Church finance seminar in Zimbabwe

INTRODUCTION

Soldiers going into real combat are never trained in a day. Such is the case for a soldier of Christ. Ours is a spiritual battle. The task of winning souls to Christ is ever present in our minds. At BVBIZ, we continue to put one block on top of another to achieve this. The teachers at BVBIZ did their bit in the month of October. The view is to produce a well trained soldier for Christ. The following are some of the few things that we can report on.

CURRICULUM PROGRESS

This term has 3 short courses and these have already been taught and finished in October. These three are the books of James, Romans and Hebrews. We appreciate Brothers’ Karikoga, Estep and Suwari respectively for teaching the courses. Only memory verses and assignments for the three are in progress.  Our long subjects for the term are still in progress. In Biblical Counselling and African Traditional Religion, we witnessed our full time instructor, Ishmael Mutichu and a visiting teacher, Ringisai Gushakusha, tackling issues together. Other subjects being taught this term include; Hermeneutics II, Pastoral Epistles, Congregational Development (church growth) and Greek .  

DONNIE ESTEP’S VISIT

BVBIZ was blessed to have Donnie Estep, our Regional Coordinator visiting for a week. He arrived on the 1st of October and left on the 6th of October. He was received at the airport by Hailey Mlangeni (one of our Board members) and Ishmael Mutichu  our full time instructor. We would like to thank Hailey for his role he played. Our appreciation also goes to the Raradza family for the hospitality they rendered to him. Brighton Raradza is another Board member. During his stay, Donnie had an opportunity to teach the book of Romans, one of our short courses. He also had an opportunity to teach one of the congregations during their mid-week service. BVBIZ is always blessed by his presence. Notes are always exchanged in the process.   

SEMINAR ON HANDLING CHURCH FINANCES

On the 21st of October, we held a seminar on HANDLING CHURCH FINANCES.  The major focus was on Finance, budgeting, reporting and transparency. The facilitator was Bro. Brighton Raradza. Leaders attending the leadership Training class and the entire student body benefited a lot from the seminar. Students are currently doing assignments based on the points taught. It is our hope that churches practice these ideals.

SEMINAR ON STRATEGIC PLANNING

One of the key courses at BVBIZ is Church Growth (Congregational Development). It demands tha some seminars be conducted which helps students to understand the local church’s  environment, prevailing situations and proffer solutions inorder to take the church out of her predicament. In line with this, there shall be a seminar on Strategic Planning and Church Growth. Both leaders and students stand to benefit. Church leaders in and around Gweru will be invited.  It shall take place from the 16th-17th of November (for students), while leaders will attend on the 18th. We are hoping, if funds permit, to make these seminars full fledged next year.

WEEKEND EVANGELISM

Each weekend at BVBIZ, students go out for evangelism. However, in October, 2 of our Saturdays were disturbed. The first was because of a seminar which students attended while the second was due to wet weather conditions which inhibited movement. The following represent what the school could do in October.

CONCLUSION

BVBIZ could not have reached this far without the unwavering support we have been receiving. Thank you for your moral, spiritual, financial and material support. To God be the glory!

In Christ,

Mathew Muchingam, Director BVBI-Z

Outstanding lectureship in Trinidad-Tobago

It was my pleasure to have been able to be a part of the annual World Evangelism Workshop in San Fernando, Trinidad-Tobago, home of the Trinidad School of Preaching. I was blessed to work beside Coordinator Larry Waymire and TSOP Director, Dominic dos Santos.

The sessions were well-attended, the spirit was joyful, and all were uplifted by being there. Additionally, funds were raised for evangelism in parts of the Caribbean such as Trinidad-Tobago, Dominica, and Jamaica. 

We are extremely happy to be partnering with TSOP to train preachers for that region of the world. May God bless this partnership!

Brotherly,

Keith Kasarjian

A successful first year in Fiji

As of Friday, November 3, 2017 we have successfully completed our first academic year of the Bible Institute at Raiwaqa. The students have done extremely well this year and are ready for a break. But they are also looking forward to the next school year, beginning February 19, 2018! See some of the highlights HERE

Additional classes in Nigeria

Dear fellow soldiers of Christ, 

Greetings from BVBIN and SWSE Ibadan and WBSFUW team in South West States of Nigeria. 
I'm glad to inform you that more seven students now join Agege -Lagos campus for the three years part time diploma program in Biblical Studies. 

Also, due to the numbers of our female students that are admitted this session in both Ibadan main campus and Ikorodu -Lagos campus, we are now introducing three special courses for the upliftment of our women students in addition to some of the Vocational Training.The courses are : Women Roles in the Church, Great Women of the Bible and General women ministry : Women as mother, wife, nation builder and so on .

Reports reaching me this afternoon shows that some of our year two students recorded 14 baptisms and 15 restorations so far.  Lord willing, our students will be returning to the campus in Butubutu village on November 12 for the commencement of our second semester classes on Monday, November 13,2017 through January 19,2018.

In conclusion, we appreciate you all for your moral and financial supports and we are praying for you always for God ''s blessing on all our joint effort. 

I remain your fellow soldier of Christ...... Makinde Ebenezer Olufemi (Director of Studies, BVBIN & SWSE IBADAN And WBSFUW )

20th Anniversary celebration in Ukraine

In October of 1997, the Bear Valley Bible Institute began what has now become its International Extension program. Little could we have ever known how mightily God would use that school, and the extension program overall, to His glory.

BBVI President, Denny Petrillo and I were there, along with Coordinator Terry Harmon and Director Denis Soplenik to celebrate this momentous occasion. For two days we had a lectureship that focused on the future of the church and the school in Ukraine. On the final day we reminisced about the past 20 years and thanked God for all the ways He has blessed the school during that time.

The school is doing well and is not resting on its laurels. There are currently 14 students enrolled and already several prospects for the next intake. Through its graduates, this school has had tremendous influence on the entire country of Ukraine and even a few other nations, too. Thank you for your continued prayers and support in Ukraine.

Brotherly,

Keith Kasarjian

Improved agriculture program in Togo

The extension in Kpalime, Togo has just enjoyed a seminar by Healing Hands International that will increase their agriculture program. Read about their activities HERE.

A successful campaign in Cameroon

Dearest in Christ,

Greetings from Cameroon. We do hope this report finds you in good health. We are doing better in our health, like for me, the past one week I had a cold. Keep us in your prayers. All of us are back in relatively sound health. We are all back to our normal schedule in our business of Bible study and making Christ known.

I write this report as many students return from their normal weekend evangelism locations. They returned with reports of great progress from the work.

Several graduates, and some current students, went on a boat heading to an island congregation were one of our graduates, Evang Etah Edwin is serving as an evangelist. He has been crying for a mass house to house evangelism campaign to expose the truth to many in this very populated island which is Cameroon island that is inhabited mostly by Nigerians.

This picture shows the safe arrival of our students after lots of challenges from the forces of law along with an order that people should not travel. Our students keep pressing on and declaring that God’s call to that island was to be head by them. Please let us go and save souls from the bondage of sin. The officers finally gave them authorization to travel across the ocean because of the gospel. Our God is too great. You can see them as immediately after they arrived, they embarked on the mission to reach out to many who were eagerly waiting for them as brother Etah had heavily advertised their coming. Many opened not only their Bibles and their doors, but they also open the doors of their hearts to allow the gospel to make a fruitful entrance into them.

The Bekumu congregation had a rich program as you can see. They were overjoyed to see these workers come and help paint their dream of robbing many in that community from the strong man’s house. What a pace we are setting among others in Cameroon! Keep this work in your prayers because we are moving ahead with lots of passion and zeal.

The entire congregation took a family picture with the blessings of the Lord, as God added 5 precious souls into His church. 5 souls were also restored in that same congregation. Our own congregation also witnessed a new birth as a soul was added and a soul who fell from the grace many years ago return to the lord with tears.

We thank God for adding 6 souls over this weekend to His congregations and 6 restored in His church. It is always amazing to send these students out to practicalize what they are learning in Christ. Keep our work in your prayers as we do our best to prepare as many for full time ministry as possible.

Thanks for your prayers concerning the situation in Cameroon. Students, staff, non- teaching staff, and all of our other ministries suffered at the beginning of the month because of the delay in our funds at the bank. I was stressed up as I received calls and watched many lamenting because of lack of their stipend. Thank you for your prayers to that effect. All is back to normal .

Thanks for your prayers and support. Without them it would have been difficult to make this work happen. God bless you. Please share our reports with others.

Elangwe and family

By His grace director BVBIC-Wotutu

EVANGELISM IS OUR MISSION AND OUR MISSION IS EVANGELISM.2TIM2:2 2TIM4:2

Tanzania Leadership Conference

The Tanzania Leadership Conference (TLC) is held every year at the Andrew Connally School of Preaching in Arusha Tanzania and it is an annual highlight. This year was no exception! Read all about it HERE.

Agriculture Seminar in Takoradi

CLASSROOM WORK

The school went on a two-week break after the seminar in August and returned on the 18th of September. Classes began immediately for both the regular and part-time students. Three more students have joined in the part-time class bringing the number to sixteen.  

HEALING HANDS INTERNATIONAL POULTRY PROJECT

Earlier discussion had gone on between healing hands international and the school on setting up a poultry project. The main purpose for this project is for both students and instructors to learn about keeping poultry that would help sustain them in the preaching work.

Funds ($3000) had been provided by HHI to put up a structure, buy two hundred and fifty day-old chicks, provide their feed, till maturity, among others. Brother Ebenezer Udofia from Healing Hands International arrived in Ghana on the 20th of September to the 22nd to organize a one-day workshop on poultry keeping for fifty-four brethren, including students who were in attendance. The birds are in their third week and are growing well.

PROVISION OF A MOTOR-BIKE

The school made an appeal to brother Steven Ashcraft to help provide the school with a motor bicycle to enable the students use it in evangelism and visitation in the villages around the school. By God’s grace an anonymous donor has provided us with $1200 which has enabled the school to purchase a brand new motorcycle. 

CAMPAIGN FOR CHRIST

The Howe church has provided the school with $800 to undertake the second major campaign for Christ this year. Unfortunately what we know to be the minor rainy season has turned out to be a major rainfall.

Arrangement with a congregation at Foso in the central region had been done to assist in their campaign in the middle of November. Full report on this campaign will be sent to you after we have it.

Thank you and God bless you all.

CHARLES 

God's Synergy in Kenya

God’s Synergy in Kenya

Synergy – the extra energy or effectiveness that people or businesses create when they combine their efforts (Macmillan online Dictionary).  Synergy was a “buzzword” used (possibly overused) in the business world in recent years to describe the phenomenon of people or organizations working together to produce more collectively than each individual could possibly accomplish alone.  At the point of being cliché I would like to use the word “synergy” to describe the work being accomplished in the Kingdom in Kenya.

We may want to start with the men who were trained at the Andrew Connally School of Preaching in Arusha, Tanzania who are currently doing a mighty work in Kenya.  Now consider the more than ten graduates of ACSOP who are currently teaching at the Kenya School of Preaching in Kisumu, Kenya.  KSOP is currently in her third class (with nineteen current students) having graduated thirty-two in the previous classes.  Nearly all of the graduates and current students are preaching and involved in evangelism.

Now Christians for Kenya enters the picture.  Christians for Kenya trains men to preach and teach the Gospel who cannot enroll full time at the Kenya School of Preaching.  The men meet five days a month for two years to learn how to better minister in Word and deed.  Christians for Kenya, in addition to equipping God’s people for works of ministry (Eph. 2:12) has provided several quality students at the Kenya School of Preaching.

On a much more elementary level the Ahono Tumaini School (a pre-school through class seven Christian School in Ahono, Kenya) is preparing several young men to enter either Christians for Kenya or KSOP in the future.

Let me give you an example of synergy at work in Kenya.  In 2012 I spoke at a one-day Bible seminar at Nyamasare (close to Ugunja).  Brandon Kerns, founder of Christians for Kenya, and his mother, Linda also spoke at this seminar: Brandon to the men, Linda to the women.  While I was speaking, Joseph was walking by.  He stopped to listen, liked what he heard, inquired further, studied, was baptized and soon enrolled in Christians for Kenya.  Upon graduation from Christians for Kenya, Joseph enrolled in the Kenya School of Preaching where he graduated in the second class in August 2016.  Recently, in the market place, Joseph met a man named Moses.  They talked, a Bible study followed, Moses was converted and is now enrolled in Christians for Kenya.  Both Moses and Joseph attended a one day Bible seminar I conducted at the Rambula Church of Christ September 15, 2017.  Both Moses and Joseph are actively teaching and preaching God’s Word.

God is actively using Christians for Kenya, the Kenya School of Preaching, the Ahono Tumaini School and many churches in the area to create a “synergy” that can only come from His mighty hand.  Truly God is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” and “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

The current class at KSOP has entered their second year of study.  I first taught these men in February.  I was able to teach this class again September 18-22.  Their writing skills and study habits have drastically improved.  Charles Ogutu, KSOP director and Elias Omollo, deanare to  be commended in the excellent instruction they are providing the students at KSOP.

Mike Reese, Coordinator KSOP

Classes resume in Accra, Ghana

GREETINGS AND APPRECIATION

May the peace of Lord be with you!

On behalf of the school Director, entire teaching staff and other workers at the Southern Institute of Biblical Studies I salute you.

We appreciate and pray always for you for your effort in support for the betterment of the school. May all that you have lost for the sake of the school be replaced in the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

RESUME AND REGULAR CLASSES

School resumed and classes began on 9th October, 2017 at 8:00am.  All students were present in their numbers except one brother Senyor Dowu Emmanuel, who, unfortunately couldn’tmade up for class as a result of his son who was seriously ill and had been admitted at the hospital. All instructors and other workers were present.

RENOVATION

The rented building that is housing the school is currently under renovation; construction of fence wall, tilling and painting. The master’s bathroom has been fixed, the WC and tap are in good condition.

QUARTERLY CAMPAIGN PROGRAMME

As part of the school’s quarterly programme, we with one accord went to New Ningo, Accra to carry out a 6 day evangelism activities. The students of the SIBS together with the staff, past students, and some other preachers from various places were present and we all participated in the field work propagating the gospel. 

With the power of the message and the hands of God, we were able to win eight (8) souls of which six (6) were men and two (2) women, two were restored.

STUDENT’S PROFILE

Alex Osei is one of the first batch of students who graduated in 2016. He after graduation first ministered as a preacher at Bori Church in northern Ghana and currently preaching with the Dobro church of Christ which is meeting in the facility of the Southern Institute of Biblical Studies. He is yet to marry.

According to Alex, the school has helped him so much, according to him is enlightened in the Word of God, and able to teach and preach more perfectly than before. 

ACADEMIC YEAR ENDS IN DECEMBER

Our second batch of students of the regular department of 12 ends their two-year of studies in December, 2017. Their graduation will come on next year. We have had a two-time interview of students to commence the new School Academic Year in January, 2017. We will need to have another interview by December. So far we have interviewed 12 and have 6 other completed forms submitted.

PART TIME SCHOOL

We now have 30 students in the part time department. They attend school on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. This section is non-residence, however, some of them spend the Friday night in the school; whereas the Regular is two years, this is four years.

Please continue to pray with us, God bless you.

Graduation upcoming in Tamale

  BEAR VALLEY INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES, TAMALE, GHANA.

                                                   SEPTEMBER 2017 REPORT.

Back To School:

By God’s grace we are successfully resumed to school and all the students are reported in their numbers accordingly. All the instructors are also responding to their time scheduled and everything is going on well.

As usual any time we are on break we continue with the campaign for more students to be enrolled into the school and God being so good we had another new student this time who has increased the number from 14 to 15 students.

Administrative Activities:

Administratively, everything that supposed to be done to keep the school on its feet is ongoing and it is our prayers that the good Lord will give us the strength to be able to do more than we are doing now.

We are also putting everything in place preparing for the upcoming of November 18th graduation ceremony. The invitation letters are written, some are sent and others will soon be sent to the local congregations inviting them all to come to cheer up the occasion.

The Pajero is undergoing maintenance and we hope to have it soon to do the rounds. The school land papers are almost ready for the registration and very soon we will finish with it. Tamale High Court has endorsed it and put the seal and it is now genuine and currently submitted to lands commission for the registration.

We are making every effort to properly run the school to the glory of God. We keep on reminding you to put us in daily prayers list.

Your brother,

Alex Jabado

20th Anniversary in Ukraine

The first Bear Valley extension began in Kramatorsk, Ukraine in 1997 and it is celebrating it's 20th anniversary! God has richly blessed this nation through the school. The Ukraine extension also was blessed this past week by have BVBI President Denny Petrillo come and teach a course. Read more about the happenings in Ukraine HERE. 

Exciting news from New Zealand

Is it already October? We in New Zealand are loving the change of weather. We are in full spring, and it’s looking like a promising summer. Thank you for your support of our work!

The Porirua church now has its own building. Previously, we were renting a school hall for two hours a week, but now we have a location with 24/7 access. Because of that, we have relocated the classroom from Wellington to Porirua. This allows us to have one more part time student, and it is closer to 90% of the current students and 100% of the staff. 

Nathan Franson is currently teaching his second course in BVBINZ, and things are going well. As I type this, I can hear the muffled voices of the students and Trevor Major in the other room as they enjoy their first class of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude. 

We were blessed with a short visit from Mark and Mindy Reynolds. Mark is the Regional Director of BV in our part of the world. He spent some time encouraging the students and local staff. He also spent some time teaching in the churches and in my video studio. Check out his first completed lesson at this link.

Thank you all for your love and support. Keep praying for us. Keep the faith. Keep serving Him. 

Lance Mosher, BVBINZ Director

56 more baptisms in Zimbabwe

The Great commission seeks men and women who avail themselves so that it can be achieved. Students and staff at BVBIZ did just that. They successfully did their practicum and are back in class. In this report, we shall give the final report of the filed program and several other activities that took place in the month of September. In all this, God has been wonderful.

After taking a short break from their practical, students are now back in class. All succeeded to come back. School resumed on the 26th of September. They shall be sharing their experiences from the field. Where challenges were encountered, they shall be assisted accordingly.

Two opportunities arose this month to make people aware of the presence of BVBIZ in the country. At these occasions, congregants were made aware of next year’s May intake. The first was at the Annual Men’s Lectureship at Ruwa while the second was at the Uzumba lectureship. We want to thank brother Charles Jokonya, our ambassador for Mashonaland East who stood on behalf of the school at Uzumba.

This year’s field program came to an end on the 10th of September 2017. This was an 8 week program. A lot of experience has been gained by the students. The seed was planted. We praise God for the souls that have been added to the church and those that have been restored. Members were left edified while 3 congregations were started. We appreciate congregations and individuals who took care of our students. Among other results, there have been 56 baptisms since July 15.

At the end of every month we look back with gratefulness to what God would have done through us. We look back with thankfulness everyone who also played a part in getting us this far. Thank you for your moral, spiritual, material and financial support. It is our prayer at BVBIZ that God continues to bless you. To God be the glory.

Mathew Muchingam, Director BVBIZ

More graduates in Chimala

POSITIVE RESULTS OF OUR CBI GRADUATES FOR THEIR TWO YEAR CONTRIBUTION TO EVANGELISM

The 2017 graduate Swahili Program students began school in January 2016 at CBI with a number of 22, however, five of them quit after the first semester.

Their school program was that seven weeks they were in class and one week they were out doing evangelism campaign. Until now five congregations have asked five graduates to be their preachers, because they have seen how great job they a doing. This schedule was followed throughout their entire school program.  Plus one entire month of evangelism campaign with WBS – Gospel Chariot

During these campaigns they would visit several villages to work with congregations.  Their work involved door knocking, handing out lessons, visiting the sick and those who fallen away.  The purpose for all these was to equip the students with knowledge from formal sources (books) and to train them how to do the actual job of an evangelist in a actual environment.

THE IMPACT

In every congregation where they have worked, the students have left a great impact. First on the church by stimulating the spirit of evangelism because theywould usually use the local church members to walk around with them.  Second, to the village whom they preached to because apart from the great numbers of baptisms that have resulted from these campaigns. The message of Christ has reached more new ears, like in a village called Maninga -- a place in Mbozi where they never knew the church existed, have heard the good news.  Others are Utambalila, Bara, Ikonya, Isakajoni in Shinyanga, Matamba Tukuyu all these are new churches due to these efforts.

In previous years a two year campaign normally resulted in 400 baptism to 500 baptisms but for 2016 – 2017 more then 1000 souls where added to the church.  In 2016 alone, 720 souls were added due to campaigns and seminars which were held monthly.

Joseph Haonga, 

Director, Chimala Bible Institute

Agriculture seminar in Nigeria

Dear fellow soldiers of Christ, 
Greetings from BVBIN and SWSE,Butubutu, Ibadan and fellow WBSFUW team in South West Nigeria. 

Bro. Ebenezer Udofia of Healing Hands International, Kenya arrived Ibadan by 11:30am for Agriculture Seminar on Wednesday, September 27,2017 and was picked up at Ibadan Air Port by the School director, Bro. Makinde Ebens and reached the school main campus some minutes later for the business of the day.

The seminar was held in Bro. Doug Wheeler Event Hallfor over two hours. Bro. Kayode Solomon Eniafe served as the moderator while Bro. Ebenezer Udofia taught extensively on animal husbandry and animals nutrition.  The program was attended by the students and some of the instructors. 

In conclusion, one of the students named Bro. Andrew Adeolu gave vote of thanks on behalf of the school with closing prayer by Bro. Ebenezer Olugbenga Ojo by 5:00pm.
Brethren, we appreciate so much the present of Bro. Ebenezer Udofia in our school for the short time. May the Lord of blessings continue to bless all our efforts in Christ 's name, amen. 

Your fellow soldier of Christ..... Makinde Ebenezer Olufemi (Director of Studies & Chairman of Administrative Council, BVBIN & SWSE AND WBSFUW COORDINATOR)

Prayer request for Liberia

Hello Brethren,

We bring you greetings once again from the Bear Valley Bible Institute- Liberia. As we await the coming of our Lord, we pray that He continue to shower His many wondrous blessing upon you and your families for your partnership in the gospel as we work together in this part of the world.

REOPENING

After a short break, our students returned in full on August 6 to begin the first quarter in their final year and things had been going very well by His grace. They are all in high spirit and are doing very well with zealous approaches to the lessons.

BAPTISM

The students were blessed to have two souls baptized during the course of August and six baptism in this September and our new brothers and sisters are very happy to be added to the church. Please keep them in your prayers.

DEATH

Two of our students are faced with death problems in their families. Student Arthur Jacob lost his mother last week and just last night news came that one of the son of student Harris Wonlah, the school prefect , died on the farm as a result of snake bit. Its not easy on the both brothers, please keep them in your prayers...

COMPUTER LAB

The school ( Bear Valley Bible Institute -Liberia) now has five computers of our own from a $1000 donation made through a generous donor. It is truly a blessing to have our students train in basic computer knowledge that will help them in their research, lesson preparation and others opportunities ahead. We thank the person that have made this possible and many thanks to brother Steven also. 

PRAYER REQUEST

In 14 days my country Liberia heads to an election to select one president, one vice president out of 20 presidential candidates and 20 vice presidential candidates and 73 Representatives out of 976 Representative aspirants. Brethren, this little poor country has gone through so much already. A very brutal civil war that took away (killed) over 1.5 million lives and a very deadly Ebola that took (killed) over 2000 lives and many more unaccounted for. Please pray for my country that God Himself will guide the process and peace will continue even as we struggle to live.

Many thanks to all of you for your continue services in the Lord. May God our loving father richly bless you.

In Him,

Robert P. Dahn, Jr.

Director- BVBI-L

Continued progress in the South Pacific

In Suva, Fiji, Rocco Pierce reports consistent progress in the Bear Valley extension. The new facility offers many benefits that we anticipate taking advantage of. Read all the latest HERE

A new partnership in Trinidad!

The Trinidad School of Preaching, located in San Fernando, Trinidad, has been training preachers for over 40 years. In an effort to make the program even better, TSOP and Bear Valley are joining hands in a partnership that will benefit all. We are excited about this! You can see the most recent report from Director, Dominic dos Santos by clicking HERE