Missions

Country of Focus

General: Liberia—work established in 1990; 221 organized churches; 218 not yet organized church; 31,864 members.

Regional: Liberia is on the Africa West Anglophone Field of the Africa Region.

Cultural: Liberia’s history is quite unique in the region. One of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, Liberia boasts 28 ethnic groups and languages. In the 15^th century, European outposts were established along the coastline, but Liberia never fell under European colonial rule.  Early in the 19^th century, the United States began sending freed people of color to establish settlements. In 1847, these settlers declared their independence from the United States, and wrote their own constitution, establishing the first republic in Africa.

Special: The official language of Liberia is English, though there are 20 ethnic oral languages, few of which can be written. The majority religion is Christianity (85.6%), with a growing Muslim population comprising another 12.2% of the religious landscape. Nearly 64% of the Liberian population is under the age of 25, 85% of whom are unemployed. The percentage of the population living below the poverty line is over 64%. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a more critical food insecurity environment for large portions of the population. The literacy rate stands at just over 48%, which calls for a more robust educational system in the country.

Mission and Ministry

Mission Challenges:

During the COVID-19 pandemic the number of cases in Liberia has reached 4,994 with 135 reported deaths.

Liberia has gone through many adversities: civil war, Ebola, and now COVID-19. Together, these have influenced the economy of Liberia in critical ways. The masses have barely been able to feed their families. Jobs are scarce, and those who serve as civil servants have seen their salaries delayed. Basic commodities are expensive when available. There is a sense of hopelessness that pervades the country. This is the environment in which the Church of the Nazarene ministers.

Ministry Approaches:

The churches in Liberia have extended the compassionate hand of Jesus to help orphans and street children, in an effort to provide better living conditions. Through the partnership of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries International, the churches have been empowering underprivileged or less fortunate women and girls, and provide other basic community needs: safe drinking water, basic hygiene, and sanitation.  It is not surprising, in such a context of widespread need, that churches must make choices regarding how to use limited resources. In Liberia, resources are being utilized to help those who have little, and who live their lives on the edges of hope and despair.

Praises

• • Amid the difficulties and uncertain circumstances facing the church and people of Liberia, the church remains resilient and irrepressible.
  • Give praise to God for the passion of our leaders to take the gospel to unreached areas dominated by Islam.
  • Give thanks to God that church members remain committed to supporting the mission of the Church of the Nazarene out of their poverty.
  • Praise God for healing of sick family members within the churches, for members whose health is being restored in these desperate days.
  • Give thanks for the faithful service of pastors and church leaders in local churches and in their extended communities.
  • “We give thanks that none of our leaders’ families have been victims of the Coronavirus, and for God’s protection during this pandemic.” [Vidal Cole]

Prayer Requests

• Pray that the Lord will grant pastors and church leaders the enabling grace to remain faithful in their service to God in these challenging times.
• Pray that the Lord will provide for and meet the spiritual, physical, and financial needs of all those seeking to remain faithful to God in the churches in Liberia.
• Pray for the congregants and leaders of our churches in Liberia, that they will have open hearts and minds to the Word of God in and for these days, and will participate with joy in the praise and worship of God; and that this will be a living testimony of their faith in their communities.
• Pray that the practical needs for resources to complete ongoing church building projects, that will help to meet the needs of communities, may be met.
• Pray for continued and exponential church growth in Liberia, and the spread of scriptural holiness throughout the land.
• Pray that the Lord will grant abundant wisdom for church leaders, including district superintendents, pastors, and lay leaders.
• Pray for healing for those who are sick in our congregations, and that God will comfort families who have suffered loss and bereavement during the pandemic.