Liberian Church Dedication

Two years ago our church presented Pastor White with a very special gift. We raised money to have a church built in Liberia, Africa. Last night Bro. B.J. Wilmoth was with us in service to talk about the dedication of that building. The Gloria J. White Memorial Building is in the village of Marshall Town. It is the only building in the entire village ~ all others are mud huts. It looks something like this:


I wish I had all the pictures that Bro. Wilmoth showed us - these few are from the website of Missionary Albert Stewart. Liberia is a country of extreme poverty. After 14 years of civil war, the country is still trying to recover. The unemployment is 88%. Yet the church members give. They are faithful.

(Repairing a bridge)

Six new church buildings were dedicated while Bro. Wilmoth was there. He also had pictures of a health clinic that is owned and operated by the Pentecostal Church of Liberia. There is only ONE hospital in the entire country, so a clinic like this is invaluable.

(A Liberian "road")

My heart ached for the people who live on 50 Liberian dollars a month ~ that is about 69 US cents. A MONTH! During the most commercialized time of the year, we Americans think we are having difficult economic times, but we live as kings and queens. Bro. Wilmoth told that they were always fed first. When they were finished, whatever food was left on their plates was scraped onto another plate and given to someone else. Not the family pet, but another human being. We have so much!


The most moving story was one he told about a church near Monrovia. It took place during the civil war. Rebels had captured the village and there was no food. The church members would gather, but they were too weak to even sit up for a service. The pastor would preach lying down. The people were starving to death, but they would pray and praise and trust God.


At the end of the service, Bro. Wilmoth reminded us that we can't all go to Africa. But we CAN reach our own city. When we reach our neighbors, the church grows and is able to help more people around the world... and build more churches in Liberia!