Liberia and Discipleship

A disciple is a student, pupil, learner and more importantly, a follower. A disciple knows the teacher and does what he does. Bob Dylan wrote a song titled, “Gotta Serve Somebody,” and one of the lines in the chorus says, “It may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”

Jesus taught us his nature by washing his disciples’ feet, and this is such a powerful demonstration of who he is (John 13:1-17). It follows that being a disciple of Jesus is being a servant. We best learn and become that by observing and following Christ. And so a disciple is someone called to live in Christ, equipped to live like Christ, and sent to live for Christ and to share in the sufferings of Christ.

How does this happen in Liberia? Every country and culture has its challenges—Liberia has many. Between January 1822 and the American Civil War, Liberia was colonized by about 15,000 freed and free-born slaves. They were shipped to this settlement on the African west coast from the Americas, and the settlers carried their culture and tradition with them. In fact, the Liberian constitution and flag were modeled after those of the U.S. 

The Americo-Liberians, as they were known, became the ruling class until relatively recently. There is a great deal of prejudice between the Americo-Liberians and the “bush people” (the sixteen different native tribes—each with its unique language, culture, and religion). It is said that eighty-five percent of the population is Christian, but animism is still an underlying part of the fabric of Liberia. These secret religious societies are still strong. 

From 1980 until 2003, there was a series of civil wars and frequent political unrest, and Liberia still suffers mightily from the effects of that upheaval  today. Ninety percent of the country is without electricity. Food, security, and water are major problems. Many Liberians fled during these wars, including One Kingdom’s partner and ambassador,  Isaac Daye and his young family.

Upon arrival in Ghana, Isaac encountered followers of Christ, and he and his family became disciples of Christ. Isaac understood the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20, and so he  took the Commission and ran with it. 

A commission, according to our dictionary, is the act of granting authority for a designated task. Isaac and those who taught him understood, and they are passionate about the Commission. Isaac studied full-time at Heritage Christian College in Accra, Ghana, where he excelled in his studies. Upon graduation, he was sent as a missionary to The Gambia in West Africa. Isaac taught and made disciples for Christ, baptizing people all over the small nation of The Gambia. Since The Gambia is predominantly Muslim, he learned about Islam, loved his neighbors, and taught other believers to do the same. But his heart never left Liberia.

Once the war ended, he brought his family back to a battle-scarred and decimated country. It was very difficult, especially for his children, because they had left an easier, more comfortable life in The Gambia. But as Jesus said in
Luke 9, we are to take up our cross and follow him. This is a hard teaching, particularly when it involves your family being uprooted and moved to a much more difficult place.

However, Isaac had it on his heart to reach Liberia with the Gospel. It was his passion, and his family fully supported him. It began with growing the church in his own community and then reaching out. They began to hold Gospel campaigns all over Liberia. Other churches joined him in reaching their own communities and planting churches where none existed. Isaac knew that he did not need to just convince people to be baptized but to truly have them be transformed in Christ—true followers! Disciples!

So he had an idea: to train men to evangelize and to support themselves while planting churches in Liberia, which is mostly rural. The idea to teach disciples the Bible—in addition to teaching them to farm—gave birth to the Restoration Bible and Agriculture Institute. Isaac invited the churches in Liberia to dream with him about how to best accomplish this task. Many partners such as One Kingdom and other churches across America believed in the concept and we all believed in Isaac. 

The timing was perfect. Several of the staff at One Kingdom had recently been trained by the ECHO farm school in Ft. Myers Florida. We understood that their techniques were much different

from those that the typical Liberian farmers were using. This was a way of farming that was many times more productive and intended for small tracts of land requiring no tilling. This “Farming God’s Way” used raised beds with compost and mulching, along with drip irrigation to be productive during the dry season.

Representatives from One Kingdom visited the property that was to become RBAI for the first time in April 2014. There was a gathering of ministers from various churches in Liberia for a workshop on “Farming God’s Way.” The school was to be located on 10 acres of property which had already been purchased for specifically that purpose. In addition, the school was already under construction. The workshop piqued the interest of others, and they went home and sent men to the school.

In March 2016, we returned to RBAI to start the first two-year class. It was an outstanding class! They were from all corners of the country and one from Sierra Leone. They all lived on campus where they grew in knowledge and as co-workers for Christ.

Luke 6:40 says “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone, when he is fully trained, will be like his teacher.” These men were not only learning what to do, but they were learning how to teach others to do the same.

That became truly evident to us only very recently. I accompanied Bill Orange from March 5th-14th of this year for a visit to some of these graduates. Bill had taught these men Bible and farming periodically ever since the school began. There are several Bible teachers at RBAI, but Bill has been the primary agriculture teacher. He is the ideal man to do this, being well trained in both farming and the  Bible. He also has a long history with Liberia and loves them very dearly. Bill is a wonderful disciple-maker who Liberians respect, as we all do.

We visited Kingston Kerkulah, a graduate of the first class, at his farm in Bong County. He has several acres with cassava, tomatoes, peppers, melons, and moringa and papaya trees. He also has chickens and hogs. This farm is flourishing using the methods he learned from Bill Orange during his time at RBAI.

A local chief once saw his crops and suggested that a local agriculture school graduate visit him. Kingston visited and taught them some of the things he had learned. They wanted more, so we had a workshop on March 10th, 2020. Two local agriculture colleges sent 40-plus students for Kingston and Bill to teach. Not only were they taught farming, but they were taught the Gospel of Christ. Disciples were making disciples with tools that God supplied!

Kingston (along with Isaac and a nearby church, Lofa Road Church of Christ) started a new congregation in his community. I was honored to be with them on Sunday, March 8th to teach and listen to Kingston preach. It was a memorable day to be sure. I believe the vision of multiplying and discipling the nation of Liberia is happening. Kingston is just one of several from the first class. Praise be to God!

On March 11th and 12th, we visited Cyrus Behyee in Nimba County. What a journey! I have been to many remote places in the world, but this was the most surreal of all.

We saw two cobra snakes on the way in. Fortunately, we were in the car. A black mamba and a green mamba also crossed our path. The road was rocky and rutted, but the people were fantastic, walking out to greet us, singing as they came.

Cyrus is a student of the second class that graduated in December 2019 and was baptized while at the school. This fantastic young man, along with Evangelist Daye, has planted a new church in his very remote village. We met on Wednesday night, in a full building for prayer, singing, and a lesson from God’s word. Five precious souls responded. We baptized them into Christ the next morning before our departure. And so the church is growing at a fast pace: there were over 80 people at the worship service on March 15th after we had left.

Isaac and his family are visionaries. The property at RBAI also has a facility for training women in sewing. This is because unemployment is extremely high in Liberia, and unfortunately, most of these women are illiterate and have few skills that can lead to financial security. Learning a valuable skill such as sewing has become huge blessing for them.

Many have heard the Gospel for the first time and are becoming disciples of Jesus. Upon completion of the 18-month course, these women are presented with the sewing machine they trained on so that they will be able to earn an income. This program is running at capacity. They are given hope and security with a trade and most importantly, they are equipped spiritually as well.
John 8:31-32 tells us,  “If you continue in my word then you are my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus assures us that his truth gives us true freedom regardless of circumstances.

He also said in John 10:10 that he came to give us an abundant life. The question is, how can an abundant life be available in such a poor place? The poverty is not just an economic poverty but a spiritual poverty. Poverty is a mind-set; a system of beliefs and ideas. Spiritual poverty is prevalent everywhere—even among the very rich. Christ showed us the measure of an abundant life even though he had nothing of this world’s goods—not even a bed (Luke 9:58).

So how does a poor man like Jesus require fruit from poor people? Jesus answers this question through Paul’s writings to the Galatians 5:16-26. Paul said by showing us that true abundance is the fruit of the spirit, as opposed to the acts of the flesh. I found rich people in Liberia even though they had no money. They were walking with Christ as his disciples and bearing tremendous fruit.

Liberia is usually among the top five poorest countries in the world. What Isaac is teaching these Christ-followers is empowering, and it gives them hope by having their own business. This has proven to be a very wise move. Since there are very few jobs available in Liberia, people have to create their own. Forty percent of the population is undernourished (but it’s probably more than that!), and the average income is around $1,000 per year.

Christ met people during his ministry by addressing physical needs—he turned water into wine (John 2:1-11), healed the sick, and fed the hungry. He got their attention and then taught them to follow him. That is simply what we see happening in Liberia.

Restoration Bible and Agriculture Institute (RBAI) now has, on the 10 acre property, several things to equip disciples to make disciples. There is a two-year full time school where students learn Bible and how to raise crops and livestock. There is also a radio station that broadcasts preaching, teaching and worship music. A women’s sewing school is on the property. A newly built garri processing facility to process cassava into flour is beginning soon. 

The goal of all this is to teach and equip men and women to “bear much fruit” and to be disciple makers. So far, it has been going very well and we are excited about what the future may bring. Thank you to all of our supporters for helping this become a reality.