Sowing the seed in Zimbabwe

FEBRUARY 2022 NARRATIVE REPORT

INTRODUCTION

The month of February progressed well without much hindrance except for the dry spell which has impacted negatively on our crops. The Covid positive cases have drastically reduced and life seems to be going back to normal, though slowly. In the month, classes, construction of the teacher’s house and evangelism progressed well. These and more are covered hereunder.

CURRICULUM PROGRESS

The following subjects have so far been taught and completed; African Traditional Religion, Church Growth, Advanced Hermeneutics, Major Prophets, Biblical Counseling (including HIV & Covid Care & Counseling), Sign Language, Pastoral Epistles and James. Outstanding subjects include Hebrews, Romans, horticulture and Strategic Management for Churches. One notable subject that was taught is African Traditional Religion (ATR). An old man from the area, a Mr Jeche was invited to identify, explain and shed more light on issues in ATR. His experience in these issues was critical and greatly helped students beyond expectation.

PROJECTS

More effort and resources had been put towards the maize and beans projects. Both the teachers and the students did their best in making sure that the school will have a good harvest this year. However, a length dry spell in February has resulted in the maize and beans crop to start wilting. Parts of the crops are already a write-off. This is an unfortunate development though it has not dampened the school’s resolve of lowering the school’s food budget, provision of life skills to students and provision of extra income into the school.  

EVANGELISM

BVBIZ always welcomes opportunities for students to put theory into practice. Evangelism effort continued in the month at Redcliff, Plasworth and Lot 64. Evangelism was done on Saturdays and then services are attended on Sundays.

THE TEACHER’S HOUSE

More progress continued to be registered in the month. Plastering, fixing of a rough floor, beam filling, electrical wiring, fixing of window frames and window seals were done successfully. Plumping work began on the 27th of February and is expected to be completed by the second week of March. A report on this will be made in the next report. 

DONATIONS

BVBIZ greatly appreciates donations in whatever form coming from far and wide.  In the month, we received a bag of maize from the Nyatsine family of Macheke. We also received two desktops and a separate CPU from Jefta Mugweni. The school greatly appreciates these two donations.

CONCLUSION

In February, progress was registered in terms of the curriculum, teacher’s house and evangelism despite the dry spell that has affected our crops. BVBIZ continues to thank you all for your partnership and support. To God be the glory!

New school in Nigeria

MAIDEN REPORT FROM BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE JALIMGO, TARABA.

With profound gratitude to God Almighty, and the entire family of Bear Valley Bible Institute, Denver Colorado. We hereby humbly present to you our maiden report.

 The school was inaugurated on the 8th of January, 2022 with ten (10) students, four (4) instructors and four (4) Board members.

The students are:

1.      Antigha Effiong

2.      Targema Zer

3.      Sekav Gvaa Nathaniel

4.      Nuhu Iliya Wahira

5.      Grace Saleh

6.      Jerry Maiguru

7.      Kingsley Francis

8.      Alphonsus Enyinna

9.      Gaji Haruna

10.  Pius Kolari

The instructors are:

1.      Bala Egbwakute

2.      Ume Stephen

3.      Madaki Elkanah

4.      Aarobee Terkule

NOTE: Bro. David Esenewo who was earlier nominated to be the Dean of studies requested to be excused for the meantime.

The Board of Trustee members are:

1.      Dr. Abel Maiguru (HOD Agricultural Science, Federal University Wukari, Taraba state).

2.      Mr. James Bawa work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

3.      Mr. Aarobee Terkule Jnr. Director Taraba State Education Resource Centre.

4.      Mrs. Grace Saleh work with the Federal Medical Centre).

PROGRESS

So far, the inauguration of the school was successful, classes has commenced, personal evangelism has commenced, and purchase of immediate items needed has been done. Meanwhile, we are working on the following:

·         Registration of the school with the government

·         Evangelism campaign for Christ

·         Skills acquisition; to enable our students to be self-reliant during and after their studies.

Surviving in Ukraine

How are you, brothers and sisters?  

Probably the most discussed event in the world right now is the undeclared war by Russia on the Ukrainian people. For a long time, we didn’t believe that something like that can happen in the 21st century but it looks like the Russian Federation is beginning the WWIII and threatening the whole word with its nuclear weapons.  

On the 24th of February at 4 in the morning the Russian missiles were being fired on multiple military facilities in Ukraine. The Russian Army tried to intimidate us and quickly crossed the border of our country. The first days they were able to rapidly invade deeply into our territory but with each passing day their offensive is slowing down. The entire Ukrainian nation, as one, stood up to defend its homeland. The President, the parliament, the army, volunteers, medics and civilians began to do everything in their power to retain and preserve our country and our nation. In the first phase of the invasion, the Russian military were hitting the strategic objects. However, soon they got frustrated and started to heavily pound the peaceful cities and kill the civilians. It is nothing short of genocide of the civilian population. This is how Satan is raging in full fierce force against the people of Ukraine. As far as the churches of Christ, Ukraine had the strongest presence in Europe. We know that everything is in God’s power but the consequence of sins cost thousands of lives.  

My brothers in Christ and I started aiding in evacuation of the people from our city of Bila Tserkva. First of all, I am concerned about the safety of my own family and that of the students of the Bear Valley Bible Institute. Then we started to move the members of our congregation and our friends to safer regions of our country. I moved my family to Germany. This is the first time ever we had to say goodbyes for an indefinite time period. Of course, we struggling so much being apart but I feel better knowing that they are safe. The students of the Bible Institute are currently in the city of Chernivtsi. This city has a wonderful congregation of the Church of Christ and this region has not had any airstrikes yet. Currently, it’s the western part of Ukraine; close to Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Presently, we are evacuating children and women. It’s a very trying time in the lives of each family; for us liberty and freedom have great significance. No one wants to go back to the realities of the Soviet Union; we want to be able to freely worship and serve our God.  

As you understand, there’s a lot of panic and multiple traffic jams on the highways. Because of the bottlenecks on the roads what would have taken people merely an hour before the war now takes days to cover, the same distance. The gasoline and food prices have grown considerably. Please, don’t be surprised if people from Ukraine would ask you for help with evacuation and/or financial aid. One trip from Kiev to Lviv can cost a few hundreds of dollars. And then we’d have to come back and pick up the next group of evacuees.  

We are attempting to stay in touch with all the Christians in Ukraine, share information about how to safely leave towns and who needs help with food. Most of the Christians who have left devastated cities and villages are safe and more or less secure. Some are unwilling to leave their homes, hoping that the war would end soon.  

I don’t know when this bloodshed will come to an end. I feel sorry for the soldiers and, especially, their mothers from both sides. We ask you to pray for peace in Ukraine, and God’s protection for all of us. 

Many thanks to all brothers and sisters in Christ as well as the congregations for their financial and spiritual support of the Ukrainian Christians. This war brought a lot of sorrow on the land of Ukraine. Literally, some people live in hunger, millions lost their jobs, thousands lost their houses. And this is the aftermaths of only two weeks of open warfare. We are looking forward to peace and we are thankful for the love you have shown to us. 

 Your brother in Christ,

Dennis Sopelnik

Great successes in Togo

January 2022 Report

Really it is a feeling of joy to see a new year started with the help of the Almighty. I don't know what to say to God, but thank you for all that he has done for the school of Kpalimé through our sponsors. My biggest prayer for this New Year is that the Lord grants all the health and love to serve God and see his work evolve in Togo and everywhere in the world and especially where BEAR VALLEY schools are operating.

 Evangelism:

Already at this dawn of the year, as planned since last year that the year 2022 will be a year of evangelism and planting of new churches in Togo through the work of the Bear Valley Bible Institute - Togo, the fruits begin to be visible: a new assembly implanted in TSAVIE at 45 km with 7 baptisms, 2 baptisms at ATOME at ATAKPAME. You will see the pictures. In the coming months there will be implantations all over Togo through the work of the school. For the month of February the work will be done in KLIGUE-KONDJI and AGOVIEPE. Each month the efforts will be devoted to evangelism and to the implantation of new assemblies. We have students and evangelists working together with the school's motorcycles.

 Baptism:

It is the period of the dry season when the water is dry in the rivers. For a single baptism it takes more than 10 to 15 km of walking.

 BVBI courses completed:

1- History of the Church: Cephas

2- Denominational Doctrine: Cephas

3- Jeremiah and Lamentations: Rodrigue

4- 1 Samuel to 2 Kings: AKALO Komlan

5- Proverbs to Songs of Songs: AKLI

6- Isaiah: ATTAH

7- Logic: ATTAH

8- Homiletics II. AKOVI Esperance

Monday through Thursday classes are taught and all students are present in class. Sows are taught and practice is during the evangelistic period on Fridays.

Seminar theme: marriage

 Most of the couples we encounter in the villages are polygamous, so the seminar on the subject will be of great help to the students in doing effective work in urban settings.

 Saturday classes:

 Currently: there are 4 locations where Saturday classes are held:

1.      Kpalime (10 students)

2.      Blita (20 students)

3.      TEMEDJA (10 students)

4.      Kpele-Beme (10 students)

 New places: there is still a strong demand for part-time courses in different places in Togo which asks for additional help if these places can open the doors for people coming from other denominations than the church of Christ and that after their conversions can (1) continue with the church of Christ and (2) join if necessary the institute in Kpalime. The basic courses are provided for their conversion and become a simple Christian and worship God in simplicity as in the first century.

1.      AKATA (10 students)

2.     AOUSOUKPOE (10 students)

 Meeting with the teachers of Saturday's classes:

On January 18, 2022, I invited to the center in Kpalime all the part-time teachers for an in-depth work in this sector in Togo. The meeting lasted for 4 hours of time

 Themes: How to improve the quality of teachers and have a good result.

Visits to churches by students in January increased i.e. more assemblies visited. Two motorcycles are available to the students to serve as transportation to the places of evangelization and visit the assemblies a little more 30 to 35 km.

Uniform:

The students of the BVBI institute from now on will wear a uniform outfit in order to be distinguished as a student in the neighborhood. The dressmakers are making their outfits so in a short time you will have the pictures.

Registration at Bear Valley Bible Institute - Togo:

Since its opening in 2005, the school, due to its very limited means, has been reserved only for Togolese Christians desiring a biblical training. With the Institute's reports and programs, news and academic work of the school has reached all over French-speaking Africa. In December 2021, the churches of Christ in CONGO and NIGER contacted the Kpalime School to register their candidates for training. The evangelists of these countries say in their writings that it is urgent for the quality of work in their countries. What to do for the students from foreign countries?

Cephas,

Your brother in Christ

More souls saved in Liberia

OPERATIONS REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2022

INTRODUCTION

Another New year has come by the grace of God and met us in good health and sound mind to continue the Lord's work as He has instructed. Happy New year to you all. We are thankful to God for his grace and many blessing that he keep bestowing upon us daily. Many thanks also to all those making it possible through their selfless sacrifices for the sake of the kingdom. So far, all has been moving very well..

SCHOOL RESUMED

We wish to inform you that our students returned back to school on the 10th of January after a very successful Christmas and New year vacation. We are saying successful because of the many good work they were able to do back home at their congregations they went to during the period of the vacation. Since our returned from the year end vacation, everyone is in high spirit to play their own role very well to enable us complete the 1st year 3rd quarter. Students are playing students roles very well , whiles the instructors are also playing their instructing roles very well . Sadly, four of our students have not returned yet and from the look of things, they might not be coming back because of their many complains that the lessons are very intensive.

As part of our tradition, after vacation students are required to write on their vacations activities: where they spend it, what were they involved in doing, the results of their work and contacts of the preachers or church leaders they work with. Meanwhile, their reports are so interesting that we think you need to know. To summarized their vacation works and experiences, fifteen of them were involved into preaching and teaching at their different congregations, and deeply involved into houses to house evangelism and personal work. This resulted in eighteen (16) baptisms from all of them and 22 person restored We confirmed these information by placing a phone called to their congregations, I am so proud of the practical work out of the classroom done by our students. Please pray that these men continue to grow in the work of our Lord.

DEATH OF OUR FIRST STUDENT PREFECT

This is to inform you that the school and the county of Nimba has lost one of the pillar of the Lord's church here in Liberia west Africa. Preacher Harris Wonlay was among the first batch of student enrolled into the Bear Valley Extension Program in Ganta Liberia in 2016. He was a very matured Christian who was already teaching and preaching in the church. The quest to rightly divide the word of truth led him to the Bible school in 2016.

While in school, Brother Wonlah served as the students prefect and advisor at the same time because of his level of faith and maturity in the Lord. Harris was a very strong, sound and vocal Preacher who before coming to the Bible school and after his graduation from the Bible school preached the undiluted gospel of Christ without fear or favor. He brought thousands of lost souls to our Lord and planted over 20 congregations in the country. He leave to morn his old wife and four daughters with seven grand children. The school is really hurt with his passing but happy that he died in the Lord and as a great servant of the cross. Please pray for his wife and children he left behind.

3RD QUARTER COURSES AND INSTRUCTORS

Our 3rd quarter continued after the break with the follow courses and assigned instructors.

1. Old Testament -2------------------------- Robert Dahn

2. Life of Christ -2--------------------------Fester Lee

3. Old Testament – 3-------------------------Robert Dahn

4. English--------------------------------------O. D. K. Zakamah

5. Prison Epistles-----------------------------Joel Weah

6. 1Corinthians------------------------------- Calvin Jusu Johnson

7. Short Course ( World Religion----------Peter

8. Agriculture --------------------------------Meantor Bembo

9. Computer--------------------------------- Amos Dolo

CONCLUSION:

Without your love for God and your constant support towards His work, we won't have come this far with the huge work we have here. Please accept our heartfelt gratitude for spiritual and financial assistance. We are eternally grateful to each and every of you. To God be all the glory, praise and honor.

With The Love We Share In Christ;

Robert P. Dahn, Jr

Director, BVBI-Liberia

Evangelism in northern Ghana

OPERATING REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, 2022

The year 2022 started in a very positive mood for us in Bear Valley Tamale campus. The month of January started in a very highly spirited way for us as we had some positive things happening to us just right at the beginning of the month. We began the month with smiles as one of our major challenges was addressed successfully.

PA. SYSTEM FOR EVANGELISM AND MISSION WORK

The Lord Jesus continues to smile at us at Bear Valley Tamale campus. Our missionary journey to Sogon number 1 in the month of November 2021 encountered a lot of challenges, especially with our sound system. At some point, we had to rely on just one speaker to preach at the public preaching. All the same, the Lord still did His work successfully. Notwithstanding, having a listening and a God centered coordinators and men who care for the Kingdom of God, our cry was heard and this challenge has been addressed efficiently. We took delivery of a powerful sound system (two speakers and two horns, two microphones with cords and one complete cordless microphone). We give glory to God for the lives involved in solving this all-important challenge for us, especially Brother Kojo who is always working behind the scenes to get things done. We can never forget our hard and strong Brother, Steven, who has an unending sacrificial life and passion for the work of God across Africa and the world. The Lord bless all who made it possible for us to consistently have a smooth running of activities in Northern Ghana.

KPALSI SOUTH CONGREGATION

The Kpalsi South Congregation is indeed growing strongly in all areas that are concerned as we continue to teach the undiluted doctrines of Christ. One of the members (Brother Godson) presented a 43 inches television set to the Church to be given to the school for the students to have a current television to be able to watch news and relevant information as ministers of Christ. God bless him greatly.

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

Classes began for the year 2022 on the 10th of January, 2022 where Marriage and Home and Old Testament 5 were taught by Brother Daniel Adjei Mensah and Brother Albert Tamanja Malir before and after the joint campaign with our brethren from Accra Doboro campus. Apart from one student (Brother John Mbing-Wajah) who couldn’t make it back in January because of health challenges, all of them resumed back successfully. We also had a new student coming from the North-East Region by name Laar Fredrick.  We are working hard to add some few students to this batch so they can be a foundation for our next recruitment.  

JOINT EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN AT SOGON NUMBER 2

We left Tamale on the 17th of January, 2022 around 11:28pm to Sagon 2. We got to the location around 3:14pm. We rested and did the necessary protocols and prepared the grounds to begin the work the next day.

On the 18th of January 2022, as we were preparing in the morning to go for the door-to-door evangelism, the brethren from Accra joined us and together we went out and studied with many. In the evening we went for public preaching. After showing the passion of Christ movie a bit, Brother Emmanuel from Accra preached on “Sin and its effect.”

On Wednesday, 19th January, 2022, we continued with the door-to-door studies with the people of Sagon 2. God willing some were baptized and, in the evening, we did the public preaching on “The Plan of Salvation” by Brother Elijah Baba, one of past students who benefitted from the motor cycle support last year.

On Thursday, the 20th of January, 2022 dawn we went for dawn broadcasting and afterward continued with the door-to-door studies and in the evening, we continued with the public preaching where “The New Testament Church” was made known to the people by one of the Accra brothers (Brother Dominic). Some people also were baptized on this day.

On the 21st of January, 2022 which was Friday, after morning devotion and other preparation, we continued as usual with the door-to-door sharing of the Gospel. Later in the evening preacher Godwin from Accra preached on “Worship of the Church.”

On Saturday, 22nd January 2022, we went round to visit and encourage brethren who made the right decision and have been added to the church and also reminded them of our meeting on the first day of the week to worship God. We also discussed some of our prospects and invited them to the public preaching. In the evening public preaching, Brother James Legend spoke on “The Judgement of God”, bringing our public preaching to a close for Sogon number 2. Haven closed a bit early, we on that same night went to Nayeli, a village around Sogon number 2 where they were inviting us to come to them and we showed part of the passion of Christ to them and also shared the Gospel with them. And that brought our work for this missionary journey to a close.

On Sunday, 23rd January, 2022, after morning devotion we split ourselves into three groups such that, some worshiped at Chamba, others at Sogon 1 and the rest with Sogon 2. 

At the end of the whole campaign, twenty-one (21) souls were baptized within the week. Eight (8) other souls were restored.

At the point of departure, we saw the need to let some brethren stay behind to help set things in order as we search for a preacher for the congregation. Two of our past students who are preaching for Agatusi (Elijah Baaba) and Sanguli (Alex Mabi) stayed back to help strengthen the congregation. As at the point of completing this report, they had also baptized 20 souls in addition to the 21 we baptized on the missionary journey, making a total of 41 souls with 8 restored. Leaders have since been consecrated to help in the running of the congregation before they left. The chamba congregation and the preacher for Sogon number 1 are tasked to collectively help the leaders at Sogon number 2 to stand firm and to maintain the doctrine of Christ as we search for a permanent preacher for them.

By all standards, we had a very fruitful evangelistic journey.

 We give the glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Bear Valley Tamale

Tirupati conducts Back to the Bible campaign

Respected international director Mr.Keith Kasarjian , The coordinator Mr.Mark Reynolds and all the prayers partners of BVBI-Extension Centre  Tirupati-India , we greet you in the most holy and precious name of Jesus Christ.  We thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement .

BVBI-Extension Centre  Tirupati-India:-  By the grace of God and your prayers we have completed three semesters successfully. Today we have began the fourth  semester. It is our goal to complete these following courses: Personal evangelism (Church planting), 1 & 2 Peter, Jude, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Worship (principles, doctrine and Practice of N.T.Church),  Leadership (Short course). Galatians. According to the BVBI syllabus calendar we plan to complete these courses in the forth semester (March and April).  We are in need of your prayers for teaching faculty and all the students.

Back to the Bible Seminar:- We have conducted back the Bible seminar from February 21-25, 2022  (Monday to Friday) at Vidyanagar, Nellore-District, Andhra Pradesh-State. India. Each day 60 to 65 people were able to attend for the 5-day seminar. We have presented the following lessons: 1. Is there God? 2. Who is God,  3. Divinity (Father, Son, Holy spirit) , 4. The Bible is God’s book. 5. Rightly dividing the word of God ,  6. Instructions to the people who hear the word of God , 7. Instructions to the people who teach the word of God, 8. Why God created human beings 9. Truth about man ( Soul, Spirit and Body), 10.Natural desirs given to man and God’s law for fulfilling  , 11. Satan, 12. Fall of Man (Sin) 13. Scheme of redemption 14.Kingdom of God & N.T Church  14. Two spiritual Realms (In Christ  blessings & in the world curses ) 15. Redemption from Sin 16.Righteousness through Christ  17.. Baptism. We invited a few denominational leaders and brought their attention towards the New Testament Truth. We invited some of the untrained leaders from local churches so they too can train up others to win souls for Christ. All the teachers and students of BVBI have participated in the Bible Seminar. We got a few contacts from the denominational leaders who wish to study more about the New Testament doctrine.

Audio Bibles Distribution for Visually Challenged:-   We conducted a one day meeting at Hindupur town on Feb 7th, which is about 300 miles away from our city. Four people and myself from our Bible College travelled by road way. We conducted a one day meeting with the blind people and distributed audio Bibles . In the month of February we distributed 50 audio Bibles  for the blind people. We distributed 43 bibles directly and 7 bibles we sent by using Indian postal system.

Bible distributions:-  In the month of February we distributed 50 Telugu Bibles, 50 song books and 300 New Testaments. One of our older students, Mr.Jaykumar, works in the Araka Hill area. We provided him 20 bibles and 20 song books.

Baptisms:- in the month of February 4 souls were baptized and added to the body of Christ.

Staff meeting:-  Today we conducted a staff meeting at BVBI-College’s office room. We discussed several things for the success of the 4th semester. We appreciate teachers dedication to serve the students and help them to make true disciples of Jesus Christ by teaching them sound doctrine. 

We express our gratitude and thanks to the elders of Bear Valley Church of Christ for their love and compassion. We sincerely convey our thanks to our international director Mr.Keith Kasarjian  and  our  coordinator Mr.Mark Reynolds for their great efforts which they invest for the real success of the training program in India. We pray that God may richly blesses them and use them more and more. We are need of your continual  prayers and encouragement.

Thanking you.

Yours brother and sister in Christ.

B.Vijaya Kumar

Breaking news from Ukraine

Dear Brethren,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!  As you are all aware, things in Ukraine have been wildly unstable for the past several days after the invasion of Russia.  While there was a lot of talk about a possible attack, many(including myself) weren’t sure if it was a reality, because it seemed like a sort of game for a couple of months.  The suddenness of all of this, though, took Ukraine and the world off guard.  Now we are trying to help our brethren to the best of our abilities.

First, it is wonderful to see that so many Christians are praying for the brethren and for Ukraine in general.  It actually seems that the whole world is behind Ukraine at the moment, which we hope to be the case.  The power of prayer cannot be underestimated.  We know that He hears us, and will answer favorably, if what we are asking is according to His will (1 John 5:14-15).  We thank you for your prayers and ask that they will not cease.

As for BVBIU, we are grateful to report that all seems to be well for the majority of teachers and students, with the exception of our dear brother, Viktor Semikoz, and his family.  Just a few minutes ago, he stated that there was a rocket attack in the town of Brovary where he lives.  He stated that some people died.  Please pray for them, as they have two small boys (ages 5 & 3).  Brovary is close to Kiev, the capital.

Dennis Sopelnik, Director of BVBIU, is located in Ternopil with other members from Bila Tserkva.  The Assistant Director, Stas Kuropyatnikov, and the team of BVBIU graduates who work in Lviv, have taken in a large number of Christians who were trying to flee to the west. Eight BVBIU graduates and their families are there. Another graduate and preacher, Sasha Rodichev, was attempting to get to Lviv with a group of 18, but they were not able to make it.  They did arrive in Chernivtsi, where the preacher, Dima Galuk serves as the minister (Dima is also an instructor at BVBIU).   Sasha preached the sermon yesterday. 

 Regarding the current BVBIU students, they were in Bila Tserkva (where BVBIU is located), but now are safe in Chernivtsi.  In Bila Tserkva, they helped another BVBIU graduate, Taras Danilenko.  Taras obtained funds and  purchased food for people and distributed it.  The students were able to help put the packages together. Even in times of difficulties, it is always best to serve others.

We thank the Lord that the brethren in Kramatorsk so far report that things are relatively quiet there.  The towns of Kharkov and Kiev seem to be the ones the hardest hit, with many casualties.  The rocket attacks are picking up and so we need to pray even harder! 

Today I discovered that we are able to send funds to the brethren in Ukraine.  If you want to help, you can send it to: Christiansburg church of Christ, 1250 S. Franklin St., Christiansburg, VA  24073 - Attn: Ukraine Relief Fund.

Thank you so much and may God bless!  

Terry Harmon

Bear Valley Ukraine Coordinator

A new school doing well

Report of Bear Valley Bible Weekend School, Ondo State Between November 2021 - January 2022.

Glory be to God in the Highest for His blessings, protection, and divine provision we all received from the Lord's presence, we blessed the name of the Lord Jesus, the Christ, Amen. We thank God for another quarter in the life of the Bear Valley Bible weekend School in Ondo state. We have successfully concluded the first semester.

I want to especially thank our international director of Bear Valley Schools, Brother Keith Kasarjian for his wonderful visit to the School in Ondo State on the 4th of December, 2021. His visit has boosted our morale for competitiveness in promoting sound and Biblical education among the students and all the brethren in our state, Ondo State. We all in the School appreciate his visit. God bless you, Sir. He also provided the sum of $700 for the need of the School including naira cash of #14,000 only, for the purchase of a Computer Laptop, three in one scanner photocopier, a printer, and tables for the use of learning for the students. I have bought all the items for the good use of the school.

Evangelism: in pursuant of the goal of Bear Valley Schools, the school in Ondo State went out to propagate the gospel in our respective areas (Ondo City & Akure City). We were out preaching the gospel of Christ on the 29th of January, 2022. In Ondo City, we were 13 in number that went out preaching the gospel including 3 instructors in the Odosida area of Ondo City. We had more than 10 prospects that we will work on and gladly directed them to a nearly Church of Christ for further Biblical discussion. We are praying for a fruitful preaching exercise.

Also, Akure Study Center is not left out of the work of preaching the gospel. 11 students went out to preach the gospel including 3 of our instructors who worked with them in the field. Their prospects show a willing heart for more study of the word. We pray that our God works through their hearts in believing the gospel.

Classroom activities: we blessed God for the successful completion of the First semester in the history of the School in Ondo State. So far, we have had 6 courses. From November to January 2022. We have had 3 courses completed both in the two study centers ( Ondo City & Akure City) the courses are, (1) Life of Christ - 2 (Mark). (2). Life of Christ -1 ( Matthew). (3). Life of Christ - 4 (John).

In Ondo Study center, in November 2021, we had Life of Christ - 2 (Mark) by brother Philemon Ohaebuka as the instructor, while in the Akure study center in the same month of November 2021, brother Rowland Matthew taught Life of Christ -1 (Matthew). In December 2021, the Ondo study center had Life of Christ- 3 (Luke) by brother Timileyin Akilapa, while in the Akure study center, we had Life of Christ -4 (John) by brother Damilola Oke as the instructor. In January 2022, in the Ondo City study center, we had Life of Christ - 4 (John) by brother Damilola Oke, while in the Akure study center, we had Life of Christ - 3 (Luke) by brother Timileyin Akilapa.

Honestly, Bear Valley Bible weekend schools in Ondo State are blessed with serious and active students, one of such students is brother David Eniafe. David Knife is one of the students at the Akure study center. David Eniafe is a Ph.D. student at the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Brother David Eniafe said that the MLA style of writing research has opened his eyes to the high standard of the School. He is very humble and willing to learn the Bible in Class. He is a blessing to the school, my loving brethren. He is one of the active members of the Church of Christ, 13, Leo Street.

Miscellaneous: we have received support for the things we need as a school, when brother Keith visited us at the School on the 4th of December 2021. We are grateful for the support. God bless the Bear Valley School and the supporter of this noble work of training men for the service of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.

We are indeed grateful for the privileges given to Ondo State to be part of history with Bear Valley Bible weekend Schools. On behalf Of our instructors and students here in Ondo state. We wish to reiterate our commitment to actively do our best in promoting the frontier of the School to a greater height in our dear state.

Coordinator,

Fasonu Victor

Much progress in Zimbabwe

JANUARY 2022 NARRATIVE REPORT

INTRODUCTION

We always give glory and honour to God who gives us the ability and zeal to advance the cause of His kingdom. With restrictions due Covid pandemic having been eased, there is greater hope that 2022 will be a great year at BVBIZ. Furthermore,  we are always grateful when we look back in the month and see the hand of God in a number of areas. To Him, we remain grateful. This report gives a glimpse to some of the issues that transpired in the month.

1.0 NEW TERM

A new term began on the 10th of January 2022. All students on the full time program returned to school. This class in now in its last year of study. Students had a well-deserved rest which they did not get since they commenced their studies.

2.0 CURRICULUM

The following subjects are being done this term; African Traditional Religion, Romans, Church Growth, Advanced Hermeneutics, Major Prophets, Hebrews, Biblical Counseling (including HIV & Covid Care & Counseling), Sign Language, Pastoral Epistles and James. Apart from these main subjects, horticulture and Strategic Management for Churches shall be taught as subjects.  Three subjects namely Advanced hermeneutics, Major Prophets and Sign Language dominated the month of January.

3.0 SIGN LANGUAGE

It is BVBIZ’s aim to communicate  God’s message to each individual in society. Sign language has been a key component in the school’s curriculum for a few years now. This year, our first session was done from the 24th-28th of January. After this session, BVBIZ products will be able to communicate to anyone. Great appreciation to Rutendo Foundation which has been a strategic partner in this endeavor and has taken one of our former graduates, Charles Muzambi,  to  further  his studies in Sign language and Interpretation. BVBIZ and ultimately the church will emerge stronger through this process.

4.0 PROJECTS 

One of the school’s strategic objective is to have a well-structured resource base. Viable projects being part of the mix.  In a small way, broilers have already made a contribution to this drive.  Besides the broilers, almost 2 hectares has been put under maize and the crop is doing well. In the first week of February, the school  shall be planting beans. About 2 acres are ready for this. These projects have provided students with skills that are necessary for their survival. In terms of broilers, students have been taking care of them on a rotational basis. We currently have two batches, one with 225 broilers and another with 120.

5.0 THE TEACHER’S HOUSE  

The teacher’s house whose progress was at a standstill since May 2021 received a boost during the final days of December through a donation of ZWL$36000 from Sister Nyahada of Marondera towards the purchase of a 3m hinged door. Around the same time, Woodland Oaks donated towards the structure. Most of the materials including roofing tiles, window frames, river sand, pit sand and outstanding timber were bought in January but their movement to the site got delayed because of a saturated road due to incessant rains. When rains subsided,  work then started during the last week of January with carpenters working on the roof. This has since been completed. The next stage shall be plastering of the inside wall and putting of a rough floor. By the end of February, we are hoping that plastering, flooring, electrical wiring, fixing of window frames and plumping work would have been completed.

KEITH’S VISIT

Keith Kasarjian, the BVBII director of international schools, arrived in the country on the 29th and left on the 30th of January. His mission was to explore the possibility of having another BVBIZ extension in Bulawayo. He had an opportunity of preaching at the Bulawayo Central congregation where he also explained the vision to the congregation. He also brought study Bibles for students in Gweru. Great appreciation to this visit and the gifts.

BOOKS

The school received over 200 boxes of books and tracts from Mission Printing. Great appreciation to Donnie Estep for sourcing the consignment and to Sakubva Relief Organization for receiving and sorting the boxes on our behalf.  Some of the boxes are for the schools in Zambia and Malawi.  The boxes were relocated to a different place in Mutare awaiting their movement to Gweru . These will need a 2-3 tonne truck to move them to Gweru.

EVANGELISM

Students are now ready for full scale evangelism. Though evangelism was being done in a small way, beginning in February, Saturdays and Sundays shall be days for evangelism till the class graduates. Congregations that may need this partnership are encouraged to contact the school.

CONCLUSION

We thank God for what he has been able to do through BVBIZ in January. Our appreciation continues to go to our sponsors for their unwavering support and to many others for their moral and spiritual support. May God continue to bless every one of you. To God be the glory!

Training preachers in Kumasi

BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE, KUMASI

REPORT FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 2021

INTRODUCTION

We are grateful to God Almighty for the far He has brought us almost to the end of the year. The Kumasi Campus in its extended programmes is undergoing a serious training of 10 faithful men who are able to teach others also.

ACTIVITIES

There has been an increase in our Door-to-Door gospel activities by the students. Again, one of the students (Isaac Agyen) help establish a church at Effiduase Sekyere. A recent follow-up on the members together with a one-week gospel campaign yielded extra fruit. The Lord through our message added 4 souls to the Church at Sekyere. The Courses that were taught through the period of September to December were; The Life of Christ (Matthew), Research & Writing and the Book of James.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The School has been able to engage the services of an administrator to help manage student results, draw suitable academic calendar, prepare budgets and a whole lot of stuffs. The Preacher of KNUST (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology) Campus Church has been appointed as an instructor. This will go a long way to help the Bible School admit most of the University Students who love to combine Preaching with their course of study at the University. Finally, the introduction of the Research and Writing Course has help improve the exploration skill in the Students.

PLANS FOR 2022

·     Increase the number of students by advertisement

·     Taking proper records of Student attendance

·     Proper update of Student results and transcripts

·     Having a structured menu for Students

Classes resume in Accra

ACCRA JANUARY REPORT 2022

End of January report on activities carried on.

We are grateful to the Lord for this year. We also appreciate Him for the beginning of the year 2022 and the traveling mercies during the campaign Northern Ghana.

School Resumed & Campaign

The school resumed on the 16th January 2022 and on the 17th we traveled to Tamale, Northern part of Ghana to campaign at the villages of Songon #2 and other towns. We worked 7 days and night and joyfully baptized 18 and restored four (4) persons back to Christ.

Staff Meeting

Staff attendance were six (6) and met for a discussion on the teaching structure, introduction of new courses (i.e. hymnody, Elementary Greek), preparing of additional instructors, interviewing new students, and lead orientation.

During the discourse, we decided to begin the Research and Writing as a short course to enable students to write a research paper on the subsequent courses (i.e. first course for all students).

Class Activities

All instructors have been assigned with their courses for this quarter. Classes began with the first short course on Research and Writing which is being conducted by George Osafo.

Number of Students

Currently, we have 10 students taking the Diploma course in this year 2022.

We are still awaiting two students.

Reaching northern Ghana for Christ

OPERATING REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, 2021

The author and finisher of our faith began, and also finished well with us the month of December, 2021 successfully. Students went on holidays immediately after the campaign at Sogon Number 1. We (the staff) continued to work on relevant things administratively to keep the School and the Church in order. There were activities that also took place both within and outside the campus.

STAFF MEETING

Our periodical administrative and staff meeting came on, on the 1st of December, 2021. This was to help us review the year 2021 in general and to make amends where necessary. Indeed, we realize we have a long way to go in meeting up with our responsibilities and tasks towards the work in Northern Ghana and the school. Some have to do with our strategy for recruitment of new students, farming to support the school, especially, how to put up the gardening system for the school on the school land. We realize, putting up a garden in the North, especially on our land, will need a heart resistant vegetable as well as a proper watering system. We concluded that we all needed to double our efforts in the year 2022 to bring much productivity.

SEMINAR AND BIBLE CAMP

Bazua Seminar: Brother James B. Legend had an invitation to speak at a two days seminar at Bazua on the 3rd and the 4th of December, 2021 which he honored. The event brought together preachers and church members both males and females across the length and breadth of the Upper East and the North East Regions respectively. The Theme of the program was “The Christian Responsibility”. It was organized by the churches of Christ around the Bawku area in collaboration with the Bazua Christian Mission center. Two topics were treated under the theme. “The Christian Responsibility in the Family and in the Church” were the topics that were taught. These topics were taught by brother James B. Legend of Bear Valley Tamale. At the end of the program, one soul was baptized to the glory of God. We also took the opportunity to sell the school to the participants as well.

Northern Bible Camp: Brother Albert Tamanja Malir also in the month of December 2021 Participated in the Northern Region annual Bible camp held at Salaga-Lolotu community on the 17th of December, 2021. The Theme for the event was; "Repackaging the Church to The Current Society." Topics treated were: "Christian Influence" by Salaga preacher (Ulanja Emmanuel and his translator was Albert Malir Tamanja), "The work of the holy spirit" by Preacher Dawuni Ishmael (from Zabzugu-Mbolado and his translator was Alex Jabado) and "Christian unity" which was also taught on the second day which was on the lord's day by Preacher George Talafor and his translator Ishmael Dawuni, whiles the Lord supper was led by Albert Malir Tamanja. 

Another topic covered was "The Responsibility of The Members to The Preacher" by brother and leader from Saboba Church of Christ namely Tilako Adolf. There were questions in every lesson and seasonal preachers like Owusu, Nipak, Alex, Dasah and the like helped with the support of scriptures. This camp was the ever successful one recorded according to participants and the enthusiasm one could behold.

The school sent Brother Albert Malir Tamanja to attend purposely to use the occasion to campaign for more students, I arrived on the very 17/12/21 and was also involved in every activity that took place for three. I announced the presence of the forms, one form was taken by Preacher Nipak before I went, he already told me that he has a prospective student. More assurance was given as members gave their concerns about the inadequate number of preachers.

Preacher Owusu reminded me about the leadership training in the Salaga area, he has had four more candidates.

Attendance for the camp was 364, and the Sunday giving was 638.00

The northern region annual Bible camp for 2021 was encouraging and inspiring thus the leadership met and proposed Saboba as the next year camp venue God's willing.

There were six souls added to Loluto Church of Christ in the course of the camp.

SOUTH KPALSI CONGREGATION

The roofing work for the Kpalsi South Church of Christ chapel was completed in the month of December. Indeed, it looks beautiful and very spacious for a good foundation or starting congregation like us. All thanks to God and Brother Steven and his wife, our dear mother and all the individuals who have contributed to bring this building this far. We can’t forget Brother Kojo who Nicodemusly added his efforts to push this work forward until now. The Lord bless you all.

We are in another stage and the local Church has seen all the sacrifices being done and we are equally standing up to the task to do what we can do as the Lord shows us mercy.  The congregation out of our giving has also taken steps to get a welder to make the burglar-proofs for the windows while we look for alternative measures to get the doors fixed as well as the screeding work done for the inner floor for us to move in there and start worshiping. We believe God has been graciously good to us by bringing men and women who understand and love the work of God around us as a congregation to sacrificially support us this way. All praises to Him alone. Amen.

We are also scaling out strategies to do a strong and effective door to door evangelism consistently, taking advantage of the students on campus to send the Gospel out to all the neighborhood again. We know we have a very hard ground here, yet, our God is stronger and harder than any ground being the creator of all things.

The Lord bless us all, Amen.

Thank you,

Bear Valley Tamale

A great year in Liberia!

BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE- LIBERIA

GANTA , NIMBA COUNTY- LIBERIA

DECEMBER 2021 OPERATIONS REPORT

We are very grateful to God for His special grace that has brought us to another year. Let me take this time to greet you and extend happy new year to all of you as it is by God's grace that we have come thus far. The month of December started very well both in and out of the classroom. Our twenty two (22) full time students are doing very well and in high spirit as we all come to the close of the year. They all say hello. The year 2021 was a very successful considering the achievements realized by the help of God. Please Read how God bless His work through His servants in 2021.

SUMMARY ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2021 WITH 22 STUDENTS, 5 FULL TIME TEACHERS AND 3 PART TIME TEACHERS

1. 16 Students Graduated with a Diploma in Biblical Students after two years of intensive studies.

2. In 2021- we had 7 successful Campaigns

3. 6 lectureships ( three men, leadership and Preachers lectureships , two women lectureships and one youth lectureship).

4. 590 Baptism Total in 2021

   a. School Campaign Team- 326 Baptism

   b. Present Students- 74 Baptism

   c. Staffs- 59 Baptism

   d. Radio Program- 67 Baptism

   e. Ganta Church Baptism- 64

5. 106 Restored

6. 6 New Congregations planted

7. 2 Congregations Restored

OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK AT OTHER CONGREGATIONS

In as much as we faithfully fulfilled Bear Valley curriculum, we also continued to help our students with first hand experiences in preaching and teaching at other congregations whiles they are still here at the school. We managed to arranged with sister congregations to accept our students to teach and preach at their congregation on Sunday and midweek services for practical future purposes and this is working very well for our students.

GOALS FOR THE UP COMING YEAR 2022

As we look up to a new year, the school has decided to set a target for the up coming year. Our operations will include all of us working together for equipping of the saints for God's service. The following are our plans for 2022:

1. Our training at Bear Valley Bible Institute- Liberia will continue through the Bear Valley rules, regulations and standard as been given to us by our Coordinator, Steven Ashcraft especially following strictly the curriculum given.

2. Secondly, we have planed to carry out 10 gospel campaigns in 2022 if we have the means to do so.

3. Our weekend evangelism and visitation program especially to local congregations outside Ganta will continue with reports from each work weekly.

4. We planed to host two (2) men seminars for all the men in the county that will bring together church leaders, preachers and other denominational preachers.

5. We have also planed to bring together all of our past students ( Graduates) to encourage and strengthen their works with some few days training.

6. The school will also be embarking on making a cassava farm to help with some food.

All these decisions or plans were reached agreed upon in a general meeting comprising of both the staffs and the student body.

USED CLOTHES DONATED TO THE STUDENTS

Two of our church sisters from the Ganta congregation bought some used cloths and donated them to the students for their Christmas gift. She said most of our students have been going to church with out good cloths on so they both noticed them and decided to surprise the future preachers with some good cloths for service purposes. Sister Evelyn Duo and Sister Sarah Garnett encouraged our students to do their best in their studies and promised them of their help if God continue to bless them. We appreciated them and pray along with them.

YEAR END VACATION

Our students left for the year end break (Vacation) on the 20th of December 2021 and are expected to return back to school on January 10th, 2022. Before the vacation, in a staff meeting, the faculty came up with a plan to keep our students busy while on the vacation. Each student is required to visit at least one congregation apart from their home congregation, work with them in either preaching or teaching and bring a comprehensive report of their work out there. Our students were also encourage to zealously work with their home congregations especially in the area of personal evangelism and house to house visitation. We are hopeful tat their work during the vacation will bring more fruits to the kingdom of God.

Conclusion:

We are doing all we can with the help and strength provided by God to save erring souls from sin and bring them to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, so to avoid the wailing and gnashing of teeth at the end of our journey. May the God of Heaven, the shepherd of our souls, bless our relationship with you and may we all grow together in the grace as we walk and work together to the glory of Him who has commission us to work. You are always in our prayers. Thank you so much for all you keep doing for the sake of Christ.

Brotherly,

Robert P. Dahn, Jr

Making progress in Malawi

Bear Valley Bible Institute

Ekwendeni – Malawi

2022 Begins with Good news!

Hello everyone! I hope this finds you all doing well, thanks! As we all are aware that the first week of February, 2022 was our time to restart our classes after a 3 month holiday, but we have extended the holiday. We will open on the 7th of March, 2022. This is because we have had no rains in Malawi until the 3rd week of January. Therefore, knowing that our daily food comes from our subsistence farming, we thought it good to give extra time for our students to plant. However, the students are able to divide their holiday time that they spare time to preaching as well.

Baptisms!
Recently our students went to a funeral ceremony of one of our brothers in Christ in Ntchisi District. After the burial, the car they were in ended up involved in an accident but we praise God they all were protected. Some of the passengers recognized the students in the car that they were the once who were preaching and singing at the funeral and they asked them to share the good news about Christ. Mateyu Ching’oma preached and ended up with a voice that made people to cry and some obeyed the Gospel the same time. His words were “We have been saved in this car accident that we should lead some of you here if not ALL to Christ” – 3 souls obeyed Christ! Praise God. This is amazing story. God truly has his ways of helping people hear the gospel, no matter they situation involved.
My Fellow teacher Brother Clergynton also went to Chankhombo church of Christ last week to worship, he meet his son in-law who was preaching to 2 ladies and after the preaching the 2 ladies obeyed the gospel!

Construction work!
The construction work for the student’s hostel is still in progress, we are now plastering, window frames and door frames have been fixed in and also tubing has been done waiting for the electric wiring soon. It is good that before the year ends we will shift to our own land. We thank Bear valley Bible institute International for making this possible with the partnership with brethren in Neosho Missouri! God bless you!
Greetings!Ephron

Pray for Ukraine

Dear brothers and sisters!  

Happy New Year! We hope to have new achievements and new plans in this new year which the Lord gives us. We resumed classes at the Bible Institute on the 10th of January. Our students had the winter break from which they returned with refreshed spirits. Currently, the students are covering the Old Testament history of Israel, the Book of Joshua, Judges and Ruth. The teacher is Sopelnik Dennis. Also, by the end of January the students would begin studies of the books of Samuel. The schedule is drawn up in such a way that in the first year the students are studying the Old Testament with all concomitant subjects. The second year is devoted mainly to the New Testament.  

This year we have also had a new female student, her name is Victoria.  She is 22 years old, and she is from the city of Kharkiv. So, now we have two students who are from the Kharkiv church of Christ. She is not married; she has a background in arts; she also loves children. Thus, we’re trying to help different congregations not only with preachers but also with potential ladies’ and children’s classes teachers. Our experience has shown how important it is to equip both men and women in the ministry of the local congregations.  

Next month we are scheduled to have two very important seminars. One is for the Western Ukrainian churches, while the other is for the Eastern Ukrainian churches. These are great opportunities for the spiritual growth of our Christians. Our Bible Institute is connected with both events, since our instructors will be teaching at those seminars. We are very grateful to our American partners who help us to conduct these seminars. I would like to repeat that because of these events the Ukrainian church is the strongest on the European continent.  

I would like to express my gratitude to all the sponsors of the Bible Institute. The inflation is rising very quickly every year, and it becomes more and more expensive to enroll new students.  However, we don’t give up and are using every opportunity to find help for equipping the future leaders of the church. The most important thing is that thanks to our mutual efforts many of the Bible Institute graduates are laboring in the vineyard of the Lord, in Ukraine.  

May the Lord keep you; thank you for your prayers.  

With Love in Christ, the director of the Bible Institute, Sopelnik Dennis

More conversions in Sierra Leone

Bear Valley Bible Institute Sierra Leone

Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver, Colorado, USA

ACTIVITY OPERATION REPORT FOR DECEMBER, 2021

Full Time Program (A two-year Diploma Program)

INTRODUCTION

Happy New Year to you all our godly supporters, partners, brethren and our ardent readers. From the regional headquarter of the eastern province, Kenema, we send you our profound greetings. We are glad and delighted again to have come your way to share with you our exciting report for the last month of 2021, December. As December marked the end of 2021, the Lord enabled us at KBVBI to carry out the following activities: establishment of a new congregation, new academic endeavor (Part time Program of the Bear Valley Bible Institute), campaign for Christ, conversion of souls and restorations, and academic activities. We are joyous as we share our report with you. Therefore, may you continue reading as we give you the report in detail. 

RESUMPTION OF ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

In our November report, we informed you that our first quarter year one came to a close and our students went on break. To God be the glory, we resumed our second quarter academic activities on 1st December. All our twenty (20) full time students returned to campus and in good condition of health. We are grateful to God.

ESTABLISHMENT OF ANOTHER LOCAL CONGREGATION, CAMPAIGN FOR CHRIST, CONVERSION OF SOULS AND RESTORATION OF BRETHREN

Another local congregation was established by the Kenema Bear Valley Bible Institute team in December. We embarked on a one week campaign for Christ from 11th-18th December, 2021 at Potoru village. Potoru is located in Kailahun District, about 55 miles away from Kenema. The administration of KBVBI came to know about the dire need of the Gospel to be carried to Potoru community by one of the brethren, Amara Jumui who was also converted during one of our campaigns in Gondama. Interestingly, Potoru is predominantly a Muslim locality and yet the Lord opened the hearts of eighteen (18) people and were added to the Church through water baptism during our one week campaign.  Since the establishment of this congregation, some students and staff have been going there every Saturday to teach the new converts and to worship with them. We usually go there, sleep there and worship and return to Kenema every Sunday. For now, those new converts are worshipping under a thatch booth.  Additionally, our regular weekend evangelism at the Bear Valley campus has also been yielding fruit. As a result, seven (7) brethren were restored over the month of December. As we progress in this 2022, you shall be getting the update about the progressive growth of the congregation being established. Please brethren, may we continue to pray for these new converts so that the zeal which they have shown will enable them to grow more spiritually. 

PART TIME PROGRAM (Extended Program): Consistent Progress at the KBVBI

We want to begin this section again by being so grateful to God for making our dream come to reality. We have been working hand- in-hand with the local congregations in Sierra Leone and we have been encouraging so many brethren to enroll in the school to be trained to go and win more souls for Christ; build up strong local congregations; put in order a very effective biblical leadership, and to deepen their understanding of the scripture. Some brethren truly have been interested in studying in the school; and they have been saying, “Brother Peter, some of us truly desire to enroll in the KBVBI program but it is very difficult for us to go as full time students; It will be very tough for us to go and stay in the dormitory especially when we have our families to cater for. Therefore, if you would introduce a part time program for us, we will really appreciate it.” Then others have been contending, “As you already know Brother Peter, our country Sierra Leone is dominated by Muslims so this is an opportunity for us to study to be able to defend the faith. Some of us are preachers and leaders and we also want to enroll together with our wives, but a part time program will be the best.” Therefore, with the above comments and many more yearnings from the brethren, the administration decided to pray about it and to put it forward to our very committed and kind coordinator, beloved Brother Steve Ashcraft. As it is the will of God, Brother Steve approved it. And on the 11th December, 2021, we had our early entrance exam for the part time students. Twelve (12) brethren wrote the exam and were admitted in the program. Others couldn’t write the exam because they had traveled for December festival break. However, they will also write theirs when they return. We scheduled to begin classes on January 15, 2022.

STUDENT’S BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Justine Chokpelleh Jr.

Justine Chokpelleh Jr. is one of our committed and serious minded students. He worships with one of the local congregations in Freetown, Trade Center Church of Christ. Justine was born on the 2nd January, 1999 in Freetown. He is the last son of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Justine Fallah Chokpelleh Sr.  Justine’s father is the preacher at Trade Center Church of Christ in Freetown. Justine Chokpelleh Jr. was added to the Lord’s Church in 2013. Since then, he has been actively involved in the activities of the Church. He has been leading in songs, teaching in teenagers’ classes, cleaning the Church auditorium and many other activities. He is a very promising preacher that will bring many lost souls to Christ. He has been making requests to the administration to embark on an evangelism campaign at his congregation in Freetown, and we will honor his request by the special grace of God. Below is a photograph of Brother Justine Chokpelleh Jr.

CONCLUSION

As the Lord enabled us to have done the little in the past month of December, we pray and hope that January 2022 will even be more fruitful. We remain appreciative to our supporters, our coordinator, our African Director, Brother Keith Kasarjian whom we have not met face-to-face, and all our brethren who continue to pray and to be involved in the work here in Kenema, Sierra Leone. Until we meet in January, remain blessed and in the hands of God.

Lagos Island hosts Seminar

LAGOS ISLAND CENTER REPORT November 2021 - January 2022.

INTRODUCTION: We give God the glory for giving us the grace to pass through the last year and enter into another promising year 2022. Last year has been a challenging year for Lagos Island Center of Bear Valley Project as our number of students keeps dwindling. It was a great year too as we hosted the Median Edition of Lagos Schools Annual Seminar. We also thank Bro Keith Kasarjian for his visit in November which was a great encouragement to our work in Nigeria. 

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES: Our classes had been very successful in the last three months as usual, with Oluwafemi Adewuyi teaching Homiletics 1, Christian Ethics, and James Luka guiding the students through the Life of Christ 1 (Book of Matthew). From this weekend, Tim Iwe started the Book of Acts with the students. This makes 29 courses taken so far in our center. We had a new student start with us in November. His name is Onyedikachi Anya. 

CAMPAIGN PROGRAM/MARKET EVANGELISM: We hosted the Median Edition of three schools in Lagos who came together to have a Seminar. The Theme was “MOVING LAGOS CHURCHES TO THE NEXT LEVEL.” We looked into the ‘Simple Aids to Bible Understanding and Application’ by Solomon Usim. Also, Bro Joshua Otola Ogbu spoke on  ‘Synergizing the work of the church among Ministers and Workers in the churches in Lagos’. The feedback from participants was encouraging. 

 WBS ONLINE STUDY HELPER: I will ever be grateful to God for the Online WBS tools for evangelism. Kris Dille in answering the question about why he believes in creation stated that “This is a hard question for me. I grew up believing in the big bang (non-Christian household), but with my belief in God and reading Genesis (too many times to count), I believe that the universe was started by God We are happy to help somebody to come to this realization and even add that the work was done by God. The work continues. 

Active Students: 138

Under Follow Up: 2

Competed Lessons: 4682

Certificates Awarded: 1170

Baptism:  1

CONCLUSION: Despite the challenges in the present time, we give thanks to God for the school's progress in these few months. Without the constant support we've received, BV Lagos Island would not have gotten this far. Please accept our heartfelt gratitude for your honest, spiritual, financial, and material assistance. We are eternally grateful to each and every one of you. The main gratitude belongs to God.

Thanks and God bless you. 

TIM IWE 

Lagos Island Center Director

Evangelism in Ikorodu, Lagos

Greetings from the staff and students of BVBI Ikorodu Lagos. Below is the report from the school:

The school here in Ikorodu is blessed with 18 students. They are all regular and punctual in the class as well as our teachers. The subjects treated so far from January to December are: World Religion, Marriage and Family Life, Preacher's Life and Works, Minor Prophets, Congregational Development, Revelation, Islam, Life of Christ- 3, John, Foundation Mission, O.T Prophets (Minor Prophets), Research Writing 1, and Life of Christ-4

Evangelism was conducted in the month of October on the first Sunday. This exercise involved the presence of staff and students and consisted of door-to-door evangelism. In the process, we discovered five lost members who have returned to the church, and three other souls were baptized into Christ

We had a one-day lecture on December 4, 2021. Theme: "Marriage without Problem". We had one hundred and eighteen (118) participants from fifteen congregations.

Conclusion

We are sincerely grateful to God and our American brethren for their support and motivation which enable us to study hard and prove ourselves as good Soldiers of Christ.

Yours in the Service

Mfon Etim Adeh

(Director Ikorodu Campus)

Uganda school continues classes

Greetings brethren.

With much joy, I take this opportunity to thank God for protection and guidance in each and everything we are doing. We thank Him most for the love and providence during this time of Corona. Our country is fully lifted from the lockdown issues.

I send you all the love and greetings from the students and teachers here at the Bear Valley school in Kampala. Special greetings from my family, especially my wife who has not been feeling well for a couple of weeks, but we have some hopes of her getting better soon.

The school was able to commence with studies on January 17. This is our fourth quarter. The students were able to come back although two of them were not able to report back. We currently have ten students and they are all doing well.

The first course taught by brother Muhyana was completed and Christopher is in for the second course unit.

Upon our arrival at school, through the evangelism our students were doing around the communities of the school, two souls were added to the church in the first week. The congregation is being established and we come to you asking for prayers that this congregation may grow.

More efforts of evangelism were being put in when our students were home during holidays. One man is calling us to go and meet him for baptism after studying with one of our students.

Another new development was that a congregation was planted and one of our students has been there working hand in hand in preaching with the preacher who they established that congregation with. This is a great achievement that the work is being done and our students are active.

May the almighty God bless you all!

Until all have heard,

Raymond