Reverend Brian Palmer, ELCA pastor and missionary for the Lutheran Church in Liberia, has lived and served in Totota, Liberia since 2010. Liberia is not on the list of must-see destinations even for missionaries, nevertheless, Brian has not only served his initial four year call, but also signed up for two additional two year terms. He has no plans to leave Liberia; in his words, “I love the people in Liberia.”
Members of the World Outreach Committee hosted Brian for a Perkins (birthday) lunch in June 2018. Brian was in the States for his two year family and Synod visit. He spent most of his time preaching and meeting churches in the Upper Susquehanna Synod from whom he receives most of his support. We enjoyed his compelling stories of life in Liberia. He shared his warmth and passion as a teacher and preacher of theology to lay evangelists, deacons, and seminary students at the Louis T. Bowers Lay Leaders and Ministers in Training Center in Totota and the Gbargna School of Theology.
His experience as a nuclear engineer and his natural curiosity to solve problems have led him to become “Mr. Fix It” in the region. Until the recent arrival of a Danish missionary couple, Brian also served as the community medic. He is relieved to pass this role to a trained nurse, the fellow missionary and spouse of the couple.