One of the most disturbing sights is to see pictures of children carrying weapons and preparing to destroy lives. The smiles and sounds of innocent children playing often brightens our lives and the world we live in, therefore it is hard to associate children with gunfire and destruction, at least it should be. However, in Liberia, over 40,000 children were forced to carry weapons while under the influence of drugs, becoming some of the most fierce killers the world has ever known.

      Liberia has seen the harm that children can cause when their young minds have been transformed into that of killers, but many other countries in the world have seen this as well. It is estimated that there are 300,000 child-soldiers in the world today.

     Is there any hope for children who have been robbed of their innocence and gentle natures? Yes, and there are many ex-child soldiers in the world today who can testify to this fact. But, all would agree that it took a greater power than their own to give them freedom from their chains. Recently, there have been well known books and movies of true to life stories that have shown the world that there is hope for ex-child soldiers.

     Three years ago Hope Universal started a rehabilitation outreach in Liberia designed to help these young boys and girls. We have had weekly programs counseling and ministering to these children who deal with the painful  scars of their past, while sharing the message of Jesus Christ with them. Over 250 children attend cell groups scattered throughout Monrovia each week, many who still live on the streets, under bridges and in makeshift housing. We have seen the reality that children can become children again, and Christ can replace the minds of young killers with His mind, the mind of Christ.

       Two years we also started Camp Hope, a semi-annual weeklong camp conducted at one of the school compounds in Monrovia, which includes intense counseling and training from visiting staff of organizations such as Mercy Ships, YWAM and local churches.

       As long as the world has violent conflicts, the sad fact is that there will always be child-soldiers used to do the dirty work of the older rebels. Therefore, we plan to continue to help children become children again, in Liberia and other parts of the world as well.