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Mandate

Since establishing Liberty for the Nations in 1991, Steve & Helen Blake have sought to personally fulfil and lead others in their God-given mandate: to minister in the nations “In Word and In Deed”.

Some foundational scriptures that have been guideposts and checkpoints for this ministry include Jesus’ words to the “sheep and goats” (Matthew 25 – I was hungry and you fed me)… The Widow’s Mite (Luke 21:1-4 – in her poverty she gave everything she had)… The Extravagant Offering (2 Chronicles 1 – Solomon sought the Lord, offering 1,000 burnt offerings. He asked only for wisdom to lead, and God gave him wisdom and wealth to govern)… The Man Who Asked for Help for his Friend (Luke 11:5-8 – people at their midnight hour need a friend)… A Joyful Sacrifice (2 Corinthians 8:1-15 – rich generosity even in extreme poverty).

Jesus ministered to the whole man, in response to the need. His heart was filled with compassion both for the spiritually destitute, and the desperately poor in terms of physical resources.

Practical assistance projects (the “deeds” arm) have included numerous humanitarian aid shipments to the Pacific and Africa, funding church buildings and community outreach projects in the former Soviet States, financing other ministries and indigenous workers in several countries, serving strife-torn communities with the message of reconciliation, financing self support programs in poor communities, supporting children’s homes and widows, establishing community assistance and outreach projects together with local churches, taking teams overseas, building children’s homes and school classrooms, and working with asylum seekers in Australia.

Other ministry has included preaching in local churches, village evangelism, teaching church leaders in local churches and at conferences, and teaching in Bible schools. Wherever the Word is preached, people are prayed for and signs and wonders are anticipated (Mark 16:17).

Steve has preached in cities and rural village settings in Belarus, Estonia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Vanuatu, Bougainville, Nigeria, America, and Australia. In many places, the needs are overwhelming. Children in refugee settlements are in the military; old people in institutions have no-one to care about them and no hope; families who are already poor take abandoned orphans into their families; churches are too poor to effectively meet the needs of those around them; infants are given away because their families are too poor and too large.

History Highlights (some examples)

• BELARUS
Liberty for the Nations began visiting Belarus soon after the Chernobyl Disaster of 1986 and the fall of Communism. The first small team took 240kg of desperately needed medical help for Chernobyl victims, and preached in cities and villages. Since then, the ministry has given practical and spiritual help especially to rural village communities. Help in the early years included purchasing village houses for church meetings and funding outreach projects. To this day, some villages we visit in Belarus have never been visited by anyone else from the outside world!

• BOUGAINVILLE
In the early ’90’s Liberty for the Nations worked through PNG Government and indigenous church channels, assisting with the aftermath of the ‘Bougainville Crisis’ and the 10-year PNG-imposed blockade. Containers loaded with requested medical supplies, clothing, literature and education aids were sent via Port Moresby and Rabaul. Major evangelistic campaigns were held in key areas, including the troubled south. Forgiveness and Reconciliation workshop seminars were held with church leaders throughout the island.

• THE PHILIPPINES
Liberty for the Nations has funded numerous practical projects in poor areas in the islands Luzon, Mindoro and Samar: children’s homes, the purchase of rice and corn fields, vehicles, building materials and agricultural equipment, and educational supplies. Teams from Australia have visited to preach, teach, sing, run craft workshops, build and encourage the Christian communities.

• VANUATU
Liberty for the Nations has been working in the isolated northern region of the island of Tanna since the early '90's. 'NorthGate’, a Christian community development project, has been gradually transforming the local community. On the grounds there are now several permanent building facilities to house a school, church meetings, staff and visitors, and machinery. Numerous large shipments of supplies have been sent from Australia to North Tanna, via Port Vila. Teams from Australia regularly visit and contribute help to the various aspects of this project. Builders, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, school teachers, medical workers, evangelists, intercessors, singers, preachers and teachers are able to express their skills and obey God's call to go to the nations. In 2005, Liberty for the Nations established a network of Christian schools in Vanuatu. More information and photos are on this website (or go to ccsv.info).