CLC International has re-opened a Christian bookstore in Monrovia, Liberia, at the historic Providence Baptist Church.

CLC operated a Christian store in the West African country from 1948 until 1996 when the bookstore became a target for the violence that engulfed Monrovia during the country's lengthy civil war.

Twice the store was looted and destroyed. After the second time, CLC workers were forced to flee for their lives and become refugees in other countries. As a result, CLC's work in Liberia was "temporarily suspended," and it was not clear when a Christian store would ever be able to open again.

Two years after the 2006 election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female president in all of Africa, and the ceasing of hostilities between warring parties, CLC sent a research team to Liberia to explore the opening of a new store, but much of the infrastructure of the country was still inadequate.

In February, another CLC team went to Liberia and discovered that conditions had improved greatly and a plan was put in place to re-open by year's end. CLC USA helped to arrange for the shipment of a 20-foot container filled with start-up inventory, including used books that were donated by individuals and churches across America through CLC's Christian Book Link program.

Opened in the fall, the new store is located inside Providence Baptist Church, the site of the founding of the country by returning American slaves in 1847, and the founding documents still reside in the church.

this fall, the new store is located inside Providence Baptist Church, the site of the founding of the country by returning American slaves in 1847, and the founding documents still reside in the church.

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