Meeting The Challenge In Cambodia...

In keeping with the tremendous challenge for the new year in Cambodia, Phanat is holding true to writing weekly. I missed getting his first report, so it is attached below, along with the report this week. Great stuff!

This week I've engaged in a conversation about Jesus Christ to 4 new people. My goal is to talk to 100 new people and, as of now, I am on a good pace. If I can talk to at least two new people a week, then I'll hit my goal. I ask that you keep me in your prayers. I hope that these conversations will lead to invites and Bible studies. I want to be an example in opening my mouth to talk about Jesus to my family and those around me and also develop this healthy habit of not being ashamed or timid when it comes to my faith.

The local basketball guys and I did a bike trail at Angkor Wat. One of the new guys I talked to about Jesus is name Chamroen. He rode in the back. Pray that we continue to build our relationship, but more importantly him beginning a relationship with Christ!

Week 1 January 2012

Greetings Loved ones,

For our first week into the new year, Chann had organized a local leadership meeting to come and discuss our experiences in our works in different parts of the country. We had teachers of bible schools, evangelists of local congregations, and children's home staff come and share about their work and how we can improve in serving our Lord. It was a very good meeting and I want to thank Chann for taking the initiative in getting everyone together so that we can lift each other up. This is a blessing to me in that we have local leaders stepping up to organize such events, revealing their spiritual growth and future autonomy. They are not dependent upon the missionaries from abroad to lead or organize such events and that's what I am so proud of.

We also had a wedding ceremony done at the church building for Sokchea (preacher for Leang Dai church of Christ) and Pisey (staff of Hannah's Hope Children's Home)! It was a wonderful wedding! It's really good to see Christian couples forming right before my eyes. This will help out the work and the country of Cambodia a great deal! We are expecting 3 more weddings to happen in the next 3 months! It's amazing how God is blessing the work and people here! What a way to start off the new year! Our God is a tremendous God indeed!

Phanat

Two For The Price Of One...Both Worth The Read

WEEKLY QUOTE:  “When you are the right kind of person, doing the right thing, help and encouragement come from all directions.”

We apologize that we were unable to send the report last week. Our internet has been very unreliable and that was the case on Sunday.  Also, Jimmy was in Nairobi for a few days and couldn’t send it from there. Below is last week’s report. 

BIBLE STUDIES: 
After several studies with Abigail, fifteen-year-old Grace desired to be baptized. However, she felt it necessary (and in this culture it is) to ask her fathers’ permission. After several days, Ahimidiwe (preacher at Kisongo) called the father who said that Grace wasn’t old enough to make that kind of decision and he would not allow it. However, he agreed to a study with Ahimidiwe. Sadly, Grace’s conversion depends on her father’s.

Jimmy’s study (almost a year long) with Lembris and Rosemary has come to an end since they will soon be attending Kisongo Bible School. One of the most active and faithful ladies (Janet Deo) set up a study for Jimmy with Ammon (mid 20’s) and his wife. They have 2 small children and live in a mud hut (with 2 or 3 rooms). Ammon asked, “How do you prove what you are saying is true? There are many religious groups claiming to be right.” After the second study yesterday (Jan. 14), Ammon and his wife attended services today. Please pray for this family as they learn more about God's word.

Yesterday, Trina was privileged to study with Lucy, a beautiful lady aged 30. She is the cousin of my translator, Paulina, and works at the mosquito net factory (6-7 days a week). Lucy was raised by Roman Catholic parents and was baptized as a teenager. Lucy says she is searching for the Truth and said that the Catholic religion did not always agree with the Bible. In the past, Paulina had asked her to study on several occasions but Lucy was not interested. We were very happy to hear that Lucy had requested this study. 

Lindsey was not able to study with Theresia because she was in Arusha working. Because her fatherless family could not come up with 6 months of rent money in advance (normal procedure here) they were forced to move to a mud hut. 

DEMON POSSESSION:
After arriving at Paulina’s house to study with Lucy, Paulina told Trina about a problem her neighbor was having. It seems that her neighbor’s daughter, Rita, was suffering from “demon possession,” according to her family. Friday, after a group from their Lutheran church came over to pray, Rita began crying uncontrollably and was not responding to her own name but saying, “we are many…” She was begging for prayers from others and saying she had no energy. Later, the Lutheran church came over again to pray for her but to no avail. 

Paulina was very perplexed about it, saying that this girl (a recent high school graduate) was a very normal and upstanding person and had never acted this way. My only suggestions were that maybe someone had slipped some kind of drug into her drink, she was just having a mental breakdown or just needing attention. The neighbors interrupted our study a few times asking if we could help. After finishing the study, we agreed to take her to the hospital in town but later they said that a friend was already on their way. When the neighbors first asked if there was anything Trina could do, all she could think of were the words of the little servant girl on the movie “Gone with the Wind:”  “But Miss Scarlet, I don’t know nothin’ about birthin’ no babies…” except  it was “casting out demons.” That was out of my league. :)

AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY! Any visitor who has come to TZ will recognize the names Kambarage and Agnes. Agnes’ father was taught by Andrew Connelly many years ago. Saturday, we were invited to celebrate the engagement of their daughter, Naomi (a third generation Christian…such a rare thing in TZ) to a young medical student who is also a Christian (and his father is a Christian). 

Due to the large amount of time that it takes to write and send this report, we will try to write and send it on Saturdays. After 3 hours of Bible study and worship on Sunday, lunch, then an hour to write it, choosing pictures and then another hour spent sending it, there is not much time to rest and refresh ourselves. 

Friday, we received one of the biggest rains/thunderstorms we have ever witnessed in TZ. Thunderstorms are rare (including this one, we remember 4 in these 7 years we’ve been here). The lightening was awful and it poured down rain in “sheets” for the longest time and all the mud ran down our driveway. This morning in some places the mud was so thick, it looked like swirls of chocolate…looking good enough to eat.

Thank you for your continued love and support! A special “Hello” is extended toward the youth group at West Side Church in Yorktown, Indiana! Thanks for the beautiful picture. 

Today’s News: 
TIME TO CELEBRATE! Abbas and his wife became Christians last year. Their interest in the church began when the church at Kisongo showed so much love and concern when their son (Rubin) committed suicide a few years ago. Today Abbas invited eight non-Christians to the church services and to the celebration at his house afterwards (to celebrate the circumcision of his teen-age son, Samson…a Maasi tradition). Jimmy preached an EXCELLENT sermon concerning the inspiration of the Bible and how we need to follow it and not man. Abbas’s son, Samson, decided to be baptized! So this family had two events to celebrate. If you will remember from another report, Abbas said he hoped to convert his whole family. One down….many to go. 

SPEAKING OF DEMON POSSESSION:
Rita, above, was supposedly cured sometime this week by the Lutheran church after more prayer.  But we’re thinking that this “demon possession” thing may be a contagious virus. Yesterday Elijah woke up before everyone did in order to go to the bathroom. After taking off his soaked Pull-Up, he proceeded to beat it against the walls until a million little pellets of silicon (parents know what I’m talking about) covered the floor like a layer of snow.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND INTEREST IN THE TZ 2000 MISSION WORK! 

Serving Him Together, 
The Jimmy Gee family

Graduate Reports Show Fruitful Work...

Greetings Fellow Workers,

We pray your new year has been blessed with a great start. God is truly blessing your efforts here in Tanzania. I received word that one soul obeyed the Good News at Kioga. Joseph obeyed the Gospel at Arusha today and another restored. Yes, we are blessed by a God Who is able when we are willing. Below are three brief reports from three of our graduates: 

“...I will have to check with other ACSOP graduates to know what they have done but on my side we have 4 new congregations in 2011, Nyahururu, Masat, Sengera and Marega. God bless you and the work. Charles Ogutu

I thank God because the church of MANYIRE is growing well Spiritual, and in number, right now we have 45, but not all of them attend the worship. Last year (2011) we have 19 baptized and we thank God for that, also 2 of those who had fallen away, they have repented and came back to the church. Jackson Andrea”

“...I have been working very much to see that the Gospel is spread and indeed it is. We have preached and converted many people but yesterday was another day that the Lord made for us. Compared to that of converting a pentecostal denomination at Kahiza, where by we did baptize 13 people in one day. Up to now I am still very much happy for these souls. Rymon Mwero”

Stephanie, granny and I leave Tanzania this Wednesday, arriving in the States on Thursday (if the Lord wills). Our calendar is just about full, but there are still a couple of openings if you or someone you know, would like to hear a report on God’s Missions Efforts in East Africa. If so, you can reach me after the 19th at 601-310-6170.

We already have two groups/campaigns planned for 2012. One at the end of May and the other the third week of June. If you are interested in joining us this year and would like to join one of these teams, drop me a note and we will put you in touch with the team leaders.

We close this Short Report with a thank you, a thank you to all who have sacrificed on our personal behalf, making it possible for us to be here in TZ doing God’s will. We look forward to seeing many of you in the coming weeks. And yes, we are very excited about seeing our seven month old grand daughter, Hadleigh for the first time. May our God bless you all richly in the year to come.

In Him, Cy, Stephanie & Granny

Graduation Is Coming...

Dear brethren,

We are doing fine here in Uganda. We thank you very much for your support. Through this support many souls have been saved which would not if you had not be supporting this work.

The Uganda School of Evangelism is going on well. We are in our last quarter, as you know. Students are just now thinking of going home, as we are just remaining with seven weeks to graduation. On the 12th of January, I left Busia going to Kasese (580 klm in Western Uganda for a gospel campaign which the brethren had planed). I taught on the 13th and 14th. I taught about (1) Bible Authority, (2) Church leadership and (3) The church's responsibility to the preacher. 

The church has been in this area since 1997 and no the church has the right leaders, and also no church is supporting their preacher, even with a kilo of maize flour. I left in the evening and  arrived in Kampala at night and I had to stay there for a night. 20 souls were added to the church on Saturday. The meeting ended today and many were expected to be baptized. Today, 15th January, I worshiped with Mbuya church of Christ in Kampala. The brethren gave me a chance to preach. I taught one of the lessons. I had taught in Kasese, "The church's responsibility to the preacher." The brethren saw where they have failed and asked God to help them change for the best this year.

GRADUATION NEEDS:

(1) Buy 12 more gowns at @ $21 per gown that is  $252.

(2) Graduation Cake at $67

(3) Meals for about 300 people $313

(4) Purchase of 100 plastic chairs $750

(5) Hiring 150 more chairs and decorating the place $81

(6) A new Concordance as a gift to the best student and any other good books that can help them in work of preaching.

(7) New English Bibles to the best three students in English class. I have Swahili Bibles for Swahili Class.

(8) $100 for buying paint our kitchen and other places that might need painting.

(9) If we can get drip irrigation kits we can give them.

(10) Brother Glen Addison had promised goats to be given to the students. It would be better if this money comes before graduation so that we can start going to the market place to purchase them. May the Lord bless you as you serve Him. Hope to read from you. 

Yours
Francis Wechesa

Back To A Routine...

I love being back to a regular routine. As much as I enjoy all the holiday season involves, with family, friends, coworkers, and more, I am always thankful to get the new year started and focus on the work at hand.

We are continuing our development of several possible locations for new extension schools throughout the world. We are looking at three possibilities in Africa, one in South America, and another in India. There are a number of hurdles we will need to cross and several areas to be resolved. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated as we strive to complete the preliminary requirements necessary to move ahead.

Last week we talked about some of the financial struggles in a number of schools. We have received a response that will assist the work in Cameroon. However, the remaining schools mentioned face significant challenges if funds are not made available. Again, we ask for your prayers regarding these matters. If you are able to provide assistance, please contact me at bturner@bvbid.org. Also, I ask you to pass along the report to others you know who may be able to help. The more others know, the more possibilities for God to work through someone to provide for the need.

Now on to the reports...

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

Gary Fallis sent a first of the year report. The work is good and the information is here.

Extension Reports 

Students Return, New Year, New Growth In Cameroon: 18 locations were visited by students during their break. Now they are back to classes, preparing for their last year at CBIW.

Challenges For 2012 In Cambodia: Phanat Ouch shares his goals for 2012, goals which should challenge all of us as we approach the year ahead in service to our Lord.

A Year In Review:  The school in Togo concluded 2011 in powerful ways and the plans for 2012 show even more growth to come.

Preparing For Graduation In Chandigarh: Another class will soon be completing their studies at the North India Bible College in Chandigarh. Graduation is planned for February. 

Final Thoughts
As we begin this year together, I hope you know how much your sacrifices are appreciated. Your willingness to support this work is changing lives around the world. As you read through the reports each week and read about the souls who have been won to the Lord, souls who have been restored to the Lord, and ongoing studies, know you are sharing in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. 

I am thankful for God’s Almighty hand to work through each of you as we walk side by side through this world to take the message of Jesus to others. As Paul said on several occasions, “I thank my God daily upon every remembrance of you.” You are blessing to my life and so many others around the world.

God bless
Bob

A Year In Review...

2011  Year in Review
We have planted three 3 new congregations and have baptized thirty (30) to date. 

Five brethren were restored and, currently, we are working in two places, one in Kpalime and the other near Kpadape with the view of planting a church there.

Ninety (91) one contacts were made for Bible studies and three major gospel meetings conducted.

In 2012, we plan, as God enables us, to start 4 new congregations around Kpalime. The students will use the church planting exercises as part of their practical assignment.

Five denominational preachers have been baptized since September 12 when the academic year started. All those baptized are students of CBS.

About 1500 pieces of tracts distributed.

CBS, since April 18^th 2005, has trained eleven (11) evangelists, working in various towns and villages.

112 met for the “Watch Night” service on December 31st  2011. 
There were 112 who attended the watch night service. These people came from six congregations in the Kpalime area.

Willie

Preparing For Graduation In Chandigarh...

Dear Brother,

We had a good time together with the brothers from different places. Even though the challenges are there, we are determined to work for the Lord. 

Last month I did not get time to share with you, but we had a good gathering on the first Wednesday. Brother Francis David and his wife Elsy joined us that day and he presented the message. 

Today also, I had hired the hall. It is a bit expensive but to witness and invite people we have to bear that. Today I preached. The weather was chilling. Not many people could come but we are confident with this effort we may be able to invite many more people as the weather becomes cozy. 

For your information, this time we sent letters to 90+ people and expect at least this much from people across the nation in NIPL 2012 on February 16,17. This year people from Bombay, West Bengal, Gujrat and Chennai have shown interest in coming. I don’t know how to handle this much crowd with the so much limited budget, but still we trust in God and believe that He is Jehovah yireh who provides.  

I did not write earlier that we had given one week holidays to the students and during those days they were sent out to the city people in Chandigarh to share with them the Gospel and distribute among them some literature. The result was thrilling. They all enjoyed visiting people and sharing with them the truth.

Earnest

Challenges For 2012 In Cambodia...

Dear fellow God fearers,

By the time you are reading this, it would be 2012 and a new year, so I want to wish all of you a productive year for the Lord in winning souls for Him! As always, the month of December is a benchmark month for us to look at our previous goals and set new goals for the new year. I want to share with you my top five personal goals that I've shared with the local congregation here and hope that they will start to have personal goals of their own. I think this is a better way to get the congregation involved in growing the Lord's church instead of the local leaders setting goals for the congregation itself. I think we all must have the mentality of putting forth personal efforts and contributing to the Lord's work as the Bible teaches. I encourage you all to develop this mentality to grow the Lord's church in your area. Here are my personal goals for the 2012 year:

1. I will talk to 100 new people that I've never met before and engage in a conversation with them about Jesus Christ and his saving gospel.

2. I will give 50 percent more than what I'm currently giving to God in the weekly contributions as he has prospered me.

3. I will finish translating WVBS's Searching for Truth study guide and posters into the Khmer language by the end of the year.

4. I will take my wife and daughter to a foreign country for our family vacation some time in the year (probably neighboring Vietnam or Laos).

5. I will teach my daughter Katesana to memorize and recite 5 Bible verses (Gen 1:1, Deut 6:5, Matt 4:4, Matt 6:33, and Acts 4:12) by the end of the year. She will be two and a half years old.

I hope you like the new lay out of the website. A new year calls for a new face!. Also, I will begin blogging once a week to keep my blogs from being too long and easier to read as suggested by some of you. Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate your comments very much because it tells me that you are reading and are concern about the brethren and work here in Cambodia! May God continue to bless you and your endeavors for Him!

We continue our student body end of the year trip to the beach in Sihinoukville and this time we invited the children and staff of Hannah's Hope along! It was a wonderful and blessed event. We had a wonderful time both physically enjoying God's creation for us (some for the first time in their entire life) and spiritually with our devotional lessons given by the staff of IBISR. Please view the video in the video section for a clip of the children of HH laughter and enjoyment in touching  the waters of the ocean for the very first time in their lives!

I've also worked it out to where the children of Hannah's Hope get's one free meal every month from a local restaurant (Tangram Garden) that is owned by a friend of mine who plays basketball with me. God is blessing us with so much. I pray that we can get him to learn God's word and become a Christian real soon.

Phanat

To see the full report with pictures, click here.

Students Return, New Year, New Growth...

Dearest in Christ,

Greetings from this end. Happy New Year to you and your entire family and the church. Oh, it is a new year and a new beginning for many things. We both end the year in good health and sound faith with readiness to continue our work from where we stopped last time. God blessed us and He is blessing the work He entrusted in our hands. Our congregation is going ahead smoothly and the students of our Bible college are growing. They just returned on campus safe and sound, except for one student who is still to return to Campus. News getting to us shows that he is sick. We pray for him to get well fast and return to school.

Our students went out to 18 communities in our country and came back with wonderful reports that depict the greatness of our God. Let me share with you the news. Brother Awatt Manfree baptized 4 souls in Tole congregation. The picture above shows one of these conversions. We have a total of 32 baptisms and 20 restorations from our entire campaign exercise in those communities, and we succeeded again to fully establish a congregation in Nkongsamba which is a purely French speaking community. We need much follow up to meet us with this opening, if we have the financial means. We shall be sending students on weekend evangelism to continue to water the seed till the 20th of December 2012. By His grace, we shall graduate our first batch of students and a student will likely go and stay there permanently. Keep the work in your prayers.

At our worship this morning it was a thanksgiving day in our congregation where we come together to appreciate God for His care over us. Members came with snacks and food to share with one another. It was great and colorful.

Some students and I were taking pictures during the thanksgiving, eatingbiscuits and having fun with one another after our worship service.

Our student preacher, Mulango Theophile, during his campaign helped a local congregation to make local bricks for their church hall construction in the future. Keep their efforts in your prayers.

One of our students, Awatt Manfree, baptized a soul in Tole congregation. Tole congregation is the congregation that is close to us and the students are doing great work there. It was revived by me when I returned from the preaching school in Nigeria. Much work is still needed to provoke growth. Keep the work in your prayers.

Join us to thank God and to pray for this young dynamic brother Awatt Manfree. He just got married. He has finished all the traditional rites of their culture and the wife has been handed to him. His passion to preach is great, that is why he is preparing himself in all the ways, so that he will not be rejected or looked down upon by leaders in a congregation because he is not married, upon his graduation in the college. Please keep him in your prayers. Those who have come over here can testify to his zeal for the work.

PLANS
We have a lot of demands for us to come over to different communities to help in the work of evangelism. Please we are appealing to you to come and stand with us so that we shall meet up.

Bakassi peninsula was the disputing area between Cameroon and Nigeria. The dispute was solved some years ago. A brother is calling on us to come over to that place and help in the establishment of the Lord’s church there and evangelize other communities in the peninsula.

One of our students, brother Tobias returned from Bali congregation where all the brothers fell from the grace and the three sisters that remain continue to worship and he was officiating on all the items of worship on the first day of the week. Brother Tobias revived some men and they are struggling to stand to do the preaching and leadership of the congregation. We need to send students to go and help teach them some basics while we await December 2012 for a permanent preacher to go there and work. Our congregation is gathering clothes for the children of that community who do not come to worship because they don’t have cloths. Please it is serious. Keep this work in your prayers. Many congregations desire our assistance for the work in their area. It is not possible for all of us to move because we don’t have means of transport of our own to make trips like that as a family. A van will solve this problem.

APPRECIATION
We give all glory to God for His steadfastness over us as we labor in His vineyard. We thank Him for all the successes and challenges we faced and we are facing.

We thank you greatly for all your great concern, prayers and support to make us reach where we are now. We still have a long way to go. Please, we are still appealing for you to continue to have concern for us so that this work will continue to bear fruit for the Glory to our God. God bless you. You are really a pillar in this work. God will never pass you by when He returns with His reward. God bless you.

Elangwe and family, by His grace
Director CBIW

In The Beginning...The New Year

In the beginning... Only by faith can we consider what it was like in the beginning when God created everything new. By faith we enjoy the newness of life having been raised to walk in such through our obedience to the gospel. By faith we anticipate the fulfillment of God’s eternal promises when this perishable body will put on the new, imperishable body. There is something about the beginning, when we have the opportunity to see something new.

The beginning of 2012 brings many new opportunities in the work of the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver in training men to preach, domestically and internationally. By faith we will see and take advantage of these opportunities. We will have new opportunities to...

...share the message of Jesus to a greater population of the world around us.  

...build up the church that belongs to our Lord around the world.

...better equip the Lord’s servants for teaching God’s word.

...restore brethren who left the faith.

...establish new locations for training new students.

...grow another step closer to our God and live more like Christ.

Opportunities will abound as we plunge into the new year. One of the greatest opportunities is to involve more wonderful brethren in the work of Extension Training. Those of you receiving the weekly report have been the heart of the success we have seen and reported about in the lives changed through this work.

I ask you to share the report with others. Our God has the power to do far beyond all we ask or think according to the power that works within us. If you, me and others are going to be the tools through which God works to help provide for the needs of this program, then we need to find greater ways to share the news. Your assistance in getting the word out to others is appreciated. We have several in the program who are willing to stop by and give a personal report about the work of the Extension Training Program. 

By faith, we labor to meet the financial challenges of several schools in the year ahead. Let me quickly share with you some of the present and urgent needs of the work. 

$600 a month for the school in Cameroon
$800 a month for the school in Chandigarh, India
$700 a month for the school in Visakhapatnam, India
$600 a month for the school in Danli, Honduras
$500 a month for the school in Siem Reap, Cambodia

These are the most pressing “monthly” needs (among others) in the work. Unless we are able to raise the needed funds, students and staff will have to be released until the funds can be raised. With the Andrew Connally School of Preaching in Arusha, Tanzania accepting 30 new KiSwahili students in February, the need grows even greater. We need your help. Thank you, in advance, for your prayers and assistance in taking care of these needs.

Now on to the reports...

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

Howell Ferguson, who serves as coordinator for the schools in Gorlovka, Ukraine and, with Garry Hill, in Chimala, Tanzania, provided the following report.

Extension Reports 

A Safe And Successful Return From Nigeria: The report from Cameroon focuses on a recent trip by Director, Elangwe; it’s value and plans for the next year for students.

2 New Souls Added In Cambodia: Recent studies with Chann Lork saw the Lord give the increase with his two nieces as they were baptized into Christ.

A Blessed Year And A New Year: Looking back at 2011 in Ukraine shows how blessed this work has been and looking ahead at the new year brings the 15th anniversary of the school.

Wishes For A New Year: Earnest Gill, his family, the staff, and members of the congregation In Chandigarh, India send their greetings and wishes for a great new year.

A New School Year Will Be A Busy Year: The Chimala Bible Institute is just a few weeks away from beginning a new class of students. It will be a busy year for all.

A Year Of New Beginnings: Cy Stafford shares the value of new beginnings in the church and Andrew Connally School of Preaching.

Happy New Year, An Interesting Name: Intrigued? You will find this an interesting report from Jimmy Gee about the work and a young lady named...Happy New Year. 

Final Thoughts
My prayer is for God to bless each of you richly as we go through this new year, 2012. As I complete my third year of working in the Extension Training Program, I continue to see the growth around the world. I enjoy sharing the news with you and I appreciate you, far more than you know, for all you do to make this work happen.

You are a blessing. It is a privilege and honor to share in this effort together. Happy New Year!

God bless
Bob

A Safe And Successful Return From Nigeria...

Dearest in Christ,

Accept our warm greetings from Cameroon. I wish you, on behalf of my family great blessings from this end as we start the year 2012. It will be a year of greater devotions to the thing of the kingdom. I am appreciating God for you, for your precious support towards the work here in Wotutu and our preaching school.

It is our prayer that we join together again this 2012 to explore the world of darkness to show as many as we can the light of the gospel. I am waiting for the students of CBIW to come back this Friday, 6th of January 2012, to give you the detail statistic of our work throughout the year 2011.

I thank you very much for your prayers toward my trip to Nigeria to attend the Annual Bible lectureship of my former preaching school (Nigerian Christian Institute). From the lectureship I visited seven different congregations in different States in Nigeria as I share with you.

I was able to meet with some sisters helping me to preach the gospel to a family in a small community. They were receptive. I pray for the congregation there to do follow up and help them out from the bondage of denominationalism.

It was a time to meet great brothers who have contributed much in my life while as I was in the school of preaching. I had opportunity to see a good brother, the president of the Nigerian Christian Institute, who was my lecturer in the Bible College. He was very much happy to see me and to hear of the growth of the work in Cameroon after I left school. The annual lectureship was well attended by many and the Lord added souls to the campus congregation.

After the lectureship in NCI, I moved to other communities to visit congregations, as I had opportunity to preach at the Ogale congregation in Porthourt. The growth of the church in Nigeria is great. We continue to pray and work harder to see the church in Cameroon get some maturity as the years are going by.

It was also time to appreciate God for great infrastructural development in NCI my former campus. God is great.

It was also time to meet with converts I made while in school. After service I took some time off to speak and encourage sister Elizabeth in Ebute congregation in Lagos whom I baptized 6 years ago. I was impressed to see her growing in the faith. On Sunday she was the one that taught the children in the congregation. Please keep her and many of them in your prayers.

My stay in Nigeria was fruitful. I appreciate God for helping me in all my travels in the country. With a lot of insecurity I came back home safe and sound. The Lord blessed my visit by adding nine souls to the congregations I visited. Keep the new converts in your prayers for their growth in the Lord.

Please keep the staff and students of CBIW in prayer as they resume classes this Friday for the final year of their studies. Thanks very much for your prayers. Thanks for being part of our work. God bless you and open more doors for you and your family as we continue to invest our efforts for the lost souls to see the light and follow it. Stand firm in the Lord.

God bless you and give you the desires of your heart this 2012.

In Jesus Name....
Elangwe and family

2 New Souls Added In Cambodia

Happy Merry Christmas from us as the congregation in Siem Reap, Cambodia. We wish you all health in your physical and in your spiritual life.

I count myself as the one who is very blessed that I can get to know all of you, which I never knew before, but through the grace of the word of Christ I can get to know all of you and call you as my brothers and sisters in Christ. I get to know you, not just as my brothers and sisters, but to know your love and kind sharing in the work here.

I am grateful for your love and your support to my family and especially to work that we are doing to serve our God in Cambodia.

Our work is doing great. We have a very close relationship. We share what is best to help one another out. We are very glad to work and to help one another to grow in Christ's kingdom. More likely we help the spiritual, most in sharing and teaching other people, especially to our christian brethren.

We are going to have some events taking place next week. I am so happy for these events, as we will have, weddings, meeting and fellowship with our Christian brethren from the local preachers in Cambodia.

Last Sunday (Dec. 25th) my family, along with two of my wife's nieces, went along with us to worship with the church at Leang Dai. After worship, my wife’s two niece decided to be baptize, so now we have two more souls added into Christ's church.

Their names are Thyda and Jenda. They have been staying with us and studied with us for the past two months and now they are baptized.

Thank you, once again, for your love and your support. 

In Him 
Chann

A Blessed Year And A New Year...

Hello dear brothers, families and churches.

I hope that these December holidays helped you to spend more time at home and in the church with your close friends and relatives, the circle in which you are loved and valued. In Ukraine these days are spent in this way. We are trying to be together with those people who supported us and surrounded us with warmth, attention and care all through the year. They are our family and fellow Christians.

As a rule, we start every New Year as a new page, summarizing what happened in the past year. To my mind, 2011 was a blessed period for us.

First, we were able have 5 students graduating from our school, and it was the biggest graduating class in the last 4 years. All of the graduates serve at the local churches and help their congregations.

Second, we could solve the question of registering the building of English Language University as the church property, and thus secured the future location of the Bible institute.

Third, now we have 14 students, and one more will join us in January (Eugene Tebel from Druzhkovka).

Maybe for some people these things are unimportant, but believe me, we put a lot of effort and strength to have it. God really wants to have His church in Ukraine, and we can see how He cares for it.

Because of the institute’s activity, Ukrainian brethren and visits of the missionaries the Eastern part of Ukraine has more churches of Christ than any other region of the country. The institute takes a responsibility to train preachers and support them if they need it. Every year we are organizing evangelizing campaigns, meetings of the preachers, youth meetings and regularly visit local churches to encourage them and make them stand firm in the faith. Churches of Christ in Ukraine are still relatively young and are in a great need of wise leadership. As of right now, only few churches have elders; others are guided but the brothers’ council. And for as long as we keep on training faithful ministers, knowledgeable in God’s Word, the church in Ukraine will benefit from it.

The book of Acts often tells us how people who heard God’s Word, first of all, wanted to share it with their relatives. We hope that in the next year some more churches will start functioning with the help of our students and graduates. Our student, Roman, has already started a church at his hometown, Dimitrovo. They are meeting at his house for Sunday services. His Sunday school classes are attended by children from the neighborhood. There is also an opportunity to start church in Druzhkovka and preach the Gospel there. Please pray with us for our plans.

Next year we’ll celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Bible Institute in Ukraine. Even though it is still relatively young, there are more than 70 students graduated from this Institute. Some of them are working as preachers or helping preachers in their churches. The ladies who graduated from the Institute organize and participate in ministries for ladies and children. This anniversary is not only our celebration but it’s also yours. Many of you took care of this training program for preachers and ministers for so many years. You keep us in your prayers and share our burdens. The work we are doing together is already bringing its fruits. Thank you for your support, constant prayers and your care for us. God bless you in this service.

Your brother, 
Dennis

To see the report, complete with pictures, click here.

Wishes For A Great Year...

Dear Brothers / Sisters, 

This past year has been a great year and we are thankful to the Lord for all of His blessings in it. We also give thanks for our many supporters, well wishers and to all those who pray for and are encouraging us to spread the borders of the Kingdom in this Northern section, a rather much harder field in the country.

We wish you all good health and may this coming year be your best yet as we work together in the bond of love! 

In and for Christ,
Benu, Earnest, all the staff, and members

A New School Year Will Be A Busy Year...

The new school year is about to start at the Chimala Bible Institute, in just three weeks. Already the excitement is building for our return to the campus. The faculty has been working hard at registering the new students and preparing for the return of the second year class. With numerous e-mail and phone calls, the class schedules and the teachers of those classes have been decided. We are, for the first time, having a day of orientation for all the students. Classes will start on Tuesday morning. 

We will have 14 returning Swahili and English students from last year. These are men who have already shown themselves diligent students and powerful workers in evangelism. One of the many changes we made last year was using the whole student body in weekend evangelism. They have preached, conducted Bible studies, studied with the primary and secondary students and conducted services. Each student goes out every weekend with some of their teachers and is involved in evangelism.

Speaking of our hard working and dedicated teachers; every one of them is working on an advanced degree. Some are enrolled in our Bachelors program, if they are teaching in the Swahili department. Teachers who already have their bachelor’s degree are now working on their master’s. Because of this we are planning for the whole teaching department to teach both Swahili and English classes in the near future.

Besides their daily teaching and evangelism duties, all of our teachers have been given specific roles in the running of the school. We have them over student services, food, the dorms, the two departments of Swahili and English, enrolling the students, and student discipline. Without these hard and dedicated servants of Christ we could not have the school doing the work that it does.  Please pray for Joseph, Remmy, Joshua, Boaz, Peter, Xavier, Lai, Ezekiel, and Frank as they continue to serve God in this capacity.

As for the new students we are enrolling, they are from Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Dodoma, Mbeya and Kyela, Some have enrolled from Mabadaga, Sumbawanga, Mbozi  and Njombe. What this means is that our teachers, students and former students have spread out all over Tanzania doing the good work of the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver extension school at Chimala. We have found many good dedicated, hardworking students that desire to prepare themselves to preach the gospel to their country.

What will I be doing when I return? As a Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver coordinator, I will be teaching the classes of Genesis, Jeremiah and Lamentations. Then we will be teaching the short courses on the Gospel of John and Christian Evidences. Then we will travel to Denver to attend the faculty meetings. 

When I will return, I will teach Church History, Exodus and Leviticus. In the second short course section I will teach Joshua, Judges and Ruth and one of the graduate courses. In addition to this, as a Bear Valley Coordinator, I am responsible for the on-site day to day running of the school. This includes chairing the faculty meetings, seeing that the teachers are carrying out their various duties in teaching and working with the students. Every weekend we are at Chimala. We go out to the area churches and preach. We always have teachers and students go with us who are doing evangelism. 

We then plan on returning for the third quarter and teaching Numbers, Deuteronomy and 1st and 2nd Kings and Chronicles. Then the fourth quarter we will be teaching Bible Geography Hebrews, 1st and 2nd Samuel, and World Religions. As the on-site extension coordinator we will see to it that our students get the best, Bible filled education they can receive as they prepare themselves to be better servants of Christ. 

We ask you to keep us in your prayers as we return to Tanzania. We could not do this without the support and hard work of our fellow teachers and supporters. We pray fervently 2012 will be a great year of training and evangelism at the Chimala Bible Institute.

Garry L. Hill
Bear Valley Extension Coordinator

2012 A Year Of New Beginnings...

Greetings Fellow Workers:

Happy New Year! We thank God for bringing us to this point in history. We thank you for bringing us to this point in God’s mission work here in Tanzania. We have so much to be thankful for and you are among the reasons for which we thank God. You, and our partnership, are involved in the most noble of all works, “seeking and saving the lost souls of this world.” 

New beginnings, we are grateful. Today the Lord blessed His work with a new Church plant on the slopes of Mt. Meru. The Mt. Meru congregation has been in the workings for quite awhile. Thanks to the efforts of Cotton Box, Gene Davis, Dupree Galloway, David Bayi, Desdery Massawe, many of the students from the ACSOP, and others, who have put forth much effort in teaching God’s Word to the good people. There were several new Church plants here in Tanzania last year, to the glory of God and to the saving of many souls.

New beginnings, as we worshiped our God today at Arusha, I noticed two new converts (this year). One was the mother of our brother Akuti who is in her early 90’s. Another was the niece of Christopher who obeyed the Gospel during the Tanzania Christian Camp. She is 15 years of age. Truly the Gospel is for all! We know of close to 200 souls that have obeyed the Gospel this past year (2011) as a direct result of God’s mission efforts via the Tanzania 2000 missions! Thanks be to God!

If the Lord wills, we will have 38 preacher training students coming to learn God’s Word in February. We have sponsors for 16 so far. We (they) need your prayers and support. For $200 per month ($4,800 for the two year program) you can fully fund a student to go out and fill the many opportunities the Lord is blessing us with, new congregations being planted ever month. Can you help in part or in whole by supporting one (or more) students? Please do what you can to help us reach the souls of East Africa, a people hungering and thirsting after the righteousness of God.  

May this year be the best year ever for you and your family. May this year present you with countless opportunities to reach the lost with the saving message of the Gospel. May this year be the year that you to do more than you have ever done for the Kingdom.

We close with hearts of gratitude for each of you. We close this report with a renewed zeal, vision and passion to be all we can be for the countless souls God will bring our way. God be with you all and may He bless you with a double portion of His love, mercy and grace. 

In Him, 
Cy, Stephanie & Granny

Happy New Year, An Interesting Name...

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“ Experience is a hard teacher:  It gives the test first, the lesson afterward.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR is the name of one of Heather and Candace’s best friends. Named by her father, Happy New Year was born about 9 p.m. on December 31, sixteen years ago. She prefers to be addressed as “Happiness” or “Happy” (appropriate because she brings happiness wherever she goes). Facebook would not even accept her legal name as her real name!

NEW BEGINNINGS. Today is a new day, a new week, a new month and a new year!  Don’t we all love new beginnings? The end of the year is such a great time to examine ourselves and set goals to be accomplished in a year’s time. For many, a new year gives new hope. Our list is short and our plans are to focus on a few key areas and a few projects…in other words, “quality over quantity.” May all of us have goals that reflect God as being first in our lives.

SAFE ARRIVAL. Todd and Lauren are back in the states. Their three-week visit was the highlight of our year! Our sincere thanks is extended for their contribution to the TZ Mission Work. The first week was spent as counselors / teachers at Tanzania Christian Camp. During the remaining two weeks, they visited with approximately 18 people (most were studies, some were visits of encouragement).

GUEST OF HONOR. Todd was invited as one of the guests of honor to a Masai Celebration (celebrating the recent circumcision of three young men). Others from the church were there also. For more information about Masai customs, search the internet.

GENESIS. The Ladies class is continuing to study this great book, so foundational to understanding the rest of the Bible. Last year, chapters 1-24 were studied and chapters 25-50 will be finished in 2012. In anticipation of the marriage seminar scheduled for May 2012 (Chris and Beth Akin will conduct), it is the plan to focus on issues in these remaining chapters that apply to marriage. It is our thinking that it is good to “prepare the soil” so that when the time comes to “plant” that something will grow! Tanzanian culture (as well as much American culture) is not conducive to a Biblical (and therefore, joyful) marriage.

"JIMMY BEAT ME". As usual, the Gospel Chariot (Trina’s old white van) made the rounds picking up women and children for services, and, upon our arrival (noticing Jimmy’s car), Trina said (in surprise) “Jimmy beat me!” Trina’s friend, Janet, who knows only a little English, replied “pole” (sorry) to which Trina quickly explained the two meanings of the word “beat” but wasn’t sure she understood. However, later in worship when Trina sat beside Jimmy, she realized a translator was needed to assure Janet’s correct understanding. Why? Last night, Jimmy’s face had been “sprayed” with acid by a Nairobi fly. It looked as if he had 2 long scratches on one side with abrasions on his nose and chin (who beat who?). We just didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea! Unfortunately wife-beating is “alive and well” in Tanzania, even among some church members. These Nairobi flies mentioned are “in season” and almost every member of our family (plus folks at church) has at least one “burn” from these little critters. The shape of these burns depend on how the acid was sprayed.

PRAYERS NEEDED. Regular readers of our report will recognize the name Rosemary (Lembris’s wife). The Tanzania Christian Clinic (operated by Danny and Nancy Smelser, members of the Lord’s church) conducted a cancer-testing clinic last month. Rosemary was told that she had a problem and needed further testing at one of the larger hospitals in Arusha. Needless to say, she is worried. Both Lembris and Rosemary are planning to enroll in the Kisongo Bible School for evening classes.

FAMILY NEWS. Immediately after services, 5-year-old Elijah loudly remarked to David, “You’re right! When you sleep in church, it goes by much quicker!” Several of us are recovering from a bacterial infection (of the stomach). Most of the school work for the year has been planned for the older children (who work independently unless they need assistance). The best situation for us is to go to a nearby recreation center in the mornings to do school work and get away from the distractions / interruptions at home. While we “school,” the younger children play at the park and Matthew’s therapist exercises with him there.

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. Your cards and emails are really appreciated! Many of you regularly uplift us and spur us on, letting us know that you are praying for us and appreciate us.  Besides family, Leadale Simpson, Patricia Russell and Dennis Itson  are just a few who make “encouragement” one of their main ministries.

ACSOP. As we reported back in November, we graduated the first Swahili-stream class in the history of the school. This means that we are taking in a new class in February of this year. It is our plan to take in 30 new students. However, as everyone knows, it takes money to support, feed and house these students. Thus, we would appreciate it if you, as an individual or a congregation, would consider supporting one or more students, either totally or partially. It takes $200 per month to support one student. Thus, over a two year period that would be $4800 per student. If you can help in any way with this, we would really appreciate it. All funds for student support need to be sent to the Kensington Woods congregation. The address for KW is on the first page of each week's report. Thanks for considering it!

A TURTLE…it’s been said that if you see a turtle on top of a fence post, you know he had help getting there. It’s the same with us here in Tanzania, East Africa. So many have helped us come and many have helped us to stay. Thank you for being a part…a vital part…of this growing and rewarding work! We look forward to a new and exciting year! May God bless you all in all your service to Him. 

Serving Together for the Cause of Christ,
The Jimmy Gee family

To see the report with addresses and pictures, click here.

Reflect On The Past, Press On To The Future...

I trust everyone is enjoying the holiday season, spending time with family and friends. My wife and I always enjoy spending time with our children and grandchildren. We look forward to spending as much time with them as we can at every opportunity.

As we reach the end of 2011 and begin a new year with the next report, we want to take a moment to reflect on the past and press on to the future. The past year witnessed much growth in the Extension Training program. In addition to getting a new school off the ground in Cameroon, we were able to grow in our understanding of some of the issues challenging this work and how to address these challenges.

As we press on into 2012, we are excited about the possibilities of establishing several new locations for training men to preach, connecting with a school presently operating on a one year basis, and continuing to address areas in the program where there is need.

The greatest challenge tends to be financial in nature. The economic situation of this country has caused several schools in other countries to lose support. We are trying to determine the best way to address these situations. Our fear is the loss of students, present and potential. We know Satan does not want us to train men in this program, and we know he will use whatever possible to stop the work. However, we trust God is greater and will provide what is needed.

We ask you to pray with us about these needs and share the report with others. If you know of someone who is able and willing to get involved with helping satisfy these needs, please drop me a note at bturner@bvbid.org. I would love to discuss these matters in greater detail and work together to resolve these issues.

The reports are fewer this week as we approach the end of the month, but they are encouraging.

Now on to the reports...

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

Extension Reports 

Growth For Students, Staff And The Church: The news connected with the Center for Biblical Studies (CBS) demonstrates growth for everyone involved.

It’s All About Multiplication: Cy Stafford captures the whole of Extension Training in his final report of 2011 from the Andrew Connally School of Preaching In Arusha, Tanzania.

Kisongo Field Day And More: The first annual event brought much to the work in Arusha. The Gee report shows how the work in Tanzania is developing. 

Final Thoughts
The year must not end without taking opportunity to thank you for all you have done over the past year to make this work successful. As well, let me thank you, in advance, for all I know you will continue to do in the year ahead.

It is an exciting time in the world to be involved in training men to preach the gospel. The opportunities are growing each week and plans for development are aligning with the goals for the overall program. 

Thank you for making it happen! We hope you have enjoyed a great holiday season. We look forward to the year ahead.

God bless
Bob

It's All About Multiplication...

Greetings Fellow Workers;

2011 has come and is just about gone! Question, what has God blessed you with that you were able to share with another, or others? It is our hope, our prayer, that God blesses each of you with an even better 2012 that He might be glorified through your giving these blessings away. As our dear brother has said a long time ago, “life is but a vapor”, so, let each of us count each day as the blessing from God that it is and use each and every day to the fullest that other might better know Him.

What it is all about! For the last eleven years we have been working hard at training faithful Gospel preachers God’s Word that they may in turn, teach God’s Word to the good people of East Africa. The quote I received below says it all:

“Hello Cy, Just wanted to let you know of the spiritual blessings and increases that has been possible thru God. Last week was very productive, we had nine baptisms. Four from our congregation Sirisia, four baptized by Vincent Wakhungu who graduated from ACSOP Swahili class 2011. One baptism in the new church when I visited them.” (Charles Ogutu)

It really is all about “multiplication”! Missionaries from abroad will never do as good a work as is possible by our local brothers. When given the proper tools, they are able to do in short order what we could only hope to accomplish two life times. We are now seeing “second generation” graduates and the good they are doing. 

Charles Ogutu graduated, taught Vincent Wakhungu the Gospel, recommended him to come to the ACSOP (he did), and now he has planted another congregation of the Lord’s people! Wow! God is good and He is doing mighty works through all his servants and supporters.

Gasper Julius wrote a very encouraging note, another example of the soundness and leadership quality of so many here in East Africa. 

“Hello brother, we thank God because the two families who have had conflict between themselves, have both come together and agreed to forgive each other. I thank God for His blessings. Thank you for your prayers.” (Gasper Julius)

We close with hearts of joy and gratitude. We thank you all for your prayers and support, making this mission work possible. We solicit your continued support as we move forward with God’s work here in Tanzania. We know and we trust, with your help, God will bless our labors to His glory and to the saving of many souls. Thank you, God bless you all and we do wish you all a very Happy New Year! 

In Him, Cy, Stephanie & Granny

Growth For Students, Staff And The Church...

News for first term
August 17, 2011, the Center had organized an interview for 27 candidates, of which their names reached us, and were kept to test them. At the end of the tests, twenty (20) candidates had been kept for the third promotion that would begin September 5. Considering some irregularities the return was delayed one week to arrange the infrastructures and of other things.  

As foreseen, the classes started September 12^th at 7:30 a.m. with twenty (20) retained candidates. The youngest of the students is 23 years old and most aged has 69 years.

The work of the students 
I give thanks to God for the three months of courses that we had to make with the students. Right at the beginning, the students had difficulties understanding some courses, and it is understandable because most of them came from fourteen (14) such denominations.

The students coming from the Church Christ number four. Every professor used his talent to give the best of oneself in order to make the students understand the courses.

In spite of some misunderstandings among them, it is to be noted that the students exhort themselves regularly to the love, to tolerance, to the practice of good work, to mercy and to generosity. The morning work in class begins to 8:00 a.m. after an early devotion of 7:25 a.m. to 7:55 a.m. and the morning work ends to 12:30. The afternoon courses begin at 3:00 p.m. and end at 5:15 p.m. except Wednesday afternoon when they are free (without course).  

The activities of the Center
In the practice, the students attend campaigns of evangelism organized by the Center each month. Some of them take every Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning to evangelize the population, house to house. 

a. The Center, since it’s creation, April 18^th 2005, is now up to eleven (11) trained evangelists working in several localities of the region.

b. The eleven evangelists are: (Akli KokouDegboe Jean; Assogbavi Adjangbo Gabriel; Assoklou Yawotse Selom; Ahanyaboe Clement Afatsawo; Senyo Folly;  David Yamba Wama; Kokou Toulassi; Edoh Abraham Koumakouwe, Kossi Gidigidi, Joseph Mindamou; Yaovi Amegadjin) working in full time, except a police sergeant that works with the prisoners in the jails of the region.

c. During three months, the center organized four publics’ evangelism countries more in Kpadape, Kple-Beme, Kussuntu and Kpele-Tutu.   

d. During 2011 the total number of baptized was 30.

e. Retrogrades: Only two retrogressed have been restored to the church of Nyiveme; one who abandoned God's worship following the death of his wife for 2 years, and the second was a disciple of the ex-evangelist Mark Agossor. 

We have a program for public evangelism for the year 2012 in new places: Aveho-Tugbli, Atiyi, Avetonou Detsideke and Holokope of January to June.

The students in class.
Every student makes his effort to follow the courses attentively. Their efforts are seen through the tests that were submitted to this end of the term, and their reactions opposite the courses that are dispensed. To the departure they were frustrated to hear some teachings on GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT with regard to the "gifts of the Holy Spirit." When they understood, their reactions were positive. Some not wanting to continue with their former denominations wished to spend some Sundays before joining their families, because the churches of Christ are not in the surroundings of their origin.

Dreams of students 
The students having understood ten courses well (10) (Introduction of Old Testament, Homiletic I, Scheme of Redemption, The ministry of the Multiplication (Evangelism), God's Holy spirit, Genesis, Music in the Cult, RTAO (Traditional Religion of West Africa), French, Acts of the Apostles) that were dispensed during the term, most of them wanted to change their denominations radically without the opinion of their founders. What worries the Center is that they already made an experience with a case with an ex-student who had reacted of this sort in Pkadape. There are more than five (5) denominations that reacted positively towards the studies that are carried by their candidates.

The joy of the Center
What makes joy in the teaching body is that during the three (3) month, five (5) students received their baptisms and adore (worship) now in Church of Christ. Not only it, they create everywhere for us multiple contacts in the country with the founders, pastors, prophets, apostles, reverends, and evangelists of the other religious confessions who now try to understand "what motivated them. They want to know how mainly responsible persons have been “rebaptized” in to the Church of Christ. This question pushed the professor of the Biblical Institute of the Churches of the Assembly of God and Apostolic Churches of Togo suited in NOTSE in a return visit to our CENTER BIBLICAL STUDIES(CBS) on 17^th to 18^th November, 2011. We receive two or three visitors of the pastors regularly and others in the CBS every week. Our school will bring a big change in the world of the denominations.

Correspondence Courses and the Radio program.
The Survey of the Bible, through correspondence courses continues in our CENTER BIBLICAL STUDIES (CBS). Sometimes, some people who study the courses with us are so hurried to have the continuation of the courses, because the courses, with their clear and comprehensible content, appear very interesting to them. Their excitement encourages us and shows us the importance and utility of the courses for a number of imported students. Through radio programs, several of our broadcasts are listened everywhere in the area. In this last month, we received two calls coming from the village of Agou, 17 km, by a religious group said the “center of prayer” solicited our teachings (lessons) either by cassette or copies. Our broadcasts continue every Thursday from 6:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The demands for the correspondence courses increase from day to day and visits to our churches are frequent.

Need: the Notse-Kpota village asks what we preached to the radio of the place. When the evangelist inquired as to how much it would cost per hour, he told to him that it is 3500 CFA.  

Our wish it is to reach everybody with the gospel.

Meeting of the staff
The body of the professors met with Brother Willie to debate some topics that concern the work of the Center. These meetings were held November 21 and December 7. In these meetings, it was discussed concerning the election of the staff of this school, and December 7, we elected an office (staff) to follow the activities of the Center. It has been decided, together with Willie, to open an account for the transaction of money for School for January 2012. Most often the journey of brother Cephas E. Nyemanta in Ghana to go and get money from brother Willie every time can have a big danger, by thieves or accident, in addition to exchanging the money of Ghana (Cedis) in franc (CFA) decreases the sum of money sent for the Center and it affects the economy of the Biblical institute. 

I wish you good health and a good collaboration with the staff of the Center for the good progress of the activities and the advancement of work in Togo. God blessed you.

Your sincere brother in Christ
Cephas E. Nyemanta