ABSTRACT
The Ministry Action Plans of Praise Ministries International serves as the road map and clearly delineates the mission, the objectives, and the goals of the various projects of Praise Ministries International. It subsequently communicates the message with reference to the mission, the objectives, and the goals.
Meanwhile, the Ministry Action Plans assesses the existing problems through archival and field research and thereby tends to resolute them. It gives the analysis via the exegesis of the community Praise Ministries International endeavors to serve, delineates on the demographic data and field research, and uses the SWOT analytical tools to assess the strengths and weaknesses of Praise Ministries International while using opportunities and the threats to make decisions regarding the various projects taking time frame into consideration. It discusses the targeted and the missional audiences with reference to the various constituencies along with other faith communities while discussing key leaders, key ministry’s components, leadership structures, and theological foundation under assets and the action plans required to initiate the various projects of PMI. It discusses strategies put into place to evangelize the fifteen sub-political divisions of Liberia taking population density as a factor by city in term of task prioritization. It further discusses the disciplining plan in connectivity to other ministries relevant to the evangelization of the communities. It allocates budgets to each grouping feasible to fund the availability of both materials and human resources to do the job while smartly attaching goals to each project area (Charcoal, Agriculture, and Evangelism).
Under the Ask section, the paper delineates the recruitment and the significance of the prayer partners, financial partners, and the core leaders who form part of the nucleus of Praise Ministries International’s leadership. It concludes with the article of incorporation under the appendix section of the Ministry Action Plans (MAPS).
ASSESSMENT
Ministry Summary
Praise Ministries International is a cross-continental ministry whose mission focuses on global evangelization through evangelism, church planting, and education. Based on these areas as our objectives are concerned, Praise Ministries International ministry’s philosophy is tied to the Great Commission mentioned in Matthew 28:16–20 and her motto is tied to Luke 4:18–20. PMI’s philosophy of ministry is the driving force to execute her objectives (evangelism, church planting, and education) in order to bring her motto (deliverance, healing, and salvation) into realization through the grace of God.
The Problem
The problems ministries faced or churches are the lack of administrative procedures to lead, the lack of finance, the lack of vision, the lack of action, the lack of integrity and credibility, the lack of commitment to the fear of God, and the lack of evangelism and discipleship; therefore, among these issues, Praise Ministries International envisions to stand in the position to live an exemplary life model among churches in this time and aspire to alleviate them in her church setting through the grace of God. The alleviation of these issues outlined above will accelerate ministry’s development and growth. There is a need to build legacy with reference to these issues; however, it will take consented effort both spiritually and physically by the leadership of the Praise Ministries International in collaboration with other ministry’s partners to handle the backdrops of these issues through networking and collaboration. Praise Ministries International shares her dream with partners of ministries that believe what she believes; therefore, ministry’s partners including mission organizations, churches, Christian businessmen, and among others form the integral of PMI’s team.
The Problems And Solution
The Lack Of Administrative Procedures
One of the issues seen in the church setting is the lack of administrative procedures to guide church finance manageability and the day to day operation of the church ministry. How can a ministry run successfully in the midst of lack of reporting system? Will the ministry be effective in her task to adequately function if the ministry ignores the system of reporting with reference to not only finance but also progress report that deals with how many attended the revival and how many people gave their lives to Jesus, how many people have been baptized monthly, how many people attended the adult, youth, and children Bible studies, how many programs have been planned weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly to be executed? How many times does the leadership meet to discuss matter relating to the church ministry, does the ministry have the ministry’s action budget prior to the coming year and does the ministry have a working calendar? The questions go endlessly as the result of different applied methods of administrations, church settings, faith traditions, church cultural diversities, and individualism. Having assessed these issues that pose problems to ministry’s development and growth, Praise ministries International will ensure to reverse the above situation by implementing the below course of actions as specified. Praise Ministries International will:
- Make sure that teaching or training is carried out on administrative procedures in the church with reference to reporting systems;
- Make sure every local branch of PMI makes monthly report to the authority concerned;
- Make sure every local branch has a working calendar with activities to execute;
- Make sure progress report on evangelism, discipleship, education (schools), and finance are given monthly;
- Make sure planned actions are scheduled administratively to be executed;
- Make sure departmental wings work in collaboration with the administrator as spelt-out in the PMI’s organizational chart;
- Make sure administrative procedures are held in high standard in PMI.
The Lack Of Finance
The lack of finance in the ministry poses obstacles to ministry’s operation in the defined areas of evangelism, church planting, and education. PMI’s vision objectives (evangelism, church planting, and education) need funding to give birth to her corporate vision. In the absence of funding to fund these areas of ministries will eventually decelerate ministry’s development and growth and thereby tends to frustrate the leadership’s effort; therefore, Praise Ministries International is embarking on the Charcoal and Agricultural projects to empower the ministry financially. The projects and how it will be carried out is explained in the PMI’s Mission Research Approach and Strategy Approach documents.
The Lack Of Vision
Vision is the ability to see what needs to be done now and in the future. Our inability to see what needs to be done now can lead this generation to cast off restraint and therefore becomes unable to solve the problems of our world, nation, province, community, neighborhood, and family; therefore, there is a great need for the visionary to build a team of visionaries individually to solve problems relating to the corporate vision of the ministry. PMI’s leadership will educate membership with reference to the corporate vision, educate and train membership in various fields of services, sell the vision to the membership, and recruit team members to carry out specific task as the needs will be in meeting the allover goal of the ministry’s agenda. It reads, “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction (Proverbs 29:18 NIV).
The Lack Of Action
Many people in today’s church world contemporarily talk about what they want to become or what they want see done in their world, nation, province, community, and family; however, they failed to take action in bringing their dream to pass. The lack of action of team members in the ministry can sometimes be contributed to the slothful action of the visionary; therefore, visionary is required to take the lead in the ministry in every capacity in order to inspire team members to take ownership of the vision, works to be done, and everything that concerns vision execution. PMI’s leadership will take the lead and inspire team members in carrying out the overall ministry’s agenda to meet the goal of the ministries.
The Lack Of Integrity And Credibility
The greatest problem leaders faced today in the church world is not finance. The greatest problem is admirable character formation. How many church leaders can be trusted when it comes to money, woman, and power in the ministry? Who can be trusted with these things? PMI’s leadership will select leaders based on the qualifications of church leaders outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1–12. PMI will conduct teaching on stewardship and ministerial integrity to bring awareness to the memberships. If these character formations indicated in 1 Timothy 3:1–12 are violated, the PMI’s By-Laws and Constitution on church’s discipline will eventually take course of action accordingly.
The Lack Of Commitment To The Fear Of God
Knowingly relational relationship to God is paramount in the Christian life; unfortunately, many leaders who hold position in the church may not have such category of relationship with God. Many people who have been part of the ministry or have planned to go for theological degrees based on advice admission standard have entered into ministry’s position without relational relationship to God. Advice admission standard means someone encourages or tells you to become part of his or her faith organization (church) and you decide to welcome the invitation to form part without knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Such relationship is not based on conviction but it is based on self-admission into the faith organization. Unless the Holy Spirit convicts a sinner to repentance, there is no genuine relationship between the individual and God. Many church leaders will automatically lack the commitment to the fear of God because they do not have personal relationship with God. It calls for having personal relationship with God for a leader to have commitment to the fear of God. In this light, PMI will select leaders based on the fruit of salvation of the individual and the qualifications of leaders mentioned in 1 Timothy 3:1–12.
The Lack Of Evangelism And Discipleship
Evangelism and discipleship must go together to plant churches that will last forever. Evangelism is soul winning; unfortunately, soul won will not remain or last if the soul is not being discipled. Discipleship is the act of teaching them to observe everything according to Matthew 28:16–20. Praise Ministries International will evangelize and disciple souls as outlined in the Tentative Operational Handbook of the Praise Ministries International.
In conclusion of the above mentioned problems, biblical teaching is the ultimate of solving the problem based on the obedience of the individual members of our faith community.
ANALYSIS
Exegesis Of The Community
The Liberian community is the interconnected community of people that are closely related by blood due to intermarriages among the ethnicities; for this reason, it will be impossible to go against a single ethnicity without going against your ethnicity as the result such connection. Its population according to the 2018 census is 4, 879,334 people. Liberia is situated in West Africa and it is boarded by Guinea on the North, Ivory Coast on the West, Sierra Leon on the East, and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean. Liberia has about 111,300 square kilometers (43,000 sq mi) of land with an estimated 2018 population of 4.85 million people. This compares to the 2008 census population of 3.47 million people. Of this last official population, 1.1 million people live in Montserrado County, which is the most populous county and home to the capital, Monrovia. The Greater Monrovia area is home to about 25% of Liberia’s population. The next most populous area is Nimba County with about 500,000 residents. Liberia has a population density of just 35 people per square kilometer, which ranks 180th in the world. With reference to religious practices, 85.5 % of the Liberian population practices Christianity while 12.2% practices Islamic religion. Only 0.5% of the population practices other traditional religions while 1.4% adheres to any religious faith. Other religious groups in Liberia include the Baha’s faith, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Hindus. Muslims in Liberia are the biggest religious minority. Malikite Sunnis form the bulk of the Muslim population of the country. Shia and Ahmadiyya minorities are also popular. The Mandingo and Vai ethnic groups of Liberia constitute most of the Muslim population of the country. Smaller Muslim ethnic groups are the Kpelle, Gbandi, and others. Islam was introduced in the country in the 16th century. The form of Islam practiced in the country is a liberal one that is infused with traditional beliefs and practices and is oriented towards Sufism. Islamic festivals like Ramadan, Eid el Fitr, and others are celebrated in the country every year. Despite their adherence to the major world religions, a large percentage of Liberians practice their traditional rituals and customs. Traditional beliefs include a belief in the supranational world like the spirits of the ancestors. The people believe that mysterious forces influence the affairs of the daily life. Traditional secret societies of the Sande and Poro cater to the religious, social, and cultural needs of the country’s population. Below are the percentages of the affiliated religious groups in Liberia.
| Rank | Religions | Percentages of population adhering to the religion |
| 1 | Protestant | 76.3% |
| 2 | Muslim | 12.2% |
| 3 | Catholics | 7.2% |
| 4 | Other Christian | 1.6% |
| 5 | Unaffiliated | 1.4% |
| 6 | Other faiths | 1.3 |
Demographic Data
Sociological
Liberia has 16 indigenous ethnic groups and several foreign minorities. Indigenous groups account for 95% of the population. The recognized ethnic groups include: the Gio (or Dan), Mano, Bassa, Kpelle, Grebo, Vai, Gola, Kru, Krahn, Mandingo (or Mandinka), Fante, Dei (or Dewoin), Bella, Mende, Loma, Gbandi, Kissi, and the Americo-Liberians or Congo people. The largest group is the Kpelle, who are concentrated in central and western Liberia. Americo-Liberians are descendants of African American and West Indian people and account for 2.5% of the population. The Congo people are descendants of repatriated Congo and Afro-Caribbean slaves and make up 2.5% of the population. Liberia also has a sizable population of Lebanese, Indians, and West African nationals. There are high rates of marriage between ethnic Liberians and Lebanese in the country, which has created a large mulatto population around Monrovia.
Educational and Cultural
Liberia has been among the nations of the world that its ethnicities formerly have had misconception when it comes to who is required to go to school? Based on ethnicities’ ideologies regarding schooling, boys were considered to go to school instead of girls; therefore, girls were given to marriage at an early age prior or before the 70’s. During the regime of President Williams R. Tolbert, the government officials of the Tolbert’s government used to go around in Liberia to pick boys in towns and villages to have them schooled; unfortunately, most of these boys ran away from the towns because they were afraid to be taken away from their parents by the Congo people (Americo-Liberians). I can remember in the 70’s, a government official came to the town of Kalagizi to pick boys for schooling. He was not successful; however, a woman gave her daughter to the man for schooling. Other people in the town objected to the decision the woman had made; however, the girl was carried. The girl cried bitterly; however, she had no option but to go. These cultural ideologies coupled with fear from the youth population in Liberia in the 70’s regarding education had delayed education and contributed to the illiteracy rate of the Liberia’s population coupled with the Liberian civil war on the broad spectrum. Since the 1970 to 2017, the youth illiteracy was at the level of 395, 097 in 2015, up from 338, 482 in 2007 indicating the change of 16.73% as indicated below. Total is the total number of youth between age 15 and 24 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement in everyday life.
Youth Illiteracy Rate
| Date | Value | Change, % |
| 2015 | 395,095 | 16.73% |
| 2007 | 338,482 | 5.30% |
| 2004 | 321,448 | 102.23% |
| 1994 | 153,953 | -23.5% |
| 1984 | 207,805 |
In 2015, the total number of 1,361,467 was identified as adult illiterate people in Liberia. The total is the total number of adult who is over 15 years old and who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on everyday life.
Adult Illiteracy Rate
| Date | Value | Change, % |
| 2015 | 1,361,467 | 21.60% |
| 2007 | 1,119,634 | 8.98% |
| 2004 | 1,027,360 | 58.59% |
| 1994 | 647,819 | -18.99% |
| 1984 | 799,638 |
In 2015, youth female illiterate population in Liberia by percentage was 60.6%. Though Liberia’s youth female illiteracy rate fluctuated significantly in former years, it tended to decrease through 1984 to 2015 period ending at 60.6% in 2015 as indicated below.
Youth Female Illiteracy Rate
| Date | Value | Change, % |
| 2015 | 60.6% | -3.36% |
| 2007 | 62.7% | -0.90% |
| 2004 | 63.3% | 10.72% |
| 1994 | 57.1% | -11.22% |
| 1984 | 64.4% |
The above statistics on educational demographic necessitate the creation of educational programs to help the Liberian youths in the church and the community of nations in order to reduce the high rate of illiteracy rate of the adult population in the future. Praise Ministries International’s educational objective will create primary, secondary, and college education programs to alleviate this problem of education handicap.
Field Research
According to statistics with reference to percentages of people who practice Christianity in Liberia, it appears that Liberia is a Christian nation; however, 85.5% mentioned in the demographics practically cannot be true with respect to commitment and faithfulness to the Christian religion and God. Church going in Liberia formerly before the Liberian insurrection has been traditionalized. Most people who go to church are still engrossed into their traditional practices such as the beliefs in ancestral spirits, the worship of gods, and the beliefs in the unknown supernatural forces in nature. The practices of secret societies such as the Sande, poro, Neegee Society, Leopard Society, and UBF are among the secret societies in Liberia. Such cultural practices tend to overshadow the Christian religious practices in Liberia by people who are traditionalized but attend church. Church going in Liberia is cultural because the foundation lay by the former missionaries who came to Liberia did not tell people how to live the Christian life. The continuous practices of such traditional beliefs in some settings in Liberia are rampant; therefore, the introduction of the gospel messages in such setting takes the grace of God and the called person to have spiritual imparts when it comes to evangelism and church planting. The Christian communities or churches are concentrated in the urban areas of Liberia. One highly sees a church planter who wants to go into the rural areas of Liberia to plant church. Liberia was built on Christian principle; unfortunately, Liberia has not practiced true Christianity in the past. It was during the civil conflict in Liberia that many Liberians got to know God relationally and therefore became true believers of the Christian faith.
The SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Praise Ministries International has ministers who are willing to invest their lives into the ministries based on their calling and skills. In recent time we have discussed on the charcoal and agricultural projects as programs that will be used to alleviate financial burden the ministry is facing. The energetic men and women of God who are sacrificially offering their services to God so that this global vision geared toward the betterment of humanity can be actualized and fulfilled on God‘s timing as they make themselves available to His service are ready for the projects. Engaging this charcoal and agricultural program as initial projects impacts this ministry’s financial sustainability and empowerment.
Weaknesses
Praise Ministries International operates in the nation that has had sixteen years civil conflict coupled with corrupt leadership for twelve years of stagnation (under development); therefore, the economy of Liberia lacks equilibrium. This has brought hardship to the Liberian population as the result of lack of necessities such as foods, medical care, infrastructures, and among others. Poverty is the problem for church members. The lack of transportation (vehicles) is one of the problems the church faces. Individual who comes to church on Sunday will have to be transported to their destination on the church’s account. Offering and tithes collected that need to be used for development in the church are being used for transportation. This weakness could be alleviated provided the church is able to own transport vehicles like buses to transport church members on Sunday to church and homes.
Opportunities
The invitation of ministry’s partners, the creation of awareness through the October’s Leadership Conference held in Greenville, Sinoe County, Liberia, via media, and the willingness for others to join this ministry for networking and collaborative effort will be taking seriously. The sale of charcoal and planks on the Liberian market as financial gain through business initiative will be attended by the provision of one Power chain saw and one motor bike to start off with the project for trial.
Threats
The lack of good road network in Liberia for the transportation of the charcoal bags to the market and the agricultural products and the lack of ownership of vehicles by the ministries pose threats to the project. Poverty is also number one threat; however, PMI will use her strengths to alleviate these threats that are out there to decelerate the ministries’ progress.
Definition Of Targeted and Missional Audiences
Liberia has 16 ethnicities and 15 political subdivisions. The tribes or ethnicities are spread out in these constituencies of the nation. In these constituencies, there are ethnicities or tribes who hardly believe in God; instead, they have beliefs in their traditions. For example, if you were to evangelize in Sinoe County in Liberia, your missional audience would be the Kru ethnicity only based on their religious prior affiliation in isolation of the other tribes who live there but are not the original inhabitants of the land culturally and historically will become your targeted audience. In this light, you might want to use the Kru people to reach the other people since you and they have similar things in common. The rest of the other tribes who live in Sinoe will eventually become your targeted audience. Below is the list of ethnicities and constituencies with their missional and targeted audiences.
| Constituencies | Missional Audience | Targeted Audience |
| Sinoe | Kru | Grebo |
| Bomi | Kpelle | Others |
| Bong | Kpelle | Others |
| Gbarpolu | Lorma | Others |
| Grand Bassa | Bassa | Others |
| Grand Cape Mount | Gola | Vai |
| Grand Gedeh | Krahn | Others |
| Grand Kru | Kru | Others |
| Lofa | Kiss and Lorma | Gbandi |
| Margibi | Kpelle | Others |
| Maryland | Grebo | Others |
| Montserrado | Others | Others |
| Nimba | Mano | Gio and Othes |
| Rivercess | Kru | Others |
| River Gee | Kru | Others |
Note: Some of the missional and targeted audiences named as others have not been fully identified; therefore, they are named in such category; however, as we work on the field, the missional and targeted audiences will be validated. The above chart is tentative from now.
Other Faith Communities
Praise Ministries International initiative to evangelize and to plant churches in Liberia and elsewhere will be done with networking and collaborative effort with other faith organizations that believes and stands for what Praise Ministries International believes and stands for. Praise Ministries International will identify ministry’s gaps, fill them, works and collaborates with other churches in places she endeavors to plant churches. Praise Ministries International will designate responsible individual from her leadership hierarchy to serve as liaison between Praise Ministries International and other faith organizations contemporary to the Christian faith and among others. Praise Ministries International believes in team work and will not run competition with other ministries; therefore, she will identify programs that are not available to the Christian community or the public and therefore serves available resources or services to the needy.
ASSETS
Key Leader (s)
As visionary of the Praise Ministries International in collaboration with the leadership of the Praise Ministries International, we fully stand passionately to execute the three objectives of PMI through the grace of ‘God to holistically and to didactically deliver services to the total man (body, soul, and spirit). We strongly believe and uphold the three objectives, which constitute evangelism, church planting, and education. Our convictions passionately stand and believe that if these components of PMI are fully executed, the psychosocial-cognitive-spiritual dimensions of humanity will have been affected through the delivery of psychological, social, cognitive, and spiritual healing to humanity. During the tenure of our Lord’s ministry on planet earth prior to his crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into heaven, he indeed ministered these categories of healing to humanity
Key Ministry’s Components
Evangelism
Evangelism is the heart beat of God; therefore, we are convicted that to fully minister to the spiritual dimension of humanity, the gospel must be preached to all nations; in this light, PMI’s philosophy of ministry is tied to the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16–20). The gospel must be preached for soul winning in order to bring psycho-spiritual healing to humanity. Taking humanity to heaven through the promulgation of the gospel message is the primary objective of Praise Ministries International.
Church Planting
Not only is Praise Ministries International interested in preaching the gospel, but Praise Ministries International secondary objective is to plant churches globally. Praise Ministries International will secondarily focus on church planting endeavor in order to carry out discipleship making. Praise Ministries International will systematically execute discipleship using the methodologies layout in the Praise Ministries International Tentative Operational Handbook. Praise Ministries International will construct infrastructures that will shelter the congregations, host Christian gathering for spiritual renewal and establishment, gymnasiums for athletic entertainment and for recreation purposes.
Education
Not only is Praise Ministries International interested in church planting endeavor, but Praise Ministries International tertiary objective is to educate and to train humanity in order to minister to the psycho-cognitive dimensions of humanity. In this light, Praise Ministries International will build infrastructures that host primary, secondary, and college students with the overall goal of reducing the illiteracy rate in the community of nations.
Leadership Structures
The leadership structure of Praise Ministries International is segmented into two settings called the Local and International leaderships. The local leadership contains two arms namely called the pastoral and administrative arms. The pastoral arm controls all the spiritual ministries of the local church while the administrative arm controls all the administrative ministries of the local church. The local leadership structure comprises the Head Pastor, who is the head of the Board of Trustee and he is assisted by the Assistant Pastor, who coordinates the spiritual arm ministries. The Church Administrator, who is the member of the Board of Trustee, is the coordinator for the departmental wings of the ministries.
The international leadership comprises of the General Overseer and the General Coordinator, who assists the General Overseer in administrative matters oversea. The General Overseer oversees all the ministries of PMI. He coordinates all international ministries, negotiates for supportive services to the ministries, looks for funding, and initiates programs in collaboration with the Program Coordinators for international ministries.
Theological Foundation
The emergence of the Praise Ministries International and its leadership is the result of the group of visionaries whose ministry’s philosophy is tied to the Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28:16–20. This is the scriptural and theological foundation for Praise Ministries International. Praise Ministries International believes in the global evangelization of the world. The ministries believe that it can be done through evangelism, church planting, and education.
ACTION PLANS
Praise Ministries International started as a church ministry in 2007 in Monrovia after the Liberian Civil uprising. During these years of existence, Praise Ministries International has made significant impact to the Liberian community by planting few churches. During these years of ministries, our leadership has worked sacrificially and tirelessly to plant churches without stipends or compensation. Based on these financial problems to ministry’s activity, Praise Ministries International conducted a mission strategy research in Liberia through interviews and field studies in 2017 to figure out what action plan could be taken to help empower the Ministries financially to fulfill her goals of global evangelization through evangelism, church planting, and education. After the research, the charcoal and agricultural projects were selected to be implemented for ministry’s empowerment and financial sustainability. This action plan is underway to be effected as materials and financial resources become available for the projects. Everything that is needed for the success of these projects is mentioned in the mission strategy approach document. This is the number one action plan for ministry’s empowerment and sustainability; therefore, we have included tentative projected budgets inclusively along with the five years evangelism and church planting plans funded under the budget section of the action plan. The second action plan focuses on planting churches within the fifteen political sub-divisions of Liberia for the next five years period. Liberia must be captured through the promulgation of the gospel message. Our Pastors or church planters are ready to go and we are asking partners to help us fulfill this divine mandate through generous giving. We need vehicles and among other things to send men and women on the field.
Meanwhile, the Agricultural and the Charcoal Projects Plans along with the Evangelism Plan are briefly delineated on the subsequent pages of the document.
The Charcoal Project Plan
Praise Ministries International will operate or use eight power chain saws (STIHL 070 (MS 720)) initially to cross cut trees for charcoal production. The charcoal harvested will be sold and the proceeds will be used toward evangelism, church planting, and education. The proceeds will also be used to build infrastructures (church buildings, schools, office building etc). Not only will the power chain saws be used for charcoal purposes, but they will be used also to saw planks or timbers for construction for PMI’s infrastructures in the future.
The Agricultural Project Plan
The sites used to fell trees for charcoal production will be turned into farms to plant cash crops such as bitter balls, egg plants, peppers, rice, eddoes etc. This project is purposely for financial gain to help the ministry stands financially. As the agricultural project expands and farms increase on large scales, the agricultural department of Praise Ministries International will build food warehouses across the country. These warehouses will become depot points for food to be transported to market sites.
The Evangelism Project Plan
In the next nine years, Praise Ministries International’s goal with reference to evangelism and church planting, will have evangelized major cities within the fifteen sub-political divisions of Liberia and planted new churches in the major cities; in this light, the Evangelism and Church Planting departments of Praise Ministries International have divided the fifteen sub-political divisions of Liberia into three groupings and fifteen zones. Below are the provinces and major cities with the 2008 census population indicating the groups and zonal areas.
| County | City | Population (2008 Census) | Grouping | Zonal Number |
| Bomi | Tubmanburg | 82,036 | One (1) | One (1) |
| Gbarpolu | Bopolu | 83,758 | One (1) | Two (2) |
| Grand Cape Mount | Robertsport | 129,055 | One (1) | Three (3) |
| Lofa | Voinjama | 270,114 | One (1) | Four (4) |
| Montserrado | Bensonville | 1,144,806 | One (1) | Five (5) |
| Bong | Gbarnga | 328,919 | Two (2) | Six (6) |
| Grand Bassa | Buchanan | 224,839 | Two (2) | Seven (7) |
| Margibi | Kakata | 199,689 | Two (2) | Eight (8) |
| Nimba | Sanniquelle | 468,088 | Two (2) | Nine (9) |
| Rivercess | Rivercess | 65,862 | Two (2) | Ten (10) |
| Grand Gedeh | Zwedru | 126,146 | Three (3) | Eleven (11) |
| Grand Kru | Barclayville | 57,106 | Three (3) | Twelve (12) |
| Maryland | Harper | 136,404 | Three | Thirteen (13) |
| River Gee | Fish Town | 67,318 | Three | Fourteen (14) |
| Sinoe | Greenville | 104,932 | Three | Fifteen (15) |
THE GROUP SUMMARY
| GROUP ONE | GROUP TWO | GROUP THREE |
| Bomi | Bong | Grand Gedeh |
| Gbarpolu | Grand Bassa | Grand Kru |
| Grand Cape Mount | Margibi | Maryland |
| Lofa | Nimba | River Gee |
| Montserrado | Revercess | Sinoe |
In the above chart, churches will be planted in major cities and then spread to surrounding towns and villages. The strategy put into place will work; however, the church needs material resources to carry out this endeavor. The resources are mentioned in the budgets on the subsequent pages.
THE PROJECT GOALS
Charcoal Project
Objectives:
- PMI will invest into the coal project by purchasing initially one power chain saw;
- PMI will purchase one motor bike for transportation;
- PMI will identify and recruit the qualified people on the project;
- PMI’s leadership will sacrificially labor without compensation for the project;
- PMI will identify the sites for the project;
- PMI will turn the sites into farms for the plantation of cash crops;
- PMI will purchase additional power chain saws after initial project trial;
Goal: Praise Ministries International anticipates producing 1000 bags of charcoal monthly for twelve months period in order to fund the budget for Group One church planting endeavor in Liberia.
Agricultural Project
Objectives:
- PMI will identify and select agricultural sites for the appropriate agricultural crops to be planted;
- PMI will inform financial, prayer, and ministry’s partners concerning the ventures and ask them for moral and financial support to the project;
- PMI will turn charcoal production sites into farm lands;
- PMI will buy additional agricultural tools or machines;
- PMI will buy one pickup (vehicle) for the transportation of agricultural products to the market;
- PMI will build food warehouses for food storage across the country;
Goal: Praise Ministries International anticipates having 100 acres of farm land ready for planting of cash crops within the next twelve months period.
Evangelism Project
Objectives:
- PMI will conduct workshop on capital campaign to design strategies for fund raising;
- PMI will solicit funding from partners and potential donors;
- PMI will have teaching seminar on evangelism and church planting;
- PMI will recruit capable church planters and send them on the field;
- PMI will provide funding to satisfy the goal for the evangelism project;
- PMI mission team representative will monthly pay visit to the field to see how the church planter is doing;
Goal: Praise Ministries International anticipates to having the five churches planted in Group One from Zone 1–5 in three years period. In nine years period, Praise Ministries International will have planted fifteen churches in the major cities within the fifteen sub-political divisions of Liberia.
Disciplining Plan and Other Ministries
Praise Ministries International will passionately preach the gospel to all ethnicities, cultural groups, the traditionalists, the youths, the underprivileged, the disadvantaged, the uneducated, the middle class, and the rich. The creation of other ministries disconnect from the spiritual ministries will be effected. Recreational ministries such as sports and among others will be encouraged, furthered, promoted, initiated, and carried out with the allover goal to minister to the psychosocial spiritual dimensions of humanity. The Ministries will teach the Bible and nurture all people and thereby bring them to the salving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
DEMOGRAPHIC MAP OF LIBERIA
The interiors of Liberia are being grouped into three sections. Each section grouping has its evangelism budget attached. This budget caters to a church planter assigned to five zones. The church planter is responsible to plant churches in the five major cities of the zones during 12 months period. Once the churches are planted, the budget will be revisited and reduced. There will be support still being given to the church planter for a while. Pastors will be assigned to those churches being planted. The Pastors assigned to these churches will work and raise indigenous and train them to lead these churches. The local churches established will be in the position to take care of the pastors through offering, tithes, and mission funds raised during fund raising programs or capital campaign. Below are the budgets for Group One, Group Two, and Group Three.
THE GROUP BUDGET
The Budget-Group One
| Item | Quantity | Unit Price (US $) | Frequency | Total Price |
| Motor Bike | 1 | 750.00 | 1 | 750.00 |
| Stipend | 12 | 100.00 | 1 | 1200.00 |
| Food | 12 | 50.00 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Medical | 12 | 50.00 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Rent | 12 | 50.00 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Education | 12 | 50.00 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Building Funds | 1 | 5000.00 | 1 | 5000.00 |
| Miscellaneous | 12 | 20.00 | 1 | 240.00 |
| Sub-total | 10,790.00 |
The Budget-Group Two
| Item | Quantity | Unit Price (US $) | Frequency | Total Price |
| Motor Bike | 1 | 750.00 | 1 | 750.00 |
| Stipend | 12 | 100.00 | 1 | 1200.00 |
| Food | 12 | 50.00 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Medical | 12 | 50.00 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Rent | 12 | 50.00 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Education | 12 | 50.00 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Building Funds | 1 | 5000.00 | 1 | 5000.00 |
| Miscellaneous | 12 | 20.00 | 1 | 240.00 |
| Sub-total | 10,790.00 |
The Budget-Group Three
| Item | Quantity | Unit Price (US $) | Frequency | Total Price |
| Motor Bike | 1 | 750.00 | 1 | 750.00 |
| Stipend | 12 | 100.00 | 1 | 1200.00 |
| Food | 12 | 50.00 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Medical | 12 | 50.00 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Rent | 12 | 50.00 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Education | 12 | 50.00 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Building Funds | 1 | 5000.00 | 1 | 5000.00 |
| Miscellaneous | 12 | 20.00 | 1 | 240.00 |
| Sub-total | 10,790.00 |
The Operational Budget
| Items | Quantity | Unit Price (US $) | Total |
| Vehicles | 2 | 6000.00 | 12,000.00 |
| Computers | 2 | 400.00 | 800.00 |
| Printers | 2 | 240.00 | 480.00 |
| Power chain saws (STIHL 070 (MS 720) | 8 | 1750.00 | 14000.00 |
| Motor bikes | 8 | 750.00 | 6000.00 |
| Stipends | 3 | 1200.00 | 3600.00 |
| Medicals | 3 | 600.00 | 1800.00 |
| Food | 3 | 600.00 | 1800.00 |
| Rent | 3 | 600.00 | 1800.00 |
| Education | 3 | 600.00 | 1800.00 |
| Building Funds | 3 | 5000.00 | 15,000.00 |
| Miscellaneous | 3 | 240.00 | 720.00 |
| Subtotal | 59,800.00 |
ASK
Prayer Partners
Praise Ministries International seeks partners who will pray for the success for this great task. Within 100 days of operation or function, PMI will seek at least 100 prayer partners for collaboration and networking. PMI will send letters of invitation with prayer points and will ask prayer partners to commit themselves to pray for the need of the Ministries. Information regarding up to date information with reference to new prayer points and undertakings will be disseminated to prayer partners through flyers, newsletters, audios, videos, and in person presentations.
Financial Partners
Praise Ministries International will seek financial partners knowing that God has uniquely placed people in the ministry who have the financial capability to fund projects for ministry’s acceleration. Workshop will be held to teach core leaders and ministries’ members regarding the creation of multiple streams of finance in the ministries. Such workshop could be relating to the strategies concerning organizing a capital campaign for major projects in the ministries such as the construction of the church building, office building, the support to evangelism and church planting and the construction of other infrastructures. PMI will seek financial partners through prayers, dissemination of the ministries’ information through websites, audios, videos, newsletters, capital campaign, personal letters, and in person presentations. While PMI plans to do such, PMI welcomes all to become weekly, monthly, and yearly donors to the cost of the ministry’s projects.
Core Leaders
Praise Ministries International comprises team of leadership who has individual’s vision; therefore, PMI encourages individuals’ vision that is translated into the team’s vision to have the assigned job done geared toward the support and empowerment of the corporate vision of Praise Ministries International. Praise Ministries International will disciple and empower incoming leaders or leadership to make sure that individuals who form part of the corporate vision are trained, equipped, and empowered to use their gifting and abilities to move the ministries forward through the grace of God to growth and multiplication. PMI will teach and encourage every core leaders to subscribe to the corporate vision of Praise Ministries International.
APPENDIX
PRAISE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL 