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Baptisms and Changed Lives in Liberia

Keith Lippy

While there are many Christians in Liberia, because of the civil war and the absolute destruction that occurred during nearly sixteen years of conflict, the church in Liberia needs assistance. We have begun working with church leadership to strengthen existing churches and to reach out into new areas.

Two weeks ago, our family experienced what was possibly the highlight of our first term as missionaries. We had the opportunity to see the fruits of our labor as servants of Jesus Christ. The church that we have been working with in Gweyantayeah held its second baptismal service since the church began. I had the privilege of baptizing fourteen people, including our son Joseph. In a rural village in the interior of Liberia, a baptism is a total village event. It began by the entire congregation (approximately 150 people) meeting in the church building, then marching together through the town, and then walking to the creek where the baptism was held. This process took between thirty to forty-five minutes to complete, not including the actual baptism. 

The service was held in a muddy creek just outside of the village. All the participants and the onlookers then walked back to the church where the Lord's Supper was administered. It was a wonderful day that our family will not soon forget. The church had five baptized believers before this service, but now the church roll boasts eighteen members! 

What is more exciting than the numbers is that people in the village are seeing the changes in the lives of these believers. One of the ladies who we baptized had a terrible reputation for the vicious fights that she had with her husband. It was known by everyone in the village. When she responded to the gospel and began to grow in her relationship with Christ, the fighting with her husband grew less frequent, and the change in her life and family was evident. Her brother, who is a Muslim, came to the village and testified of the dramatic change in his sister. He said, "If God's Word can change my sister, those words must have real power." This is only one of the testimonies that are spoken throughout this village. Please pray for continued strength for these new believers and that the power of God's Word would change more lives for His glory.