Liberia: E.C. Church of Liberia has a New Bishop
…Newly Elected Bishop Promises Reforms – The Evangelical Congregational Church of Liberia (ECCOL) now has a New Bishop.
Some members of the congregation at the Service to mark the consecration of Bishop G. Abraham Powell
He is Bishop G. Abraham Powell. He takes over from Bishop Matthew T. Gueh, who served the E.C. Church of Liberia for 17 years.
The newly elected Bishop of the Evangelical Congregational Church of Liberia (ECCOL), Rev. G. Abraham Powell has promised robust reforms as a means of enhancing the spiritual and physical growth of the Church in Liberia.
Bishop Powell said the reforms to be undertaken which are both short and long terms, are aimed at matching the 51 years of the establishment of the Evangelical Congregational Church of Liberia (ECCOL).
Bishop Powell named some of the reforms as the construction of two schools in Grand Bassa and Montserrado Counties to provide equality education for members’ children and other Liberians as well as the construction of a hospital to buttress government’s health care delivery agenda.
Outgoing Bishop, Matthew T. Gueh (R) and newly elected Bishop G. Abraham Powell (L), of the ECCOL
He said as part of the reforms, the ECCOL will engage in real estate projects to generate funding to assist in the payment of Church Leaders, micro–loan initiatives to empower members of the Church in the area of business including the teaching of the Bassa Bible.
He indicated that the teaching of the Bible will target all Bassa speaking people in the ECCOL to enable them to read the Bassa Bible and fully comprehend God’s Word.
The Bishop of the Evangelical Congregational Church of Liberia said through the micro-loan scheme, members will be able to meet up with their financial obligations of the Church and at the same time improve their livelihoods.
He disclosed that motor bikes will be provided to various Coordinators of the Church to enable them effectively and efficiently carry out their field trips in reaching out to local branches of the Church.
Consecration of Bishop G. Abraham Powell of the Evangelical Congregational Church of Liberia
Bishop Powell further said the robust reforms will also look at bringing back some members of the Church who left because of differences and are willing to return to have them re-united.
“This will be done with the inputs of the Church’s international partners who for the past years were part of negotiations between ECCOL’s Former Bishop, Rev. Matthew T. Gueh and other members to have the matter amicably resolved”, Bishop Powell asserted.
Bishop Powell who was overwhelmingly elected at the 47th Liberia Annual Conference of the Evangelical Congregational Church of Liberia (ECCOL) held at the Robert Lorah Branch in Kro’s Town, Number One Compound, Grand Bassa County thanked the Church’s international partners for the immense contributions given ECCOL.
Bishop Powell: “ECCOL is grateful to you our international partners for the financial, materials and most importantly the spiritual guidance from you that enable the Church to grow spiritually”.
Prior to his election as ECCOL’s Bishop, Rev. Powell served as General Secretary for the Liberia Annual Conference, “Evangelical Congregational Church of Liberia (ECCOL)”.
For his part, the Director of Global Mission of the Evangelical Congregational Church, Rev. Randall Sizemore called for unification and diversity to be the hull mark of the Church.
From L-R: Mrs. Carla Sizemore, Rev. Randall Sizemore, Bishop G. Abraham Powell, Pastor Rick Sergi and Deacon Henry Dennis (Group photo at a hotel in Monrovia)NB: Another member of the team, Pastor Ralph Owens was not part of the group photo…he had just completed his morning exercise
Rev. Sizemore said the only way Bishop Powell’s administration will be successful is when the entire Church supports his efforts as Bishop.
The Global Director of the Evangelical Congregational Church based in the United States, however assured the new Bishop and the Church in Liberia of their support in moving the work of God forward.
Bishop G. Abraham Powell of the ECCOL, speaking after his consecration
Rev. Sizemore pointed out that they are proud of the E.C Church of Liberia for withstanding so many trails and temptations, and encouraged E.C. Church members and other Christians to remain focused to the things of God and continue to promote God’s Kingdom.
This year’s Conference which ran from January 23 to 25 was held under the theme: “Unity in Diversity” and was attended by delegates from Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Rivercess and Nimba Counties.
