First Hand for March 30, 2006
By Wayne Faison
Virginia Baptist Mission Board
In April 2003, during the annual Pastors and Friends Conference sponsored by the African-American Fellowship of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, Lincoln Brownell, president of the Liberian Baptist Theological Seminary in Monrovia, Liberia, was introduced to James Graham, senior pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Herndon, Va.
Impressed by this encounter, Dr. Graham invited Dr. Brownell to share his powerful testimony with his congregation at a Sunday morning service. A few months later, as Dr. Brownell shared his testimony, he discussed his plans to return to Liberia in September 2003. As reported by CNN and other world news networks, this was not the best time to return to Liberia because the war between the former president, Charles Taylor, and the rebel forces was at its peak. However, when Dr. Brownell told the congregation at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church that he intended to return to Liberia anyway, it was at that moment that God spoke to the heart of Pastor Graham and said, “When Dr. Brownell gets off the plane in Liberia, I want you to be with him!”
The coming together of these two men of God was the start of what has become a powerful experience of the movement of God both here in Virginia and in the country of Liberia. Over the last three years, and six international partnership mission trips later, Pastor Graham and Dr. Brownell have been personally involved with the transformation of the country of Liberia. Due to their efforts, many of our Virginia Baptist churches have rekindled their passion for Liberia and have poured substantial human and financial resources into the country.
Projects such as books to Liberia, church reconstruction, tribal village self-sufficiency, school adoptions, prayer crusades, computer training labs, economic and business empowerment, alternative energy programs, fresh water wells and the revitalization of interior townships are examples of many of the ministries that are happening, often behind the scenes.
However, these efforts came to the forefront when Pastor Graham and a delegation of Virginia Baptists were invited to attend the inauguration of Liberia's new president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, in January 2006. This was an historical event because President Johnson-Sirleaf became the first female elected president of an African country.
Joining Pastor Graham were Weaver Blondin and Troy Cromwell, both from Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, and Wayne Faison from the courageous churches team at the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.
Upon arriving in Liberia, this delegation of Virginia Baptists immediately noticed something different in both the people and the country that had been absent during previous visits. There was now an exuberant spirit of celebration and hope for a brighter future rather than feelings of desperation and despair stemming from a dark past.
The delegation of Virginia Baptists was involved in various aspects of the pre-inauguration, inauguration and post-inauguration events. One of the most transformative experiences during this historical occasion came in the form of a special request from President Johnson-Sirleaf. She requested that a prayer team enter the Executive Mansion prior to her taking office in order to consecrate it to the Lord. During the pre-dawn hours, the delegation of Virginia Baptists was part of a larger group who walked, prayed and anointed each and every office of the eight-floor building. The delegation also had an opportunity to have dinner and pray with the vice president-elect, Joseph Boakai, prior to his taking office.
Other experiences included participating in various American dignitary events and attending the thanksgiving and intercessory service.
Stemming from acts of obedience to the movement of God in 2003 to go to Liberia, this delegation of Virginia Baptist never expected that they would be actively participating in the transformation of a nation in 2006-certainly to God be the glory!