BVBIZ JULY NARRATIVE REPORT
INTRODUCTION
The Great Commission continues to echo in the hearts of His workers. At BVBIZ, every effort is made to thoroughly equip students for this mission through various initiatives. In June, classes progressed smoothly, weekend evangelism remained active, and practical life survival skills training continued. Meanwhile, the school received a timely donation that boosted its evangelistic outreach. These developments and more are detailed below:
1.0 CLASS PROGRESS
As of 30 June, all subjects for the term—except Advanced Homiletics—had been taught and completed. The subjects covered included Church Leadership, Christian Spiritual Formation, Marriage and Family Development, Greek II, Research Methods, 1–3 John, and Church History. Students have already begun working on research projects, which are a graduation requirement. Deep appreciation goes to both teachers and students for their commitment to a successful term.
2.0 DONATION OF PA SYSTEM
The need for a Public Address (PA) system had long been one of the school's key challenges, affecting the impact of campaigns and practicum. Pact Missionaries generously stepped in and donated a powerful, portable PA system. This significant contribution was well received by the entire BVBIZ community. Coincidentally, students were learning Advanced Homiletics at the time and were immediately trained in the practical use of the system in preaching and worship services. This addition will greatly enhance open-air preaching during campaigns. We extend heartfelt thanks to Pact Missionaries for their meaningful support.
3.0 PROJECTS
Our gardens continue to produce a fair yield. The crops currently grown include tomatoes, rape, covo, cabbages, lettuce, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, butternuts, cucumbers, carrots, maize, and green peppers. Some of the produce is designated for student consumption. Beyond nutritional value and a modest income boost for the school, these projects also offer students’ essential hands-on training in life survival skills.
Challenges persist, particularly with monkeys and birds preying on crops, undermining some of the school’s efforts. However, greenhouse crops remain secure. With time and additional resources, the establishment of one or two more greenhouses would greatly support project viability.
Our goat population stands at 11, serving as a valuable source of meat for students. Due to lack of funds to purchase a bull, the cattle herd remains stagnant at three. The broiler project has been scaled down due to the current cold season. Any surplus income from these projects has been allocated to the construction of classroom and office blocks.
4.0 UPCOMING PREACHERS’ RETREAT AND AGM
From 14 to 17 October, BVBIZ will host its annual Preachers’ Retreat—an event open to all active field preachers. The program aims to rejuvenate and re-empower those ministering in the field. On the 18th of October, the school will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM). All stakeholders are invited to this key meeting to deliberate on institutional matters. The following reports will be presented and discussed:
Director’s Report
Chairman’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
5.0 WEEKEND EVANGELISM
Weekend evangelism remains a cornerstone of the school’s programming. It provides students with opportunities to serve in various capacities such as evangelism, preaching, teaching, song leading, presiding over the Lord’s Supper, counselling, and organizing worship services. Since January, the following congregations have benefitted; Plasworth, Nashville, Kwekwe, and Shurugwi.
6.0 FIELD PROGRAM
The first field practicum for the 2024–2026 intake will begin on 14 July. This is a vital opportunity for students to apply their classroom knowledge in practical settings, while learning from experienced field preachers.
Preceding the practicum, two evangelism campaigns will run from 6 to 13 July. These campaigns are held each term. In March, two were conducted—one in Plumtree and another in Plasworth, Gweru. This time, half of the students will serve at Mutora Growth Point in Nembudziya, Gokwe North, while the other half will be stationed in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central. After the campaigns, students will immediately proceed to their assigned congregations for their internship.
CONCLUSION
We offer sincere gratitude to God for guiding us this far and enabling us to prepare our students with the skills and competencies required for ministry. Class sessions continued successfully, and the donation of a PA system from Pact Missionaries came at the perfect moment. We are deeply thankful to our partners for their tireless support of this mission. The next report will highlight the activities and experiences of our students in the field.
To God be the glory!