Dear Praying Friends and helpers,
Many of you know that we have personally chosen not to publish a list of our own needs in preparation for going as missionaries to Liberia. The Lord continues to bless us through this and we are learning some great lessons in living by faith.
In regards to the pastors in Liberia, if there is a need though, we have published and God has always used other Christian brothers and sisters to make the way possible.
With that said, Philemon Gwelikporluhson is a dear friend and brother. He currently pastors the Highland Hills Baptist Church on the outskirts of Monrovia. For many years, he and his wife and their 6 children lived together in one room. In about 2007, through the gifts of God’s people, we were able to help take care of renting a small house for him. This costs about $450 every six months which the Lord has always provided for them. Since moving into their new little home which has just two bedrooms, they have also assumed the responsibility of four orphans. This is the way many pastors are over there seeking to be a father to the thousands of orphans in this war-destroyed country.
Unfortunately, with the rising costs, Bro. Philemon has asked not to be a burden on those who have helped to provide the rent money. The small church he has planted is making bricks for the walls of a new little apartment that would be their home. They would no longer have to pay rent which would free up funds for helping in other areas.
To finish this home though will require bags of cement for the floor and zinc for the roofing, and transportation costs to get it to where he lives in a very rural area.
The total cost will be between $1,500 and $2,000 for this home which would be such a blessing to them. The home sits right beside the church building.
If you are interested in helping this dear brother and his family, please contact me as quickly as possible and I will let you know how we can get the money to him. He needs to get this done before the rains start again in about 4 months or the bricks they have made will not be any good waiting for the 5 month rainy season to end. I know this burden lifted would be a great encouragement to Philemon, his wife Dylin, and all the children they take care of.
Thank you so much for your prayers.
Pilgrim
thejunglemissionary
Bill
fourpointer
Manfred
abidingthroughgrace
Chris Hohnholz
I would love to help…would 100% of the money sent go to this project? My greatest objections to giving is when only 80% or so of the funds actually go to what I intended them for (as with Compassion and World Vision). I would be so thankful to find somewhere to give money that uses all of it for just what is needed! :)
And, might I add, how beautiful it is that he opens his home up to orphans. I wish I could bring some of the orphans here….I wish adoption wasn’t so expensive and difficult!
Katy, thank you for your comment. Every penny of the donations received for the work in Liberia has always gone to Liberia with no fees taken out, not even for the costs to do an international money transfer. For additional information, feel free to visit the Village Church Planters website or you can write us directly at Love4Liberia@gmail.com.
Also, just to say that several of DefCon’s readers have helped in the past which has been such a blessing to these pastors. Most of them live on less than $50 per month.
Every pastor that I know in Liberia has taken orphans into his home. The 15 year civil war left almost 400,000 orphans. Sadly, current restrictions do not permit the adoption of children out of Liberia, but hopefully one day soon that will change.
Thank you for the information! I will first speak to my husband about it but I hope that we can donate when he receives his next paycheck! I will bookmark the site!!
Also…how do the pastors live on only $50/month? I can’t even imagine how difficult that is! I pray that God will use us to give, give, give…to His glory. I will speak to my husband and although in this country we are considered *poor*, we truly lack nothing. I pray we will be able to do more for these pastors!!!
Katy, we are truly thankful for those who have helped in the past and some continue to help on a monthly basis. $50 is the support amount that we have been able to raise for a few of the pastors. Liberia is considered one of the poorest countries in the world, and up until about 1 year ago was considered by the UN to be the second poorest. While it would be impossible for us to live on $50 a month, they do what they have to in order to take care of their families. Some of the pastors are actually pastoring more than one church at a time as well which means they normally have to use some of their support for transportation costs.
May the Lord bless you folks for being willing to consider the needs in Liberia.
I’m glad that we have been able to help by giving $50 a month. However, I know we can do better.
Some spend more than $50 a month at restaurants and other none essentials. Just fill in the blank.
By the way, check your email.
God bless.
Sis. Doreen,
We have checked and replied to you. Thank you so much, dear sister.
I’m sorry, but I’m sure I’m missing something. Who is the Jungle Missionary? I’m just not familiar with the name. So, please help.
Thanks.
Sis. Doreen, a blog post explaining will be available later this afternoon. Thanks so much.
J.M.
I’m still going directly through Service to Servants (http://servicetoservants.com/) to send materials to the VCP pastors, but have you established a place yet that our readers wishing to donate eye glasses, bibles, and theology books can send them in the states to later be shipped via STS?
Pilgrim, no, I have not established a particular place. I think the best option for those wishing to send items should go directly to STS. However, we can assist in providing the correct address and contact details in Liberia to put on shipping labels. If it is sent directly to STS in Murfreesboro, TN, this is a much better option than having to pay shipping to one address, then we have to pay to ship it again to Murfreesboro, TN, then a 3rd time to Liberia on the container.
Yes, we are still in need of lots of old eye glasses (this can include the little reading glasses), Bibles (preferably KJV/NKJV) and solid theology books (in particular authors like Grudem, Spurgeon, the Puritans, Pink, etc.).
I wanted to say a HUGE thank you to each of you who sent gifts. There will be a post with information from Pastor Philemon shortly. We received a total of just under $2600 to help with building the new home for our brother in Liberia! May the Lord bless each of you who gave to the work.
Pastor Philemon and his wife were completely overwhelmed when we shared the news with them. Sis. Dylin (his wife) broke down and wept with joy. Her children thought she was sick!
Praise the Lord for His goodness.
TJM
Glory to God! That is wonderful to hear! :)
Just read this today. Praise God that the money was raised, and that the needs can be met.
Giving should be ongoing, because needs are ongoing.
God bless.