This is an exciting time in Liberia as we are seeing the Lord do great things in this needy country. This page will provide a detailed account of how you can prayerfully help to adopt a pastor and church in the Liberian interior. Before we present ways to help, we want to clarify our position on indigenous churches.
First, we believe in the autonomy of each local church. This means each church is and remains independent from any governing bodies apart from the leadership God has placed in each local assembly. However, we also believe that churches are to be inter-dependent. This means they have the freedom to work and fellowship together as the Lord directs. At no point will VCP control any churches. While VCP is working to facilitate the training of pastors/leaders and to assist in church-planting, it is actually churches that are planting new churches. Each new church plant begins as a mission work from the church that sends out the church planting pastor.
Second, many missionaries have realized too late that providing funds to national churches with no accountability presented its own set of challenges and difficulties. We believe that set limits should be in place in order to help the churches become self-sustaining and not to remain dependent upon funds from outside sources. Should problems such as civil war were to return to Liberia, churches and pastors that are dependent solely on western funds would struggle greatly. Each church and/or church-planting endeavor must be approved by the unanimous consent of the VCP Leadership team and accountability factors have been established as outlined below.
With that in mind, the leadership of VCP has established five ways whereby a church-planting pastors, local churches, and VCP can quickly become self-sustaining. These are broken down into two distinct funding categories: Immediate and Long-term.
Immediate Funding
1. Generators — Cost – $125 (US Dollars)
While there is no electricity apart from generators, mini-generators provide a way for pastors and their churches to offer a much-needed commodity to their villages and towns. These mini-generators provide electricity for lighting needed in night services and also provide a source of income in charging up cell phones and other battery-operated devices. $125 would provide one of these generators along with several outlet strips. VCP has determined that the launch of this small business would be self-sustaining in approximately three (3) months. We would seek to provide the mini-generator along with three months of salary to a church plant. This would allow the church the privilege of being able to take care of their own pastor especially in a country where unemployment ranks higher than 75% of the population. A small part of the funds earned would be saved and then used to purchase a mini-generator for the next church planting location.
2. Transportation — Cost – $900 (US Dollars)
Very few individuals own vehicles and public transportation is practically non-existent in the interior. The only means of getting around is through taxis or motorcycles. Motorcycles are versatile and can navigate through traffic and in areas where other vehicles cannot. A church that owned a motorcycle could offer employment to some of their men and also provide a stable income for the pastor. VCP has determined that the launch of this small business would easily be self-sustaining within one (1) month. $900 would provide for one 125cc motorcycle and a safety helmet. A small part of the funds earned would be saved and then used to purchase a motorcycle for the next church planting location. This would be considered a one time gift to a church.
3. Monetary gifts — Cost – $50 (US Dollars) per month
Acknowledging that we do not want pastors or churches continually dependent on outside help, we have established that a pastor in the interior would be able to provide for his family and thus be free to study and prepare to teach his people. Our goal would be to provide $50 gift to a church planter for the first year. The second year, the amount would be reduced to $25 with no additional funding thereafter. However, we recognize that some areas are proving more difficult due to external factors such as in Muslim dominant areas. Therefore, we reserve the ability to be able to prayerfully discern the needs of a supported pastor and determine whether further funding is necessary.
Long-Term Funding – One time gifts
1. Cows — Cost – $250-300 (US Dollars)
A church or pastor that owned a cow would be able to sell it for meat or could raise additional calves. In the border towns, it has been determined that a young calf can be purchased for between $250-300. It takes about 1 1/2 years to raise to an age where it would be butchered or to where it produce its own young. Selling one cow per year would provide enough funds for a church to care for its pastor and help with at other church planting mission projects. As the small herd increases, goats or sheep could be added to provide additional funding.
2. Farms — Cost – $500-1,000 (US Dollars)
Commercial farming is just beginning once again in Liberia and VCP has the opportunity to purchase additional land in Bong and Nimba counties. These farms could be used to plant and grow crops like plantains, pineapples, sugar cane. It takes about one (1) year for a farm to begin producing to where it can be harvested and the crops sold for income. $500 can purchase approximately 25 acres of land and $1,000 can obtain approximately 50 acres. Non-Liberians are forbidden by law to own land, but VCP can own the property and disperse the funds as necessary to facilitate more church planting endeavors. A one time gift in this category would provide funding for many years to come as it continues to reproduce each year.
(updated March 16, 2011)