Blessed Are You..."And Falsely Say All Kinds Of Evil Against You"

The following report was sent from Nery Irias, who is director of the Honduras Bible Institute. Donnie Bates translated the report as it is written below.

Thanks, beloved brother, for you communication. I also have failed and have not been able to communicate with you for some problems that I have with the justice (authorities - djb) which now is accusing me of “kidnapping” a brother of the church. He already appeared but, with the complicity of his mother, assures that I kidnapped him just so that he not hurt his mother. I believe that it was a plot of theirs to ask me for 200,000 Lempiras. The brother disappeared the day that you accompanied us to the football game in Jacaleapa (that was on January 31 - djb) and until this week he appeared, blaming me. I have confidence in God that the truth will come to light.

With respect to my father, I have to travel with him two and up to three times a week to Tegucigalpa. He suffers from renal failure. He had an auto accident and fractured his vertebrae column with a flattening of the L2. He has a hernia in his spine and has arthritis. Well, he is very complicated. Today we went to Tegucigalpa so he could receive some rehabilitation.

With respect to the mother of Luis David, his mother suffers from diabetes and now they detected problems in her kidneys. Pray for them, please.

Well, we are still in the expectation with reference to the masters classes and we are only waiting for you all to come to an agreement. What we want is to continue growing in knowledge.

I appreciate the information over the problems that are affecting the city of Joplin. We are praying for its inhabitants and in particular for our brethren. Whenever these tragedies of nature happen the children of God are always affected. We only hope that their faith is capable of supporting them in this test. We lament the loss of life of the people, especially those that have not obeyed the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Brother Yoni always visits us and is like another son in our family. Each week he accompanies us in evangelism, also practicing English with the course given to us by brother Lindell. Now more brethren have joined in studying English. Please communicate this to brother Lindell. 

Ocsar is preaching in a place called Empalme de Trojes. Several brothers and I went on an evangelistic campaign of two days and one woman was baptized, but he (Oscar) has had problems with a sect in that the place of worship is near that of theirs. I entered that sect where there were some 80 people and I preached to them the Gospel of Christ. The lady “pastor” almost died because the sect divided and for that reason they have been threatening Oscar to the extent that he is looking for another place. I told him not to fear them, that I would return and that now he has to take the honey even with the wasp stings. 

Hector continues studying and helping me with the congregation. He still has not been able to find a job. He and Yoni want to work to pay the cost of their studies and help in the economy of the home, but it is not easy to find work here.

Brother Enrique Figueroa visited me and says that if, please, you all could help move his things from the city of La Ceiba to Cuyali, he had said that a truck from La Ceiba to Progreso cost 5,000 Lempiras, but if you could help with 3,000 and he puts up the rest. He already spoke to the lady of the house in which he is going to live and the lady rents for 500 Lempiras for the whole house or 300 if they permit two young men to live in one of the rooms. The brother told her that he has daughters and that it was not possible such a proposition; that it would be better to rent the whole house and that he would be disposed to pay the 500 monthly. The brother wishes to speak personally with you.

Upon solving the problems that I have with the justice (authorities - djb), we will be traveling with Cesar to confirm the spirits of the future students of the cities of Catacamas and Marcala la Paz. Pray that their spirits are firm.

Whatever news, I will keep you abreast, although I am not much for being on the computer.

Brother, I cannot take any type of action without your authorization.  Brother Enrique wishes to move this month of June with his family. In La Ceiba his wife worked and helped to pay the rent and the expenses of food, but I do not know if here she would work. I believe that with the help that you all give him, it will be sufficient for the expenses and pay of the house. Also, he has been planting a little of beans and corn so as to be able in this way to help and that their expenses be less. If you authorize it, we are able to give him Lempiras that he asked for and the rest he could put up to move them. I await your confirmation.

Nery

Past, Present, and Future in Honduras...

I want to inform you what has happened with the graduates of IBH.  Brother Oscar moved Monday, April 11 to a place called El Empalme de Trojes, some 25 kilometers outside of Danli. He with his family is being supported by a congregation in the U.S. to preach full time. Hector is helping with the church of El Zarzal, especially with the youth. He is organizing and preparing for evangelism; he continues with his secular studies. Yoni Gonzalez is helping the El Carmen church and the La Union congregation, also helping with the evangelism Saturdays at El Zarzal. In the church at La Union he had his first baptism. Yesterday (Thursday, April 21) both Hector and Yoni were evangelizing in Danli having studies with a Catholic family.

With respect to the new prospects for students, we continue encouraging them to study, but not having an exact date of the beginning of classes makes things complicated since the economic situation of the country affects so much and some have to work to help their families. With brother Cesar we wish to visit these brothers to encourage them personally so that they see that things are serious, but the money we were going to use in these trips was spent in the graduation and for that reason we have not been able to visit the brethren. Brothers Enrique, Gustavo, Jairo and another brother from El Paraiso are disposed; I have also a brother of Marcala la Paz. His name is Santiago Asael Mejia; he has completed his secular education, is 18 years old. There are other prospects in Olancho.

With respect to the funds we continue to receive each month, there is a total of 49,850 Lempiras. We bought two books for the library that will be very useful for the future students. The cost was 800 Lempiras for both. Also sister Mirian was paid the last 15 days that she cooked; the amount was 1,400 Lempiras. The costs of lights, and the internet are monthly.

With respect to using the building of the congregations El Zarzal and Jacaleapa are willing; in the other buildings live the preachers. One brother offered brother Enrique and his family to live in a home in Cuyali, 15 kilometers from Danli. The only cost would be his transportation to travel to the institute, the same as from Jacaleapa. I, for the moment, am living in the building of El Zarzal to take care of the equipment and furnishings of the church. If I decide to live in the building, I will be happy to lend my home so that a brother could live in it.

With reference to the masters classes, I spoke with the congregation at El Zarzal. They are in agreement in providing me the passage so as to be able to receive the classes since that will benefit them also. I do not know if on the date June 13-23 there will be campaigns, but I will inform you with anticipation if we can go or not. I hope that all goes well and that the date does not continue to change for the masters classes so we can go if that is will of God.

Brother Jesus will send you some photos of the studies he is conducting with the book Searching for Truth.  I would send some but I have no digital camera.

I hope to hear more news from you.

Nery

Honduran Campaign Produces Fruit...

The date of the campaign was March 13-17.  There were 15 Hondurans, 6 Nicaraguans, 12 Salvadorans and about 100 North Americans; I do not remember the exact number, but yes I believe that was the number.  There were 15 baptisms, 10 restorations, 320 studies.  All three graduates and all the teachers of the Institute.  Your servant (Hector) worked as a translator and my brethren in evangelism.  It was a week full of work and, thanks to God we had success, although there were some health problems, but with the work of God, this does not matter.  I will upload more photos, brother, so that you can see them also.  God bless you all there and from here the students send you greetings.

Hector

Alpha Class Graduates In Honduras...

Excitement was at an all time high Friday night, February 11th, 2011 for the Bible Institute of Honduras (IBH). Three men walked to the stage to receive their certificate for completing two years of intense studies.

To read more about the Bible Institute of Honduras, please visit the following site: http://www.wetrainpreachers.com/honduras/. 

Donnie Bates, Coordinator for the IBH Extension in Honduras, Chase Turner, Harold and Alan Zeller, and myself, attended the celebration. All three will provide a tremendous asset to the work in Honduras.

Take a moment and read the plans these men have for the future. 

Oscar Morgan is the only student who is married. Oscar and his wife, Mirian, along with their three children (Karlina 14, Erlin Esau 11, & Alan 5), not only finished the curriculum for the school, but he also served as the caretaker and security guard for the past two years. His wife served as a cook for the students and staff during this time.

Oscar plans to help the church at El Zar Zal in Danli. He also plans to work with the church in Jicarito, a village 22 miles outside of Tegucigalpa. The distance away from Danli has made it difficult to do this work. Oscar has worked with this congregation over the past 18 months to help it grow from 1 member to 7. While he wants to continue to help in this work, he will also be trying to find a place to work with the church where he can support his family.

Yoni Gonzalez is the son of one of the local preachers from La Union, Honduras. Yoni has provided a great deal of help with the young people in the local area, especially the El Zar Zal congregation during his time at IBH. He will work with the congregation in La Union, specifically the young people and helping his father. Yoni will also help the El Carmen congregation near El Pariso. He is also enrolled and will continue to pursue his secular education.

Hector Viera will finish his secular education while continuing to work with the church in Danli, assisting his father, Nery Irias, Director of IBH. Hector has and will continue teaching the youth. He will also help with the church in Villa Santa (Holy Village). There is one sister in this village and when she is there, Hector conducts a worship service with her. He also spends time each Saturday evangelizing the village. He also wants to find a job where he can eventually get married and begin a family.

The work of these men is only the beginning for the church in this part of Honduras. We look forward to reporting more in the future about the activities of these men and future graduates from IBH. Your efforts over the past two years have born fruit that will continue to grow in the years ahead. Thank you for all you have and continue to do in support of this great work.

Assistant Director...

I am excited to announce the appointment of Keith Kasarjian to the position of Assistant Director in the Extension Program. Keith has been involved with the extension program since it began in 1997. He has worked in the area of teaching in nearly every location where extension schools exist. His experience in foreign travel, ability to teach, sound foundation in the faith, and work as a coordinator made him the right choice for this position.

Keith has primarily served the last few years as coordinator for the Comprehensive School of Management and Technology in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Prior to his work with the school in Nigeria, Keith taught and assisted in nearly all of the extension locations. You can read more about Keith’s credentials and work here.

As the program continues to grow, the need for experienced administration will grow. We are all thankful for Keith’s willingness to assume the responsibilities of this position. His desire to assist in the work of training men to preach will serve the program well. If you would like to contact Keith, you can write him at kkasarjian@bvbid.org. 

As you have already noticed, the report this week is full of news from around the world. Please take time to read the updates on each of the locations reporting. As always, I continue to be encouraged by the work of so many faithful brethren to train faithful men to preach the gospel. Continue to join us in prayer on behalf of these men and their locations of service to our God.

Coordinator Updates

Several reports were sent from coordinators in the program. Each report provides information about the activities of each of these men 

Read about the work in Chimala in Howell Ferguson's latest report.

Donnie Bates has also included his report about the work in Honduras.

Extension Reports

Kathmandu, Nepal

Gajendra Deshar's report shows growth from the short course taught. Read more here.

Report on the Nepal Center for Biblical Studies Extension School

Rusty Dawson recently returned from teaching in the Nepal Center for Biblical Studies. His report and assessment of his time in Nepal is found here.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

The work in Cambodia is exciting and continues to grow. Read more about the work. 

Visakhapatnam, India

The preacher's fellowship in India is seeing growth. Read more about it in the Visakha Valley Bible College report.

Andrew Connally School of Preaching

A Future Preacher's Training Camp is about to begin in Arusha. Read Cy Stafford’s latest report here.

Final Thoughts

Just a closing word of thanks. I will never be able to adequately express how much your support is appreciated. It takes everyone working together for the success of this program. Without God working through each of you, it is not possible.  Thank you.

God bless

Bob