Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

After destruction, Christian school in Liberia works toward rebuilding campus, strengthening gospel presence in community

  • August 13, 2021
  • Grace Thornton
  • Disaster Relief, Latest News, Woman's Missionary Union
Left: Eddie Gibson looks at the damage to the school on a visit to Liberia in March.
(Photo courtesy of Eddie Gibson)

After destruction, Christian school in Liberia works toward rebuilding campus, strengthening gospel presence in community

Eddie Gibson says it took 20 years for the Dellanna West O’Brien School to get to where it was, before a man allegedly drove a bulldozer through the campus in February.

So Gibson isn’t afraid to be patient for God to provide the way to build it back.

Vision to build

“I realize it won’t happen overnight,” said Gibson, who bought the land for the school years ago using funds raised through Eddie Gibson International Ministries, based in Birmingham, Alabama. “Gradually we believe God will enable us to [rebuild] down the road.”

Gibson, a native of Liberia, said God gave him the vision to build the school in 1999 when missionaries came to his school and taught the Bible to students. He could see the potential for schools that would not only provide needed education but also produce disciples of Jesus.

“God has been faithful to that conversation,” Gibson said. “I have baptized students and teachers myself.”

But the school’s facilities were destroyed earlier this year when a man in the community — who was angry over a land dispute ­— allegedly used a bulldozer to push over the buildings. Gibson was hoping the man would be convicted of the crime, but so far that hasn’t happened.

So Gibson said he’s focusing not on the legal battle but on getting the school rebuilt.

Since the school buildings were destroyed, students have been meeting in makeshift classrooms with tarps. They will continue to do so in the fall with nearly 300 students, 40 of whom will graduate later this year.

Gibson hopes to attend those celebrations. In the meantime, he’s back in Birmingham — where he and his wife have lived since fleeing Liberia’s civil war in 1990 — raising funds to rebuild.

The effort will start with a 33,000-foot-long fence to circle the property and keep students and facilities safe, said Gibson, pastor of Brewster Road Community Church in Birmingham. As they work toward building the fence, they’re calling it the Nehemiah Project, studying and praying through the book of Nehemiah as they look for partners to come alongside to help build the fence foot by foot.

Water system

The second phase of the rebuild will be a water system.

“There’s no water system, no clean water,” Gibson said. This was an issue before the destruction — the school had some hand pumps, but as the student population grew, the pumps failed to keep up. The rebuild will offer the chance to meet this need, and a $25,000 grant from national Woman’s Missionary Union’s Pure Water, Pure Love ministry will help make that happen.

The third phase will be a two-story building with 40 classrooms.

“We found out the community is growing in population, and since ours is one of the most credible high schools in the area, we think it will be good to have room to grow,” Gibson said, noting they also want to offer vocational classes past high school. “We’re not just doing academics, which is good for the community. We also want to do it for discipleship purposes. It becomes an opportunity for us to present Christ.”

To learn more visit brccbham.org. To read the original story, visit thealabamabaptist.org/christian-school-in-liberia-plans-to-rebuild-after-destruction.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: 9 things I want my grandsons to learn
    First person: 9 things I want my grandsons to learn
    June 20, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • ‘Not hurting without hope’: Fire destroys Tennessee church
    ‘Not hurting without hope’: Fire destroys Tennessee church
    June 19, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Mississippi News June 19, 2025
    Mississippi News June 19, 2025
    June 19, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: 9 things I want my grandsons to learn

Here are nine things that my father’s example taught me about manhood that I’ve tried to pass down to his grandsons.

‘Not hurting without hope’: Fire destroys Tennessee church

“By the time I got there, it was fully engaged all the way across the foyer, the sanctuary, and the kitchen area,” said Phill Hall, interim Director of Missions for the Dyer Baptist Association and former interim pastor of Zion Hill. scene after receiving word of the fire.

Lawsuit against Dave Ramsey’s company moving forward

At issue is a “righteous living” policy at Lampo, better known as Ramsey Solutions, which requires employees to abide by Christian values. Those values, Ramsey’s company has argued, include banning intercourse outside of marriage.

Mother in Somalia loses husband, home for following Christ

A mother of three children in Somalia is struggling to survive after her Muslim relatives drove her from their home and threatened to kill her for accepting Christ, she said.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel