Follow this link to read the latest Revive Liberia Missions newsletter. (.pdf format)

Phil and Clint returned safely from Liberia recently to report that God is blessing the work that is being done there.  The wood shop is under-roof and has power.  The machinery that was shipped last year is operational.  Here is a report from Phil:

Dear friends and board members,

What a trip! It was obvious that many were praying for the success of our endeavors. From the point of landing on African shores our journey was blessed. So much has improved in Liberia. The roads are getting much better. The attitude of the people was greatly improved, it seemed even since November. I think this is apparent in the behavior of the taxi drivers most of all. They even wave when you let them in! Everywhere is a sense of calm and hope. New buildings are going up everywhere.  Once again I fooled myself into thinking I had time to relax. As usual it was a jam packed time of trying to fit too much into to little time.

The workshop is running! Clint did a great job and all the machines are functioning. I am asking Chris to youtube some of the shop films I took. It was such a delight to see James Babaloo when all this happened. He is the fellow Mark and I met in his house in Judu town and saw the door he had fashioned. This was our first thought into this wood working business. Jimmy was all smiles! There was a lot of Yankee know how in getting the band saw up. Everything ran well. The local electricians did a great job. The place is wired with three phase, 220 and 110. We are all anxious to move on from here.

We had a meeting with a gentleman in Monrovia about some land he owned. Frog has kept me informed about this situation for four years now. It was willed to the gentleman and the instructions to him about the land was that it was not to be used for anything but some Christian work.  Horrace  even turned down his own church’s request to put their building there.  He knew they didn’t have the money to develop it properly. He tried to give it to some other NGO’s but they were busy elsewhere etc. It seems as if the Lord had been saving it for us. We have been so preoccupied with other things that this has been put on the back burner. We have to pay to have it surveyed and that is all! It is 15 acres right on the beach just outside Buchanan. It is completely clear of any buildings and is flat. The beach front is not part of it but we are looking into that also. The beach is beautiful and unspoiled. Horace made me give my entire theological standings. He was taking no chances about how this land was to be used. I committed to him as long as I was involved that the land was not to be used for anything but Christian work. Our dream is to put a youth camp there along with a guest house for visitors. Praise the Lord for his bountiful blessings!

The second time I had time to relax was on Saturday. Thomas and I went to Grand Cape Mount county where he and Hauwa have a ministry work. It is on the highway to Sierra Leone. I had never been out that direction. The road was good all the way. We saw a huge new Palm oil farm being developed. With the help of Samaritans Purse ( when Thomas was with them ) and an American church they have been able to build a church, small school building and a guest house complete with a study for local pastors. This area is about 97% Muslim. The local people have agreed to let the Christians educate their children. Some are deserting their children at the school knowing the Christians will feed and house them. Others are casting out their children when they mention Jesus. There are now 16 of these kids living at the school. An accountant working at an over seas firm in Monrovia has left his good job and he and his wife are in charge there. They have 200 students now. They have a new school building built but have no funds to roof it. Even that is to small because it is growing so fast. If it is not roofed before the rains hit sometime in April the entire structure will crumble. I think it is 15 or 16 hundred dollars to finish. Please pray for this. I have good pictures that we will put on the web. Thomas has also started 5 or 6 house churches in the Muslim neighborhoods. They cannot meet openly. This is truly a mission field within a mission field!

I was able to meet with several of our sponsored pastors and all is well. There was one problem we will talk about later but I think it can be worked out. Kurt bought Cassell a motorbike, he was thrilled. He too is working far away from Monrovia in Lofa county with the Muslims. This will enable him to get four times as much done. Any of you pastor sponsor supporters that might one day be able to do this it is the one thing that can triple your pastors effectiveness.

Thanks for everything you all do and this time especially Mary Jo Ramsey. I really pushed her to get out that last newsletter. It came out just as we were leaving and it was all the praying that I was after. Frog emailed me to ask for a few things to bring over, some reading glasses, the pastor help books and a projector. In my heart I said ” I am really busy, there are but four days left, and I am not even going to ask anyone for this.” Two days later a friend called and said their small church was closing. They were giving away all their equipment and she stopped them from giving away the projector ( she had donated ) until she asked Phil if it was needed in Africa. Our Lord says “ You have not because you ask not.” Even Him I didn’t ask. The more I get into this work the more I know the meaning of the words ” We are unworthy servants, we are only doing our duty.”  I plan on sending a small general newsletter on the trip in the next few days,

Phil Eckart

William Kangar (Frog) discusses planer test run

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Land recently donated to Alive Liberia

We intend to provide regular updates regarding RLM supported pastors.   Below are the most recent reports that we have received from Liberia:

T. Nelson Jacobs from the Fellowship Baptist Ministry extends thanks and appreciation to his sponsor for his monthly support. This enables him to cater to the work of his Church, Family and Community. He and his kids  and were able to complete the academy study successfully. The current congregation range of his Church is 198-207: 58 men, 76 women and 73 children. There are five (5) person in baptismal class and twenty (20) new converts. The church is engage in witnessing, teaching, training, bible study, weekly fast and prayer and the construction of new edifice. Let us remember him in prayer for the death of his father.

Evangelist John Ebargee of the New Birth Harvest Pentecostal Church of Gbargaya Town grand Bassa County has the congregation of fifty-six (56) member: ten (10) men, twenty six (26) women and twenty (20) children.  There are 12 persons in Baptismal class. He is very grateful for  being able to cater to the domestic needs of his family, pay his tithe regularly and assist other less fortunate children in the communication. His church is involved in Ministerial planning and convention.

He locks residential building and transportation. He also locks building for the Kerene Eckart School.

Rev. Richmond F. Cole Sr. is the General Overseer of the New Birth Harvest Pentecostal  Church . His church has the congregation range of 250- 285 with 100 males, 130 Females and 40 Children. There are 65 persons in Baptismal Class They are using a rental building for worship. He expresses many thanks and appreciation to his sponsors, Revive Liberia and Alive Liberia for his monthly support. He has been empowered to meaningfully contribute to the General works of the Church and his family.

They carried out Mother & Father Days in the Church, youth, women and national convention.

Rev. Edwin S. Bowah is the General overseer of the hope Of Pentecost Church Inc.  He expresses thanks appreciation to his sponsor as a provider of his month support . This has helped him with his family up keep. In addition to the Pastoral Board, Deacon Board, Children ministries, and women Department, the Church has been blessed with the Ushers and Evangelism Department.  Rev. Bowah travelled to the USA for some important family business. He has not being well. Please pray with him.

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RLM recently received this testimony from Papie Mulbah.

My name is Papie Mulbah a student at the Teen Challenge Centre in Liberia; I am twenty- three years old. During the civil conflict in Liberia, my father who was a member of the Armed Forces of Liberia was killed gruesomely and head cut off, his body was discovered on the street of central Monrovia. We were called to go and identify his body; the death of my father was a disappointment for me. My mother who was suffering from Romatism could hardly work any long distance and the war was fast approaching our area. The war came closer, all our neighbors left the area, and we could no longer with stand the heavy shelling, my mother finally decided that we should leave the area. On our way out, stray bullet hit my last sister who died two days later, I felt disgusted and decided to join the National Patriotic Front of Liberia one of the warring factions.

I was taken to one of the training base where I was trained to fire rifles for one week but on our first attack, I saw my friends dying like driver ants fear caught me and I manage to run away to the Republic of Guinea.

Life in Guinea was not pleasant at all, I suffered a lot, no father, no mother I was frustrated I started smoking grass, we were caught by some Guinean police who sent us back to Liberia. Thank God that during the Outreach session of Teen Challenge staff to our Ghetto I was able to listen to the Pastor and his message touched my life and I decided to follow them to see the center, I thank God that Jesus, Jesus, Jesus has changed my life, I am going to school now, Teen Challenge Liberia has done so well, I am in school now. Thank you Teen Challenge.

Papie in school uniform

During a recent trip to Liberia several members of Revive Liberia Missions were able to assist with moving heavy machinery into the partially completed wood shop.  The machinery has been in storage since being shipped from America last year.  Now that the generator room was secure it was time to place some of the machinery.

Generator Room awaiting equipment

The equipment arrived at the site of the wood shop via truck.  It was unloaded at the road and then had to be moved to the shop by hand.

Equipment being unloaded at roadside

Now all that was left to do was to move the equipment from the road into the building.  This was accomplished by using ramps, planes and levers… and muscle.

Over the threshold, into the shop.

Almost there...

Now that the generators are secure in the new building, God willing, construction will continue.  There a some kinks to work out.  For example, if you (or somebody you know) has experience setting up and operating 1980’s era, 30KW military generators, please contact us.

The illiteracy rate in Liberia is approximately 80%.  Of this, 60% comes from youth located in the poorest parts of the country.  Poverty and the lasting affects of war prevent 61% of the nation’s children from attending school.

Revive Liberia Missions is working to establish schools in Liberia.  The schools operate out of village churches that are supported by our ministry.

Support is needed to supply the schools with teachers, supplies, and in some instances, meals for the students.  Your $30 per month commitment could provide a teacher’s salary as well as supplies needed to operate a school.

Program information:

• There is no overhead.  The teacher that you sponsor receives every dollar that you contribute.
• You will be provided the name and bio of your teacher.
• You will receive regular reports/updates from your teacher.
• Your contribution is tax deductible.

For more information contact:

Karen Eckart (USA Coordinator)

Phone: (812) 876-4348

Email: pkplywoodking@yahoo.com

Download the latest brochure (jpg format)

You can view more RLM videos at http://youtube.com/aliveliberia .

During the past year Revive Liberia Missions shipped a cargo container to Liberia containing industrial grade wood working machinery as well as the generators needed to operate the equipment.  Our focus has now switched to building a facility to house the equipment.  Land has been purchased but funds are needed to build the actual structure.

Here is an update from Phil Eckart describing the status of our fund raising efforts:

Dear friends,

Today I met with a couple of friends who have been a financial help to our ministry in the past. I had told them of the wood working shop project in Liberia. They prayed on it for some time and concluded that the Lord would have them donate $2500 to this project if we would raise matching funds. We praise the Lord for this development.

This is a great time for our ministry! Perhaps some of you could help with this financial challenge or approach your various church boards or missions committees. Even asking friends can open doors. That’s what I did, I just asked. We will hold a board meeting soon.

Thanks and remember John 11:40 Jesus said to her “ Didn’t I tell you that if you believe you would see God’s glory?”

Phil Eckart

President, Revive Liberia Inc.

Among the items included within the latest cargo container shipped to Liberia was many boxes full of school supplies.  The supplies were recently delivered to the Karen Eckart School in Gbagaye Town.

Click the image below to see additional images.

Karen Eckart School, Gbagaye Town

A container that holds a tractor, several industrial grade pieces of woodworking equipment, computer equipment, building supplies and many other items has recently arrived in Liberia.  Efforts are currently underway to distribute the items and to put them to use as quickly as possible to benefit our work in Liberia.

Here is a message that we received from Bayougar Kangar:

Dear friends of Liberia,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the volunteers staff of the Alive Liberia Mission Inc. I wish to extend my Mr. & Mrs. Phil Eckart & family, the Vice President of Revived Liberia Mission Inc.  Mr.  & Mrs. Mark Parmenter & Family, board members of Revived Liberia Mission Inc, donors of Pastor’s Support, donors of girl’s Scholarship and all those you contributed for the shipment of the 40 feet Container and items in the container. Liberians are grateful.  We appreciate all you have done in the passed and all that you continue to do.

May our good God richly bless you.

Is my prayer that as we Liberians received these items and Tractor and saw mill equipments we will cherish it and make the maximum use of it as it will provide job opportunities for many.

Bayougar Moses K.

Volunteer Staff

Alive Liberia Mission Inc.