Liberating souls in Liberia
 

The dictionary defines the work of liberating as “to set free, release… to release from slavery and enemy occupation.” For sixteen years the tiny nation of Liberia has endured a terrible civil war that has resulted in more than a quarter of a million deaths, a half million wounded, and over a million living in refugee camps! Now as it seems that peace is finally succeeding, it looks as though Liberia has a chance at learning what liberty is. In spite of the war and the casualties affected by it, the churches of Christ have continued to grow to more than 125 congregations and over 10,000 adult members! A great part of that success is due to the work of the church’s partnership with World Radio that has enabled the Gospel to be preached and church members to be encouraged, even through the heaviest of fighting periods!

The real tragedy in Liberia is that tens of thousands of young people have grown up in the midst of a culture of violence and without a formal education. Today, thousands of those youth are being offered opportunities to return to school, but they have in many instances grown up with a gun in their hands. There are many instances of parents being murdered before the eyes of their own children and the kids then being taken to training camps to learn the skills of guerilla warfare! Christ and his church are on the scene and are making a difference. World Radio has been broadcasting weekly in the capital city of Monrovia since 1975. Today, the program is produced, recorded and overseen by the Smythe Road Church elders and their World Radio committee.

Our weekly program is entitled “Search the Scriptures,” and airs in the English language on Liberian Broadcasting System at 99.9 FM, every Sunday morning at 7:05-7:30 a.m. The post-war Liberian churches are faithfully sharing the hope of the Good News in Jesus. Several church-sponsored schools are training youth, WBS is signing up students for correspondence courses, and local preachers and students are planting new congregations in the refugee camps and in the cities. While there in early December, I had numerous requests to release finances for new programs for the rural areas; several congregations and church leaders want to expand the church back to the home areas. It is safe to do so now that the rebel leaders are pacified and the country is rebuilding. The time is now perfect for spreading the Gospel!

Our goal at World Radio is to help mankind be liberated – that is, to be set free and released from the bondage of sin. Your partnership with us is faithfully assisting men and women to do just that!