Liberia:
“Investing in What Matters”
"I AM STANDING HERE TODAY BECAUSE
SOMEONE CARED,” Matthew Sakeuh shared with World
Missionary Press staff
during a daily chapel service. As a boy of 12 growing up in Liberia, Matthew
knew nothing of the God who had created him and sent His Son to
redeem him. A missionary came to his town to tell the people about Jesus.
Matthew had never seen a white person, and the Liberians thought the lady
was a ghost. Matthew listened as she quoted John 3:16 and spoke of a God who
loved him. His tender heart was touched to know that
someone loved him, and he willingly gave his heart and life to this Jesus
who died for him.
During the terrible years of civil war and devastation that ravaged the nation of Liberia, Matthew and his young family spent seven years in a refugee camp in the neighboring nation of Ivory Coast. Working every day at whatever he could do to feed his family, he wondered at the Lord’s plan for his life. Now he can look back and give testimony to God’s direction and provision. He has returned to Liberia, taking hope with him. For this task he has asked WMP for Scripture booklets and Bible studies.
Another ministry in Liberia, sensing an urgent need to
reach those who were part of the civil war, is actively engaged in
winning the 100,000 militia and ex-combatants to Jesus. During 15
years of war, more than 250,000 people were killed and more than one million
became refugees. Much of the violence grew out of ethnic and tribal
conflict. Healing these wounds and bringing Liberians together as a stable
nation can occur only as the Holy Spirit changes hearts.
Bible literature is scarce. A Liberian pastor wrote, “We would be too glad to work along with you in seeding Liberia with the Word of God, which we so desperately need here.” —C.J.
Taking a supply of WMP booklets, Matthew Sakeuh returned to Liberia. At a conference of pastors and Christian leaders, he met with more than 300 men and women, sharing the small supply of WMP material. Eagerly they received the precious booklets. Pastors working in refugee camps pleaded for more. Their message to Matthew: “This may be our only Bible. Tell them we need more!” When Matthew returned to the U.S., he contacted WMP about a larger supply of booklets. During the intervening months, God had been leading WMP to provide a large shipment for Every Home for Christ in Liberia. Sydney Thomas, EHC director for Liberia, had agreed to serve as WMP’s coordinator there. Doors are opening to this needy country, which for several years had been closed to any shipments of WMP materials.
Many Liberians who fled the country during the war are coming back. The needs are overwhelming, yet the God we serve can and will show His love to the Liberian people who have suffered so much. Through those willing to serve, His Word will go out. In a request for booklets, a Liberian evangelist noted the positive signs of the most recent election and what it means for the furtherance of the gospel. “In this encouraging development, we as a ministry feel more challenged to move more proactively with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many people were abused; others had parents, children, and loved ones killed. These are people we feel challenged to reach in the remote parts of Liberia. These are people who cannot afford their daily meals or even the purchase of a Bible to know and love their Creator.”
WMP will soon be sending a 20-foot container with Bible
studies, Scripture booklets, and salvation coloring books for these eager
workers in Liberia. Matthew Sakeuh calls that “investing in what
matters.” Now is the time for Liberia. Will you help us
pour God’s Word into this thirsty land?
[An investment of $100 will provide 2,500 Scripture booklets for the people of Liberia. A gift of $200 will enable 5,000 people in that troubled land to read of God’s love and forgiveness.]
Missionary Press staff
during a daily chapel service. As a boy of 12 growing up in Liberia, Matthew
knew nothing of the God who had created him and sent His Son to
redeem him. A missionary came to his town to tell the people about Jesus.
Matthew had never seen a white person, and the Liberians thought the lady
was a ghost. Matthew listened as she quoted John 3:16 and spoke of a God who
loved him. His tender heart was touched to know that
someone loved him, and he willingly gave his heart and life to this Jesus
who died for him.During the terrible years of civil war and devastation that ravaged the nation of Liberia, Matthew and his young family spent seven years in a refugee camp in the neighboring nation of Ivory Coast. Working every day at whatever he could do to feed his family, he wondered at the Lord’s plan for his life. Now he can look back and give testimony to God’s direction and provision. He has returned to Liberia, taking hope with him. For this task he has asked WMP for Scripture booklets and Bible studies.
Another ministry in Liberia, sensing an urgent need to
reach those who were part of the civil war, is actively engaged in
winning the 100,000 militia and ex-combatants to Jesus. During 15
years of war, more than 250,000 people were killed and more than one million
became refugees. Much of the violence grew out of ethnic and tribal
conflict. Healing these wounds and bringing Liberians together as a stable
nation can occur only as the Holy Spirit changes hearts.Bible literature is scarce. A Liberian pastor wrote, “We would be too glad to work along with you in seeding Liberia with the Word of God, which we so desperately need here.” —C.J.
Taking a supply of WMP booklets, Matthew Sakeuh returned to Liberia. At a conference of pastors and Christian leaders, he met with more than 300 men and women, sharing the small supply of WMP material. Eagerly they received the precious booklets. Pastors working in refugee camps pleaded for more. Their message to Matthew: “This may be our only Bible. Tell them we need more!” When Matthew returned to the U.S., he contacted WMP about a larger supply of booklets. During the intervening months, God had been leading WMP to provide a large shipment for Every Home for Christ in Liberia. Sydney Thomas, EHC director for Liberia, had agreed to serve as WMP’s coordinator there. Doors are opening to this needy country, which for several years had been closed to any shipments of WMP materials.
Many Liberians who fled the country during the war are coming back. The needs are overwhelming, yet the God we serve can and will show His love to the Liberian people who have suffered so much. Through those willing to serve, His Word will go out. In a request for booklets, a Liberian evangelist noted the positive signs of the most recent election and what it means for the furtherance of the gospel. “In this encouraging development, we as a ministry feel more challenged to move more proactively with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many people were abused; others had parents, children, and loved ones killed. These are people we feel challenged to reach in the remote parts of Liberia. These are people who cannot afford their daily meals or even the purchase of a Bible to know and love their Creator.”
WMP will soon be sending a 20-foot container with Bible
studies, Scripture booklets, and salvation coloring books for these eager
workers in Liberia. Matthew Sakeuh calls that “investing in what
matters.” Now is the time for Liberia. Will you help us
pour God’s Word into this thirsty land?[An investment of $100 will provide 2,500 Scripture booklets for the people of Liberia. A gift of $200 will enable 5,000 people in that troubled land to read of God’s love and forgiveness.]
A NEED AND OPPORTUNITY FOR WMP LITERATURE IN
INDONESIA
WMP has the been asked by Every Home for
Christ in Indonesia for 500,000 copies each of Help From
Above
and The Way to God in Indonesian for a major outreach in
eastern Java. The following report presents the opportunity and the need
for this material. (The Indonesian government requires that booklets be
printed in Indonesia for economic reasons.)
EHC partners with many local evangelical churches, since door-to-door distribution cannot be done due to the political situation. Church leaders who come to EHC’s seminars and conferences will take the literature to their own neighborhoods and communities.
EHC also works with a prison ministry organization which will hand WMP literature to prisoners in the area. They also are in partnership with churches and organizations that work in hospitals, training volunteers to share the good news to hospital patients and their relatives.
Missionaries from Hong Kong who are stationed in Jakarta also partner in distributing gospel materials to thousands of Indonesian maids or servants who live in Hong Kong. There they have more freedom to read the Word of God, study the Bible, and go to Christian gatherings.
EHC Indonesia works with high school, college, and university students, supplying WMP materials for sharing among fellow students.
Those who want to know more about Jesus can enroll in Bible-study courses. New believers are introduced to
Christian
fellowships, local churches, and cell groups that are available in their
neighborhood. They receive a Gospel of Luke, Gospel of John, and
other Bible portions. EHC tries to provide a New Testament or a complete
Bible.
EHC in Indonesia faces many difficulties and needs to be creative in means of distribution, since usually government regulations—issued by the Minister of Religious Affairs and Minister of Domestic Affairs—limit the activity of spreading the gospel. Door-to-door distribution would need special permission. They are also dealing with the power of darkness that makes people spiritually blind so that they do not accept the truth of the gospel.
As Brother Karl says, “It is so important to put the Word of God in the hands of the people in Indonesia. The Word of God has the power to change life. The Word of God is the most important factor needed by people who are bound by Satan and the power of sin and who face crises, difficulties, and economic problems. The printed Word of God can be read over and over again.”
Above
and The Way to God in Indonesian for a major outreach in
eastern Java. The following report presents the opportunity and the need
for this material. (The Indonesian government requires that booklets be
printed in Indonesia for economic reasons.)EHC partners with many local evangelical churches, since door-to-door distribution cannot be done due to the political situation. Church leaders who come to EHC’s seminars and conferences will take the literature to their own neighborhoods and communities.
EHC also works with a prison ministry organization which will hand WMP literature to prisoners in the area. They also are in partnership with churches and organizations that work in hospitals, training volunteers to share the good news to hospital patients and their relatives.
Missionaries from Hong Kong who are stationed in Jakarta also partner in distributing gospel materials to thousands of Indonesian maids or servants who live in Hong Kong. There they have more freedom to read the Word of God, study the Bible, and go to Christian gatherings.
EHC Indonesia works with high school, college, and university students, supplying WMP materials for sharing among fellow students.
Those who want to know more about Jesus can enroll in Bible-study courses. New believers are introduced to
Christian
fellowships, local churches, and cell groups that are available in their
neighborhood. They receive a Gospel of Luke, Gospel of John, and
other Bible portions. EHC tries to provide a New Testament or a complete
Bible.EHC in Indonesia faces many difficulties and needs to be creative in means of distribution, since usually government regulations—issued by the Minister of Religious Affairs and Minister of Domestic Affairs—limit the activity of spreading the gospel. Door-to-door distribution would need special permission. They are also dealing with the power of darkness that makes people spiritually blind so that they do not accept the truth of the gospel.
As Brother Karl says, “It is so important to put the Word of God in the hands of the people in Indonesia. The Word of God has the power to change life. The Word of God is the most important factor needed by people who are bound by Satan and the power of sin and who face crises, difficulties, and economic problems. The printed Word of God can be read over and over again.”
New Shipment for Nicaragua
A 20-foot container shipment of Spanish and Miskito booklets is being prepared for Steve Bakos of the Messiah Project in Nicaragua. After meeting with pastors and directors to assess plans for the year’s outreach, he requested 2,000 boxes of Scripture booklets, Bible studies, and coloring books. Steve reports that the Lord has granted them great favor in their area and that He is touching the hearts of thousands in Nicaragua.
He writes, “It has been a special privilege for me to watch the tremendous impact WMP’s literature is having along the Rio Coco, a region so spiritually dark and void of the Word of God. Thank you so much for considering our literature request. The 2,000 boxes you have offered are an incredible blessing, and we praise the Lord for WMP.”
[Every dollar donated for Nicaragua will provide 25 Scripture booklets, each filled with about 300 Scripture verses arranged by vital topics. Each $20 gift will reach 500 people.]
A 20-foot container shipment of Spanish and Miskito booklets is being prepared for Steve Bakos of the Messiah Project in Nicaragua. After meeting with pastors and directors to assess plans for the year’s outreach, he requested 2,000 boxes of Scripture booklets, Bible studies, and coloring books. Steve reports that the Lord has granted them great favor in their area and that He is touching the hearts of thousands in Nicaragua.
He writes, “It has been a special privilege for me to watch the tremendous impact WMP’s literature is having along the Rio Coco, a region so spiritually dark and void of the Word of God. Thank you so much for considering our literature request. The 2,000 boxes you have offered are an incredible blessing, and we praise the Lord for WMP.”
[Every dollar donated for Nicaragua will provide 25 Scripture booklets, each filled with about 300 Scripture verses arranged by vital topics. Each $20 gift will reach 500 people.]