Liberty People (Liberty for the Nations Inc. in NSW) was formed in 1991 for the missional vision and work of Australians Pastor Steve and Helen Blake and their family. Liberty People grew quickly to include many other friends and partners who are passionate to further the loving mission of God in the world.
From its early years, the mission included ministering in Vanuatu and Bougainville in the Pacific, the Philippines, many of the former Soviet countries of Europe, Cyprus in the Mediterranean, Turkey and other nations.
All is done in Jesus’ name and in partnership with local churches and other community groups.
Helen
Visit our YouTube channel for video messages and sermons.
Visit our blog for teachings by Steve and others!
Why Support Liberty People?
With so many great Christian nonprofits operating around the world, why us?
Gospel-Focused
We believe in sharing the good news of Jesus, both explicitly (through evangelism and the empowerment of God’s global church) and also through public acts of love and service. All of our work is done with the name of Jesus unapologetically lifted high.
Lean and Efficient
We are a deliberately simple and small organisation in terms of staff, processes and expenses. No costly buildings or promotion programs, so no administrative costs are ever taken from any designated donations. Every dollar goes a long way. Also, being deliberately small, we have a direct and personal relationship with all of our supporters.
Our Australian Team (Management)
While our Australian management are only part of the large community of friends who make the work of Liberty People possible, they are the founders and directors of the work. The Blake family (Steve and Helen, and their sons Jon and Matt, pictured below) have served the work of Liberty People for thirty years.
Steve
Brought up in a Christian family in country Victoria (Australia), Steve experienced the call of God on his life at an early age. In his late teens, Steve was popular in his region as an anointed singer-guitarist and church youth leader. In his early 20’s, while studying at Bible College, he met his future wife, Helen. From 1977 until 2002, Steve preached and led youth ministries and musical outreaches together with Helen, and started several churches in Victoria and New South Wales. In the late ’80’s, while leading a thriving church in the Hunter Valley, Steve led his first church mission team overseas. God’s call to serious overseas mission involvement grew, and eventually led to the founding of Liberty for the Nations (now Liberty People), in April 1991.
Today, Steve regularly ministers overseas, mainly in the Pacific, Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean. At home in Australia, his apostolic and preaching gifts serve local churches and church leadership teams, and his engineering and building skills outwork themselves in the designing and planning of building projects in Vanuatu and the Philippines.
Helen
Brought up in Papua New Guinea, Helen was the child of missionary aviation parents. Her Secondary School years were spent in Queensland (Australia) at boarding school, where her primary interest was learning classical music on piano and organ. In her late teens while training to be a nurse, she became very involved in outreach to young drug addicts and in street evangelism. Sensing God’s call all the while to overseas mission, after graduating as an RN she enrolled at the same Bible College as Steve in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.
Today, Helen manages and works in the Australia offices of Liberty People, and oversees various initiatives and programs in other countries.
Jon
Having been actively involved in his parents’ missional work from a young age, Jon began working full-time with them in 2000, when he moved to Vanuatu to serve in the remote north of Tanna Island. In 2001, he married Abigail and together with her family led the NorthGate community development mission in North Tanna until 2005. They then moved to Port Vila to manage the expanding work from there. In January 2011 they moved to Australia, from where Jon worked in the many aspects of Liberty People’s activities from home base.
Jon and Abi and their four children are now based in Port Vila. While his main occupation is leading a local building construction company, Jon serves part-time in management at Liberty People’s LifeChanger Christian College and assisting our major Gospel outreach events in Port Vila.
Matt
From a young age, Matt felt a strong call to ministry and as a teenager served in worship leading, youth and young adults ministries. After a decade-long career in IT interstate, Matt joined the work of Liberty People full-time from 2016-2022.
Matt now serves part-time in managing our IT and website maintenance, while his main occupation is pastoring a local church in Port Stephens, New South Wales.
Testimonials
“It’s a privilege to partner with people whose hearts reach toward heaven and whose hands reach around the globe.”
– Paul Whiting, Baptist Pastor in Newcastle, Australia (support partner)
“Liberty People is such a blessing to us here in the Philippines. They have supported us in word and deed, helping us to start our church and to plant new ones. We were able to rebuild many destroyed homes and bless not just our community, but surrounding communities as well.”
– Mila Mendaros, Pastor in Mindoro, Philippines
“We love partnering with Liberty People. They are trustworthy, genuine and have a pioneering spirit. Through this partnership our church’s vision has enlarged, our giving has increased and we know we are making a difference in the lives of the poor and marginalised. Thank you!!”
– Mark and Roz Zaia, Pentecostal Pastors in Newcastle, Australia (support partner)