At the present time World Missions has no staff in Liberia
but continues to support the field with prayer and finances.
Mission History
Christian Reformed World Missions began work in this West African
nation in 1975. Outreach targeted the Bassa, Liberia’s second
largest ethnic group numbering 300,000 people. In the 1980s CRWM
entered into a partnership with the Christian Education Foundation
of Liberia (CEFL). In 1990, civil war forced missionaries out of
Liberia. A project to translate the Bible into the Bassa language
continued through the relocation of the translation team. This team
completed its work in July 2000.
Culture
In 1816 the American Colonization Society, a private U.S. organization,
sent freed slaves to the West Coast of Africa. Under President James
Monroe, the United States encouraged local chiefs to cede land to
form a new country. In 1838, the Commonwealth of Liberia was born,
with the capital Monrovia named after the U.S. President.
In 1847, Liberia became Africa’s first independent republic.
Today the country is home to 16 distinct ethnic groups as well as
descendants of emancipated slaves from North America. About 37 percent
of the population is Christian; 50 percent are Muslim or adhere
to traditional African religions.
About 85 percent of the 300,000 Bassa people in Liberia are associated
with a church. There are about 100 denominations among them. Rather
than establish a new denomination, World Missions decided to work
in theological training with existing churches in theological education,
health and literature. Missionary involvement in these programs
ended with the war in 1990. But CEFL, our indigenous partner organization,
remained. In the last several years, still under difficult circumstances,
CEFL began reestablishing the ministries that we formerly did jointly.
CEFL’s vision is to “empower member churches and all Christians
to resume the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people
by rehabilitating and restoring our facilities, institutions and
ministries.” World Missions seeks to encourage and enable these
efforts by providing ministry grants to CEFL.
Results
Translation of the Bassa Bible is now complete and awaiting publication.
Theological Education by Extension classes have resumed with 140
TEE students. The health clinic serves about 1,000 people per month.
Support
The most important gift you can give missionaries is a daily prayer
for their lives and work. At any given time Christian Reformed World
Missions supports about 300 long-term and short-term missionaries
and about 200 missionary children located in over 30 countries around
the world. These people have been called, commissioned, and sent
by Christian Reformed churches to represent our devotion to Jesus
Christ, and to urge others to accept His offer of salvation.
Here’s a partial list of items to pray
for on behalf of missionaries:
- emotional needs
- physical needs
- relationships with other missionaries
- relationships with nationals
- relationship with God
- effective ministry
- family life
Financial support is also crucial for the ongoing work of bringing
the Good News around the world. Support can be given for specific
missionaries, or specific projects can be found in the “Project
Giving Guide” at your church or available from the World Missions
offices in either the United States or Canada.
