Lifebridge Church Blog

When we started LifeBridge a little over a year ago, one of our prayers was that we would mark “success” not by the # of people in the seats or dollars in the plate . . . but by the stories of lives that had been transformed by Jesus Christ. We’ve had many, but what we celebrated this past Sunday may have been the most powerful of all.
Most of you have been following the story of the Sirleaf family — how war in Liberia had torn their family apart almost 30 years ago. Adam, the father, had been the first to come to America. Watta, his wife, joined him about 5 years ago. Our church has joined them in praying for the past year that their children would be able to join them. First came Sekue a couple of months ago. Then, last week was the news that their daughter Maima and granddaughter Musukula had been approved. What a joy to partner up with them to help make this reunion possible. For almost 30 years, this family has suffered from the destruction that Satan brings through war. Sunday, we saw God’s healing at work as this family was brought back together again.
Now, our job is to surround them with love and friendship. They came with little more than the clothes on their back, so we were able to take them shopping this week for all the basic necessities. Sekue and Maima will both be looking for jobs. Musukula will be starting school. There will be a LOT that is new and challenging for them, and it will be our privilege as a church to surround them with a caring faith community as they start their new life.
Ultimately, this is about much more than just physically bringing a family back together. As beautiful as that is, how much more important that each person in their family know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. When that happens, we know that they will be together not only for the rest of this life, but for all of eternity.

Sunday at church, Adam Sirleaf shared with us that the last time he saw his daughter was when she was 12 years old.  Their entire family was separated from each other when they had to literally flee for their lives during political upheaval in Liberia.  That little 12 year old girl is now in her late 20′s, with her own pre-teen daughter.  Tomorrow (Sat), they fly from Ghana to their new home here in Houston, where their family is almost put back together again.  What an amazing joy for our church to watch as God brings this family back together . . . and to be able to play a role in helping make that happen.  It serves as a powerful reminder to us all of God’s desire to restore relationships that are broken, and to put together that which has been torn apart.  God is good!

Sunday at LifeBridge should be a powerful celebration, as we get to meet Maima and Musukula and celebrate with them all that God has done.