Tuesday, July 5, 2011

June Ministry Report: Light in the Darkness

The mission of Jesus, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9 NIV), is also our mission.

Wordsower Liberia exists for the purpose of going to all the villages and towns of Liberia to preach the good news, disciple, encourage and train existing church leaders and raise up leaders to start churches. Our mission is that every village of Liberia will have a healthy church. Most of the towns and villages of Liberia have no church. We have worked in over 100 villages.

This month we made over 95 mission/ministry trips, visiting 53 villages, and other locations, going into 16 new locations. Many of the places we visited multiple times, our longest trip was 4 days, shortest a few hours. We printed and distributed approximately 19,600 pages of teaching material and distributed hundreds of Bibles. This month we baptized 24, and 79 completed our extensive Bible study program. Our core team in Africa is: 1 from America, 1 from France, 5 Liberians. We have 19 Liberian ministers that travel with us to the interior villages, many trained pastors and field leaders also work with us. The team of supporters in USA and France are also many. We, as one united team, are all working together, under the leadership of Christ, for the kingdom of God in Liberia!

I ask refugees how they get their daily food, and without exception they say, “By the grace of God.” In Mark 6:30-44 we read the story of Jesus feeding 5,000. The crowd had gathered around Jesus. “He saw them as sheep without a shepherd. So He taught them many things.” He taught them during the day and as evening came the disciples came to Jesus and said, “We must send them away to get food.” Jesus’ answer was, “you give them something to eat.” The disciples looked at the multitude and thought that it was impossible.

Today, in Liberia we see a huge multitude hungry for the Bread of Life, Jesus, they desire to be taught of Him. We also see them hungry for physical food. I believe again Jesus looks to us, His disciples, and says, “You give them something to eat.” This month we gave Bibles, started hundreds of people studying the Bible, we distributed over 2 tons of rice to the Ivorian refugee and assisted many Liberians. We, as a team, are feeding the people. God is using us as His tools to answer prayers and accomplish His purposes.

Two old women that we baptized this month gave their testimony. They were deeply involved in witchcraft and traditional religion. Both women had spent years performing rituals and had delivered children that were sacrificed. The leader wanted to sacrifice one of their family’s children, they refused. So he put a curse on the boy causing him to only bark. The three came to town to a house of prayer that we work with. Demons were cast out and the boy stopped barking. The women now believed the power of God was true and greater than the power of the spirits. One said, “I am tired of the bad, bad things. I leave the witch. Jesus is greater than spirits. I come to God for baptism. The water has carried all the things down.”

There are many towns deep in the interior like the one these women came from that bikes can’t reach. One group of villages is a 10 hour hike. They have no churches and are ruled by witchcraft and traditional religion. One man we have trained now lives and works among them. The villages have requested for us to come and help them start churches. In July we are sending a team into the region to evangelize, disciple and start churches.

We purchased 3 new motor bikes this month, giving us a total of 8 bikes. Our territory has been divided into 8 regions, assigned to each is a regional leader. This will assure that all towns and villages will be reached regularly. There are many field leaders that accompany our regional leaders on mission trips to assist and receive continued training. Several current field leaders will soon become regional leaders.

Prayer Request: Paul said, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 1Co 3:6-7. We have been diligent planting and watering, pray God will make them grow. If He does not than all is in vain.

Villages, towns and cities we have been working in:
Sino County: Cass Town, Cheboken, Deedo, Gbliyee, Gardoway, Greeneville, Jaytoken, Joazon, Karquekpo, Putu Jadweodee, Peace Camp (a gold mining camp), Pynes Town, Qutatozon, Seetor, Saydee, Senquene, Voobadee, Titus. Grand Gheda County: Badou, Bah, Bargblor, Barte-jam, Bawaydee, Beezon, Beh, Boe, Border, Boundary, Compound, Dian, Dolozon, Dougee Refugee Camp, Duo Town, Dweh, Flehee, Franzaz, Garley, Gbarbo, Gbeyoubo, Gbloue, Gboleken, Gambo, Geeha, Gleplay, Gorbowrogba, Grady, Gwenebo, Jaibo, Jargbeh, Jarwleh, Jarzon, Jayteken 1, Jayteken 2, Jellu, John David, Jonesgbaye, Julutuzon, Karlowleh, Kohn, Konobo Ziah, Kpae, Kyne, Nico, Panwolor, Pellelzon, Peter Saydee, Polar Town, Polar Village, Savah, Sentrodu, Sewion 1, Sewion 2, Sinkon, Sloman, Solo Inside, Solo Outside, Solo Refugee Camp, Suahken, Taye’s Village, Tiama, Toes Refugee Camp, Toes Town, Toffoi, Togbayee, Tojillah, Toueah, Tuglor, Varglor, Willie Jellu, Wulu, Zarzar, Zeon, Ziulay, Zwedru, and the county prison, three road check stations, and the county hospital. Montserrado County: Monrovia. River Gee County: Cheboken, Dweaken, Fish Town, Geeken, Jarkaken, Jaytoken 1, Jaytoken 2, Kanweaken, Klaboken, Podroken, Putuken, Sargba, Tartiken. Bomi County: Beh, Jaway, Joes Town. Maryland County: Cain, Cavalla, Gbolobo, Harper, Kablaken, Lexicon, Pedebo, Pleebo, Philadelphia, Refugee Village, Rubber Bag Camp, Siliken, Wuluplukredi, the county prison and the check point. Nimba County: Dialah, Graie, Guotoin, Kpaytuo, Tappita. River Cess: Gbee.

Thank you for your prayers, donations and encouragement,
Kim

June Expense Report

Assistance to the poor:
$ 615 – Humanitarian assistance: including food (average cost is $1.50 a day for food), rent, home repair, etc. (Ivorian refugees not included in this)
$ 34 – Medical expenses (average treatment cost is $1.00 - $10.00)
$ 661 – Food for Ivorian refugees, we delivered over 2 tons of rice

Ministry expenses:
$ 857 – Paper, gas for the generator, pens, folders, Bibles and mission trips.
$956 – Motor bike gas and repair, we now have 8 bikes (Gas prices range between $5.50 - $8.50 a gallon)
$2,700 – We purchased 3 new motorbikes.
$36 – We pay one teacher $35 a month in a school we started.
$21 – We fund a daily one hour local Christian radio program. The total cost is $21 a month

House Construction:
$42 – We continue to do small construction on our place. We started painting the wood that is outside to prevent rotting.

Team food and house supplies:
$1,380 – Food and house supplies (close estimate). Our core team consists of 12 adults and 11 children. That averages out to less than $1.45 a day per person to cover, clothes, food, batteries, soap etc. Really our team uses less than that per day because we feed others every day from the interior, refugees and locals from our house funds.

$ 7,304 - Total for the month

Donations should be sent to:
Wordsower International
16960 Sidney Plattsville Rd
Sidney, Oh 45365

All donations are tax deductible. A receipt will be sent in January. 100% of all donations go for the mission to the Liberians. None is used for me or administration. If you have any questions concerning donations you may call Tom Looker at 937-489-8090.

Thank you,
Kim