Rebuilding Liberia: God’s Word as the Foundation 

Liberian Pastor David Gonyor is raising 15 children in a country still recovering from years of civil war. In his home, he teaches the importance of respecting elders as it is written in the Fourth Commandment: “Honor your father and mother.” Respect for parents and elders was once an important concept in Liberia, but years of conflict fractured many of those traditions. Pastor Gonyor believes having the Bible translated into heart languages, like his own of Maan, Liberians will be able to read and hear the Word of God in a way they can understand it and that will lead to a deeper connection to the message and the growth of comfort and peace in a still dangerous and unstable environment.  

Without Scripture in Maan, Pastor Gonyor said he would not be able to clearly read and teach passages like the Ten Commandments to his children and community. 

He said with the Bible in the Maan language, “I am able to explain it clearly to my people to understand it.”  

For people like those in Pastor Gonyor’s community, having the translated Bible is only part of the need. Being able to read it and understand it is another. That’s why the work of the Liberia Translation and Literacy Organization (LIBTRALO) is so important to the country.  

A Place for Growth 

LIBTRALO was formed in 1995 with the assistance of Dale and Alvina Federwitz, LBT missionaries to Liberia. As civil war was beginning, missionaries were being evacuated from the country. To prevent the translation and literacy work from coming to a halt, LIBTRALO was created as a Liberian-led institution for producing, teaching and distributing Scripture materials.  

Even now, the organization assists with Bible translation, literacy development programs and Scripture engagement. Pastor Gonyor became involved with LIBTRALO after learning about it at a convention. He now serves as a reviewer for the Maan translation and teaches literacy classes.  

Pastor Gonyor is among the Liberians who are helping to rebuild the infrastructure and economy of the country with God’s Word as the foundation.

Recovering from War 

During two civil wars that spanned from 1989-2003, anarchy and unrest ruled the country, and high crime rates and drug use still plague communities. Many areas of Liberia are dangerous and poor.  

In the Maan community, for example, people grow rice, plantains, bananas, peppers and corn and also fish in local waters, but raising cattle in the community is unsafe and unsuccessful due to crime.  

As part of the country’s recovery efforts, church leaders hope that Bible translations into mother tongues will reunite the generations and revive the culture of Liberia. 

LIBTRALO Provides Resources and Tools 

LIBTRALO is part of the revitalization efforts of Liberia, enhancing literacy skills through teaching and engaging 16 language communities in Scripture. With access to trained facilitators, teaching material, recordings and radio broadcasts, LIBTRALO empowers Liberians to start the transformations in their own communities.  

Most recently, Scripture audio dramas, language tutorials on multiple radio stations and digital content for social media platforms is helping to introduce Bible lessons to new audiences while preserving linguistic heritage.  

Education of Scripture and enhancing literacy in each community is completed just like translation work—one verse at a time. 

Direction and Guidance for Local Leaders 

The importance of local leadership in Bible translation efforts is still at the forefront of LBT’s work in Liberia.   

• Rev. Linus Otronyi, regional director, grew up in Nigeria and was ordained in the Lutheran church of Nigeria. He has years of experience with leadership, relationship-building and continuing higher education.  

• Tamba Bundor is a computer assisted publisher with the Bible Society of Liberia. His focus is on training translation teams and organizing and supervising the review and completion of manuscripts.  

• Valentine Thomas Fallah Shekey, acting executive director of LIBTRALO, supervises classes and training. He works to teach the people of Liberia to read and write in their own language, using God’s Word as their guide. 

LBT missionary Dr. Becky Grossman has more than 40 years of experience with Lutheran Bible Translators, beginning her work as an assistant to the language program manager in Liberia in 1985. While she is no longer in Liberia full time, she has equipped the local leaders with tools and technology to connect with her in the United States and also with each other. She travels frequently to Liberia for in-person reviews and training. She teaches skill that can be used for more than just Bible translation.  

Scripture Leads to Transformation 

Leaders in Liberia believe the message of God’s love in Scripture is beginning to take root and spread through some of the country—particularly the verses about honoring fathers and mothers, husbands loving their wives, and wives respecting their husbands—as relationships begin to recover and order is restored. 

As Liberians live the love of God in their daily lives, the leaders believe the impact of the war will become a memory.  

“I believe that the next generation will grow in this grace,” said Paramount Chief Jacob Plabeah. “Now that we are hearing the word of God in our own language, the next generation will become part of the Word of God and it will grow into a kind of lifestyle.”