Back in full swing in Wotutu

Dearest in Christ,

 Greetings from this end. Thanks for your prayers we are praying for you and we do know you are praying for us.

COVID-19 is very much present in the world but we are thankful to God that no single case has ever been to Wotutu. Activities are back to normal and schools have all resumed for the past two weeks. Please keep our students and staff in your prayers. We now do a lot of washing of hands and hand sanitizer. Face- masks are now in use all the time and we do maintain social distancing. We shall also start using the electronic thermometer in all of our campuses in the weeks ahead.

Our students are busy with weekend evangelism. They are not leaving any stone unturned as they prepare for full time ministry. I was impressed when I paid a visit to the YATO congregation. It is a congregation we revived. It was almost dead as the congregation was characterized with Nigerian brethren who decided to go back to their homes. The few Cameroonians who were left could not handle the congregation, so we are sending students there now. They worship around 18 souls.

PLANS

We are on the move and we are not looking behind but looking forward to our weekend evangelism. The Mudeka congregation has invited the entire Bible Institute for a three-day house to house evangelism and indoor lectureship. They have asked me to present three different lessons. Pray for us as we shall be there this Friday October the 22nd.

OUR 5TH GRADUATION CEREMONY COMES UP ON THE 10TH OF DECEMBER 2020. THIS WILL HAVE MADE TEN SUCCESSFUL YEARS OF TRAINING PREACHERS FOR US. PLEASE COME CELEBRATE WITH US IF YOU CAN.

APPRECIATIONS

Many thanks to you for all your help and prayers. Please continue and do not faint because your reward will be given to you when the Lord returns to pay His people. Please, a sister through a brother, has donated 15 of the megaphones for our upcoming graduates.

Elangwe and family

By His grace director BVBIC-Wotutu

Safety protocols in place in Accra

END OF 3RD QUARTER REPORT

BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE, NSAWAM

JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER 

OUR APPRECIATION

Praise be the Lord God who has demonstrated His lovingkindness for the entire quarter. Throughout this period, we say to the Glory of God that we have not recorded a case for this COVID. We continue to pray that none of us and all brethren should be affected. We thank the Lord for this great protection. It is our prayer that this disease will end.

The Director and the entire students express their profound gratitude for all the brethren who have been supporting the school in prayer and in giving. Stay bless.

SCHOOL RESUMED AFTER PRESIDENT’S ORDER

The students of Nsawam school with her Instructors are doing well. As I reported in my previous report, the Lockdown order, the school went on brake. God willing, we resumed in July and classes began. Everyone is doing well.

CHALLENGES ON TURNOUT

During the classes we had challenges on the attendance. Few were attending class for the fear of the virus. Other contemplate on why school resuming so early, we ought to have waited for some time. Further explanations were given and the necessary measures we have put in place for our safety. However, as time go on the number keep increasing.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

Classes are ongoing with the total number of students. In this quarter (July, August, September), three courses where completed as assigned to Instructors. In July, Sammy taught Bible Geography, August and September, E.O. Larbi taught Counselling, the Epistle to the Romans by Emmanuel Amoo-Gyimah.

PESONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT RECEIVED

The following Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s) were received: Veronica Bucket with Stand, Hand Towel, Thermometer Gun, Liquid Soap, Hand Sanitizer, Nose Masks and Fumigation exercise taken place respectively. We were also grateful to receiving Hand Sanitizer from one of the students, who works with this Sanitizer Factory, one for each other, to help curb the spread of the virus.

PROTOCOLS OBSERVED FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR STUDENTS

As per the order of the government, the director of the school saw to it that all protocols be observed to prevent the spread of the virus. As we carry on safety measures and piece of advice, students and instructors wash their hands, Social Distancing and temperature is taken and recorded for future reference.

CONCLUSION

The above activities as per the quarter, were completed by the grace of God.

Glory be unto Him. Forever and ever. Amen

New books in Ghana

3RD QUARTER REPORT

 BEAR VALLEY SCHOOL OF PREACHING,  KOFORIDUA

( JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER )

We have to continue to be grateful unto our creator for all the blessings He bestows unto us to be able to serve in His Kingdom and to obey the Great commission of bringing the whole world into His kingdom. May He continue to bless us with all the blessing to be able to do just that!

We had most of the students attending class with Bro Emmanuel Ammo-Gyimah teaching the Life of Christ 1 – 4. There was no class for September 4 and 5. We went to bury Brother Solomon Adjei at his hometown of Akaa Buem in the Oti Region of Ghana. He left five children.

We have taken delivery of the books (The life of Christ 1 and 2) and we are going to put them to good use. We pray and hope such tools could be sent to enable the students to begin to build their library for use. Also the school is grateful to you for sending us the laptop that we requested for. It will be put to good use.

We have planned to go back to preach the second time at where we preached last year. There is a very small congregation there that we want to help with their evangelistic programme.  We plan doing it in the second week of December.

It is our prayers that our sponsors would be blessed so as to continue to support us do more in the kingdom.

Kwabena Gyan-Mante

20 students in Kasoa, Ghana

KASOA

3rd Quarter Report

July August September 2020

The Lord has been good to us. None of us nor anyone who is nearer to us in relationship has been affected by the virus. We are keeping ourselves safe by obeying the protocols.  May the Good Lord richly bless you, your work and that for Him.

KASOA

Kasoa is a big village, it is highly populated. It houses people from all over Ghana. It is nearer to Accra, the capital city of Ghana. Because it is nearer to Accra and the land there is cheaper as compare to Accra, many people rush there to buy land, build houses and stay there. It is growing to be the town with the highest number of the Church of Christ. Currently, there are over forty (40) congregations there.

SCHOOL IN KASOA

The school meets in the church premises of Papaase Number 2 congregation where their average attendance is 200. The church pays for the light bill and gives us free use of its facilities. We are most grateful to the church there.

STUDENTS

Currently we have 19 students. We have one lady who is a Sunday school teacher for the Children. She also teaches in the Ladies’ Bible Class. Averagely, we have 17 students attending weekly. All are leaders in their congregations and they all preach as fill in, whereas 10 of them are working as preachers in their congregations.

ACADEMICAL WORK

All the students participated and all have so far passed all the exams. Whereas Kojo Acquah Beenyi is the director, Roger Asante is the other instructor and he has done much work in the School. He comes from Eastern Region, takes three different transportation in one and half hours on the road to get there weekly to teach. He is the product of the School in Accra and is currently doing his Masters. He is graduating in January, 2021.

CAMPAIGN/EVANGELISM

Because of the prohibition of mass gathering, the students did two-one week house to house teaching and preaching in two villages. Many tracts were distributed and many heard the Gospel. It resulted in 11 baptisms.

Thanking and Praying that God will continue to be kind to us, guard us, guide us, bless us, protect us and keep us safe for His Use in this hard times which is messing our lives.

New students in Sunyani (Ghana)

REPORT FOR THIRD QUARTER OF 2020

BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE - SUNYANI CAMPUS

(BRONG AHAFO COLLEGE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES)

DATE: 9TH OCTOBER, 2020

I)           TEACHING STAFF AT SUNYANI SCHOOL CAMPUS: 

1)   DANIEL KYEREH-MENSAH (LOCAL DIRECTOR AND BIBLE INSTRUCTOR)

2)   THOMAS GYABAA (BIBLE INSTRUCTOR)

3)   REXFORD AGYARE-MINTA (BIBLE INSTRUCTOR)

II)        INTRODUCTION:

The third quarter of 2020 started with the continuation of studies on the following courses:

1)   The preacher and his work

2)   The New Testament Survey

3)   Homiletics

III)     CHALLENGES

The post covid period raised some apprehension in our students but with prayerful counseling and orientation classes started effectively on Saturday 7th July 2020.

IV)       NAME OF CONTINOUS STUDENTS AT SUNYANI SCHOOL CAMPUS

1.   Joseph Kyereh Mensah – Sunyani

2.   Samuel Effa – Berekum - Gyamdede

3.   Kannor Emmanuel – Goaso

4.   Stephen Ohen Gyan – Nsoko

5.   Akumfi Ameyaw – Sunyani

6.   Jacob Osei – Nkaseim

7.   Anthony Owusu – Wamfie

8.   Amo Joseph– Berekum - Biadan

9.   Nicholas Korang – Berekum - Biadan

10.  Yeboah Gideon – Berekum - Biadan

11.  Isaac Serwonu – Goaso

12.  Samuel Appiah  -  Sunyani

13.  Twum Kwarteng – Abesim

14.  Ben Obeng Nyarko – Sunyani

15.  Kyereh John – Nkonsia (Drobo) 

V)          FRESH OR NEW ADMISSIONS:

1.   FrancIs Adjei Kwasi – Goaso

2.   Frank Adu – Sunyani

3.   Takyi Isaac – Sankore

4.   Maxwell Yeboah – Derma

5.   Nicholas Boaffa – Goaso

6.   Daniel Anyabas – Goaso

VI)       ADDING OF ANOTHER BIBLE INSTURCTOR:

As a result of the new admission there was a need to add one Bible instructor to teach the course we have almost completed. We have therefore added Mr. Rexford Agyare-Minta who has already started teaching the Old Testament Survey.

VII)    SECOND SEMESTER, FIRST YEAR EXAMINATIONS:

Examinations were held on the preacher and his work and on the New Testament Survey on 19th September, 2020.

Teaching on Homiletics is ongoing. We will start teaching “Denominational/Dogma (Doctrines) on 17th October, 2020”.

SENT BY:   Daniel Kyereh Mensah

Local Director

Sunyani Campus

Soul-winning in Cameroon

We wish blessings to you all as we send you this report from Mbanga Balong. Shalom to our fellow workers in the vineyard of the Lord. We hope God has given you all his grace this day as you read this report.  It is great to tell you that we are doing our best through Christ who strengthens us.

Our students went out for field work and on a soul saving mission for about two weeks to various places in our country. "We think souls." We ended our last short-course on the 5th of September 2020 and everyone was set for mission including the director and his wife. It was not very easy as some students had to travel for about 2 days on tarred road. Most of them went to the extreme distances of our mission. 

Firstly, two of our students travelled to Kiosy with our school bus and brother Idriss who is a graduate from Wotutu who is ready to serve there permanently. It was a very long and costly trip but the gospel is calling on us to save the lost. Some also went to Bayomen were we are still worshiping in open air and in Banjock were the work is still very timid with only sisters as the worshipers. Work in French Cameroon is taking a new turn even though there is still a very long way to go.

Brother Prince went to Azimotel Street in Kumba and God blessed the church with 2 souls after a very long work along-side the minister and some members of the assembly. I was also fortunate to have a day to work with brother Prince. Keep these sisters in your prayers. They are still passing through some temptation in their homes. God bless you all.

It is good to be on the side of the Lord. These souls needs to be shepherded. Our weekend evangelism team is doing their best, even though they have a very long distance to cover. Sometimes they will arrive on a Sunday morning and continue with classes immediately. Lord, we always thank you for according a safe journey to us, our students, and many others along the line.

 The same scenario went on in Mbanga as 2 souls were also added into his vineyard during this end of semester field trip. God added 9 souls into his vineyard and restored 2. Glory be to God ALMIGHTY.

We thought it wise that our students could get a little knowledge on counselling before graduation. This is our first year of doing this in Mbanga. We develop the idea and translated it to French. It was very impressive for everyone, and now we have a course for it even though it is not the best yet. But we believe that in the near future we are going to be able to develop it into its best.

This first week of full studies came with another experience with brother Kunda from Wotutu who took the students out for a hands on experience in vocational training, especially on agriculture. This study was to help then to see and to know the various products to use during farming. He also took them to the delegation of agriculture in Mbanga to explain to them the realities of the benefits from the soil. The lady you see in the photo is the sub- divisional delegate for agriculture in Mbanga. BVBIC-Mbanga is continuing to grow to full maturity. 

Weekend evangelism continues with our brothers as they too are growing. Door to door evangelism is going on every weekend both in Mbanga and to other areas of work. Our students are continually talking to people, giving out tracks, and at times giving Bibles to some serious prospects. God is richly blessing us.
We praise God for his mercy. God bless you all my beloved. Your beloved partner in the work. The slave in Mbanga.

Ititi Benedict

Harvest time in Tamale

BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE, TAMALE

POST OFFICE BOX TL 925

TAMALE, GHANA

God’s unmerited favor and Grace continues to guide us through the journey of life. We pray and hope He continue to bless you all for your continuing support for the course of God across Africa and Northern.

STUDENTS IN SCHOOL

The teaching is still ongoing with four courses taught remaining one course to end the term. Brother Albert Malir treated Life of Christ four, Brother Anthony Antumwini world religion, Brother James Legend, Denominational Doctrine, and Brother Thomas Donzie Christian Leadership. All things are folding up successfully as activities for the year is progression in the midst of Covid 19 outbreak. The remaining course Bible geography is also in session with Brother Steven Ashcraft to bring the term to an end. We praise God for how far He has brought us.

ADMINISTRATIVE WORK

The school management is committed to the ultimate principles and doctrines of the School. We are doing our best to impact these doctrines into the students, hoping they will be well equipped, ready to defend the truth in the midst of false teachers and preachers. We are also contacting and encouraging the next batch of prospects, anticipating to campaign for students after break, we have also deliberated with students to help campaign when they get back home. We hope to reach some of these students in their homes. We are constantly communicating and working with our able Coordinator (Kojo Acquah Beenyi) in getting things in order. We appreciate God for the efforts of Brother Kojo for his assistance in making all things run effectively.

SCHOOL FARM

We have got about two bags of maize from the first harvest we have made. Next harvest would be done in November, and we hope that this produce will help in the cost of feeding our students.

God bless us all,

Albert and James

Full class schedule in Takoradi

Dear Brethren,

Greetings to you our beloved brethren and fellow workers in the Lord’s vineyard. God has been kind to us here as we are trying to stay balanced between His work and covid-19. We pray and hope that He spreads His mighty wings on you as well.

Here is the report for the month of August. By God’s help and your kind contribution, we were able to handle all the affairs of the school. We say thank you, and God bless you. We appreciate you very much.

1.      CLASSROOM WORK

Classes for both the regular and the part-time were carried out successfully until the last of the month (28th) when we gave the regular students a three-week recess. The weekend classes for the part-time session continued without any break.

2.      EVANGELISM

As we all are aware, the covid-19 is still on going, and so we are still under certain restriction regarding activities that involve human contacts. Yet some of us tried to take advantage of the little opportunity we had to spread the Word.

 Some few men who are also past students of our school and have formed a team, organized a three-day house to house evangelism. Below is a picture to that effect.

3. BAPTISM

There were two baptisms recorded, one at Mpintsin Church of Christ where I preach, and the other one from one of our past student’s congregation.

Thank you for your assistance.

Yours for the Master’s service.

Joshua Aidoo

A new congregation in Ghana

END OF SEPTEMBER REPORT, 2020

Thanks be to God once again for His protection, victory through our Lord Jesus Christ and has given us the necessary care throughout the month. We are victorious because none of us is tested positive for the covid-19. Amen.

We shall not forget our brethren’s cheerful giving both past and present in support of the progress of the school. Glory be to God for His safeguarding our dear brother, Steven Ashcraft for his arrival in Ghana. May we all be blessed in the Name of our Lord!

The following were activities for the month:

CLASSES

According to the school’s calendar and her time table, all instructors are actively teaching as assigned to each one for the quarter. Currently, brother E. O. Larbi is teaching two courses a week (Monday and Thursday) on Book of Acts and Old Testament 3, Roger Asante for New Testament Church 2 (Worship), Gyan Mante for Personal Evangelism 2, Sammy and George for ICT and English. Kojo and Amoo Gyimah will teach (4) four short courses next month. Both Instructors and non-teaching staff are doing very well.

INTERNAL ACTIVITY

Staff Meeting

There was a staff meeting to discuss the oncoming graduation and its relevant activities. It was concluded that there will be no lectureship prior to the graduation because of covid-19. Few people will be invited and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) will be provided for all invitees. 

Study Books for the Bear Valley Schools

We were grateful to receive the study books on Life of Christ 1 and 2 packages, to be distributed among the Bear Valley Schools in Ghana. Currently, distribution is ongoing in various schools in the regions. Glory be to God for this wonderful study material.

Baptisms

Our student baptized (1) one person (a female) during school area Evangelism this month and is attending the church at campus.

EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES

Doryumu Brethren

This is to report on one of our students by name, Philip Abuquah (the school prefect and evangelist of the host church) who is starting a new church building project on a piece of land, invited the school to assist in exhortation for the support of the work. Brother Amoo Gyimah with the students were present in the service. Our students sang to cheer the programme and funds were raised for the project. We were all happy for this event.

Staff Visits to Past and Present Students

A programme to visit all our past and present students on the field is ongoing. Instructors have been assigned to visit all students according to the administrative structure for the visitation. Amoo Gyimah visited New Ningo where Boye Larye is the evangelist. Bro. E. O. Larbi visited Achimota, Accra where Antwi Augustin is the evangelist. We hope to do this to strengthen both the churches and the preachers.

Students Visit to Churches

The school has started its visitation to assigned churches for practical teaching and preaching programme which was abandoned due to the covid-19. We are privileged to have “smaller” and newly planted churches seeking our support in reviving them.

Some of these are: Krabokese, Pakro Road, Panpanso No.1, all in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Our students have started working with these congregations including the Papase-Kotoku congregation this month.

CONCLUSION

Thanks be to the Almighty God who saw us through all activities with Joy. We appreciate your support, prayer, and love.

Keep praying with us.

God bless us all.

21 more converted in Guinea

Gueckedou, Guinea Bear Valley Bible Institute Activity Operations Report for September 2020

It is time again to share briefings of the activities taking place here at the Gueckedou BVBI with our dear supporters and well-wishers. The month of September has covered several activities including classroom work, evangelism, gospel campaign and the construction of a temporal worship/ceremony shelter. On the overall it was successful and we want to thank and appreciate you all for the spiritual and material support. Now here below in sub-headings are the details of the activities for the month under review.

Classroom: During the second quarter which started in July we were able to cover a lot of courses including Hermeneutics 1, Christian Evidence 1, the Godhead and the New Testament Church. For the most part the results were good with the exception of a few needing to do extra assignments to meet requirement. All 17 students reported since August are still on roll. Classes have stopped and our second quarter breaks for 3 weeks started on October the 5th.

Evangelism: As part of our regular routine, we did go out around town and in the villages to preach the word. Responses were only appreciations. Some have promised to try to pay visit to the church in the coming days and weeks. Nevertheless 2 persons were converted to Christ.

Gospel Campaign: Just before the close of the second quarter, we organized a 3 days gospel campaign dividing the students along with a few of the previous graduates in 3 groups to attend 3 quarters of the town. This campaign was not as the usual ones when we made public proclamation of the word. Rather, a type of evangelism, a house to house preaching. Again, 1 soul was converted with others promising to visit the church. Then by the close of the month, we resumed the preaching campaign - this time in the villages. A total of 19 souls resulted to another 3 days of work to mark the beginning of 1 new congregation in the village of Bouliedou.

Worship/Ceremony Shelter Construction: Even though the Covid-19 barn was lifted to allow public worship, the announcement came along with strict restrictions of health measures such as distancing between worshipers. And with the increase of membership of the congregation meeting in the classroom of the school building, the need arose for a wider space. For this reason our request for a temporal, but durable shelter was granted. It will henceforth serve not only for the congregation’s meeting or the Covid-19 distancing, but for any eventual gatherings such as for seminars and graduation ceremonies. So far we have planted and roofed the 12 meter by 7.5 meter structure on iron poles. The church members are now gathering local materials – gravel and sand so that we can finish up – lay the floor with cement.

Purchase of EPSON Printer: The small size printer which was in the list of “Start Up Materials” purchased in early February 2018 had required too much maintenance and repairs and therefore ineffective to satisfy our needs. For this reason, a high quality printer, EPSON was purchased to replace it.

Mini Office: In order to protect certain secretarial materials and especially the EPSON printer we thought to make a closure of what was meant to be a dining room in the upper apartment of the house. This room will also server as an office for the school secretary where certain stationary materials are also safeguarded. The cost is far more less than the purpose it serves!

Proposal for Temporal Training: We are experiencing problems for the upkeep of the newly planted congregations especially during our break periods when we, the staff and all students are on holidays. Gospel Campaigns are usually conducted at the close of the quarter followed by a 2 to 3 weeks break period. Now when new congregations are planted at that time we often have the problem of who takes care or make the follow up while we are on holidays. Therefore we are planning if permission is given to conduct a temporal training and or offer certain essential courses to certain ones of the new congregations who will eventually satisfy that need. Financial requirement proposal for whatever number of such persons will be detailed to the Bear Valley Administration when we return from our second quarter breaks in the last week of October.

Conclusion: The month of September was another successful month for the activities at the Gueckedou BVBI. Courses for the second quarter were completed. Our evangelism efforts resulted to the planting of 1 new congregation with a total of 21 persons converted. We have gotten the needed office or printing material. Also, the need for additional space and mini-office are being satisfied. We are grateful to the Bear Valley Administration and to all of you who support this work in any way.

Photos attached

Wishing us all good health                                                                                               

Francis 

Full speed ahead in Liberia

GREETINGS:

We bring you greetings from from the Bear Valley Bible Institute in Ganta Nimba county, Liberia. Hoping all is very well with you all and your families. We want you know that you all have been in our prayers because of the hard hit of the pandemic in the United States of America as we continued to followed on the news and social medias. Thank God that you made it through.

GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR REOPENNING

For many reasons, we are grateful to God our loving and faithful father for all His blessings and protections that had kept us through this COVID period. We are very thankful especially for the reopening of schools fully and other public facilities. Now we can continue with our studies in peace.

CLASSES RESUMED FULLY

The past few months have been very challenging because of the corona virus, but we thank God so much that finally, the Government has given the go ahead for schools to reopen or operate. Our students are fully back in school except for two who have not joint their mates yet because of some family problems.

2nd YEAR 2 QUARTER CONTINUE:

As you all know, we were in the middle of the 2nd quarter of the 2nd year activities when the COVID erupted our classes, created some very serious delayed in our school calendar. But thankful we are continuing from where we stopped with the following activities:

• Life of Christ – Bro. Nathan Tears

• Advance Hermeneutics- Bro. Robert P. Dahn, Jr

• Advance Homiletic- Bro. Robert P. Dahn, Jr.

• The Book of James- Bro. Joel Weah

• Church History – O.D.K. Zakamah

• Old Testament IV (Major Prophets)-Bro. Robert P. Dahn, r.

OUR STUDENTS DURING THE COVID 19 AT HOME

With the exception of the cities congregations where Government watchful eyes and restrictions were focused, lot of the congregations in Liberia's towns and villages met continually for worship on Sunday and even their mid week activities. This made our students busy at their home towns in evangelism and visitation. Information have it that eight precious souls were won to the Lord's kingdom through these efforts.

CONCLUSION:

We thank you all for your great contributions toward the growth of the Lord's church in Africa, particularly in a very poor country like Liberia. We might be poor physically, but rich with the undiluted word of God because of your supports. May the Lord of blessing continue to bless all our joint efforts together in Christ Jesus, amen. Stay Bless.

In Him,

Robert P. Dahn, Jr

Direction- BVBI-Liberia

Towards sustainability in Zimbabwe

SEPTEMBER 2020 NARRATIVE REPORT

INTRODUCTION

Lockdown measures that had been put up by the government to combat the spread of Covid19 are slowly being eased. Life is slowly going back to the “old normal.” Lessons (for the third intake) continued using the online platforms.  The second intake continued preaching “in season and out of season.”  Furthermore, the foundation is being laid for projects whilst infrastructure development took another step in the month. Some of these are reported hereunder.

1.0 PROJECTS

Sustainable projects are key to the development of BVBIZ. Some of the key targets is to produce graduates who are multi- skilled and resourced to transform their lives and those of their communities. Some of the key projects on the school’s wish-list of the school include poultry (broilers, road runners and layers), fishery, market gardening, rabbit keeping, goat production, piggery, bee keeping amongst others.   Eventually, BVBIZ should be able to meet part of her own budget locally and empower the students in a way.  The greatest limitation will be the financial resources to get some of the projects up and running. However, this month we can begin to report on the following;

1.1 Maize and Beans

The size of our land is 8 hectares. A lot of work needs to be done to make a section of the land ready for the next planting season which is set to begin in a few weeks’ time. However, some members of the community have availed to us a total of almost 10 hectares of land to use this coming season. The plan will be to plant maize (5-6 hectares) and beans (3 hectares).  Within these hectares we shall also plant pumpkin, sweet potatoes and water melons. The main focus will, however, be on maize and beans. Whilst these will lower our food budget, maize will also be critical for the poultry project.  The maize project requires $490/hectare whilst beans requires $610/hectare. The total needed is $4770 if the school is to make maximum use of the available land. All this remain as a dream since much of the school’s resources have been dedicated to construction. Any assistance towards this endeavour will be greatly appreciated.

1.2 Broilers

One of the targeted projects to be undertaken is the raising of broilers. The first batch of 50 came on the 4th of September. Once the market is established, we hope to slowly increase the batches.

1.3 Garden

One of the essential projects to be undertaken is market gardening. A small portion has been cleared to cater for this effort. The produce shall be for local consumption whilst the excess will be sold to add to the school’s income. More information shall be shared in the subsequent reports. The vision will be to put the garden under drip irrigation. About $1310 is needed for the drip system in this garden.

2.0 EVANGELISM

Evangelism continued in the month of September. The major focus is on the efforts of our graduating class. These are scattered all over but have remained effective in the field. Some of them are working with their local preachers. The congregations concerned include Rimuka, Plasworth, Sipaba, Maware, Manyame, Sharara, Mashayamvura, Alaska, Shackleton, and Redcliff.  From the students’ report, a total of 21 souls were baptized in the month.

CONCLUSION

We praise God for what we were able to achieve in September. More activities shall start in as the country opens up after the lockdown. Thank you for your financial and the moral support we continue receiving. To God be the glory!

Back in class in India

Reporting letter for the month of September-2020

Respected beloved brother Keith Kasarjian the director of International Bible studies and Mr. Mark Reynolds the coordinator of Bear Valley Bible Institute and all the supports and prayer partners of our BVBI-Tirupati-India we humbly convey our warmest greetings to you. We are ever grateful to you for your continual prayers and encouragement. We hope that this mail may find you good health.

By the grace of God all the students, teaching staff and non-teaching staff and my family members are doing well. We convey many thanks for your loving and most precious and valuable help for the smooth function of the spiritual educational project of BVBI-Tirupati. We are really grateful to you for your love and generosity . I am Certain that God is working through BVBI, as our good father in heaven expects every one must be saved regarding less of his color, caste, country and  language he belongs. This is possible only by preaching the gospel of Christ which can eradicate all the spiritual problems and save the souls for eternal life by the precious blood of Christ.

As  Apostle Paul tells in Rom 10:14-b”…..how will they hear without a preacher (NKJV),the main goal of BVBI-Tirupati is to prepare the young men to proclaim the gospel of Christ . According to 2Timothy 2:2 we have selected faithful men to train them up who can teach others also. In the month of September third week the class room work was began after relieving from the covid-19 restrictions , soon the students had  arrived they were put in quarantine for five days in our own campus and then they were allowed for  the classes. Regarding the calendar all students and teachers agreed to continue the classes without giving the break in between the semesters.  According to our new plan the syllabus will be completed by the third week of April-2021. The month of May would be horrible and hot summer in India, generally all the educational departments get summer vacations in the month of May. 

Lord willing we want to begin the fresh batch in the month of June-2021. We are happy to report you that all our students before they come for this semester they have seriously involved in their local church activities, most of the students were sent by the local churches where young preachers are mostly wanted.

We are thankful to some of the workers who come and assist in several ways without expecting material help in order to run this project in better way more effectively. We are thankful to Healing Hands International for their great assistance for the establishment of Agricultural kitchen garden. We appreciate all the guests who came and visited from outside of our nation in 2019 and 2020 .We pray that the vaccine may be invented soon for the covid-19 so that this virus may not hinders  for the travelling of my beloved brothers and sisters. We are thankful to our international director Mr. Keith Kasarjian for supplying all the  study material for two years ,  we also thankful for to Dr.Damon Vincent and Mr.John R.Vaughan and Mr.Jerry Bates for sending wonderful additional bible material by mail.

We once again thankful to you for all your prayers and encouragements, we treat you as blessing of God. We love you and sincerely appreciate your love for the spiritual educational program in India. We continue to pray for you and humbly request your continual prayers  for  BVBI-Tiurpati-India.

Thanking you all.

Yours brother and sister in Christ.

Vijay&Swarupa. Behalf of BVBI-Tirupati-India.

Ready for a new intake in Zambia

September 2020

Report

Warm greetings to you all brothers and sisters!! We give honor and glory to God who has given us the opportunity to work in His Kingdom and report about the events during the month of September 2020.

We continue to record good progress with our alumni, all our students are very busy spreading the gospel of Christ. In spite of the hardships brought to bear by the advert of Covid-19, more baptisms and more restorations have continued to be registered during this period. In Kabwe central province of Zambia Clive has continued to work with two congregations and we can gladly report two of the souls added to the sheepfold on 23/09/20 and he currently have thirty (30) candidates for baptism his Bible class. Hornbye, currently working with North rise Church of Christ in Ndola has restored 19 members.

Wusakile church of Christ congregation is blessed to have one of our students, Simon Khazi, working with them. We just received good report from the leadership on how he is conducting Bible studies and preaching, We have no doubt that many will be saved and indeed many will live faithfully for Christ because of the efforts that Simon is putting in.

In Mpongwe district of the Copper Belt province, we have established a congregation were Nelson Sikazindu is working and helping his elder brother with farm work he has enough time to evangelize in his area. Together with other brethren there, we believe this congregation will be one of the vibrate in the area.  

Vincent Simwanza, Terence Phiri and Stembiso Magawa have continued working with Luanshya Central Church Christ. They are engaged in evangelism on a daily basis and have so far set up many Bible studies. A week hardly passes without witnessing any baptism at Luanshya Central. After completing his studies Vincent has baptized six people and had five restorations during the same time. We thank God that these men proved to be very enthusiastic about the work of our Lord. Vincent has also found work at Zambia Telecommunication company through preaching to them.

We are geared to start a new intake which will begin in the first week of October 2020. The Covid-19 cases have drastically gone down in the past two weeks here in Zambia. We pray that this continues to be the case even as we begin our next intake. We had accepted some brethren from neighboring countries but we don’t think they will make it during the first quarter. Zambia travel is now open to foreign nationals, however the Zambian government has suspended all tourist visas until further notice. We continue to pray that this pandemic ends so that normality of doing things could return.  

 Our hearts are truly and forever indebted to Woodland Oaks Church of Christ for financial support and all the encouragement in this good work. You are always in our prayers. Please stay safe and healthy!

Brotherly,

Cephas and Fred

10 more saved in Malawi

Bear Valley Bible Institute – Ekwendeni

Malawi – September Report 2020

Introduction

We hope this finds everyone doing well. We are very grateful to God that the government has lifted the burden by allowing schools to reopen. We started the classes on the 14th of September, 2020. All the students are in and classes are in progress. The Covid pandemic has brought in a big negative impact on our school calendar, but we are much happy that many souls have been added to the church, even in the midst of the pandemic. This month of September the Lord has added 10 souls to the church. We are also blessed to have Brother Navie Theu who is teaching the short course on the doctrine of “Godhead” from the 28th of September to the 2nd of October, 2020.

Preaching

As the students were on holiday this time of the pandemic, we as teachers have been travelling in various congregations preaching and teaching. This way of doing things has helped about 33 souls to be added to the church since the month of March. We have also been conducting lectureships which has helped most of the churches have the sound teaching of Christ. On the 27th we taught and preached at Mwenelondo church of Christ where one of our fellow graduates of Chimala; Lyton Mhango, is preaching. We really enjoyed congregating with them. They have asked us to go with the students next year for a preaching campaign and lectureship to be organised.

Teaching  

As we have said in the introduction, the schools have been reopened and everything is back to normal but under serious Covid precautions. Students are in to continue their studies. We hope coming November we may have lots of courses covered before we let the students go for the holiday and have the opportunity to cultivate their fields as everyone here depends on subsistence farming to feed the family.

School project

Now as we have a school site to build, we are planning to put the foundations down by December the Lord willing. This is going to be a challenging work without funds to do the work, but we trust in God who provides. Our aim is to have our own facilities rather than renting, and also to allow our students to have gardens and other handy training to help them be self-supporting after school.

We thank God for His hand to provide us with all the necessary care through the Bear Valley Bible International for the school to keep running. We pray for your families as this work still needs your support. We really appreciate your love, kindness and many prayers! Stay blessed as you Think Souls!

Yours fellow servants in the Lord,

Ephron and Clergynton 

Maximizing the use of technology in Peru

Greetings dear brothers,
A fraternal greeting to you from Lima - Peru,
This has been a very busy month despite the fact that we have many limitations to do what we are passionate about, yet the ministry continues as well as the programs related to the institute.

We are transmitting our programs 8 times a week in a virtual way (I mean virtual studies or sermons as part of our congregational work, in which we have one of our students involved with a lot of commitment, I mean Alejandro Berrio). We have done some benevolence activities as well, thanks to the help of generous brothers who are kind enough to share their material blessings with us.

The institute continues to offer its classes virtually and the last course has been Marriage and Family. Brother Yens Nima was the instructor for this course. For his report, our students have passed the course with satisfactory grades.

Thinking about implementing new things taking advantage of the circumstances and opportunities, we have considered it a good idea to implement a webinar prior to each course to continue awakening interest in the courses and the institute's class program among our brothers. Our first webinar is scheduled for October 24 prior to the Galatians course in November, which will be taught again by Brother Yens Nima. 

I share a few brief thoughts from Yens and the course he has taught:

"First of all, I thank God and at the same time the brothers who gave me the opportunity to teach this subject to the students of the Bear Valley Bible Institute, our Brother Juan Abanto and Abraham Alata. It is an honor to serve the cause of God through this course that we have been teaching Marriage and Family. Well, the study included the biblical and theological bases of the family but with special emphasis on the treatment of the ministerial family.... This course provided, from the biblical and theological bases, some valuable tools for the strengthening of our marital and family relationship as ministers. This will enable us to be equipped and sensitized to help other families who will seek our advice and guidance in times of pain and difficulty. In addition, we will have a good foundation to train those who are not yet married, to prevent some of the unfortunate situations that we have had to face due to our lack of knowledge and experience" Yens Nima.

The course scheduled for this month of October is Church History and will be presented by Abraham Alata, classes begin on October 5.

More successes in Nigeria

Dear fellow ministers of New Covenant.
Greetings to you all from students and staffs of The BVBIN & SWSE, Ibadan and fellow WBSFUW in the Western States of Nigeria. Below is the summary of this month of September 2020 .

OVERVIEW :
I.  FIRST SEMESTER CLASSES CONTINUE 
II.  WEEKEND EVANGELISM / MORNING GOSPEL  CAMPAIGNS 
III .  REPORT FROM SOME OF MY FELLOW WBSFUW
IV. VOICE OF THE TRUTH VOLUME 105 & 106 AID IN CONVERSION

FIRST SEMESTER CLASSES CONTINUE : This session 2020/2021 classes for first semester enter its 7th week. I,Bro. Makinde Ebens is handling Evangelism-1,Book of James and Church Problems.
Bro. Kayode Eniafe is handling  OT wisdom-1(Job & Eccles.) and OT & NT survey . 
Bro. Isaac Olaniyan is handling Life of Christ -1( Matthew), The Godhead and 1,2,3 John .
Bro. Andrew Adeolu is handling The Pentateuch and Denominational Doctrines. 
Bro. Emmanuel Godwin is handling Scheme of Redemption and NT Church -1 while Bro. Guda Silas is handling  Prison Epistles and OT History- 1 (Joshua - Esther).

WEEKEND EVANGELISM / MORNING GOSPEL CAMPAIGNS:
The students and staffs of the BVBIN & SWSE- Ibadan continued in the evangelization of Butubutu village and its environment; Jago, Badeku ,Ajia ,and Egbeda towns of Oyo State and Asejire and Ikire towns of Osun State. 
Bro. Iyesele Ifeanyi ,who is presently our students leader is the group leader for the group that evangelized Butubutu village and environs . Bro. Andrew Adeolu and Bro. Peter Ortserga led the Jago , Kupalo and Elewura group. Bro. Kayode Eniafe led the group that evangelized Asejire and Ikire towns of Osun state. Bro. Adedoyin Sola Rotimi led the Badeku group and Bro. Dele Shotola led Ajia group while I led the Egbeda group.
Thanks be unto God for crowning the effort of Bro. Kayode and his group with a convert and that of Butubutu group with a convert on September 24,2020.

ABOUT A STUDENT :
Bro. Jude Canox David  is one of our  present year- 2 students. A native of Ososo in Edo state. Born on August 17,2000 to Bro. and Sister John Jude of the Church of Christ, Jaleoyemi -Oniyere ,Ibadan. Became a member of the Lord's church in year 2016 after his secondary school education. He is also studying Graphics and Print as his Vocational training in addition to the ministerial studies. His mission after his tertiary education is to assist the church of Christ Saki town,Oyo State and in the evangelization of that northern part of Oyo State.

SPECIAL  ACCOMPLISHMENT :
In spite of our present financial state, the school was able to reprint four thousand copies of each of our six local tracts for the purpose of evangelization of both rural and urban areas of the Western States of Nigeria for the last quarter of year 2020.
Permit me to give kudos to the supporters of the BVBIN & SWSE, Ibadan for working together to achieve this victory. The school management and instructors who wholeheartedly accepted the proposal of our evangelism team to get another set of our local tracts printed also deserve to be appreciated.
Brethren, the quarterly request for this local gospel tracts from young congregations in the Western States of Nigeria including Kwara and Kogi States also shows that our brethren/churches here actually  know the value of gospel tracts /literatures both locally and internationally printed.

CONCLUSION: We thank you all for your great contributions toward the growth of the Lord's church in Africa, Nigeria in particular. May the Lord of blessing continue to bless all our joint efforts in Christ Jesus, amen.
I remain yours in His grace as a servant..... Makinde Ebens Olufemi ( The Chief Servant of BVBIN & SWSE, Ibadan and WBSFUW)

Covid presenting challenges in Ukraine

Dear brethren, congregations and Christian families,

In my monthly report I'd like to update you with the news from the Bible Institute and the coronavirus situation in Ukraine.

The classes were started in September. Currently we have 4 second year students. The month of September was normal but in October the new wave of the coronavirus commenced and the government insisted on adoptive quarantine. Slowly but surely the educational institutions close their physical doors and most likely we won't be an exception. The numbers of infected are climbing up every day.  The official statistics are lower than real life because the testing for covid is very pricey and even if one can afford it, there’s a long waiting list. The results usually come back in 7-8 days. The hospital system in Ukraine is not capable to deal with the pressure and many doctors quit.

Our students and teachers are not panicking, however. We monitor our students, especially since we are low in numbers. Many Gospel meetings and seminars are postponed or hosted online. And there's another major problem, common to all the congregations all over the world - decreasing attendance. Congregations of 30-40 Christians currently congregate 20-30 at best. Many people are still stressed out about the pandemic especially because the government is not helping any small and medium sized businesses financially.  So many people literary can't find employment and they have to work on getting different skills and change trades.

This month our students had the books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther (Instructor Konstantin Kisilenko), Minor Prophets II (Dennis Sopelnik), Introduction to Greek (Valentin Tsopa), Leadership (Andrew Zhuravlev). In two weeks we are having the fall break followed by the week of personal evangelism. We decided to use the opportunity to help the local preachers to visit those who were missing the assemblies and encourage them to keep the faith.

It's quite difficult for me under the circumstances to work on recruitment for the next school year. I have to rethink my strategies. I used to personally visit different congregations and make presentations of our Bible Institute, meet potential students and keep in touch with them until their arrival to Bela Tserkva. Nowadays everything happens online and it's a new experience for me. If you have any suggestions on recruitment strategies during the pandemic period, please share with me your knowledge and experience.

May God keep you safe.  The Bible Institute from Ukraine sends our love and many thanks for your financial support.

Your brother in Christ,

Dennis Sopelnik.

Tanzania Leadership Conference

Every year, the Tanzania Leadership Conference (TLC) is hosted by the Andrew Connally School of Preaching (ACSOP) in Arusha, Tanzania. This longstanding event continues to draw faithful brethren from varying parts of east Africa. ACSOP and Bear Valley have enjoyed their partnership since 2001. In that time the school has produced many faithful and active preachers that have gone throughout east Africa.

Bear Valley was represented at this year’s conference by Keith Kasarjian and Daniel Gaines. Both spoke on the program, as well as participated on Q&A panels. Daniel serves as the Coordinator for ACSOP. The program was excellent, with good attendance and outstanding preachers, both local and international. TLC is directed by school Directors, Charles Hebert and Ahimidewe Kimaro, both of whom are ACSOP graduates.

One really neat thing that happened during TLC was the arrival of Denver student Chris Carter, who is participating in Bear Valley’s Study Abroad program and will be a student at ACSOP until December. Isn’t that a great opportunity?!?! The Study Abroad program is yet another reason for men who want to train to preach to choose Bear Valley.

BONUS: Listen to this incredible singing HERE and HERE

Brotherly,

Keith Kasarjian

Classes continue in Ibadan

Dear fellow ministers of New Covenant.
Greetings to you all from students and staffs of The BVBIN & SWSE, Ibadan and fellow WBSFUW in the Western States of Nigeria.
Below is the summary of this month of September 2020 .

      OVERVIEW :
I.  FIRST SEMESTER CLASSES CONTINUE
II.  WEEKEND EVANGELISM / MORNING GOSPEL  CAMPAIGNS
III .  REPORT FROM SOME OF MY FELLOW WBSFUW
IV. VOICE OF THE TRUTH VOLUME 105 & 106 AID IN CONVERSION

FIRST SEMESTER CLASSES CONTINUE : This session 2020/2021 classes for first semester enter its 7th week. I,Bro. Makinde Ebens is handling Evangelism-1,Book of James and Church Problems.
Bro. Kayode Eniafe is handling  OT wisdom-1(Job & Eccles.) and OT & NT survey .
Bro. Isaac Olaniyan is handling Life of Christ -1( Matthew), The Godhead and 1,2,3 John .
Bro. Andrew Adeolu is handling The Pentateuch and Denominational Doctrines.
Bro. Emmanuel Godwin is handling Scheme of Redemption and NT Church -1 while Bro. Guda Silas is handling  Prison Epistles and OT History- 1 (Joshua - Esther).

WEEKEND EVANGELISM / MORNING GOSPEL CAMPAIGNS:
The students and staffs of the BVBIN & SWSE- Ibadan continued in the evangelization of Butubutu village and its environment; Jago, Badeku ,Ajia ,and Egbeda towns of Oyo State and Asejire and Ikire towns of Osun State.
Bro. Iyesele Ifeanyi ,who is presently our students leader is the group leader for the group that evangelized Butubutu village and environs . Bro. Andrew Adeolu and Bro. Peter Ortserga led the Jago , Kupalo and Elewura group. Bro. Kayode Eniafe led the group that evangelized Asejire and Ikire towns of Osun state. Bro. Adedoyin Sola Rotimi led the Badeku group and Bro. Dele Shotola led Ajia group while I led the Egbeda group.
Thanks be unto God for crowning the effort of Bro. Kayode and his group with a convert and that of Butubutu group with a convert on September 24,2020.

REPORT FROM WORLD BIBLE SCHOOL FOLLOW UP WORKERS :
i-  Bro. Emmanuel Godwin and Bro. Gbenga Ilori reported that their evangelism outreach of September 10 through 13  in Imeko ,Ogun state resulted into the planting of the Lord's church in Imeko town and conversion of two souls.
ii- Bro. Johnson Godwin also reported that the Lord adds three souls to the church in Ode-Aye in Ondo state as a result of their house - to- house weekend evangelism in the months of August and September 2020.
iii- Bro. M.B.Archibong of WBS ,Uyo reported the conversion of two souls  in the month of  August and September as a result of his follow up and weekly evangelism with other WBSFUW in Okurikang Okoyong,Akwa-Ekim and Ndong Nyom Okoyong towns of Akwa Ibom state.
He ,Bro. M.B. Archibong, requested for the prayer of the saints for one of his co-WBSFUW ,Bro. Daniel Isonguyo that lost his wife recently after a brief illness.
iv- Bro. Obey Rimamskwe reported the conversion of a couple in Kapakya town of Taraba state as a result of their continuous evangelization in USSA Local Government Area Taraba state. He also reported the receptive attitude of some of his denominational friends as a result of the free distribution of VOTI volumes 105 & 106 .

VOTI VOLUMES 105 & 106 AID IN CONVERSION : Report reaching our office from some of the recipients of the VOTI volumes 105 & 106 in Nigeria  shows that the VOTI publications  aid in the conversions of over twenty souls during the WBS seminars conducted in some States in the months of August and September 2020. To God be the glory !

ABOUT A STUDENT :
Bro. Jude Canox David  is one of our  present year- 2 students. A native of Ososo in Edo state. Born on August 17,2000 to Bro. and Sister John Jude of the Church of Christ, Jaleoyemi -Oniyere ,Ibadan. Became a member of the Lord's church in year 2016 after his secondary school education. He is also studying Graphics and Print as his Vocational training in addition to the ministerial studies. His mission after his tertiary education is to assist the church of Christ Saki town,Oyo State and in the evangelization of that northern part of Oyo State.

SPECIAL  ACCOMPLISHMENT :
In spite of our present financial state, the school was able to reprint four thousand copies of each of our six local tracts for the purpose of evangelization of both rural and urban areas of the Western States of Nigeria for the last quarter of year 2020.
Permit me to give kudos to the supporters of the BVBIN & SWSE, Ibadan for working together to achieve this victory. The school management and instructors who wholeheartedly accepted the proposal of our evangelism team to get another set of our local tracts printed also deserve to be appreciated.
Brethren, the quarterly request for this local gospel tracts from young congregations in the Western States of Nigeria including Kwara and Kogi States also shows that our brethren/churches here actually  know the value of gospel tracts /literature both locally and internationally printed.

CONCLUSION: We thank you all for your great contributions toward the growth of the Lord's church in Africa, Nigeria in particular. May the Lord of blessing continue to bless all our joint efforts in Christ Jesus, amen.
I remain yours in His grace as a servant..... Makinde Ebens Olufemi ( The Chief Servant of BVBIN & SWSE, Ibadan and WBSFUW)