The Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL), in collaboration with its foreign partners, over the weekend broke grounds for the construction of what is to be the first-ever multi-million dollars “modernize state-of-the arts” vocational school in the country.If constructed, the school will introduce lessons in masonry, carpentry, plumbing, general electric, auto and general mechanics, etc. These courses would be taught along with several other academic lessons including the ones in environmental science, agriculture, among others. The school will also provide a safe, nurturing educational environment, including classrooms, residences for students and staff, athletic fields, chapel, and medical clinic to serve the communities surrounding Gbarnga, Bong County’s capital city.Through that, the Lutherans will be addressing needs such as clean water, sanitation, electricity, hygiene, nutrition and other inequities of poverty, where the church has over the years strived to minimize barriers to a child’s education.The ceremony was held on the church’s recently acquired 15 acres of land in the Deansville Community, near Gbarnga, over the weekend. It was led by the entire choristers of the St. Mark Lutheran, several clergies, among them, bishops D. Jensen Seyenkulo-Liberia, Tim Yeadon-New England District, and Reverend Leon W. Schultz-who, along with Mr. Nyekeh Forkpa represented the Gbarnga Lutheran Mission Project from Elmwood Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer following the ground-breaking ceremony, Lutheran Bishop, D. Jensen Seyenkulo, explained among other things that the 15 acres on which the project is expected to be built, was acquired through the instrumentality of the church’s Gbarnga-based St. Mark Lutheran Parish. The project is accordingly commencing under the auspices of the Gbarnga Lutheran Mission of the New England District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and conceived by the congregation of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Providence, RI-USA). “We are dedicated to providing a Christian education to Liberian children to help them develop the skills needed to be successful, grow strong in faith, and reach their God-given potential as fulfilled Christian adults.”At present, the LCL works with Lutheran Churches and the communities of north central Liberia, by serving the children and families near the City of Gbarnga to achieve their spiritual goal.The project is under with the mission to share the love of Jesus Christ with all people the Lutherans have encountered as they provide childhood education, strengthen communities, and alleviate poverty in Liberia, with the vision to see Liberia where all children are empowered by a Christian education to realize the fullness of God’s grace and the joys of a healthy, productive life.“St. Paul’s Church is a community of believers in Jesus Christ committed to helping all people by actively practicing the Gospel in word and deed.” For Mr. Nyekeh Forkpa, the USA committee is expected to reach a total of 500 persons through whom, God will use to contribute immensely to the project.According to him, they envisioned to see a community where there will be high quality schools with well-spaced classrooms, dormitories that will accommodate boys and girls, an opened air gymnasium, medical facilities for the students, the faculty staff and residents of nearby communities. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
