By JOhN LINdSEy, BMAA Missionary to Africa
Trials turn Liberians to Christ and BMAA rescue stations are there with the Gospel lifeline to freedom
hey lay on the jungle floor trying to
Today, the BMA of Africa has 36 missions and four church plant-
T
ers actively sharing the Gospel in Liberia.
be small and invisible. They prayed
The Liberian nation was founded in 1822 when the American
silently that the “boy soldiers” of Colonization Society received a grant from the native rulers for
Liberian President, Charles Taylor,
land on which they could resettle freed American slaves wishing
to return to Africa. Ralph Randolph Gurley, an American agent
would move on. They had seen the work of
for the society, governed the resettlement of the slaves until 1841
the drug-crazed 12 and 13-year-old kids with
and named the new nation “Liberia”. Since its inception, this
new nation has struggled to live up to its purpose of providing a
AK 47s who killed for fun. It was hard to be
nation of liberty for those who come to it. Its connections with
still and silent while the insects invaded your America remain to be strong today.
clothing and bit and stung your skin, but they
Liberia is slightly larger than the state of Tennessee and has a
population of nearly 3.5 million people. The descendants of the
knew that to move now would bring the fatal
resettled slaves make up only 5 percent of the total population.
sting of a bullet. They focused their thoughts
Twenty native tribes make up the other 95 percent. In this popu-
lation, 20 percent are Muslim believers and the remaining 80 per-
on praying and singing hymns in their minds
cent are divided equally among those who call themselves Christian
to ease their hearts and soothe their pain. and traditional believers. English is the official language, but less
Trial and tribulation often turn people toward God. The pres- than 40 percent of the population is fluent in it. The remaining 60
sures and savagery of war vividly remind us of the temporary percent use one of the more than 20 native languages. Only a few
nature of life on this earth as no other teacher can do. Liberians of these are written languages that can be used in correspondence.
have had abundant opportunities to learn that lesson. In 1980, The many years of turmoil and war in Liberia have destroyed
Samuel Doe (pronounced dough-ay) led a violent military coup its economy and wrecked its infrastructure. Common provisions
followed by a bloody purge of his supposed enemies. Anyone who such as electricity and drinkable water are extremely limited. Un-
was not an ardent supporter was suspect and could be drug out of employment is over 85 percent. Disease and pestilence abound.
their house and shot. In 1989, Charles Taylor launched a rebellion But, true to our experience in other parts of West Africa where
against Doe that initiated a civil war that affected Liberia until poverty abounds, the people are continually reminded that they
U.N. intervention in 2003. Because their lives have been tenuous need the Lord and readily turn to Him. The BMA has 40 rescue
for so long, many people have turned to the only security they stations in Liberia throwing out the lifeline of the Gospel to
know of—a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. rescue those who will only receive it. Pray for the native mission-
In 1998, God arranged for the BMA of Africa and America to aries and church planters who live in terrible conditions while
jointly establish rescue stations (missions) in Liberian refugee reaching out to their people with the true message of hope. Pray
camps along Liberia’s border in Ivory Coast. Eleven BMA mis- for our God to provide the needs of the men and women of the
sions were established and over the period of the next few years, BMA missions. Then, get off your knees and come join in the
as the war in Liberia eased up, these missions went into Liberia. rescue effort in West Africa and the rest of the world. n
bmaamissions.org n theGLEANER 21
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32