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In 1951, a small band of courageous missionaries, driven by a love of Jesus Christ and a dedication to His service, embarked for Liberia, under the SIM mission board. On a 130-acre campus (located on the Atlantic Ocean outside of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia) donated by the Liberian government, they established ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa), which eventually grew to operate a 50-bed hospital, a 400-student K-9 Christian elementary school, a youth camp and a Christian radio station with the call letters of ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa). ELWA Radio was the first Christian radio station built in all of Africa and it has broadcast the gospel throughout Liberia and neighboring countries for more than 57 years. |
"The Tall Preacher"
ELWA's main radio tower |
The first ELWA hospital was built in 1964 by Dr. Robert Schindler, and continued operation throughout much of the Liberian civil war. Time and war had taken its toll on the facility, and the hospital was in severe disrepair by 20011. During a visit to Liberia in 2011, Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse heard about ELWA hospital and learned that his father, Billy Graham, had make one of the first donations to build it. He decided to visit the old hospital and after seeing the devastation, Franklin Graham and Samaritan's Purse offered to build a new hospital for ELWA! In 2017, the new 89-bed, state of the art ELWA hospital was opened.
The radio station and many of the buildings were destroyed in Liberia's devastating 14-year civil war. The country's infrastructure (water, electricity, sewer, roads, etc.) was demolished. Even more significantly, the war left thousands of orphans, emotional and physical scars for the Liberian people, and a total absence of education for an entire generation of Liberians. Liberia is slowly recovering, and ELWA and its various ministries are being rebuilt with the vision of committed Liberian Staff, and the direction of SIM (Serving In Mission).
The deadly Ebola virus hit Liberia very hard in 2014. Thousands of Liberians died. Doctors Without Borders built a hospital on ELWA’s campus in a field just inside ELWA’s main entrance. “Elwa 3 centre” was the largest Ebola management centre ever built. More than 1000 patients were admitted and treated.
The radio station and many of the buildings were destroyed in Liberia's devastating 14-year civil war. The country's infrastructure (water, electricity, sewer, roads, etc.) was demolished. Even more significantly, the war left thousands of orphans, emotional and physical scars for the Liberian people, and a total absence of education for an entire generation of Liberians. Liberia is slowly recovering, and ELWA and its various ministries are being rebuilt with the vision of committed Liberian Staff, and the direction of SIM (Serving In Mission).
The deadly Ebola virus hit Liberia very hard in 2014. Thousands of Liberians died. Doctors Without Borders built a hospital on ELWA’s campus in a field just inside ELWA’s main entrance. “Elwa 3 centre” was the largest Ebola management centre ever built. More than 1000 patients were admitted and treated.
EMAUSA is proud to support ELWA and Liberia as the country continues to rebuild.
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ELWA Ministries Association USA