Recent History
Years of fighting, coupled with the flight of most businesses, have disrupted formal economic activity.

A still unsettled domestic security situation has slowed the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country.

President Taylor, who won the 1997 presidential elections after an eight-year-long civil war, was never able to fully eliminate rebel groups that sought to oust him by force.

Rebel attacks on Monrovia, coupled with two years of UN-imposed sanctions for Taylor's meddling in Sierra Leone's civil war, finally prompted Taylor's abdication from power in August 2003.

A transitional government - composed of rebel, government, and civil society groups - assumed control in October 2003.

 Chairman Gyude BRYANT, who has a two-year mandate to oversee efforts to rebuild Liberia, heads the new government.

 

Richard Wesley
Sept. 17, 2004
Pastor Richard Wesley of the Greater Love Bible Baptist church writes: "Please pray for plans for the mini FM Radio Station...Greater Love Christian Radio. I'm burdened that God will provide this so His Word will spread afar, thereby winning souls into the Christian-fold."

 
 

From Pastor Richard Wesley

October 7, 2004

We now have 32 children at the Greater Love Children's Home --some orphans, some children at-risk & some abandoned...all poor and needy.


 

Ten U.S. dollars will feed all these needy children for several days.  Over the past two years, Pastor Wesley has proven to be a very wise and trustworthy steward with the monies with which he has been entrusted. We have so much in the United States that we sometimes forget.  But, isn't it wonderful when you give and then get a thank-you card?

 

Yes, a simple "thank you" means a lot.  It truly encourages us to keep on giving, even sacrificially, because we know that one day we will stand before the LORD and he will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." 

 


Liberian children eating

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in my name, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
    - Matthew 10:42


"Hope for the kids"

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needed clothes and clothed You?'   "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these ...you did for Me."
    - Matthew 25:37-38,40

The building of the Greater Love Bible Baptist Church has been an incredible journey, shared by two Christians from two continents separated by 8,000 miles.

Check out the these pictures to see the building from start to finish.

 [images/photogallery/photo00017708/real.htm]

 

 

 
 

 
From Galt to Liberia  ...via e-mail

In this column we will be sharing from the many "God moments" we have experienced from both sides of the ocean since that fateful day, December 12, 2002.  We will attempt to keep a time-line of sorts, but if something seems important or eventful we may insert it at any time.  Much of what is written here is taken from direct e-mails sent between Galt and Liberia.  The major players are Pastor Rob Patterson of FBC Galt and Pastor Richard Wesley of Greater Love Bible Baptist Church of Monrovia, Liberia.  We trust that by sharing these insights, many will see the hand of God as He is at work all around us.

October 27, 2004
It has been the desire of a number of people at First Baptist Galt to begin or participate in a radio station (perhaps Internet radio reaching the ...ends of the earth).  We have been praying about this for several years and we remain confident that God is up to something. 

In Liberia, Pastor Richard Wesley also seems to sense that God may want to employ radio (in this case, FM radio to a local area), to reach others.  Read his latest thoughts about radio in Liberia received October 27.

I have had the burden for this project for many years now...and it keeps coming again and again that a Mini Christian FM Radio Station be set up so that many will be impacted by the GOOD NEWS that brings peace and joy to hearts, that brings salvation to those ' who are lost and in despair '.

The United Nations is currently disarming 400,000 child-soldiers who will be placed back into normal society. The Sinkor area is not an exception as thousands will be coming to the Sinkor area.

These child-soldiers who were forced and deceived into killing their brothers and sisters of the same nationality desperately need the LOVE OF CHRIST... they need to be disarmed from the minds and hearts of those evils committed by them and it takes the grace of God and His message of peace to prune and purge these kids to regain their god-given images, have respect for life, glean hope for the future and in the final end be accepted of God in the Kingdom of His dear SON - Jesus Christ.

A Radio Station is a very powerful tool for accomplishing this goal. The Bible teaches that the word of God is like a HAMMER.  As His Word is preached daily, hearts of stones will submit to the WILL AND PLAN  of God...thereby giving the glory and honor to His name! We will fervently pray along with you... that God will grant his favor upon you...and because of you - his servant, God's message of peace will beam from 14th Street, Gibson Ave., to the hearts of  not only mere community dwellers, but thousands of ex-combatants who were groomed into warfare for the past 14 years.

The impression of the Holy Spirit is 'NOW IS THE TIME' to reach these child-soldiers who have no idea of God's love and kindness! Through the help of radio, God will reach them in amazing ways! May the Lord bless you...even as you will be seeking His face for direction.

Thank God for your church staff, elders & members who have always supported you in seeking God's approval to accomplish His dream of sharing the gospel..."From Galt To The End Of The Earth".

August 15, 2003 (Rob Patterson)
Pastor Wesley called me this morning and said that Western Union is up and running, so we are going to see to it that the great offering we raised for his building is sent to him.


Greater Love Bible Baptist Church
under construction

I asked him (Pastor Wesley) if his family still had rice.  He humbly answered, "Oh...no...brother, but we have been living on cassava root.  The United Nations is supposed to be delivering some food to our nation next week.


Bags of cement and rice lift everyone's spirits

August 21, 2003 (Richard Wesley)
I picked up the money (from Western Union) on Monday - $5,860.23 and all is well except that pastor, the prices of building materials have sharply increased; almost tripled.  I attribute the increase in the prices of things to the fact that 95% of stores were badly looted during the recent fighting in Monrovia.  I was trying to wait for a while to see whether the situation will change, but it has not.  So, I will go ahead to make purchases (for such is the time).  We will continue the project.

Jesus said, "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.  Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?  For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish."  - Luke 14:28-30 (NIV)

October 15, 2003 (Richard Wesley)
Praise God that the Interim Government was installed yesterday.  The government is to pave the way for general elections in 2005.  One thing the president mentioned in his speech is that the prices of basic commodities will be reduced as of November 1, 2003.  What a RELIEF that will be!  Remember our nation in your prayers.

In November of 2003, Pastor Rob was scheduled to go to Liberia to conduct a National Pastor's Conference.  Personal events made it impossible for him to go, and the conference was cancelled.  Yet, God was still at work!

In late November, Pastor Rob felt he was now ready to go to Liberia (please remember this was at the height of civil unrest and fighting in the streets of Monrovia).  Pastor Rob notified Richard Wesley of his intentions of coming to Liberia to see the "work that had begun."

December 03, 2003 (Richard Wesley)
You and your congregation are great and good friends of Greater Love Bible Baptist Church, and it's a great joy to have you come to at least see what the LORD has done your willingness to respond to 'world missions.'  As you know, the LORD has knit us together for a divine purpose--reaching the ends of the earth, advancing the gospel of Christ.  Your first time in Africa is in part a fulfillment of that vision.

I pray daily to measure up to the trust you have placed in me.  So my whole life is ministry and this bears upon me daily.  What a joy to be in the service of the LORD!

The church building project may not finish by the time you come is my concern.  Brother Rob, it's important that you yourself come and see the work that was done on the building and the clinic.


Greater Love Bible Baptist Church welcomes Pastor Rob to Liberia
(The picture was hand drawn from a photo on FBC web site)

Through the kindness of World Orphans of Oklahoma, USA, they sent me $5,650 to build a six-bedroom home for orphans and abandoned children.  That project is finished.  It was done in 1-1/2 months because the funds covered it squarely, and we are now lifting children into that home.  I have 4 of these kids already and on Friday we will be getting 10 orphans.  The exercise goes on until we get 30 of the kids.