The training in Virginia finished today. This group of pastors serving a community about an hour outside of Monrovia is amazing in their commitment to the Word and to the Church. Many of them travelled up to an hour either walking or paying a taxi. The training we brought might be the only pastoral training they will receive this whole year. In fact, for many of these pastors, they have not completed high school, and yet they are very hungry, appreciative, AND enthusiastic about the training they receive.
What they do in terms of ministry and the work of the church with so little challenges us to do the same as pastors and ministers of the Gospel in the States. Often, they are the only ones with a Bible in their entire village. The Bibles they do have are either old cast-offs from a church in the States (often with chapters or entire books missing) or the Bible is a copy produced on cheap paper for mass distribution. A Bible on cheap paper does not stand up to the wear and tear of ministry in Liberia.
As you might imagine, ministering with these pastors the past few days has been a blessing – but has given us quite a burden. The need is so very great to equip and empower these pastors in the interior to take the much needed hope of the Gospel to the people in their area – most of whom are still unreached.
Thirty pastors attended who were able to come on short notice. We have learned that these are only a few of the near 2000 pastors in this three county area in northwest Liberia. Please pray for them, for their families, for their ministries, and their congregations as they seek to be faithful witnesses in applying that which they have learned this week. And please join us in praying that God will give increased wisdom and guidance for Plowpoint’s role to continue helping break ground for the seed of the Gospel in the interior of Liberia.
