Monrovia – As the sun rose over Monrovia on Sunday, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) marked a moment in its history, a Thanksgiving service for the groundbreaking for the construction of its new headquarters in Congo Town.
By Willie N. Tokpah
The Thanksgiving service was held on Sunday, October 19, at the Forky Klon Jlaleh Family Fellowship Church along the RIA Highway, symbolizing both rebirth and resilience following the demolition of the party’s former headquarters in August this year.
In front of a packed congregation, CDC Political Leader and former President George Manneh Weah set the tone with a stirring introduction of the day’s guest preacher.
His remarks were both spiritual and symbolic, pointing to a higher power at work in the party’s journey.
“This Thanksgiving Day, we were looking for a special person,” the former President said.
“Not just a pastor, but someone who could preach the word of thanksgiving. Someone wonderful, kind, Godly, astute, someone who could take us from 380 and land us at the airport of RIA”, said Former President Weah.
“So we looked around, we heard many voices. You know a lot of pastors and bishops and what have you, but that special person that will give us the word of God, so when we go, we can be filled for our thanksgiving. We continue to praise God for His guidance, for His protection and blessings and all that we do, so please join me in a standing ovation to present your revered Guest Speaker and Preacher for this CDC Construction Headquarters Groundbreaking Thanksgiving Service, she’s nobody, but a calm, respectful, diligent, wonderful, respectful and a Mother, Mrs. Reverend Dialokai Golanyon-Kemayah. Rev. Kemayah is a trained professional nurse and an ordained Pastor, she is currently one of the Pastors at Providence Baptist, Corner of Broad, Center and Ashmun Streets,” Former President Weah introduced and presented Rev. Mrs. Dialokai Golanyon-Kemayah to the congregation, which welcomed her to the pulpit with a standing ovation.
Rev. Mrs. Kemayah Delivers Message of Thanksgiving, Hope, Strength and Rebuilding
Rev. Mrs. Kemayah, opening her sermon with praise to God, also honored her husband of Twenty-seven years of uninterrupted marriage, Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., Liberia’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“He’s my mentor. He’s my strength. He’s my all, and he’s my whole,” she said about her husband.
“I don’t call him my half, because half is not complete. He’s a promise fulfilled by God to me, and by the special grace of God, we are 27 years old and moving forward. Hallelujah!”, Rev. Mrs. Kemayah stressed.
Her sermon, with the theme: “Rebuilding in the Midst of Adversity”, drawn from Nehemiah 4:1–16, the story of Nehemiah leading the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls in the face of opposition.
“Rebuilding in the Bible refers to the physical restoration of a structure, to build after it has been destroyed,” she explained.
“Adversity is a difficult or unpleasant situation. It tests a person’s strength, patience, and determination. But one thing I know: when God is for you, no one can be against you.”
“Rebuilding in the midst of adversity is not about waiting until the difficult time is over. No, it’s about building something stronger while still in the middle of a struggle.”
Rev. Mrs. Kemayah applied the biblical lesson to Liberia’s political reality, declaring that building something new in Liberia where there is a total breakdown in the rule of law is challenging.
“Building something new where there are lies, intimidation, persecution, and selective justice, that is what rebuilding in adversity truly means.”
Rev. Mrs. Kemayah’s sermon deeply resonated with CDC partisans, as she likened the party’s recent struggles to Nehemiah’s challenges with critics like Sanballat and Tobiah.
“Does this sound familiar? They mocked! They are mocking! They will mock! They never thought, in their wildest dreams, that CDC would be breaking ground today,” she intoned.
“One thing I love about CDCians, I remember on that day, through their tears, they said, CDC is not the structure. CDC is an idea, it’s in the hearts, in the minds, in the souls of CDCians. They cannot break CDC.”
“Words are powerful, they can either make you or break you. But what do you do in the midst of adversity when you have external challenges? Focus on God!”
A Call to Clear the “Rubbish” Within
Beyond external critics, Rev. Mrs. Kemayah pointed to challenges within the party.
Quoting Nehemiah 4:10 & 14, she stressed that CDC had left behind the physical rubbish of demolition, but must now confront internal issues, internal wrangling, division, hate, and undermining, that could stall growth.
“If the house doesn’t sell you, the street will not buy,” she warned.
“They cannot break CDC from the outside if it’s strong on the inside. Clear the internal rubbish. The people are willing to give their sweat and their blood, but they are looking to the leaders to guide them.”
She quoted Winston Churchill, stating, “When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.”
“From the side of God, the Demolition Was to Reposition” – Demolition Turned into Repositioning
In one of the sermon’s moments, Rev. Mrs. Kemayah reframed the demolition of CDC’s headquarters as a divine act of demolition turning into repositioning the CDC.
“CDC was on leased land. Somebody borrowed shoes from a friend, when you dance in them, they say, ‘Take time how you dance in my shoes.’ That’s how it is with leased land,” she said.
“God said, wait, I am coming to position you. The demolition was meant to destroy, but it was turned by God to repositioning CDC. God has repositioned you. You are not at their level.”
She urged partisans, friends and well-wishers of CDC not to dance to the tune of critics, but Trust in God and He will direct your path. Don’t focus on the noise. Focus on the work.
A Revival Stirred
Rev. Mrs. Kemayah reminded the congregation that what looked like a tragedy became the spark for a spiritual and political reawakening of the CDC.
“Every day is a day of thanksgiving. CDCians have more than enough to be grateful to God for. Through the storms, rain, hate, demolition and betrayal, CDC has risen better than before.”
“They said, ‘Oh, the mighty has fallen! We will see how they will resurrect!’ But when God says yes, no man can say no.”
She said the Groundbreaking ceremony was just the beginning of many Thanksgiving services to be held by the CDC.
“A revival has been stirred in this nation, and CDC is going to build its wall around this nation.”
She echoed Nehemiah’s perseverance, saying, “They will say all sorts of things, they will plan against you, they will act like they are your friends just to see what you are doing to undermine. But stay focused.”
A New Chapter Begins
The groundbreaking ceremony was more than a construction milestone. It became a spiritual reset and political renewal, anchored in faith, unity, and resilience.
Rev. Mrs. Kemayah noted that the ongoing construction process is not about what CDC can do for its partisans, but what its partisans can do for CDC.
She called on supporters to get involved physically, emotionally, and spiritually. nRev. Mrs. Kemayah closed with declarations of purpose and destiny. “Someone can bring land, someone a bag of cement, a block, or a handful of sand.”
“With faith as the foundation and unity as the mortar, CDC now looks ahead to a future where its roots are deeper, its structure stronger, and its purpose renewed.”, Rev. Mrs. Kemayah concluded.
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
