Sondra and I were recently following up on reports that we had been hearing of World Bible School Follow-up volunteers in Manicaland in the eastern part of Zimbabwe. A couple of years ago, several graduates of the Mutare School of Preaching embarked upon a mission of recruiting high school students in the public schools of this remote area. Sondra and I, along with our youngest son Bryson, even traveled those dusty roads to help in recruitment in 2024.
These faithful young evangelists and their wives enrolled hundreds of Students in our WBS Ocean Bridge program. Furthermore, headmasters and teachers were enrolled as well. One of our WBS Board members, Washington Mhlanga, wrote to me saying that these young volunteers were planting a new church in one of the schools where they had excellent results. Bro. Mhlanga traveled across the country to participate and help. 
Since the first congregation was planted, three more congregations have been planted. All of these young congregations meet in the high school buildings where the students were recruited. Machona Monyamane was gracious enough to drive Sondra and I from South Africa. As the three of us arrived for a visit, three Gospel meetings were organized for follow up with these four congregations and their communities.
Local government officials, school administrators, and community leaders gave testimony as to how their school’s student body began functioning on a higher level when the teachings of the Bible were a part of their daily studies! Over and over they thanked WBS for providing these courses.
Over the course of our Gospel meetings some 20 more souls, both parents and students, came forward to be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.
The Key to Fruitful Follow-up?
The church working together is the key! The Study Helper who is willing to adopt Students, the church that is willing to start an Ocean Bridge teaching program, WBS who develops and maintains the tools, the volunteer who recruits the Students, the evangelist who goes the second mile for Follow-up, and the new church that embraces the mission of Christ along with her older sister congregations! We see this plan working itself out in the book of Acts. What a blessing and a joy to participate in what Jesus is still doing in such a powerful way!
This issue of ACTION! Magazine is dedicated to fruitful Bible study.
That means Bible study that applies the great lessons of the Word of God to our daily lives, Bible study that takes action and puts our beliefs into practice, Bible study that takes up the mission of Christ and says, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
ACTION! is World Bible School's flagship publication. Read inspiring success stories, tips on how to share the Gospel with others and updates on WBS and its tools!
In this episode of One More Chapter, Brian Rex Davis, Noah Davis, and Bryson Davis continue their study of biblical “principle”, explaining how general teachings give inclusive guidance that can be applied in various ways, while specific commands are authoritative and must shape belief and practice.
This episode of One More Chapter continues the series on Bible study by introducing the idea of “principle” as a way to bridge what a passage originally meant and what it means today, after first stressing purpose and context. The team takes a long–but useful–detour into Bible translations and versions—covering textual preservation, the spectrum from word-for-word to paraphrase, group vs. single-translator work, Dead Sea Scrolls, and which editions they personally use (NASB 1995, ESV, NIV 1984, etc.). The discussion on ‘principle’ will continue in the next episode!
This episode explores how understanding the purpose behind a Bible passage helps bridge the gap between what it originally meant and how it should shape life today. Brian, Noah, and Bryson discuss how purpose protects against shallow, checklist-style interpretation and helps distinguish enduring principles and examples from incidental details.
Brian Rex Davis sits down with Sahadevudu Vanga of India, a fellow missionary since gospel meetings in 1995. They talk about World Bible School’s renewed work in India and the effort to put Telugu translations and advanced courses—especially The Kingdom of God—into digital form. The conversation also covers family ministry, cultural care in a changing India, and tools that serve the next generation of the church.