Heartfelt thanks and deepest appreciation to our partners. Our fourth annual gala was a success. Thank you for joining us, or for sending a contribution, or for praying along with us. We had 115 guests in attendance. That's a great turnout and we are very thankful to God.
2021 Shipping Container Project
Thanks to all of you, our partners, for your financial and material donations. The container was a huge success. Our God was glorified. And the love of Christ was shared with many.
During our recent mission trip, our team helped to assort, pack, and distribute the contents of the 40-ft container shipped to Liberia in November. The supplies were distributed to widows, single moms, orphans, disadvantaged children, village churches, schools, orphanages, and needy families. Direct beneficiaries include 5,000 individuals, 35 churches, 2 orphanages, and 10 schools.
Thirteen families received mattresses. These families had been sleeping on bare floor and on mats for years. They cannot afford to buy a mattress due to lack of income and the high rate of poverty in the country. For the first time in their lives, they now own mattresses and are sleeping comfortably. Ma Annie, a single mom who received one of the mattresses, came back and said thanks: "I was never thinking that I was going to ever own a mattress for myself and my children. But I see that God loves me and my children so much that he sent this mattress for us. I thank Jesus with a very big thank you. And thank you too Pastor Steve and your friends. Now me and my children have a bed to sleep on." Testimony like this and many others were shared at every occasion of distribution. There is a deep sense of appreciation in everybody who received a gift from us.
Serve Africa is sincerely grateful to all of you who continue to put her in the capacity to deliver love, hope, and opportunities to poor and struggling people of Liberia. You indeed represent the hands and feet of our Lord Jesus.
Sorting and Organizing
Distributing Supplies
Distributing Backpacks
Offloading Container
Packing and Loading Container
Third Annual African Cuisine Gala: May 1, 2021
Missions Trip Updates (#4) - 3.29.21
Revival, Sports, and Feeding It was impactful weekend! Our three nights of revival services/meetings ended on Saturday. 12 persons accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. 45 persons rededicated their lives and renewed their commitment to the Lord’s service.
On Saturday morning and afternoon, our school played friendly soccer and kickball matches. Thank God for our friends in Des Moines who donated the uniforms/jerseys. After the games, we shared hot meals with 500 kids from our school and community. Lives are being empowered here. Hope is being delivered. And Jesus is being glorified. It brings us so much joy having you as a part of what our Lord Jesus is doing in Liberia. Thank you.
Sports - Soccer & Kickball Games
Feeding Children
Revival Services/Meetings
Missions Trip Updates (#3) - 3.27.21
Distribution It has been busy as of the day we offloaded the container. Every day has been a day of distribution with kids, parents, and pastors coming in for clothing, food, and supplies. As of Friday, March 26, we had distributed supplies to 30 pastors/churches, at least 1000 kids, and 95 family heads. And more people continue to come in. The need here is overwhelmingly pressing as thousands of kids and parents are starving daily, without clothes, and lacking basic necessities. Yet the good news is that they feel loved by your thoughtful kindness and generosity and are grateful for the gifts they have received. We see hope in their faces, the kind that only Jesus gives. On behalf of all of them, we say thank you.
Pastors Training On Thursday, March 25, Stephen conducted a training for 25 pastors in Kakata. The pastors traveled from two rural districts- Todee and Bong Mines to attend the training. At the end of the training, the pastors pleaded with Stephen for a continuation of the training and for a longer duration. Thanks to all of you whose support made this training possible.
Please pray:
That our time here will continue to bring encouragement and hope to many people who continue to come in for help.
That ongoing revival meetings/services at Alive Church will bring salvation to the lost and will strengthen the faith of many.
That we will reach a favorable deal on Monday regarding price for a three acre property/land for the establishment of a sporting/soccer center for Hope Center kids as well as for the community.
For the Lord's leading and protection as we conclude a few more projects while preparing to return.
Missions Trip Updates (#2) - 3.19.21
Thank God! The container was delivered and offloaded yesterday, March 18. We will begin distribution today. We are incredibly grateful to all of you, our precious partners, for your prayerful, financial, and material support with this project. It is because of your generosity that orphans, underprivileged kids, and poor families are being clothed, fed, and empowered. Indeed, you are making eternal impacts on lives! We say thank you.
Missions Trip Updates (#1) - 3.19.21
We arrived in Liberia safely on Sunday at 1am GMT, that’s 2 hours later than scheduled. A team of three men (Remington, Rufus and Shadrach) were waiting for us outside the terminal with a 2008 Honda Odyssey. We drove for 2 hours and arrived home at 3am, then slept until 8am. At 10am we worshipped at Hope Center Church. Pastor Rufus preached. It was a warm fellowship with 72 persons in attendance, new and old faces. That afternoon we held a brief meeting with our ground team in preparation for the week.
Monday was a national holiday, so we spent time touring the Center and conducting assessment of needs and projects. We also visited the owner of a property/land that we are considering purchasing to develop into recreational center (sporting grounds) for the kids. The present Hope Center has no additional space for facilities such as playgrounds, basketball courts, and soccer field.
Tuesday was a big day, of course. Hope staff and students were excited to receive us. They have been waiting for this day. The hugs, embraces, smiles, joys, and celebrations were tremendous and remarkably heartwarming. Please know that the hope that only Jesus brings is present and alive here at the Hope Center. Lives are being transformed and empowered. The cycle of poverty is being broken for children. Thank you exceedingly for making all this happened. Please pray:
That our times here will continue to bring encouragement and hope to many, including the unsaved.
That the container will be delivered on schedule and distribution done smoothly.
That upcoming revival meetings, pastors and teachers trainings will be successful.
For favor in negotiating price of a property/land to be used for sporting facilities.
For traveling mercies as we drive 150 miles to visit with some rural pastors.
Feeding Starving Kids In response to the hunger crisis in Liberia, Serve Africa provides cooked meals to kids on a weekly basis as of June 2020. These are kids from impoverished families due to lack of jobs and the Covide-19 crisis. Currently Serve Africa is feeding 250 kids per week. Our goal is to feed up to 1,000 starving children weekly at $1 per cooked meal.
Community Service Forty Seven volunteers from Serve Africa helped to package food at Meals from the Heartland in West Des Moines on September 24, 2020. Thanks to our volunteers and partners, representing 7 churches and organizations: Westover Baptist Church, Church of the Way, Walnut Creek Church, Cross Point Church, Oakwood Church, Gift of the Spirit Ministry, and Kim Hiscox Rentals. We appreciate our Board Member Kim Hiscox for organizing the event.
Mission Trip Jan. 18-Feb 2, 2020
29 souls won to Christ through evangelistic services
One new church planted at the Hope Center
15 teachers/staff trained/empowered
250 kids fed with hot meals for 6 days
Spent quality time with 200 kids and visited communities
Completed operational/legal paperwork for Serve Africa
Put in place a plan for 2020 Pastors Training
CHRISTMAS PARTY Dec. 20, 2019 With your support, 250 kids were fed hot meals and received gifts of toys and clothes in celebration of Christmas. Kids also participated in an indoor program which highlighted the Christmas story through movie, followed by music and other fun activities. For most of the kids, this was their first time to experience Christmas in such a beautiful fashion. It was a powerful and joyful experience. Thanks to our partners who made this happen.
MISSION TRIP July 9 - 24, 2019 In our mission trip to Liberia, the Lord opened many doors to deliver hope and help to those in need of physical and spiritual support:
Distributed backpacks and supplies to 500 kids
Served hot meals to 1000 children
Distributed clothing and study materials to 100 pastors
Led 23 persons to Jesus through evangelism
Provided encouragement/support to hundreds
AFRICAN CUISINE BANQUET April 28, 21019 Sincere thanks and heartfelt appreciation to all of you who supported our recent fundraising banquet. It was a success. Your partnership continues to extend Serve Africa’s capacity to provide the best quality of services to orphans and village pastors in Liberia. Below are some pictures from the event.
MISSION TRIP July 8 - 21, 2018
PASTORS' TRAINING Twenty two village pastors benefited from three days of quality instructional and bonding times in Liberia. The training which lasted for three days, July 10-12, 2018, covered Bible Doctrines; Preaching Principles and Methods; Pastoral Leadership; Evangelism; and Discipleship. It was held at Mt. Sinai Prayer Garden, near Liberia’s main capital, Monrovia. All twenty two pastors are in active ministries with at least five years of full time pastoral service. However, none of the pastors had the opportunity to acquire formal biblical training. This training was the first of its kind for them, and they indicated that it was an “eye opening experience” and the very first “significant pastoral empowerment” program they have ever been introduced to. In their feedback, they overwhelmingly expressed their need for additional training.
OUTREACH TO ORPHANS We visited fifty children during our July visit to Liberia. With more funding, we desire to regularize their feeding and healthcare support.
FUNDRAISING DINNER May 20, 2018 Our first African Cuisine Fundraising Dinner was a success with 35 guests in attendance.
