Darkness over Liberia

A United Methodist prelate is urging women of the Church to arise, alarming that darkness is over Liberia. The Reverend K. Richard Tonnonlah, head pastor of the David Gueh Memorial United Methodist Church in Paynesville outside Monrovia says politicians are using children of Liberia for ritualistic purposes to gain state power, while others are using them to insult those in authority and to get in the street.

“Women, arise and speak to Liberians to remain peaceful in this time of our nation as we are at the crossroad. If you failed to arise, the Lord will hold you responsible, if the children vote based on sentiment”, he cautions.

The call was contained in a sermon he delivered at the opening of the 29th Annual Session and 63rd Anniversary of the Monrovia District Women Conference of the United Methodist Church held at the David Gueh Memorial United Methodist Church near Du-Port Road, Paynesville recently. The theme of the conference is “Women Arise”, with text from Isaiah 60:1-3.

Rev. Tonnonlah continues that women of the United Methodist Church need to arise and shine for Jesus Christ, reminding them of Jesus Christ’s command in Matthew 5 : 16, ‘Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’

He says today’s generation lives in a world that is so dark as a result, many people are living in darkness, pointing out that to live in darkness, is to live without hope, peace, guidance, joy or love.

He further reminds that the theme for the conference is a command which means to transform lives for the better, but stresses this could only be achieved by connecting to Jesus Christ.

“Women, you need to arise in your walk with God; you have been doing well, but there is always room for improvement. We need to arise in our relationship with God, our neighbors, our husbands, wives, etc. Women Arise and do something to safe that sister who is being abused in the community and no one dares say anything.”

He urges that if one is in a place where everyone is sitting down, the option is to stand up, if everyone is standing up, stand out, if all manages to stand out, be outstanding, and if too many people become outstanding, to serve as a standard!

Rev. Tonnonlah says when women arise, change takes place, reminding that in the Holy Bible the woman with the issue of blood arose and went looking for answer to her illness, noting that often people in such situation would develop a tendency of low self-image, complaint and self-pity, but rather this woman arose and took steps that led her to encounter Jesus Christ and eventually received healing after 12 years.

He recalls that during the last round of the Liberian Civil War when the warring parties became belligerent, the women of Liberia arose and went behind the warlords in Ghana after sitting and sleeping in the sun, rain, and nights near the James Spriggs Payne Airfield in Monrovia to force them to sign the peace accord, which dividends all Liberians enjoy today, saying “When women arise, things change.”

The 29th Annual Session and 63rd Anniversary of the Monrovia District Women Conference of the United Methodist Church held from November 17-19, 2017 brought together about 30 of the 32 churches within the district.

-Story by Jonathan Browne