We are pleased this year to host our family Dwight, Vanessa, Andrew and Lizzy for Easter Sunday at our church ~ followed by a meal at our niece's house. It has been like never has this happened before so it will be a special time to reflect on our faith in the one who was sent by God. graphics by George Mikuljan

The coat of arms of Liberia consists of a shield containing a picture of a 19th century ship arriving in Liberia. The ship represents the ships that brought free people of color and formerly enslaved people from the United states to Liberia. Above the shield, the national motto of Liberia appears on a scroll stating: The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here, and below the shield another scroll contains the official name of the country, Republic of Liberia.

The plow and the shovel represent the dignity of labor and hard work through which the nation will prosper. The rising sun in the background represents the birth of the nation.

The palm tree, the nation's most versatile source of food, represents prosperity.

The white dove with a scroll represents the breath of peace.

The first photo in today's BLOG is a five generation snapshot. The youngest is our first son Tim who is now well into his 50's. Pictured are his mother Sharon Kay Kealy and her mother, Grandmother Lorraine Smith and Great-Great Grandmother Freeze and Great Grandmother Dabbs is holding him. He was a few weeks old and started his lifelong travels as this photo was taken on the farm in Rocky Comfort, Missouri.

Now a much more recent photo of our family including both sons and some of their families.

It is some of our family because it would be difficult to get us all together again especially because there are six, yes six great grandchildren; and they are all under 4 years old. They are Phoebe, Aspen, Samantha, Shepherd, Sierra, and Phineas who was born this year.

With family living in California, Colorado, New Mexico and Illinois we are scattered a bit but so thankful for healthy family believing in Jesus the son of God.

The book of Proverbs in the Bible teaches that a strong family is built on: 
     Honor for Parents
       Wise instruction
          Loving discipline
             Faithful spouses
                Generational blessing

"Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children."       Proverbs 17:6

Demography is the statistical study of human populations: their size, composition, and how they change through the interplay of fertility, mortality, and migration. Demographic analysis examines and measures the dimensions and dynamics of populations; it can cover whole societies or groups defined by criteria such as education, nationality, religion, and ethnicity. ​

The demographic of "religion" that we care about shows since the 1st century AD, Christianity in Turkey has a long history. In 1914 the reported Christian population of 20 to 25% has decreased today to 0.2%. The decrease resulted from the Ottoman, Armenian, Greek and Assyrian genocide.

Needless to say we are very careful about how and what we report about our supporting amazing Christian ministry in Turkey. Brave and fearless partners are sharing Gods love in meaningful ways and lives are being added to the Kingdom of God daily.  We ask you to pray for those we support. Today are difficult days for them.

This photograph is mounted in our home as a prayer reminder for the people in Turkey we encourage and support. It was taken in 1995 in Istanbul, Turkey's Kapalicarsi (The Covered Bazaar).

Our largest outreach sharing the love of Jesus in 2025 was in the country of Liberia. People ask me about Liberia out of concern because they know I go there. It is usually because they are thinking of Nigeria. That is a very dangerous country currently so their concern is understandable.

The Christian emphasis in Liberia started with the first voyages from America in the very early 1820’s. Christian ministers traveled with the earliest settlers sent by the American Colonization Society (ACS) in 1820. The early settlers included Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterians planning to establish Biblical traditions. Daily prayer, schooling, and preaching became central to settlement life. In 1822 the new town of Monrovia was founded and the first simple chapels were built shortly afterward. Denominations included Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian and Congregational groups.

​Baptist missionary Lott Carey, a formerly enslaved Virginian, led some of the earliest churches . He was a major figure in evangelism, farming, medical assistance and established strong relations with local leaders. He died in 2028, but his work laid important foundations for Baptist missions.

The first churches in Cape Palmas, Bassa and Sinoe focused on literacy, Bible translation, Medical care and Agriculture. Schools were established and became centers of both evangelism and providing practical training.

In 1833 the first Methodist churches organized schools for boys and girls. In the 1840’s as Liberia expanded inland, missionaries began reaching Bassa, Vai, Kru and Grebo. Liberia’s independence in 1847 helped solidify the legal protection of mission work. 

In the 1850’s missions built the first formal medical clinics providing care during malaria, smallpox and yellow fever outbreaks. New mission schools were founded, many of which later became prominent Liberian institutions. The 1860’s and 70’s saw the growth of Lutheran, Episcopal (Anglican) churches and Catholics began limited activities. These groups focused on agricultural training, teacher preparation and the translation of Christian texts into Bass, Grebo and Kru. On to the 1880's to 1900 included a deepening of evangelism and training of indigenous leaders and Liberia pastors and teachers. 
​
During these years missions expanded into interior settlements, including market towns and river regions. Churches became key centers for literacy, community leadership, social organization, and agricultural and trade education. 

​Early Liberia’s Christian missions shaped the nation in several ways:

• Education: Many of the first schools were mission-founded.
• Health: Mission clinics provided the earliest organized medical care.
• Language: Missionaries produced grammars, dictionaries, and Scripture translations in regional languages.
• Governance: Many early Liberian leaders were mission-educated.
• Faith Life: Missions strengthened Liberia” identity as a Christian leaning nation.

Modern day missions see the installation and successful operations of Christian format community radio stations. Reaching People far from God is involved in the two station VOX Radio network with the station VOX Radio in Monrovia and Kioo Radio in Foya, the far North near Sierra Leone and Guinea.  Each of the stations reach a potential audience of three-million listeners. In the planning stages the next three stations will complete the network. 


We help continue the rich Christian tradition in Liberia.

For the Month of December have the family read one chapter every day for 24 days the Book of Luke in the Bible.
​
There are 24 chapter so you will finish on Christmas Eve ~ the day before Christmas and know why we celebrate Christmas.

It is already past the 1st this year but you can start anywhere but it is best to start at chapter one (1). Read two chapters a day until you catch up so you end on Christmas eve.

The remote Foya area requires solar power to operate the station.

The staff from VOX radio in Marshall (Monrovia) Liberia will lead the station operations and train the local staff during the next months.

The 100 foot tower on the 300 foot tall hill will reach 3 million people in three countries with not only gospel programs but music, news and sports programming all tailored to the local audience. 

When asked to help with designing a new radio station for Liberia. It would be a sister station that if you follow these BLOGS will know that VOX Radio Liberia went on the air almost eight years ago now on Thanksgiving day 2017. 

Knowing how funding such a project puts significant demands on ministry operations, my recommendation was to build the station in three phases. Design did include all three phases but the decision was made to build it all at one time. Construction started in early 2025 and a November 2025 target was set to complete the building and go live.

I accepted the invitation to attend the dedication of the station building I designed and the first live on-air broadcast will be November 13, 2025.

I have never had reservations about international travel . . . until now. First my flight is from Palm Springs CA (PSP) to Chicago (ORD) then on to Brussels (BRU) then Freetown (FRN) ending at Monrovia (ROB). Here is one of the reasons. Perhaps by my November 7th departure the Air Traffic Controllers will all be back on the job and there will not be a delay at one of the busiest airports in America, Chicago.  

More of what I meant, “until now”. Here is the news we got; I say we because Sharon makes all of my travel arrangements; she is amazing. The new radio station building to be dedicated and first broadcasting is in the far North of Liberia near the boarder of Sierra Leone and Guinea. Sharon wanted to know about housing and here is the report confirming her research, “Foya is an extremely remote area, and there are no hotels listed online. Over the past few months, our local Kioo Radio team has been working to secure a local guesthouse for our stay. We’ve purchased all the bedding and toiletries needed, and thankfully, Eva will be helping to prepare meals for us during our time in both Monrovia and Foya.”
​The international team gathering for this dedication are from the USA, Canada, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. We will be staying five nights in Foya. Reason number three, “until now”; when in Liberia I have always stayed sleeping under a net to protect from insects that like to eat me. 

Looking forward to the trip and the joy to see one of my designs and meet the new staff and team that is making all this happen.

A November post related to KiOO Radio and Planning will follow.

We receive blessings beyond measure when we get reports from our global partners about how people respond to hearing about Jesus, the Son of God. Sometimes for the first time.
In Turkey the report includes, “13 new worship songs were recorded and four of them are a part of regular radio broadcasts”. People listening seek to know more about Jesus.

In Indonesia on Sumba Island the new tower helps the station to now reach half of the island population. The station at the Waikabubak Orphanage property is enjoying their newly dedicated building. 

Sharon is with the children and staff of the Poguwatu Leprosy Village waving at the DRONE as it takes a video of them. See if you can find it in the middle of the photo. I’m not the pilot of the DRONE that we gave them but I did take the photograph. In the background beside the building that serves as the first school in the village the blue water tank was dedicated that day. It collects runoff water from the buildings metal roof for their daily use. 

And the report from Liberia, station KiOO 98.1 FM construction is on schedule and planning is underway to begin broadcasting in mid November from their new building in Foya. It will reach not only Liberia but Sierra Leone and Guinea sharing the hope that only Christ can give. Pray with us as I have been invited for the dedication of the building and station. It will be the day before my birthday this year.