Liberia: Baptist Prelate Reeves Tells Methodists At Opening Of Africa Bishops Conference

Monrovia – The President of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), Rev. Dr. Samuel Baryogar Reeves, has called on Bishops of the Methodist faith, especially on the African continent to now begin to move aggressively in its growth, while at the same time contributing to nations’ development.

By Emmanuel Conway

Dr. Reeves, who is also the President of the Liberia Baptist and Theological Convention, stated that the African Church is standing in the middle of extraordinary growth; hence, amid the growing congregations, emerging young people and scholars and women in key leadership positions, the next move is to climb the ladder.

Bishop Reeves made these comments Monday, August 31, 2026 at the opening of the ongoing 2026 Africa College of Bishops hosted by the Liberia Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church.

The meeting, which is expected to run up to September 4, being held under the theme: “Deepening Ecumenical Enlargement, Expanding Continental Influence and strengthening institutional sustainability” with text drawn from the Book of Isaiah 54:2 quote: “Enlarge the space of your tent.”

Time To Enlarge The vision.  

The Baptist Prelate, who is also the Vice President of the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia (IRCL), reminded the gathering of Methodist Bishops, members of the Christian community and government officials that the church must move fast enlarge the vision, theological imagination, opportunities for emerging leaders and participation of women.  

He also wants the church to make meaningful contributions to education, health, entrepreneurship, peacebuilding, governance, and human development.  

“But we do not enlarge simply to become larger. We enlarge because the mission is larger than yesterday. We make room for people to encounter Christ. We make must room for young people to discover vocation. We must make room for girls who have been overlooked and for gifts that need to be included and we must make room for communities still waiting for Christ and for the Church to serve them,” the head of the churches in Liberia and the Baptist Church lectured.

The Church Must Engage

Bishop Reeves reminded the conference that vision alone isn’t the answer; it must move us into relationships, into partnerships, and into redemptive action.  

Bishop Reeves is of the conviction that with vision and collaboration, much of the world’s problems would be solved adequately.

“Poverty does not ask which church you attend. Violence does not ask which theology you hold. Migration does not respect national borders. Climate vulnerability does not recognize denominational boundaries. Youth unemployment does not distinguish between churches. Human suffering does not wait for us to settle our differences. Therefore, the Church must collaborate. Collaborate at the scale of the challenge,” he challenged members of the Methodist faith and Christians across Africa and the world.  

According to him, there must be conversations that lead to collaboration,

Collaboration that leads to coordination, coordination that leads to collective action and such collective action must give the Church credible influence.

“If a young person receives an education, our influence matters. If a family survives because the Church stood beside them, our influence matters. If a conflict ends because Christian leaders helped people find peace, our influence matters. If corruption is challenged because the Church found a prophetic voice, our influence matters. And if despair gives way to hope, a daring hope, our influence matters,” he furthered.

With young Africans already shaping the continent through technology, business, science, education, culture, politics, media, and civil society, he further challenged the Church to prepare them for those arenas.  

“We must disciple young people for vocation as well as for worship. We must disciple young people for vocation as well as for worship. We must develop leaders who can think critically, govern competently, communicate intelligently, innovate responsibly, and remain rooted in Christ Jesus.”  

“Women must have genuine opportunities to lead. Lay professionals must be partners in ministry and mission. Theological education must address the questions Africans are actually asking. We need people who can pray faithfully on Sunday and yet govern wisely on Monday.”   

The Church Must Endure

This growth or larger tent, he stated, needs stronger stakes and greater reach that requires deeper roots, and greater influence that requires greater integrity.  

He urged the Church to improve systems and strengthen institutions, financial transparency, accountability, governance, discipline, planning, responsible investment, entrepreneurship, endowment development, and strategic partnerships.  

“The African Church needs a deeper culture of ownership. External partners can help, but internal capacity must grow. We need resources generated, managed, invested, and multiplied so that mission can continue through changing circumstances,” Bishop Reeves advised.   

“Every bishop must eventually face one question: Who will be ready because you served? That is the question of legacy. Mentor your clergy. Empower women. Develop lay leaders. Strengthen theological institutions and prepare successors. A leader’s greatest contribution may be the leaders he or she develops after he or she is gone.” He among other things added.

Call For Steadfastness

Meanwhile, speaking earlier at a special Thanksgiving Service held at the First United Methodist Church on Sunday, August 31, 2026, Bishop L. Jonathan Holston of the Alabama West Florida Episcopal Area in the United States, called on worshippers to remain steadfast in faith and to root their lives in Christ’s teachings.

Bishop Holston asserted that the African church is no longer a mission outpost but “the epicenter of the worldwide church,” and as such, the continent stands in a season of preparation and transition.

He admonished believers, especially of the Methodist Church, to embrace three commitments: to love boldly, by widening the church’s welcome to a new generation without letting tribal divisions or regional politics narrow its reach; to serve joyfully, resisting fear and scarcity even amid economic uncertainty and global crises; and to lead courageously, strengthening spiritual foundations even as the church expands its influence.

At the same time, Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr., Resident Bishop of the Liberia Episcopal Area and president of the West Africa College of Bishops, presided over and the conference.

He described Liberia as a mother figure in the history of African Methodism, telling the congregation that those who leave home always have reason to return and pay tribute. He also praised the Liberia Annual Conference’s resilience through past hardship.

Bishop Mande Muyombo, President of the Africa College of Bishops and Resident Bishop of the North Katanga Area, lauded Liberian United Methodists for their hospitality toward visiting delegations. He reaffirmed the church’s commitment to the Book of Discipline in guiding governance and marriage practices across Episcopal Areas, and urged members to remain united, faithful to Scripture, and devoted to the church’s mission despite ongoing challenges.

Clergyman Muyombo also announced that Bishop Ruben Saenz, president of the Council of Bishops, would arrive in Liberia on September 1, and invited the Liberia Episcopal Area to prepare a fitting welcome.

Also present were Conference Lay Leader Tolbert G. Nyenswah, Men’s President Samuel Swen Kun Jr., Women’s President Josephine Snorton, and delegations from the Youth and Young Adult Fellowship.