The LIBERIAN LINK Newsletter: March 2015

Na-na

Keaton has begun saying "Nana”, and last night I was able to capture it on video.

I especially find it cute how she says Nana while also trying to stand alone, walk to me, take in everything else that is going on in the room, offer me her pacifier and decide to use it herself – all at the same time.  That is our sweet, curious little Keaton.

Proud Parents

February 21, 2015, our son, Caleb, graduated from Long Beach Fire Department's fire academy in California and received his badge as a firefighter. 4500 applicants narrowed to 28 recruits. 20 weeks of testing and training produced 20 graduates. We were proud and privileged to be in attendance to celebrate this accomplishment with him and his wife, Jaclyn.

The LIBERIAN LINK Newsletter: December 2014

The LIBERIAN LINK Newsletter: September 2014

The LIBERIAN LINK Newsletter: June 2014

Cindy, This One’s for YOU

My dear friend Cindy recently received a negative medical report. She has been heavy on my heart and in my prayers. Before class each day, we share in song and prayer. Today I taped my students singing two of my favorite songs that I have learned since coming to Liberia:

Song 1:
He’s sweet, I know; He’s sweet, I know

Dark clouds may rise and stormy winds may blow

I’ll tell the world wherever I may go

I found the savior and He’s sweet, I know

Song 2:
Everywhere He went He was doing good

He’s a mighty healer; he cleansed the leper

When the crippled saw Him, they started walking

Everywhere He went, my God, was doing good

After we sang the second song, I asked the students if they really believed what that song said about God and if they believed that He still heals today. They resounded with, “Yes, of course, and absolutely!” Since I was among faith-filled believers, I then shared the need of my friend and asked them to pray for her. A portion of their prayer is the final section of this video clip.

Cindy, be encouraged.  This is only one of many prayers coming your way from this part of the world, and each is accompanied by much faith and love.

Young Liberian Men and Boys Take Up Guns Again…

but, thankfully, it is probably not what you are thinking.  This time the guns that they are using are battery-powered screw guns, and the purpose is for construction – not destruction. 

Today we were privileged to preach at Missio Dei Assembly of God Church in Caldwell-New Georgia, Liberia, under a church tabernacle that was built less than two weeks ago under Gaylord’s supervision in cooperation with men and boys from the church and community. This is a new church plant being mothered by the Assembly of God church in New Kru Town.

It was so exciting to see people coming together to build a house of worship for the Lord. The women even participated during the construction by cooking meals each day. 

Thank God for the opportunity to reverse the effects of years of civil war and to remember that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and the rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). Though the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they are mighty through God to the pulling down of spiritual strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).

God bless each of you who partner with us to build the kingdom of God in this corner of the master’s harvest field.

Open-Air Crusade

We began an open-air crusade Wednesday night at one of our local churches, continuing each night and concluding Sunday morning. 

   

What a great opportunity to take the message of Christ outside the walls of the church! A busy corner at the end of the work day presented a perfect venue for sharing the gospel. Many stopped outside the wall and stayed to listen to the singing and preaching.

The dialect choir sang as traffic drove by, followed by praise and worship and the English choir.

 

Dusk fell as Gaylord began to preach.  Notice the people listening from the other side of the fence.

 

The first night focused on salvation, and many responded to the altar call.  The pastor assisted in praying for the new convernts.

 

This painting is on the front of the church.  Each night they set up and tore down for service.

      

Subsequent messages focused on healing and deliverance from things that keep us in bondage and fear with special prayer for the children.

Look Alikes

I was expressing to Gaylord today how he needs to be more intentional about getting some snapshots of me in ministry.   While smiling he crossed his fingers and said, "But we two are one."  I summarily informed him that "we" look a lot like "him" in our current photo selections.

 

you can take the boy out of texas…..

…but you can’t take texas out of the boy!

gaylord was one happy camper when we found tortilla chips in the grocery store last week. 

imagine his delight when I made queso and added a coke zero!

we lead a simple life.

Just Thinking...

Have you ever reflected on your service to God and your motivation for that service? I did that today and considered the following.  

I think that my motivation for service to God could be prioritized as follows:

• Relationship
• Obligation
• Desire

Relationship: I serve God first and foremost because of love. I am compelled by God’s love for me and, in return, my love for Him. 1 John 4:9,10 sums up this relationship:  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. My initial response to the love of God extended to me is to reciprocate that love and abide in relationship with Him.  That must be the basis for my service because it is the only motivator that will sustain ministry and bear fruit.

Obligation: The culture in which I grew up no longer seems to espouse the principle of obligation or requirement.  It focuses more on self-will and self-determination.  But that is not the culture of the cross.  In Romans 1:13-15 Paul shared with the church at Rome that his desire was to come and minister to them, but he emphasized, instead, that he was a debtor to preach the gospel to everyone to whom he was sent: Greek, barbarian, wise, unwise.  He displayed a readiness to minister at the directive of God and not at the directive of his own will.  Jesus taught in Luke 9:23 that if any man would come after Him, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Him. As a Christian I am obligated to set aside my agenda and submit my service to the will of God.  I am called for His purpose; therefore, I am required to serve at His directives: when, where, how, to whom.

Desire: I serve God because I desire to please Him and to do His will.  I submit my desires and will to His. My desire cannot supersede my obligation for service.  If it does, I serve at my pleasure and not God’s.  Jesus addresses the priority that our desire should have in relationship to our service through His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane.  He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42.  I see in this scripture that, perhaps, my priorities for service were modeled by the savior.  By addressing God as father, He was intimating relationship.  His desire was to have the bitter cup of crucifixion removed; whereas, His obligation was to submit His will to the will of God. Only through the submission of His desire, could Christ perform the service for which He was called.

My prayer is that I may love God wholly, fulfilling my obligation to the gospel mandate through submission of my will to that of the master.

The LIBERIAN LINK Newsletter: March 2014

Friend Me!

This is just a reminder as we approach another year.  If you would like the most up-to-date information about us and our ministry. feel free to check our blogs often and friend us on Facebook.  Internet challenges may result in lapses of posts, but we try to stay connected and share what God is doing in our lives and ministry.  We want YOU to be a part of both.  Blessings to you and yours.

Blogs:  frednabrown.blogspot.com
            gaylordbrown.blogspot.com
Facebook:  Fredna Powell Brown
                  Gaylord Brown

Christmas Reminder

the song is old...the message even older...but it is why we do what we do and why we partner together at home and abroad...merry christmas from liberia 2013...

The LIBERIAN LINK Newsletter: December 2013

The LIBERIAN LINK Newsletter: September 2013

Here Is The Rain You Asked For

I know I have mentioned it before, but do you remember that it is raining in Liberia?  Here is visual confirmation from our journey to church this morning in the pouring rain.

When we got to the church and parked as close as we could, we realized that the path we had to walk to get in the building was at least ankle-deep in water.

I wore sandals, so other than water-sanitation issues, that was not a big problem.  Gaylord, on the other hand (or foot in this case), wore dress shoes and socks.  What was he to do besides roll up his trouser legs, take off his socks and shoes, and wade into the building? That is exactly what he did! 

One of the ushers was gracious and brought him a towel to dry his feet before putting his socks and shoes back on.  The people were impressed that the missionaries would go to this length to minister to their church.  I guess they don’t know us that well yet, but they are learning.

Here are some random photos of sights seen from the inside doorway of the church.

We had a great service and enjoyed a delicious lunch of fish and rice with Pastor Amos and his wife, Agnes.

Several of you from Texas have asked us to send some rain your way.  This is the best I could do.