Recently in Informational Category

Fifty-eight years ago, the first broadcast of the fledgling missionary radio arm of the SIM made its debut. Here's a link if you would like to listen to that inaugural program. Track 2 02 Unknown Album (1-30-2011 1-12-37 PM).wma

Winston Churchill famously said, "The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see", and as we think and plan and pray for the daunting challenges ahead for ELWA, it is wise and instructive to remind ourselves of how ELWA began with little resources, but great faith, and an even greater God!

SIM Archivist Tim Geysbeek, an ELWA MK and missionary, has done a remarkable job in preserving historical records. I found the following quotes and photos on the SIM website.

From the May, 1953 SIM publication, "The Sudan Witness", the beginnings of this new venture was announced:

"ELWA Begins Broadcasting!
January 18th, 1954 was THE day for the S.I.M., when Station ELWA (from Liberia, West Africa) went on the air. For several years the station has been planned for and prayed about. Now it is a reality,and the Gospel is being broadcast by this new S.I.M. arm of evangelism -- RADIO.

At present, daily broadcasting is for approximately four hours daily. As this issue of the Sudan Witness goes to press, it is being increased, but all will be dependent on additional equipment and buildings. We would call on our faithful prayer partners to remember the daily pressure of needs that are financial, physical and spiritual. ELWA at present is all long wave, with short wave equipment being sought and prayed in. Listener response has already been so overwhelmingly gratifying, that we are sure that ELWA is going to make a great spiritual impact on the people of Africa. Officials in government, business, education and many citizens have written of their appreciation of the broadcasts.

Present broadcasts include transcripts of Back to the Bible Broadcast, Old Fashioned Revival Hour, Heaven and Home, Word of Life, Children's Bible Hour, Songs in the Night, Jungle Doctor, Unshackled, and other broadcasts originating in the homelands plus live broadcasts originating in the ELWA studios.

But the work is far from completed. The present buildings, equipment and personnel are just a beginning for the projected Long and Short Wave broadcasts that will blanket Africa with the Gospel in all the major languages spoken in that great continent. This venture is a call to prayer for all our constituency. Make ELWA your special prayer item for the next month, and God will work and mightily bless."

As you listen to the familiar sign-on chimes of ELWA on the following link, Track 2 02 Unknown Album (1-30-2011 1-12-37 PM).wma , will you commit to partnering with ELWA as they seek to rebuild a new ELWA? Is God calling you to PRAY, to SHARE the needs, to GO and join the rebuilding team, or to GIVE? It is so exciting to anticipate the work that God wants to accomplish, and to have the opportunity to be a part of it!

I've gone through the SIM archives and put together in chronological order the clippings about ELWA and staff members. It's long, but inspiring!
simelwaarchivemay1954dedication.pdf

At our monthly board meeting, board member Bill Slater (ELWA Hospital's founding pharmacist and newly ordain minister), gave the following devotional. It was such a good reminder of God's faithfulness in the past and how God takes delight in our humble offerings and using them mightily for His Glory, that we wanted to share it with you. Old-timers from ELWA can vividly remember listening to Dr. Bob Schindler sing one of his favorite songs, "Little is Much", and Bill used that as a starting point for his devotional.

"Little is much, when God is in it. Labor not for wealth or fame. There's a crown and you can win it. When you go in Jesus' name."

Zechariah 4:9-10, 9"The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it. And thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. 10 For who hath despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven. They are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth."

1 Kings 20:27, The sons of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went to meet them; and the sons of Israel camped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Arameans filled the country.

Judges 7:6-7, 6 Now the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was 300 men [out of 32,000]; but all the rest of the people kneeled to drink water. 7 The LORD said to Gideon, "I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his home."

One of the consistent themes in Scripture is the apparent delight God takes in bringing about His purposes using small numbers of people or things, for example, the story of the 5 loaves and 2 fish feeding thousands..

Early in our time at ELWA Hospital, we asked God to provide the equipment needed to manufacture I.V. solutions. A visiting MD inquired about our plans and, before he left, gave $20 toward the $5000 (1973-74 dollars) cost of the equipment. Later on, more funds came in - as this M.D. shared about his time in Liberia, he made known the hospital pharmacy need. By the time the water distilling unit and other needed items came, the $5000 was on hand.

It would be easy to look at the ministry of EMA and come away discouraged - 40 or 50 scholarships in a country where thousands need schooling; a few orphans given help in a country with thousands of needy children. Judy's June entry for the EMA+USA 2011 year in review told of the provision of a new transmitter and mixer board, and the November entry records their preservation from destruction in the Studio fire.

God's purposes are stronger than fire.

Jeremiah 36:23, When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe's knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier...32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the son of Neriah, the scribe, and he wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire; and many similar words were added to them. (And, as Jeremiah 22 records, the kingly line of Jehoiakim ended with his son, Jechoniah.)

1 Kings 19:12, And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

As we listen for the still small voice, do what we can, trusting that little is much when God is in it, we may confidently expect God to act.

Here is a link to hear Dr. Bob Schindler sing Little is Much.wma , from his album "Dr. Bob Schindler Sings!". You can also find it at his son John Schindler's website, John Schindler Ministries, on the album "My God is Real".

By this time, most of us have heard about the ELWA Radio Studio fire that started Tuesday night at about 9:00 pm Liberian Time. In the light of day, as we look at the images of destruction, the equipment lost, donations of programming and CD's burned, there is excitement stirring. We served an incredible, wise and all powerful God! He could have stopped the fire. He was gracious enough to allow no one to be hurt, and even for about 2/3 of the CD's and a mixer saved. He will be glorified even in this. So those of us who love and trust Him, are sitting with Him and thoughts of His ultimate purposes.

Annette de la Hay Cooper, oldest daughter of former Station Manager Ray de la Haye shares some of her thoughts.

Dear family,

I have spent a lot of time weeping and praying for our dear Liberia and our wonderful people. As the day has gone by, I have been checking news from Liberia and some of your Facebook comments and pictures. When I saw the picture of the studio in flames, my heart was stirred with excitement and anticipation of what God is going to do in our homeland and with all of us.

I have written some thoughts down, and want to develop them more, but I want to encourage you in the Lord. Please don't be downcast or live in fear! That is where the devil wants to take us. Stand tall and look right into the eyes of our Saviour who gave Himself for all of us. I have want to share some of my 'rough' thoughts with you. Let's encourage each other and hold each other up. Many will rebuild these walls. Don't be afraid of the foxes my friends. Here are some of my thoughts today as I have spent it with Jesus, and my comforter, the Holy Spirit. This is a bad thing that happened, but God will use if for GOOD! I have lived long enough to know that is a fact. Here are some of my thoughts:

Oh my people! May God raise up greater wonders in our day! My heart is broken, my face is a river of tears. I grew up here, my parents were Ray and Sophie de la Haye who came to Liberia in 1954. This is my homeland and my people.

Jesus is bringing us to a greater understanding of what prayer and trust really are. It is for the GLORY of the FATHER. Things may not seem right in our world, but God Himself trusts us with SILENCE right now, so we can KNOW HIM and know HIS INTIMATE PRESENCE, even though we may not understand the reason why ELWA studio burnt down. Can we stay in this silent place with HIM and each other?

"Which of you intending to build, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it ..." Luke 14:28 Jesus counted the cost with HIS LIFE for Liberia and the world. All that we build in this world, will be inspected and found out by the REFINING FIRE of our God. So those who are living at or near ELWA, may you gather to stand before those studio ashes as a visual aid of our need as a people of God to let God do HIS REFINING work in our lives, in the unseen places of our hearts. God seriously wants to rebuild ELWA and my people and my country of Liberia in a new way. May this studio site be HOLY GROUND, where we like Moses take off our shoes of pride, arrogance, self made strategies, unforgiveness, lust, theft, jealousy, hatred, competition, 'better than you' attitude, fear, worry, or whatever - to become pure as gold! Let us rejoice in what our LOVING Heavenly Father will do because of this fire. I am excited to see how He corrects and refines me through this event. GLORY BE TO GOD ON HIGH AND PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL TOWARD ALL MEN! This is the message of the angels at Christ's birth. Let this be a season of celebration as we kneel in the ashes of the ELWA studio building. God is good and I am really getting excited to see how God will change Liberia for HIS GLORY and name sake! Are you getting a little excited? Tell me about it!

If you can't see the pictures of the studio burning and today the day after, go to my face book. I have put them up there. (ed. note: Even if you are not on Facebook, this link will take you to the photo essay about ELWA Radio Studio through the years.)

Lovingly,

Sista' Annette

This is the verse that I am claiming for Liberia and my people!

"Lord, I have heard the news about You, I am amazed at what You have done. Lord, do great things once again in our time; make those things happen again in our own days." Habakkuk 3:2

I too have been pondering fire. It can bring people together to warm them, it can provide light, it provided direction for the Children of Israel, and yes, it is a REFINING FIRE. In Isaiah 6, it cleanses unclean, sinful lips. Liberians tell wonderful stories to get across a point. I was reminded of the following story.

THE SILVERSMITH

Some time ago, a few ladies met to study the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse:

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness... Malachi 3:3

One lady decided to visit a silversmith, and report to the others on what he said about the subject.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot and then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." "Is it true that you have to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver is being refined", she asked. "Yes, not only do I sit there holding the silver I keep my eyes on it as long as it is on the furnace", answered the silversmith. He gave further explanation, "If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed".

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it."

Dear ones, will you allow the Refiner's painful work in YOUR life? Can people see the reflection of God our Refiner in us yet? God's eye is continually on us, and the work at ELWA, and he will not allow us to be consumed. Praise his holy name!

From Dave Schult, Database Administrator, SIM USA Treasury comes word that "Joshua Bogunjoko told us this morning that Project 95107 is being updated to include the cost of the new studio building. He indicated that the cost would be something like $400,000.

Gifts can already be designated to 095107-091 for this purpose. It is possible to give online.

Photos from the Liberian Observer and Samaritan's Purse's Joni Byker.

The SIM International newsletter has just published the following need for ELWA, specifically the Trinity Dental Clinic. TDC is located at ELWA Hospital.

Dentist

Career: Medical and Health Ministry

Country: Liberia

Length of Service: More than 2 years

Priority: Normal

PRF Number: 7693

Trinity Dental Clinic, just outside of the capital city of Monrovia, Liberia, opened its doors to patients in November of 2008. Liberia has only a handful of licensed dentists for a population of about 3.5 million.

Dental therapist Frieda Schmidt and dentist Keith Chapman are full time practitioners at the clinic, which has three treatment rooms and one alternative treatment room primarily intended for hygiene. The clinic is fully equipped with dental units, lights, suction units, supplies and materials.

Volunteers may be asked to help with any urgent needs, as shipping is one of the clinic's greatest challenges and expenses. Short-term volunteer needs include dentists, hygienists assistants, and prosthetic laboratory technicians, but Trinity is also seeking a long term volunteer administrator to help with minor accounting, paper work, e-mails, fundraising, awareness raising, and procuring of both orders and donated items.

For dentists, options include working at the clinic, possibly helping cover for vacation time for the full time practitioners or allowing one or both of them to travel to a more remote location and offer a temporary clinic to that area. Volunteers can also split their time or devote all of their time to a remote clinic with the aid of Trinity Dental Clinic for organization and logistics. Cost, materials to bring, and need for your own auxillary staff would be much greater if doing remote clinics. Dental work involves primarily extractions, but the clinic also offers restorative and some endodontic treatment.

Frieda and Dr. Keith "Surfer Dude" first visited Liberia while serving on the Mercy Ship. (Keith's love of surfing has lead to form "Surf Liberia"). Keith and his wife Kristen have hosted many dental volunteers in their lovely home. There is much more information and other videos available at their website, or you can join their Facebook page for news and updates. If you can help you can contact them by clicking here, or contact SIM , identifying Opportunity PRF Number: 7693.

Isaac Zoedah has been in contact with Betty Thompson, and has been providing updates on the election process. His most recent report includes ways we can pray for Liberia in this critical time.

Aunt Betty,

The final results of the October 11 elections have been released with no candidate out rightly winning the presidential election. Out of the sixteen candidates that were contesting for the presidency, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of the Unity Party received 44.5 percent of the valid votes counted while Winston Tubman of the Congress for Democratic Change took the second place with 36 percent of the votes counted. There is a possibility of a runoff. The National Elections Commission will come out with a new calendar for the runoff election between the two candidates. The campaign for the runoff might start this week.

There have been some level of violence around since the final results started coming out. A local headquarters of the ruling Unity party was burnt down on Saturday morning while a private radio station belonging to one of the strong supporters of CDC, the larger opposition political party was partly burnt on Monday morning. There has also been attack on some peaceful citizens by some unknown people. It is not clear if these attacks have political motive. However, normal activities are going on. The president has called on the citizens to remain calm and that the securities are working hard to bring the perpetrator of the violence to justice.

• Keep us in prayer as the process get so crucial.
• Pray for peace during the runoff election
• Pray for the fear of God in the lives of the state holders in the electoral process.
• Pray for the neutrality of the media.
• Pray for the Election Commission to be objective and transparent
• Pray for violence free campaign, election and post election period.

We know He who has started the good work will end it for His glory.

saac

Isaac was born into a Christian family in the remote town of Gbonnie, Liberia. He attended church services and conferences at an early age, and at fourteen, his mother helped him to personally put his trust in the Lord alone as his Savior. Isaac says, "This decision changed my life and my world view. I was no longer depending on my parents' faith but personally trusting Jesus Christ as my Savior."

Even though his parents were uneducated, they sent Isaac to school for greater ministry. Upon completing high school he enrolled at the Liberia Christian College in 1998 and obtained a Bachelors Degree in theology (BATh) in 2002. Isaac was then ordained as minister of the Gospel in the United Liberia Inland Church in 2005.

Isaac has served the Lord in the United Liberia Church in many capacities, from Sunday School teacher, youth leader and pastor in various capacities since 1989, and is currently pastor of ULIC ELWA.

Isaac is a full-time missionary with CrossWay International, a mission organization dedicated to the clear presentation of the gospel of grace. They are involved worldwide in: • teaching personal evangelism • training/supporting national workers for evangelism • using Humanitarian aid as a style of evangelism • promoting income-generating projects for our outreach

For more information, you can check out Isaac Zoedah's brochure.

From the SIM USA website , comes the follow personnel needs for ELWA and Liberia.

Are you feeling God's leading to serve in Liberia? We have many opportunities that are not published on our website.

Business Ministries/Administration/Leadership

• ELWA Financial Manager Priority
  
• Personnel Coordinator Priority
  
• Projects Coordinator

Evangelism/Church Growth

• Church Ministries Coordinator

Health/HIV and AIDS

• Dentist
  
• ELWA Pharmacist Associate Missionary
  
• General or Specialty Surgeon at ELWA Hospital Priority
  
• Generalist Physician, ELWA Hospital Priority
  
• Nurse, Anesthetist, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician's Assistant
  
• Trinity Dental Clinic Volunteers

Media and Arts

• ELWA Radio Administrative Advisor Priority

Technical Services

• Construction Supervisor
  
• ELWA Services Advisor/Trainer

Please contact the SIM office nearest you and let us help you decide where and how God can use you in his mission.

Some of you remember Ruth and Boyce Beacham, who lived in the Shore Haven apartment. Ruth was a teacher at ELWA Academy, and Boyce worked in the Business office. Boyce passed away while while they were assigned to ELWA, and Ruth later continued teaching MK's in Nigeria. She remarried and she and her husband, Dr. Ted Brewer have a peace and reconciliation ministry in the North East New England area. Ruth has been diagnosed with cancer, and we covet your prayers for her. Here is the latest update from her husband.

Dear friends,

I'm writing to update you on Ruth's health. She was admitted to the hospital on May 14 for intestinal pain and received surgery May 17 to release scar tissue and remove a small section of her small intestine that was narrowed by scar tissue from her surgery February 12. In that previous surgery for a bowel obstruction they removed sections of her large and small intestine and discovered her lymphoma. She has a rare and aggressive form of white blood cell cancer which thankfully was discovered early at stage 2.

She should be home from the hospital next week, approximately May 24 or 25 after they slowly reintroduce food and her bowel restarts. A dear friend from Canada will come to help us during Ruth's immediate recovery from surgery, followed by a visit from our daughter Cyndi from CA.

Her chemotherapy for lymphoma will resume probably around June 10 with round 3. After a total of six rounds of chemo three weeks apart, she will have a short rest, to be followed by a stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant) in early autumn during a three week hospitalization at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

We are learning that cancer is not a battle but rather a war with many battles. Our spirits are good as God runs with us in this marathon and often carries us. We are encouraged by that familiar promise in Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in (wait on) the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." We can soar in our spirits even when we cannot walk physically.

If you have been meeting with us, Ted will be in touch with you to explore next steps.

We deeply appreciate your friendship and your prayer support.

With our love,

Ted (for Ruth, too)

Rev. Ted and Ruth Brewer
Directors of New Peace Network
24 Maywood Drive
Nashua NH 03064

603.880.1799

newpeace@myfairpoint.net

www.newpeace.net

Be sure and check out the link above for more information about their wonderful ministry. Here is more information about them.

As our team prepares to go to Liberia, there are already ELWA MK's traveling throughout the world, spreading the message of Christ, and being His hands and feet. Please hold these folks up in prayer.

Alan Shea and his team, including Cork Loken and MK Walter Bliss have arrived at Camp Bethesda, working on their electrical system. We appreciate your prayers as they begin this project of installing an entirely new electrical grid (from generators to power lines and everything in between) at Bethesda Christian Mission School's ten-acre campus.

Bethesda Christian Mission School was founded in 1973 by Vera Stevens of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). They struggled through the war but now have 460 students in grades 1-12 and nearly half of those are boarding students. Their real struggle now is with electricity -- since there is none in Liberia they have a couple of generators and have installed their own wiring as they've grown,but it has been inadequate for their needs.

When Alan's team arrived, they found that the new powerhouse has not been completed
yet. Only about half the roof is on and the inside is not finished. Alan and the team cannot begin to do anything inside until they can put a lock on a door. The team did get some work done outside including putting up some power line. It's really not possible for most members of the team to extend this trip, so we greatly appreciate your prayers.

Steve Snyder is on his yearly speaking trip to Nigeria and Kenya. Here is his latest exciting report.

Sanu:

* * *

BULLETIN: By the time you receive this letter, I will be on my way to Kenya. Please pray for me and also for my family as I am away. I will confess: I have been so busy with work and other matters since returning to Nigeria that I have not adequately prepared for this trip with prayer - prayer for the students, for my presentations, for our interaction and for God's blessing and work in this ministry. So, allow me to ask that you please cover me and all of these concerns with your prayers. That would mean more to me at this time than any other way you can possibly help, encourage and be a part of this ministry.

* * *

Sanu is a Hausa language greeting one hears all over Nigeria. The Hausa tribe is the largest among many tribes in that country. Their language goes beyond the members of their tribe and is utilized as something of a trade language across areas that extend well beyond Nigeria's borders. However, greetings in Nigeria typically involve much more than "hello." In the morning, for example, you will usually be asked how you slept, how is your husband or wife, how are the children, and those with livestock may even be asked about their cows, goats or sheep. It is a society where interaction and relationships are primary.

The people I encountered across Nigeria could not have treated me more graciously. And, throughout the trip, I couldn't help but be reminded of the value of friendships and relationships and think about the special relationships I have with friends like you who pray for my family, for me and for our ministry with Global Adapt, who support this work financially when God leads and as you are able, and who simply care about this ministry and the people whose lives we are privileged to impact. Thank you so much for that relationship and the encouragement and support you give so generously to this relationship.

This was an extremely busy trip with speaking engagements, meetings and travel (lots of it, all over the country) virtually every day of my nearly two weeks in Nigeria. And, despite some delays and several last minute rearrangements to my schedule that were challenging in the moment, I was ultimately able to make every lecture, presentation and meeting on this crammed full itinerary. It is difficult for me to describe how great a trip this turned out to be. God is good!

Nigeria Trip Highlights:

• The Hillcrest School senior class was perhaps the liveliest and most fun of any group I have met in this ministry. They were wonderfully responsive. And their skits during the retreat (I always have students come up with their own cross-cultural faux pas skits that tie in with the material we are covering) were probably the most hilarious and entertaining I've ever seen.

• The law school lectures went so well and the response was overwhelmingly positive. In these lectures, I discuss and present arguments for how a lawyer should treat and interact with clients, other attorneys and the Court, ultimately making a case for seeking truth, integrity and justice. In this country where the newspapers daily decry corruption, I was heartened by how strongly these students and their faculties responded to this message. It was truly a privilege to speak to every law student in the country (more than 4,400), bright, passionate and impressive young people who are truly the future of Nigeria. The Nigerian Law School has already invited me to return next year - except, by next year, they will have expanded from the present four campuses to six.

• During the first lecture (Abuja), I was making the point that clients often find it very difficult to go through the process of a lawsuit and we as lawyers have the opportunity and privilege of not only handling the client's legal needs but of walking with them through this difficult time. To emphasize the point and subtly analogize to what God does for us, I spontaneously referenced the Christian Bible and the familiar passage from Psalm 23 that goes - "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me...." I had no more than spoken the first few words of this passage when a huge number of students spontaneously joined me quoting this scripture aloud. I was stunned and delighted. I decided to repeat this part of my talk at each campus and, to my amazement, experienced the same unprompted response each time - hundreds of Christian law students joining me in quoting this scriptural passage in their law school auditoriums.
  
  
• Even though my lectures were not religious, the manner in which I argued for truth and justice seemed to strike a chord with students who "got" that my faith was foundational to my points. One student, obviously a believer, came up to me afterward and said that he was unable to move, take notes or clap (there had been some wonderful applause at some of the points I argued and at the conclusion of my talk) because he was overwhelmed by the sense that this was a message God wanted and was delivering for him and for his country. My conversation with this student is something I will never forget.
  
  
• I literally spent 45 minutes following the session in Abuja posing for photographs with a countless stream of students wanting their picture taken with me, some one-on-one, others in groups. I had never experienced anything like it. And their comments about the lecture were astoundingly affirming of the value of the message of these lectures.

• Visiting the ECWA church in the center of Abuja, the nation's capitol. This 10-year-old church has just moved in to a beautiful new building and sanctuary that seats 3,000. ECWA (Evangelical Church of West Africa) is the Nigerian church organization founded by SIM, the mission in which I grew up. During SIM's first 20 years in Nigeria, they buried more missionaries than they had converts. Today, there are literally thousands of ECWA churches (you see ECWA Church signs in almost every town) and ECWA is now sending missionaries of its own throughout Africa. I was privileged to spend a thoroughly enjoyable and uplifting hour with the impressive yet humble founding pastor and he has invited me to return and speak to his congregation next year.
  
  
• Traveling through Nigeria, watching out the vehicle windows and just soaking in the energy and beauty of this land and its people - whether passing by largely uninhabited fields, forests and mountain ranges or driving through cities, towns and villages where people live so much of their lives within view of the street - adults laughing with each other while standing beneath a tree during the midday heat, children in uniforms walking home from school, market women selling their vegetables, little boys herding cows and goats to a local watering hole, a young mother with her baby wrapped in cloth across her back leaning over a cooking fire while preparing the evening meal, heavily armed soldiers checking vehicles at check points, and much, much more. Growing up as I did, there is something special about seeing life in this way that seems normal and right. And beautiful.

There is so much I would love to share, like my meetings with some prominent and impressive local attorneys; speaking at one of their law firms; meeting the Hillcrest junior class - the school's largest class in decades that, Lord willing, I will work with next year when I return for their senior class retreat; spending time with Bob & Gayle Murray, my hosts at Hillcrest who so passionately love and care for these students, who host me when I am there and who have become such dear friends; traveling with Zachary Ochoga, the young Nigerian pastor and lawyer who made the first contacts that led to all these law school lectures; catching up with Phil Davidson, a teacher at Hillcrest School who was a high school senior during my first retreat at Hillcrest and who went out of his way to let me know how wonderfully our ministry during that trip impacted him and other classmates; and so much more.

RESULTS: I've been invited to do more next year than I may be able to handle, including:

· The retreat with next year's Hillcrest senior class;

· speaking for spiritual emphasis week at Hillcrest School (which includes speaking daily in upper school and also elementary school chapels, speaking in classes and leading devotions in student hostels housing boarding students);

· Returning to speak for The Nigerian Law School - this time at six campuses;

· Play golf with (attorney) Chief J.K. Gadzaga at his club in the Capitol, Abuja, where previous Nigerian Presidents and rulers are members and play golf.

· Speak and worship at ECWA Church in central Abuja;

· Participate as a speaker for a CLE (Continuing Legal Education) conference for the Abuja Bar Association for lawyers and judges practicing in the Abuja area.

I am not sure how I could manage all of this. But, I would ask that you go ahead and begin praying with me that God will guide and show us what He wants done.

COMING UP: I am on my way to Kenya where I will serve with Rosslyn Academy and help lead a transition retreat for their senior class. Please pray for these students, for God to use this time to draw some of them to Him, for God to use me as His vessel and servant, for my firm during my absence, and for Patty and our kids (as I am away) to be protected, encouraged and to know that their sacrifice is glorifying and pleasing to God. And, thank you for your vital part of this ministry.

In His Service,

Steve Snyder

Annette de la Haye Cooper is with a small group of friends traveling to Rome and Israel. They will be there from the 7th, home on the 18th.

Thank you for your prayer support.

From the BGEA website...

Pray for the All Liberia Life Festival

Will you join us in praying for this important move of God?

* That Liberians would come to Christ and know the truth during the Festival;
* That churches would be strengthened and Christians encouraged;
* That spiritual renewal and revival will spread through Liberia;
* That the truth of Christ will be rooted in every church and that false religion will have no place in the Body of Christ;
* That many will hear about the Festival and attend the meetings;
* That pastors in this nation would be encouraged;
* For all the technical details to come together so that people will be able to hear and see the event;
* That buses and other transportation will be available, especially for the children's meeting.

Please add your own prayers for Liberia in the Comments section below.

More from the BGEA website about the upcoming All-Liberia Life Festival with Franklin Graham.

Franklin Graham Will Share Gospel at All Liberia Life Festival in March

February 24, 2011 - Although it was established as the "Land of the Free" in the 1820s, Liberia in recent years has been held captive by civil war, poverty and social turmoil. As the nation turns a corner, the timing couldn't be better for Franklin Graham to share the hope and true freedom of the Gospel at the All Liberia Life Festival next month.

I believe this is going to be a breakthrough. ... I think more than we could ever ask or think is going to come from this Festival.
~Tom Phillips

Restoring True Freedom in Liberia

by Janet Chismar

Founded by freed American and Caribbean slaves, Liberia is mostly made up of indigenous Africans, with the slaves' descendants comprising 5 percent of the population.

The West African nation was relatively calm until 1980 when William Tolbert was overthrown by Sergeant Samuel Doe after food price riots. The coup marked the end of dominance by the minority Americo-Liberians, who had ruled since independence, but heralded a period of instability.

Civil war in the 1990s killed about an estimated 220,000 to 235,000 people and uprooted half of the survivors. One million refugees left the country, and hundreds of thousands fled to the capital city of Monrovia, where many lived in abandoned buildings or filthy and overcrowded camps.

According to the U.S. State Department, Liberia is still recovering from the ravages of war; pipe-borne water and electricity are generally unavailable to most of the population, especially outside Monrovia, and schools, hospitals, roads, and infrastructure remain "derelict."

"Unless you've been there," says Franklin Graham, "it's difficult to understand how much Africans have suffered from war, disease, famine and poverty. And only then do you appreciate how the Church stands out as a source of help and of hope."

In the dozens of trips he has made to Africa, Graham says he has "never ceased to be amazed by the faith of African Christians. They expect miracles and often see them. Their joy in worship would put most of us to shame."

A Burden for Unity

Tom Phillips, BGEA's Vice President of Crusades, would agree. During his visits to Liberia in preparation for the Festival, he has witnessed "phenomenal times of worship." Yet the pastors of many churches are stretched thin by limited resources. "They're so weary," says Phillips. "This is a very difficult place to work; prayer is paramount."

But, he adds, the growing unity sparked by the Festival is renewing hope in the hearts of the pastors. Currently, 500 to 600 churches are working together in preparation for upcoming events. "We've been impressed with the heart of the people," says Phillips. "It's been wonderful to see the kind of cooperation we've had."

He explains that the vision for the All Liberia Life Festival was the burden of several people who recognized the need for unity. "They saw they needed to bring the churches together," says Phillips. "They needed to do something to catalytically touch their country with the Gospel."

Included in that group are Bishop Harris of the Philadelphia Church Ministries International; Christine Tolbert Norman; and Kendall Kauffeldt, the national director for Samaritan's Purse in Liberia. "Christine has been the spark plug and the catalyst for the Festival," Phillips says. Her father was the Liberian president--Pastor Tolbert--who was assassinated by Samuel Doe in 1980.

And it was Kauffeldt who contacted Phillips and said, "We believe the time is ripe. We at Samaritan's Purse will do everything we can to assist if BGEA would feel that this is of the Lord."

Since the end of the war, Samaritan's Purse has established sanitation and feeding programs, built churches, trained pastors, and provided ministry to victims of violence, among other programs in Liberia.

"We are seriously praying and would evoke all to be praying for the Festival," says Kauffeldt. "It is such a huge undertaking. This Festival will be the start of a new day in Liberia, I really pray so."

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A Mile Wide and Inch Deep

Joni Byker, a communications director who worked along side Kauffeldt in Liberia for four years, says she has witnessed his passion for this Festival and also a growing excitement across the nation. "We've been looking forward to this for a long time," she says. "The reality is starting to hit everyone--the possibilities that could happen."

Byker has seen that pastors are "so hungry for any training they can get. They want to learn and to grow in their understanding of the Word." She also knows a little about the state of the church in Liberia. Last year Samaritan's Purse did an impact assessment of the past five years of programming. They wanted to determine the healthiness of the church in Liberia.

"One way we measured that was by their understanding of salvation," says Byker. "Through our impact assessment, 70 percent of the people they talked to said they are involved in the church in some way, but only 22 percent of those people actually understood the meaning of salvation.

"It's a very common phrase to say that the Liberian church is a mile wide but only an inch deep," Byker adds.

"The common understanding is that if you are not Muslim, you are a Christian, no matter what. On top of that, you have African traditional religions, including witchcraft and secret societies, outside of and inside the churches."

The pastors recognize that regarding the growth of secret societies, it is time to "come together and go deeper in order to win souls for Christ," Byker adds. "This Festival comes at a critical time for the church because people are looking for truth."

A Sparkling Light

Phillips estimates throughout Liberia, 82 percent of the population would say they are Christian, 12 percent would say that they are Islamic, and 4 percent would say that they follow a native religion. Of the Christian group, he adds, approximately 40 percent mix their faith with tribal religions. "So syncretism is dug in fairly deeply."

The name, All Liberia Life Festival, means that pastors want to reach their entire nation. There are four different locations for the Festival. Monrovia is the largest--it's the last one--March 25-27. Foya in the north--is March 4-5; Zwedru is on March 8-9, and Ganta in the south is March 11-12.

"These are rural villages," Phillips explains. "It's where two dirt roads cross a field. R.V. Brown, a BGEA associate evangelist who is phenomenal proclaimer of the Gospel, went over and spoke to about 3900 people in 13 locations and saw a 59 percent response. He will be the preacher in the rural locations.

"Only God knows how many people will come to Christ because R.V. is unapologetic about his faith in the Lord," says Phillips. "He has a marvelous way of giving an invitation."

No one has undertaken an evangelistic effort of any magnitude since the civil war, says Phillips. "I believe this is going to be a breakthrough. I believe the Lord will use this and will spur young evangelists to go all over the nation preaching the Gospel. I think more than we could ever ask or think is going to come from this Festival.

"It is a challenge," he points out, "but if no one stepped up to the challenge, this opportunity to make a beach head for the Gospel in Africa simply would not occur. We see this country as a base for reaching Africa with the Gospel."

WATCH THE FESTIVAL WEBCAST: Join us on March 29 to see and hear Franklin Graham's message, music and other highlights from the All Liberia Life Festival. Stay tuned for details.

Pray for the All Liberia Life Festival