Monrovia, August 30, 2026 – The preacher at the Thanksgiving Service in Monrovia ahead of 2026 Africa College of Bishops Meeting has called on the global church to “enlarge its tent” and prepare for unprecedented growth, declaring Africa the new epicenter of Christianity.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
The service, held at the historic First United Methodist Church and hosted by the Liberia Episcopal Area, set the pace for the opening of the 2026 Africa College of Bishops Meeting. At the Thanksgiving Service, Bishops, clergies, and lay leaders from across the continent and the U.S. gathered under the theme drawn from Isaiah 54:2: “Enlarge the place of your tent.”
Delivering the sermon, Bishop L. Jonathan Holston of the Alabama-West Florida Episcopal Area of the United States Southeastern Jurisdiction, cautioned the congregation that God is demanding “a new way of stretching and a new way of doing things.”
“We are witnessing a monumental shift in the landscape of global Christianity. Africa is emerging as a new epicenter of the faith,” Bishop Holston declared.
“This is a season of spiritual preparation and transition. While the center of influence has shifted, it brings with it a sacred responsibility: To develop leaders; to engage our communities and to make room for what God is doing next.”
A Call To Expand And Lead Courageously
Preaching from Isaiah 54:2, Bishop Holston urged Methodists and the Christian community to move beyond their comfort zones and traditional thinking.
“God is calling us to expand – spiritually and structurally. True progress is not about changing titles. It’s about changing hearts. To fulfill this divine mandate, we must: Love boldly. Serve joyfully. Lead courageously.”
He challenged the church to reach “people you have never seen before, and speak to people you have never spoken to before,” including younger generations and those divided by politics.
“It’s time to stretch beyond rigid traditions and political divisions. It’s time to create space for God to work through us,” Bishop Holston stated, adding: “The world needs our witness. God is calling us forward, not backward. This is the moment to go.”
The Bishop acknowledged current challenges confronting the world maintained that no situation should ever deter Christians from advancing further.
“We are living in a time of political uncertainty and inflation, but we must be ready to go forth. Do not hold back.”
“Do not be afraid. The most impactful work of the Church is still ahead of us. This is a word of expansion. Prepare yourself. Enlarge your capacity. Welcome the larger, more inclusive future God is bringing,” the renowned US-based Methodist Church Bishop added.
The service was climaxed with prayers for the bishops, the Liberia Episcopal Area, and for the United Methodist Church worldwide as well as Christians across the globe.
Liberia Hosts Continental Gathering
The Thanksgiving Service served as both worship and preparation for the week-long Africa College of Bishops Meeting hosted by the Liberia Episcopal Area. The meeting, which will be hosted at the Farmington Hotel Town in Unification Town, Margibi County, will focus on leadership development, evangelism strategies, and the church’s role in addressing social issues across Africa.
“Do not be afraid. The most impactful work of the Church is still ahead of us. This is a word of expansion. Prepare yourself. Enlarge your capacity. Welcome the larger, more inclusive future God is bringing.”
The service concluded with prayers for the bishops, the Liberia Episcopal Area, and for the United Methodist Church worldwide.
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