FAQs

Dellanna O’Brien School -- Frequently Asked Questions

BACKGROUND

Twenty years ago, God put a vision in Eddie Gibson’s heart to educate Liberia’s children and to lead them to Christ. Hundreds of students have passed through the two schools he founded. The Marla H. Corts Mission School is doing well. However, on February 27, 2021, the Dellanna West O’Brien School near Monrovia was devastated when a man, angry over a controversial land dispute, bulldozed through the school’s buildings. With the support of the faculty, staff, students and parents; the students continued to complete lessons in temporary facilities that were outside and under tarps. Then the unthinkable happened: on September 14, 2021, the community witnessed the demolition of the remainder of the school campus, this time accompanied by armed men. This has left the school completely inoperable.

LEGAL QUESTIONS

What will happen in the Courts?

It could take up to 2 years to resolve the matter. The school has retained legal counsel and is pursuing action against the perpetrator and requesting full restitution. We are committed to pursue all legal options and pray for God’s Blessing so that we will prevail in the Courts.

What happens if we win in the Courts?

We will rebuild the school on the original property AND build a second school in Marshall City. We must pursue both objectives because of the time it could take to prevail in the Courts. Ultimately, there will be two Dellanna West O’Brien School campuses!

What happens if we lose in the Courts?

We will follow God’s leadership and pour our energies into the new location.

What will keep this from happening to the new property?

The property in Marshall City was purchased many years ago by a group of missionaries who intended it for future missions work in Liberia. The property is in Eddie Gibson’s name. He can deed or lease a portion of the property for the second campus of the O’Brien School. The disgruntled individual is only interested in the property at the Dellanna Community. He has no claim on the new property and no interest in it.

IMPACTS FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SCHOOL:

What has happened to faculty and staff?

EGIM (Eddie Gibson Interior Ministry) will compensate 34 members of the faculty and staff for at least three months and hopefully longer if funding is available. This will help as they are adjusting their lives, finding jobs and retaining the administrative staff as they continue to assist faculty and as students get situated.

What happens to the children in the school?

Their parents will have to relocate them to another school in the area (at a greater expense) or try to transport them to the new / second location of the O’Brien School.

What has happened to the Church that was meeting at the school?

It is still meeting -- just in someone’s home. God’s Church is resilient.

How has the community responded?

Not many weeks before the devastating actions of February 27, 2021, the community voted to change the name of the community from Johnsonville to The Dellanna Community. This came from the obvious impact that the school is having in the lives of everyone in the community. Sadly, both times the school was attacked, community residents were prohibited from intervening because a paid armed security firm supporting the perpetrator would not allow them access. However, they have risen up with one voice demanding justice for their community and continuing to embrace the school and call for justice. They have even voiced this directly to the perpetrator of the destruction and his family.

What happens to the money that has already been donated?

Your past gifts did exactly what you wanted them to do. They sustained the Dellanna O’Brien School for 11 years. We are not walking away from the land. Our prayer is that we will prevail in the Courts and rebuild the school on the original property.

FUTURE QUESTIONS:

Where will the new school be located?

Marshall City, is about 51 miles away from the current O’Brien School Campus located in the Dellanna Community (formerly Johnsonville Community).

How long will it take to build a school at the new location?

There are many variables. First, we will need funding to build a secure wall around the property. Then, we will need to create a sustainable supply of water (through a well or water system). If we can start quickly, we could possibly be able to begin having classes as early as November 2022.

How will Eddie Gibson Interior Ministry (EGIM) support two schools?

The Dellanna O’Brien School already operates in a cost recovery model through student tuition. This is supplemented by generous donations from around the world. We will redouble our efforts to secure funding to supplement the cost recovery model like most schools do in the US and elsewhere.

HOW CAN I HELP NOW?

PRAY -- Please see below for specific prayer requests.

ENCOURAGE -- the leadership, faculty, staff, and Friends of the Dellanna O’Brien School get discouraged. Send a note, email or facebook message of support to Eddie or anyone connected to EGIM and the Dellanna O’Brien School.

TELL OTHERS -- we need others to join this effort. We are too few to do this alone. We need anyone who is willing to help to jump in and support what we believe God has called us to do.

SHARE -- Please share our messages with everyone in your network. Here is a great link with all the info we have available at this time: https://linktr.ee/DellannaWest

GIVE -- The school is moving forward. God has not told us to stop. Here are some specific financial needs you can help with right now:

A secure wall must be built at the new/second campus before we do ANYTHING. That will cost at least $50,000.

General donations can help in two ways: to offset the legal costs associated with the Court case regarding the current campus; and to help us rebuild the school in a secure environment for our students.

It takes only $2,700 per month to pay the salaries of the entire faculty and staff of the current school location. That is a total of 34 individuals and their families who have lost their source of revenue and need us now.

We need funds coming in now before we can start building the school at the second (new) campus at Marshall City. There will be significant start up costs associated with that new building project.

We will also need additional funds to hire new faculty and staff to work at the new second campus in Marshall City.

SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUESTS:

We fervently believe that what was meant for evil by man, God is using to create a second campus of the Dellanna O’Brien School. (See Genesis 50:20) Please join us in that commitment with your prayers.

Ask God to guide our legal team and touch the hearts of the Judges, so that we will prevail in the Courts.

Pray that God will prepare our hearts in case evil seems to prevail, i.e., if the Court case does not support our position. Pray that we would be able to move forward if there is a negative outcome against us.

The Faculty and Staff need your prayers as they adjust to limited financial support while the school is temporarily closed.

Pray for the students and their families who have to find another school, especially the seniors who were preparing to graduate

Pray that graduation will be a time of rejoicing. It is scheduled for January 16, 2022 and we intend to move forward! Eddie Gibson will be in Liberia for 6 weeks starting January 3, 2022.

Ask for God’s outpouring of His strength, peace and wisdom for our brother Eddie Gibson as he listens to God’s voice and leads us during this difficult time.

Pray that the organization that gave the $25,000 grant for the water well and water tower system for the original campus will allow us to use the grant at the new/second school campus.

Ask God to touch the hearts of generous people who will continue to give and new ones who will join this effort to ensure that children in Liberia receive a quality education and hear the saving message of Jesus Christ through these efforts.

As of November 20, 2021