What does it take to build something lasting when all you have is a dream? In Liberia, the answer is faith. “The assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (ESV).
For a nation scarred by civil war and loss, faith was more than a feeling; it became the foundation for rebuilding, the courage to keep going when everything else had fallen away. This story begins, as so many do, with a single act of bravery; one that began decades ago yet still bears fruit today. In 1992, David K. Ballah graduated from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary with a master’s degree and a calling: to return home and help restore Liberia. But it was still in the grip of war, its borders sealed, and its future uncertain.
A Commitment to God
David remembers that moment with distinct clarity. “Many of my Liberian brothers and sisters discouraged me from returning; they feared I would be killed like others. But because of my commitment to God, I decided to return and help my people rebuild Liberia.” On April 3, 1993, he stepped off the plane and back onto Liberian soil — not knowing what lie ahead, but trusting the One who called him.
The odds were unthinkable. Poverty was everywhere. Families had been displaced. Teachers couldn’t be promised salaries. But David and his wife, Cerena, chose to continue. They prayed when hope seemed exhausted. They trusted God’s provision when nothing around them made sense.
Slowly, God’s answer unfolded, leading them to open the doors to the Messiah Mission Institute. As the unrest began to loosen its grip, the school found room to grow. In 2016, a new chapter began when they partnered with Edify, another thread of God’s faithfulness. Since then, Edify’s local network of loan capital partners has provided six disbursements of loan capital to the school. Those resources paved the way to create new classrooms, remodel worn-out spaces, purchase and integrate education technology equipment, and fuel ongoing construction across the campus. That faith-filled courage, combined with new resources, enabled Messiah Mission Institute to grow from a humble school into a thriving ministry. Its impact now reaches far beyond its walls, serving students from preschool through 12th grade.
The change has also touched teachers. Through Edify’s training programs, staff who once felt uncertain now stand with confidence. Lessons are no longer just a part of the day — they are opportunities for discipleship, where teachers feel equipped to shape character as they teach each subject.
Transformation
For the students of Messiah Mission Institute, transformation is taking root in Discipleship Clubs. In the spring of 2025 a secondary school student, Gason, shared how his faith is deepening in ways that surprise him, and his joy in the Lord is something he can’t keep to himself. He brought it home, opening the Bible with his parents and leading them into prayer and study. “All of it has had a good impact on my life and home,” he says. “I use the same fellowship with my parents so we can have devotions and Bible studies, all from what we’re learning here.”
Another graduate remembers his own turning point when he began attending Discipleship Clubs introduced by Edify. “Before attending Discipleship Clubs, I didn’t understand the Bible and struggled with discipline. But through these lessons, I became vibrant in the Word of God. After graduating, I returned to the Mission Institute and began teaching the discipleship class. I’m so grateful.” From student to teacher, his journey shows how faith multiplies — one life opening space for the next.
What began with one man’s obedient response to God’s call, walking back into a country at war, is still becoming a legacy of transformation today. Faith that dares does not erase hardship, but it does create futures.
