Students in Abia State, Nigeria, Resume Classes

REPORT OF THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND THEOLOGICAL STUDIES/ BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE – NIGERIA

NTIGHA- ONITCHA

AUGUST 2025

INTRODUCTION

The month of August was a month of preparation, rearrangements, and getting acquainted with the new students and the environment. We are just thankful to God for the new entrants. We are also thankful that the old students returned to school safe and sound. As we reflect on the gains of the past month, we pray for grace through the new month. There is much to do and there is work on every hand.

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

On the 15th of August, the instructors held a management meeting to enable the school to navigate the new semester. Courses were allocated and the calendar for the new session drawn. The lecturers have since started classes, and the new students are excited. The students are introduced to outlining books and term paper research. The new students are getting used to the environment fondly called “The Valley of Strong Men.” We are grateful for all the support that has kept the school as a going concern.

RESUMPTION

The school vacated on the 25th of July. The student went home for the short holidays. On the 12th of August 2025, the students returned to school. It was exciting to watch the older students return. Some of them have been elevated to the student leadership. This was done to prepare them for the incoming students. As of the time of this report, there are twelve new students. They are very excited to be here and we give thanks to the Almighty God for the new intake. There is expectation that more students will come in before the close of admission. Please keep us in your prayers. It is thrilling to report the first female student ever in the history of NIATS/BEAR VALLEY resumed this session in the person of Miss Hope Teikere. She completed the senior school certificate examination at an early age. She could not proceed to the university immediately. She opted to study the Bible while waiting to attain the relevant age.

LIBRARY

The library continues to grow. The Director bought some books on “Preacher Training and Church Growth.” Another set on the “American Ancestry of the Churches of Christ.” The largest set came from Chad Wagner. The books include volumes of “Truth for Today” and copies of Kerry Duke’s works. We are thankful for the books so far secured. Gradually, the library materials will be up to date. The interesting thing is these books are current works. It is becoming easier for the students to write with new books on the shelf. They make their photocopies and print them in the library. However, more computers are needed to enable the students to type their works by themselves. This can help them learn how to use the digital library, too.

RENOVATION

It was thrilling to have Chad Wagner visit NIATS on the 12th. We went around the school and assessed the level of things. It was clear that the hostel needs some painting and renovation. This is to enable the students to have more comfortable accommodation. The funds provided by Chad have since been put to use. Some old windows have been removed and new ones fitted. This is to keep mosquitoes away so that the students will not come down with malaria. There are also plans to secure a new borehole and get treated water for drinking. Where the rest of the windows are fitted, and the water is treated, then the students will rarely fall sick. The students are getting a level of comfort and the community is happy about it. Though there’s much to be done still, we are grateful for the step in the right direction.

CONCLUSION

We give God all the glory for another opportunity to fulfil the ministry. We are also thankful for the support from the Bear Valley family, Chad Wagner, and other congregations and individuals supporting the school. We shall continue to work hard and grow the school. Your prayers are highly coveted as we begin the new semester.

SOLOMON I. USIM

DIRECTOR (NIATS)

Students in Taraba State prepares for a Campaign for Christ

Dear beloved in Christ Jesus, I am once again privileged to write to you about what the Lord is doing through the Bear Valley school in Taraba. The school over here has been instrumental to the planting, growth, and development of the Lord's churches in Taraba and its environs. We are working with local churches in advancing the work of the kingdom here on Earth.

The radio program is exposing a lot of errors in the denominational world. Our recently introduced prison evangelism has added a vibe to that. We did not also relent in our traditional door to door knocking evangelism. From the month of June to August, we have conducted 38 Bible studies involving 82 persons, and even though no baptism was recorded, 18 of our prospects are visiting nearby congregations during Sunday worship or weekly Bible class. "Pastor” Bether Kwetishe and her family continue to worship with us. 

Recently, we conducted 2 days of indoor lectureship in Takum, and the dying church there was revived. In Sunkani, where our instructor conducts worship every Sunday, Mr. Mathias Mongokevina, a trained preacher who was disfellowship in 2007, repented and commerce worshiping with the church. 

Class activity: I took the students on the wonderful and comprehensive book of James, OT History 2 (Joshua to  Judges). OT lit. 2 was taught by David Ayuba. 

Note: our first graduation exercise and annual lectureship is scheduled for 29th to 31st January, 2026.

One week campaign for Christ is scheduled for next month (October) to be hosted by the Church of Christ mission quarters Wukari. 

We covet your prayers for the success of the program.

Thank you. 

Yours in Christ, 

Madaki I. Elkanah

Practical experience in Nhowe, Zimbabwe

Quarterly Report 

BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE – NHOWE MISSION

May - August 2025

Preamble 

This quarter has been a period of remarkable spiritual growth, academic achievement, and tangible community impact for the Bear Valley Bible Institute - Nhowe. Our students have transitioned from being solely learners to becoming active ministers, embodying the core mission of our institute. The highlights of this quarter include the significant and dedicated service of our students at the Nhowe Mission, their proactive engagement in hospital ministry and national church gatherings, and the successful completion of a rigorous academic module. Heaven also rejoice on the salvation of four souls. This report outlines these achievements, made possible through the unwavering support of our partners.

I. Ministry and Outreach Highlights

The practical ministry component of our curriculum has seen exceptional participation this quarter, demonstrating our students' commitment to serving as the hands and feet of Christ.

1. Service at Nhowe Mission: Our students have been instrumental in supporting the daily operations of the Nhowe Mission. Their most significant contribution has been in the spiritual education of the younger generation. They consistently provide daily Bible lessons to students attending both the primary and high schools within the mission, planting seeds of faith that will yield a harvest for years to come.

2. Hospital Visitation and Personal Ministry: Embracing the call to serve the suffering, our students have regularly engaged in hospital visitation. This ministry of presence and prayer has provided immense comfort to patients and their families. Furthermore, the discipline of morning devotions has strengthened their personal walk with God, which in turn fuels compassionate personal encounters and one-on-one discipleship throughout the community.

3. Zonal and National Church Participation: Our students have not only attended but have actively participated in zonal gatherings, contributing through preaching, leading singing, and facilitating discussions. Their involvement culminated in a strong presence at the annual national gathering of churches, where they served, networked with other brethren, and gained a broader perspective of the Lord’s work across the nation.

II. Academic Progress and Curriculum Development

The academic rigor at BVBI-Nhowe remains a top priority, ensuring our students are thoroughly equipped with knowledge and truth. Courses Completed: This quarter, we successfully concluded a demanding slate of courses designed to build a well-rounded minister. The completed courses include:

1. Worship: A study on the biblical principles of authentic worship.

2. Thessalonian Epistles: An exegetical deep dive into Paul's letters to the church in Thessalonica.

3. Teacher Training: Equipping students with effective methodologies for biblical instruction.

4. Wisdom Literature: An exploration of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.

5. Evangelism Practicum: Theoretical knowledge from the classroom was directly applied through organized evangelism efforts. Students participated in local outreach campaigns as a core part of their practicum, putting their Teacher Training and evangelism courses into action and seeing first-hand the power of the Gospel to change lives. With these efforts, Four souls have been saved!

Conclusion: Gratitude and Forward Vision

The progress documented in this report would not be possible without the foundational support of our partners. We wish to express our deepest and most sincere appreciation to Bear Valley Bible Institute International. Your steadfast financial support, faithful guidance, and unwavering belief in our mission provide the framework upon which this work is built. You are essential partners in this strategic gospel enterprise. Thank you for investing in the future of the church in Zimbabwe and across Africa.

We also extend our profound gratitude to all the individuals and congregations who support this work through their prayers and contributions. Your partnership is a constant source of encouragement.

Looking ahead, our future plans remain focused on our core objective: to see every student graduate fully equipped for effective ministry. We will continue to provide a balanced curriculum of deep theological study and hands-on practical ministry, preparing faithful men and women to plant sound churches, lead existing congregations, and preach the Word of God with clarity and conviction. We are confident that with your continued support, the best is yet to come.

Making a difference in Lesotho

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Two courses were taught in the last two months. 13 souls were baptised. More than 1000 WBS introductory lessons were distributed. Youth are putting into practice what they are learning from the class. BVBI instructors attended the men’s retreat.

In the last two months, Elder Vincent Shata taught the book of Galatians. Students were interested in learning more about the old and new laws, which led the instructor to extend the course to six weeks. In August, Deacon Robert Likhang taught Christian Ethics, where he emphasised spiritual intelligence, emotional intelligence, and social intelligence.

The students, former students, and instructors are doing well in evangelism, which has resulted in 13 baptisms in the last two months. Four of the people who were baptised are from Ladybrand, a baby congregation that is being taken care of by the students. The students are using the Gospel Share Mission tools for evangelism. One of the outstanding tools the school has adopted is the relational map, where Christians are encouraged to share the gospel with their colleagues, friends, relatives, and neighbours.

The school is also using the World Bible School materials for evangelism. Students go to schools, government offices, and colleges to distribute the lessons. About 1000 WBS lessons were issued in the last two months. More than half of these lessons were given at Tsakholo High School, one of the best schools in Lesotho.

One of the students, Khauhelo Khetla, organised the youth and visited aged Christians who are no longer coming to church because of age and other age-related challenges. They helped aged Christians with house chores, digging their gardens, and cleaning their yards. The school is grateful for how these young people are making a difference in society.

BVBI Maseru/Bloemfontein instructors, Elder Vincent Shata, Elder Likhama Leuta, and Tawanda Mwadiya attended a men’s retreat in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in August. The theme was the State of the Church Address, where the topics focused on the challenges the Church is facing in this changing world.

The school is still moving in the right direction of training preachers who are doctrinally sound, eager to evangelise and make a great impact in society. 

God bless you

In His arms,

Tawanda Mwadiya

Assistant church Minister

Christian Counsellor

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 labor in the vineyard in Kisumu, Kenya

Dear brethren, 

It is with with great appreciation and much thanksgiving that I write this email.  The Lord has been gracious enough to us when we began the quarter till we had come to the end of it on August 29th, 2025 for September break. The school will resume classes on October 6th, 2025.

Before the break, the students had served 10 congregations in various places. Four of them had, (in two Sundays in a month), served Ndwara church of Christ and baptized three (3) souls into Christ. The local preacher at Ndwara (being untrained), had requested the school to  send students to help him do services. Another student, Daniel Rono, had baptized two (2) souls at Angaset congregation.

Shawn Taylor, the one who has  committed himself to plant, at least, in each year, a new congregation, took with himself 9 students to Bungoma county, Western Kenya. They went there, preached at a funeral of a beloved Christian, distributed Christian literature to the mourners on a Saturday and served congregations on a Sunday. That group of ten, on that Sunday, divided themselves into 3 and served 6 local congregations of the Lord's church in Bungoma. Three, preached to a cluster of 4 congregations at Kamkuywa. Four remained at Lubokha church of Christ while three worshipped/served in the Kamenjo assembly. Two souls were baptised after Sunday services. At Lieta Gospel meeting, three souls were baptized. A total of ten baptisms have been conducted.

We had Michael Reese and Peter Ray Cole teach two short courses: The Gospel According to John together with Marriage and Family. Charles, Phabian and I taught five regular courses that remained. 

Thanks so much brethren, keep on praying for the newly baptized souls and KSOP as we do the same for you.

May the Almighty God continue to bless you all,

Your brother and servant

Elias.

South Sudan school stays strong despite obstacles

Greeting brothers and sisters, we hope this email finds you well.

Wellbeing and Health 

We the staff, teachers and students are fine. One of our students had an operation a few days ago due to appendix. Please put him in your prayers.  We currently have 12 students.

Evangelism 

The students are doing efforts attending and participating at the congregations. Helping in activities at Sunday service.

Baptism 

No one yet baptized via their evangelism.

Challenges 

Sicknesses such as malaria and typhoid are rampant during this two months. We pray that all will be well and healthy.

Additional Effort by administration 

We have managed from our budget from previous months to keep a little which helps contribute to the buying of 20 t-shirts for staff and staffs (see the attached picture).

 Thank you once again and may God bless us all to continue doing His well.

Your brother in Christ 

Jacob Ajak 

Director- SSSOP Bear Valley Extension 

Thinking souls in Malawi

Bear Valley Bible lnstitute, 

Ekwendeni - Malawi 

Hello everyone!

Hope this finds you all well! Bear Valley Bible lnstitute Ekwendeni Malawi has good news for the month of August. Once again, our students went out for their second preaching campaign this year, and now it was at the Bulala Euthini area of the Mzimba district. The outcome was encouraging - seven souls saved and six more restored! Praise God 👏. 

 Teaching

We were happy to have brother Edward Mbeta a Bear Valley graduate with a Masters degree come teach short courses on Hermeneutics and Synoptic Gospels, respectively. The students enjoyed having him. We are always grateful to see new faces come to help us teach.

 Evangelism

Bulala is the congregation, which was established in 2010 by Ephron Mbano and didn't hesitate to accept their invitation for the school to go help them preach and teach door-to-door. The campaign started on the 28th to 30th August. The students managed to reach out to about 273 people, of whom 7 were saved through baptism and 6 more restored. On the 31st of August, which was Sunday, we had a successful worship, which was attended by 113 people. We thank God for everything!

We hope more souls will be baptized in due course . The seed (word of God) has been planted in many of them, and we are waiting to start germinating soon!

 Appreciation

We also want to also appreciate the company of our former graduates; Takesure, Mateyo, Fredrick, Yobu, Wongani, and Saul. They really helped us greatly. 

We are always thankful to the BV International and the Hillcrest church for the support. This makes our work of teaching and preaching successful. God continues to bless you all!

 Eternity Is Forever, Think Souls!

Ephron and Clergynton.

Baptisms and Restorations in Zambia

AUGUST 2025

Report

INTRODUCTION

The month of August has been a month in which most of our mission work has been practiced. We keep on praising Yahweh for the work He have allowed us to perform in His Vineyard, we have been able to do the mission work in four districts namely Kitwe, Ndola, Mpongwe and Chipata district of Eastern province.

Our Alumni also have been able to coordinate work in southern, Northern and Copperbelt province respectively.

Our Mission in Kitwe district

We are so happy to report on the meeting which was held in Kitwe with the youths on the Copperbelt province. The meeting was intended to attract the youths and especially on the Copperbelt churches of Christ. The meeting was also used to sensitize the existence of Bear Valley Bible Institute in Zambia. The meeting was held under the theme “Overcoming modern challenges of youths.” Brother Cephas Mwamba opened the meeting on the theme: this included definition of key terms in the theme such as overcoming, challenges etc. he also gave examples of challenges faced by youths, what the Bible says about these challenges and concluded with keys to overcoming them.

Brother Fred Kanangu came second and taught on “overcoming compromise” the meeting was held for three days and we were hosted by the church of Christ at Central in Kitwe. We had six hundred and thirteen (613) youths in attendance all from within the same province.

We recorded twenty eight restorations (28) and 3 baptisms; we know that with more resources available we intend to be having these revival meetings with the youths annually. Eleven congregations were represented within the Copperbelt. We should report that the meeting was very successful.

Our mission in Mpongwe district

We had the opportunity to visit and do our missions work for our Lord in Mpongwe district, Mpongwe District is a rural area on the Copperbelt and is mostly dominated by traditional leaders. We have about 5 traditional chiefdoms in the same district with a population ranging between two hundred thousand (200,000) to three hundred and fifty thousands (350,000) according to 2021-2022 census report. The district is also known by denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Seventh Day Adventist Church and Watch Tower movement (Jehovah’s witnesses) just to name the dominant ones in the area. But we have managed to teach the gospel and most people are becoming receptive and being converted

We have planted only three congregations with the members ranging from 35 – 80. Our mission is to establish more congregations in order to defuse the false teaching by these denominations. For two days we were in this area and had a good meeting. We also attended a funeral of one member who passed on and our current student body did a recommendable work until we buried and the fame of the church became widely known. We recorded one baptism only.

Eastern province mission

For the second time this year women on the Copperbelt province met at BVBI-Zambia. The purpose was to encourage them to keep the faith and unity. Older women advised the younger women in keeping the faith and to have good conduct as stated in Titus 2:4. Brother Fred Kanangu opened the meeting and preached on unity. At first we had such meeting with the youths in the same capacity and now women; we are meeting with men in the month of August at Churches of Christ in Mikomfwa.

Our Alumni work in His vineyard

We received good tiding from northern province were three of our former students worked together and restored sixteen souls that were taken by the teaching that when one uses multiple cups when partaking the Lord’s supper will go to hell. Though the leaders in Mpulungu district felt betrayed by this restoration, we believe it worked for the betterment of the souls being saved. We are so happy that Reuben Museka, Levy Silungwe and Ishmael Kanyangala worked together as a team.

With the same spirit of working together, in southern province we have Gershom Chansa, Daniel Kapata, Tryvin Siamachila collaborated together at the youth meeting that took place in Zimba at the congregation were Daniel is preaching, the results has been so impressive we recorded a restoration of thirty four (34) souls back to the ship-fold and fourteen (14) baptisms. The total youths who assembled were one thousand five hundred and fifteen (1515). The youths came from nine districts and represented fifty six congregations.    

Baptisms and restorations

We have recorded eighteen (18) baptisms in two provinces northern and southern; we have also recorded 4 converted souls on the copper belt of which one was recorded in Luanshya and three in Kitwe.   

 We have recorded a total number of seventy eight (78) restorations for the month of August.

Conclusion

May our God keep you for His service, thank you kindly to all who are helping in any way as we are preparing these men for the deep and meaningful task of preaching the Gospel
Special thanks go to Woodland Oaks Church of Christ for their continued financial support, Bear Valley Bible Institute International, as a big family, Instructors, Donnie our Country Coordinator and indeed everyone involved in this work.

In His service,

Cephas and Fred

Former Muslim training to be a gospel preacher in Sierra Leone

ACTIVITY OPERATION REPORT FOR AUGUST 2025

Full Time and the Extended (2) Programs

INTRODUCTION

We are here again with exciting updates for August 2025. These updates range from classroom activities, congregational strengthening lectureships, and evangelistic activities. It is encouraging to report that God continues to be our strong foundation in all the successes that we record as a Christian school family. And we continue to be reminded that your prayers, partnership and financial aid have been so helpful in our work here too; we can only all hope that our God accepts our works and be joined with Him to live in eternity when the time comes!

In August, we conducted a 4-day training seminar for Church leaders across Sierra Leone, some souls were converted, our students continued to be committed to all our activities within the school, our graduates and other evangelistic teams’ members continued to press on in their efforts to win souls for Christ and grow the congregations.  For more information and all these, please keep on reading as we begin by first looking at the students and academic updates.

STUDENTS AND ACADEMIC UPDATES

In our July report, we informed you that our final year full time students wrote their final exams for their sixth quarter and went on a two weeks break and were expected to resume classes by August 1, 2025. By the grace of God, all of them resumed except one (David Jabaty). They were thirteen in all but they are now twelve who will be graduating by early next year Lord willing. As for David who did not resume with his colleagues after successfully completing 6 quarters, he was distracted by one of his brothers who stayed in Mali to go in search of a greener pasture and a better economic life. He went without even telling us; all we received from him was a message through our Dean of Students that he was sorry for what he did and that it was his brother that convinced him to go.  Meanwhile, our 20 year one students continued to get themselves familiar with the new learning environment and all its activities. They are expected to complete their first quarter by the end of September, Lord willing. Moreover, our 10 part time students held on firmly with their academic and evangelistic activities. Nothing happened to any of them and gratefully, they are all intact. They rounded off their seventh quarter at the end of August and were to begin their eighth quarter by September. Lord willing, they will be graduating together with our full time final year students by early next year.

A SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP LECTURESHIP

The administration held a grand lectureship for preachers and church leaders across the country from August 7-10, 2025.  We had different categories of brethren (though the lectureship was meant for church leaders and preachers exclusively but since others came, we could not drive them away. It was even better that they came from different parts of Sierra Leone including church leaders, congregational preachers and their wives, youths, women leaders, alumni, and the current students of both our school and the Sunset school in Koindu. The theme for the lectureship was: Contemporary Challenges of the Church in Sierra Leone. There were three challenges that were discussed: a. The Challenge of Over-reliance on External Financial Support, b. The Challenge of Spiritual Apathy (Lukewarmness) among Members in the Church in Sierra Leone, c. The Challenge of Weak Leadership in the Sierra Leonean Churches of Christ. We had three brethren (Peter Sahr Makundu-the Bear Valley School Director, Mustapha Sahr Nouwah- one of the committed leaders at the Church in Bo and a regular visiting brother and intending instructor at the Bear Valley School, and Anthony Joseph Yillia- the Sunset School Director and instructor at Bear Valley) that handled the three topics presented above. The theme of the lectureship was analyzed by our Dean of Academics, Michael Sahr Triyoh. The activities of the lectureship included indoor lectures, field evangelism (even though we were affected by rains since it is the period of rainy season in Sierra Leone), symposium and group discussions, and fellowship. By the grace of God, the program ended successfully and some brethren who came from Freetown and some other parts of Sierra Leone requested that there be frequent such programs in the future. We bade farewell to one another and everyone left. May God be glorified for His work! 

EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS AND CONVERSION OF SOULS

Apart from the academic aspect of our existence, our regular evangelistic and field schedules are also what form the bases for our existence. Therefore, in August 2025, we continued to strengthen the weak congregations at Benduma, Mano Junction, Panguma, Daru, and Hangha. Also, as you know, our graduates are also not relenting in their involvement with their congregations and evangelism. The evangelistic teams also pressed in with their efforts. Here is the summary of conversions and restorations for the month of August 2025:

A.   The school had five conversions and two restorations.

B.   The alumni had ten conversions and five restorations.

C.   The evangelistic teams had five conversions.

D.   The total conversions were ten.

E.    The total restorations were seven.

AGRICULTURAL CONTRIBUTION

Every year at a certain period, we get involved in Agricultural practices like growing cassava, rice and groundnut. These activities help us to achieve two things: getting the proceeds from our farms and training the students with some farming skills to add to their biblical skills. In August, we went into farming our rice and everything went successful.

STUDENT’S PROFILE: Abdul Osman Kargbo

Abdul Osman Kargbo is one of our final year students in our full time program. He was born on the 29th August, 2002 at Maikonko, Magburaka, Tonkolili District northern Sierra Leone. He is the second child of his parents. His parents are Osman Kargbo and Mamusu Kargbo. Abdul is a Temne by tribe. In Sierra Leone, the Temnes, one of the largest tribes, are predominantly Muslims. This explains why Brother Abdul comes from a Muslim home and his conversion to Christianity was not an easy one (he still faces persecution from his family members for choosing to follow Christ). His parents and some of his siblings did all they could to stop him from being a Christian.

Eventually, in 2022, one of our graduates and a preacher at Ampiti congregation at Magburaka, Michael Fornah who died early this year, preached the Gospel to Abdul. The young man was convinced of the truth of the Gospel but was afraid of his parents, so he kept on postponing his conversion. He told his parents about his desire to be a Christian and was told that he would suffer great consequences like being disowned, being rejected, etc if he became a Christian. He became afraid and shared the information with Brother Michael. Brother Michael also became afraid especially when he was not financially buoyant to take the financial responsibilities of Abdul. The boy then kept on coming to Michael that he wanted to be baptized. So on one occasion, Brother Michael took the step to baptize him. Well he was not disowned at the end of the day but some support was withdrawn. After his conversion, Abdul was encouraged to come to study at Bear Valley, and we can say confidently that Brother Abdul is one of our very committed students that we have currently. He is so humble and hardworking that among his colleagues here, he is seen as a role model. He is the student president and the evangelistic coordinator for the students. We are very glad to have him with us. This is what Brother Abdul himself says:

I want to be a good evangelist of the word of God, establish congregations and be a professional teacher in the future. I also hope to marry a virtuous woman, and give birth to four kids, two boys and two girls.

With the need in the northern part of Sierra Leone currently for the spread of the Gospel, Abdul promises to be a great vessel for the Lord upon graduation. We can only continue to pray for his steadfastness as a young man.   

CONCLUSION

For reading this report to this point, we greatly appreciate you; for praying for us always, we continue to recognize and acknowledge your generosity. We are full of hope that the work we are doing now will be sustained and will stand the test of time. We are even more hopeful for much work to be done in the future. May the Lord keep us for Himself alone so we could meet again in September, 2025.

Your brother,

Peter Sahr Makundu,

Director,

Sierra Leone Bear Valley Bible Institute

25 baptisms in Gweru, Zimbabwe

AUGUST 2025 NARRATIVE REPORT

INTRODUCTION

August was a month of both excitement and challenge for the staff and students at BVBIZ. In the field, 25 souls were added to the church, with 6 restored to the faith. On campus, preparations were in full swing as the school proudly hosted the Men’s National Lectureship. Alongside this, regular activities continued successfully. The details below highlight the month’s key developments.

1.0 AUGUST CLASSES

The parallel class was at the BVBIZ campus in August. The main subjects under consideration were homiletics, Scheme of Redemption, New Testament Church, and How We Got the Bible. Homiletics is still ongoing. The second class focused on Research, Fundamentals of Faith, and Church Development. Some of these subjects will be completed during the weekend classes. One of the major highlights during their session, was a funeral that took place in the community. BVBIZ was tasked to handle the funeral. The students did the work professionally under the guidance of their tutor, bro. Kudakwashe Madyira.

2.0 NATIONAL MEN’S LECTURESHIP

From August 21st to 24th, BVBIZ had the honour of hosting the Men’s National Lectureship, welcoming nearly 300 attendees—our largest gathering to date. Despite our facilities still being under development, we were humbled by the willingness of participants to use the semi-finished facilities. For many, it was their first visit to BVBIZ, making the event a blessing for both the school and the attendees. Looking ahead, we envision hosting even larger lectureships if our infrastructure develops beyond its current level.

3.0 PROJECTS

Income generating projects continue to be a main component at BVBIZ. The main objectives of these projects are the exposition of students to life survival skills, provision of nutrition, and generation of an extra dollar to the school over and above what the school receives monthly. In this report, we focus on crop and cattle production

3.1 HORTICULTURE

The school’s two gardens and 2 greenhouses have the following crops; cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, butternuts, cucumber, cabbage, tomatoes, green pepper, peas, onions, and other vegetables. Previously, cabbage, tomatoes, and green mealies were top earners. However, bird and monkey invasions have forced us to scale down. Investing in additional greenhouses or shade nets could help us overcome this challenge and restore productivity.

3.2 CATTLE PROJECT

Our cattle herd now stands at five from three. Following the lectureship, the organizing committee generously donated a heifer to the school. Additionally, Bro. Wilbert Manyati (Class of 2024), passionate about this project, contributed $150 as a deposit, towards another heifer. Great appreciation goes to the organisers of the lectureship and bro. Manyati for boosting this project. Our goal is to reach seven heifers and one bull.

  4.0  FIELD UPDATES/INTENSHIP

Fieldwork remains a cornerstone of our training program, offering students hands-on experience under seasoned preachers. The students have been distributed in various areas. In August alone, 355 prospects were reached with the word. Of these, 25 souls were added to the church whilst 6 were restored back to the faith. 

5.0 MAY 2026 INTAKE AND INTERVIEWS

Recruitment for the May 2026 intake is underway. In August, several candidates were interviewed, with eight already accepted. Our target is to enrol 2 couples and 11 single students. Applications remain open, and we encourage interested individuals to submit theirs promptly.

6.0 PREACHERS’ RETREAT

From the 14th to the 17th of October, BVBIZ shall host its annual Preachers’ Retreat. This will be a time for renewal, networking, socialising, empowerment, rest and sharing of ideas. The invitation is open to all preachers. The theme for this year is “Navigating the Transition: Towards sustainable solutions in a metamorphosing theological and ministerial environment.”

Some of the lessons and sermons to be covered include;

·         Leadership crisis: The roles of the preacher in stabilising the ship

·         The Home: Maneuvering through current challenges confronting the preacher’s home

·         The Home: Maneuvering through current challenges confronting preachers’ wives

·         Maneuvering through current theological developments in Christendom

·         Building resilience in ministry

·         Finding Guidance in uncertainty

·         The God who never changes

·         The waymaker in the wilderness

·         From projects to business

CONCLUSION

August was a vibrant and fruitful month at BVBIZ. From hosting a national lectureship to advancing our academic programs and fieldwork, the momentum continues. We remain grateful for your prayers, partnerships, and generous support. Together, we are shaping future preachers and strengthening the church.

To God be the glory!

Graduation in Takoradi, Ghana

OPERATIONAL REPORT AUGUST, 2025

1.     CLASSROOM WORK

We have successfully come to the end of another term. Thanks be to God for His mercies and Grace throughout the term. The term ended on Friday, 29th August, 2025 after the second short course. There were two short courses this term: 1 Corinthians and the cost of Discipleship.

There were other activities in the month like the graduation week where preparations were made towards the graduation and the seminar week.  This second term, we successfully completed eight (8) courses. Six of them were main courses: New Testament Church, How we got the Bible, Life of Christ 2, Book of Acts, Scheme of Redemption and Old Testament 2.

 Part –time classes for the month were also interrupted by the graduation ceremony and the seminar. The students are currently studying homiletics, book of Acts. 

2.     GRADUATION AND SEMINAR

The 18th graduation ceremony of the school took place on the16th of August. Twelve men who have completed their courses were commissioned into the Lord’s vineyard. Nine full-time students and three part-time students graduated on the day. It was a successful ceremony by the grace of God. Graduates received awards for their efforts in various areas. There were awards for the most evangelistic student, most hardworking student, well-behaved student and best graduating student. The best graduating student received a new laptop for his outstanding academic performance. This laptop, including two Holman Bible Dictionaries and one Life Application Study Bible (NKJV) were donated by Brother Chad Wagner (Bear-Valley Bible Director). The rest of the awards (Defending the Faith Study Bibles—15 pieces) were donated by Howe Church of Christ, Texas.

The school also honored two of the past students who have been active in the evangelism programs of the school and are also working really hard for the Master’s course.  

This year’s seminar started on Monday, 18th August and ended on the afternoon of Thursday, 21stAugust. The seminar was very well attended by preachers and leaders for the length and breadth of Ghana. The lessons from our speakers were very inspiring and challenging. It was also a time of fellowship and bonding. Overall, we really had a great time during the seminar and it was a big success. 

Student growth in Mozambique

Introduction

The Lord has been taking care of us to date in the face of a mixed package of events in the unfolding history of the institution. Our courses are progressing slowly with the eighth course almost complete. We have had sad news of the deaths of two preachers and two preachers’ wives in Zimbabwe in the months of July and August. This has been so trying to the preachers’ fraternity. There has been exciting news from different congregations on the progress of our students. The churches in Zimbabwe had a series of  lectureships and gospel meetings in the month of August. We are looking forward to the resuscitation of the work in Machipanda in the month of September. We have abandoned the raising of broilers due to the increased cost of production and are now moving to our hatchery plans. There is currently a cabbage crop in our garden alongside the covo vegetables. Your school now  has a patron for governance purposes. All the above items are covered in this report.

Curriculum progress

Three of our recent courses have been Life Of Christ, The Old Testament Law and The New Testament Church which is coming to completion soon. Our students have been doing well in many of these courses with a few who need to be assisted here and there. In the process of our learning you cannot avoid the obvious excitement that is evident in our students as they discover so many new things in their journey of faith. The eagerness in them is encouraging and keeps our energy high. We pray that it may continue to the end of the course.   

Student Preachers’ Progress

We are excited to note that the student preachers have been engaged in different congregational activities in different congregations. We continue to encourage these congregations to involve them in worship, hospital and sick visits, funerals and other activities. To date their performance has been awesome. The preacher in Messika has given very good reports on sermon delivery and Bible classes by the IBBVM students. Both the women and men have been doing so well according to their activity forms to date and we are excited with the reports that we have been receiving. We pray that God may continue to do wonders with his vessels.

Great results in Liberia

College View Community

Sanniquellie City, Nimba County

Republic Of Liberia

Operation Report For August 2025

We continue to thank God for the privilege and blessings of being part of His workforce, teaching the truth of His kingdom here in Liberia. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve and extend our sincere appreciation to all those who make this work possible through their selfless sacrifices.

We are pleased to report that operations in August 2025 have progressed very well, with the following activities highlighted for the month under review:

1.     Classroom Activities

2.     Weekend House-to-House Evangelism

3.     Progress in Elective Courses (Agriculture and Computer Studies)

We thank Almighty God for the success achieved this month and look forward to His continued guidance and blessings in the months ahead.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

Our students returned in full attendance and good condition after a very successful break. Classes resumed on Monday, August 4, 2025, following a two-week quarter-end break. A short course on The Book of Romans was taught by Bro. T. Joel Weahfrom August 4–8, 2025. Regular and extra classes continued under the careful supervision of the administration.

August marked the continuation of Year Two, Quarter Three studies in the Bear Valley Liberia Extension Curriculum for Batch Four. The month was busy for both instructors and students, as they worked towards the end of the quarter. Activities of the Students on Campus includes the following:

Year Two Quarter Three courses

Q-3 Course

Personal Evangelism   III

Life of Christ    IV

Preacher and His Work

Old Testament V

2 Corinthians

Hebrews

Agriculture

Computer Study

English – Literature

Group works

1.          Research work

2.          Individual Assignments and presentation

3.          Daily Quizzes (Practical and theory).

4.          Memory work

5.          Weekend House to House Evangelism

6.          Cleaning the campus etc.

WEEKEND HOUSE TO HOUSE EVANGELISM

Evangelism is a requirement for all Bear Valley Bible Institute students. This practical component helps students gain hands-on experience in preaching and teaching. Students are assigned to sister congregations, both in Nimba County and newly established congregations such as Keitonomn Church, Karnplay Church, Beoyoola Lola Guinea etc. to practice.

This program began in Year Two, Quarter One (February 3, 2025) and continues to yield positive results. In August, 76 backsliders were restored, and 32 persons were converted in Nimba and Lola Guinea congregations.

While challenges remain, we are grateful to God and pray for continued spiritual progress in these churches throughout the year.

 General Agriculture And Computer Science

Alongside classroom and evangelistic activities, students receive training in general agriculture and computer science to equip them with practical and technological skills that will support them and their families after graduation.

The computer lab and digital library remain well-structured and fully functional, providing students with consistent access to computers and digital resources. These tools not only enhance their theological competence but also strengthen their digital literacy which serve as essential skills for growth and effectiveness in today’s electronic age.

The school farm has successfully produced hot peppers and garden eggs (bitter balls), which are now ready for harvest. These farm products are used to subsidize student meals, thereby reducing food costs.

Both programs are designed with a 60% practical and 40% theoretical balance, ensuring that students not only acquire knowledge but also gain hands-on experience for future sustainability.

Conclusion

We sincerely thank you for your continued support of the work here in Liberia. Your faithful partnership in this great mission of our Lord has brought us this far, and we are deeply grateful. Thank you once again, and may God bless you abundantly and richly reward you for all that you do

Kind Regards

Fester G. Lee

Bear Valley Bible Institute - Liberia

Uganda school looks forward to evangelism month

Greetings in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

It's has been his grace that we have gone through August and crossing to September. His love endures for ever. We Bring you greetings from teachers and students at bear valley Uganda. The  school is running on well, teachers are laboring so much and their labor is seen in the great change we see in our students. It gives them more courage when they see great improvement with the students. We pray hard that God continues to give us more energy to do more and more for these men as we daily put those who support this work before the throne of God. 

As we are looking at November  as our evangelism month,  we are very much strong that the men are going to do a very good job. Keep praying for us. However some challenges don't miss, some students have been weak though not hospitalized, we thank God some are now ok but only Wilson Mandala is still having chest pains. 

We thank you so much for the  unceasing support for the school. 

Be blessed 

Until all have heard 

Raymond 

Door-to-door evangelism working in Kara, Togo

OPERATING REPORT BEAR VALLEY INSTITUTE KARA- TOGO (Second quarter 2025)

EXTENDED PROGRAMM ; BVBI- KARA- TOGO

July 17th, 2025

INTRODUCTION :

It’s really good for Christians to work together to enlarge the Lord’s Kingdom. Through this Saturday program for the spiritual formation of the Brothers of the Church during these four years, constitutes a living testimony of the participation of the members of Bear Valley to this great mission that the Lord recommended to us in Matthew 28:19-20. All the churches of Kara join me in expressing our gratitude for all your efforts over the past four years, as well as our sincere thanks to you.

May God bless you as you continue this noble mission throughout the world, for Jesus is coming back soon.

OPERATING REPORT

1-    The current number of students : 06

2-     The courses already taught :

a-    The church’s Mission by TALAKI

b-    The life of a true disciple of Christ by KAGNON

c-     Hermeneutics by FIDELE

3-     The last courses to be taught :

a-    Traditional religion in West Africa by NICODEME

b-    Biblical geography by FIDELE

c-     Hermeneutics by FIDELE

4-    Instructors’ meeting : The Teachers noted with great satisfaction that the Almighty had enabled us to complete the four years without any major problems. They sadly lamented the death of Agnala, a teacher who was very dedicated to his work. The teachers expressed their thanks to all Bear Valley staff and asked God to give them long life, wisdom and patience to continue to help expand the Kingdom of Christ around the world. They also implored God’s blessing on their lives and families.

With regard to the graduation ceremony, they hoped, in good understanding with the students, to wait for the end of the full-time promotion, which has already begun.

5-     Congregational Activities : Our concern is to bring existing churches to maturity. Another priority is to seek to plant other local churches in each village. A program has been drawn up to guide our actions in each local church.

a-    Worship and edification : The team of evangelists (with students) helps each local church with its door-to-door evangelism plan. This comprehensive work enables us to influence the population of each locality. Sooner or later, people always give themselves up for baptism. These moments of group work are sometimes accompanied by fasting and prayer to entrust the problems of each local church to God. Teachings are prepared according to the problems and realities of each local church to be taught.

b-     Door-to-door Program :

Students are heavily involved in this program to support the efforts of each local church . These moments of rain have seriously disrupted the smooth running of this door-to-door evangelism program. Nevertheless, a few sessions saw the baptism of two girls in the local church of Kara University.

c-      Seminars : The women leaders seminar held from May 08 to 11 was a success. The general topic was : The woman leader : relationships, position and responsibilities in the church and the family. 

d-    Read and speak kabiye Program :  It’s a very important program, welcomed by all the local churches, each of them has sent delegates to be effectively trained. These trained delegates will take upon themselves the task of helping other church members to read the Bible in the local language. It’s very beneficial if worship to God is done in the local language. Everyone will need to be actively involved in worship activities.

We pray that God will continue to help us until we have fully mastered this language (Kabiye) which will help support worship in every local church. It is also a necessary tool for evangelism.

e-    Radio Programm : Many still don’t know the church of Christ. Radio is one of the means used to reach the most remote villages. More and more people are contacting us during our radio program service. Some of our home-study listeners express a desire to be Bible school students. But their service programs are not favorable.

f-      So the Saturday program has come to an end, and the full-time program has already begun. We are currently busy training these students, and we invite you to join us in praying that God will accompany us during these two years.

In Christ,

Fidele.

The rainy season doesn't stop evangelism in Mbanga, Cameroon

Dearly beloved in the Lord,

Accept Calvary greetings from Mbanga. The congregation of hospitality and bilingualism, that meets in Mbanga, sends their lovely smile to the brethren. The Bear Valley school and all her staff send their gratitude to you all.

We are in the rainy season and places are really cold over here with mud everywhere. This is making movement very difficult, but we are still on the move.

Our country is preparing for a presidential election in October and there is some tension in the air as per who will be the next president of Cameroon. At the same time, we are busy searching for souls through door-to-door evangelism and through our morning radio devotional program.

 God is great! The work of making disciples and multiplication of souls in the kingdom is growing greater and more effective in French Cameroon.

The sixth batch of students came back from the first semester internship with sound health and they had a great experience in the field.

We sent out 17 students to 10 different locations after one week of internal evangelism with our francophone alumni counterparts.

In the same light, the in-village evangelism in Mbanga, and the evangelism of students on their internship, together recorded 15 baptisms and 2 restorations.

The students are also doing pretty good in their studies. We have started with the second semester and the courses are seeming to be very interesting to the learners as they keep on asking more and more questions in the quest to learn as much as possible.

We also went for mission work to Ngussi with director Elangwe and some graduates. God blessed the mission with about 10 souls. Even though the roads were very bad, we braved the odds. I came back with some minor injuries after falling down from the bike.

Another mission work was carried out in Mbalgong, a small community in the Bafia area, under the canopy of the French Evangelistic Mission. It was for the purpose of strengthening the congregation. God added 4 souls through the help of some francophone alumni members in the Bafia area.

In this month of June then, God blessed us with 29 souls and 2 restorations during all our mission work.

God has also blessed our institution with a new van. The Bear Valley Bible Institute in Mbanga now has a new van for evangelism. It is a blessing from the lord! Our next mission with the Bible students will be in the Moungo zone this coming July. We say thank you to the donors and we pray that God will continue to replenish your efforts.

God bless you all in Jesus' mighty name.

 ITITI BENEDICT

Several baptisms in Ekwendini, Malawi

Hello, brethren!

I hope this report finds you all well. We are thrilled to be in our second semester this year of 2025. We have the exciting news of our progress. We have almost managed to finish 17 courses since the school opened in February. This month of July, we have also received news from some of our former students who have been doing evangelism work and reported 33 souls saved through baptism. We are very thankful for their zeal in preaching in their home villages. 

 Preaching and Teaching

It has been good to have short course teachers come teach at our school. This has helped to quicken the planned work done. So far, since February, we have managed to teach 17 courses. 

Our former students are putting the school on the map because of the work they are doing in their home villages, this month of July, they have reported 33 baptisms . We are always thankful for what they do in the Kingdom. Keep them in your prayers 🙏. 

 Preaching campaign

The school has its second preaching campaign on the 27th to 31st of August. We are well prepared to go out and reach the lost souls - *the great commission* !

We are always thankful for the BV International and the Hillcrest church for the support we receive every month. This makes the work accomplished very easily. Working as a team makes things work well. God bless you all!

Your fellow servants, 

Ephron and Clergynton.

Practical learning in Ghana

Monthly report- July, 2025

Bear Valley Bible Institute, Ghana - Doboro

OVERVIEW 

The month of July at Bear Valley Bible Institute has been marked by a dynamic learning environment with students actively engaging in theological discussions and practical applications of their studies. The combination of rigorous academic content and interactive teaching methods has fostered an atmosphere of growth and enrichment among the students. 

TOP RADIO PREACHING 

Every Tuesday, the Bear Valley Bible Institute has been actively involved in a preaching program on the "Church of the Bible" specifically on the unity of the New Testament church in this month. This initiative has provided an excellent opportunity for faculty and students to reach a broader audience, sharing the teachings of the Bible and promoting the mission of the institute. Feedback from listeners has been encouraging, with many expressing appreciations for the insights shared.

 STAFF MEETING 

The staff met on 17th July 2025 at 9:00 AM at the school premises and discussed the arrangements for the funeral service of the late Emmanuel Amoo-Gyimah (instructor), scheduled for August 30, 2025. Plans include a memorial service to honor his contributions and legacy within the community.

Updates were provided regarding the upcoming seminar in Takoradi, scheduled for August 18 - 21, 2025 which aims to equip local church preachers and leaders with practical tools for ministry and outreach. Logistics, including travel and accommodation for students, were discussed.

Bogoso Church Planting: The status of the Bogoso church planting initiative was reviewed. Current progress, challenges, and opportunities for community engagement were highlighted. We pray to have it come to pass. 

CLASS ACTIVITIES 

Kojo Acquah-Beenyi taught the class on Preacher and his work and 1 & 2 Thessalonians.

John Acquah taught the class on The Book of Galatians 

Ebenezer Amoasi taught the class on Life of Christ IV

STUDENT PROFILE

Background: 

Felix Acquah is a dedicated first-year student at Bear Valley Bible Institute, where he is committed to deepening his understanding of scripture and enhancing his preaching skills. He serves as a preacher for the Batanyaa congregation in the Central Region of Ghana, where he passionately shares the Gospel and provides spiritual guidance to his community.

Evangelistic Passion: 

Felix possesses a fervent evangelistic spirit, actively seeking opportunities to share the message of Christ beyond the walls of the church. His passion for outreach is reflected in his involvement in community service and evangelism initiatives, where he works to spread the Gospel and make a positive impact in the lives of those around him.

STUDENTS UPDATE 

Currently, we have 14 active students on board. We had one new student this month, with the name Ferguson Ologhoejebi Forkimor. 

BAPTISM 

We were highly grateful for the sovereign will of God and His mercies still searching for every soul each and every day to save. Eleven (11) souls were brought to Christ in the month of July through some of the students' hard work and instructors. These were: Joyce Baah, Charlotte Ampah, Sarvina Ajoa, Charle Ankyere, Efia Agustina, Peter Acuah, Efua Bentel, Maame Efua, John, Daniel Addo, Bernice Addo.

FUNERAL ANNOUNCEMENT 

The arrangements for the funeral service of the late Emmanuel Amoo-Gyimah (instructor), is being scheduled for August 30, 2025. Plans include a memorial service to honor his contributions and legacy within the community. We pray you join us in spirit on the day.

FUNERAL CEREMONY 

We attended one of our Alumni’s funerals at Amasaman. It was a practical assignment for the students to witnessed how they can organize themselves for such event in their ministry. We saw great opportunity to shared many of our tracts as a form of evangelism.  

CONCLUSION 

July was a fruitful month for the Bear Valley Bible Institute, marked by collaborative efforts in impactful preaching, and meaningful class activities. The evangelistic outreach successfully reached several communities, fostering spiritual growth and community engagement. We look forward to building on these successes in the coming months. Continued support and resources will further enhance the learning experience

We remain grateful to our partners, alumni, and friends’ prayers, encouragement and financial contributions

May the Lord bless our endeavors as we strive to fulfil our mission.

By E.O. Larbi

Prayers requested for successful campaigns in Uganda

Greetings brothers. 

Thank you so much for all  you are doing for us and the whole church to trian preachers. Bear Valley Uganda is doing well and we have ended the month though this  has not been an easy one. It is only God in whom we trust and all things are possible.

Students are in good health  and teachers are laboring so much.  I personally truly thank them for the commitment toward this noble cause. God is the rewarder. However, one of the students decided  to leave due to his family challenges. Pray for brother Philex that he finds the solution for his family and finds peace in his heart. Brother Simon who had the eyes problem was treated and he is happily enjoying classes.  Prayers of the faithful does a lot. Thank you for praying for our brother. 

In this second semester, we normally arrange for massive evangelism in all four corners of the Country. We move in teams and each team is led by one of our teachers. We also include our former students from other intakes. Help us in prayers and that God may avail the necessary resources to help us  do this successfully. 

Our evangelism is vital, we thank God for having given man knowledge of communication even to those who are far. Recently  one of our old students  working with a certain organization which has its branches outside Africa, was able to keep sharing the word with his fellow workers. Recently at a visit to Africa, one soul got saved and she is from Bolivia.  We are kindly asking if there is anyone who knows of any Christian there or if we have a congregation there such that we are able to link her for her spiritual growth. 

Thank you so much.  

Be blessed 

Until all have heard 

Raymond.