When it comes to stories of faith, it doesn't get much more dramatic than Jerome Klibo's. Klibo, a bishop in the Association of Independent Churches in Africa (AICA), was born and raised in Liberia where he witnessed poverty and horrific violence in the midst of a civil war there that lasted from 1980 to 2003.
One day in 1993, rebels stormed his village and Klibo watched as his father was hacked to death with a machete in front of the whole village.
But Klibo had already committed his life to Christ by that point, and several years later, when the man who killed his father came to Klibo's office asking for forgiveness, Klibo forgave him.
"I had nothing against him, because I already forgave him before he came to [me]," says Klibo, who was in Canada in March on a speaking tour to share about his work with Partners International, an organization that links prayer and finances from Christians in the West with local ministries in Third World nations.
"When it happened, I said, God, forgive that man. To kill a 75-year-old man … he doesn't know what he has done. So I told the man, I forgave you already—get up, it's okay. He went upstairs, my wife gave him some food to eat and we gave him some money for transportation.
"Whenever I meet him, I embrace him."
Born in 1959, Klibo grew up in a Christian home where he was taught to know God personally. In 1975 he was baptized, and in 1981 the Lord spoke to him while he was working on a farm.
"The Lord said, 'My son, this is not the life you're going to live [for the rest of your life]. You are going to be a missionary to your people,'" Klibo says. "The voice was so clear to me that I knew it was God speaking to me."
Klibo eventually enrolled in Bible school and became a pastor. He provided food, shelter and emotional relief to frightened villagers during acts of violence, planting 20 churches and starting six elementary schools before 1990.
In 1998, Klibo was elected by his fellow ministers to become the bishop of the AICA churches in Liberia. Today, he continues to minister and plant churches.
While many people in his shoes would have fled Liberia, Klibo says he never turned his back on his fellow Liberians because he saw what God had told him in that farmer's field coming true.
"When I look around me at my own life, I only see Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is real, and He gave me the passion for my people," Klibo says.
"Even today, I'm called bishop but I'm an evangelist—I'm a soul-winner. My kinsmen are very poor and they struggle in life … so I always want to be there. I can't do all, but I can do some. And the best thing I can do for my kinsmen is to tell them about the salvation of God.
"Today, we are very grateful to God that the war is over and that the AICA is now working in a huge portion of Liberia, planting churches and building schools."
One day in 1993, rebels stormed his village and Klibo watched as his father was hacked to death with a machete in front of the whole village.
But Klibo had already committed his life to Christ by that point, and several years later, when the man who killed his father came to Klibo's office asking for forgiveness, Klibo forgave him.
"I had nothing against him, because I already forgave him before he came to [me]," says Klibo, who was in Canada in March on a speaking tour to share about his work with Partners International, an organization that links prayer and finances from Christians in the West with local ministries in Third World nations.
"When it happened, I said, God, forgive that man. To kill a 75-year-old man … he doesn't know what he has done. So I told the man, I forgave you already—get up, it's okay. He went upstairs, my wife gave him some food to eat and we gave him some money for transportation.
"Whenever I meet him, I embrace him."
Born in 1959, Klibo grew up in a Christian home where he was taught to know God personally. In 1975 he was baptized, and in 1981 the Lord spoke to him while he was working on a farm.
"The Lord said, 'My son, this is not the life you're going to live [for the rest of your life]. You are going to be a missionary to your people,'" Klibo says. "The voice was so clear to me that I knew it was God speaking to me."
Klibo eventually enrolled in Bible school and became a pastor. He provided food, shelter and emotional relief to frightened villagers during acts of violence, planting 20 churches and starting six elementary schools before 1990.
In 1998, Klibo was elected by his fellow ministers to become the bishop of the AICA churches in Liberia. Today, he continues to minister and plant churches.
While many people in his shoes would have fled Liberia, Klibo says he never turned his back on his fellow Liberians because he saw what God had told him in that farmer's field coming true.
"When I look around me at my own life, I only see Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is real, and He gave me the passion for my people," Klibo says.
"Even today, I'm called bishop but I'm an evangelist—I'm a soul-winner. My kinsmen are very poor and they struggle in life … so I always want to be there. I can't do all, but I can do some. And the best thing I can do for my kinsmen is to tell them about the salvation of God.
"Today, we are very grateful to God that the war is over and that the AICA is now working in a huge portion of Liberia, planting churches and building schools."
Would you like to advertise your business or ministry on LHF? Please contact us via e-mail and ask about our advertising options at: [email protected]