Monrovia – In observance of its 63rd Armed Forces day celebration, the gallant men and women of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) celebrated their thanksgiving service at the New Creation International Ministries Inc., located on the A.B. Tolbert Road in Paynesville.
The service, which was attended by senior and junior ranking soldiers, officials of the Ministry of National Defense, well-wishers and others was so spirited.
The congregants became even more deeply involved in the service and were shouting “amen” when Pastor Edward Morris began talking about the soldiers begging to get their salary, which is supposed to be rightfully theirs.
“For our army to even get their salary is difficult. Do they have to beg to be paid? You cannot treat the army badly. The army needs to take pay on time and be well taken care of, or else, how will they defend you? So I have come to provoke our government to remember our AFL and give them what belongs to them, because the Bible says give to God what is God’s and to Caesar what is Caesar’s. An army officer is a sacrificial lamb for Liberia. Today, most of the soldiers are complaining because they are not satisfied. If you sacrifice for God, God will satisfy you; therefore if you sacrifice for a nation, that nation should satisfy you,” he said.
Pastor Morris named Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria as African countries having powerful military forces.
“The reason these countries have powerful military, is because they have invested in their military. Just look at our neighboring countries, Guinea alone has a military of 45,000 men, Ivory Coast 22,000 men in the military, while Sierra Leone has over 13,000 men. If we need more people getting enlisted in the army, the government needs to re-strategize and have a huge budget for this army. In order for the government to be protected, safe and enjoy their wellbeing, the army first has to be taken care of. If you do not have security, it means you are powerless. You do not joke with security,” Pastor Morris warned.
Speaking from 1st Samuel 30:1-25, Pastor Morris said like David, the army needs God to protect it. Therefore it was important to thank God every year, because He deserves praises.
The thanksgiving service was held on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Responding to Pastor Morris’ sermon, Deputy Defense Minister for Administration, Tibli Olandrus Dickson said if it had not been for the AFL’s Commander in Chief, President George Weah, the AFL, would not have been where it is today.
“Despite the challenges, the government is doing everything to provide resources for our army to be effective to protect our country. This army is the most professional army; many of them who are here have [their] BSc’s and Master’s degrees; so they are highly educated. The new army is the people’s army; as part of our celebration, we did the cleaning up campaign on Saturday in Caldwell. Without the people this army does not exist and the existence of this army is for the protection of our country and its people. Therefore, our own job is to make sure that we do everything we can to make them and their families have a life worth living,” he said.
Earlier on Friday, the army worshipped with their Islamic brothers and sisters at the ELWA Central Mosque.
AFL Chief of Staff, Major Gen. Prince C. Johnson, who also attended the service, said they felt at home worshiping at the mosque.
Gen. Johnson further stated that in the days leading up their anniversary on February 11 every year, the army goes to the mosque so that the imams can also offer up prayers for everyone in the military, including the top leadership.