NORMAN, Okla. — Lauren Selmon’s work with the international, non-profit, children’s organization Samaritan’s Purse led her parents, Norman residents Kathryn and Dewey Selmon, to adopt their fifth child, Christiana, from an orphanage in Liberia in 2004.

But it was the amazingly resilient Christiana, and her many stories stemming from the conflict and chaos of a 14-year civil war, that led the Selmons’ other children Shannon, Megan and Zac to form a foundation. Among their goals: Build a school and enrich the lives of the about 82 children left at Christiana’s former West African orphanage, Rainbow Town.

Christiana and the other orphans were taken in by the much-revered “Mama Feeta” Naimen a number of years ago, said Kathryn, after a soldier commanded her to either take in a group of orphaned children or risk watching them be brutally killed.

That story, and the courage displayed by “Mama Feeta” since that fateful day, inspired Zac and his eldest sister to act, he said.

“It was just a great opportunity. Me and Shannon always aspired to do something like this, but suddenly there was this fantastic opportunity to go over there and let God direct this,” he said.

The Shine Foundation Incorporated in November and the siblings have raised the $60,000 necessary to begin constructing a school — the first of its kind to serve the orphanage. The school will join other orphanage upgrades such as a new dormitory, barn and water tower, put in place by Touch the World Ministries.

While the family is thrilled with the initial success of the foundation, more money is sought to build another school in Peters Town, Liberia, Shannon said.

Education, said Kathryn and Zac, is critical to the rebuilding process following civil war which erupted in 1980.

“Pretty much all of the educated people left that area when the civil war began,” Kathryn said. “A generation of children grew up since then, the only thing they know is war… It took (Christiana) a long, long time to know that when she heard a loud sound, it wasn’t a gunshot.”

May 20, Zac, Shannon, sibling Megan and father Dewey Selmon will travel to Liberia to begin construction on the school, which will bear the name of Megan’s fiancé, 1st Lt. Benjamin T. Britt, who died in Iraq Dec. 22, 2005.

The family also will be joined by Dr. William Blum of Norman to provide dental care to the orphanage and surrounding village, and former Norman resident and current Chicago Bear Tommie Harris to provide a sports and Bible camp. Miami youth pastor David Keasler also will provide training seminars to local pastors and missionaries on the basic tenements of Christian faith, said Zac. And, if that wasn’t enough to keep the Selmons busy, they will be getting to know Gabrielle, 6, whom they anticipate bringing home from Rainbow Town in future months, the latest addition to the family.

In all, the part-time project has turned into a full-time endeavor for Shannon, who couldn’t be happier with the initial success of Shine Foundation.

“When God puts something in your life,” she said, “He provides the means for it.”

To find out more about the Selmons’ Shine Foundation or to make a tax-deductible donation, write to 2725 S. Berry Rd. Norman, OK 73072 or call 405-321-7446.



Melissa A. Wabnitz writes for The Norman (Okla.) Transcript.