More resources in Kenya

Brethren,

We thank God for His love and goodness to us at KSOP. It has been a very difficult time throughout the world but we are conquering the monster. We have not had any faculty member, students, their family members with Covid despite many cases and deaths. Despite the pandemic, we have been having classes with strict adherence to government rules and regulations on Covid 19.

We received another container full of Bible materials, New commentaries from Truth for the World, used Library books, tracts, ESVs from WBS and correspondence courses. The students were very useful in offloading the container and excited to receive more materials.

We have received many preachers coming for tracts and books for their congregations while others coming for their assigned boxes. We thank brother Richard Renfro and Mission Printing for the container and all who made it a success.

The second quarter, first year is over, our students are home for a two weeks break. During the quarter they studied Pentateuch II, Homiletics II, Hermeneutics I, Matthew, Marriage and Family, Godhead and the book of Job. We thank our foreign teachers, Dr. Michael Reese and Peter Ray for coming to teach two short courses and also working with different congregations.

Because of the restrictions, the students did not go out to evangelize while in school and that is likely to change by next quarter which begins on Aug 20.

KSOP water continues to serve the community during the long drought that we had. It was/is the source of water for all their domestic use.

God bless you brethren, God bless KSOP.

His servant and yours,

Charles Ogutu

New students in Zambia

July 2021 Report

Introduction

Warm greetings to you all brothers and sisters!! We give honor and glory to God who has given us this rare occasion to work in His Kingdom. As we have indicated and said in the past that courageous Christians are not slowed down by the threat of the pandemic. We wake up daily with the sense of doing God’s work!

Health situation in the country!

We saw the third wave of the Corona pandemic reigning havoc in Zambia. The new cases and the number of deaths during the wave have risen sharply. The country has recorded disturbing high numbers of new cases of Covid 19. But we thank God that we are slowly getting out of the “third wave” as we see the drop in the new cases and deaths of Covid 19.

This development has prompted the Zambia government to direct all school for examinations classes to reopen. School for examination classes will reopen on August 5th, 2021, after being closed due to a spike in cases during the third wave.

The national and provincial conferences for men, women and youths of churches of Christ in Zambia were put off indefinitely because of the pandemic. These conferences were supposed to take place in July and August 2021 respectively. Brother Cephas Mwamba was slated to be one of the keynote speakers during the provincial gospel conferences that were scheduled for August, 2021.  We continue to pray that this meeting takes place as planned as we all monitor and assess the situation. However, our students did evangelism in Luanshya district and part of Chingola and we had good results, twenty one souls were restored back to the Church and three baptisms were recorded. They had set Bible studies and members of the community often came to study at the Institute premises.

News from the students!

All the students were sent back to their respective homes after we saw the spread continued among the students, the students who contracted Covid 19 remained at school and were sent home after they recovered. And reports are that they are all doing well as far as their health is concerned. And that they are all looking forward and are very much eager to resuming classes after our general elections. Zambia goes to the polls next on August 12th 2021. We continue asking for your prayers that these elections go on peacefully

Each student has made tremendous progress in their studies here at BVBI-Zambia. We are hopeful that in their individual capacity are making a meaningful contribution to the Kingdom of God at the local congregations. Our students have continued in their preaching and we have continued to receive good news from all of them that they are doing well as far as evangelism is concerned. Nicholus Mulubwa of Samfya district in Luapula province has been preaching and managed to win four souls to Christ. We have also receive a good recommendation from Church leaders there

Daniel Kapata reports from Zimba, Southern Province of Zimba that seven people were baptized and other eight were restored back to the Lord. This was during the District Gospel meeting held in Zimba district, Southern Province. Daniel also had time to preach to prisoners in a correction facility and 130 prisoners gave their lives to Christ

Gershom Chansa is in Luwingu District, Northern Province. He reports that out of the seven he has been studying with four have so far obeyed and were baptized by him in the Lord. He also reports that three people were restored back to the Lord. We give God the Glory!

Winston Changala in Mpaka Village of Northern province has continued to evangelize in that area and since there is no Church of Christ there, we are doing the best we can and hope to establish a new congregation there soon. Winston is currently studying with eleven people.

Our alumni are also doing fine, we have received good reports from Boniface Sianjina who is currently worshipping with the Church in Kitwe District and doing evangelism in Kanfisa police mobile unity. He has so far restored back to the sheepfold three police officers.

Joseph Musonda of Mansa District in Luapula ministering at central Church has reported four baptisms and one restoration.     

 Conclusion

Indeed according to our Master Jesus Christ, there is no sign to the end of the world just as the thief does not give a sign to come and steal in a house; we have to keep working for Him.

Thank you kindly to all who have helped in any way to prepare these men for the deep and meaningful task of preaching the Gospel. Special thanks go to Woodland Oaks Church of Christ for their continued financial support, Bear Valley Bible Institute family, Keith Kasarjian Director of International studies, Donnie our Country Coordinator, all our instructors and indeed everyone involved in this noble work. May our God continue to bless you all.

Thank you all once again!

Brotherly,

Cephas and Fred 

Guests in Liberia

Dear Fellow Workers In Christ

We bring you greetings from Liberia Bear Valley Bible Institute, West Africa. We want to take this time first and full most to extend our many tanks and appreciation for all yours prayers and supplications that is keeping us here going safe and protected through the COVID-19 that killing many of our countrymen and women, even Christians. Many thanks also to all of our instructional staffs who continued to come even during these very hard days in our country to impart knowledge to the students. We also appreciate God for your partnership with us in this work of our Lord directly or indirectly in Liberia.

KEITH KASARJIAN VISITS LIBERIA

We were so blessed to have brother Keith Kasarjian visiting the school in Liberia after about five years since its establishment. Brother Keith and Brother Steven Ashcraft came to Liberia in 2016 to see if there was a possibility of starting a preaching school in Liberia and that visit resulted in the school we have in Liberia now. And ever since after their visit about five years ago, thirty two (32) preachers have been trained and graduated from the Bear Valley bible Institute Liberia with over a thousand (1000) won over to Christ through the evangelistic efforts of both the students and instructors of the school.

His visit in July was an encouragement to our new batch of students who have heard of him but haven seen him in person. He spoke to the students and encouraged them to remain disciplined and focus on their studies. He also gave some books as gifts for the school.

EVANGELISM

During the visit of Brother Greg Grounds in Liberia, we had a month evangelism and the efforts resulted in the establishment of eight (8) new congregations in eight different town away from Ganta. The establishments of these new congregations have brought great opportunities to our students practical work. On a weekly basis, our students are sent to these new congregations a day or two before the Lord's to carried our house to house evangelism, encouraging members to be prepared for worship to on the Lord's day. In the month of June, we recorded 13 new baptism done by the students from these eight (8) new churches planted. Brother Greg Grounds helps with the transportation of the students to these locations weekly.

PROFILE OF AN INSTRUCTOR

We were privilege to have Brother Calvin Jusu Johnson come to teach our first short course in Research Writing. Calvin was born May 26, 1989 in Flehla, Bong County, Liberia. Like Timothy was, He was brought up by his grand mother who was the only Christian in my family. Fortunately for him, he was converted to the Lord's Church through her in 2006 upon graduating from secondary school. Due to his zealousness as a young Christian and a desire to share God's word to the world, he abandon his pursuit of sociology degree at sophomore level at the United Methodist University, Liberia and went to Nigeria 2011 where I studied Ministry at the School of Biblical Studies, Jos and graduated with a bachelor degree in 2015. He returned the same year and started preaching at his home congregation in Flehla lower Bong county and teaching Religious Education in the Public School on a voluntary basis, at the same time taking care of his aged grandmother. Having developed the mind of teaching, he enrolled in the Kakata Rural Teacher Training Institute in 2016 and graduated with a "C" Certificate in Education 2017. He presently lecture at the Liberia Bible College and a short term lecturer at Bear Valley Bible Institute. Brother Calvin loves reading and writing. He has written two tracks tittle, Did Jesus Resurrect? The Passion of Christ; and a book: A Century With the Lord, but yet to be printed/published because of the lack of sponsorship.

CONCLUSION AND APPRECIATION

We thank the almighty God through whom all blessings flow and also appreciate you all for all you are doing directly or indirectly for the Lord's work here in Liberia. May God continue to bless you.

Your Fellow Servant In Christ,

Robert Dahn

BVBI-Liberia

Student campaign in Pt. Harcourt

Let me begin this report with a thanksgiving to God for the great progress of BVBI in Rivers State Nigeria. Let me also thank the American brethren for their relentless efforts and their commitment to sending the funds which we are using to run the two schools in Rivers State. Let me assure everyone who is supporting us that their effort is not in vain and that we appreciate all their contributions to us.

COURSES STUDIED FOR THE TWO QUARTERS

I want commend our teachers and students for their commitment, for the first and second quarters of 2021; we have successfully completed teaching, tests and examinations in the following courses at our two centres:

Acts of the Apostles 2

Research Methodology

World Religion

Prison Epistles

Leadership

1 & 2 Peter, Jude and James

Currently, we are teaching Old Testament2 (History books) and Denominational doctrines in our two centres in this month of August 2021.

A FEW NEW ADMISSIONS

We lost a student in one of our centres in year 2020 and a few students dropped out, that created some vacuum in the classes. To fill up the spaces, we did a few new admissions that had brought our total numbers of students at the two centres to 61. Many people are still coming for admission but we don’t have space to accommodate them. We are hoping that the school authority will see the need to approve more centres in Rivers state Nigeria.

EVANGELISM OUT-REACH

Our students and teachers have been committed to evangelism and soul winning in Rivers State Nigeria. On July 2021, our teachers and students went out for an intensive evangelism at a community known as Omachi, Rumuodomaya Port Harcourt. We conducted an intensive house to house evangelism, open air and tracts distributions. At the end of the out-reach program, we distributed over one thousand tracts, fliers and gospel booklets. We also discovered some Christians who are living in the community without knowing where to worship and we directed them to the church of Christ in the community. We also brought back names and phone contacts of many prospects which the local congregation in the community promised to follow up. On Sunday the 1st day of August, 2021 one of the prospects was baptized. We hope and pray that many other prospects will be baptised as soon as possible.

In conclusion, Bear Valley Bible Institute in Rivers State is doing very well. We thank our sponsors for their relentless financial and moral supports. We appreciate the prayers and goodwill of our well wishers. We are asking for more of your supports and prayers.

Anthony Ejike Oluria

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