The Need

As Liberians return from exile to their villages and cities for resettlement, there is an urgent need for them to be received by the love and leadership of “The Good Shepherd.”

The cults are waiting for them also! Most of the churches in the target area need a lot of encouragement through discipleship and strong biblical foundations teaching.

Many young people need a good secondary education to compensate for years of lost opportunity. The post-election church is characterized by materialism, spiritual poverty, and ignorance of the Scriptures. We want to be there to “gather in the exiles” and offer them a “light in the wilderness.” 

Objectives

We hope to:

• Identify and equip 500 Liberians pastors and lay leaders in five years to plant new or pastor existing churches in all of the fifteen counties and beyond Liberia.
• Train 500 young men and women with technical skills in community development which includes: local housing construction, small businesses, agriculture, and animal husbandry.
• Provide support for continuing education and leadership development

The Target

 In conjunction with ULICAF, the Bricks of Hope project will benefit the Liberia International Christian College. The college has been blessed with an increasing enrollment and in order to accomodate all students, more classroom space is desperately needed.

The College will meet the long-standing need for a facility and environment that provides sound biblical, theological, and practical training to those who are called to serve as pastors, evangelists, teachers and lay leaders in ULIC and the larger church in Liberia and nearby countries. Additional benefits will be the training of young people with gifts in the arts and writing, business, development of a spirit of reconciliation in Christ among people from diverse tribes and cultures, and continuing education for pastors.

Rationale

Several factors indicate that this is a strategic time to move forward:

• A stable government is in place; ULICAF is a functioning organization that can raise funds and give oversight to this project;
• The site has been purchased and site work completed; first floor of the first classroom building already completed, and  construction began on the second floor by February 2010.
• Furthermore, there is strong, effective leadership in the church in Liberia that is definitively supportive of this project, and the churches in ULIC are excited that the resources of the College will soon be available.

Benefits

There are several significant but less tangible benefits of the College project in Liberia:

• One is the setting forth of a fresh vision and example for the people that have gone through the tragedies and hardships of the civil war. It will demonstrate what God can accomplish through the churches in Liberia. In many ways, the Liberia International Christian College will be a symbol of God’s faithfulness and a beacon of hope for the disillusioned.
• A second benefit, as the nation rebuilds, will be to model the fruits of the Spirit and implant in men and women the qualities of integrity, courage, vision, self-discipline, and compassion. LICC will prepare well-educated men and women to be leaders in the local churches, and in turn they will train men and women for such leadership roles in countless local communities throughout the nation.
• The third benefit is the fostering of self-confidence. ULIC was “born” in inland Liberia, far from the center of culture and power of the nation. But its focus on fidelity to the historic Christian faith, and God’s faithfulness and power to change lives, gives it a unique role in the entire nation. The College can give men and women confidence that, as they remain faithful, God can use them in very significant ways as the nation rebuilds.

Campaign Duration

The completed project will consist of seven classrooms, four offices and restrooms and student/teachers' lounges. The first floor of the first building was completed and dedicated in June, 2008. Classes began on March 2, 2009.

Our strategy is to “start small and grow.” The project will be conducted in two increments over several years:

• Phase 1, the 14-room Classroom Building, is nearing completion.  Flooring must be obtained and installed for the new second floor, 7 new classrooms must be furnished.  Currently, several classroom must serve as temporary offices, library, and clinic.
• Phase 2 will be the Multipurpose Building.  One floor will serve as a Library to house the print and media collections that will serve not only the college, but also the Ganta community. Another floor will be used for Administration and Student Services.  It will house the offices and work areas used by faculty and staff. It will also house the guidance counselor and clinic for students.

Multipurpose Building - Artist's Concept

We Need Your Participation

Your tax-deductible contributions can be sent to:

ULICAF
P.O. Box 1158
Carmel, IN 46082

 Call ULICAF representative Ruth Schwartz with any questions about donating to ULICAF.

• Monday to Thursday 9 AM – 5 PM EST, call (317) 580-2720
• Friday, evenings or weekends, call (317) 850-5408

ULICAF is a qualified non-profit under IRS 501(c)3.