So what and where the heck is Liberia? Well it's located on the west coast of Africa (shown in the red box on the map to the left). The country has been torn apart over the last 20 years during two civil wars which have destroyed the infrastructure and economy leaving an entire generation with minimal education and few means of supporting itself. The election of a new president in 2005 has brought hope for restoration, however there is still a long way to go. Here are some helpful links with more information:
BBC Fact Article
Info Please - Liberia
Equip Liberia - unfortunately there is something wrong with the equip homepage, but this should work just as well
A team from my church, Community of Faith Christian Fellowship, is heading to Liberia to join a close friend of mine who has been in Liberia for the last 6 months. She has been working in medical clinics and has seen the Lord do great things! She has heard horror stories about what these people have been through, laughed with them, cried with them and has seen God heal them before her eyes - physically, emotionally and spiritually. We will be doing much of the same – assisting in medical clinics, offering encouragement and support to the native Liberian believers and non-believers as well as foreign staff who have been living there long term.
God loves each of us and His strongest desire is to have us know that. He longs for all of us to know that by believing Jesus truly reconciled us to God we can stand before the Lord and be showered in His love, peace, joy and grace – we may not always be comfortable now, but we have hope in more than the comforts the world has to offer. This is the message we hope to bring to the people of Liberia. We can't meet all of their physical needs, but we are praying that a movement of God's love with be sparked that will carry on long after our departure. God can provide far more than we could even dream of giving, and He has chosen us to be His hands and feet to bring the message of Good News to the broken hearted.
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
3 To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
Isaiah 61:1-3
Thanks so much for supporting what's going on in Liberia!
Love, Sarah
'And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.'
- Romans 10:8-10