Liberia WMU: A Story of Perseverance
Many words could describe Liberia WMU, but perseverance seems to stand out.
In 1963, the Baptist women of Liberia decided to take action. Up until that point, the only convention in existence was for men. But these women wanted to gather for prayer and service too. They knew they had a role to play and asked for the opportunity to meet for ministry on their own. They were granted half a day to hold a convention. They met, prayed, and got to know one another. But half a day wasn’t enough, so they asked for a full day. This, also, seemed too short for their time together. Eventually, they were granted four days for their convention, and thus began Woman’s Missionary Union in Liberia.
Liberia WMU Today
Today about 400–600 women meet annually for the convention. Their four days together are carefully planned with official matters of business and reporting, designated time for outreach and charity work, corporate worship, and, of course, fun and games.
Moriah Grace Wisseh, the president of Liberia WMU, recognizes that God has particularly gifted her with the desire and ability to pay visits to churches, acting as a public face for WMU and inviting more women to join. This intentionality and perseverance has strengthened the bond of the group and has involved more women. Giving full credit only to God working through her, she said, “I feel so good. I feel like I have brought a new dynamic.” When the women gather, Moriah said they are so excited to see one another — to warm themselves in front of a bonfire, to play games together, to serve those in need around them, and to love one another.
Commitment to Ministering to Those in Need
The women of Liberia WMU are also committed to providing education. They established an elementary school for underprivileged children in their community and are also involved in providing educational opportunities for one another through the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary. Through seminary education, these women are empowered to serve as leaders in their churches.
As they gather, they dedicate much of their time and efforts to charity work. They provide food and other items for the elderly, basic needs for new moms, aid for women in prison, and supplies for children in orphanages.
Commitment to Union
Many of the women involved in Liberia WMU do not have an abundance of possessions of their own. And yet their commitment to one another and to their community — to fundraise, pray, learn, and continue in ministry — is a testament to their perseverance and God’s provision.
“Life for women in Liberia is very difficult, due to the high unemployment rate in the country,” said Moriah. “This affects our work as a Union.”
Moriah recounted a specific example of God’s faithfulness to Liberia WMU as it prepared for Liberia to host back-to-back conferences. First would be the West Africa convention of the Baptist Women’s Union of Africa (BWUA) followed by a meeting of the entire BWUA, which represents all of Africa.
“When [Liberia was] about to host the two international conferences in August 2022, many sisters in Liberia WMU could not afford the registration fees. It was going to be so embarrassing for the host country to have [only] 50–60 sisters attending the conferences because of financial hardship,” Moriah explained. “So the former president of the West Africa [BWUA], Sister Mydea White Simmons, and I designed a strategy to ask some sisters … to enable [others] who could not afford the registration fees to attend the conferences. With the help of God, it worked, and we had over 300 sisters from Liberia WMU attend the conferences. We made history that will never be forgotten in West Africa and Africa. To God be all the glory.”
God’s Persevering Grace
Liberia WMU’s story is one of perseverance — perseverance in generosity, prayer, faithful stewardship, fellowship, and love. But their story of perseverance is only a reflection of God’s persevering grace in and through these women.
Romans 5:1–8 says this:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV)
The thread of perseverance woven into the fabric of Liberia WMU is sewn by the hand of God, and He alone deserves the glory!
Mandy Hewitt works in communications for a ministry focused on serving and equipping the church to make disciples around the world. She loves reading, writing, and thinking deeply about God and His Word. Mandy lives in Birmingham, Alabama, and is a member of Christ Fellowship Church.
