1.0 Introduction
The true shape of the school is slowly showing its face. This comes with surprises and a lot of discoveries at its wake. We pray to God for courage in facing some truths of the progress of the work. There are five courses that have been done to completion to date and the sixth one is in progress. In the process of learning, there are also many other happenings that go along with curriculum progress. The curriculum progress, the projects update, the students activities, meet our students and staff are the items in this report.
2.0 Curriculum Progress
We are excited to let you know that there are five courses that have been done to completion to date. These are Introduction to the New Testament, Introduction to The Old Testament, Communication Skills, How We Got The Bible and Life of Christ. The tutors were Owen S Ruraca, Theophilus Tanhera, Owen T Marange and Tatenda Tizora respectively. There was so much fun as these were in progress while a lot of patience was required in the pitching as the group has different educational levels. The next course will be Public Speaking. All the six courses are introductory courses that introduce the Bible student to basic knowledge of the journey into the study of Theology and Ministry.
The overall grade in each course is attained after some course work which includes assignments, midterm tests and final exams. These were done by all those who will be proceeding to the next set of courses. The grading system is American. The pass mark is 70% and above.
3.0 Projects Update
3.1 The Vegetable Garden
During the rains in January, we started a covo vegetable garden. We want to make this a cash project since the vegetable is on demand in the area. After the baseline survey it was resolved that we start this project. The vegetable is now ready for harvesting and selling. We are also yet to add chicken manure which is within our reach. Small areas have been affected by too much water since the larger part of the land is a wetland. We have plans to put tomatoes and other vegetables on these spaces that are left as the water levels go down.
The vegetable garden will also assist with offering some vegetables for the student lunch meals which is one of the urgent needs that we have. We hope to utilize all the space we have.
3.2 The Incubator
With the help of Pact Missionaries we are now in possession of a 1500 eggs incubator. We thank God that we now have it with us from Zimbabwe. We are very grateful to have received this important gift that will go a long way towards our vision of self sustenance. Hatchery business is capable of growing into a giant project given the scarcity of broiler chicks on the market. Yet, our current focus is on other freelance varieties of birds. The school will start with a few birds as parent stock that will produce the eggs to be hatched in the incubator. In the process, our Projects director will work on our possible markets. The project director has produced a business plan which we will share with various stakeholders and interested partners who will be interested in the project.
3.3 The Broiler Project
Since the hatchery project may take a longer time to realize meaningful profit, the school has decided to do the broiler project to develop capital and support to the hatchery project. There was an abandoned pen at the compound which needed a few renovation touches. We have worked on it. This pen can house as many as 200 birds. We started with 50 birds which were sold at an equivalent value of US$4. We are taking another lot. In this second batch we will take another 50 birds because we had so many expenses that we incurred in the renovations of the pen.
4.0 Students Activities
The school designed an activity form for the students to record their participation in church activities. So many activities have been recorded and the students are excited in their studies and experiences. The school has been communicating with Tim Brumfield on his work in the WBS. To date we have one of our student Elidio Lucas Selemane from Manica doing follow ups of WBS students in Manica town. Of the two follow ups one has been baptised by our student and is now meeting with the church in Manica. Some of our students have been involved in visiting the sick, presiding on the Lords's super, singing, preaching and teaching various classes. Besides these, the school has chapel sessions every day in which the students and staff participate offering the students another learning platform as well.
The church in Messika hosted a gardening workshop that was done by Healing Hands International for two days (29 and 30 May 2025). Our students and their wives were part of this workshop. We hope we will have more of these together with our school projects to provide a learning platform in developing in self-sustaining projects.
5.0 Meet Our Students
5.1 Lewai Gande Julio and Chipo Requireai
Lewai Gande Julio was born on 25 June 1990 in Vanduzi where he comes from. Lewai graduated as an English teacher from the Chibata Teacher Training Institute in 2011. In 2019 he graduated from the Pedagogical University in the English language with another qualification in Shona. He is the Headmaster at 12 de Outubro Primary School since 2022. He also serves as head of post and head of major events in the Frelimo party in the Manica district. He was married to Chipo Requerai in 2012 and the two are blessed with 4 children.
Chipo Requireai studied at Chinhamapere Secondary School and finished with her tenth grade in 2015. She was born in Manica where she hails from. The couple stays in Messika where they also worship. Lewai was baptised by Owen on the tenth of June in 2010. Chipo was baptized by Owen in September 2012 at Messica where she has since been an active member. The couple are both students in our first intake.
5.2 Elidio Lucas Selemane
Elido Lucas Selemane was born on the 17 of April 1985 in the district of Gurue in the province of Zambezia in Mozambique. He was born from a religious family of the Church of Christ. He was brought up by his grandfather in Gurue and later moved to Chimoio. In Chimoio he went to stay with his uncle Jose Paputiano. For four years he went to Guro district from Chimoio. He later moved to Manica town in 2010 and became part of the Church in Manica. It had been his dream to pursue pastoral studies. With basic English proficiency he could have crossed the border to pursue these in Mutare which had the closest Bible school. However, for many years it was buried. Rays of light toward his vision came when he rubbed shoulders with the Ruracas who were preaching in Messika. The reality of his dream showed up on the fourth of January 2025 when he found himself among the Instituto Biblico Bear Valley pioneers. Elidio is a self-motivated man with an excellent integrity. He is hardworking and punctual in his work. He is not yet married. To date he has exhibited a level of performance and ability above average. We have such a promising preacher in him.
6.0 Get To Know Your Staff
Owen and Eunice
Owen Simone Ruraca is a Mozambican national. He is married to Eunice Chikukwa. The couple is blessed with four girls. The couple are graduates of MSOP of 2005. The couple are the only trained preachers in the Manica Province to date. They have been working with the Church in Messika for 19 years and have been very active in the work of the Lord. Owen is working on his Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical studies. Owen is serving as a teacher and Director of evangelism activities. Owen stands tall in his communities and we think ourselves very fortunate to have him as part of our team. He has been struggling with cancer but has not stopped giving his service to God even beyond his strength. Eunice is helping us with handling our paperwork and keeping records. She does an excellent job.
7.0 We need prayers
We are asking for prayers from you brethren. Owen Ruraca’s health has been on and off. He has recently changed his cancer treatment and was down most of his time. He might undergo another operation in the near future and we are soliciting your prayers.
One of our student from Manica, Alberto Zecharias has not been feeling well also. We were told at the beginning that it was cerebral malaria but it later proved to be something else different. He was later taken to his rural home and has been slowly improving. We hope he will be back earlier to continue with his studies. He has a good reputation of being punctual, hardworking and consistent. We have missed him too long and kindly request for your prayers.
Conclusion
The school is progressing with its curriculum with other activities which include income generating projects like the vegetable garden, the broiler poultry project and the yet to roll hatchery project. Our students have been active in different church activities that include preaching, teaching, song leading, visitations and others. We are very grateful of the partnerships that we have so far and look forward to many of these. The school needs prayers for our ill student Alberto and tutor Owen Ruraca who has been struggling with gist cancer for over seven years now and awaits another possible operation.