Liberia was founded by Christians, but what started well went terribly
 wrong.  Years of war have ended, leaving shattered buildings and lives in
 its wake.  In the years since the war, significant progress has been made
 by Christians, and there are abundant opportunities for ministry.
 
 Liberia is located on the west coast of Africa.  It shares borders with
 Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Cote d'Ivoire (The Ivory Coast).  The climate is
 tropical, and the land is forested and well watered.
 
 Slightly more than 3 million people live in Liberia.  It is estimated the
 another half million still live as refugees in surrounding nations.  The
 people are ethnically diverse with many different people groups
 represented.
 
 Liberia is blessed with valuable natural resources.  Unfortunately, years
 of government corruption and civil war have devastated the economy.  Some
 improvement has been seen in the last 5 years, but most people are still
 very poor.
 
 Liberia became the first independent black African nation in 1847.  It was
 founded largely by Americans, and many of them were Christians.
  Unfortunately, government corruption and civil unrest soon followed.
  Civil war broke out in 1989.  The war ended in 1996 with the current
 president gaining power.
 
 There is freedom of religion.  However, traditional African religions and
 secret societies have a powerful influence, even on professing Christians.
  Nearly half of the people practice traditional African religions
 exclusively.  Christians account for nearly 40% of the population.
  Evangelicals make up a little less than 10%.  Approximately 10% are
 Muslim.
 
 At the end of the war, the Christian community found itself rebuilding its
 infrastructure.  Many pastors left during the war, leaving openings for
 false teachers. Many church buildings were damaged or destroyed.  All
 missionaries were expelled.  Liberia was home to ministries intended to
 support work throughout the region that were interrupted.  Radio ELWA was
 destroyed in 1990 and again in 1996.
 
 In the midst of difficult circumstances, the Lord has many good Christian
 people, and there has been significant progress in rebuilding what was
 lost.  Missionaries are returning, and others are working in nearby
 countries.  ELWA went on the air again in 2000.  There is an openness to
 the gospel in the people.  Pray that these efforts would continue.
 
 Christians have largely failed to challenge the power of the occult in
 Liberia, and compromise has weakened the church.  This is a major challenge
 for the future.  The church must also reach out to the many traumatized by
 years of war and poverty.