My heart grieves to report that one of our council members of the IPFBM has finished his course and went to be with the Lord this week. Brother Sam Quapourlee served as the 
church planting coordinator for the African Fundamental Baptist Mission. He also served as the General Secretary for that association.
I met Sam in Monrovia back in 2007. He has been a primary contact for us with the ministry there over the years. He also agreed to serve on the council of eight when I approached him. He always responded in a timely and helpful manner to the various issues dealt with by the council. I was in active correspondence with him about his coming to the IPFBM Conference in Bangkok in November. He was looking forward to it as he was not able to come to Bangkok in 2009. I will miss his wise counsel and friendship.
I am attaching a wonderful letter of tribute and details of Sam’s homegoing as written by Jim Geurink, the president of Baptist Children’s Home. Jim also worked very closely with Sam in the oversight of many orphaned children in Liberia. Please remember Brother Sam’s wife and children in prayer at this time. Also his brother, Jesse, is active in the ministry there. Jesse attended the GARBC conference last year.
Here is Brother Jim’s fine letter:
Dear Colleagues,
What is our life? A vapor…
I have just learned that our God has called my dear friend and our colleague in ministry in Liberia to his heavenly home. For the past several years Sam has been the team leader for the Abandoned Child Care Foundation providing 24/7 care for 200 children. Since my visit in May last year we have added some village outreach care to another 100 children.
Prior to the years of civil war Sam was a school teacher, the first person from his village to go to college. He was passionate about the foster children and all children having the opportunity for education.
Last Thursday Sam fell because he had a stroke. His son told me yesterday that his left arm and foot were paralyzed. He could not walk. Last night Pastor Togba visited Sam in the hospital and he seemed to be doing well. They carried on a conversation. This morning Pastor Togba received the call that Sam had passed away.
Pastor Togba and I cried together and prayed together. For the past year and a half Sam has been working on two church plants on alternate Sundays. Last May it was my delight to walk for an 1 1/2 hours with Sam through the bush to Garmamue where he was planting Grace Baptist Church. God had provided through a business in Akron, OH for a well project in the village. Now neighboring village people have been coming to the well for safe water. In doing so they are also exposed to the Water of Life.
Please pray for Sam’s wife and children, including foster children. Pray for Pastor Togba and the ACCF team as they grieve – but not without hope. Since we believe in the one and only Sovereign God who does all things well, we also know that God is at work to accomplish His will to bring glory to himself today.
When our work on earth is done may we enter His presence and hear, “Well done!”
Grace to you, Jim
Praise the Lord for the blessed hope we have in Christ. Absent from the body and present with the Lord. Paul added, which is far better.
Chris Hindal, Director of International Ministries – GARBC