Speaking Sunday, March 1, 2020 at the Providence Baptist Church, President Weah said it was now up to the Church to serve as the enlightenment of society, to shine its light on the Liberian society. 

 

The Chief Executive said: “While we as Government play our part in the preservation of law and order, we expect the clergy to use the “Power of the Pulpit” for the good of the country and its people.”

 

President Weah recognized the pivotal role the Church has always played in finding resolutions to some of the intractable crises the nation has witnessed but said there is still more left to be done by the church, which is the moral voice of the nation. 

 

“We urge you to continue to play that role,” the President stated; “For it is often said that the church is the hope of the world.”

 

He added: “It is often said that Liberia is all we have. I could not agree more. And that is why we depend on the religious community to bring about social cohesion and harmony amongst our people.” 

 

President Weah indicated that the Church cannot sit supinely or become a complicit participant while some Liberians are continuously attempting to exploit ethnic, religious and political diversities for their selfish political motives. 

 

The Liberian leader also used the occasion to pay homage to the historic role played by the Church during the foundational days of the Liberian state.

 

“And so this morning, I want to tell you that I feel glad to be in this historic house of the Lord, which is as old as our nation itself,” the President said. “As the Holy Bible tells us, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ told His disciples that he would use the rock in him to build a church. Although He was speaking metaphorically, we took up the charge and built a Nation from a church on a rock.” 

 

The President who also recalled the immense contributions of this remarkable church to this great nation, said, “The history of Liberia cannot be told without also recounting the numerous contributions of the country's first church, Providence Baptist Church.”

 

He acknowledged the Providence Baptist Church as an embodiment of Liberia’s history.

 

The Providence Baptist Church often referred to as the ‘Cornerstone of Liberia’, President Weah noted that it is the first place of worship that some of our ancestors who returned home after being freed from slavery built after arriving on Providence Island.” 

 

“It was here in this same edifice that our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence that gave birth to Africa's first independent Republic. This church has been so central to our national life that it even hosted our National Legislature for a period,” the President recalled.

 

He thanked the Pastor of the Church, Rev. Samuel Reeves, for maintaining the Providence Baptist Church so well during the many years of its existence, emphasizing, “You have done a wonderful job.”

 

He said his Government was happy to partner with the Church for its upcoming bicentennial celebration, and assured the congregation that government “will endeavor to do all that is necessary to ensure a very successful celebration of this critical component of our history.”

 

The Liberian Leader pledged a 100KVA generator to the Providence Baptist Church to address its electricity needs.