AYTI graduates 50 persons in religious leadership

New Water in the Desert Assembly Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Brewerville, Montserado County, graduates 50 youth in religious education.

By Naneka A. Hoffman

Brewerville, Liberia, May 9, 2024 – The fifty (50) persons are the first Apostolic Youth Theological Institute graduates based in the New Water in the Desert Assembly Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Brewerville, Montserado County.

The graduates were taught in various disciplines, including evangelism, soul, and church planting.

The leadership and evangelism training is part of the sixteenth (16) Biennial Conference of the New Water in the Desert Assembly Apostolic Pentecostal Church, which ended on May 5th, 2024.

Speaking recently during the official ceremony of the sixteen (16) Biennial Conference of the Church in Brewervill, one of the graduates, Mr. Albert Brown, lauded the Pastoral Board of the New Water in the Desert Assembly Apostolic Pentecostal Church, especially Presiding Bishop, Dr. Kortu K. Brown and teaching staff of the Apostolic Youth Theological Institute (AYTI), for the acknowledge acquired from the institution.

He admonished his fellow graduates to be ambassadors of peace in their respective villages, towns, and communities, even at the national level, for the benefit of society.

He pointed out that Liberia’s youth, who are considered future leaders of the country, are trending down the wrong path, which needs to be given serious attention by religious leaders and the national government if the country is to be on par with its counterparts in the subregion.

For his part, Bishop Dr. Kortu K. Brown cautioned the graduates to serve as good ambassadors of peace, soul-winning, and mentorship for their colleagues across the country.

He stressed that the second training phase will bring together more people from across the fifteen counties.

Bishop Brown pointed out that Liberia’s development requires the collective efforts of every Liberian, both at home and abroad.

He reiterated calls for appointments in government not to be given to job seekers or not to be based on political affiliations but rather nation builders.

Also speaking on Global Health issues, Dr. Monique Chireau Wubbenhorst, Senior Public Policy Fellow at Notre Dame, said the rebuilding of Liberia is not in the hands of politicians.

Dr. Wubbenhors, former senior deputy administrator in the Bureau of Global Health of USAID in the USA, noted that health is part of the mission of the Church since Jesus commanded to preach and heal, as such, it should go along with spirituality.

She said the health of Liberians is crucial and connects to global health, which must be a concern for everyone. 

“We saw this Ebola. Ebola came from Guinea and spread to Liberia and other countries in West Africa because we live in a connected community. The disease does not respect borders; what happens in one country can affect another,” Dr. Wubbenhorst cautioned. 

She said that to address global health problems amicably, all projects and funding should aim at the health of local families and communities, not populations.

She added that this fund should not benefit faceless individuals or organizations that just want to make a profit but families affected by helping to improve their health and well-being through access to tools they need to thrive. 

For his part, Alexander Cummings, the political leader of the Alternative National Congress, lauded Bishop Kortu Brown for always encouraging Liberians to work in the country’s interest instead of for personal gain.

Mr. Cummings said that Liberians should support the Unity Party-led government for the country’s common good. Editing by Jonathan Browne