Fellowship...

Greetings to you in Christ name. Things are going well at our end, pretty exciting as the Bible College program is playing a vital role in evangelism.

We had a wonderful two days Gospel Campaign program in Badam where one of our graduate is working as full time minister. 

Preachers’ Fellowship meeting: 

There are three main goals behind this program in various districts of the state of Andhra Pradesh. 

1.    Fellowship: As it is instructed through the Word to grow in the fellowship, this program focuses on establishing relationships with the fellow preachers in that area. Hosting preachers take the opportunity to invite the denominational preachers and teach them the truth. They usually remark highly about this program.  

2.    Teaching: For every Preachers’ Fellowship the host congregation selects a topic to be taught or discussed. This gives a great opportunity for preachers to explore and speak boldly. It also helps other preachers to learn extensively from the Bible.  

3.    Edification: In addition to the messages spoke in the morning, we also hold a gospel meeting in the evening. In this way the local congregation, as well as, the preachers attending would get a great detailed message on the particular subject. 

4.   Evangelism: Besides teaching throughout the day with the preachers and local congregation, in the evenings local congregations hold a gospel meeting too. This is a great time to reach the villagers with the good news. Distributing gospel tracts and holding personal Bible studies really works during this time.

We are really blessed to be part of what brother Rama Rao is doing in his village. He has good respect in the village. Of course he is well known as the minister. He has good reputation in his village and around. During the night they held the meeting just beside the Hindu temple. This helps us to understand how much people are receptive to the gospel, also the kind impact our students (preachers) have in their society. We were really impressed to see that taking place.  

During the public gospel meeting I was given with an opportunity to preach. I taught about ‘What is truth.’ You know India is basically a religious country. Almost everybody believes in God and those who believe in God believes in eternal life i.e. Heaven. So, in my lesson I discussed how can, with these different kind of religions and practices, we all inherit heaven. We worship different gods but we all look forward to go to one place that is heaven? I mentioned my further statements will be from the book of God that is Bible, which is written by the godly men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. We had so many people listening to us out in the street. Our students did a good job during this evangelism campaign.

On this occasion we took the advantage to distribute Bibles to our Graduates as well as faculty who are serving as ministers. As we mentioned earlier they are in desperate need of Bibles. Through the charity that is showed upon us through Jerry & Paula we were able to buy these Bibles and distribute them. Thank you very much Paula & Jerry for providing funds to buy Bibles to distribute in this area. 

It is really a God given opportunity for all of us to enjoy the fellowship, edify the congregation and evangelize the village. We praise God for this opportunity. 

We knocked almost all the doors in this village and distributed gospel tracts and held Bible studies. We invited those interested people to come and worship with the local congregation. We hope our efforts will help the local congregation to gain more souls as the local ministers do a follow up.  

Description of Photos: Clink here to see the pictures listed below.
1. L. Rama Rao, VVBC graduate the local preacher
2. Bibles Being distributed to the Graduates who are working as ministers in that area
3. Preachers in Vijayanagarm area receiving Bibles
4. Balaram, on of the faculty receiving Bibles, these will be distributed to those who were newly added to the Church
5. gospel 1,During the night gospel meeting
6. gospel 2, while going into the streets with good news
7. gospel 3, People who received the tracts they study them...
8. gospel 4, preaching out in the streets
9. gospel 5, gospel tracts being distributed door to door
10. John Dean preaching during the day.

Thank you very much for your kind cooperation in running this school successfully. Please convey our greetings to the Elders, also to the brethren at Bear Valley. 

Brotherly,

John Dean Muppidi
Skinner's Garden Bible School
Visakha Valley Bible College
Church of Christ
Andhra Pradesh,  INDIA
Cell: 091 - 9989922844

A Week Of Giving Thanks...

“I can put it in their head, but the national can put it their heart.” Mike Olson.

Mike delivered these words during chapel to the students at Bear Valley in Denver as he spoke about the work in Vanuatu. Mike is part of a team of graduates from the Bible Institute that began working in Vanuatu just over 6 years ago. One of the most powerful lessons he expressed involved the statement above.

It characterizes what the entire Extension Program is all about. The goal of this work is to train men in their own country, culture and language; to put the word of God into their heads so they will put it into the hearts of their own people. As you read through the reports this week, I believe you will have a better picture of what this means and how it works.

Thanksgiving is Thursday. I feel it is important to take a moment to share with you a few of the areas I am thankful for most in this work.

I am thankful for the generosity of both the congregations and individuals who so willing make the financial contribution necessary for this work to grow.

I am thankful for the incredible staff of coordinators who labor both stateside and abroad to develop this work. They work to raise money, travel countless miles, prepare classes, and work with the men “on the ground” to train faithful men to teach others.

I am thankful for the dedicated men who serve as directors and teachers in each location. These men are the real heart of success in the work. They labor diligently and sacrificially. They endure the challenges of keeping these students on task in preparing for the work.

I am thankful for the diligence of the students who leave their families to attend school. They are willing to survive on very little to gain much. Their love for the Lord, His church and the lost drives them to do whatever it takes to learn God’s word and share it with others.

I am thankful for our sacrificial love of our Savior. Because of His love for the world, He left the glory of heaven and came to this earth to offer Himself for our sins. He took upon Himself what we deserved. Without Him, we would have no hope or need for an Extension Program.

I am thankful for a faithful God who has given me the opportunity to be part of a work that involves the greatest men and women I have ever known. You are all a wonderful blessing in my life and I count it the highest privilege and honor to be working with you.

This is only a small portion of my heartfelt gratitude. The list truly goes on and on, as I am sure it does for every person who is involved in this work. We have many reasons to be thankful this time of year and every day of the year.

Coordinator Updates
Reports from the coordinators are now located on the website, under Staff Reports. The address is /extension-schools/

Keith Kasarjian and Mike Reese recently returned from Kenya. We are looking at the potential of establishing a school in Western Kenya. Read more in Keith’s report.

Extension Reports 

Reaching The End Of The First Year: Neal Pollard and Josh Austin are wrapping up short courses to complete the first year at the CBIW. This report shares news about their trip.

Graduation And Master’s Classes In Takoradi: The West Coast School of Preaching held graduation recently, combined with classes in the Master’s program with Gary Fallis.

Growth In The Church And School In Togo: The outreach of the current and former students at the Center for Biblical Studies is having an impact on the development of the church in Togo.

Cambodia Mission 2011: Wes Autrey shares news about a recent trip to Cambodia. Several from Bear Valley traveled to participate in the work of the church and school.

Classes Move Forward In Tamale: The work of training men to preach is not slowing down in Tamale. Brother Baah’s report this week talks about the upcoming classes.

Efforts To Be A Self-Supporting Congregation: This is the ultimate goal of any location. Seeing the efforts in Uganda to help congregations reach this goal is encouraging news this week.

Christianity At Its Best: Learning many of the basic, yet powerful, truths from God’s word are usually found in the most unusual places. Cy Stafford’s report shares an incredible account.

One More Soul Rescued From Satan’s Grip: The Gee report emphasizes the growth of the church in Arusha.  

Final Thoughts
Well, what do you think? It has been a pretty awesome week in the Extension Program. Let me just close by saying you are all appreciated far more than I tell you. Thank you for being involved in the work of training men to preach the gospel.

I pray you each have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. 

God bless
Bob

Reaching The End Of The First Year...

Dearest in Christ,

Accept our greetings in Jesus name. I pray this report meets you well and sound. We are excited that your worship of the Lord today was wonderful. It was great with us here. We give thanks to His name. Today in Wotutu was a sunny day from morning till now that I am writing this mail to you.

Thanks for all your prayers to us. Our programs for the week went on well, from our morning devotions, chapel, evening devotions and lectures. The short courses are going on well with the visiting lecturers from the USA.

Neal lectured in the school using a projection device, but if there are explanations that need more illustration, he will also use chalk board to transmit the knowledge into the students without any problem. He is doing a great job and the students are satisfied.

Minister Josh Austin, our coordinator, finished his lectures on the book of Galatians on Tuesday while that same day, minister Neal Pollard made his way to Cameroon safe and sound, to come and lecture on Leadership. His class is unfolding well with some members of our congregation attending. Keep these brothers in your prayers as they finish their lectures to return to the US on Tuesday night God’s willing.

Neal Pollard and our student, brother Ashu preached using our PA system that cut across the whole community of Wotutu and nearby villages. The PA system is doing greater work here in Wotutu every morning as the gospel goes into the house and hearts of people loud and clear before they enter into the day. Keep our program in your prayers.

After Josh taught Bible class this morning in Wotutu, Neal preached a sermon to a crowd of 145 people with 5 first time visitors to our congregation today. The children’s class is going on well with three teachers now, but no space again for the children in our main hall. The children demonstrated their knowledge of the Bible today in front of our congregation and our visitors to say all the 66 books of the Bible. Our worship hall is getting smaller and more sits are needed.

Today was also our fellowship meal for us to come together and appreciate God for His wonderful works and also for His help to the students in CBIW who have already stayed here for one year. Neal, Josh and myself also partook of the common meal. Oh what a family that the Lord has made for us?.

Today, after our fellowship meal, the students of CBIW were to play a soccer match with the men of our congregation. Our students were well dressed in their sporting attire. This also served as a sending forth ceremony as the students will leave for campaign and vacation on the 2 Dec 2011 to about 18 different congregations. Keep them in your prayers for God to make it fruitful.

That soccer match was interesting as many members of our congregation and many from the Wotutu village came to watch it. The local field does not have sits, so Neal and Josh sat on the green grass to watch the match in amusement. It is really great for all to see the reality of the gospel that WE ARE ONE IN CHRIST. A big lesson about the quality of Christians in the church of Christ is shown from all the short course lecturers that comes to CBIW. Minister David Ballard was in June and made great history and more fruits are being won till now. 

PLANS
Thursday 24^th of Nov will be the annual Bible lectureship of the churches of Christ in Cameroon. The Mbalangi church of Christ will be the host along Kumba high way. The program will start at 6 pm, but staff, students and members of the Wotutu congregation will be there by 3 pm, by His grace, to sensitize the village with house to house evangelism so that many will know that something serious has come to their community.

The students will leave for campaign to 18 different congregations. Please keep them in your prayers for a successful campaign, so that souls will be rescue from bondage as we shall rob more souls from the strong man’s house. 

APPRECIATIONS
Many thanks to you for your prayers, deep love and support to see this work move in the speed in which it is moving. God will never pass you by when He comes with His reward. Please do not faint.

God bless you in all your endeavors. Do your best to share this report with others. God bless you. I wait to read your wonderful comments. Love is power. 

Elangwe and family
By His grace director CBIW

Graduation And Master's Classes In Takoradi...

Dear brethren,

I am happy to write to tell you about some of the happenings here. We thank you for your support of our work here in Takoradi and pray God's blessing on you all.

In this report there will be many pictures which will update you on four recent events --our sister's funeral, the 11^th graduation, the sixth Men's Forum at Ituma and the Master's classes 
with brother Gary Fallis. Here are pictures of the event.

The funeral of our late sister Augustina Appiah Dadzie has been reported previously without pictures and we attach some pictures. The pictures attached include her grieving husband.

On Saturday, October 29 the Ituma church on campus of West Coast organized the sixth of the series of Men's Forum. Sixteen congregations were represented. We discussed the 5 decades of  restoration preaching in Ghana and current issues in the church. A paper was presented on 50  years of the church of Christ in Ghana and the celebration of the 50^th anniversary this year. This 
was followed by the discussion of matters and issues arising in three groups. 

The 11^th Graduation was held on Saturday, November 5 2011, for 11 men who completed their  studies in 2009. They were issued with Bear Valley certificates (the first time at West Coast), and the 
certificates were presented to them by brother Gary Fallis who represented Bear Valley Bible Institute of
Denver at the ceremony. Ten of the graduates were in attendance. The eleventh,  Musah Alhassan, could not make it to the graduation. Please, see attached pictures.

It is customary for the graduates to worship with the Ituma Church on Campus. They do all  officiating, and are given some money by the church for their transportation back home. Click here to pictures of this event. 

Brother Gary was here for both the graduation and the Master's classes as well. For the Week 
of November 7-11, he taught Christian Education, and for this week, November 14-18, he is teaching Church Planting (Missions-1). See pictures of the staff and students here.

Regular classes have ended for the first quarter of school. Our students are this week engaged in 
daily evangelism in the communities around the campus.

Please continue to pray for us at West Coast for these are trying times for us -- school, teacher and taught.

Thank you for enabling us to serve the Master this side of the Atlantic. 

Your servant for Jesus' sake,
Daniel K Ampadu-Asiamah

Christianity At Its Best...

Greetings Fellow Workers:

What a joy it is to be a part of God’s family and to be privileged to be a part of His evangelistic efforts here in Tanzania. We thank our God daily for you all, your continued prayers, notes of encouragement, visits and support of this mission effort. The good being done continues to awe me and those who come and see first hand the growth taking place day by day.

“Christianity At Its Best” - Day by day we march the road to be with our Heavenly Father for ever. Each and every day we are blessed with, by our God, is an opportunity to make a difference in the life of those we come in contact with. God is faithful in answering our prayers; prayers for opportunities to teach others about the Love of God and the hope found only in Christ. All to often, I am afraid we do not pray this prayer. I am afraid perhaps we do not “look” for opportunities to share the best News Ever, with our fellow man. I am afraid we might “miss” many opportunities to do the right thing at the right time, making a positive eternal difference in our “neighbors” life.

On a recent trip to Ushirombo we had the privileged of working with one our graduates from the Andrew Connally School of Preaching, Yusuph Madaki. One morning Yusuph said to me; “we have a study with my neighbor.” On our way to the neighbors home Yusuph related what had happened the year before. He said that his neighbor had “wronged” him. He went on to say the penalty for his offense, he was to pay 100,000/- in damages. When my neighbor brought the money, I told him; “keep your money, I forgive you.”

What an example of “loving your neighbor as yourself.” I cannot help but believe this “turning the other check” that our good brother practiced on that faithful day; helped too leave an “open door” for teaching and preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. Oh, that we as God’s children would more often; “suffer the wrong” even when we believe we are in the “right.” Oh, that we might live lives more like Stephen, like Christ, yes, like our good brother Yusuph!

I am asked the question often; “what are the people of Tanzania like? What are the preachers of Tanzania like?” My answer? Many are like Jesus! I am thankful for the honor of working with some of God’s “finest.” I am thankful to God for being a part of His family, some of the finest. I thank you, for being some of God’s finest!

May our week be one that glorifies God through the good you do in expressing your love for your neighbor! 

In Him, 
Cy, Stephanie & Granny

One More Soul Rescued From Satan's Grip...

To Our Co-Workers:

Greetings from Tanzania, East Africa, where one more soul has been rescued from Satan’s grip!  Sixteen-year-old Theresia obeyed the Gospel this past Thursday after approximately 11 studies with our daughter Lindsey. Thank you for your prayers!

We are thankful for some rain these past couple of days. Jimmy taught the Men’s Bible Class and preached on the “Love of God." Several asked for prayers including two who confessed sin. Lindsey taught the Ladies’ Class on Genesis 22 where God asks Abraham to offer Isaac. What hard thing does God ask of you (through the Scripture) and can you find an extra measure of faith in order to obey as Abraham did? Shortly before services ended, we drove a lady named Lydia to the clinic. She was having sharp pains in her back and was having trouble walking (maybe a pinched nerve or sciatic nerve problem). Please pray for her.

Jimmy continued his follow-up studies with Rosemary and Yusta on Saturday. Yusta, who has been a Christian for about four months, said she was approached by a man asking what she believed. She showed him, using a tract on how to become a Christian. Yusta gave him her own Bible to take and check to see if the tract agreed with the Bible. He came back to her admitting that what she said was true. They have studied further and were watching a religious channel on TV one day. After a while the man said "Let's turn this TV off, it is only confusing us and leading us away from the Bible." What a joy to see Yusta growing and teaching others even as a babe in Christ!

Visiting teacher, Earl Edwards, arrived safe and sound (although his flight was delayed). Besides teaching 1 and 2 Corinthians (a short course) he will speak on different nights to the students on “Using One Cup” and “Head Coverings.” His time and work in Tanzania is greatly appreciated!

It was great to see Lembris (one-year-old Christian) leading us in partaking of the Lord’s Supper.  This is a big step for him and he did just fine. The Kisongo church is growing both numerically and spiritually. The New Convert’s class continues every Sunday morning with Abraham Mrutu teaching on the basics of Christian living.

Since the Bible says to “render to all their due," we would like to “spot-light” one of our daughters who freely serves others without much recognition. Heather, 13 years old, absolutely adores babies, and takes every opportunity to help mothers. She enjoys keeping Nicodemus (almost 1 year old) while his mother goes to the clinic with her new baby. Heather also helps to watch two young children while their mom goes to the market every Wednesday. Women in the congregation often hand Heather their babies when they need a break. They trust her and have confidence in her.

The two missionary families will enjoy a Thanksgiving Dinner at the Stafford House on Thursday with turkey, ham and the “fixings.” On our list of blessings to be thankful for will, of course, be you, our loyal supporters who work with us to accomplish God’s Will in Tanzania. Thank you for all that you have done! It is our wish that you will enjoy time with your families and realize all of your blessings from the Great Giver who gave the Ultimate Gift, Jesus. 

In Christ,
The Gee's

Growth In The Church And School In Togo...

Dear brothers in Christ, 

We arrived again at the end of the month of October with good news. I often said that as long as we live in this flesh we can work only for God, even though we lack money. In my reports I never stop talking about the needs of our churches and what is necessary for the development and the growth of the local assemblies.

CHURCHES
For the church of NYIVEME, we restored a retrograde (backward) in NYIVEME and one baptized.

During the month, we recorded 15 visitors and among them 6 are liveliness to make the courses by correspondence and we study with nine others, each in their house.

First, the Center of Biblical Studies (CBS) is a powerful tool that GOD is liveliness use for the conversion of denominational churches and at the same time, the implantation of new congregations.

In August the students and some members of our local churches were in KELE-BEME for a campaign of evangelism of three days that ended with only one baptism. Today this congregation knows a light increase of members because of evangelism made there. 

On September 27th to 30th, evangelists, students and members were again at KUSUNTSU village for the campaign of evangelism of four days that ended with the baptisms of two women and one man. We made the projection of the movies such as “Jesus of Nazareth” and “Christ's Passion.” There are more than 500 people that during the four days attended to this campaign of the predication of the gospel. The theme is: The Redemption: 1. “The Plan of God's Redemption” and 2. “What must I do to be saved?” 

Sunday, after the worship, three people were baptized. A new congregation began with the evangelist, Megandjin Yaovi, and his wife and the three baptized. I will give you the continuation of the evolution of this church.

On November 24th - 27th we had in program a campaign of four days evangelism in AVEHO-TOUGBLI where the evangelist, Clement Ahanyaboe is liveliness to make something that so God wants it will become a church with baptized. We have needs of the women that must cook for all out for AVEHO-TOUGBLI because it is far from Kpalimé, to make pass the movies of “Jesus of Nazareth” and “Christ's passion” in the night and house to house in the day. As it is in a village we have need of a generator for the lighting and the projection of the movies.

The needs of the church. 

1.  The benches for places that we have just established new congregations.

2.  The hymnbooks and the Bibles.

3.  The tracts and the booklets.

Outside of these activities, there was in NOTSE-KPOTA evangelism of house to house where the brothers knocked the doors with the gospel. The evangelist, Gabriel Assogbavi, deposited the files of the church in the town hall following a call of the mayor of NOTSE October 21st. Let's pray for the registration of this church.

The eight Churches continue their daily evangelism and our only problem is the lack of the correspondence courses and Bible tracts for distribution.

CENTER FOR BIBLICAL STUDIES (CBS)
All goes well with the twenty (20) students. Two students have been baptized the beginning of October. A third has just been baptized this Sunday. His name’s Baka Joel. He came from the Baptist church.

Willie arrived the night of October 25th in Kpalime and October 26th in the CBS. Teacher Komlan Akalo had arrived to continue the survey of evangelism and he had to return after teaching in Tsevie at his home. Every student finds now that they have just understood on a lot of Biblical topics: Holy Spirit and song in the worship and especially they didn't know the difference between the covenants. Student Akanya’s wife was sick and student, Bedac, has three of his children sick. Since they live north of Togo, he was called by his wife to come because of the urgency of his baby hospitalized in the hospital of Bassar. On the weekends the students who come from afar and don't leave, go to house to house to preach the gospel. What makes us default that is we miss the booklets or tracts and the correspondence courses.

The former students always work for development and the establishment of new communities.

1.  Ahanyaboe Clement Afatsawo: began the church seven (7) members.

2.  Senyo Folly: He works in Klon with his former church.

3.  David Yamba Wama: He already directs a church that him convert when he was in CBS at KPADAPE   

4.  Kokou Toulassi helps his evangelist Agbodja Gbodja, and he come of begun a survey with a group in HOLOKOPE, an enclosed village.

5.  Edoh Abraham Koumakouwe directs a church of twenty and five members (25) in AVEKPO 

6.  Kossi Gidigidi is an evangelist of the church at KPELE-BEME.   

7.  Joseph Mindamou is a policeman (soldier). He cannot be each Sunday with the church. He works daily with the prisoners in the jails of Togo, and Sundays when he is not in service he comes to worship with us. He goes to prisoners in afternoon. He asks for a motorcycle to go far with the gospel to the close to the authorities.

8.  Yaovi Amegadjin is an evangelist of the church of KUSUNTU    

Your brother in Christ:

Nyemanta Essotena
Church of Christ-Nyivemé
BP: 565 Kpalimé -TOGO/ West Africa.
Phone: (00228) 9195 88 38/ 9962 02 21/99176878
E-mail: essotena@yahoo.fr 

Cambodia Mission 2011...

Dear Supporters: On Oct. 11th the “Siem Reap 6” team left Denver for Cambodia and returned on the 21st. I’m going to do my best to give you an overview of our trip. Suffice it to say that our journey was faith testing, rewarding, uplifting, and full of hope for the kingdom. Despite the worst flood in history (with one noted exception) and almost not getting the group in and out of Cambodia for passport reasons (another long story for another time), it was a tremendous trip for all of us. Anytime any of you would like your cups filled, then let me take you to meet our brothers and sisters in Cambodia. The hand they have been dealt in this world, coupled with the anti-Christian attitude of the prevailing Buddhist and Muslim religions in the land, makes me praise them ever more.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Takam Village: We were unable to get to the villages of Takam and Leang Dai where there are two established congregations because of the historical flooding that was taking place. We are excited to note that Chouey, our recent graduate, current staff member and preacher in his home village of Takam, is helping the church grow rapidly. On my first visit in the fall of ’09 there were approximately 13 members, all women. Now there are more than 45 members with two adult men serving the Lord (important to note as they now take on much responsibility and hardship because of their decision). This is an exceptional window of opportunity as this village has many children that attend regularly and the doors and hearts have been opened to The Word.

Leang Dai Village: Sokchea, another one of the recent graduates continues to work exceptionally hard at the work in Leang Dai. He ministers to the growing congregation their with love and devotion to the likes of which are way beyond just good servanthood. The small congregation has grown from around 9 or 10 in ’09 to about 25 or so currently with one male adult being saved. Sokchea is not a native of Leang Dai, so he chooses to work extremely hard for the Lord. He is doing a great job and he hopes to send young men from the village to school so that they can return to their home and teach the truth and show the change that can take effect in peoples lives.

Svey Ring Village: After graduating last year, the young Christian threesome of Saran, Ussa and Sophal returned to their home of Svey Ring near the Vietnam border. Ussa is the sister to Sophal and married to Saran. Ussa recently gave birth to a baby boy. I was concerned about new Christians going so far away from Siem Reap, to start a new congregation and take on the ridicule of their Buddhist families. However, In a little over a year, the church of Christ in Svey Ring has 13 members, most of whom are the family members that have actually witnessed the change in their lives! What a powerful message the Lord can bring! It is my hope that someday I might visit this group and be able to bring their encouraging news back to the states.

Overall News: Brothers and sisters, I could write you much more on all of the news but I understand limiting reports. Suffice it to say that the school is very challenged but we are confidently training young men to be preachers and teachers in their homeland. Young women are training as well to be teachers of the youth and to know their roles as Christians with much to offer as well.

The “Siem Reap 6” came back as the “Siem Reap 7” because Phanat agreed to fly back with us and meet the elders at Bear Valley, who are the sponsoring congregation of the school. I might also mention it was his first time back in over 4 years and he left his wife and 17 month old baby for the first time. He stayed with us for about 5 days and then was able to go visit his folks in Austin before returning home. Nowhere else on earth have I had my cup so filled as in Cambodia. I’m so grateful to my mother and daughter who also went and offered me support as it was my first time to lead a group. Kathy Pollard, her son Dale and Sheryl Turner also went to teach and encourage for long hours every day. But this is mostly a time to thank each of you for your continued prayers and financial support that makes all of this happen. God is using your talents to make the kingdom grow in Cambodia - I love my work and hope you will continue to support it and spread the good news about Cambodia.

Wes Autrey

If you would like to read the full report with pictures, then click here.

Classes Move Forward In Tamale...

By the grace and mercies of the great King Christ Jesus, Tamale Institute of Biblical Studies is going on with planned activities. 

After last quarter’s activities, four students who were offered admission three weeks later were scheduled to have three weeks lessons to compensate for the lessons they missed. The students returned on 11^th October, 2011 and went back to their hometowns on the 30^th October, 2011. 

During the stay back period, they were taught ‘Life of Christ 1” and “Becoming a Faithful Christian” by Brother Baah and Brother Adjei Mensah respectively. 

Presently, everything is set for the commencement of a fresh term of the quarter. Topics to be treated during the term will be as follows:

Acts of the Apostles - Brother Baah

Personal Evangelism - Brother Adjei Mensah

English                       - Brother Jaminja

Old Testament II        - Brother Jaminja

Homiletics                  - Brother Alex

All is set for the commencement of lectures for the term of the quarter and it’s my prayer that the good Lord showers his blessings for a successful term.

BAAH JOSEPH OKYERE

Efforts To Be A Self-Supporting Congregation...

Dear brethren,

Blessed be the Lord our God who blesses us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. The Lord is continuing his work here in Uganda. The students here have finished studying the books of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude, taught by brother Donnie Estep.

The piggery is going on well, although the cost of food is growing high. Our boar has grown old. We have sold it and we are now looking where we can get a young one to take it place.

The chicken farm is also going on well. We now have over 50 local chickens. We have bought an incubator which can hatch 250 eggs. As we do not have power at the school, we have put it at our house in Busia. We are still learning how to use it and it is our prayer that after knowing how to care for the eggs we will be able to produce 250 chicks in three months. That is 1000 chicks in a year. If this project succeeds we will be able to supply some chicks to our graduates and members of the church. Our major aim is to teach Christians how to have income generating projects, so that they can have something to give to the Lord on Sunday. 

On Sunday we worshiped at Bukalikha church of Christ that meets now in sister Grace Aguttu's home. Brother Donnie preached a very touching lesson about "God working with his people." This congregation lost the church plot which they were using to a brother who bought it after claiming that now it is his. They plan to raise money to purchase another plot and later build on it. May the Lord bless you all as you support this work. 

Yours
Francis Wechesa

It Seems Like Only Yesterday...

It seems like only yesterday... Have you ever heard someone make this statement? Well, it seems to characterize the way I feel about this work. 

It seems like only yesterday when I began working within the Extension Program. There is not enough space in this report to share all that has happened over the last two and a half years. I have grown to love and appreciate the work of so many good men and women laboring around the world who share the gospel with others. My life is blessed just to know these brethren, but it is a double blessing. I also have the blessing of working next to them in carrying out the Great Commission.

It seems like only yesterday when my view of the world was much more limited. I knew of missionaries serving in several locations. I had heard about the Extension Training concept, but I had no idea how powerful and influential this work was with 15 schools. As I read the reports each week I am reminded of how many souls are being changed.

It seems like only yesterday when I was trying to get a passport to make my first trip to Nigeria. In the short time I have been traveling to see the various schools, I have added an additional 50 pages to my passport. Who would have thought one person would need so many visas and receive this many stamps? Interestingly enough, I am only one of many in the same situation.

It seems like only yesterday when I sent my first report and we are quickly approaching nearly 150 reports. I would never have guessed so many would enjoy reading the reports. I only dreamed about the number of reports and the nature of them in sharing the wonderful news from around the world.

It seems like only yesterday I met most of you who are reading the reports. If you are reading this report, then I know you are interested in the work of training men to preach the gospel. I thank God each day for your love for the work and your support at whatever level you are involved. Thank you!

Now, on to the news of the week, and it is great...

Coordinator Updates
Reports from the coordinators are now located on the website, under Staff Reports. The address is /extension-schools/

Donnie Bates and Denton Landon are on their way home from teaching short courses and sharing in the graduation ceremony at the Chimala Bible Institute. Read more about their trip in Donnie’s latest report.

Howell Ferguson’s report provides information about the valuable position of Ukraine for the work of the kingdom.

Extension Reports 

History (Spiritual And Physical) In The Making: The development of the school in Cameroon continues to see events unfold setting a precedence for the school and the future.

Work In Togo Is Influencing Many: A new class in a new location is having powerful influence in the work of the Center for Biblical Studies in Togo.

Hope, Hongera, Hatari Are Words To Remember: The Chimala Bible Institute recently graduated its most recent class. It was a time of congratulations (hongera) and danger (hatari). Read Garry’s report to learn what happened.

Listening Twice From Two Languages: Donnie Estep recently traveled to Uganda to teach. The students who understand English and Swahili were hearing the lesson in both languages.

Good News Is Contagious In Tanzania: You do not have to read very far in Cy Stafford’s report to see how great the news is connected with the Andrew Connally School Of Preaching.

Third Annual Preachers’ Wife Seminar In Arusha: 21 women gathered for encouragement as the wife of preachers in Arusha. Jimmy Gee’s report shares the news about this event and more. 

Final Thoughts
There is always a need for help in many areas of this work. If you would like to be involved in helping support this work financially, please send me an e-mail at bturner@bvbid.org. I would love to hear from you and talk with you further about how you can support a student, provide funds for the general operations of a school, or what is needed for those working within the program.

We also need those who are willing to spend time in fervent prayer about the various needs of the work. Please pray for the Bear Valley Extension staff and the men and women who are involved in making this work move forward.

I will close with simply saying thank you. We could not do this work without you. Please share the news with others and encourage everyone you know to get involved and help. 

God bless
Bob

History (Spiritual And Physical) In The Making...

Dearest in Christ,

Greetings from here, it is another day in CBIW where we have just started making history as we welcome the coordinator and the second foreign lecturer to come over to CBIW to help train men to preach. Join the church here in Wotutu, and the host of angels, for sister Gladys Moitti who accepted the gospel on Wednesday after our Bible class.

Accept our warmth greetings from this end. On behalf of the students, staff and members of the Wotutu congregation, we wish you the best of life this week.

Our week in CBIW went on well. Tuesday the students took their last exams on the gospel of John marking the end of the long courses for this first year. Many thanks to God for standing by us through the ups and downs this first year as we plan to end with these two short courses.

As I mail you this report, I am just returning from a 90 kilometers trip with the coordinator of CBIW from Bear Valley. He made his way to Cameroon safe and sound on Thursday night and he is presently reporting well. Our prayer and our appeal for your prayers is that you keep him in your prayers for his stay here to be smooth as he helps train men to preach the gospel to save souls. He taught this morning in the Etam congregation, where our students used to visit for campaigns and weekend evangelism.

The service in the Wotutu congregation was great in our absence. Keep this work in your prayers.

Josh preaching through our PA system to the Wotutu population and the nearby villages through the program we call back to the Bible. The gospel is meeting more people in their beds early in the morning from 5:30 to 6 am, Monday to Saturday. This week we are talking about sin, so he talked about how people can control their sinful nature. He did well.

As I write this mail to you it is 8:45 am, meaning that brother Josh has been in class for 45 minutes lecturing from the book of Galatians. I can hear him from my office, but after this mail I will join the class and keep adding to my learning. It is a great opportunity for me to learn more, either from my office or sit in the class live for few minutes and I jump out to do one or two things. Brother Josh had no time to rest after a long flight from the USA. He will finish the course soon, while the preacher of Bear Valley will come and continue to teach Leadership to the students and others around.

I set the room up for Josh to be comfortable a bit far from home. I made a new bed and put into the room because another lecturer, minister Neal Pollard, will come next week and both of them will be there till they finish the work the Lord has entrusted in their hands to come over.

On the lower right is a picture of sister Gladys and some CBIW students who performed the baptism. Keep her in your prayers that she walk worthy of her calling, so that some in her unbelieving family will embrace the truth shortly.

We also suspended our evangelism for now as our students are so involve in these short courses even on Saturday. 

PLANS
We already started sowing the seeds in mile four where we are looking for possibilities to established a congregation. Keep the work in your prayers.

All is set for the annual Bible lectureship in Cameroon. By His grace our students will be part of it. 

APPRECIATIONS
Many thanks to you and your family for the wonderful concern, prayers and priceless support in many ways to see this work in progress. God alone will reward you. I pray you faint not.

Many thanks to God for my son and wife who were sick, but are getting much better now.

God bless you as you share this report with others. 

Elangwe and family
By His grace Director CBIW

Hope, Hongera, Hatari Are Words To Remember...

November 8th
Recently, at the Chimala Bible Institute we began the last two weeks of school with short courses. Denton Landon taught the graduate class on Homiletics with 9 students. Donnie and I taught the undergraduate courses on “The Prison Epistles and World Religions. After teaching all week we entertained ourselves watching some old movies. Denton, Donnie and I were watching the movie Sahara and there is a line in the movie where one of the good guys shoots a bad guy with a flair gun. After that he exclaims; “now that’s what I am talking about.” 

In chapel, our Dean of Students, Joshua, was supposed to be speaking but had traveled to baptize three people he and some students had studied with over the weekend. So at the last minute we asked Boaz, one of our instructors, to speak. He got up and delivered a powerful discourse from Galatians 1:6-8 encouraging the students to never compromise while preaching the gospel. After he spoke, I told the students “now that’s what I am talking about.” Telling them to always be “ready to preach” at a moment’s notice, like they had just witnessed.

We traveled to the Airport congregation last weekend where Peter, Ezekiel and some students had a Saturday campaign where both teachers spoke on church growth. Peter is going to return to this congregation next year to strengthen the work in Mbeya. He will be taking students every weekend and teaching classes two days a week at the Institute. 

Denton spoke on the “Hope of the Resurrection,” and Donnie spoke on the “Armor of God.” Both lessons were well received and Boaz reminded us he was one of the early workers in that area of Mbeya from the mission. He told us as they were going house to house he came to one dwelling and started talking to the inhabitants. They asked him to preach. He willingly did so and as he was leaving he was told it was a denominational church. Some started going to the Lord’s church soon after. 

Blessings, one of our graduating students, gave me a sheet of paper this week expressing his appreciation for the opportunity to go to school here. His last paragraph says; “therefore I am on my way to share what I have studied with others (2 Tim.2:2) in Malawi and anywhere I can reach. Remember this is because of the Bear Valley Bible Institute which has equipped me for the ministry!!!”

I am constantly thankful for the dedication and faithfulness of our students and their instructors. Training preachers is the greatest work on earth and here at Chimala I am often lead to exclaim “Now that’s what I am talking about.”

November 11th
Hongera means congratulations in Swahili and we offer a hearty congratulations to our 12 graduates from Chimala Bible Institute. Donnie Bates and Denton Landon both spoke words of encouragement to the graduates, as visiting coordinators from Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. 

Joseph Haonga and Peter Kamatula handed out the Swahili Bible Certificates and English Bachelor’s Degrees. The student addresses came from Blessings Nkhamanga and Mika Mtweve, both having the highest grades in their respective programs. Brother Donald Logsdon then handed out Agricultural Certificates to those students who had attended his class. The final prayer was led by Joshua Mwakwazima after a few words to the graduating class. I encouraged the class to remember the Bear Valley Bible Institute motto of 2 Timothy 2:2 which has Paul challenging Timothy to teach others what he had been taught. 

Many of our graduates have expressed their desire to do that. Israel said; “my aim is to go and preach the gospel everywhere.” Blessings said; “I have been inspired a lot by the restoration slogan which says we speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent. Thus according to 1 Peter 4:11 hope God will do something through me especially in guiding people to the true God.” Navie expressed the fact that he will continue working for the Lord and use his knowledge in edifying the church and in seeking lost souls. Again we say hongera to our graduates and look for great things in their service to the Lord.

Hatari means danger in the Swahili language. We were reminded of that as we began our trip home with Denton and Donnie. Friday, and continuing Saturday, we heard that some of the merchants and police had been rioting in Mbeya. Brother Don Logsdon insisted on traveling with us as he too had heard there was trouble. As we got close to the town I could sense Menard, one of our faithful instructors who was driving us, becoming more concerned. We could see black smoke in the distance as we neared the town. Traffic was worse than usual, and all the shops were deserted as we entered the city limits. Then we were amazed there was no one, not a single soul at the bus station. Then we saw the riot police. They were loaded with all the weapons they could carry. Soon afterwards, we saw the reason for the black smoke. Hundreds of rioting townspeople had been burning tires in the middle of the roads. We had to drive around some as we passed through the town on the way to the airport. 

As we got to the airport we insisted Menard get back to the mission with Don. All the passengers on the plane were apprehensive as we got ready to board. Then hundreds of people started running at the edge of the field where the planes landed. The riot police showed up and shots were fired and many more explosions were heard in the distance. As this happened we were ushered inside the terminal building. A few minutes later we hurriedly boarded the plane and, needless to say, we were glad when the plane lifted skyward. One of the passengers jokingly asked if we could fly over the town and he received an emphatic NO from the pilot. As we landed in Iringa an hour later we called and were greatly relieved that Menard and Don had made it safely back to the mission. Boaz called as we boarded the plane and we assured him we were all right. He then promised to check on everyone else’s safety. 

Please pray for our students who also started home today, many of them traveling through Mbeya. Saturday evening we arrived safely in Dar. Donnie and Denton safely boarded their plane back to the USA. Please pray for those on the mission, all of them who are so dedicated to the cause of Christ in our area. We are thankful for the opportunity to do this great work but there can be some Hatari.

Garry L. Hill
Extension Coordinator
Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver

Listening Twice From Two Languages...

Sorry that I did not write on time. On Sunday, November 6th, I did not write this report as we did not have power on that day, and the following days my modem was a problem.  I am glad that now I am again on the Internet. 

On Sunday I went with my family and worshiped with the church of Christ that meets in Nabyunyu village in Bugiri District. We also went with brother Samson Omutele who is also one of the instructors at Uganda School of Evangelism. The preacher of this congregation, brother Sande Joseph, traveled with us to the village. On that day one man was baptized and was added on the church. I have helped this congregation rent a place of worship for a whole year after their church shelter fall down due to much rain. 

Brother Donnie, this time, has come alone for the first time since he started visiting us and teaching in Uganda School of Evangelism. This time he has combined the two classes in the hall. He teaches in English as Paul translates into Kiswahili. The students who take their instructions in English take their notes in English and those of Kiswahili take their notes in Kiswahili. Those who take their notes in English have the privilege of listening twice. Thanks very much brethren for all your support. May the Lord our God bless you as you serve him. 

Yours
Francis Wechesa