In anticipation of the March 25-27 event in Monrovia with Franklin Graham, Liberian churches hosted three rural events earlier this month where hundreds of people made decisions for Christ. BGEA Associate Evangelist R.V. Brown preached in each location, each weekend.
The first event, March 4 and 5, was held in the Northwestern town of Foya. Considered to be the bread basket of Liberia, Foya is home to a large number of farmers. It is also an area where rebels came through on their path to Monrovia during the civil war. Many of the villages were abandoned and destroyed, but in the past five years, people have started moving back and rebuilding their homes.
As a border city, Foya experiences a lot of border movement into and from Guinea and Sierra Leone. Samaritan’s Purse has been working in and around Foya for the past six years, resulting in an empowered and unified church in this city of 65,000.
On March 9 and 10, Brown preached in Zwedru City. With a population of approximately 120,000, the area is often referred to as the “gateway to the South East.” These counties are very remote and difficult to access, and therefore are often neglected. Reaching the people only by chopper, staff from Samaritan’s Purse are changing lives in the isolated area.
Ganta, in the central western part of the nation, is one of the busiest ports of entry with significant traffic from Guinea. Samaritan’s Purse has been involved in the Ganta area through its Pastoral and Leadership training project.
Through preparation for the Festival and training provided by Samaritan’s Purse, the Ganta churches were challenged and “stepped up to the plate” to see a great number of churches mobilized to hear the Gospel.
An Outpouring of the Spirit
Reflecting on the people he met in each area, Brown says without hesitation, “I’ve seen the Holy Spirit move in all of the places that I’ve been, and have seen people hungry to know the truth and hungry for the Word. I have not been in a country where I’ve seen the young people so eager to talk to you, so eager to love on you, so eager to learn.”
The pastors across Liberia are eager to equip the young people, Brown adds. Remaining in Liberia for this weekend’s final event, Brown says the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was “just unbelievable” at each rural event. “I saw God really touch the people’s hearts, saw the faces light up, saw faces change by hearing the Word of God.”
Brown says coming to Liberia from the United States has been an eye opener. “To come to a nation where there’s poverty and people still have a hope and a joy in Jesus Christ, that’s what really drives me to do this. Being involved with Franklin Graham has been awesome, to see what God is doing through his ministry.
“And that is why follow up is so important when we come into countries like this,” Brown adds. “BGEA is training the counselors and training the pastors how to disciple people. That’s the key that’s going to turn Liberia back to Jesus Christ—having the people being discipled, having people checking in and being held accountable to do the right thing, held accountable to continue the Gospel even after the Festival is gone.”
Reaching the Children
Brown feels especially passionate about his role at the Children’s Festival on Saturday morning. “We have to have a generation willing to sell out to Jesus Christ,” he says. “My mission coming here is to raise up a generation that’s not afraid to serve God, raise up a generation that won’t be afraid to open up that Bible or begin to love one another, begin to unite.
Sitting down one Saturday evening with a little three-year-old girl named Elizabeth, Brown told her: “You know, you’re only three years old now, but in 20 years, you can help your nation overcome any obstacles.” According to Brown, the little children who have not seen the destruction and war won’t have that mind set.
“I say God will raise up a generation that’s going to stand up and say, ‘You have taken Liberia back to the cross, and we’re going to pray together, and we’re going to unify, and we’re going to see our nation stronger than it’s ever been before.”
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. Get more details »
