Second Quarter Newsletter

Jesus said: “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16: 18). As we draw closer to the soon coming of our Lord, God continues to build His church around the globe. In spite of all the challenges the church faces around the world, especially in places like Africa, Asia and the Middle East, God remains faithful. Our newsletter for this quarter highlights the graduation activities of the Jake Memorial Baptist College, the newly established skill training program, and church’s activities for the quarter.

Jake Memorial Baptist College’s Tenth Commencement

The Jake Memorial Baptist College graduated eleven (11) students on Sunday July 21, at the Bethlehem Baptist Church. During the tenth commencement convocation, Dr. Randy Nelson, Director of International Education at the University of Sioux Fall in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, challenged the graduates to follow the example of Christ by learning how to serve others and do their good deeds in secret. He also told them to guard against the deceitfulness of material wealth, learn to suffer for the sake of the gospel, and love the unlovable. Dr. Nelson further challenged the congregation that their country will be more beautiful if all Liberians will practice the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Christ.

In his commencement message, Rev. John K. Sackie, president of the Jake Memorial Baptist College, thanked all supporters of the college, mainly the American partners (The Sioux Falls University, Sterling Baptist Church, Alaska, The Wyoming Fellowship of Michigan, the Brook Haven Baptist College, Baptist Mid- Missions, the GARBC, etc). Rev. Sackie also encouraged the national churches to support the college both financially and by sending more students to be trained. Meanwhile, the college’s construction project will begin soon pending the submission of the permit from the government.

The Jake Memorial Baptist College was established in in 1995 in memory of Clark Jacobson, an American missionary, who was killed by armed men in 1990 during the Liberian civil war while sheltering Christians.

Skill Training for Community and Church Women

In 2 Timothy 2: 2, Paul told Timothy: ‘And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.’ This is exactly what my wife Rose has been doing since this year. For the last three months, she has been engaged in the training of women and girls in soap science (laundry soap, powered soap, liquid soap, bleach and hair grease). Following three months of training, twenty-seven students (25 women and 2 men) will be graduating with certificates in soap making on August 17, 2019. Most of the students have already started producing soap and bleach to empower themselves economically. The program is also used to share the gospel.

The Orphans
We are thankful to the Lord that all of our kids made passes at the end of the school year. Please see below:
1. Gifty Vaye-passed to grade six
2. Princess Sackie- graduated from grade nine and promoted to grade ten.
3. Joshua Gwehpue –passed to grade nine
4. Uriah Johnson- passed to grade eight
5. Eddie Yanzeh graduated from high school
6. Vaye Kromah took the University of Liberia placement test
7. Oliver Weah—promote to grade eleven
8. Frederick Weah- promoted to grade eight
9. Patrick Talue passed to grade two
10. Molu Washington passed to grade five
11. Marie Manjoe did not attend school this year due to ill health
12. Ujay Roberts passed to grade eight
13. Fatu Gwehpue passed to grade five.
14. Rosie Vaye is still in the kindergarten

Rose and I presently care for 15 children, three of whom are living with us at home. We thank all our orphan’s supporters. The kids would never have completed the school year without your prayer and financial supports. The supporters of Ujay Roberts were not able to continue their support due to some challenges. Fatu Gwehpu and Teta Gweh have not gotten supporters yet. As the result of the serious economic constraints Liberia is facing, things are getting more difficult to care for these kids. But the Lord continues to provide for our basic needs.

Church Activities for the quarter

Church activities for the quarter continued despite the rain, with an average attendance of 215 for worship service, 97 for Sunday school, 114 for children church, and 21 for midweek prayer meeting and Bible studies. Many trusted Christ as Lord and Saviour, while 10 new converts were baptized and added to the church membership. Church activities and services at the fellowships continued during the quarter.

Following two years of construction works on the new church’s edifice, all is now set for the roofing of the building. By the end of the quarter, fund raising continued to raise more than USD $ 25,000 needed for the roofing. We were able, with the Lord’s help, to raise close to half of the amount. As the result, materials for the steel roof were purchased to commence the roofing. Very soon works on the roof will begin in preparation for the zincing. To complete this phase, we are trusting the Lord to help us raise USD $15,000 needed for to purchase the aluminium zinc.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for the following requests:
1. The amount ($15,000) needed to complete the roofing of the edifice
2. The Jake Memorial Baptist College’s development program, especially the accreditation of the college to full degree institution.
3. Rose’s training program
4. School fees for the kids to enter school for 2019/2020 academic year. We will need more than USD $ 1,700 put these kids in school
5. Supports for three orphans (Ujay, Teta, and Fatu)