Johnsonville – Father Nimely Jarbokly Donyen of the Father Donyen Ministry Inc. was ordained over the weekend as the first bishop of the Independent Catholic Church of Liberia (ICCL).
Report by Augustine T. Tweah, [email protected]
Bishop Donyen was consecrated by Bishop George Otieno Odhiambo, Presiding Bishop of the Charismatic Catholic Church International, Nairobi, Kenya assisted by Archbishop Jean Ndjewel of Cameroon and Bishop John Milton of the USA and Bishop Jacinto Kibuuka of Uganda.
The ordination ceremony took place on Saturday, April 27, at the Cheerful Givers Church, Father Donyen Ministry Inc. in the Red Hill Community, Johnsonville Township, Montserrado County.
Speaking to team of reporters after the ordination ceremony, Bishop Odhiambo said the ordination of Father Donyen as first bishop of the ICCL is in fulfillment of Mark 16:15, which commands Christians to go into the world and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
Speaking further, the Presiding Bishop of the Charismatic Catholic Church International also added that the establishment of the ICCL in Liberia is intended to spiritually heal the wounds created by the years of civil war and to help Liberians grow in faith.
“Liberia needs healing from the civil war; there are lots of wounds that need to be healed. What we are coming with is to heal the wounds and thereafter to help our people grow in faith and make it practicable. The war you had in Liberia led the country to suffer. Many people have suffered the repercussion of that war and therefore we need this to heal the land,” Bishop Odhiambo stated.
The Independent Catholic Church of Liberia is a sister church to the Charismatic Catholic Church International of Kenya. They are founded by catholic scholars, who broke away from the traditional Roman Catholic Church.
Speaking on the breakaway, Bishop Odhiambo said the traditional Roman Catholic Church does not perform healing and deliverance as found in Mark 16:15.
“We allow the gifts of the Holy Spirit carry out the Great Commission that you find in Mark 16: 15. We allow the Holy Spirit to flow in the church; that’s the difference. They do not allow healing, they do not allow deliverance; we do those. We allow salvation and proclaim active salvation,” he disclosed.
For his part, Bishop Nimely Jarbokly Donyen said with God’s guidance, he will work harder than before to redeem the lost souls.
Bishop Donyen added that he will always seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in his endeavors to meet the many challenges ahead.
“I felt this was not something that God would have asked me to do. I felt I would have just remained where I was until I leave this world but today God has asked me to do something new for Him.”
He continued: “The opportunity will come, the responsibilities will reveal themselves, but I will work and ask God to guide us. I believe with the help of the Holy Spirit and in consultation with the Presiding Bishop and the College of Bishops, we will do our best. Whatever I do, I must weigh it over and over, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit before I do it.”
The clergyman noted that the ICCL has been in existence for a long time, promising to expand the institution to other parts of the country.
“The title itself has an impact; it has meaning. It has responsibilities and those are what I will do,” Bishop Donyen said.