Liberia Annual Conference (LAC)

BRIEF HISTORY

In 1833, the first Methodist Episcopal missionary to Africa, Rev. Melville B. Cox, Pastor of Edenton Street Methodist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina was sent to Liberia by the then Virginia Annual Conference.

In spite of his ill health, Rev. Cox felt a call from God to establish a mission in Africa, which he did in that same year. Rev. Cox died a few months after his arrival. Before his death that year, he declared, "Though a thousand fall, let not Africa be given up." These words aptly describe the missionary activity of a succession of missionaries who gave their lives to make this dream come true in Africa. Over the years, the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (LAC) has spawned a proud heritage of United Methodism through spiritual growth and social holiness.

The LAC, Africa’s oldest Methodist Conference, currently has approximately 500 churches, 700 pastors, with a membership of approximately 160,000, making it the largest Christian Denomination in the continent’s oldest republic.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

The LAC has contributed immensely to education, health care and spiritual development in Liberia. To date, a major hospital, the Bishop Judith Craig Children’s Village, a university, the Gbarnga School of Theology, 106 schools (elementary, junior high and senior high schools), have been established throughout the country. Among these are the college of West Africa, (one of the oldest educational institutions on the Continent of Africa) and the First United Methodist Church of Monrovia, (Africa’s oldest continuous Methodist congregation).

THE LIBERIAN CIVIL CRISIS:

The political, social and economic stability of Liberia began to deteriorate in the late 1970's as a succession student unrest, riots, coup d’etats, military rule and civil war uprooted the basic institutions of society and destroyed the infrastructures of the church’s ministries.

Schools, church buildings, mission stations, hospitals, family farms and private properties were destroyed. Public roads, bridges, electricity and businesses were destroyed. Yet, the LAC remains undaunted in its commitment to mission. We need help to restore what has been lost and to secure long term support for basic ministries. In February 2001, newly consecrated Bishop John G. Innis announced the creation of the Liberia United Methodist Empowerment Foundation (LUMEF) a means of responding to the long-term support needs of the church.

ST. PAUL'S INVOLVEMENT

To date we have raised $43,000 for our friends in Liberia

$9,000--- Humanitarian aide at the end of 2003

$6,000--- Building supplies that were stolen by rebel troops

$15,000—The construction of the Gretta Moffet School. This is an 8 room building with an office and workroom. It is the first school as well as the only school in the area.

$13,000— helps to pay the teachers at the school, will help to build a teachers cottage so that teachers can stay in the area during the week as opposed to walking over 10 miles one way each day, restore the John Dean Church by replacing doors, door frames, windows and frames, and tile from the floor that was stolen or damaged by rebels.

$20,000--On November 24th, 2002, the congregation of St. Paul's was able to present Bishop John Innis with over  to help the village of John Dean Township build a medical clinic, school and church.  What an amazing contribution! 

Our commitment will continue. Excess funds collected during our 5^th Sunday offering will be used to help build a medical clinic, help people from the area with the proper training and schooling to have them run the clinic. Did you know that a 3 year nursing program in Monrovia cost ONLY $1,500.00 per year? Bishop Innis is in the process of finding 2 candidates from John Dean Town that we can help pay for their training.  The hope is that they will agree to work at the clinic for 3 years to compensate for their tuition costs. 

THAT’S NOT ALL! Our longer range plans include expanding the Gretta Moffet School to include children through the 12^th grade and adding dormitories so they could also stay at the school during the week to avoid the up to 10 mile one way hike to school each day.

AND Perhaps sometime in 2007 a group of interested people from our own congregation here at St. Paul’s could take a trip to Liberia! A medical team, teachers, and a construction crew may want to make the journey to help in their area of expertise.

Our possibilities are endless! Our commitment is strong and non-negotiable! We will continue to make a difference in the lives of our friends in John Dean Town Liberia Africa. They are counting on it!

WATCH FOR FUNDRAISING EVENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT WILL HELP US WITH FUNDING THESE EXCITING PROJECTS!