Off and Running...

Another year of training men to preach and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ is off and running. The new class of students in Denver has already proven to be a quality group of men. It is humbling to hear of the secure jobs they left behind, the educational background they have already achieved before attending the Bible Institute, and their dedication to learn to share the gospel more powerfully.

This trend is not unique to Denver. With each extension location I visit, where men are preparing to preach the gospel, the stories are very similar. In fact, to add to the list above, many of the men who are enrolled within the extension program also left family. I find it difficult to think of the struggles faced by so many men who are away from their wives and children for months at a time while they learn to be greater servants in the Lord’s kingdom.

The report information below provides a summary to the activity in a few locations where Bear Valley is privileged to share in the work of training men to preach.

As well, there are updates on recent and upcoming travels of coordinators who are involved in teaching short courses within the program. They are also assisting each location to operate more efficiently.

Coordinator Updates

Howell and Mary Ferguson will be leaving this week for Gorlovka, Ukraine. They will be in Ukraine for just over 3 weeks and then traveling to Chimala, Tanzania to work. Remember them in prayer.

Garry Hill is in Chimala, Tanzania to work the next three months with the school. Remember Garry in prayer also.

Ralph Williams and myself will be traveling in September to Ghana, Togo and Cameroon. We would appreciate your prayers for our travels.

The following address is a link to a report from Gary Fallis about the recent work in India, but also the overall graduate work within the extension program: http://www.bvbid.org/PDFs/ExtensionReports/Fallis8_10.pdf

Donnie Bates is in Honduras this week teaching in the school in Danli. Please remember the work in Honduras in your prayers. Recent flooding has taken at least 23 lives and is devastating the country. Read more about the flooding at the following address: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27280639/

Donnie’s monthly report can also be read at the following address:http://www.bvbid.org/PDFs/ExtensionReports/Bates8_10.pdf

Donnie also wrote a brief note about arriving in Honduras for classes this week.

Greetings everyone.

Because of limited access to the internet, I will not be posting my reports as usual, but I am writing them every day and when I get home, I´ll catch everyone up.  We had a good worship service today with the brethren at El Zarzal. I was blessed to be asked to preach. I took lots of pictures of the damage caused to the creek bank near the building and will be sharing those later on facebook.  This is a serious situation and I ask for your prayers on behalf of the brethren here.  The good news is that none of the brethren have been directly affected by the flooding, i.e. none of them have suffered harm or damage to their homes. However, many have family who have, so this too needs to be part of our prayers. I anticipate a good week of class, but ask you to pray that we are all safe through the week. Of course, I´m the only one here who will be leaving at the end of the week (Lord willing) so continue to keep the Lord´s church in Danlí in your prayers.

Thank you and God bless

Donnie

Extension Reports

The following reports are from Gajendra (Nepal) and Chann (Cambodia).

Kathmandu, Nepal

Dear brothers in Christ,

Greetings to you all in the precious name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May Grace of God, love and peace always be with you.

This week my health is not getting well. Due to regular rain in Kathmandu, we are getting fever, headache, and sore throat. I am also getting fever and same sore throat. I am using medicine. It is working. So, I am a little better. I am sorry for getting late on writing letter to you all.

We, the students and classes are going well. In absence of Brother Jerry, we, brother Deepak, Kirash and Gajendra are taking classes. We are doing our level best on teaching. Our students are doing better in classes as well as in surrounding congregations. They are involved in teaching and preaching.  As a result, last Sunday 8th August, Sister Rohana Tamang was baptized and added in to the Kingdom of God. She was our cook’s helper during brother Don’s classes. She is studying at class Seven in Government school. Please pray for her in your personal prayer.

We do need your regular prayer and guidance to do better labor in the kingdom of God in Nepal.

Thanks you.

Servant in Christ

Gajendra

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Hello everyone.

Good morning from Cambodia. I would like to share some work we have done recently in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Things are going well here, and we keep working hard together. I’m very proud of our two young men and a young girl who live at Svay Rieng, at the border of Vietnam. Recently they have converted two people into Christ which are their mother and brother.

Now through the work of the school and the church in Siem Reap, we can reach to more people at other locations as well. Please keep the new brethren and the new location in your prayer.

We really need transportation as soon as we can so we can reach more people at other areas in Siem Reap.

We love you all and we are looking forward to seeing you sometimes if Lord’s willing.

Chann

Final Thoughts

Each week brings wonderful news, opportunities and experiences. I am fully aware of how vital this work is to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. I am also aware of the necessity of your help in the development and success of this work. Thank you for your desire to work, provide financial support, prayer and encouragement for every need in this work. I pray for you daily and I hope these reports will help you stay informed with the overall program.

God bless

Bob

Posted on August 24, 2010 .

An Average Week??

On the surface, this was just an average week. Several men began their training and have completed their first week at the Bear Valley Bible Institute in Denver. Others came back to start their final year of preparation for ministry.

Classes also continue in all of the locations around the globe as men are studying to become more effective in preaching the gospel of Jesus. Only in eternity will we truly know the impact made by those who will take the message of Jesus to their friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors.

Beyond the surface of an average week of men studying to preach the gospel, a number of interesting activities took place. More souls were added to the church through the work in Cambodia (information below). A new congregation now meets near the Vietnam border because of two men who recently completed their training in Siem Reap.

There have also been souls added because of the work in Danli, Honduras and surrounding areas. Brother Nery sent his report as is listed below.

As well, we have a report about the work in Chandigarh. The North India Bible College is doing very well and Earnest Gill provided a report which can be found below.

Then…just a brief report from Nigeria, but it gives us great news about the growth taking place. The report is below.

An average week? Maybe in some places, but as you read these reports, I believe you will see just how extraordinary this week has been within the extension program. Awesome!!!

Coordinator Update

Donnie Bates and Gary Fallis recently returned from their trip to Visakhapatnam, India, teaching in the extension program. You can read all of the reports, including the most recent sent by Donnie at the following address.http://dnbates4.wordpress.com

Jerry Bates recently went to Takoradi, Ghana to teach in the West Coast School of Preaching. His report is at this address:http://www.bvbid.org/PDFs/ExtensionReports/JerryBates8_10.pdf

 

Extension Reports

Chandigarh, India

Earnest Gill recently sent a report about the work of the North India Bible College in Chandigarh. The report can be found at the following address:http://www.bvbid.org/PDFs/ExtensionReports/NIBC8_10.pdf

Siem Reap, Cambodia

The growth continues in the Lord’s kingdom. It is exciting to read Chann Lork’s report below.

Dear all,

Good morning from Cambodia. I hope you all are doing fine. I have some news I want to share with all of you about the work which occurred recently in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Svay Rieng province

Before last week Phanat, Joe Hickey, Piseth and I went down to Svay Rieng (one of the provinces in Cambodia located south east of Phnom Penh next to Vietnam border) to visit three of our former students who just graduated recently. They moved when they graduated and they want to start the congregation at their hometown as well.

So we went to visit their home and to encourage them. Also we bought some teaching materials such as white board, marker and some children stuff.

They are doing some evangelism around their village and they are now raising chickens in their home. Lord’s willing they will start the congregation in their home very soon. Please also keep them in your prayer.

Takam Village, Siem Reap

Last week, on Saturday, there were about fifteen of us went down to Takam village. We have some members of the church up there we helped plant rice. That’s a funny one for Phanat, as it was his first time to plant rice and also for Joe Hickey. After planting rice for about one and half hours we had lunch with some members over there to fellowship and we also encouraged them to be faithful to God. Right now we have three of our young men going down there to teach and preach every weekend and on Lord’s day.

Dom Dek

After helping to plant rice at Takam, then Joe Hickey and I, along with four more young men went down to Dom Dek trying to teach and establish the congregation up there as we can. We taught about ten adults and about seventeen children about God and evidences to prove our God. As of now, the people almost everywhere in Cambodia are so busy with the work of farming, but we thank God that they can take their time to listen the word of God that we preached.

Siem Reap Church

After teaching at Dom Dek, we headed back to the town. There a young man of our Bible students was baptized into Christ. This is very encouraging to me as I’ve seen the growth of our young men who are involved with the teaching and preaching the word of truth which brings salvation to people.

Leang Dai

We have Sokchea and Ravy working in Leang Dai trying to help the church up there both in spiritual and physical as well. Since the tractor has been moved to keep at the church building, Sokchea has been working with the tractor to help the members of the church plant their crops. Through this work Sokchea and Ravy have more and more chances to preach the gospel to more and more people in Leang Dai village and Somroung.

Request for the need of the work

As I used to inform all of you about the transportation for the work, we need two more motor bikes for the work to evangelize. Since the work is growing, and this time is rainy season, we need motor bikes to work very much. At the church in Siem Reap now, we can support such as gas for motor bike to run for the work of preaching but we can’t afford to buy motor bike yet. So if you can help with this, it would be a blessing and very appreciated.

May God bless you richly and the church in Cambodia sends the word hello to all brethren in your local church. We love you all and please keep us in your prayer.

God be with you all. Your brother in Christ,

Chann

CSMT, Abakaliki, Nigeria

The work of the school in Nigeria is busy reaching many people through several avenues. Reuben sent the following information about a recent seminar and the growth God has given.

“The seminar started on 12th and ended on 14th August, 2010. It was interesting. About 400 sisters attended and the seminar resulted in one baptism. Today, two more baptisms (sisters) were added to the church by Christ. To God be the glory.”

Reuben in His Service.

Final Thoughts

I love reading about the growth occurring as a result of the work of so many throughout the world. I am thankful to have the opportunity of sharing in this work and sharing the information with all of you. I hope you understand and are grateful for the role you have in this work as well. Without you, this work would struggle at best, if it existed at all. Please know you are making a difference in the lives of people everywhere the gospel is being preached through extension training.

May God bless you richly in all things.

Bob

Posted on August 16, 2010 .