Answers to Prayer

1 The ending of the fighting in 1996 and the relative peace has allowed some recovery for the suffering population

Challenges for Prayer

1 The civil war was a tragedy for Liberia, the country was devastated and the people traumatized

a) A government and leadership that rejects oppression, institutional violence and the endemic culture of extortion and corruption

b) A reconciliation between the ethnic groups which were involved in fighting, atrocities and massacres

c) A healing of the terrible physical, psychological and spiritual wounds of the war

d) The rescue of the children of war

2 For decades Christians compromised with evil on an alarming scale

3 There are signs of hope

4 There are serious challenges facing the church:

a) Repair of church buildings and reactivation of institutions closed

b) False teachings have multiplied due to many Christian leaders lost or fleeing for their lives

c) African independent churches

5 Ministry to individuals, families and to Liberian society – impoverished, embittered and demoralized through what they have suffered – is essential

6 Ministry to young people and children has been halted by war and a whole generation of children needs to be evangelized

7 Trained spiritual leaders are few in number

8 Islam's rapid expansion has slowed

9 Less-reached peoples

a) Muslim groups:

b) Traditional peoples with growing Muslim influence:

c) Peoples with strong fetish powers and where a victorious gospel power-encounter must yet come:

10 Missionaries have had a long, hard, uphill struggle to plant churches in the interior – disease, language diversity, entrenched fetishism and now the disruption of war since 1989 have all hampered the work

11 Christian Help Ministries

a) Bible translation and distribution ministries were gravely disrupted

b) Christian literature

c) The JESUS film has been viewed by the majority of the population and has had converting impact on Muslims

d) GRN has now a Liberian base and their tape recordings are being used in 42 languages and dialects

e) Christian radio

Geography

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Area 99,067 sq.km. Heavily forested coastal state adjoining Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire.

Population (2000) 3,154,001 +8.58%AGR

Capital Monrovia 1,150,000.

Peoples

Mande 47.2%; Kru 41.3%; West Atlantic 7.9%; Other 3.6%.

Literacy 38% (64% in 1990). Official language English. All languages 34. Languages with Scriptures 1Bi 12NT 5por 8w.i.p.

Economy

Well-watered, abundant natural resources of iron, diamonds, rubber, timber, etc. Unemployment 95%. Public debt 95% of GNP. Income/person $490 (1.6% of USA).

Politics

In 1847 Liberia became Black Africa's first independent state.

Religion

Liberia was founded as a Christian state.

Churches in Liberia

Missionaries from Liberia

est. 30+

Missionaries to Liberia

Approximately 172 assigned to Liberia

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