Dear, fellow soldiers of Christ.
Grace, peace and mercy be multiplied unto you all from God our Father and from Christ Jesus, our Lord and Redeemer.
Below is the report of some of our activities in the month of October 2023.
OVERVIEW:
1.FIRST SEMESTER CLASSES CONCLUDED
2. ARAMOKO-EKITI, EKITI WBS SEMINAR
3. REPORT FROM FELLOW-MINISTERS
4. CHAD WAGNER’S OPEN HALL READY FOR COMMISSION
5. SOUTHWEST KIDDIES ACADEMY
6. BVBIN-DEGREE PROGRAM
FIRST SEMESTER CLASSES CONCLUDED
The first semester for the year 2023/2024, which began on August 14, concluded on October 6, 2023. Our year-1 students were sent for different Vocational Studies, while our year-2 students were dispatched to congregations within the Southwestern States of Nigeria to assist in evangelism and the edification of local congregations that requested our help.
Lord willing, the 2nd Semester classes will commence on November 6, 2023, and run through January 24, 2024, with a two-week break from December 16 through December 31, 2023.
ARAMOKO-EKITI WORLD BIBLE SCHOOL SEMINAR/ REVIVAL
In continuation of the four WBS Seminars sponsored by Rob and Robin Thornton, five of the BVBIN & SWSE-Ibadan instructors, named Bro. Israel Tajmavwo, Bro. Odeyemi Durojaiye, Bro. Oladokun Samuel, Bro. Eniafe Kayode, and myself (Bro. Makinde Ebens), along with the company of five of our year-2 students and two WBSFUW members (Bro. Shotola Dele and Bro. Adedoyin Sola Rotimi), conducted a three-day WBS Seminar in Aramoko-Ekiti, Ekiti State from October 19 through October 22, 2023.
The three-day seminar featured Mass Evangelism from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm and Open-Air Bible Lectureships from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm daily. Some of us stayed behind after the Saturday Open-Air Bible Lectureship to worship with the church in Aramoko-Ekiti.
Other Ministers/WBSFUW members who attended the event were Bro. Emmanuel Godwin, Bro. Amos Olusegun, Bro. Adeyiwolu Isaac, Bro. Akinola Lawanson, Bro. Akinyemi Jacob, and Bro. Ajibade Oluwansola.
Even though there were no conversions, we give thanks to the Lord that a couple who had left the church a year ago returned with their four children.
Our final scheduled event is coming up on November 10 through 12, 2023, in Asejire, Osun State.
REPORT FROM FELLOW WORKERS
REPORT FROM BADEKU
Dear Brothers in Christ,
I extend warm greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is a report from the Church of Christ in Badeku. With the grace of God, the church is making significant progress as we spread the word of God throughout our town.
We’re blessed to have the unwavering support of our fellow brothers and sisters, as well as the brethren at Bear Valley Bible Institute Butubutu, through the help of Brother Makinde E. Olufemi and Brother Kayode Eniafe. Together, we successfully conducted open-air evangelism in our area from the 29th to the 1st of October. We’re grateful for the positive outcomes and the restoration of faith in some individuals.
Furthermore, during the evangelism, the church visited neighboring congregations to evangelize. Our assistance to the Ojoku congregation led to the conversion of a young man named Gbenga, hailing from Benue State. We also took the opportunity to visit the congregation that was recently planted through our efforts in Badeku.
As we continue to grow, we’re working towards acquiring a plot of land for our church. Currently, we rent a space at an annual cost of N24000, and we recently invested N80000 for maintenance at our current place of worship.
Your support and prayers are invaluable as we move forward with this endeavor. May the peace of God continue to dwell with us. Amen.
In Christ’s service,
Bro. Adedoyin Oluwasola Rotimi
MONTHLY REPORT FROM ERINLU
Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May it be well with our souls in Jesus name. Amen (2 John 1:3). I am grateful for having the privilege to write concerning the church of Christ in Erinlu, Ijebuode, Ogun State, Nigeria, for September.
In the past month, Lord’s Day worship attendance and collections were as follows:
We had an average of 5 believers and a total collection of 5,920 Naira. We also learned some new hymns, and by the grace of God, we have felt His presence among us.
The edification topics covered during Lord’s day teachings included overcoming spiritual challenges and learning how to pray.
Report on other activities of the church is as follows:
Monthly Congregational Family Forum: We continue to make progress through this platform, addressing our challenges, offering advice, and engaging in collective prayer.
Erinlu Church need: Our needs remain consistent.
Evangelism: Our evangelism efforts are on the rise, with encouraging responses. We believe the Church will thrive here, but we must ensure that we remain available to preach the truth to those receptive souls, respecting the necessary time and process for building a strong church.
Baptism: There were no baptisms in the month of October, but we rejoice as a soul returned to the Lord’s church after many years of self- disfellowship.
We deeply appreciate the financial support that allows us to spread the gospel. We do not take it for granted and do not feel entitled to anything. We will continue to express our gratitude and pray for the source or providers of our financial support, with hope for an increase in the future.
Thank you so much, beloved brethren. May God bless us all more and more in Christ’s name. Amen.
Yours faithfully,
Bro. Gospel S. Opeyemi (Evang.)
OTHERS
Bro Israel Tajomavwo one of the instructors @ BVBIN & SWSE-Ibadan reported the conversion of two souls on Oct. 13, 2023
Bro. Olorode Samuel, one of the fellow WBSFUW and the minister of the Church of Christ in Ajagba, Ondo State, reported the conversion of a young lady in the early weeks of October 2023.
Bro. Eniafe Olukayode, one of the instructors at BVBIN & SWSE-Ibadan, as well as the minister of Asejire Congregation in Osun State and Felele-Rab in Ibadan, Oyo State, reported the conversion of two individuals and the restoration of three erring brethren between September and October 2023.
Bro. Alaba Oladejo reported the extension of his labor from Erelu in Oyo to the Koso area of Oyo town since the month of September, twice every month.
Bro. Akanmu Solomon is the present minister of Ajia Congregation. He reported the restoration of two families that had left the church since the beginning of this year.
CHAD WAGNER’S OPEN HALL READY FOR COMMISSION
Chad Wagner’s Open Hall, which started as a child’s play in March 2023, is now ready for commissioning by Bro. Chad Wagner (SWSE-Patron & International Director of BVBIN Schools) in the first quarter of 2024, by God’s grace. The remaining tasks include the electrification of the hall and furnishing the restaurant area, which is estimated to cost roughly 1.5 million Naira ($1,900).
SOUTHWEST KIDDIES ACADEMY
Southwest Kiddies are moving into the middle of the term following the resumption in the third week of September. After resuming, the school has made some changes to its building, such as adding new paintings in the kindergarten classrooms to aid learning. They’ve also acquired TV for displaying studies as an instructional aid, though it is not yet mounted due to certain hindrances.
Additionally, the school has taken necessary steps to facilitate learning by obtaining materials, organizing seminars, and adjusting classroom doors for the security of materials. There are also plans to hire new staff for more efficient results for the term.
THIRD BATCH OF BVBIN DEGREE PROGRAM
The 3rd batch of our degree program will commence Lord’s willing on November 27 through December 8, 2023 with Research and Writing-1 and Fundamentals of Faith-1.
Hopefully , eight of the successful students in the 2nd batch will be graduating during our 21st Leadership Seminar in March 2024.
REPORT ON WVBS PROGRAM
I would like to provide an update on our journey with the World Video Bible School during the First Semester of 2023 (August through October). Our experience thus far has been promising, as we’ve delved into a variety of insightful topics and initiated valuable serial lessons.
Here is a summary of what we’ve accomplished this semester:
1. Social Media Evangelism (Strategies)
2. Social Media Evangelism (Effectiveness)
3. Pornography and it’s Effect
Additionally, we embarked on two sequential lessons:
1. Thirteen Lessons on Angels – We successfully completed up to lesson 5, which delves into the roles and functions of Angels.
2. Coping with Life’s Challenges – By the grace of God, we’ve managed to cover two lessons in this series, with plans to continue our exploration in the upcoming semester.
In the following semester, we intend to focus exclusively on completing the “Thirteen Lessons on Angels” series. This approach aims to ensure a well-paced and effective learning experience without overwhelming ourselves. We look forward to continued growth and enlightenment in our studies.
OUR ACHIEVEMENT IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2023
We give glory to God for our progress in the capital project slated for 2023/24 at BVBIN & SWSE-IBADAN. The construction of Chad Wagner’s Open Hall, designed for events during warm weather, is now complete, with only the finishing touches remaining, including the electrification of the hall and the furnishing of the restaurant area, which is estimated to cost approximately 1.5 million naira($1,900).
Also, we were able to purchase three motor bikes for three WBSFUW in Ibadan from Rob & Robin Thornton’s contribution .
We are grateful for all those whom the Lord has used to turn this dream into a reality. Most especially Bro. & Sister Ralph Williams, Bro. & Sister Doug Wheeler, Dorman & Donna Lough; Rob & Robin Thornton; Bro. & Sister Chad Wagner and associate.
May the Lord continue to bless all our endeavors in Christ Jesus. Amen.
OUR SPECIAL CHALLENGES
We are now in debt to the sum of 15.8 million Naira to which was incurred between March and October 2023 for the construction of Chad Wagner’s Open Hall , WBS seminars and palliative/relief for fellow servants of God and students of BVBIN & SWSE-IBADAN due to the high cost of living in our country, Nigeria as a result of fuel subsidies removal by the present government in Nigeria.
ABOUT A STUDENT
Bro. Murphat Victor Chinagorom is one of our year 2 students. Born on March 11, 2001, in Mbutu-Ngwa, Abia State, he became a member of the Lord’s church on May 28, 2017, through the efforts of Bro. Uzoma Alozie, the evangelist of the Church of Christ in Mbutu-Ngwa, Abia State. He gained admission into our ministerial program in August 2022.
Currently, he is assisting the Lord’s church at Felele-Rab, Ibadan, alongside Bro. Eniafe Olukayode. His mission after his training is to become a competent and sound minister of God.
CONCLUSION
We thank you all for your partnership, encouragement, and support. May the Lord continue to bless all our work together in Christ Jesus’ name. Amen.
I remain yours in His grace and love as a servant,
Makinde Ebens Olufemi
The Chief Servant of BVBIN & SWSE-IBADAN and WBSFUW
