Serve with ABWE
Africa: Liberia
Liberia’s origins are entangled with America’s. In the 19th century, free and enslaved African Americans faced continued hardship and inequality. Many called for return to the land of their forebears. Liberia, which means “the free land,” was founded in 1822 by an Act of Congress and populated by 20,000 freed slaves from America.
After a coup in 1980, Liberia’s government became increasingly unstable. Massive corruption and repression of the tribal Mano and Gio peoples provoked a 1989 revolution led by Charles Taylor, and the country descended into civil war. During the 1990s, the country became a killing field. In 1996, a peace treaty was brokered when Taylor was elected president in the country’s first free and open elections. However, civil strife reignited when, infuriated by Taylor’s autocratic rule and flagrant human rights abuses, two rebel groups began fighting to remove Taylor from power.
The years of fighting coupled with the flight of most businesses have disrupted formal economic activity and destabilized other countries in West Africa, including Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.
The social and economic structure of this war-torn country have recently been destroyed again by a new outbreak of civil strife. Since June 2003, the capital, Monrovia, has been plunged into chaos and destruction as rebel factions fight to overthrow President Taylor. Over 500,000 refugees have fled, hundreds of civilians have been killed in the crossfire, and many others are dying from lack of water and food. Cholera threatens to become an epidemic.
To address this humanitarian crisis, we have established a relief fund for Liberians. Contributions can be sent to ABWE, marked “Liberia Relief.”
Online Feature
Crisis in Liberia - By Carolynn Sharp
“Since early summer, Liberia has been in chaos. Rebels swarm in the streets, men without uniforms, their only authority the large machine guns they carry.” ABWE missionary Carolynn Sharp reports.
Vision for Liberia
ABWE is committed to partnering with the Africa Fundamental Baptist Mission (AFBM) to pursue four goals:
- Church Planting/Theological Education
- Christian School Development
- Medical Clinic Evangelism
- Agriculture Development
With the country’s infrastructure in chaos, Liberians badly need education and medical treatment. Therefore, we will also branch into the interior, where ABWE is already partnering with AFBM at a medical clinic in Gbarnga, and will assist Christian schools throughout the country.
Three career missionary couples, the Lippys, the Elsers, and the Mathews, Carolynn Sharp, a nurse, and Steve Trexler, a physician’s assistant, are on assignment to Liberia. We are in great need of more team members with a heart for training leaders, partnering with national churches in church planting, and developing missions-minded Liberians. English is the primary language of communication, in addition to some tribal languages.
Regional Focus
Liberia shares common needs with other ABWE fields in West Africa. Our regional focus on developing Muslim ministries and AIDS/HIV ministries across West Africa is highly pertinent to Liberia. We are committed to reaching both the tribal groups in the interior and the Muslims in the north.
This video provides an overview of ABWE’s ministries in Liberia. The people in this small West African country are in need of almost every basic human necessity. Their greatest need, however, is spiritual. A Liberian pastor pleaded with ABWE administrators, “Please send us a boatload of missionaries.”
Opportunities abound for medical workers, school teachers, agri-business professionals, and Bible college professors. Will you consider answering the call, “Come over and help us?”
Order this inspiring video featuring ABWE’s ministry in Liberia.
Liberia Information
Date Entered: 2000
Development Opportunities: Church Planting, Theological Education, Christian Development, Medical Clinic Evangelism.
Country Statistics: For up-to-date country statistics please visit the website(s) listed below.
World Factbook - Liberia