A Miracle for the Benin Bible School
Working on the new building, which will house classrooms, a kitchen, and dining area.
I have some very exciting news to share with you about the Bible School in Benin, but first, I need to give you some history of our work in that nation.
In February 2018, I made my first trip to Benin with Evangelist Michael Lusk of Vanguard Evangelism. We had a tremendous time of evangelism, with many people coming to salvation and many miracles. We also held a very fruitful evangelism conference and another conference specifically for evangelists. We also distributed portable PA systems to help the evangelists reach their nation.
We were working with Apostle Isaac Clossou and many other pastors and leaders. Rev. Clossou leads a denomination of 15 churches called the Messenger Church of God. He is also the leader of a Benin national ministerial association which has approximately 200 churches. He’s a dynamic leader with integrity and great ambition for the Kingdom of God.
On that first trip, we visited the village of Danzounmey in southern Benin, where the Messenger Church of God is developing a piece of land to be used for a Bible School, a local church, and a retreat center. Rev. Clossou told me that he was led to start the Bible School so that the work he has started can continue beyond his lifetime.
Mt. Moriah Bible School is located in this very remote village because Rev. Clossou saw that students who were trained in urban locations tended to want to stay in the cities and establish their ministries. He needed a place to raise up ministers who were tough enough to thrive in the rural areas of Benin, where the needs were the greatest. When I first saw this property, I saw a pole shed (with literal poles cut from the woods) and a tin roof. There were no walls. And there was no source of water on the property.
At that time, we decided to help drill a well and build a holding tank for water. In January 2019, Susan and I traveled to Benin and dedicated the well. We also had a tremendous time of ministry, including open-air evangelistic festivals, pastors’ conferences, women’s meetings, and church services. We saw many people come to salvation and many outstanding miracles. Glory to God!
At that time, we saw a part of the pole building was sectioned off with a very thin bamboo-like wall for a classroom and another room with a dirt floor to house the students. Four full-time students were living on the property in very rough conditions. It was then we were inspired to help build a dormitory to house the students along with a pastor and his family. The dormitory was completed in 2021 with the help of many of our partners. Since that time, we have been helping with the provision of food for the students, as well as the pastor and his family.
We have already seen fruit from the Bible School. Three of the four students who we met graduated earlier this year and are now pastoring churches. In addition, a local church has been established at Danzounmey, along with two branch churches in nearby villages. These churches were founded by personal evangelism. Also, a three-day monthly prayer meeting at the site draws people from all over Benin. Each month, people find Christ at these meetings, and miracles of healing and deliverance take place.
Rev. Clossou has the vision to build two more buildings on the property. One for classrooms and a kitchen and dining room, and a second as an administrative building. An architect who attends his church in Cotonou has already drawn up the plans for the buildings and engineering specs and material lists. Each building is constructed with an eye for future expansion with a second floor.
Several months ago, Rev. Clossou told me that they received an offering of nearly $3,000 from his church to begin construction on the building housing the classrooms, kitchen, and dining room. The next thing you know, I received pictures of concrete blocks that were being made on-site for the foundation of the building.
Last month, I was speaking to a farmer friend who asked me how the Bible School project was going in Benin. I gave him an update and mentioned that Isaac was starting another building. Shortly after that, my farmer friend sent a check for $1,000. Then I started getting texts from him asking for more details and the costs of the new building. Finally, I called Rev. Clossou and got all the details, and passed them on to my friend, who then told me that he and his wife wanted to finance the total remaining cost of the new building, an estimated $34,500. Funds have been transferred to Benin, and construction has begun in earnest. Can anyone say, “Praise the Lord!”?
Thank You!
Susan and I want to thank you for all your great support, prayers, and encouragement which keep us going with the Gospel in the U.S., as well as preaching and promoting the Gospel around the world.
Great blessings to you in the new year! We pray for you every day!