ABC University Dedication

God has done a miracle.

When I first started working for SP, I was hired as a Volunteer Teams Coordinator. What that amounted to, was taking care of every detail for all of the volunteer construction teams that would come to African Bible College(ABC) to assist in the rebuilding process. ABC was originally founded in the 1970's by Dr. Jack and Nel Chinchen, who really felt God calling them to open a Bible College in Liberia. Roughly 12 years later, rebels came through Yekepa, leaving the campus wide open for looting and destruction. Soon every inch of wire was ripped out of the homes and school buildings, as well as as much steel they could carry over the border to sell for profit, not to mention anything of worth was taken.

When I arrived in Yekepa, two faculty houses and a men's dorm were the three buildings that were semi completed in comparison to the 18 pre-existing buildings from before the war. When the second generation of Chinchens returned to rebuild ABC in 2006, they literally had to clear the jungle that had overtaken the campus.

Since 2008, Samaritan's Purse has assisted in this rebuilding process by giving financial support, full time construction managers, and construction teams that have been working tirelessly to rebuild this Bible college. As of 2010, all 18 pre-existing structures had been rebuilt, including the centerpiece of the campus-- the chapel. It was now the beginning of the expansion phase- a new communications building and radio station, a gymnasium, additional faculty housing, and married student housing.

Today I was given the privilege of attending and photographing the ABC University dedication program. I stood in the beautiful chapel, encompassed by the mahogany ceiling, and looked around to see all the wonderful faces of those who have spent so much time and effort in making this all happen. Everyone from the Vice President of Liberia, to Franklin Graham, to team members who had come out on volunteer construction teams, to the laborers who have worked tirelessly every day at ABCU.

The fact that today, in March of 2011, not only are the old structures rebuilt better than before, and new ones in progress, but over 100 students are attending ABCU, all earning a degree in Theology.

Many people said it couldn't be done. Today, the representative from the Ministry of Education recalled the first meeting about ABC being rebuilt and accredited. After the meeting was over, his response to his staff was, 'Don't worry about giving them accreditation, they won't be rebuilt and running for another ten years.' The year was 2008.

God has done a miracle in rebuilding this campus- in raising it from the jungle in this short amount of time- but as ABCU continues to teach "Truth that Transforms,"-- transformation will continue to come in Liberia as the students put their faith into action.

One of the ways the students are already putting that into motion is by responding to the refugee crisis on the border of Ivory Coast, just miles from the campus. As the majority of Liberians were refugees in Ivory Coast just ten years ago, they are receiving the opportunity to 'return the favor' to over 90,000 Ivorian refugees. Samaritan's Purse is working with the ABCU students, as well as the church networks in Nimba County to provide trauma counseling, distribute non-food items and begin agricultural programs to aid in the food shortage.

There is something that is so sweet when the church works together in unity, just how God intended it to be.