Monrovia – The Bethel Cathedral of Hope Church has described as frightening and mystifying the mysterious death of one of its loyal worshippers, Mr. Matthew Janjay Innis, who until his untimely death served as Deputy Director for Micro-finance in the CBL Regulation and Supervision Department at the Central Bank of Liberia.
The church’s statement comes just days after the family of the late Mr. Innis express difficulties in believing the initial story surrounding their relative’s death, which is alleged to have occurred on Sunday, March 3, morning along the 72nd Boulevard Road.
We call on all members of Bethel in Liberia, those around the world and all members of the Body of Christ to remain calm as we demand answers to our many questions. In conclusion, we ask for a swift and speedy investigation by the GoL to enable us understand fully the situations surrounding Brother Innis’ mysterious demise.
The Bethel Cathedral of Hope Church
The family members at his home are of the conviction that he did not die of a “hit-and-run” accident as being widely speculated in the public.
In a statement Friday, the church joined the family in expressing similar concerns.
Below is the full text of the Church’s statement
On Sunday the 3rd of March 2019, we awoke to the shocking news of the sudden death of brother Matthew Innis. Brother Innis was a very devout and dedicated member of the Bethel World Outreach Ministries International, with active membership at Bethel Cathedral of Hope Tubman Boulevard, Congo Town, Monrovia.
Circumstances surrounding his death are mysterious, frightening, and mystifying.
This has left more questions in the minds of thousands of members of the Bethel World Outreach Ministries International, both at the local church and other churches around Liberia and other parts of the world. Article V, Section 5.14 of the Constitution and by-laws of the Bethel World Outreach International, titled Tenants of Faith, states thus – “We believe in the sanctity of human life, which begins at conception and should be preserved and protected in accordance with the Holy Scripture (Jer. 1:5; Ps. 139:13-16).” We were told by the family that Brother Innis left his house on Saturday morning (2nd March 2019) for work at the Central Bank of Liberia.
They did not hear from him the entire day, but were sadly informed early Sunday morning, by some community dwellers, that Brother Innis was hit by an unknown vehicle at about 2 AM on the SKD Boulevard. According to family sources, before they got to the scene, the body had been removed and driven to the ELWA hospital by the Liberia National Police.
Family members followed them to the hospital, and upon arrival, they were informed that personnel of the ELWA hospital had examined Brother Innis and pronounced him dead on arrival (DOA).
The Bethel Cathedral of Hope family, under the leadership of Bishop Dr. M Wolo Belleh, Diocesan Bishop, and with the approval of His Eminence Bishop Dr. Darlingston G. Johnson, Presiding Bishop of the Bethel World Outreach Ministries International, are calling on the Government of Liberia to investigate, without delay, this matter concerning the gruesome death of Brother Matthew Innis.
We also call on the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) to ensure that the death of Brother Innis is fully and timely investigated. Brother Innis was an employee of the CBL for over fifteen years; he rose through its ranks to the position of Deputy Director for Supervision and Regulations. employed at the
There are questions which still linger in our minds as Bethelites which we request answers from those concerned to as follows:
- Who informed the police of the accident, and at what time?
- Who were the police officer(s) who were first responders to the accident scene?
- How did the police get to the accident scene and why was Brother Matthew’s car used to take him to the ELWA hospital, instead of an ambulance or some other emergency vehicle?
- Is there a hand-over report or accident report at the local Depot in the 72nd area where the Police came from that catalogued the incident?
- Why did the police not wait for member(s) of the family before removing Brother Innis’ body from the hospital to the funeral home?
- Are there any fracture(s) on the body?
- Was Brother Innis alive when the police got on the “accident” scene?
- Has the Liberia National Police (LNP) made any arrest of the driver that allegedly “hit” him or did anyone identify the vehicle that “hit” him? We were informed that the phone used by Brother Innis was returned to the family by the Liberia National Police and was positioned at factory mode –meaning, calls made and received by Brother Innis might have been deleted.
We are therefore asking the Government of Liberia (GoL) to subpoena his call records from his service provider(s) covering Friday, 1 st March 2019 to the time of his death and to investigate all calls made and received by Bro. Innis. Members of Bethel Liberia, the International Office of the Bethel World Outreach Ministries International and in particular, the Bethel Cathedral of Hope family “demand immediate answers” to these troubling questions and more, to lessen the emotional and psychological trauma that we are going through because of this strange death of our member and brother in the Lord.
Our prayers are with his wife, children and other members of the family and that God will continue to be their strength and peace as they go through this traumatizing period in the family’s existence.
These are difficult and trying times for us, as a Church. We want to appreciate members of the Christian community and religious groupings who have stood with us and continue to do so during these dark days.
We call on all members of Bethel in Liberia, those around the world and all members of the Body of Christ to remain calm as we demand answers to our many questions. In conclusion, we ask for a swift and speedy investigation by the GoL to enable us understand fully the situations surrounding Brother Innis’ mysterious demise. Thanks, and God bless the Republic of Liberia.