Pray for Liberia

Having just returned from an August visit to Liberia, I want to share a few impressions with you and your readers, many of whom have a personal interest in Baptist work in that nation which has been blessed in the past through a partnership with Georgia Baptists.

With the upcoming presidential election on October 11, there is excitement over the process and also concern for the election of the best candidate to lead the nation.

There have been some 370 graduates of the Liberia Baptist Seminary, for which I praise the Lord! Baptist work is being led by graduates and students of the seminary in a most gratifying way.

As founding president of the seminary, I continue to have high hopes and deep concerns for the ongoing fulfillment of its mission to train preachers and teachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This objective has been admirably enhanced through the dedication and indefatigable leadership of seminary president Dr. Lincoln S. Brownell, Jr. during his first term of six years.

It was my privilege on August 24 at Providence Baptist Church, Monrovia, Liberia, to bring the message at the service for Dr. Brownell's inauguration to a second six-year term. The current president and two former presidents of the Liberia Baptist Convention were present in a show of support for Dr. Brownell and the seminary. Other prominent Baptists also participated.

My message explored briefly the unthinkable thought of what would happen if God at this time should fail the seminary, which is His own miraculous work. His Word, work, witnesses, world and will would then fail! The climax and conclusion was a resounding crescendo that God will not fail.

Let us all pray for President Brownell and the Liberia Baptist Seminary. He has said that those who wish to help provide support for this great ministry may send such designated gifts to the seminary through the International Mission Board, SBC, 3806 Monument Avenue, P. O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230-0767 or through any other channel they choose.

My support of the seminary and its president will continue and increase, as the Lord enables and provides. This ministry was the highlight and focus of my 37 years as a missionary, the seminary's first president, and fellow Baptist in Liberia.