REPORT OF THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND THEOLOGICAL STUDIES/ BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE – NIGERIA
NTIGHA- ONITCHA NGWA ABA ABIA STATE
SEPTEMBER 2026
INTRODUCTION
September has been a rewarding and interesting month, too. To God be the glory; the school is on and pushing. We thank Almighty God for His enduring love and mercy, and for His constant help in encouraging and supporting those helping NIATS. Secondly, the NIATS Family is grateful to all the wonderful brethren (BV Family, individuals, and congregations, both locally and internationally) God is using to bless the work done here. Our prayer is that Our Loving Father will keep you strong, healthy, and prosperous in your endeavours.
ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
The students on campus are twenty-five (25), and they are seriously engaging in academic activities. The classes are growing in intensity, and assignments and term papers are piling up. The good thing is that some of the students are turning in assignments and term papers, knowing full well that the earlier, the better. Further, the three nights of Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) are already bearing fruit. It’s interesting to note that from 7 pm to 9 pm every Monday to Wednesday, students gather and the staff watches them read their books. This is a laudable arrangement to cut short the effects of social media among the students. The school looks forward to its mid-semester break by the second week of October.
LIBRARY
The library is growing too. The level of photocopying and printing this semester led to buying another school photocopier and printer. The library has become a busy hub, and the school is grateful for the new books received from Chad Wagner. This has made research even easier for the students and staff.
MATERIAL SUPPORT
The school remains grateful for the material support received. The new students continue to receive new mattresses. This has provided comfort in the process.
FUND RAISING FOR THE FENCING PROJECT
The NIATS Family and the entire brotherhood are waiting patiently for the commencement of the fencing project. As the school noted earlier, she has 4000 blocks molded already from funds locally sourced. It is hoped that our counterpart international support, when received, will enable the fencing project to commence. The school solicits your prayers for this great endeavour to see the light of day. And as soon as the rains abate and we have funding, the work will start.
HOSTEL/WATER
The three hostels are in full use. This semester, the school moved the majority of the students into the foursquare hostel. The windows were glazed with nets to reduce the effect of mosquitoes. There is still a need to plaster and paint some of the hostel rooms to make them more habitable for the students. Moreover, it is still interesting to state that since the school treated the water and washed the two separate tanks supplying water in the compound, the students’ health conditions have improved. In fact, this semester, nobody from the school compound has been admitted to the hospital for cases related to typhoid and malaria. This is a welcome development for the school. Prior to the sinking of the new borehole by Healing Hands International, cases of typhoid and malaria were prevalent. Moreover, whenever the main borehole supplying water on campus shuts down, there is usually a water crisis on campus. However, with the new borehole, netting of some of the hostels and treating of the water, the incidences have reduced drastically. The school is grateful for all the support. We solicit your prayers that everything remains stable and moves forward. On a sad note, we wish to report that the brother who has been helping out with our plumbing work in the school died. He came to the school on the fateful day and requested to do some work for us. We asked him to wash the four tanks supplying water. He gladly did. He went home and was invited to quote for another job in Aba area. On his way to the place, he was involved in a fatal accident that claimed his life. The body has since been deposited in the NCH mortuary, and we desire that you commit his young family and the church to prayer.
HEALING HANDS INTERNATIONAL
On the 19th of September, the Healing Hands International team, led by Brother Victor Nyong, visited the NIATS Campus to introduce improved Agricultural methods. The students and Staff were excited to have them on campus. The exercise was robust and encouraging. The school is grateful for this endeavor. It is our prayer that the farm will yield and that this be the beginning of greater sustainability for the school.
CONCLUSION
The school continues to appreciate the efforts of the staff, students and other individuals who are working within the school environment. To those supporting financially, we desire that you know that we do not take for granted your labour of love. We pray that the Lord replenishes you more and more in Christ’s name amen
Solomon Usim
Director, NIATS