Reaching Soul Through Reaching Out

How many people do you suppose Bear Valley students have talked to about the gospel in the 80 campaigns in which students have worked during the history of Bear Valley Bible Institute?  The practice of preaching the gospel to the lost through campaign efforts which was begun forty years ago is still being practiced today. Each November and April the students of Bear Valley Bible Institute go to various congregations across the United States to assist them in preaching the gospel to the lost in their area.

November 12-17, 2005 our students will be working in Brookings, South Dakota, Hatler’s Chapel, Tennessee, Douglas, Wyoming, Lamar and Denver, Colorado.  In Brookings we will assist the brethren as they reach out through a Christian Evidence Seminar.  Brad Harab, who works with Apologetic Press, will be the speaker.  In addition to reaching out to the community, we’ll be working among the 8,000 students who attend South Dakota State.

In Lamar, Colorado we will first assist them with an area-wide Bible Bowl and then help them let the community know about a special series of lesson entitled “The Fellowship of Marriage.”  Ron Carter will present these lessons.

“The One True Church” is the theme of the campaign with the Hatler’s Chapel church.  Wayne Burger, a Bear Valley instructor, will be the campaign speaker in this effort.

Through the efforts of those going on these campaigns, thousands of doors will be knocked on, hundreds of people will be invited to services of the church, and dozens, if not hundreds, of prospects will be left for these local churches to continue to teach.

Please contact us if you would like for us to assist your congregation in a special effort to reach the lost in your community.  We are here to assist you. Contact Wayne Burger (303-986-5800 or )

 

How We Can Help You..

The student of the Bear Valley Bible Institute regularly help congregation with their outreach ministries. Students travel to congregations 3 times to 4 times a year and do campaign work for congregation that would like the help. This gives our students much needed experience in direct evangelism and campaigning, and also helps the churches reach out to their communities.

Why not let the students from Bear Valley Bible Institute assist you in your evangelistic effort next year? The cost is $.30 per mile round trip for each car with four workers in each car. Also, there is a $5.00 per student per meal on the road. If you are farther than a day’s drive other travel arrangements will have to be worked-out. You will find that an evangelistic thrust not only produces conversions and contacts, but it also revitalizes members of the congregation.

Would you like us to help your congregation with a campaign?

If your congregation is within a one day drive of Denver we can help you with your campaigns. If you would be interested in our help please contact for more information. Or call us at 303-986-5800.

Atlantic, Iowa - November 2004

On November 13th a group of students from the Bear Valley Bible Institute in Denver, Colorado traveled to Atlantic, Iowa to conduct a door knocking campaign. These students, along with Wayne Burger, an instructor at the Bible Institute and evangelist for the Columbine church of Christ worked Sunday through Wednesday in this effort.. The group arrived in Atlantic about 6:30 Saturday evening. Having been exhausted from a ten hour car ride, and after enjoying a great meal prepared by the members of the church, the campaigners left to go home with their host families for much needed rest.

Starting with services on Sunday morning, the campaigners worshipped with the Atlantic congregation. Bear Valley instructor, Wayne Burger began a faith-building seminar entitled, “Reasons to Believe.” This seminar was the focus of the campaign. Each door knocking team invited the community to attend. There were six topics covered in this seminar. Three of which were: (1) “The Collapse of Evolution” (2) “The Great Washout” which dealt with evidence of a worldwide flood, and (3) “Digging Up the Past” in which evidence found in archaeology was given to support biblical events.

There were many others from around the state that chose to come listen to these great basic fundamentals lessons, which strengthened the listener’s faith. One person from Knoxville, Iowa commented saying, “I have never viewed the story of the flood that way before.” In addition to the invitation concerning the seminar, each team offered free home Bible studies and took the opportunity to discuss how the church in Atlantic could be able to help them with their faith and relationship with God.

Each day before door knocking started, we began with a devotional time in which, the group spent time praying and singing songs together. The campaign was very successful. Approximately 2,300 doors were knocked in which 730 people were contacted face to face. Of the 730 people contacted, 25 people expressed a desire for more information concerning the church and God. One lady who was contacted during the campaign attended two evening sessions. Those who expressed an interest for more information received a follow-up letter from Jason Zaiger, the preacher in Atlantic, thanking them for their interest in the church. We believe that God will bless the effort and that souls will be saved.

McCrory, Arkansas - November 2004

The Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver engaged in four separate evangelistic campaigns during the month of November. One of these campaigns was in the farming community of McCrory Arkansas. This town of about 1,800 folks is the original home of Bill and Pam Stewart, two of our instructors here at Bear Valley. McCrory is located in the Eastern delta section of Arkansas, and has one congregation of the Lord’s church of about 150 members. The following nine students accompanied Bill and Pam to Arkansas: Mike Allen, Steven Ashcraft, Nick DeCorte, Mike Green, Luke Guthrie, David Iten, Blu Kropp, and Chris Zagone.

With the assistance and organization of L.V. Pfeifer and Glen Knabe, the preacher and youth minister at McCrory, we began knocking doors on Sunday afternoon. Every door in the town of McCrory and the neighboring towns of Patterson, Grays, Tupelo, and Fair Oaks were knocked. We then began driving around looking for groups of houses. We ended up knocking a total of 935 doors that resulted in 471 contacts. Out of the people that we spoke with, 78 Bible Correspondence Courses were set up, and six very good prospects were found. This also resulted in one Bible study that took place during the campaign.

A gospel meeting on the “Cross of Christ” began on the morning of Sunday November 14 and went through Wednesday evening on November 17. Bill Stewart spoke on each of these occasions with Steven Ashcraft filling in on Sunday night. Each of these meetings was well attended and allowed for good lessons and good fellowship. There were a number of visitors that attended during the week.

The campaign in McCrory was a great success and helped to revitalize the congregation and impress upon them the importance of spreading the gospel. It also allowed the church in McCrory the opportunity to brighten the light that they are shining in the community. May they continue to bear fruit and all the glory go to God.

Denver, CO - November 2004

Seven BVBID students along with two members of the Bear Valley church of Christ in Denver, CO undertook a three-day door knocking campaign in nearby neighborhoods in an attempt to establish Bible studies and to invite members of the community to worship services. We were met with mixed reactions, but for the most part everyone was pleasant and polite. In all we knocked more than 2,050 doors and set up 4 Bible studies.

One of the students began a study with a family from Thailand. He discovered the family was returning to Thailand, just happened to know the nearby missionary, and he was able to put the two parties in touch.

In addition, we found that certain neighborhoods were primarily Spanish speaking and determined a need for materials printed in Spanish. Many within the Hispanic areas were receptive, but we were unable to communicate in English. We obtained the contact information of several families to be passed on to a local Spanish speaking body.

In all, we consider the campaign a success, and the Bear Valley congregation will continue to host this type of evangelistic work in the future.