Posts Tagged ‘Pastor Andrew Gombay’

I received email from Pastor Andrew Gombay, the founder of Victorious Faith Refuge Home in Monrovia, Liberia.  This is the home of Esther’s Hope children.

Each year we try to send funds, above and beyond our monthly support, just before Christmas.  Our desire is to bless the children and staff with small gifts and some treats for Christmas.  This year, with the help of many, we were able to send $1,200.

I’ve been waiting for word from Pastor Andrew on how the funds were used – hoping for a photo or two, as he usually sends after Christmas.  Unfortunately, Pastor Andrew has been having a great deal of difficulty obtaining an internet connection.  He’s actually been attempting to send me other email for the last couple of months. Today his efforts were successful.  The photos he attached were very small (a result of his internet problems).  I enlarged and enhanced them as best I could.

Here’s the email and photos I received….

A Christmas Party for Esther's Hope

Dear Rev. Pevlor,

Wow, how is the snow?

We bless the Lord for you, your family, and the supporters of the Victorious Faith Refuge Home, Liberia. We wish you all a blessed New Year.

I have an overdue Christmas card for you and the friends of VFRH. The net has not been helping out with photo attachments but it’s better late than never. I could not send the well designed card I intended because the net refused to attach the design, but that’s where we are at the moment.

Esther's Hope Christmas - 2010

As for the funds you sent me, I wisely decided to buy the children school shoes because the second semester starts next week. Also, I took part of the funds to make them happy on that day as you can see from the attached photos to this mail. Though they wore the shoes for the occasion, they will also serve them for the second semester.I’m glad we finally entered the new year happy and healthy.

Pastor Andrew

Thank you for your help and prayers.  We still need more monthly supporters.  An Esther’s Hope Child Sponsorship is only $30 a month.  100% of all we receive is sent to Liberia for the care of the children. (The church covers any administrative costs.)  Your gifts are tax-deductible and we make it very easy to give – simply click on our Donate button.

For my friends with Liberian connections… If you know of any inexpensive, reliable solutions to Pastor Andrew’s email difficulties, please drop me a line.

Pastor Andrew Gombay is the founder and director of Victorious Faith Refuge Home (VFRH). You could say VFRH is Esther’s Hope.  It is the home where the children live and are cared for. All support raised by Esther’s Hope goes directly to VFRH.

Since he is the leader at the center of Esther’s Hope, I thought it might be worthwhile to share more about Pastor Andrew.

Pastor Andrew is originally from another area of Liberia.  He felt the call of ministry early in his life and moved to the Liberian capitol, Monrovia, to pursue the Lord’s will.

Pastor Andrew is the founder and leader of Victorious Faith Ministries – a growing Spirit-filled, Christian church in the Battery Factory community of Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. He is a respected spiritual leader, active in leadership positions of the Monrovia ministerial community.  He is a teacher and mentor to young pastors and church leaders.

Before there was an Esther’s Hope, or any other outside help, Pastor Andrew, being moved by compassion for orphans left in the wake of Liberia’s brutal civil war, took on the challenge of starting Victorious Faith Refuge Home.  From the home’s beginning, Pastor Andrew has proven to be an gifted, resourceful administrator and caring leader/father figure to the children and staff.  He is a faithful man of integrity who has endured personal hardship and sacrifice for the children of Esther’s Hope.

Pastor Andrew’s academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Divinity from St. Paul Seminary in Monrovia.  He also received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology from Vision University, Monrovia.  Pastor Andrew’s Masters degrees in Biblical studies and Christian education were earned at Monrovia University.

Rev. Gombay serves as Senior Lecturer at the Awesome International Bible School, Director and Lecturer at Victorious Faith school of Ministerial studies and the Principal of Victorious Faith Academy.

A dedicated family man, Pastor Andrew is 37 years old and married to Swehna (34 ), his wife of eleven years. Together they have four children; Divine (7), Andrew JR (3) , Jonathan Bill “J.B” (1) and an adopted son, Charles (14).  (When asked about his marriage he will tell you, “I’m married to one beautiful wife by the name of Mrs. Swehna Gombay,” with an emphasis on the word “one.”  In Liberia, it is not uncommon for a man, even pastors, to have more than one wife.)

Pastor Andrew is a relatively young man who, through hard work, personal sacrifice, faith and the ever-present  grace of God, has accomplished extraordinary things under extremely difficult circumstances.  He is an example of faithful servanthood.  He is a leader among leaders.  He is an inspiration.

Please, keep Pastor Andrew Gombay, his family, the children and care givers of Esther’s Hope and the Church in Liberia in your prayers.

In honor of Pastor Andrew Gombay’s upcoming visit to Algoma next week, I thought I would re-post this “music” video.  It features the worship team from Pastor Andrew’s church.  They were singing a song to honor us (Pastor Bill Pevlor and Brian Matthys) at the conclusion of a conference for pastors in Monrovia, Liberia.  You will see pastor Andrew and his wife, Swehna join the team.  Even I get pulled into the frivolity at the end. (You’ll recognize me as the goofy looking white guy.)

The arrangements have been set for Pastor Andrew Gombay’s travel to northeast Wisconsin.  Pastor Andrew will arrive in Green Bay on Monday afternoon, July 19th.  He will return to Detroit early Sunday evening, July 25th.  His return flight to Liberia departs from Detroit on the 27th.

We are bubbling over with excitement to have nearly a week with our dear friend from Monrovia, Liberia.  More than a friend, Pastor Andrew is our ministry partner.  He is the founder and leader of Victorious Faith Ministries church and Victorious Faith Refuge Home (the Esther’s Hope residence) in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa.  We have been friends and partners for nearly a decade.

We are still working on his itinerary.  As I write this, there are only two items set in stone on the schedule.  Pastor Andrew will be ministering at Victorious Faith Ministries in Algoma on Wednesday evening and Sunday morning (July 21st and 25th).  There will be more events, we just haven’t worked out the details.  Esther’s Hope supporters can count on an opportunity to visit with Pastor Andrew in an informal gathering.

Over the years, Pastor Andrew has proven himself to be an extremely capable man of faith, courage and integrity.  He is a highly respected spiritual leader in West Africa – which is why he was invited to participate in the conference in Detroit.  I’m confident he will bring the highest level of ministry excellence to Algoma.

I’ve traveled to Liberia on two occasions to lead successful leadership conferences for pastors and church leaders.  Pastor Andrew and his staff handled all the arrangements in Liberia for those conferences.  He was an excellent administrator, preacher/teacher and host. I’m looking forward to ministering (and hanging out) with him again; this time in my homeland.

(Note to Esther’s Hope supporters:  The cost of Pastor Andrew’s round-trip airfare was $569.40.  If you’d like to help us meet the expenses for Pastor Andrew’s travel and activities in Wisconsin, please click on the Donate button and select the one-time gift option.)

Pastor Andrew Gombay is now in the United States. This is his first trip outside of Africa.  What an experience for him and what a marvelous blessing for us.

In our conversation early this afternoon he told me he arrived late last night. He spoke of the long flight times and layovers – from Monrovia to Brussels to Washington D.C. to Detroit. He is in South Field, MI (in the Detroit area) to participate in a conference.

He told me that he was “received honorably” by Dr. Prince A. Miles, founder of the church hosting the conference, along with several others. Dr. Miles has invited Pastor Andrew to stay with him at his home while he’s in the States.

Pastor Andrew will be busy in South Field until July 19th. Then he will be free to spend a few days with us before returning to Liberia. This is the first solid information we’ve been able to get about his schedule, so we are just beginning to work on plans.

It was great to be able to talk to him on a clear phone line.  While he’s in South Field, he and I will be spending plenty of time on the phone, catching up.

He also told me he is very excited about getting to meet his “family” in the states.  His time here will be limited, but we’ll do our best to introduce him to as many friends as possible.  We’re open to suggestions, so drop us a line if you have any ideas.  Watch this website for more information about upcoming plans.

The trip from Detroit to Algoma won’t cost as much as Monrovia to Detroit, but there is still a cost.  If you would like to help us with Pastor Andrew’s travel expenses, please click on the Donate button or drop an email to info@esthershope.com and we’ll work out the details.  All donations are tax-deductible.

(Pastor Andrew Gombay is the founder of Victorious Faith Ministries and Victorious Faith Refuge Home (The orphanage of Esther’s Hope)  in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa.)