Hoping Liberia: Stories of Civil War from Africa's First Republic

In Hoping Liberia, John Michael Helms weaves together multiple stories€"the story of his friendship with Olu Menjay, the director of Ricks Institute in Virginia, Liberia; the story of their partnership in ministry; and the story of the nation of Liberia. . . . Helms immerses readers into a period of political turmoil and violence, a devastating civil war, and the immeasurable suffering experienced by the Liberian people. In the aftermath of these harsh realities, Liberian Christians held on to hope, and Hoping Liberia is ultimately an inspirational and uplifting story of faith being lived out and the body of Christ coming together and joining hands to do God€s work.

John Michael Helms is pastor of the First Baptist Church in Jefferson, Georgia. He holds a doctorate of ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary, a master of divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a bachelor of science from Samford University. His first book, Finding Our Way€"An Introspective Journey Through the Labyrinth of Life was published in 2006. He has won numerous writing awards from The Amy Foundation, and his sermons have been recognized for awards by the Baptist History and Heritage Society. He and his wife, Tina, have two adult sons, John, a US Marine, and Ryan, an All-American diver at the University of Tennessee.