New classrooms in Arusha

Grace and Peace to you friends,

After a few wonderful months in Tanzania, our family headed home. When we arrived in Nashville, the church van from the South Green Street Church of Christ was waiting to bring us home, where several of their members had stocked the house with a bill of groceries. This was especially appreciated as we developed a case of COVID while enroute and had to quarantine. We appreciate all of your prayers and support during all of this.

Right now the ACSOP students are back in session and Keith Kasarjian is there teaching a short course. Here's a picture of his class enjoying the new classroom:

Speaking of facilities, you can expect a future update to include the beautiful renovations to the library as well as progress on the water project at the school.

Also, let me introduce you to our brand new website: https://www.tanzaniamissions.com/ . Explore it a bit, and feel free to link it on your church websites under works you support.

Till all have heard,

Daniel Gaines
Mission Coordinator

Help needed in Haiti

Haiti Report

International School of Theology

Prayers are needed for Haiti.  As you may know, on July 7, 2021 President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated.  The nation was already in turmoil and this further plunged it into chaos.  The police have been targeted by the gangs and therefore, many have fled the country.  There has been a drastic increase in kidnappings and violent crime. The people are afraid to go and buy food. Many of the people have fled the area of Port-au-Prince, seeking safety.  Several members of the church are hurting because of lack of funds for everyday needs such as food, water and medication.  Please stop for a moment and pray for Haiti, the church, and the International School of Theology.

The COVID-19 issue has been a problem, yet it could have been much worse.  To date, there have been 20,507 cases of COVID-19 reported, and 576 deaths.  While this is a sad condition, the percentage of deaths is lower than most counties.  There are about 12,000,000 people in Haiti, so this problem could have claimed many more lives.  Pray for Haiti.

In spite of the problems, the gospel continues to move forward.  Our students have changed locations for safety purposes, but classes continue.  IST is about to enter its eighth year of training gospel preachers and teachers of God’s word.  During the months from January through June, our students and faculty conducted six campaigns, and planted one new congregation.  These efforts resulted in 112 souls being baptized into the body of Christ.  Pray for the lost souls of Haiti and our students.

What are our needs?  Our greatest need is funds to help provide food for the hungry.  Brother Felix, one of our directors at IST, reported that twenty homes is the community where he works, Cité Soleil, were burned by gangs. Christians have been trying to provide food and clothing for their neighbors, even though they, themselves, are hurting.  If you can help, even with a small donation to feed the Christians, our students and the people of Haiti, it would be greatly appreciated.  Funds may be sent to Broad Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 473, Lexington, TN 38351.  The funds will be sent to our directors at IST, and they will buy food and distribute it.  Pray for the people of Haiti.

Thank you for your prayers, concern and support of the work in Haiti.  The International School of Haiti is proud to be a part of the Bear Valley Bible Institute.  Our purpose – Our mission is clear, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”  (2 Timothy 2:2)

Larry Waymire

Training preachers in Cameroon

Dearest in Christ,

Greetings from Cameroon. We are on, and life is good to an extent, with all what is going on here. We are aware of the COVID that is changing forms in the world in other areas. Because of that, we have not relented our efforts in praying for the world that is dying. We know God still sits on the throne and it is well.

Last week in our area of work and in our country, things were still moving on with some amount of difficulty. We have not been consumed yet, therefore we continue our forward movement. The Bible college students are engaged as we are preparing to start the new academic year come September 2021. Please, we solicit for your fervent prayers for all.

PLANS

Students will be scattered again this weekend in other locations. I will be traveling with some of them and passing through three congregations but I will center my evangelistic efforts in the Ediki Mbonge congregation where there is a lot of misunderstanding and problems in the church. I have also been informed that we have a lot of sick people in that congregation so I am soliciting for some medicines so that we can go not only with the word, but also with relief from physical illnesses like epilepsy, malaria, typhoid, and body pains. These people are peasant farmers. I will need to get those medications here before traveling there.

APPRECIATIONS

Thank you! Thank you very much for all you are doing and for your thoughts and deep concern for this work. God bless you and keep you and sustain you with the ability to do more.

God bless you

Elangwe and family

By His grace director BVBIC-Wotutu

Sowing and reaping in Cameroon

Dear Brethren,

I bring greetings to you from Cameroon and from Mbanga in particular. Our new students are gradually getting used to the BVBIC-Mbanga system. They are adapting themselves to the book-work and also to the 5 AM devotional with the local open-air radio program. 

The month of July came with its challenges and also with its own good tidings such as the harvesting of our corn and melon farms. Our students are learning a lot in the classroom and are working hard on the small farm.

It's time to harvest! As the bible says, there is time for everything under the sun. There is a time to sow and a time to harvest. We praise God almighty, as we are an example of this hard work. This is part of our vocational training which we plan to activate very seriously next quarter. Brother Kunda Julius from Wotutu, who is a brother in Christ, is a specialist in agriculture who is working with the students of BVBIC-Wotutu and Mbanga to help them learn to provide for themselves and others now and when they graduate and become ministers in the field. We also invite other professionals in this and other fields of interest at times to come and train our students in their vocation as a short course study. This is a part of our “tent making” training as they like Paul will have to labor with their own hands to help support themselves during their ministry. 

Brother Foka, another brother in Christ who is an animal scientist, has already been working with the students in both schools on animal farming. He is doing very well and all of the students appreciate the school leadership at home and abroad for seeing that this powerful initiative is put into place. Again, we have not been opportune to do as much of these practicals in the past as we are now. The instructor deemed it necessary that we build a poultry fence for a start and raise a few birds. This will help the students to gain a proper understanding of the poultry business. May God bless you for helping to put this together to help perpetually assist those who are working in the vineyard of God by giving them the skills to do their own “tent making on the side. 

As we move toward the end of our second semester, our students are now showing some level of improvement in their studies, and weekend evangelism. Our pulpit is now being used by the students and we are witnessing great improvement. The door-to- door evangelism is gaining more ground and the outcomes are growing.

We are handing over bibles to prospects, and to some assemblies both in the English and French as we cover English, French, and Bilingual villages. Thanks to the donors. 

This was Brother Voksia’s his first time to ever take on a pulpit. He is the son of a preacher in the north of Cameroon. Today he is preparing himself to become a preacher of the gospel like his father. He is also a trained nurse and so he has the ambition to think of the souls and bodies of those who are sick spiritually, physically, or both.

Our greatest challenge right now is health challenges. We purchased many medications in the month of July for our students and some members of the church who benefit also. When kids are sick during worship or internally displaced persons are sick, it helps a lot to have the aid of our school nurse. He does not sleep at night but takes his time to check on the sick ones even back at their homes such as students who are living off campus with their families. 

Our congregation is really growing in number. We are experiencing a shortage of space almost on a weekly basis. We go out for weekend evangelism, and we invite prospects every day. Some will show up and others will not. With these efforts along- side the morning radio program, there is a continual flow of new persons visiting with us on a weekly basis.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The students shall be traveling for their first time to take part in the summer youth retreat in Buea next week. We shall not be there for one full week like others due to our classes but we can be there by the grace of God during the weekend or maybe even after our classes on Thursday.

Our second quarter exams are coming up by the end of this month followed by the short course and an intensive two weeks on internship. The family will then take a rest for one week before the next quarter begins. We are improving every day. 

Evangelism is our mission and our mission is Evangelism.

Remain faithful my dearly beloved in Christ.

From the servant of God in Mbanga. 

ITITI BENEDICT

Making an impact in India

Reporting letter for the month of July-2021.

Respected International director Mr. Keith Kasarjian , the coordinator Mr. Mark Reynolds and all the prayer partners of BVBI-Tirupati-India we greet you in the most holy and precious name of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. We thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement. By the grace of God  all the teaching staff, non-teaching staff   and students are safe. God has protected us from  covid-19’s  second wave . We hope that God would protect us even from the  3rd wave of covid-19 comes as news paper people talk about it .  We need your continual prayers.

In July from 12 to 16 ( Monday to Friday) we  have conducted 5 days “Back to the Bible Classes”  in coastal area of Nellore-District , A.P. God has blessed these classes, 13  souls were baptized in the month of July  and added to the body of Christ.  We request you to pray for the new souls. We are happy to report you that we have planted one village congregation in the village of Anepudi, please pray for this new local church .

There are several visually challenged people in our city, most of them are educated people who were graduated from S.V. University. In the month of July we have distributed 20 audio Bible devices (66 books) for the 20 visually challenged people. We request you to pray for them so that they may hear the word of God. We praise God for the technology of making such audio bible devices for the comfortable listing of the word of God by the blind people in India . This year we got few applications from the visually challenged people for the new admissions, our teaching staff appreciate their interest to study the word of God.

Bear Valley Bible Institute-Tirupati has established three Agricultural Gardens  for rural people to enjoy the organic vegetables out of these gardens . We are thankful to Healing Hands International for their encouragement and guidance for the establishment of these Vegetable Gardens.

The After School Children Care Centre at leper colony functions smoothly, we have more than 50 children in this centre, each one grow spiritually , physically and emotionally . There are two sisters who work voluntarily to look after this project. God may bless the hands who work hard to support this project.

Thanking you.

Yours brother and sister in Christ.

Vijay&Swarupa, behalf of BVBI-Tirupati-India

More baptisms in Guinea

Gueckedou Bear Valley Bible Institute Activity Operations Report for May and June 2021

It has not always been easy to catch up with time when extra and or unusual activities fall into a prepared schedule of things. That has been the case during the months of June and July, a period when our May and June reports should have been submitted respectively. We apologize for the delay. Following the positive response of certain brethren to whom we are grateful for a replacement of the Mission Vehicle with me which has worn off, the process needed more than the 3 weeks of our break period. Details are soon to follow in our July report.

Now the months of May and June had but a few activities with a break period of 3 weeks.

Classroom, evangelism and temporal campus assembly hall and kitchen completion / renovation were the main activities of the period which are detailed below under these subheadings:

Classroom: The months of May and June fell in the closing and opening of the first and second quarters of our second year course schedule respectively and the materials covered include:

Personal Evangelism 2 – Church Planting

Life of Christ 3 – Luke

2 Corinthians, 

Computer courses, etc.

Each of the 16 students on roll had done their best in almost all the courses. The 11th of June was the close of our first quarter - 2nd year course study and the students went on break for 3 weeks - 14th June to 4th July.

Evangelism: During the period under review our students, especially those assigned to lead and conduct worship services in various local congregations, also succeeded in their evangelistic work. It was in 3 such congregations plus the campus assembly that our men in collaboration with members of those congregations before and during the 3 weeks break period converted a total of 13 souls.

Temporal Worship Shelter and Kitchen Completion /Renovation: A temporal worship shelter had been built to satisfy the Covid -19 distancing requirement for the campus assembly where the school also now conducts classes. Since May this year the worshipers and students – we have observed rain flashes from the Eastern direction right into the hall thereby disturbing the gatherings. This has necessitated the closure of that open space and the project was accomplished in June

Then with the same rain flashes on the firewood side by the kitchen we also attached a zinc shelter to protect and secure the woods.

Conclusion: We are grateful to you, our able supporters whose spiritual – prayers and material – finance continue to be a blessing to upkeep the Gueckedou Bear Valley Bible Institute. To you our well wishers, your partnership is appreciated. 

The activities of the months of May and June were successful. While training is ongoing we also have the privilege of converting precious souls to Christ. There were 13 persons baptized during the period and God is to be glorified for all this.

Thanks

Francis

Classes continue in Lagos Island

REPORT OF THE BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE – LAGOS ISLAND CENTER, May 2021 - July 2021.

INTRODUCTION: We thank God for holding us with gracious hands till date. We plead that you continue to remind us in Nigeria in your prayer. The level of insecurity in our country continue to increase from day to day. However, Lagos is relatively peaceful and our work is going on well. In Lagos Island Center, getting more students has become our biggest challenge.

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES: As academic activates continues, we have taken 20 courses so far with Etim Nfon  taking Minor Prophets,  2 Corinthians taken  by  James Luka and How We God The Bible taught by Tim Iwe. One of our students in the person of Bro Friday Umoren relocated from Lagos to Akwa Ibom last month. We hope that he will continue with the new school over there.

CAMPAIGN PROGRAM/MARKET EVANGELISM: We thank God that our by monthly market evangelism is ongoing. We were in Cross River Plaza Trade Fair Complex for two weeks. Jasper Ndionuka and I are part of the main speakers in the program. I also visited one of the new congregations planted by Lagos Preachers located in Etegbin on Ojo. The church is doing well however, the effect of wind due to rain the day I visited was a challenge to the young congregation. Join us in praying for Etegbin church. The Landlord of the present meeting place was coincidentally celebrating his birthday the same Sunday and visited the church. I presented to him a copy of the Bible. 

WBS ONLINE STUDY HELPER: Thanks to God for finding one useful in helping students understand the mind of God through the WBS Online platform. The new formation in the site has helped in simplifying summary of ones activities.  

CONCLUSION: We are grateful to those partnering with us in the kingdom work. As we prospect for more students and think of greater way to improve in bringing more students to Lagos Island, your prayer will be highly appreciated.

Thanks and God bless you.

TIM IWE                            

Lagos Island Center Coordinator

Souls saved in Malawi

Bear Valley Bible Institute

Ekwendeni, Malawi

Introduction

Holiday ended! We are glad to announce that the holiday has ended and we will be in class next week! We are thankful to God that our holiday was fruitful. Instead of resting, the students and teachers have been busy preaching and conducting lectureships and preaching campaigns in small groups as the guided by the Covid rules! Teachers travelled to Mkhota area near Mchinji District bordering Zambia. While in Mkhota we were chanced to meet some of our former students. We were happy to hear good reports about them and their work in the Lord. This is always encouraging to hear the students doing the work they have been trained and called for. During the holiday we also had reports from some of our students about the work they have been doing which will be recorded in our next report. However! in this report we have have some baptism news from some of our students . God is saving His people no matter the Covid threats! We have 14 souls reported saved, in this Month of July so far!

Preaching and Teaching

Recently we the teachers travelled to Mkhota and were able to teach the following lessons; "Why are there so many churches"; "Biblical Repentance" and also about "Heaven our Spiritual home". The attendance was excellent. We also managed to us the Projector and the lessons from the hard drives from WVBS.

Baptisms

We received good news for the souls saved in 4 areas. Brother Isaac one of our student from Nkhataby reported 2 Baptisms, Brother Mateyo ching'oma another student from Santhe Kasungu reported 6 baptisms (he and other 2 men organized a 2 days campaign); Brother Saliwa our former student reported 4 baptisms and also Brother Kennedy reported 2 baptisms. Which means we have about 14 baptisms recorded in the month of July, but we expect this number to rise in then next report since we have not heard from all the students. We thank God for using our students as His vessels to bring souls to Christ and His church. Praise God!

Thanks be to God who Has helped us reach this far. We are also grateful to the Bear Valley Bible Institute International for the support and many prayers for this work. We are also thankful to many people individually who always remember this work in their prayers. God bless all of you and your families!

Eternity Is Forever, Think Souls!

Ephron and Clergynton

More improvements in Tamale

OPERATING REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 2021

The gracious Lord has graciously seen us through the month of June successfully. Indeed, God’s mercy and grace upon us can’t be overemphasized. His providential blessings are unnumbered. We praise His name now and forever. Amen.

ADMINISTRATION

The students are still on their break and we the staff is making sure everything is order with the running of administrative responsibilities. There have also been some series of meetings to discuss how we can move the school forward. Some of the things we discussed centered on the school farm, prudent spending, how to build a solid team, etc. Director Adjei, Albert and James are usually the participants, with the coordinator (Kojo), giving counsel from a distance.

CHURCH PROJECT

The campus local congregation is actively worshipping consistently and growing as well. The blocks laying for the chapel we are putting up with the help of Brother Steven have been successfully completed. We are now hoping for the next level which is the roofing to get started as soon as funds are available. We hope the Lord makes way for us to complete this building.

SCHOOL FARM

Ground-nut have been cultivated to support the feeding of the students as usual within the school compound and they are doing very well. We hope not to buy ground-nut past coming year, 2022 Lord’s willing.

We have also per the discussion we had with our elder brother Steven the last time he was in Tamale acted on making the soya beans and maize farms for the school this year. Glory to God, he provided some funds for us and we have successfully done five acres of maze and five acres of soya beans respectively. The maze is done at Chamba while the Soya Beans is cultivated at Sanguli. The crops are doing very well. We are hoping to eliminate the purchase of some food supplements for feeding our students next year Lord willing.

VISITATION AND EVANGELISM WORK

In the month of June, we had two major fruitful activities that took place on the part of visitation and evangelistic work. Brother James Legend and Daniel Adjei Mensah the Director took part in an evangelistic campaign from the 3rd to the 6th of June 2021 that took place at Damongo in the Savanna Region, organized by the churches in Tamale where nine (9) souls were baptized into the church. The Damongo church has since then stood on its feet again.

Furthermore, Brother James Legend embarked on some four days visitation Journey from the 24th to the 27th of June 2021 to the Upper East Region, precisely under the Tempani and Binduuri districts where he visited Kpinkpanyoung, Garu, Zebila, Agatusi, Bazua, puyameri, Bawku and Yua congregations. This visitation also led to the restoration of a collapsed congregation at Denugu.  Two old members were restored with eight (8) souls being baptized. Thirty-six (36) people gathered at the restoration worship service on the 27th.

PERSONALITY PROFILE

We profile Shei Labueri David this month June, 2021. He was born on the 15th of May, 1988 at Zabzugu District, Jomoani precisely. He did his secular education at Sabare L/A primary and Junior High, continued with Tatale Senior High School respectively. He however dropped from Tatale senior high school in the second-year due to financial challenges. He was baptized into the church in the year 2008. He further after baptizing into the church embarked on a leadership training that is run at Yendi (Project Timothy) in the year 2010 and 2011. After completion, he went back to embark on his secular education at SISCO in Tamale and completed in the year 2014.

David got married to Anita Shei after school in the year 2015. Furthermore, after marriage, he got enrolled into the Tamale Institute of Biblical Studies in 2017. He graduated successfully in 2019 with a Diploma certificate. He is one of the dedicated preachers in the Zabzugu District in the Northern Region of Ghana. He is currently working with the Jomoani congregation that has about 120 memberships. He is farming in addition so he can support himself and his family. David currently has two children with Anita.

May the gracious Lord graciously bless us,

Adjei, Albert and James (Tamale)

New school in Mombasa, Kenya

Dear brethren,

We’re humbled to have this opportunity to write to you, hoping that you are all fine in the Lord. We’re sorry we’ve taken much time before writing this report. We’ve not been feeling well, but now we’re ok. Thank you for your patience. We appreciate every effort and contribution that you’ve made to make the school a reality.  The school is doing well, and since it began in March this year, there’s been a tremendous growth on the faith of the students.

We’ve been meeting every Saturday as scheduled, going for 8hrs each day. We have 13 students and have had courses on Hermeneutics, Homiletics, and Pentateuch 1. Paul is going to take Synoptic Gospels. Sometimes we move slowly because of the need of the students, and answering all their questions Biblically. We thank God for the changes we have seen in the students since they started out this journey with us.   

Two students were baptized, after realizing that they’ve been in errors for long. They decided to make it right with God, and are doing well even in evangelism.

We’ve been alert about Covi19 pandemic. This is so because the government has been wary over this pandemic. One of our students was once arrested for not wearing a mask, and we had to do everything possible to ensure his release.

The government has recently decided to follow up Churches, schools and other social institutions to see which whether they are complying with the Covid 19 rules. If they find 5 people without masks, that Church or institution is closed or deregistered. As we continue to be vigilant on any government directives, we also need your prayers.

We thank God for this far we He has taken us, and with your prayers and support, we know this school will be one of the best in the Coastal region.  We thank you for your support. We’re continually praying for you. We’ll update you on any development as soon as possible.

Francis Ojow, Co-Director

Challenges in Ukraine

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,  

I'd like to share with you some latest news about the events in Bear Valley Bible Institute as well as some local congregations of the Church of Christ in Ukraine.  

Bear Valley Bible Institute has the summer break now and we are actively searching for the new recruits for the next school year. Last two years we have had some hard times with recruitment. This can possibly be a Covid-19 aftermath. The Church in Ukraine is not really growing. Last two years the worship services were conducted online and many congregations still haven't returned to normal. 

We haven't established any new congregations for some time, thus there's no pressing need for the new well trained ministers. 

The other challenge we are facing is the open borders with the European Union. Numerous young, full of potential Christians move there for better employment opportunities and find high paying jobs and even build up savings funds for personal real estate. These were the excuses I was given when following up with the people who had expressed interest in becoming our students.  

However, we are not discouraged and look into the future with optimism. During the year we tried various methods of the students recruitment. We paid personal visits to the local congregations where it was possible. We established personal contacts, we followed up with the people who were interested and we mailed out printed materials.  

As of right now, we have 5 potential candidates who are thinking about joining the program. I don't know what their final decisions will be and ask to join us in prayers for their future. 

Statistically, among all the European countries Ukraine has the largest number of healthy congregations of the Church. In Ukraine we count congregations in tens, while European countries keep it in single digits.  

I'm very grateful to many congregations, individual brothers and sisters in Christ and married couples who, despite all difficulties, remain our faithful partners in training leaders of the Lord's church. Our labors are rewarded with many congregations where I see our graduates preaching and it gives me joy. 

Recently my family went to the Christian camp Amerikraine. It was organized by Jeff Abrams with his team of Americans and Ukrainians. It was a fantastic camp with 360 Christians attending from all over Ukraine. I was making a presentation about Bear Valley Bible Institute recruitment and at one point I asked to stand up everyone who has connections with our Bible Institute (graduates, Instructors, students, interpreters) and about 40 people got up. It was amazing! 

I also made a successful trip to Poltava and have hopes to get some students from this city. 

May God keep all of you! Our prayers and support is very important to us. 

With the love of Christ,  

Your brother, Bear Valley Bible Institute - Ukraine Director, 

Dennis Sopelnik

Doing well in Ghana

KASOA

2nd Quarter Report

April May June, 2021

Thank God for keeping us up to this date. We are not being killed with the covid. We are visited with high cost of goods and services, and in most instances, things are hard to come by. In all, we are being blessed. The Lord has been good to us.   May the Good Lord richly bless you for your help to us.

SCHOOL IN KASOA

The school meets in the church premises of Papaase Number 2 congregation where their average attendance is 200. We are in the process of moving to the middle to the town as our present meeting place is far from the center of the town.

STUDENTS

All our 19 students are active and regular in classes. Reports from the activities of the students in their work tell of almost all of them preaching regularly and in the leadership positions.

ACADEMIC WORK

We had Brother Amo Gyimah, an Instructor of the Accra School teaching. He taught The Book of Romans, The Book of Revelations, and the Corinthians. Work is done on Romans and Revelations and is yet to finish with the Corinthians.

EVANGELISM

The activities of the students resulted in 8 baptisms. A week long campaign is planned for the next quarter.

Thank God for your love and support. God bless you

Making adjustments in Fiji

Bula vinaka from the Pacific Island nation of Fiji,

The Bible Institute at Raiwaqa has been facing challenges due to the Delta variant of the covid19 virus. We have been restricted from having in-class instruction since April 25, 2021. However, we have been able to conduct classes via videos downloaded to SD cards that can be played on Android tablets.

Our program is set up on a three week schedule for regular classes and a two week schedule for short course classes. Since we are unable to meet together, we have been recording 20 to 30 minute videos as a substitute for in class instruction. The student usually receives 90 minutes of video instruction per class per day. Our instructors teach two courses for each two or three week term.

We provide the student with a textbook written by the instructor and a workbook containing a class syllabus, schedule, class assignments, and exams. Each student has been supplied with an 8 inch Android tablet to view the videos on. The Saturday prior to the start of class, Jason, Emosi, and I deliver the textbooks, workbooks, and SD cards to the students. At the end of each week the students are required to report on their progress by 10:00 AM on Saturdays. To receive credit for attendance and class participation, they must have completed that week’s videos, workbook assignments, and exams (if any). At the end of the class, we pick up the workbooks and give out the new textbooks, workbooks, and videos.

So far, Jason has taught classes via video on God’s Plan of Salvation and Joshua through Esther. Emosi has taught a class on Peter and Jude. I have taught classes on Genesis, Exodus to Deuteronomy, and Romans.

Because of the travel restrictions, our short course teachers have been unable to travel to Fiji this year. Some of them have graciously agree to record videos for their classes and submit them to us along with their textbooks, assignments, and exams. Paul Merideth taught a class for us via video on Church History, and Shane Fisher taught a class for us on the New Testament Church. Gary Hampton has agreed to teach a course in the fall on Prison Epistles of Paul, and Andy Dulaney has volunteered to teach a class on Congregational Leadership with an emphasis on the role and work of an elder.

Our students and instructors have been busy in spite of the travel restrictions. In addition to serving as an instructor, Emosi is one of the elders at the Raiwaqa Church of Christ. He and fellow elder, Lesio (a graduate of BIR) offer daily words of encouragement to the congregation and students via Facebook Messenger. Also, Emosi live streams a sermon each week to the congregation via Facebook.

Petelo, along with his wife Moana, are scheduled to graduate this year. In addition to his student load, Petelo has been studying with families in a settlement in the ravine below his house. This settlement has popped up since the covid19 lockdown due to the hard economic times. Petelo has befriended these settlers and used this as an opportunity to set up a Bible study with them.

Romulus is a first year student who was converted in 2012. He is a former denominational preacher who has served as the evangelist for Vatudamu Church of Christ since his conversion. The village has refused to allow the church to build their own church building, so they have been meeting in the living room of his tiny home. While Romulus is attending school on the island of Viti Levu, the members at Vatudamu have been working on an extension to his home for the church to meet in on the island of Vanua Levu. Rokola, a young man, has been living in Romulus’ home and taking the leading role as an evangelist in Romulus’ absence. He plans to swap places with Romulus upon Romulus’ graduation and attend BIR starting in 2023.

While we endure travel restrictions and the challenge of being unable to assemble, we must remember, “God is not chained” (2 Timothy 2:9). He continues to bless our feeble efforts with fruit to His name’s honor and glory. We thank you for your prayers and your generosity. May God credit the fruits of our labor together to your account.

Rocco Pierce,
Director of the Bible Institute at Raiwaqa

Exciting times in Accra

BVBI, ACCRA

End of June Report

Prologue

Glory be to God who has given us the needed protection and strength unto this day.

Class Activities

For the month of June, we spent two weeks in class to study two short courses. These courses were taught by Kojo, Inter-Testament Period, and the book of James. During this study, all students were present together with some of the Nsawam Weekend Students who wish to study these courses.

In summary, all instructors have successfully completed their courses for this term, about 8 courses including ICT and English Language.

Campaign

On the third week having completed the short courses, and as our usual activity, we organized a campaign at Ankwa Doboro i.e., North of our school. We had a week campaign (house to house and open-air preaching). Though the prospects were receptive and desired to be part of the church, none was baptized during the activities.

We are still looking forward to the Lord for what we have proclaimed in the town.

Other Personal Campaigns

These are campaigns organized by individual students and instructors in their various communities personally. Three (3) baptisms were recorded by Sammy on his weekly campaign. Also, Philip, one of the students, recorded two (2). We pray to the Lord that our work will be fruitful for more baptisms.

Keith Visit to Accra

We were happy to hear from brother Keith who visited us and to check on the school land and drilling of the borehole. We had his motivation and a promise of the oncoming online library for all the schools that will give us access to research work.   

Building Project

As we reported previously, the school building projected has started. Currently, the work is ongoing.

Drilling of Borehole Water

Few days after Keith visit, the hydrological survey was organized and two points were identified which will be profitable for the drilling, behind and beside the school building.

Thanks to Keith, Steven, and the associate brethren who intend to carry out this project. This will be a great benefit to the school and the community. As we provide them the life of the word, education for the salvation of the soul, we give water for life. May God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ blesses Steven, Keith, and all for their good works.   

In conclusion, the above were the activities for the month. We joyfully thank the Lord Jesus Christ for His love throughout these activities. We are also grateful to all the brethren, teaching, and non-teaching staff who through their effort and prayer supported the school in diverse means to this day.

Your effort will not be in vain.

Pray with always

Training preachers in Accra

 BVBI, NSAWAM

End of Second Quarter Report

April/ May/ June.

Class

Class activities had been encouraging all the time. Throughout this quarter, the students studied three courses namely, the Book of Revelation, Personal Evangelism 1, and Personal Evangelism 2. Brother E. O. Larbi taught the book of Revelation and Kwabena Gyan-Mante taught Personal Evangelism 1 and 2.

Practical Activities

The class has begun with chapel time where students are given the opportunity to teach or exhorts for 20mininutes and evaluation is done on them together with the instructor.

Each week, one student performs and is followed by the other on the following week. This enables us to know their effort, homiletical delivery, posture, appearance, and exegetical principle.

On their external practices, most of the students are preachers for the congregation. They have been ordered to write reports on the activities they execute in their congregations. Those who do preach for congregations and are teachers of other specific classes are also to do the same.

Water & WC Availability

Currently, the challenges on water and WC is solved. We now have pipe water connected from the Water Company. All fixtures for the bath and WC are all connected and ready for use. We are grateful to the Nsawam congregation, all the brethren, and the Bear Valley for their support for the success of the project.

Other Provision to be accomplished

Currently, we need to provide library materials to enable the instructors and students to make research and class assignments.

Secondly, the students have made a request for children's study materials to be used to instruct their children’s Bible class. Because of the school’s insisting on the protocols of the COVID-19, none of our students and instructors are affected by this deadly disease, may the good Lord be blessed.

Student’s Profile

We introduce to you one of our students by name, brother Emmanuel Yao Ahorklo. He is married to Regina Akos Ahorklo and has been blessed with three (3) children. Our brother is an evangelist at NIC Church of Christ with the membership of six (6) from the beginning to fifty-two (52) currently. Emmanuel is one of the punctual students considering the long-distance he drives to school and very effective. He is one of those, when the students plan to do something for the progress of the school or something needed to be done by the administration, puts more effort until its succession.

Our brother and student had been good to the school and working hard for the growth of the church. According to him, great thanks to everyone supporting the school until this day.

Conclusion

Gladly, the Lord saw us through all these activities without cause of misfortune. Everything went well till this day.

We thank the Lord for these and we humbly ask for His protection for the next quarter July to September 2021.

Glory be to God

Making progress in Lima

Greetings to all of you who dedicate your time to serve the Lord spreading the good news.

The School in Lima Peru continues with its program of study and during May and June, we have had two webinars announcing our courses on Johannine epistles and Mayor Prophets.

Some of our students are struggling with internet connection so to attend the classes the instructors make phone calls so that they can listen to the class. This pandemic hit badly our country and the churches and we are aware that the whole world has been affected in different ways.

Thank God, many people are being vaccinated against covid, and in some way, this produces confidence in being involved in different activities. We hope, by end of the next year, the whole country be vaccinated so we can return to our face-to-face classes.

We pray for you all please keeps your prayers for the School here, the churches, and our country.

God keeps you well,

Abraham Alata

Reaching souls in Cameroon

Dearest in Christ,

  Greetings from Cameroon, the country of our birth that we love and pray for it daily. It has been a while since I have reported because of very poor internet receptivity in my area. Also, the phone that I was using to receive the internet went bad. Thanks be to God I have a better phone now. I hope all is going well in your area. We are doing our best amidst the challenges.

Our students were out of Wotutu into 19 different locations preaching, teaching, nurturing the congregations, and evangelizing different areas. You can see brother Daniel Ako sharing the gospel by way of house-to-house evangelism.

Our early morning program has been less far reaching in the past months as our machines are not in good shape. Please, the “BACK TO THE BIBLE” program is helping us speak the truth daily. Pray for us and think about that plight. We need funds to help repair equipment.

In the month of July, we have a theme entitled, “GOD IS IN CONTROL.” I started exposing a series of sermons on that topic last Sunday. We are faced with a lot of challenges. But we have a God that is tougher than our tough times. He is in control. Our Christians and the world need to know that.

We are happy to have souls to obey the gospel as we send go and sent students to go out into the field to harvest.

The following statistic were recorded as the students were out in the mission field.

Total number of baptisms ================================== 26

Total number of restored =================================== 07

Total new congregations established ===========================02

PLANS

We are on and moving and we are exploring new areas to expose the truth to although with a lot of insecurity. We are moving because we know that everywhere with Jesus we can safely go.

APPRECIATIONS

Thank you, and thank all those around you who are hearing our reports, praying us, and helping us realize our dreams. May God bless you all because you are all very important in to work here.

Please share our reports with others.

Elangwe and family

By the grace of God Director BVBIC-Wotutu

A new batch of students in India

Reporting Letter for the month of June-2021.

Respected beloved brother Keith Kasarjian the director of International Biblical studies   and coordinator Mr. Mark Reynolds and all the prayer partners of BVBI-Tirupati-India , we greet you all in the matchless name of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. We pray that this letter finds you good health.

New batch:- We would like to report you that the God has blessed our first batch students , we were able to graduate 21 students on April 30th. We had summer vacations in the month of May, by the grace of God we have reopened our Institute in the 3rd week of June and classes have been began regularly. We are thankful to our director for the establishment of residential Bible Institute in our city which helps our students who travel from far places. We humbly need of your prayers for this second batch. There are some of the expected students were not able to travel due to lock down, requesting your prayers so that Covid-19 threat may be subsided in India. We are thankful to our director and coordinator for their love and dedication to make all the necessary arrangements for the second batch.

Covid-19 Relief :-   The Covid-19 second wave was so seriously and rapidly spread in our place in the month of May and June.  Several people suffered lot without basic needs for their survival. By the grace of God in  the month of “May “we could able to serve 121 families and we were able to support 50 families in the month of “June”. We have distributed rice and groceries for the hunger families in our local churches . We inform you that several people were died due to oxygen imbalance. We could able to purchase the oxygen concentrator and oxi meters  and needful of medicals to assist the covid-19 patients .  We are thankful to Healing Hands International for their compassion to provide funds for this benevolence service during the pandemic ituation.

Help to Visually challenged people:- We have been conducting special Bible Camps to visually challenged people for several years. They are facing several challenges for their sustain. We are happy to report you that Dr. Damon Vincent has helped 23 cots, 23 mattresses and 23 pillows for their comfortable living. We could able to contact Thedepalli Church of Christ in west Godavari-district , their preacher Mr. V. Sahadevudu has donated 20 iron boxes for keeping personal belongings .We appreciate their great love and concern for the visually challenged people.  One of the brother has donated them three audio bible devices which helps them lot to hear the word of God.

Baptism:-   We  rejoice to share with you that God has opened the heart of Mr. Sriramula Reddy, in the month of June he was able to obey to the water baptism and received salvation, please pray for his spiritual growth.

Vaccination  :- By the grace of God all our staff members and my family members were able to receive vaccination for covid-19.  We look forward for the second dose.

Back to the bible classes for the deformational leaders:- We  have been moved with great compassion to see the sincere people who are in wrong doctrine , it is our ambition to teach them and lead them in the truth. We have planned for 5 five days program from July 12 to 16th . We plan to invite 25-30 denominational leaders for the back to the bible classes . We request your prayers for this program.

After school Children Care Centre:-  There is leper colony in our city, about 100 families are living there.  We have opened “After school Children Care Centre “ in this colony. There are two volunteers who have dedicated to serve for the children. They collect the children soon after the school, they help them to complete their school home work , they help them for their spiritual growth and send them with evening meal. This centre helps to serve the little children. They grow physically, mentally, and spiritually strong. We are happy to report you that this project runs by the individual dedication of some members of lord’s church.

First Batch students:-  We are happy to report that the first batch students have been working hard in different places  to win the souls.  Please pray for their ministry.

Congratulations to our Coordinator:- We are happy to hear about the promotion that our coordinator has been received , all our students and staff members have joined with us to convey congratulations.  We pray for Mr.Mark Reynolds and his family members.

Thanking you.

Yours brother  in Christ.

B.Vijaya Kumar & Staff from BVBI-Tiurpati-India

Doing well in Lagos

BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE - AGEGE

LAGOS NIGERIA

QUARTERLY REPORT

PREAMBLE:

To God Almighty be all the glory for the successful completion of the activities of the second quarter of the year 2021 –. April to June 2021.We are very grateful to the Almighty God, and very thankful to you in the United States of America for your prayers, financial and moral support that had brought about the success recorded by the Agege Weekend School during the quarter under review. May God Almighty continue to bless you abundantly, in Jesus name.

CLASS ACTIVITIES:

The class activities progressed smoothly and as planned during the quarter, not minding the political instability experienced in Nigeria in resent time. The quarter started with the book of 1and 2 Corinthians which was taught by James Luka, in the month of April 2021.The class activities continued in the month of May, with the book of Romans which was taught by Emmanuel Chukwuka Odo. This was followed by the second part of the book of Romans, which was also taught by Emmanuel Chukwuka Odo.

ADMISSION:

The door of the school is always open for new enrolment. During the second quarter of the year, 2021, the school at Agege admitted a new student in the person of Christian Bassey Okon.

CAMPAIGN/EVANGELISM:

During the quarter, the Agege Weekend School organized campaign/evangelism outing within the Agege environment. The campaign was a combination of both open air and door-to –door methods. As a result of a long list of prospects recorded during the campaign, a follow – up campaign was organized on the evening of 3rd of July, 2021.

CURRICULUM REVIEW

Keith Kasarjian visited Lagos in the Month of May, 2021. His mission was to introduce the newly designed Bear Valley curriculum/ syllabi to the directors of the Weekend schools in Lagos. On the 17th May 2021, he met with Etim Mfon, Timothy Iwe and Emmanuel Chukwuka Odo, directors of Ikorodu Weekend School, Lagos Island and Agege in that order.

STUDENT PROFILE:

May we present at this point our dear brother in the Lord, Ofonime Sampson Udoekpo. Brother Ofonime hails from Akwa – Ibom State, Nigeria. He is a driver by profession. He is married with four children. He lives in Ogun State, with his family. Ofonime was baptized into the Lord in the year 1991, at the Church of Christ, Minya Ntak Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State Nigeria. He is currently worshipping with the Church of Christ, Olowora. He recently completed the programme for diploma, and is currently studying for the advanced diploma here at the Bearvalley Bible Institute, Agege Weekend School, Lagos.

CONCLUSION:

We sincerely appreciate the efforts of Steven Ashcraft, Keith Kasarjian, the management of Bear Valley Bible Institute, the supporting congregations, members of staff of the school, and any other individual or group who contribute in sustaining this noble and divine work. We thank the Almighty God through whom all blessings flow. May He continue to endow you with more recourses and knowledge. On our part, we promise to continuously put concerted efforts in making sure that the good work is sustained, by the grace of God.

Emmanuel Chukwuka Odo; Bearvalley Bible Institude, Agege, Lagos, Nigeria

Special guest in Zimbabwe

JUNE 2021 NARRATIVE REPORT

INTRODUCTION

The Covid virus continues to wreak havoc in the world and Zimbabwe is not an exception. Cases continue to rise with several others succumbing to it. On the 29th of June, the government pronounced some new lockdown measures in an attempt to control the situation. Despite this scourge, activities continued at BVBIZ. We can report on the following;

1.0 IMPORTANT VISITS

In the month of June, BVBIZ had two important visits to the school. The first was from the Partners for Africa whilst the second was from Donnie Estep.

1.1 PARTNERS FOR AFRICA VISIT

On the 6th of June BVBIZ got a visit from Partners for Africa. This organisation has proved to be key in the schools agenda of developing workers for the Lord. Partners for Africa drilled a borehole at BVBIZ. A fellowship Sunday took place on this day targeting the 2 new congregations (Plasworth and Lot 64) that were established in the last quarter of last year.  Michael Houts taught the Bible class while Dorian Flynn preached. After the service, the team planted some fruit trees on campus. They also sponsored the food that was eaten at the fellowship. On the 7th of June, Brother Houts taught students from experience  on the subject “Christian Evidences.” Their visit was a great blessing to the school and the members who attended the service. BVBIZ remains grateful to this organisation. The following pictures are a summary of what transpired.

1.2 DONNIE ESTEP’S VISIT

Donnie Estep, our regional director, arrived in Zimbabwe on the 13th of June and left on the 20th. Besides visiting to appraise himself with the progress that the school has made, Donnie taught “World Religions,” one of our short courses. Students had a great time with him. From Gweru he travelled to Harare where he got an opportunity to interact with some of the students on the extension program. His visit has always been a great blessing to the school.

2.0 EVANGELISM

Evangelism is a key component at BVBIZ. Students practicum began in June. We can report on the following;

2.1 GREENVALE CAMPAIGN

From the 9th-13th of June BVBIZ  students and teachers camped at Lot 64 close to Greenvale in Gweru. A new congregation started late last year in the area soon after the death of one of our preachers Daniel Mabuya (MSOP, 2017 class).  Evangelism was done during the day and services held in the evening. Average attendance during the evenings was 80. On Saturday the 12 of June, a WBS seminar was held. 87 were in attendance.  13 people we baptized eventually. Also in attendance to give more experience to the students were two of our past students, Batsirai Tengurachepa of Redcliff and Tapiwa Madamombe of Kwekwe.

2.2 FIELD PROGRAM

Students shall be going for their first field practicum from the 25th of July to the 5th of September. This year’s program shall be shorter than the others done in the previous years. Lost days will be compensated next year. Congregations that have been approved to host the program so far include; Plasworth, Lot 64, Redcliff, Mashava, and Chiware.

3.0 PROJECTS

Projects remain key in the school’s drive to empower students with life skills and in the provision of a little more income to BVBIZ. The vision of the school is that in future, projects should be contributing a significant amount to the school’s budget. Broilers have been a success story so far. The following projects are being worked on;

3.1 MARKET GARDENING

One of the projects that is on the school’s radar is market gardening. The vision was made alive by a donation of $250 that was made by Donnie Estep and his family. The money was intended to hire a tractor to work on the land that the school had cleared. By the 30th of June, almost two acres of land had been worked on before the tractor broke down. The owner is currently repairing his tractor and we are hopeful that it will be brought to finish the work in the next few days.

The next stage will be to fence a small portion and lay a drip system on it. Between $1500-$2000 is needed to get things going.

3.2 GOAT PROJECT

Another project that the school longs to have is goat production. This will help in the provision of meat to our students and also provide some income into the school. To kick start the project a temporary goat pen is under construction together with another fowl run for the broiler project. The builders are not the usual ones that the school has been using but are students who are knowledgeable with such type of work. Making use of student skills has been very helpful  as it has helped the school to achieve much whilst keeping the costs low. Our full time instructor, Ishmael Mutichu, is also helping out as he has some experience also.

CONCLUSION

We are always thankful  to God for enabling many of you to partner with BVBIZ in its effort to fulfil its core business of training and developing workers for Christ.  These partnerships have been wonderful. May God bless you all.