Going overseas to serve our brothers and sisters around Zion is a true blessing.
Returning to serve my country of birth is an even greater honor and a privilege.
Giving oneself fully to God’s will has been the purpose and path God has placed me on since 2008, beginning with our first overseas Medical Mission/Dental Trip to Liberia, W. Africa, with Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, under the leadership of Bishop George D. Crenshaw (former Pastor of Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church and now Bishop of the North Eastern Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Zion Denomination) and Missionary Supervisor Laurenna Crenshaw. Since then, alongside my sister and co-lead, Rev. Andrea Afolabi-Jallah, and under the insightful leadership of Bishop George D. Crenshaw, we have led 7 medical/dental mission trips and Leadership Training Institutes:
Each time, God has opened countless doors as we planned, prepared, and executed these 7 (seven) trips to provide free medical and dental care and leadership training opportunities alongside our brothers and sisters in Zion and their surrounding communities. Beyond our wildest dreams, God has always provided abundance - volunteers, funding, safe travel, the health of our team members, and more as we have traveled. Over the years, these learning experiences have been invaluable to our team. God is still refining in all of us the attributes of servant leadership as missionaries: selflessness, stewardship, humility, resilience, empathy, flexibility, and integrity, and ensuring the welfare of the TEAM by prioritizing the group’s needs and welfare over individual needs, so that everyone returns home safely and even better than they left.
Liberia in West Africa is my birthplace. As a teenager, I was among the lucky ones to leave Liberia and live overseas. My parents sent me away because of a military coup and subsequent civil unrest in Liberia, so I could complete my schooling in England and later in the US. I vowed to always return to help my people. God has provided that pathway through my work in the Church, first at Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, and now that work has been expanded to all of the world as Global Medical Missions Lead for The A.M.E. Zion Denomination.
Our trip to Liberia was deeply fulfilling. Seeing Liberia's growth and development since our initial mission trip in 2008 was astounding. Over the years, we have been intentional about including the local A.M.E. Zion team and local health care providers not only in our planning but also in execution. We also focus more on the sustainability of our efforts and the impact our work will have on the communities we serve.
April 2026 marked the first Medical/Dental Mission and Leadership Training Institute under the Office of Global Missions of the A.M.E. Zion Denomination, led by Bishop George D. Crenshaw and the Director of Global Missions, Rev. Dr. Dwight B. Cannon. Leading 32 missionaries from various disciplines in the U.S., we embarked on a 12-day journey to West Africa. Upon arrival in Accra, Ghana, a few of us who had arrived early were warmly greeted by Candice Kpanga, Administrative Assistant to Bishop Dogbe. We were graciously hosted by Bishop Hillard Dogbe, Bishop of the Western West Africa Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Zion Denomination; Missionary Supervisor Cynthia Dogbe; and their team. The following day, after the rest of the team arrived, Bishop Dogbe, again with outstanding hospitality, ensured the team received a brief respite and a hearty meal in Accra before boarding for Monrovia, Liberia, later that day.
The Liberian Annual Conference delegation, led by Reverend Dr. Emmanuel Johnson, President of The A.M.E. Zion University, Liberia, and Reverend Emmanuel Peaybar, Director of Protocol and Episcopal Affairs for the Liberia Annual Conference and Pastor at Brown Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Monrovia, welcomed us to Liberia and graciously hosted us for the remainder of our stay. This included worship services at Brown Memorial and Cartwright A.M.E. Zion Churches (Pastor, Reverend Charles Johnson), as well as the exemplary planning and logistics teams at the Po River University Campus, led by Brother David Gray and Brother Solomon Johnson, and the team of 30+ volunteers from the Liberia Annual Conference. The Liberian Annual Conference team always served with a smile, a hug, love for their people and community, and selflessness. They ensured that the clinic site and Leadership Institute locations were secured, maintained daily, and available for use by our visiting team of medical and dental professionals (overseas and local), Episcopal Leadership, Pastoral and Ministerial Leaders, and Laity.
Our teams were privileged to provide the following services and to impact the lives of nearly 600 congregants and community members who came to The A.M.E. Zion University's Po River Campus for care:
Leadership Training Institute: Led by Reverend Eleazer Merriweather and his team of dedicated Presiding Elders, Elders, Pastors, and Ministers from the U.S., the Institute offered Biblical and Spiritual classes to local Presiding Elders, Ministers, and Laity.
Free medical care for children and adults:
Nurse Berniece Freeman, Lead and Project Coordinator of the Wellness Partners Clinic Team
Nurse Princess Dahngbe
Nurse Pauline Suah
Nurse Thompson N. Marr – Wellness Partners Clinic
Nurse Lutiture D. Nebo – Wellness Partners Clinic
Rev. Edith Mayfield – Health Educator
Dr. Valentina Stubbs – Health Educator, Counselor
Numerous nurses, nursing assistants, and nursing students from the Liberia Annual Conference (LAC)
Local Health Services - Leads Bro. Solomon Johnson, Sis. Cassandra and Bro. Monroe Awar
Over 30 volunteers of the LAC – Lead, Bro. David Gray
Local organizer: Mrs. Miattah Walker – Pearson
Local health care and non-healthcare student volunteers and interns from neighboring communities in Monrovia
Our medical teams treated acute illnesses (fevers, rashes, stomach complaints, diseases such as malaria) and chronic illnesses (high blood pressure, diabetes), and provided health education throughout the day.
Free lab screening for adults and children by a local phlebotomy team, with immediate results. Over 200 lab specimens were collected to test for hemoglobin (iron count), malaria, and other communicable diseases. All positive results were treated on-site with free medications.
The Dental Team provided free dental care for children and young adults, including complete dental screening exams, education on dental hygiene and cavity prevention, and the distribution of free toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Free prescription medicines from a functional on-site pharmacy staffed by local pharmacy technicians and led by our team of medical doctors.
Free giveaway items (clothing for all ages, toiletries, nonprescription reading glasses, school supplies, shoes, and much more). The reading glasses station was a huge hit and much needed. We hope to provide prescription glasses in the future, with testing by an optometrist.
Medications, medical equipment, and supplies valued at over $22,000.00 were procured from charitable organizations in the US. The majority of the items, supplies, and non-expired medications were obtained at no or low cost. We paid only for shipping to our US destination. Other costs included shipping medications and supplies to Liberia via barrels, excess traveler baggage, and additional equipment purchased from non-charitable medical suppliers. Additional prescription medications were purchased in Liberia as we ran out.
At the close of our 4-day clinic at Po River, we were blessed to donate unused prescription medications, medical supplies, nonprescription reading glasses, and medical equipment to the following facilities:
JFK Medical Center (Liberia’s premier medical facility and referral center)
Two (2) nearby medical clinics in the Po River District, Liberia
The churches also received the remaining giveaway items for further distribution.
We especially thank everyone in the U.S. who donated money, supplies, and packing assistance to ship over 28 barrels of supplies and free giveaway items to Liberia ahead of the trip.
Through purposeful partnership-building with the local medical teams who assisted us over the 4 days and with those to whom we donated medicines and supplies, we now have an established network of healthcare professionals in Liberia who can continue to care for our young adults at The A.M.E. Zion University Campus at Po River. One goal is to eventually develop a more permanent healthcare solution to serve the students and staff at The A.M.E. Zion University as healthcare staffing capacity in Liberia and the national healthcare system evolve.
The needs are great. We need more mission-centered laborers to join us in providing selfless care and hope. We also need missionaries with servant-leader mindsets and a focus on sustainability and longevity in the areas we serve.
We need both medical/dental personnel and non-medical/dental personnel.
Medical/Dental: Physicians, Dentists, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants or Medical Assistants, Emergency Medical Technicians, Dental Hygienists, Optometrists, and more.
Non- medical personnel:
We are looking for individuals who are:
Non-medical personnel will serve on the registration, food and clothing giveaway, eyeglasses, photography, crowd control, Children’s education, and Sunday School Teams, among other duties.
Next Trip: Stay Tuned. We plan to travel to the African continent every 18 months and to locations closer to the United States annually. The selection of the country we visit is based on invitations and acceptance from that overseas location for our global team, the need for free medical and dental services in that area, and the safety of our team from the United States in that area. Hence, selecting a country that meets all the above can take time and Godly counsel.
Contact: officemanager4gm@gmail.com
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