BEAR VALLEY INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES, TAMALE - GHANA
OCTOBER 2026 OPERATING REPORT
God’s divine grace continues to keep us very safe in Northern Ghana. We are by the grace of God doing the best that we can within our capabilities to serve our maker in all ways possible. The preaching school in Tamale is doing very well by His grace. We are certainly in a very high spirit as the year 2026 runs out. May He continue to keep us all safe and sound. Below is a brief report of happenings in the month of October, 2026.
DESCRIPTION
The Bear Valley Bible Institute, Tamale Ghana, West Africa, is located in Tamale in northern Ghana. It is also called the Tamale Institute of Biblical Studies (SIBS). The Institute runs a full-time residential program under the supervision of Bear Valley Bible Institute, Denver Colorado in the USA.
The purpose of the school is to train Christian men to preach the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This training prepares these church leaders for preaching, teaching, evangelistic efforts, and all the activities that are necessary for a minister in the Lord’s church. Our goal is to see the Gospel proclaimed throughout the country of Ghana and beyond.
The motto of the school can be found in 2 Timothy 2:2:
“and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Tim. 2:2 ESV)
ACADEMIC WORK
Students are currently on a short break, and will be back to finish the quarter and courses on the 16th of November 2026. They went on break on the 18th of October, 2026. They were to break on the 25th, but had to go one week early because the Northern women fellowship seminar had to take place on the 22nd to the 25th of October. They will come back to finish all their courses by the grace of God.
Three courses were successfully taught in the month of October before they left. These courses include: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, taught by brother James Legend, Denominational Doctrines by Paul Nampaal from Nadundo, and Research and Writing by Emmanuel Balefam. It is our prayers and hope these men will be well prepared for the work of the Lord.
VISITATION AND RECRUITMENT
Visitations continue to be one of the major works that much of our time is dedicated towards. It is becoming very difficult and challenging anytime we make visitations to congregations out there. Many congregations are without preachers and sound leaders, some are becoming very weak, as some congregations are made of only women and children. The visit I made to Kpasar in the Tatale area made me see at least three congregations that had only women. This is because many men are migrating to southern Ghana for greener pastures. Some congregations have also been planted without and plan to sustain them. We are currently thinking through how we can sustain these congregations. We are relenting at all as we are optimistic that God is able to make provision in all ways for His church to stand strong and sound.
The work looks very disorganized in some parts of Northern Ghana because of the toxic way the work is done. We pray the Lord makes a way out for us to help address some of the challenges.
As time is also drawing very close for us to start another academic year, new students are needed. So, as we make visits to edify congregations, we are wrapping up our recruitment efforts. We are determined to start the next academic year in January 2027. All is working positively so far, and we are positive we will meet our target of a minimum of faith 12 students for the next batch of class. We request you continue to keep us in your prayers as we pray for you here also.
EVANGELISTIC WORK
We are putting in place all strategic measures to help us evangelize Tamale town where the Bear Valley School is located in Northern Ghana. Islam happens to be the dominant religion; however, we are certain that the Lord has His own people lost in Islam. For that matter, we are doing our best to reach out to them. So, we consistently host mini evangelistic campaigns and door to door studies using the students. With the support and consistent backings of Brother Steven, we are making some progress though it is very slow. Thanks to God, Brother Steven approved funds for us to purchase some five Megaphones to aid the students to preach at dawn in strategically selected locations. We believe we need several channels to make an impact in Tamale. Tamale is a very hard land, and we are determined to push till we succeed. Having a preaching school in Tamale makes it a duty to make sure that the gospel is well preached to all in Tamale and its neighborhood.
The dry season is here, and most of the active evangelistic teams are ready to take off. Some have sent in potential movement plans in the course of this month. Two of these teams have been retooled with new sound systems.
TEAM AND WORKING EVANGELISTS SUPPORT
The motor bike that was purchased in the month of September has been successfully delivered to evangelist Joshua in the Zabzugu evangelistic team to strengthen the movement of the team. This will also empower brother Joshua to make visitations to congregations that have been planted and need help. Joshua is currently one of the consistent teachers of the leadership training center in the Zabzugu area. Joshua is married with one child, and he lives with his wife in Nbolado under the Zabzugu district. He graduated from Bear Valley Tamale in 2025. He is part of the Zabzugu evangelistic team and it is our hope that he will add fresh force to the team.
We charged him to be a good worker of the Lord at the brief handing over ceremony in the Bear Valley campus in Tamale. We made him aware that we are stewards of all that the Lord gives. And we are to use everything in our possessions to serve the Lord faithfully (1 Corinthians 4:2). He was also informed that the motor will be taken, if it is not used for its intended purpose. He was very appreciative of the opportunity.
NORTHERN WOMEN FELLOWSHIP
The annual Northern women fellowship for this year took place in the month of October, 2026. It brought together as usual, women from all walks of life across the entire North. It started on the 22nd of October and ended on the 25th of October, 2026, with a joint service hosted at the Kpalsi South Church of Christ Auditorium. All the congregations within Tamale gathered together.
We give God the glory for all He is doing in Northern Ghana.
Thank you, brethren,
James Legend