ELWA Youth Discipleship Ministry

Meanu Kayea was born in Liberia and is on the advisory board of EMAUSA. His father, now with the Lord, ministered to the Liberian people through broadcasts on ELWA Christian radio and with Youth for Christ.  Meanu was 19 years old when he moved to the US where he lived with an ELWA missionary family. 

Meanu says, "I believe God is calling me to return to Liberia to disciple, mentor and share God’s love and the message of salvation with Liberian youth.  The desire and burden to return to my birthplace began about 10 years ago when God gave me the opportunity to connect with a group of young Liberian boys adopted by American families in Charlotte, North Carolina where I live.  My relationship with the boys began by meeting regularly with them in small discipleship groups. Through this experience, I felt the Lord placing the youth of Liberia upon my heart and a plan for a discipleship program that would bring Jesus to them began to form."

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Over the last few years, Meanu has developed a sports-based discipleship training program for Liberian youth and is now developing leaders for the program in Liberia. 
Last November,  Meanu joined a team mission trip to Liberia and was able to speak to nearly 1,000 kids at ELWA Academy chapels and at boys and girls sporting events which he planned with ELWA Academy principal, Justyn Tokeh along with John Volpo who heads ELWA Security.  
Meanu’s multi-faceted program includes:

1. Using sports to teach biblical principles like integrity and discipline
   
2. Holding Bible studies in conjunction with sports events
   
3. Reaching out to area community school principals and sports coaches to share the vision and mission of the Youth Discipleship Ministry Program
   
4. Developing school-based Bible student small groups 
   
5. Sending outreach teams made up of sports team participants into communities
   
6. An annual sports tournament involving area community schools featuring basketball, soccer, and kickball school programs
   
7. After-school programs at various community schools
   

Meanu says “I believe that God has called me to this very ministry, using sports as a vehicle to share HIS love with Liberia`s youth. This is basically the model ELWA missionary men used for kids like me and other missionary kids. My hope is that God will make it possible for me to be able to do this full time.””
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Potential projects include:

1. Renovating the old Chinese housing compound on ELWA’s compound.  There is a concrete slab there that is big enough for a full-sized basketball court and two parallel smaller courts. Basketball hoops, rims and backboards would be installed and a roof would be built so basketball games could continue even during rainy season. 
   
2. Renovate the deteriorating ELWA gymnasium. It's a great congregating place for ELWA Academy youth and kids in the surrounding area.
   

Sports equipment and training manuals are needed.  Travel expenses for Meanu to oversee the program must be raised.   
ELWA Ministries supports Meanu's Youth Discipleship Ministry and we believe that Meanu has a unique ability to reach Liberians.  We look forward to seeing the impact this ministry will have on Liberian youth.
The three pictures above show Meanu with the girl's basketball team (in the old ELWA gym), boys soccer team and a group of younger kids that just won't leave him alone! 
Youth Discipleship Ministry 2020 Goal: $10,000