Faculty Retreat

The fifth annual Bear Valley faculty retreat was Monday and Tuesday of this week (August 25, 26, 2008). What a great event this was. Reports were given on the various works that the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver is involved in, including the extension schools and the home campus in Denver. This was my first retreat and it was a tremendous experience.

It gave me a chance to see some old friends and get better acquainted with new ones. The retreat was held at Kamp Koinonia in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains outside of Denver.

Hearing all the good work that is being carried out by the Bear Valley Institute was exciting enough, but when the conversation turned to goals being set and plans being made for the future, it was truly an uplifting experience.

As you have read in the previous post on this blog, we are beginning a new school in Honduras, with classes scheduled to begin in January 2009. There are also plans to begin new schools in several other parts of the world. Our goals are ambitious (including the need to raise $20 million dollars for this work), but our God is greater than our goals. With your prayers and His blessings, we can take the Gospel to the whole world in our lifetimes.

God bless,

Donnie Bates

Survey Trip to Honduras

I realize this is somewhat out of order, since my first post covered my trip to Lima, Peru in May. However, since many of these reports will have to do with the new extension school in Honduras, I felt I ought to go back to the beginning of that work.

In April 2008, David Hamrick, Ralph Williams and I traveled to Danlí, Honduras to survey the possibility of a preacher training facility in that city. A school had been operated in Danlí before under the direction of the Hillcrest church of Christ in Neosho, Missouri, a congregation still heavily involved in the evangelization of this area of southern Honduras. Accompanying the Bear Valley staff were John Deffenbaugh and Rick Hyder, elders of the Hillcrest congregation.

At the end of the survey trip, both groups were excited to realize that prospects for a new school, as part of the Bear Valley extension program were high. Plans were immediately set in motion to see classes begin in January 2009. The name of the school will remain the same: the Bible Institute of Honduras. It is estimated that this school can operate on a budget of $150/month/student. An estimated $4,000.00 is needed for one-time start up expenses. Our goal is to begin the first class with ten (10) students.

We believe that, in time, this school can become a beacon through the region, from southern Mexico to northern South America. Danlí is situated close to the border of Nicaragua. Other countries in the region include Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia. The Lord’s church has had a presence in Honduras for many years. With the quality of Biblical education the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver can offer, the potential for the strengthening of the existing churches and the birth of new congregations is great. In the Bible Institute of Honduras we have a wonderful opportunity to advance the cause of Christ in Central America.

Our current needs for this school are an additional $1,000.00/month to operate this school. We are within $500 of reaching our one-time expenses goal. The Hillcrest church of Christ in Neosho, Missouri will serve as the sponsoring congregation for the school, overseeing the collection and distribution of the funds needed.

If you would like more information about this extension school, you may contact me at:

1401 E. Jefferson St.
Hugo, OK 74743
Phone: (580) 326-1914
Email: dbates@bvbid.org

If you would like to contribute to the financial needs of the Bible Institute of Honduras, please send your checks to:
Hillcrest church of Christ
1037 West South Street
Neosho, MO 64850
(Please indicate on your check that the money is for the Bible Institute of Honduras)

Donnie Bates