Family of Hope, Inc. seeks to make holistic, Christian education available to Liberian children devastated by years of war.

Printable Family of Hope 2010 brochure (pdf)

Our Mission

Family of Hope, Inc. seeks to renew hope for Liberian children devastated by 14 years of civil war and a collapsed national economy. Our goal is to establish schools in rural areas; by providing free, Christ-centered education and psychological counseling, we are helping to break the cycle of violence and despair. Through the education of minds and spirits, a better future is being created for a generation living in the shadow of destruction.

 

Our Beginnings

Family of Hope originated in the vision of Jacob Karngar, a native Liberian forced to flee his country. Even after he became a U.S. citizen, Jacob was burdened by the needs of his homeland. He knew that systemic and sustainable change was required in order to create lasting peace and to build a stable future. He was even more convinced that Liberia’s greatest resource is its next generation. As a result, he shared his dream of helping his people rebuild their nation by starting with the education of its children.

Several members of Jacob’s church incorporated Family of Hope, Inc., a Minnesota non-profit, in October, 2003. Family of Hope, Inc. (Liberia) was registered in March, 2004, with a Liberian Board of Directors. In July, 2004, Family of Hope was recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The organization’s Executive Director and all Board members are unpaid volunteers.

 

Our Present

Our first project is in the village of Zondo. About 5,000 people live in the area, which could be reached only on foot until 2008. Even though community members had to carry all of the building materials by hand more than 5 miles, a new school has been constructed in Zondo and began operating in October, 2006. Volunteer community laborers, along with a few paid, skilled workers, built the school. Building materials and staff salaries are funded through individual donations in the U.S.

Nearly 400 previously unschooled children attend the Zondo school; many of them walk several hours a day to purse the promise of education. Several members of the teaching staff are graduates of a mission school founded in Zondo in 1931.

One of those graduates, Arthur Crusoe, is the school principal. While subjects such as reading, writing, math, history, and science are taught daily, Arthur also sees important spiritual goals for the school, so that it can pass on to the next generation the practice of a Bible-centered, Christ-honoring philosophy of education:

• To equip young people to appreciate the creation of God.
• To do what the Lord requires of us—to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.
• To instill civic duty, pride, and responsibility.

Our Board Members

The board members of Family of Hope, Inc. share a common vision. They are fully committed to using their individual skills and unique backgrounds to provide holistic, Christian education to rural Liberian children.

Jacob Karngar, Executive Director, Family of Hope, Inc. A brief summary of Jacob's experiences in his native Liberia in the 1980s and 1990s helps explain his desire to found Family of Hope. He says:

"Fifteen years ago I was praying to God, 'Please, take care of my family.' I did not think I would be able to take care of them myself, because I was lying on the ground in Monrovia, Liberia with a gun at my head.

"God spared me. I was let go with 25 lashes on my back. I have been able to take care of my family. But it has not been easy. Before the war I was a government employee, part of a team which assessed education in rural areas of Liberia. Then came years of near starvation for my wife Bea, our two daughters, and me, and the constant fear of death. In 1999 we received U.S. visas. Bea and I came to Minnesota and found jobs as nursing assistants so that we could send money to our relatives in Liberia.

"Our girls could not join us for three years because of visa problems. Many of the church friends who helped us during these years were concerned about other Liberian children as well. Even before our girls came to us, I was thinking about all of the children who would stay in Liberia. Almost all of them were traumatized by the war, and almost none of them had ever been to school. I knew that without help from outside the country, most of them never would be able to receive an education.

"I was especially concerned about children in rural areas, where villages were destroyed and resources are scare. So, with the help of a U.S. Board of Directors and the guidance of educational, economic, and religious leaders within Liberia, I started to investigate ways that a newly-incorporated non-profit organization, Family of Hope, Inc., could provide holistic education for these children."

Jacob's extensive contacts within Liberia enabled him to travel there on a fact-finding mission in March, 2004. A non-government organization (NGO) was registered in Liberia at that time, and a highly-qualified board for the Liberian organization was established. The Liberian NGO administers funds within Liberia.

Members of Family of Hope, Inc. Board of Directors

Sue Carey

Profile coming soon.

Barrett Fisher, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN Barrett's administrative skills ensure the smooth functioning of the Family of Hope board. Barrett has twice visited the Family of Hope supported school in Zondo, Grand Bassa County.

Amy Fisher, M.A., Communication Faculty, Century College
Amy uses her past work as a communication coordinator and her current teaching experience to collect, organize, and present information regarding Liberia and Family of Hope.

Rick Naylor, CPA, McMillan Electric
Rick brings his financial acumen to the Family of Hope board. He advises the organization on all financial matters and prepares financial and IRS reports.

Sherri Naylor, B.A.
Sherri has long been involved in Christian education for children. Her organizational and fundraising skills allow her to take the lead in fundraising areas.