Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone (BCSL) has on Sunday 27th February 2022 concluded its 48th Annual Convention on the theme: “Modelling the Gospel of Christ through the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)”. The convention which started on Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th February 2020 was held at the Baptist Conference Center at Lunsar, Marampa Chiefdom, Port Loko District Northern Province of Sierra Leone.
Giving a paternal greeting, the Director of Programs of the Council of Churches Sierra Leone, Keziah Kargbo expressed appreciation to the Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone owing to the fact that amidst the COVID-19 in the country BCSL has been into ministry with a lot of positive impact across the country.
She said the BCSL is among the churches that the Council is looking up to in terms of giving their support towards the development of the entity, adding that the Council has been working on its mandate geared towards impacting different communities across the country.
The Regional Coordinator of North of the Evangelical Fellowship of Sierra Leone, Apostle Dr. Moses S. Kargbo, revealed that the BCSL has been doing great works in the country, adding that currently BCSL is on a great expansion in most of the districts in the country where it has branches.
He revealed that the theme for this year’s convention which is “Modelling the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit” (Galatians: 22-23) is not only timely but very important towards the development of Christians of which he admonished members present that in whatever they do they need to live practical lives and be the Bible in their homes, churches, communities, and the nation.
The Head of Mission at the National Pentecostal Mission Sierra Leone, Bishop Benjamin B. Bangura, who also gave paternal greetings, said that there has been a long lasting relationship between the BCSL and the Pentecostal Mission.
He said that the convention should serve as a turning point in the lives of members especially with a very important theme: “Modelling the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit” (Galatians: 22-23). He assured of the Pentecostal continued relationship with the BCSL.
Giving his presidential address, the Executive President & Head of Mission of the Baptist Convention Sierra Leone, Rev Dr. Joseph S Fornah said that the journey to convene the Convention that will lead to their Golden Jubilee year in 2024 has not been an easy one but said they thank God for His grace and favor upon them.
He revealed that theme for this year’s convention is, “Modelling the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit” (Galatian: 22-23) which he described as not only timely but very appropriate given their present situation, adding that the theme is calling on all to demonstrate the biblical truths or teachings of the Bible which they have received over the years wherever they go and in whatever they do.
Rev Dr. Joseph S Fornah further pointed out that in spite of all the challenges they faced as a Convention, they were richly blessed by the Lord in the following areas: That they were able to have two successful national prayer and fasting programs in March and October respectively during the year under review which he said has greatly brought God’s divine intervention into the ministries and activities of the BCSL.
He noted that they were able to conduct trainings for deacons and pastors in the Western Area Associations and Kono Area Association and that these trainings have helped a lot to resolve certain challenging issues among the churches who attended the program and that other areas will be reached out to in this year with such training by the grace of God.
The Executive President maintained that they were able by the special grace of God to secure three generators for use by the BCSL, two new (100 &50 KVAS) and one old (40KVA) through donations and contributions from fiends of BCSL and their partners and fourthly a massive work was done on the fencing project of the BCSL Lunsar property which he said is almost two thirds complete.
“By the special grace of God, a new missionary (Rev. Mrs. Christiana Doehring) and her family, Pst. Ralf Doehring and son from Germany will be in Sierra Leone in August 2022 to serve as lecturers at the Evangelical College of Theology in Jui and our beloved Baptist Theological Seminary (BTS) in Lunsar for four years,” he informed the gathering.
He maintained that during the year under review, they were able to have 17 of their schools approved by the Ministry of Education and have 12 Principals and Vice Principals approved for five of their secondary schools.
Rev Dr. Joseph S Fornah informed all that their traditional partner, the Christian Blind Mission (CBM) has approved a four year project for the Baptist Eye Hospital and that the project aims to build the capacities of staff, rehabilitate the hospital, buy medical instruments, equipment, vehicle for the BEHL and build two eye health centers in Karene and Falaba districts for the Government of Sierra Leone but will be supervised by the BSCL of which he extended appreciation to the entire BCSL and hospital team for working very hard to have the Project approved.
He stated that the BCSL will be 50 years on the 27th April, 2024 and they want to celebrate that golden Jubilee in a grand style God being their helper and called on all and sundry to make themselves available when called upon to contribute their resources, talents, time, adding that the construction of a Multi-Purpose building is one of the agenda items in the 50th Anniversary Celebration.
At the close of the opening of the convention the Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone (BCSL) presented certificates to pupils who performed very well in their external examinations and schools & churches that performed extremely well during the year under review.
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