Exciting news in Kenema, Sierra Leone
ACTIVITY OPERATION REPORT FOR JUNE 2026
Full Time and the Extended Programs
INTRODUCTION
It is that time of the year in Sierra Leone that it rains almost every day. Beginning from the month of June to September, the blessings of the rain downpour heavily here. However, the school always continues uninterrupted. The past month of June 2026 was not an exception. The Gospel was preached, souls were won, and our classes continued steadily. Progressively, we are grateful to God for keeping us till now so we could continue to work in His vineyard. Also, in the midst of intense and high inflation in the whole world, you continue to support the work here, hence you deserve to be informed, appreciated and acknowledged for your brotherly love that you keep directing toward us. Those who have been guiding and praying with us are truly appreciated as well. As we share this June 2026 report with you, we pray that you find time to go through it to the end. This report shall feature students’ updates, orientation for new students, students’ assignments, conversions and student profile. Please follow us as we take you through. Let us begin with the students’ updates.
STUDENTS’ UPDATES
At this point, we are confident that you are aware, our dear reader, that we have three categories of students (full time freshmen, full time senior ones and the part time students) and that the freshmen and the part time students started their journey at our great school at the closure of last month (May). With that in mind, we want to let you know that all our students were intact for the past month of June. We can only plead that you continue to mention us in your prayers for our students (and staff alike) to remain committed to the task that the Lord has placed before us.
ORIENTATION FOR THE NEW STUDENTS
The School on Tuesday, 23rd June, 2026 held an orientation ceremony at the school grounds at 9:30am. The rationale behind the orientation was to educate the incoming students on the modus operandi of the school. The Director of the School, Bro Peter Sahr Makundu, who doubled as the moderator of the event, gave the welcome address and overview of the orientation ceremony. He set the stage for the presenters who spoke on three major topics. Bro Michael Sahr Triyoh, the Dean of Academic affairs of the School spoke on the topic: Students and their Academic Commitments. He encouraged the students to take their studies seriously as at the end of each course there will be examinations and grades will be awarded based on merits. He furthered that students who fail a course will not graduate. He explained in detail the grading scheme of the school and called on the students to take their studies seriously.
Another speaker, the Director of Lectureship and Internal School Evangelism, Bro David Thoronka, spoke on the topic: Students and the School Evangelistic Activities. He said that the school operates three major evangelistic activities: Weekly Evangelism Program, Weekly Mission Work and School Evangelism Campaigns. In explaining the dynamics of these activities, he said that those Evangelism programs are meant to give students the opportunity to practice what they are taught in class. He drew a parallel comparison between the school and the ancient Jewish school of prophets run by Samuel, Elijah and Elisha in 1 Sam. 10:5, 19:20, 2Kings 6:1-7. Just like how the school of prophets was a place of spiritual training, mentorship, growth and service and faith, so also the school the students have entered into. “As a school that trains preachers, we equip them for service,” he asserted.
The final speaker, The Dean of Students Affairs, Bro Joseph Missailie Jr. presented on: Students and Campus Life. He called on the students to comply with the school rules and regulations especially in line with upholding the dignity and integrity of the institution they have come to study. He emphasized that strict monitoring of students will be happening to ensure compliance. “Anyone who is caught violating the rules of the school will be disciplined appropriately,” he said.
The orientation concluded with the Director of the School encouraging the students to study hard and improve their lives. He also pledged that the staff will endeavor to be helping them whenever the need arises to ensure that their study is successful.
ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS TO SOME CONGREGATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING
In an effort to gain more experience and to groom congregations to maturity, in the month of June (just like every other month that the school is in session and sometimes during breaks), students were sent to follow up on local congregations outside of Kenema where the school is. The assigned congregations were Benduma, Daru, Weima, Panguma, and Borma III. This effort has been helpful in strengthening the congregations that we have been planting. We have planned to launch another campaign at the Muslim-dominated Weima territory in the last week of July, Lord willing.
CONVERSIONS RESULTING FROM STUDENTS’ AND STAFF EVANGELISM EFFORTS
As the school exists to train evangelists, every member of our family is focused on bringing men to Christ. That is why every week after classes from Mondays to early Fridays, at the evening of Fridays to Sundays, we get involved in evangelism. There is a schedule prepared for this activity and it is truly helping to bring people to Christ, strengthen some weak congregations, and nurture some new ones. Therefore, before June ended, seven (7) souls became saved.
CONVERSIONS RESULTING FROM ALUMNI EFFORT
Our graduates are also very busy on the field in carrying out the great commission. They are involved in carrying out the Lord’s mandate in their various localities. So as a result, five (5) souls were converted.
CONVERSIONS RESULTING FROM THE EVANGELISTIC TEAMS EFFORTS
You are already aware of the active works of the evangelistic teams across the country. Therefore, their efforts resulted to Twenty (20) conversions. Apart from those being saved, the teams kept on strengthening and nurturing the various congregations that they are in touch with.
A STUDENT’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Lamin Nyuma
Today’s spotlight is shed on a student that is dear to my heart (though all the students are dear to my heart but this one and the other student from Gambia Republic are dearer). Let me introduce him to you. His name is Nyuma Lamin, a 23 year old senior full time student of the Bear Valley Bible Institute Sierra Leone. He is a Kissi by tribe who hails from Buedu village, Kailahun District, Eastern Sierra Leone. His parents are named Mr. Nicolas Nyuma and Mrs. Hawa Nyuma. Brother Lamin is the last born of his parents. He has five siblings, three boys and two girls. He grew up in a denominational setting attending the Assemblies of God Church.
BROTHER NYUMA’S CONVERSION STORY
Just like Paul who narrated on many occasions his conversion account, Nyuma recounts thus:
In 2023, the Bear Valley Bible Institute in Kenema launched a remarkable gospel campaign in our community to restore the church of Christ that was dead in my area. Fortunately for me, I was one of the people that the students preached to during their campaign. Their preaching touched me and sowed the seed of truth in my heart, but because I was into denominationalism, I couldn’t accept the truth. When they left, for weeks I wrestled with the truth daily. One day, one of the students who is now a graduate, Amara Tamba who comes from the same Buedu community, approached me and preached to me again. Eventually, at the end of 2023, I realized the inconsistency in the activities of my denominational church and the teaching of the word of God. Thus, I accepted and got baptized. Immediately, I started going out for evangelism with the preacher, Patrick Ngegba who himself is a graduate of Bear Valley. Since then, I have not relented.
ROAD TO BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE
It should be noted that when Nyuma started attending the church of Christ in Buedu, his preacher, Brother Patrick Ngegba saw his activeness and zeal for evangelism, and encouraged him to add knowledge so that he could be more productive in the things of God. “So, when the scholarship came for students to be trained, he encouraged me to enroll. His recommendation led to my admission into the school. I give God all the glory” he said.
CAMPUS LIFE
Lamin has intimated that initially when he just came into the system it was tough. He found it difficult to adjust to the rigorous system in place to maintain discipline and high academic and moral standards. “I thought I could not cope with the rules such as going for devotions, curfew by 7:00 pm, and other standards I was not accustomed to. But now, I thank God. I have overcome all those obstacles and adjusted very well. I am now enjoying my stay on campus. I appreciate the school administration for providing us with this enabling environment where such conducive learning occurs,” he noted.
Indeed, Brother Nyuma is a type of Christian that will encourage you a lot once you live with him. Considering his age in comparison to his zeal for the Lord, I can only thank God for such a brother like Lamin. Let me tell you briefly why I love him dearly: Just recently, we established a congregation at a difficult zone in Weima. We have been struggling with that congregation. During their last break (April to May), there was a need for a preacher to go and stay in the Weima village for some time to nurture the new congregation. But we had no one to go there temporarily. Remember that almost all our students are peasant farmers and all of them needed to go to their homes to work with their families to raise some funds before the school resumed. In fact, Nyuma at his age, takes care of his mother in the village through farming. So he needed to be with his mother. But without any staff telling him to go to nurture the new congregation at Weima, he and Samuel Sanyang, one of the two international students from The Gambia approached us and requested that we facilitate their movement to go and work with the Weima congregation for the rest of the break. That move got me over excited. This is one of the main reasons why Nyuma is dearer to me. I can tell you that Brother Nyuma will do a lot of work for the Lord; please let us pray for him at any opportunity that we have.
CONCLUSION
As I conclude this report, I want to say a big “Thank you” for reading through to the end. Thank you for your kindness. The lives you are changing in Sierra Leone here through your prayers, financial support, guidance and direction, are all duly acknowledged, and may the Lord bless you richly. Till we meet again in July 2026, may the Lord keep you healthy!
Your brother,
Peter Sahr Makundu,
Director,
Sierra Leone Bear Valley Bible Institute