"I met Pastor Wesley (an indigenous Liberian pastor) through an unsolicited email that he sent me on December 12, 2002."

With those opening words, local pastor, Rob Patterson, hopes to help the area's economy by once again pointing to a humble man named Richard Wesley (in the war-torn nation of Liberia, West Africa). Rather than giving up and fleeing from his circumstances, Pastor Wesley faced years of civil war head-on.

"Pastor Richard Wesley's survival instincts have helped him to thrive as he has worked to fulfill a vision much greater than himself", Patterson shares with conviction. "He has learned perseverance and thereby holds a key to economic viability for anyone who carefully peruses the potential opportunities that his story entails."

It is that very vision Patterson hopes to pass along as a means by which local readers of placeropolis websites might avoid financial ruin and invest in eternal stock. Locked by his own temporal limitations, Pastor Rob admits that he personally hasn't been able to vision-cast with much effectiveness of late.

"In 2002, the fallout from the Liberian civil war was still wreaking devastation in parts of Liberia. Children, teens, and other rebel troops were still carrying AK-47s and terroring those who were unarmed." Those who watched the movie "Blood Diamond" may recall the horror of such unrestrained evil in the world.

"Over the next 3 years I simply said 'yes' to the Spirit of God as He opened the door for a great work. God blessed me for a season to see a wonderful outpouring of generosity among certain brothers and sisters in the body of Christ."

Considering themselves as co-laborers in Christ, various individuals in small town America shared a bit of the prosperity they had known. People banded together and helped Pastor Wesley begin to build a sanctuary for the church that had been meeting in his leased apartment. Like Nehemiah, Pastor Wesley worked diligent--even with the sound of mortars in the near-distance.

Despite photos that had been faithfully sent to them, at one point, they didn't seem to have enough money to put the roof on the church building that they had started. Patterson found it difficult to raise any more finances from his own humble setting as the pastor at First Baptist Church in Galt, California.

"Did Pastor Wesley give up his vision due to our lack thereof?", Patterson asked this reporter with rhetorical confidence in the readers' ability to read between the lines.

Instead, they watched a man of God start an auxiliary work. A modest Children's Home was built on Duport Road with funds given by a different group of believers. Wesley finished that building and housed five children there. Then, he continued to vision-cast through regular emails to Patterson.

"I continued to share Pastor Wesley's ongoing story of faith-and-works with anyone who would listen", Patterson recalls. "I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for giving me the experience of truly being a co-laborer with Him and with other interested individuals."

"In the summer of 2003, we watched the final days of the war on CNN. It was devastating to hear that the bodies of those who had died in the streets were laid at the gate of the American Embassy. My ticket to Monrovia, Liberia was cancelled because the airport had been closed in July."

"My delayed trip finally took place in February of 2004. As an ambassador of those who were counted as co-laborers, I carried their gifts and goodwill with me. I lived with Pastor Wesley's family during the three weeks that I was in Liberia. By that time, the U.N. Peacekeepers had everything nearly under control."

When I was moved by the Spirit from FBC Galt to Bell Road Baptist Church in Auburn, California, I periodically shared about my ongoing interest in Pastor Wesley. I continued to be encouraged by his demonstrative investment of personal time, talent, and treasure. So, as part of our 2007 Vacation Bible School, our children sent $1,100 to Pastor Wesley and provided academic scholarships for several students."

Today, Patterson claims that he is not personally in the position to provide any financial assistance for Pastor Wesley or the God-sized assignment that has been entrusted to him.

"I rejoice that I am able to stand by this humble man and show Placer County the photos above. They were sent to me on September 25, 2008. The photo shows the Sanctuary on the left; the hospital on the right; and the future home of an FM radio studio in between."

Patterson stands ready to resource anyone (anywhere) with photos, videos, and personal testimonies regarding Pastor Wesley and the Vision that God has entrusted to him. He closed the interview with this appeal:

"Please help Pastor Wesley with his vision of broadcasting the simple gospel of Jesus Christ from the heart of Monrovia, Liberia into the hearts of villagers throughout Liberia."

Pastor Richard Wesley (Monrovia, Liberia) can be reached via email:

pastorrichardwesley@yahoo.com