Making a difference in Bloemfontein, South Africa
BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA REPORT
Greetings in the name of Jesus. We are thankful to God for the school and the difference it is making in Bloemfontein. There have been 10 baptisms recorded in the last three months. Evangelism training for church women was recorded. The school is also grateful for our visiting lecturer.
Slowly but surely, the school is making a great difference in Bloemfontein. Students are being equipped with skills to grow their respective congregations and make disciples who make other disciples. Not only are students making a difference, but also class observers (Christians who are not full-time students but attend some classes) are. This is one of the good aspects of the BVBI extension programme; any Christian can attend classes as observers. Those who have attended and are still attending testify to the positive impact the school has had on them. Some class observers are engaged in evangelism in Thaba Nchu. Brother Vincent Shata, one of the instructors, has been evangelising in Thaba Nchu with these class observers from Bloemfontein. Thaba Nchu is about 80 km from Maseru and about 55 km from Bloemfontein.
As a result of these evangelism campaigns, five people have been baptised in Thaba Nchu. Five more people were baptised in Bloemfontein, one at University, another at Motshabi, a new congregation, and three at Tarflagate Church of Christ.
Brother Sam is one of the BVBI Bloemfontein students. This is what he had to say about the school: “Learning the truth is one of the best lessons in life. I have learnt that it is one thing to know Christ and another thing for Christ to know me. At church, I have learnt basic principles of the gospel, but in class, I have deepened my knowledge and understanding of the scripture. This has motivated me to have the courage to share the gospel with others. The knowledge and mission of God need soldiers who are not ashamed of the gospel of God.”
One of our instructors, Brother Tawanda, trained women from the church in October and November using evangelism tools. The school has observed that several people want to evangelise, but they do not know how to do it. Women are so influential, and many of them have ample time to evangelise since they are housewives. Therefore, the school had to equip these women with the gospel share mission evangelism tools.
The school had an opportunity to have brother Donnie Estep as a visiting instructor in October. Brother Donnie met with the students and instructors; he also taught the Scheme of Redemption. It was indeed a great time to have him in Bloemfontein.
Thank you for partnering with the church in Bloemfontein to spread the Word of God in our area. Keep praying for the school in Bloemfontein.
God bless you
In His arms,
Tawanda Mwadiya
Assistant church Minister
Bloemfontein, South Africa school impacting their area
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Two courses were taught in the past two months. The school organised a successful local women’s retreat. The congregations are striving toward unity.
The school in Bloemfontein is a year old, and it has made some great strides in uniting the congregations in Bloemfontein. Students and members of the church appreciate the efforts that the school has made and is still making to grow the church. The students are committed to studying and are also putting into practice what they are learning. Students came up with a strategy to help unify the women of the church by organising a ladies' retreat. The event was well planned and executed, and the church in Bloemfontein appreciated the event. A combined service was held at the Motshabi congregation in August, which was attended by all the churches of Christ in Bloemfontein. Motshabi is a baby congregation that was planted in February by two BVBI students. This is what brother Johannes had to say: We praise the Lord for the Motshabi Church of Christ for a well-planned and executed event. They did more than expected for a small congregation that they are. This indicates that it is not about the quantity, but it is about the quality (the heart behind the preparation and execution of the plan).
MONTH/COURSE/INSTRUCTOR
July/Holy Spirit/Tawanda
August/New Testament Church/Tawanda
Thank you for partnering with the church in Bloemfontein to spread the gospel and grow the church by training sound, doctrinal preachers.
God bless you
In His arms,
Tawanda Mwadiya
Students in Bloemfontein, South Africa host successful Prayer Service
Calvary greetings. The school has made great strides since its establishment in September 2024. A combined prayer service was planned and well executed. Congregations testify to the school’s impact. 6 baptisms were recorded. 3 courses were taught.
Nothing excites me more than seeing students commit to their studies and implement what they learn in class. As an instructor and the director of the school, I am humbled by the students’ dedication, organization, and zeal to unify and grow the church in Bloemfontein. All I say is thank you, Lord, for Bear Valley Bible Institute, Bloemfontein.
The students organised a combined prayer service on the 17th of May at the Senodale Building (the building the school is using for classes). All four congregations in Bloemfontein were represented, with approximately 60 people in attendance at the service. The main items prayed for were:
1. Unity among the four congregations
2. Proper and effective leadership
3. Strong youth
4. Christ-centred men and women
5. Church growth
Our instructor, Robert, presented a touching, informative, educational, and spiritual lesson on unity. In the middle of the lesson, people stood and hugged each other. God, thank you for the wisdom you gave to Robert. The service ended with a fellowship meal.
The combined prayer service opened a door for unity among the congregations in Bloemfontein. A Sunday combined service was organised and held at Turflaagte. Christians in all four congregations feel the impact the school has made in their congregations. The Bible studies and preaching have improved drastically; thus, the students can teach sound doctrine.
The congregations have started recording baptisms. The Universitas church, where five of the students congregate, has been obedient to the Great Commission, as shown by the number of baptisms and their commitment to spreading the gospel. The young women are organizing prayer services and different activities with the permission of the church leadership. As a result of these activities, the students have baptized six people.
Three courses were taught in the second quarter of 2025. The courses and instructors are as follows:
Critical Thinking and Planning, Robert Likhang- April
Holy Spirit And Spiritual Gifts, Tawanda Mwadiya- May
Christian Ethics, Robert Likhang- June
Continue to pray for the school in Bloemfontein as the students make a great impact. The courses taught so far have helped the students, which inevitably prompted them to unify the church. Pray for the six souls to remain steadfast in the Lord. Thank you for your support.
New School in Bloemfontein, South Africa
BLOEMFONTEIN REPORT
19 months after the first attempt to start the school in Bloemfontein collapsed in early 2023, the BVBI Bloemfontein campus finally commenced in September 2024. Many thanks to Brother Keith for his endless efforts to establish this school. The BVBI Bloemfontein is an extension school that meets twice a month to cover the 30 hours of classwork per course as stipulated by BVBI International. The first weekend was from Friday the 6th of September to Sunday the 8th of September. The second weekend was from the 27th up to the 29th of September.
Brother Tawanda was the instructor in September and he taught, How We Got The Bible. This is how the schedule lines up until December 2024. October - Survey of the Old Testament 1; November - The Life of Christ, December - Proverbs and Psalms.
10 registered students attend the school regularly. It is unfortunate on the school side (students) that one student, Brother Raphael Simango got a new job in Limpopo province. Thus, he only attended the first course and has relocated to another far way province. The students are happy with their studies they have being challenged academically and spiritually by the first course. One student, Brother Sam said, “I am 55 years old, and I was raised in the church of Christ and this is new information I am receiving. I am going to encourage other Christians to join the school so that they can also benefit. I cannot wait to enjoy more courses.”
The director will campaign to market the school in the church of Christ in Bloemfontein. There is great growth potential for the school and the church at large in this town. Keep praying for the school in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Your brother,
Tawanda Mwadiya
(Maseru & Bloemfontein Director)