The first report from Fiji

Jason Pierce has filed the first report from the new school in Fiji and you will want to read it. Simply click HERE to see his report. 

The Normans report from Arusha

Mason and Haley Norman report, among other things, about the Leadership Conference in Arusha. Click HERE to read the report. 

A seminar and upcoming graduation in Ghana

Dear Brethren,

    We happy to send to you reports for the month of August and September, 2016. In the month of August, our students who were due to be graduated wrote their final examinations. They then joined in this year’s seminar for preachers and church leaders held from Monday, 12 – Thursday, 15th September, 2016.

GRADUATION

    Our next graduation is on the 29th of October 2016. Sixteen students who had gone through the two-year course would be recognized and awarded their certificates.

NEW ADMISSIONS

    Twenty-one new students have been offered admission to do the two-year course. Classes have already begun. Below are some pictures showing some of the current students.

COPIER MACHINE

    As stated in our recent reports, our copier machine has been inoperational for about three months now. Copying handouts for our new students has been a problem. We would want to appeal once again if you can assist us to purchase a new machine.

PS: Brother Max we are please working on the figures for the coming graduation. We will inform you immediately all is settled. Thank you.

We would again ask for your continuous prayers for the work here and for our new students for God to give us the needed strength to be able to go through the next two years of study.

We also would want to say “thank you” and may God richly bless you all for keeping your support coming all these years. May He richly bless you all.

CHARLES

16 students begin the new year in Ukraine

Dear brothers and sisters,

   In my monthly report for September I'd like to share the last news of the Bible Institute Bear Valley - Ukraine as well as our plans and our victories in the Lord's vineyard.

  The school year started on September 5th. This year we have 16 students in the program. The students from all parts of Ukraine came to study in Bela Tserkva. One of them whose name is Alexander was able to leave the occupied territories and join us to study in the program. We have big plans for this group of students. Some churches have sent their own representatives to study so that upon graduation they can return to their home congregations and serve as ministers. Being a part of church life in Ukraine, I am able to closely observe the progress in the ministry of our local congregations. Our churches used to wait for the arrival of the missionaries who would advise them with strategies and they wouldn't make any plans of their own. But now I am able to see the work of the congregations who run men's meetings and make plans for the congregational growth. They realize by now that they'll need additional ministers, preachers, Sunday school and ladies' class teachers. When they send off their Christians to be our students, they pray for the person and hope to receive a prepared servant in the end.

   In September the first year students had the following courses: How did we get the Bible? (taught by Dennis Sopelnik), Homiletics I (by Stanislav Kuropyatnikov), The Plan of Salvation (Jim Sherman). The second year students had Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Denton Landon), Minor Prophets II (Andrew Zhuravlev), The Period between the Testaments (Dennis Sopelnik). We are very thankful to God and all the brethren who help us in our work. Thus, Jim Sherman tries and comes to Ukraine twice a year to teach in our Institute. He's started this ministry from the first year of our program when the Instituted was first opened. Next year we will reach 20th year of our cooperation. His work in Ukraine is an encouraging example for us.

    In the middle of September two of our students Yuri Romanov and Alexey Mitskutis took part in an evangelical campaign in Kharkov. Almost the whole week they've been giving out booklets, visiting schools, hospitals and other public places. As the result of this effort some new visitors attended a seminar on "Non-denominational Christianity". Currently a similar evangelical effort is taking place in the city of Chernivtsi and Alexey went there with his family.

   I am very happy to share with you that one of our graduates Sergei Pavlenkov is doing internship with Poltava Church of Christ at present. This congregation had a difficult past and a few months ago they lost their last preacher. They decided to contact us and ask for help. We recommended our 2016 graduate Sergei and his wife Lyudmila. They moved there and placed membership with that congregation where Sergei is hoping to preach the Word of God. His ministry is in need of financial aid and if you have any suggestions or ideas please contact me.

 Also at the time being the establishment of a new congregation in the city of Kremenchug is under discussion.  Our graduate and my right hand Alexey Mitskutis would like to take an active part in this work.  His family is ready to move to that city and start the work there.  Right now they are making all the necessary preparations and are working on creating a team for this ministry. So as you can see the Lord still gives us grace despite of all the difficulties. With His blessings we are trying to move forward and spread the Gospel all over Ukraine.

Everything is well with Bela Tserkva Church of Christ. Our students are the wonderful addition to the local congregation and it looks like we will have to buy another set of chairs to be able to accommodate everybody. A few Sundays ago after the services we all had an outdoor picnic with our spiritual family. 

The Sunday school is growing as well. Every Sunday we have 10+ children. And we hope the numbers will increase. It's such a joy to see that children come specifically to study the Bible (not English and not to be entertained).

All students and instructors send you their greetings and thanks for your help and support. We still need your prayers for our country that is still at war.

Your brother,

Dennis Sopelnik, the Director of the Bible Institute.

To see the pictures that accompany this report, please click HERE 

KSOP begins a new batch with a full class!

Dear brethren, 

Greetings to you from the Kenya School of Preaching, Kisumu. 

The long awaited gamma class is has arrived and all 20 students are in school and settling to new environment, food, and life. 

The classes began well on October 3rd, Elias is teaching Genesis and Synoptic gospel. Bernard Kagaga will teach the New Testament Church while I am teaching the book of Acts, Homiletics 1 and English 1.

We have made changes in the school to create room for the library which is growing steadily. The changes have seen the dean and the secretary pushed to smaller space, but all is in the interest of giving quality training first priority. 

During the four years, 37 men have been sent into the Lord's field. Every class has been in the fore front of helping us effect good changes that keep making the school better. 

We trust this class will be better than the previous ones in class and evangelism. 

We also pray that this group will be involved in one gospel campaign at least once a year and help evangelize the local congregations every quarter to learn and gain experience. 

John Kimani who graduated this year August is already showing why the preaching is worth the sacrifices being made by generous brethren. Two weeks ago he planted a new church in Nyahururu town with 6 souls obeying the gospel. 

Paul Karisa sent me a text message thanking the school for the training which has enabled him to have bible studies with Muslims in Mombasa. 

Jeremiah Bor and two other former students Sammy and Kiplangat who also graduated in August helped to restore three churches to true worship. They are still pursuing other liberal churches in the hilly region of Rift Valley. 

Joseph Omondi, who graduated in the first class led a gospel campaign and reported five baptisms in the congregation where he is the preacher. 

Such exciting reports helps to add me gas to keep on keeping on. 

Lastly I thank the leadership of Tanzania Leadership Conference for the honor to speak at the conference on two assigned topics. 

It was great being with Keith Karsajian and having a chat with the very man who helped establish KSOP. 

It's an honor and great working with you. Keep my family in your prayers 

Brotherly Love, 

Charles Ogutu

The latest from Ukraine

The school in Ukraine continues to do its best, despite trying circumstances. The latest progress report (with pictures) can be seen HERE. 

Students prepare for a campaign in Cameroon

Dearest in Christ,

       Greetings from Cameroon, especially Wotutu, which is the seat of wisdom for Bear Valley Bible institute of Wotutu. I am sure this report will find you doing great in health and the work entrusted in your hands.

      As I write this report all students and staff of BVBIC-Wotutu are back on campus ready for the last but one quarter to graduation. The students who were in 21 different locations doing house to house evangelism, nurturing, and reviving congregations. They came back from those places with good reports from congregations, even though some came back with ailments. Keep praying for our students to be fine as they are rounding up their stay in school and as congregations are eager to get them all for themselves after graduation.

PLANS

       We are planning to meet up with all the graduates of our Bible college as they will congregate in Limbe congregation for evangelism - we shall be part of it with our current students. Pray for the work and safe travels.

APPRECIATIONS

      We continue to use our mouth to say thank you. Thank you very much for the love shown to us and also for your prayers and support for the work going here. If not of you we doubt how possible the work would have been.God bless you and keep you strong.

God bless you.

Elangwe and family

By His grace BVBIC-Wotutu

"The students went to the hinter lands..."

Greetings my Beloved,

        It is by the Grace of God that we are joyful to extend our warm salutation this weekend from Mbanga in the Littoral region of our peaceful country, Cameroon, found in Central Africa.

      To begin this weekly journal,it is great to say that our week was blessed with a lot of physical and spiritual blessings.

    We resumed classes last Monday, which was the 26th of September and all the students were present in class and everything went on hitch-free.The students were happy to meet with each other after a separation of about 3 weeks and were able to share their reports with the Director.

      The students went so far to the hinter lands were there was little or no network communication, but we thank God that the people in that area could hear the Word in these last days. God blessed some congregations were souls were recorded like in NSanke,Tiem and Mujuka Peage. All these assemblies are found in the Littoral. We could not have the pictures because they don't have phones with cameras but we pray for these souls to grow in Christianity.

            This week also had some evangelism campaign in a village call Ngongo Bakundu and I was there for two days due to my tied schedule. God already blessed with 4 SOULS.

              The Church in Mbanga is growing in membership and we are doing our best to train the sisters, most especially the wives of the students, so as to be able to help their husbands in field after their training.

            Up Coming events:  The will be the BVBIC ALUMNI EVANGELISTIC MISSION TEAM come Thursday 6-9 of September at Limbe and all our students are going to be there because evangelism is our Mission and our Mission is evangelism.

     The sisters will be traveling to Douala for another evangelism mission trip which concerns only the sisters. Evangelism has no Geographical boundaries.

We still be brethren. My regards to that big family of God.

Your brother,

Ititi

Classes resume in northern Ghana

Bear Valley Bible Institute, Ghana, Tamale

Monthly Report September

Thank God, so soon we are one month old in office of duty at Bear Valley Bible Institute, Tamale, Ghana. Kojo Acquah Beenyi, Ambassador, Francis Ayeni, Co-ordinator and Alex Jabado, Administrative Assistant.

School Resumes: The school was re-opened on September 19, 2016 and all the seven (7) students have reported. They are doing Homiletics II and is being taught by Alex Jabado.

General Cleaning: As the school vacated for four weeks, the compound became bushy and untidy so we organized a clean-up exercise to clear and clean the weeds and the compound. That is now planned to be a weekly affair to keep the environment clean.

Follow-up on past students: Francis and Alex visited two past students, Timothy at Yendi and Samuel at Tatali. We planned to visit Philip at Sabzugu but the river was full and we could not cross over. We also visited Ishmael who is a preacher at Kontobiyeli nearer to Sabzugu. Ishmael is not a past student but we plan to get all preachers involved in the ‘sweet fellowship’. We also did some campaigns to get new students for the school and we were assured of two.

Letter: A letter was received from the ladies requesting for the use of the school facility for lectureship from October 27 to 30, 2016. The school will be on vacation at that time and we have given them the go ahead to use the place which according to them, it will help them both spiritually and physically.

Self Help: Two trees are fallen at the compound, one was sold as firewood and the money was used to buy two coal pots of which the students can use for several months and also two bags of charcoal. 

First Meeting: The three new administrators met on the following needs and concerns of the school became known.

1. The school needs 3 more cutlasses and 10 hoes
2. There is leakage in the administration building and it is coming from the roofing.
3. In the kitchen, rain water comes into the room because there are no louvers.
4. Also the students’ beds need repairs and that some cannot by themselves stand while others can now house only one person instead of two.
5. The Cupboards or the wardrobes has the lockers not working, some also has the doors detached. 
6. Some of the windows also need ‘stoppers’ so that the rain do not flow in as it being the case when it rains.
7. The bathroom walls need tiles or the walls and the foundation will be weakened.
8. One of the toilets is out of use and the others need repairs. Right now Alex has bought items so they can be fixed. The total amount is 475 cedis, 50 pesewas. This is being done right now because it borders on health. 
9. Wall coming down. Portion of the wall at the north side of the property is coming down as a result of the strong storm that took part of the roof off. Surely it will fall off someday, which mean it needs attention. 

May the Good Lord continue to bless us all.

Studies and restorations in Nigeria

Beloved in Christ ,

Greetings from staff and students of Bear Valley Bible Institute of Nigeria & Southwest School of Evangelism, Ibadan.

WEEKEND EVANGELISM AT ASEJIRE, OSUN STATE: Three of our students continue working with Bro.Kayode Eniafe in Asejire,Osun state since the beginning of this session. This weekend of September 23 through 25,they continue their Bible Discussion with some group of denominational pastors and teachers in Ikoyi area of Osun state.

On Sunday, September 25, Bro. Akilapa Timilehin led the church in songs and also admonished them from Romans 8 while Bro.Samuel Effiong taught on Abiding in Christ's Doctrine. Bro.Kayode Solomon and Bro.Johnson Godwin joined them in the middle of sermon because of their engagement with a denominational church in Asejire that requested from them to be teaching their Sunday school class on every Sunday .

ONIKOKORO /GBONGUDU CONGREGATION: Bro.Makinde Emmanuel led the church in songs on Sunday of September 25. I taught the women, Bro.Lawrence Dada taught the men class while Bro.Godwin Ofem taught the young converts/visitors class on OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THOSE IN AUTHORITY . We are 58 in attendance with total contribution of N3,075.

EGBEDA OUTREACH: The students and staff of BVBIN & SWSE,Ibadan and one of our graduates & a WBSFUW, Bro.Dele Shotola arrived Egbeda town in the school van and a public bus on Friday through Saturday evening.

We evangelised Egbeda town and environs on Friday evening and Saturday morning between 9:30am and 2:30pm while Friday night and Saturday evening was used for open-air Bible Lectureship. I, Bro.Makinde Ebens spoke on Sin & it's Effects on Friday night while Bro. Kayode Eniafe spoke on Heaven or Hell---Where will you spend your eternity? and the host minister, who is also one of our present students, Bro.Samson Akintunde served as moderator.

To God be the glory, two souls was restored during the 2 days program with many prospects and I will be worshipping with the Egbeda congregation Lord's willing tomorrow with two of our students.

Brethren ,we thank you all for your partnership and moral and financial supports.

May The Lord of blessing continue to bless all our work together in Jesus Christ name,amen.

Sincerely His & yours.... Makinde E.Olufemi, Ibadan, Nigeria

55 baptisms in the first campaign in Liberia!

The new school in Liberia has now finished it's first campaign and it was a resounding success! You can read the full report and see the pictures by clicking HERE

An update from Accra, Ghana

SOUTHERN INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES

(BEAR VALLEY EXTENSION PROGRAMME)

APPRECIATION

We are so much grateful to the Lord God for the guidance and blessings that He continues to offer us. So also, on behalf the director of the school, the entire teachers, students and other workers, I wish to express our profound gratitude to our sponsors for the wonderful contributions from them to the school. 

SCHOOL ON HOLIDAYS

The regular students are on holidays as from 18th September to 8th October. However, classes for the week end students is still in progress. Entire instructors were on post and gracefully performed their duties as such. 

That brings to the end of the third quarter for the first year of the regular students. One more quarter to end the first year. The next quarter begins as from 10th. October 2016. Hopefully, to end on the December 18. 

CAMPAIGN

During the period, and before school broke for the holidays, the regular students joined a group of preachers to engage in a week along house to house evangelism at Sarpeiman township; few miles away from campus. Information reaching administration indicated that a soul was baptized and added to the Lord's church over there. 

Students continued to visit sister churches in and around Dobro on every Sunday as part of their training. Information gathered shown that our students were doing well in all assignments given to them. Some of them were invited over to teach Bible Classes during the week days. 

Compiled by 

Emmanuel Amoo-Gyimah.

A new radio program is reaching 400K

The Kingdom Expand…

“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believe? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” [Roman 10:14 NASB]. In my Bible meditation I often like to stop and take a moment to think about this verse. As I meditate, I often think, we have many opportunities in the present time to make the truth known to everyone. Many precious souls are dying without being saved. It is time to wake up preachers, Christians ,and church leaders to use whatever is available to us to proclaim the Gospel of Christ.

We thank God for every opportunity that the Lord has blessed us with here at Andrew Connally School of Preaching with regards to preaching the gospel. Each week we receive incredible reports from our students who are going to evangelize in the nearby congregation as part of their curriculum while in school. This weeks report shows that two souls have obeyed the Gospel through baptism and have been added to the church. The students still have many bible classes to teach in the coming weeks. One of the greatest things about people in the community here is that no one will run you away if you want to study the Bible with them. 

Arusha Church of Christ

Our radio program each Saturday continues to bear much fruit. Since Sunrise Radio is the second most popular radio station in town, it reaches about 400,000 people in three regions. Many have the opportunity to hear the saving gospel message of Christ through this program. Those that call in are connected with preachers in their respective areas for more Bible studies. Answering questions on a live program has never been easy; it takes lots of wisdom and Bible knowledge. So far three people have obeyed the Gospel through this method, and many Bible classes are under way. We are so grateful for the faithful members of the church who contribute financially to make this program successful. 

Please continue to pray for our evangelistic effort as we bring many to Christ.

In Christian Love,

Godfrey Mngoma

Dean of Students - Andrew Connally School of Preaching

A Bear Valley Bible Institute International extension school

Arusha, Tanzania

Bible studies in Arusha

To see a short report from Mason and Haley Norman in Tanzania, click HERE

Students and alumni gather in Nepal

Respected one,

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.

We are happy and eager to share about our report to everyone who are loving us.

Lectureship was finished.

We have finished our lectureship from 13-16 of September 2016. We had studied from book of Ezra and Nehemiah. We had invited our formal graduated students and preachers. 70 people were participated in our class. Some of our preachers, teachers and graduated students were presented lessons.  It was really encouraging.

Holiday begins.

We will begin our five weeks of long holiday from 30th of September.  We will begin our class from 7th of November of 2016.

Youth camp.

We are conducting youth camp once in a year at the month of October when all the schools will be closed because of national holiday. Our youth camp will be from 8-12 of October, 2016. We have invited youth between the age of 15-25. We will study from book of Daniel. Please kindly remember us in your prayer.

Thank you.

Brother in Christ

Gajendra Deshar

In French-speaking Cameroon, "evangelism is our business!"

Greetings fellow workers of the Lords vineyard.

    We are happy to inform you about the our up coming events both in the church in our country and in our school of preaching. The sun is fast approaching, which marks the beginning of a new season and it is time for us to begin with serious evangelism, including open air evangelism with PA system, which usually takes place at night when most of the population is already back from daily activities.

      Our students are still out for their end of quartercampaign and this marks the beginning of 6 days of rest after spending some time in congregations doing nurturing and with some amount of door to door evangelism, which is still at times very fruitful at the end of the day. Our classes will resume on the 26th of this month and this is the beginning of the 3rd quarter in the second year. 

    Evangelism is our business!  Attached are some pictures from the Mbanga prison ministry, where we went some time ago to hand over to the inmates and members of the church in prison some gifts of different qualities such as benches, a table to be used for church activities, and also some mattresses. These were gladly welcomed and received by the assistant superintendent of the prison. Thanks to all of our participants.

Remain blessed.

Your brother, Ititi

BVBI-Mbanga, Cameroon  

Campaign results in prospects in nigeria

Beloved in Christ , 

Greetings from your fellow soldiers of Master Jesus, in obedience to the order of our Commander-in-Chief, Jesus Christ in Matt.28:19-20. The students and staff of BVBIN & SWSE,Ibadan continue in their evangelistic mission to Butubutu and environs and Asejire, Osun state. We divided ourselves into two groups; the first group was led by our campus minister, Bro.Abraham Idu Yeje to evangelized Butubutu, Eletu and, Oniyangi villages while Bro. Kayode Solomon Eniafe led the second group and I pilot the group to evangelized Asejire town, Osun state on Saturday 17th of September 2016.

During our outreach in Asejire, we met a group of denominational members who are receptive to the gospel of Christ and they wish we should make our discussion a weekly program .

COMING EVENTS: All arrangements for the planting of The Lord's church near Jago have been completed. We were there yesterday evening to clear a plot of land for the construction of a small wooden meeting place which will cost us about N170,000= and on October 7 the gospel meeting aim at planting of the Lord's church will commenced and the first worship will be conducted on October 9,2016.

Also, we shall be working with The Lord's church at Egbeda in a three day gospel meeting commencing on September 30 through October 2,2016 Lord's willing .

We thank you all for your partnership and love. May The Lord of blessing continue to bless our work together in Jesus Christ name, amen.

Your fellow soldier of Christ ,

Makinde E.Olufemi(Director of studies)

BVBIN & SWSE,Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Wotutu Director visits the U.S.

Dearest in Christ,

         Greetings from this part of the globe. It is amazing to be home after spending about 18 days in the USA. I was there to visit elders of the overseeing congregation and supporters of the work in Cameroon. I was welcomed by many and I shared quality time with good Christians. It was a lifetime opportunity for me to meet people and it was an opportunity to match names with face physically. Thanks very much for all your prayers to my family while I was there and the entire congregation.

   I landed in Minnesota to meet with the STC congregation. From there to Iowa to be part of a family reunion; to Denver to meet with the Bear valley Bible Institute International; to Nashville to meet with the Hillsboro congregation (who oversee the Brightland Christian Orphanage); and then to Schrader Lane congregation during their evening worship to preach and make a presentation about my work in Cameroon. Then finally went to Dallas where I was able to teach a gospel meeting in Pattonville congregation , preached and taught in Pattonville.

From there I was on my way from Dallasto Minneapolis St. Paul Airport transit to Charlesde Gaulle airport in Paris and then last flight to Douala Cameroon where I met my lovely family waiting for me. It was pretty to be home, even though I enjoyed my fellowship with many brethren there. Thanks for your prayers and for being good to me while I was with you.

Your brother,

Elangwe

Encouragement from Togo

Willie Gley, the Director of the Bear Valley extension in Togo, has filed an encouraging report. They are reaching out to their community and country in a big way! 

Read Willie's report and see the accompanying pictures by clicking HERE

Excellent news from Arusha

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:3). Since our Lord desires everyone to come to the knowledge of the truth, He uses men to teach and reach those who have not yet heard. It is so important to fulfill this task, If we are not going to do this, the blood of those who have not heard it, and were close to us, will be required in our hands (Ezekiel 3). He wants us to always go out and teach those who are lost in sin (Matthew 28:18-20) and if we do that for sure, He will give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6).

Knowing the importance of this matter, the ACSOP has been sending out students every Saturdays and Sundays. Our students have been working with congregations around the Arusha area and two at the Tanzania, Kenya border. Just in these two first weeks of September our students have been able to conduct 50 Bible classes, had 2 baptism and 4 restorations. Our God is good all the time. He can do mighty things if we trust and obey. 

During this sending, the school is providing students with bus – fare and food while they are out there. “How will they preach unless they are sent?”(Romans 10:15)

 This has been possible through “Cheerful Givers” (2 Corinthians 9:6) like you. We thank you so much for partnering with us in training these faithful men to go out and reach many souls which you and I may have never been able to reach. 

May the Lord of peace bless you beyond measures.

Our third quarter has ended this last week, We thank God for our brother Jonathan Page and Desdery Massawe who will be teaching short courses this coming two weeks.

We continue to solicit your prayers on behalf of our brother and fellow worker, Cy Stafford who is still sick.

To Him be all the glory both now and forever.

Your servant in His Kingdom,

Charles Mwanga

Director,

Andrew Connally School of Preaching.