3.3.07

Saturday 3/3
(6:30pm) Part 1

Today has been the strangest day of our trip so far, if not in my entire, brief ministry experience. Last night while I was writing here, Dr. Allison, Paulcy, and George were meeting with Pastor McCole, Kowah, and Rufus. The purpose was to air out some conflict that had caused Rufus to leave the church months ago. Though I can’t elaborate on the details, the meeting revealed a serious sin problem and cover-up that spans the last 20 years. They stopped the meeting after 1am and all the men slept here until our Liberian guests could get a taxi this morning.

Over breakfast, our men brought me up to speed and as the resident BCO-expert, I had to give a personal evaluation of the problem from the BCO perspective. The situation appears at face-value to be a heartbreaking disaster for this little Liberian church, and the problem will likely become painfully public over the next few days. We could determine no good resolution, so after we returned from our first teaching session (mostly Dr. Allison’s intro lecture and my personal testimony at the end), Dr. Allison spent the better part of an hour on the phone getting advice. That call seemed to confirm our fears and even pointed us to some more far reaching, and if realized, tragic implications of the matter.

That conversation confirmed that our purpose for the trip had been altered, so when we returned to the church (after a weird rice/chicken/beef/fish/scary crustacean in peanut butter sauce lunch, of which I ate only rice), I gave a very general, but well-received lecture on the scriptural, philosophical and logical grounds for the BCO rather than starting into the lectures. Afterwards, Dr. Allison and I presented the visiting Pastors with a gift of several Barrett and Cairns books – they were thrilled! When we were ready to leave, a street vendor caught my eye and I vastly overpaid for two souvenirs for Asher and Isaiah – I didn’t have the drive to haggle after such a rough day.

Our tiny, open-windowed, mid-80’s Nissan Sunny hatchback taxi (the Renault is still in the shop) got us home in one piece, and now we’re waiting for the men affected most closely by the scandal to arrive for dinner and a meeting no one is anticipating with any glee.

Saturday 3/3
(midnight) Part 2

Tonight was both heartbreaking and encouraging at the same time. Our elders held a meeting at which Dr. Allison had to present a tragic, but necessary verdict from the Presbytery – it was one of the most sobering hours of my life and perhaps the most vivid illustration of the far-reaching consequences of sin.

Notwithstanding the tragedy of the situation, everyone involved, including the disciplined man, demonstrated humble, graceful spirits and to a man, all are still committed to the work of the FPC. The congregation knows nothing yet and will have to wait until Monday. Our team will be teaching/preaching, and I’m scheduled to teach the adult Sunday School class.

While doing some grocery shopping earlier, Dr. Allison approached me about my burden for Liberia. I’ve prayed for wisdom and clarity on this issue and I had to tell him that while I still have a burden for the work here, it is not, at this point an undeniable burden as a place of God’s long-term calling. That confuses even me, but Dr. Allison seemed to understand my sentiments.

I’m concerned for the FPMC of Liberia – I love the people and I’m praying that they love the Lord and each other enough to continue on with the ministry despite the apparent set back. They are God’s people and God can and must help them in so many ways we cannot. Well, it’s tomorrow already – I need sleep.