Sixty-one percent of Liberian children do not attend school. Nearly forty percent of children under the age of five in Liberia suffer from ‘stunting’ as a result of malnutrition. Liberia’s infant and under -5 mortality rates remain among the five highest in the world. And more than 15 percent of children die before they reach their first birthday. These startling facts are not just words to be printed on a page so heads can be shaken in sorrow. They represent real people, real children, who at this very moment are suffering a type of pain that most of us cannot even begin to imagine.

The Liberia Now team saw firsthand accounts of what the people and children of Liberia are going through and it truly changed each of their lives forever - beginning with two little girls, ages five and seven. Taylor and Riley Tippit, daughters of Eternal Concepts founders, Dave and Kelly Tippit, accompanied their parents on their first mission trip overseas. Both were profoundly affected, asking questions such as why the Liberian children have to live in the intense heat even at night while the American team went back to an air-conditioned room, as well as wanting to stay in Liberia longer to continue to help the children. God says He would love for us to see the world through the eyes of children such as these – innocent, real, and humble.

The rest of the team, including Eternal Concepts, consisted of members from Sammy Tippit Ministries, Bandera Road Community Church, and Quartus Diem. They formed the partnership Liberia Now as a way to strengthen the area of Lower Virginia, Liberia in an attempt to transform a community with spiritual, economic, educational and social help.

The team that traveled to Liberia repaired water wells and taught local Christians in the community how to do the same. Nearly forty percent of Liberia does not have safe access to clean water. This is a problem that has been a constant threat to poverty stricken areas around the world. Allyn Anderson, began an outreach with micro finance to enable the first thirty local entrepreneurs to begin economic development in the area. Dave and Kelly Tippit, with their two daughters, held a week long children’s camp of elementary age children. They hope to secure sponsors in the U.S. to enable 47 children to acquire an education for the upcoming fall. They also held several community movie nights, where a mainstream Hollywood film and children’s film were simultaneously shown. These films held spiritual truths in the various storylines and were discussed after the movies were shown. Brent Saathoff and staff from Bandera Road Community Church in San Antonio, Texas led a pastors’ conference. Liberian Pastor, Emanuel Gyamfi, is planning on a second wave of ministry this fall. It will include a student discipleship school with Eternal Concepts and an evangelistic outreach led by STM. The Bandera Road church will lead another time of training pastors and church leaders. Allyn Anderson will also train more entrepreneurs. More social and educational outreach will continue.

Prayer is much needed for the nation of Liberia. Liberia Now is beginning the process of becoming a full-fledged NGO, but they do need your prayers as they continue on this journey of helping the Liberian people both spiritually and physically. If you would like more information about Liberia Now and the various organizations that are a part of this team, a website (LiberiaNow.org) is in the process of being formed and will be available at the end of May.