The Liberia Plan

On February 7-16, 2026, Missionaries Dan Witte and Dan Kroll visited a group of Christians in Buchanan, Liberia. The One Africa Team has been working with a church there called Lamb of God. Three years ago, they left another local group that was teaching false doctrine.  They are currently a single congregation due to their unwillingness to compromise on doctrinal matters.

Making Progress One Step at a Time

Lamb of God has been making slow but steady progress for quite some time. We expect more congregations to form in the near future. We have reviewed Luther’s Small Catechism extensively as well as the Lutheran Confessions.  We have seen our Liberian brothers make progress in securing property. They are now building a school in a developing area of Buchanan. This is very likely to bring opportunities for outreach to the community. We have also developed some excellent relationships here and have made inroads into the unique culture of Liberia.

Many groups of Christians approach the WELS with a request to join our fellowship. For 8 years, the One Africa Team has been using a process to evalute these requests.  In Libera, under the guidance of Pastor Toye Barnard, we started with what has become known as “The Liberia Plan.”  The plan includes a requirement that new groups join the TELL online Bible school. They must also submit monthly reports via the internet, and send weekly sermon notes for evaluation and revision.

This week, we reviewed the Constitution of Lamb of God Lutheran Church. We also did a bit more in-depth review of their “Statements of Faith.” This allowed the congregation to show that they are united with WELS in their understanding of the Holy Scriptures.  We discussed at length the ministerial practices of the congregation. We saw that these teachings are not just words, but are effective for building God’s Kingdom here in Liberia.

Partnering with TELL

In an effort to train lay leaders, we spent two days studying the TELL method. This method offers a clear template of questions that fit well with any Scripture narrative.  Pastor Barnard has been using the TELL method for many years. TELL is his go-to method for Bible studies and sermons.  Three of his members are currently enrolled in the TELL program. Our Liberian brothers can see the TELL program in action. They are able to use it for any outreach and home visits they make in the area.  It has been a very busy week in Liberia!

Next week, the OAT Outreach Committee will review Lamb of God’s constitution and statements of faith.  The OAT will pass on Lamb of God Lutheran Church’s official documents to the WELS’ Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR).  Please join us in thanking God for using the Liberia Plan to bring Lamb of God closer in fellowship with the WELS!

Missionary Dan Kroll lives in Malawi.

Please pray for those working in fields that are ripe for harvest. Share their story, engage with future news, and receive updates. Learn more about our mission fields in Africa and how the Holy Spirit is working faith in people’s hearts at https://wels.net/serving-others/missions/africa