A story about a medical worker in a CAA who is turning house hunting obstacles into Kingdom opportunities.
Cooper Duo was one of the first members of the Church of the Nazarene in Nimba County, Central Liberia. He was a drop-out from secondary school. This man sensed the call of God on his life. With his little knowledge of God he began to pastor a local church in Kpetuo, his small village in Nimba County, Central Liberia.
Though this man had a heart to serve God, he had a disadvantage because of his very low level of education. Sometimes in meetings with other pastors they would laugh when he spoke out of ignorance. Because of that he was not given the opportunity to speak in public worship in the big towns and cities in Liberia.
Pastor Cooper had a great desire to propagate the message of holiness in big cities and towns, so he realized the need to go back to school. Sam Lama, his mentor, encouraged him and he enrolled in the Nazarene Theological Institute (NTI). He persevered and successfully completed the required courses for ordination. Subsequently, Pastor Cooper took up a new assignment in Sanniquelle, a big city in Nimba County, Central Liberia. Today he has become a member of the Evangelical committee in that town and a successful pastor.
The Lord opened doors for Pastor Cooper to be involved in a radio broadcast each week at a local radio station called Radio Nimba. People who knew Cooper before now listen to him and are amazed at the great change the Lord has done in his life both spiritually and intellectually. They will say, “Is this really the same Cooper from the village?”
At one of the recent Central Liberia leadership meetings, people heard that Cooper was in town, and they came from nearby and far away towns and villages just to see Pastor Cooper Duo whom they'd heard on the radio. When they learned that the Church of the Nazarene was going to begin in Gbeyeglay, Nimba County, Central Liberia, they were excited that this church, which has pastors like Cooper, was going to open in their community.
Today, Pastor Cooper Duo’s radio ministry is impacting many lives in Central Liberia and beyond. Many more communities are now yearning for the Church of the Nazarene, and more people are enrolling at the Nazarene Theological Institute.
We praise God that He is able to take a simple but humble man of God and raise him up to be a witness to the world. Keep praying for our church in Liberia as we invest in the lives of these servants who are making an impact in their communities.
This story was originally published in the Africa West Field newsletter. To read more, visit www.awfcon.org.
-- Rev. Daniel Johnson is the mission coordinator for Liberia.