A Pastor’s Prayer Journey
Two Preachers Sharing Prayers & ScriptureArchive for missions
How a small Church can make a big difference
Many churches live in a state of defeat. We mumble and grumble about our size about what we can and cannot do. Sadly we miss out on opportunities to make an impact for the kingdom. We have believed the lie that we can do effective ministry when we get to a certain point or size. Yet God calls us to simply be faithful where we are at with what we have. So with that said let me share with you how God is moving in an incredible way in our missions program.
Last year myself along with several other members from our church went to Liberia Africa. At the time this was my third trip to Liberia. On this trip we visited with Danny Buegar who was the pastor of the United Christian Church of Monrovia. This is a church of 200 members. Their church building was simply made of some bamboo and thatched roof. During the rainy season the members would get wet during the service. But really to know more about this church you need to know more about Liberia.
Liberia ended a 14 year civil war just a few years ago. The war devastated the country. Unemployment is a staggering 85%. And even those who work do not make much. A doctor makes about 5 dollars a day. To say there is a health crisis would be an understatement. Nearly the whole population struggles with Malaria. Children under 5 have a 50/50 chance of survival. To compound health issues most Liberians do not have access to clean drinking water. Could things be worse? The answer is yes. Besides all the health problems, Liberia is a society of uneducated people. Nearly 3/4 of the children do not attend school. Spiritually Liberia has great needs. In a country where brutality has been the norm there is a great need for the peace that can only come from Christ. So that is some of the bad, but let me share some good.
For several years our church has helped out with some teaching and training teams and also have sent some supplies to Liberia to help the Liberian people. A year ago God was calling us to do more. And so we went to prayer and asked God to use us. And this is how He used us.
Our children had a VBS program in which they raised $8,000 to purchase three water systems to help clean water for Liberians. Shortly after this event we decided that we wanted to send a team to Liberia that would be more than a few teachers. We had been told by the Liberians that churches would send money to help them but very rarely would they send people. And of those people who came they only sent a few men. So we put together a team of 26 people. Half of that group was women. Knowing that the needs were great we decided first that we wanted to make sure that the Monrovia church would have a place where they could worship without getting wet. We also wanted to build a building that could be used as a school for children and we wanted this building to be a place where training could take place for other churches throughout Liberia. Besides the building we wanted to do more to help the people of Liberia. We wanted to get more water systems that could go to different places around Liberia and bring a medical team to this desperate country.
So that is a little of what we wanted to do. Let me share in just a nutshell what God provided and what He continues to do. Over this last year God provided over $150,000 in money and supplies. 5 water systems were purchased. Over $15,000 worth of tools were donated to help in the construction part of the church. Literally thousands of dollars of medical supplies were given to help towards a medical clinic. $30,000 was donated by individuals and churches to help towards the building project. Thousands of dollars worth of clothing, food, school books, VBS supplies, Bibles and Christian materials were donated and shipped to Liberia. A shipping container was purchased to send all these supplies.
Besides all of these funds and supplies going to Liberia the team of 26 people had to raise $3,000 each to make this trip. The team raised all their funds(some time when I have a chance I need to share how God provided in amazing ways.) But let me share with you what the team was able to accomplish. First we set up a medical clinic and saw in just 4 days over 600 Liberian people. We held a VBS which had 400 children attend. We held a woman’s conference that had over 100 women in attendance. During our visit we set up 5 water systems plus trained those who would be providing the water. Let me say that God was incredible. And we thank and praise him for all he has done.
So where does this leave us? Well we are still trying to finish the church/school building. We believe that with $45,000 more we will have this building up and serving the people of Monrovia. Right now all the foundation work is done. Our trip has also left us with a hunger to do more for the kingdom of God. We plan to send more medical teams in the future. We also want to help with the local churches to plant more churches and to provide more water systems. We believe that God has called us to be faithful and so we plan to dream big and see what God does. We would love for others to team up with us and do something incredible for the Lord. We would love to hear from you. Maybe God has you reading this post for the very reason of going to Liberia with us or helping us financially finish the building. Who knows but God has His plans. All we have to do is be faithful and He will do the rest.
Why Africa?/Why Not Africa!
OK Jerry I am really sorry for my laziness on this site but now is the time to get started again.
I have heard the comments. “Why go to Africa, Don’t we have plenty of needs right here in our country?” First let me say that most that ask this questions usually do not really even care for the people of their own country. Secondly many do not understand the word need. Yes there are many who have needs in this country. Matter of fact the needs in the U.S. are overwhelming to say the least. But let me now tackle this from another angle.
The reason why we must go to Africa is that those in Africa especially places like Liberia where I have been are a people without a voice. There is no one who is helping them. They have no medical clinics that you can walk in to. They do not receive food stamps or medicaid or any other government help or handout. The dying baby in Africa has no one. To say it again they have no voice in this World. Here in the U.S. we have a voice. And if we do not have one it is usually because we have burned that bridge on our own doing. Now please do not attack me just yet. There are those in our own culture who do not have a voice, but not in the numbers we see in places like Africa.
So why am I writing this piece. What has possessed me to speak up after being silent for so long on this blog. Well here is the answer.
I have been to Africa on 4 different visits but on my last visit God tugged at my heart and wanted me to see things that brought me to tears. He wanted me to see myriads of sick people who are harassed and helpless like a sheep without a shepherd. He wanted me to see dying babies who have no hope without quick intervention. He wanted me to see water that was so contaminated that it was literally killing a whole country. He wanted me to see people who felt like the World had forgotten them. Liberia is not the only forgotten place in the World but it is the one that God has sent me to. It is the place where God has called me to be a voice for the voiceless.
So I end this little thought not with a condemnation but with a plea. My plea is simply this. Will anyone join with me as I seek to be a voice for the voiceless? Is their a doctor who would give of himself for two weeks out of this year to go and provide medical help for the sick of Liberia? Are their people who will help me to find ways to bring fresh water to Liberia? Is their one who would provide the funds needed to finish a building that is going to be used as a school and medical clinic and a church? Please will someone help do something before it is too late.
It may sound like I am desperate. I am. But I believe like Esther we have been called for such a time as this. We can change the communities we live in and we can make a difference in other places as well. Please feel free to share ideas and thoughts with me and if you feel bold enough I will even take you to Africa so you can really make an impact on the Kingdom.
One Hour and No More!!!
Each day I find my passion for Jesus growing. I have by no means arrived. But I know where I need to go and it points to Jesus. I am awed by His creation! I am moved by His generosity! Most importantly I am eternally grateful that I am not going to Hell. By the grace of God and His mercy on me I have been bought. Oh how sweet this sounds as I write it. To know that I will be spending eternity with Jesus. Praise you God for all that you have done for me. I could not in a million years give you enough thanks-but let me simply give you praise in this moment. Is not our God worth every ounce of our energy? I know He is and I know many of you know He is. So with that said let me just vent for a moment.
I want to share certain words with you. Yet I am not sure if these words would be considered vulgar and foul or just simply holy indignation. Since I am not sure I will simply tell you the situation which dumbfounds me.
Several days ago I was asked to speak at a church to be their missionary speaker. The woman who I spoke to wanted me to share about our Work in Liberia Africa but she wanted to make me aware of the time restrictions and other arrangements. Now I am fully aware and respectful to time restrictions. I think some people speak to long and bore us all. Some people should not even be allowed to get up and speak(Sorry-just my unholy side). Yet as she shared with me about these time restrictions, she did so to remind me that their were those in the church who would not come to church if they knew it was a missionary speaker. Matter of fact they were going to cut the typical greeting time where someone reads something funny or heart warming they found on the Internet just so they could give me a little more time. Well that is certainly generous of them. Throughout our conversation this woman apologized to me that some in the church might be upset that the “preacher” was not preaching that day. Of course they would be. Many of those faithful saints have given their two dollars each week(none towards missions of course) and by golly they deserve to hear the guy they hired. Oh and the guy they hired had better be done in 20 minutes and or less.
I wish I could describe the whole telephone conversation for you. But in a nutshell the creator of the Universe had 1 hour and if I could cut it down to less that would help since their were some who don’t come to church to hear a missionary speaker. Good thing they were not around 2,000 years ago, the apostle Paul would not be welcome. Really though this is not the sad part to this who situation. The sad part is that the leadership does not have the fortitude to simply stand up and call these non-believers to task. Oh I am sorry let’s call them members. I would not want them to be offended.
Well okay I got this of my chest and I am sure that you have room to be critical of my heart and thoughts. Although we need not to look too far to find that we have many churches with people we are afraid to call to task because we may lose our job or reputation or who knows what. By golly if Jesus needs 1 hour and 15 minutes than he probably will not be invited to this church.
Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
I have just returned back from Liberia, Africa. It has been a wonderful trip to see how God is moving in other places around the World. Liberia is a country that has recently come through a 14 year civil war. It is true “war is hell”. This is the case for the country of Liberia. This country rich in natural resources has been knocked into the stone ages. 85% of the people are unemployed. The average salary for a year is $450 dollars. Not much for any place in the World. But Liberia’s true poverty goes a lot deeper. It is nation that is not only in desperate need of God but it is in desperate need of seeing God. It is hard to see God when you physically are starving. I guess this is where I come into the story.
I have been to Liberia on 3 previous trips. On two of these trips I had the opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I enjoy sharing Christ with people. I am a firm believer that there is no hope outside of Jesus Christ. Yet this last time to Liberia God seem to impress on me not a new message but a more complete message. On my airplane ride home(plenty of time to think on a long flight) God seem to overwhelm me with this key thought. Basically this thought evolved from some things I really enjoy. I enjoy clean drinking water. I also enjoy going to church and not getting rained on. I enjoy the opportunity of working hard and earning a income to take care of my family. And now this is where God comes in. I heard his voice. It was not audible. But it was certainly clear. “David” he said, “You enjoy these basics of life, don’t you think that others especially in Liberia would enjoy these as well?” That’s when it hit me. God said to love my neighbor as myself. I enjoy the basics of life. If I enjoy these things why would I not seek to do what I could to help those who did not have access to these things enjoy them as well. If I truly love my neighbor I would seek to take care of Him.
This may not be a huge revelation to you. It certainly is not new to anyone but God certainly reminded me that He put me on this earth to love others not only with words but to take care of them physically as well. And so here is my dilemma. I have come home and am back to drinking my filtered water and worshipping in my climate controlled church and eating foods that do not make me sick while thousands of miles away my brothers in Christ are struggling to find these things that I take for granted. And so I am burdened, maybe even passioned about seeking to find away to do something about this matter. Since I have come home I have shared with my church that I want us to go back next February and build a church building that does not have a leaky roof. I also want us to bring over a water system that will clean their contaminated water. I want to simply love them in the name of Jesus. The project is huge. It is of goliath proportions. The building itself may cost over $60,000 US dollars. The water system is several thousand. Some may say just do a little at a time. But why is it that we here in the states have to have our satisfaction taken care instantly while others wait. By the way this is not an indictment on our culture as much as it is a reason to be more passioned to somehow help the church in Liberia sooner than later.
I do not know where God is going to lead me or my team going to Africa next year. I do not know where resources will come from. But I do know that our Father has all the resources he needs to take care of his people. So I guess I am simply asking you to pray for the work in Liberia. Pray for me that I will know how to go about putting together a project such as the one i have mentioned. Pray that God will send people my way or resources my way so that we can love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.
Thanks for hearing me. God is so good. If you want to know how you can be a part of what God is doing in Liberia please let me know there is so much work to be done. God is good!
