The first six graduates of BBC, Moshi

BBC is so much more than buildings, furniture and gardens and for that we thank God.
This year, 2006 we have had the first of our students formally graduate from our college with the equivalent of a certificate of theology in biblical studies. This is a tremendous achievement on the part of the six students concerned. It has meant for them four years in a row committing themselves to setting aside three months of their annual calendar for studying God’s word. This is a great sacrifice in time, relationships, potential income, and requires considerable effort and dedication to the task.
We had much pleasure then in extending our heartiest congratulations and offering our sincere prayers for these men. Please pray for them by name:

Elisante Mtera (Moshi, Pasua)
Pastory Gaspar (Bukoba)
Ahadi Gonanga (Kigoma)
Leonce Kihama (Moshi, Uchira)
Noah Ngenzebuhoro and
Bernard Nsizabira (Rukwa).

As a college we are seeking how we might be able to continue to assist these men in further study at a more advanced level.
Please pray for us as we seek out teachers and in particular as we try to identify a national principal who will be able to take this important ministry forward.
Looking to 2007 we have already scheduled additional courses such as Training For Life, Women’s Ministry Course, Preacher’s Course, monthly Leaders seminars and we hope to be able to offer some computer classes too. This will be dependant on being able to take up an exceptional offer of some computers being brought into Tanzania by an NGO supporting educational establishments like ours. We look to the Lord to make available to us the resources needed to avail ourselves of this excellent option.

BBC's FIRST graduation pending - watch this space!

With only four days remaining until our very first students graduate with their Certificate in Pastoral Ministry most of us at BBC are either very busy or very excited! Most of us are both! The special day will be held in the church at KLB Pasua and we expect that it will be marked by much celebration and joy.
Please pray for the day and watch this space for photos and a full report on the activities...

BBC on the road

Despite the fact that the final examinations are looming in the next couple of weeks we were able to take the BBC students on the road for some practice in evangelism. On of our guest teachers from Kenya has been teaching the theory of evangelism in class and it was with great enthusiasm that students set out to put it into practice in the village of Kahe 25km south of Moshi, Pasua where the college is based. This event had been postponed from an earlier date where exceptiona rains had interuppted our plans. The students were blessed on this occasion with ideal weather conditions.
Uniting with the Christians in the church at KLB Kahe, we were about 40 strong and set off in eight groups of five. We distributed leaflets entitled "Four things God wants you to know" as well as two booklets - one being John's Gospel and the other "The forgiveness of sins".
There was a wonderful reception to the 'invasion' that fell upon the local people and a real readiness to listen and to receive this literature. Please pray with us for the area of Kahe that God would continue to build the church there in numerical and spiritual growth.
The effect of the trip on the students themselves was encouraging and on the bus journey home, despite the fact that it was already dark, and the road was bad, there was buzz of conversation as the men told one another of conversation after conversation which they had enjoyed with others. The Lord who has all authority on heaven on earth sent us on this task, and as he promised he was evidently with us in it (Matthew 28:18-20).

Five pictures worth 5000 words...

The official opening of BBC on 26th August 2006

After all the hard work and preparation for the occasion of the official opening of Berea Bible College, all waited with bated breath to see if our special guest, The Former First Lady of Tanzania, Her Excellency Mrs Anna Mkapa would finally come. And come she did, right on time, to the rapturous welcome of the gathered crowds.
About 250-300 people were with us on this special day in the history of our college. Mr Allan McKinnon, unrecognisable in his smart dark suit, welcomed the guest of honour and escorted her to the dias for the speeches and other honours which mark such an occasion. We are delighted to report that the day went like clockwork - beyond our wildest imaginations. Speeches were short, sharp and to the point; the timetable was exact in its predictions about the timings of the days events; the food was beautifully presented and tasted delicious. Her excellency Mrs Mkapa entered into the festivites with her whole heart and helped make the day one to remember.
In the afternoon programme after the formalities were past we had a special group of activities to entertain and challenge all who were present, from the youngest to the oldest. Puppets, dramas, music, speaking and singing were all incorporated with much blessing to all. Coca-cola provided us with special sales equipment to make the day a little different and BBC sold designer umbrellas to help keep the crowds in the shade.
We are immensely grateful to all who upheld us in prayer for that day, and who sent greetings for the occasion. The worldwide nature of the family of God was evident on this day as we received so much support from so many of you. Of course more than anything we are grateful to God who has blessed us beyond our wildest imaginations. We anticipate fervently the great blessing that will be their who will in future days, months and years study and prepare for ministry in these buildings. We know that this work is God's work, but done through his servants, many of whom have finished the race and run the course. Their names and their work in 'tilling the ground' are remembered in Thompson dorm, Dalton dorm and Green dining facilities.

Part-time Preacher's Course underway

Twelve students have signed up for our first part-time preacher's course which began on 3oth June 2006. The course will run on weekends for five weeks through July 2006 every Friday evening and Saturday morning. This course will take the students through Mark's gospel and simultaneously teach some principles for the interpretation and application of the Bible as God's message for today.
Among the students is Magdalena who saw the announcement of the course as an answer to her prayers. She is matron in a local vocational training school for girls as well as a member of Kanisa La Biblia, Pasua. She has been frequently asked in recent months to share some devotions for the girls but has felt ill-equipped for the task. She has already been very enthusiastic in the course and feels it is just what she needs as she shares the Word of God from the Bible with the young girls under her care.
Bernard Elly, the full time pastor at KLB Pasua is sharing the teaching on this course with Allan McKinnon, who is the principal teacher.

TFL Graduate

The 24 student from thenTFL course have finally graduated from their course at Berea Bible College. We had the graduation ceremony on Saturday the 1st July 2006. The students had a break of a few days after an exhausting climb to the summit of Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro 19,540ft above sea level. Most of the students made it to Gilman's point and were frozen to the marrow with terrible weather conditions. William Rea, a lecturer at BBC accompanied them and was also successful in the climb.
Many of the students are off now to look for opportunites of further education in universities and colleges around the country. A few are having a year out and hope to do volunteer work or work experience. A couple of the girls were able to work at Moshi Christian Children's Centre to fulfil their responsibilites for the social interaction aspects of the TFL course.
TFL and BBC hope to be able to develop the links that have been formed with each other this year in running courses for sixth form leavers in the years ahead.

Building construction and site development continues

Thanks to the ongoing input of William and Eunice Rea and Joseph Tillya the contractor the practical work of construction and site development continues unabated even although the McKinnons are in UK. The following pictures show the ongoing work in classrooms, water development, and landscaping at BBC, Moshi.

Promoting the BBC

Allan and Jacqui have been travelling the length and breadth of UK over the past two months speaking about the work of God in Berea Bible College and Moshi Christian Children's Centre. The invitations of various churches, schools and colleges have given them many opportunities and they have been greatly encouraged by the interest of God's people in what is going on in and around Moshi. If you have been able to hear them during their travels, then a huge thank-you to you for your support. They are very excited about the imminent return to Moshi and their opportunity to be involved directly again in their ministry areas. In the meantime they have the 'arduous task' of two and half weeks in the USA visiting with two churches there (in Spokane and Los Angelos) and also enjoying some holiday. This chance to recharge the batteries before going back to Moshi will be a special time for them.
Here is a list of some of the places they have visited: Strathaven Evangelical Church, Lanarkshire; Victoria Evangelical Church, Glasgow; Hillbank Evangelical Church, Dundee; Interlink, Glasgow; 125th anniversary celebrations with Interlink at Hamilton College, Hamilton; The Grange Baptist Church, Letchworth; Doune Evangelical Church, Stirlingshire; GLO Centre, Motherwell; GLO Tilsley College, Motherwell; Netherauldhouse Evangelical Church, Glasgow; Greenview Evangelical Church, Glasgow; Opal Trust, Lockerbie; Bethany Evangelical Church, Dumfries; Rushmere Christian Fellowship, Ipswich; Normanton Primary school, Yorkshire; Emmanuel College, Gateshead; Cutsyke Gospel Hall, Yorkshire; Westwoodhill Evangelical Church, East Kilbride; Olivet Evangelical Church, Falkirk; Abbot Hall, Dunfermline; Echoes, Bath; Meadowview Chapel, Honiton; Springbank Evangelical Church, Campbeltown; Ebeneezer Evangelical Church, Motherwell.
If you or your church would like to have some more detailed information or a copy of a power point presentation outlining the work of Berea Bible College, Moshi Christian Children's Centre, Kanisa la Biblia, etc., then please post your email on the comments section and we will get back to you.

TFL Recreation

TFL enjoy the BBC facilities

Training for Life (see previous posting) have been going on with their teaching programme among the 24 residential students. The course has been well received and the teachers have enjoyed the interaction with the students on various topics. The students and organisers have appreciated the facilites being provided by BBC and this has helped for a successful course. The students will soon be moving out into work placements and planning their ascent of Kilimanjaro. A computer training programme will also be scheduled for later in the course.

BBC get their own water supply

Thanks to sponsors from Northern Ireland we were able to complete the installation of our permanent borehole on site at Berea Bible College. The survey was done about a year ago and when the contractor finally got on site for drilling he discovered that the water was still there where it was predicted to be previously! A good sign. The well is over 50 metres deep and is capable of producing 2500 litres per hour. The water supply will ensure that we have plenty for our day to day requirements as well as a green site with luxurious gardens and all that just for the cost of pumping it to the surface. This will prove to be much cheaper and of better quality than the existing town water supply which can be irratic and is of poorer quality.
The pictures above and below respectively show the drilling in progress and the new well head being established.

Why Berea?

Berea Bible College is a place to learn the Word of God as found in the Bible.
Our name is taken from Acts 17 where “students” of the Word had the following characteristics:

• A Noble character
• A Desire to learn the Word
• A Daily commitment to study
• A Readiness to test the teaching being given

We trust all our students at Berea Bible College will have this kind of character.
You are very welcome! Please contact us if you would like to know more.

Training for Life

During the months of March, April and into May, 24 young people will be meeting in the new facilities of Berea Bible College to embark on an exciting course known as Training for Life. The course is aimed at equipping school leavers with the life skills needed out there in the world of the 21st century.
The programme will take them through studies in personal financial management, personal heath, relationships, business acumen, Bible knowledge, and much more. The teachers on the course are men and women with a broad life experience in a context of Christian faith and have over 100years of cumulative experience to offer!
The programme finishes with a team ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, whose peak stands 19540ft above sea level. Having reached the summit of the highest mountain in Africa, we hope and pray that these young people will be equipped to scale the pinnacles of life in the years ahead.

Welcome to BBC Moshi!

This is the news from BBC Moshi...
Berea Bible College has been the vision of mission and church personnel in Moshi, Tanzania for a number of years. Since 2002 we have been running teaching and training courses for leaders for a few months each year and in 2004 God enables us to make the move towards establishing our permanent facilites in Pasua, Moshi.
2004 saw us establish hostel facilities for 40 people. In 2005 we have been able to build a classroom and administration block. We stand amazed at what God has been doing here in providing for the training of the church leaders and are eager in our anticipation of what He will do in the months and years ahead through these facilities.

Please visit us again.