Father Blamah vows to unite Baptists

Calm seems to be gradually returning to the Baptist Church in Liberia as Baptists here says they are ready to unite and move the church forward. A group of Baptists under the banner, “Concerned Baptists” had earlier accused the President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention or LBMEC, the Rev. Dr. Olu Menjay, of attempting to mortgage the Church’s property in Congo Town, outside Monrovia.

At the same time the Baptist Convention has been rocked by confusion since the 2012 Yekepa Convention, due to the alleged behavior of Dr. Olu Menjay, who members say has refused to reconcile the convention, but was witch-hunting those members who voted against his ambition to become president.

However, to restore calm to the church, the Father of the Year of the National Baptist Men Department or NBM, Nathania Blama, has pledged to unite Baptists in Liberia. Blama has promised to bring together all Baptist Churches during his tenure as representative of all Baptist men and the church.

The National Baptist Men Department or NBM and the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, Incorporated on Sunday, August 24, 2014 crowned Nathanial Blame as Father of the Year, thus replacing Deacon Shedrick A. Bettie. Father Blama, who is also eying the senatorial seat of Montserrado County, promised to go from county to county during his tenure to unite the church.

He said those who are aggrieved and not pleased with the Olu Menjay leadership are not in the wrong, but noted that there is democracy in the church as well. He recognized the leadership of Dr. Olu Menjay and promised to work with him, including those members that initially opposed Dr. Menjay leadership.

Speaking Sunday, at the First Baptist Church in oldest Congo town, in observance of the National Father’s Day service held under the auspices of the National Baptist Men Department, Father Blamah said there were lots of challenges, including misunderstanding and disunity between members of the men department and the entire Baptist churches in the country.

“With the honor restored upon me as Father of the Year,  I will work to ensure that every Baptist church in this country is united, so as to avoid people saying negative things about the church, because I did not beg for this honor neither do I ask or even pay for it,” Blamah added.

He said honor is something that comes from God himself, not man, saying, ”Our church has gone through tough times; now it is time for us to settle our differences as members of the first Baptist church and the entire Baptist missionary council to bring peace within the church, not to undermine your friends while they are serving in positions.”