Africa Young Voices (AYV) » Religion

Elder Man claims to be Founder of Latter Day Saints

Editor — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:36:48 +0000

Mr. Bai Sama Sankoh,

By Umarr Sesay

An elder man who claimed to be the one who brought The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to Sierra Leone in the mid 80s has lashed out at the current leadership for failure to accord him due recognition.

Mr. Bai Sama Sankoh told AYV in an exclusive interview that he joined the church when he traveled to Spain in 1986 and he opened the mission in Sierra Leone on his return.

“I want the world to know about my historical adventure regarding the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Sierra Leone, for which I deserve acknowledgement,” he said.

In Barcelona, Spain, in 1986 with members of Latter Day Saints

However, he said he has only few facts as all related correspondences were destroyed during the war.

“I want the church in South Lake City in Uttar to check their archives for copies of correspondences,” Mr. Sankoh said.

First Latter Day Saint missionaries who visited Sierra Leone in 1988 with Bai Sama at Mammy Yoko Hotel

He continued: “I went to Spain in Barcelona in 1986 and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In the same year I was introduced to certain dignitaries in the church by one Mr. Alfred Kargbo, my guardian. In the church was an international basketball player, an American by nationality, in the person of Stiff Thrombo. I had many friends- Americans, Spanish, Philippines, Gambians, Germans, and more.

“They were all my friends because of my dedication to church activities including evangelism.”

Mr. Sankoh explained that he was on the verge of being sent out on a mission with two Americans when unfortunately his father died in Sierra Leone.

“My coming home was inevitable; when I told the congregation about my predicament they were shocked,” he said.

He said the church was prepared to send him home with one missionary to accompany him with return air tickets.

“I told them to save cost. I was prepared to come alone, they really wanted to offer me return ticket, but I told them one way was okay; and I will buy my ticket to come back after the funeral ceremony,” he narrated.

He said when he arrived in Sierra Leone in 1987 he found out that the Latter Day Saints mission was not in the country.

“I brought with me prayer books like the Books of the Mormons, Doctrine and Covenant, Pearl of Great Price… I started to pray alone and abided by the Rules and Regulations of the church.

“After some time I started telling people about the church. The missionaries in Barcelona were asking me to be giving them testimonies after serious evangelism throughout the length and breadth of Sierra Leone. I decided to establish the headquarter of The Church of Latter Day Saints at No.15 Kabia Street in Lunsar, Port Loko District, and the address of the office in Freetown was at No. 36 Liverpool Street,” said Mr. Sankoh.

Furthermore, he said in two months the church’s membership grew to 50. He said he was sending correspondences to Barcelona and they in turn were forwarding them to South Lake City in Uttar. He said he started receiving letters regularly from the Quorum of Twelve Disciples in South Lake City in Uttar.

“After six months I received a letter from Uttar asking me about my membership, which had grown to about 150 members. They promised to send two missionaries to come and investigate and do some findings,” he said.

He said the missionaries arrived in 1987 and were accommodated at the Mammy Yoko Hotel.

“I took them to my house at Rokupa, which I converted to a church to hold services. They were really impressed with the membership they saw. They told me not to waste time but to take them to any prominent Christian lawyer. I took them to lawyer Robbin Caulker, who opted to be the church’s lawyer. After two days religious matter, a certificate was issued to us in 1988 legitimizing our operation as a religious entity. The missionaries left the next day. All my activities before and during the visit of the missionaries convinced them that they have successfully, through me, opened a church in this part of the world,” said Mr. Sankoh.

He said on their return back home in Barcelona, he received a letter from South Lake City assuring him of support for establishing the church and that they would be sending two couples and that one of them was to be the President for Africa.

However, he said by the time the two couples arrived in Sierra Leone he was in Germany on personal business.

“They were taken to a very expensive house, addressed No. 1 Lower Pipe Line… When I arrived home from Germany, people told me that the missionaries were here looking for me; we all tried to locate them… When finally they saw me it was a very emotional scene. They confessed to me that they felt like being in heaven. Two days later, I took them to the Minister of Social and Religious Affairs who was my cousin, Alhaji Musa Kabia, of blessed memory. He took the onus of changing the certificate because he said the first one was a business certificate. I took the said certificate to our lawyer Robbin Caulker who put all the church documents in place, and the Minister and myself took them to the vice president then,” recalled Mr. Sankoh.

The two couples that arrived, according to Mr. Sankoh, were Elder Whaite and wife, and Elder Fisher and wife.

He said after one week, the Minister threw a welcome party for them in Lunsar the Headquarter then. He said there were more than 500 hundred members and four 55-seater buses were hired.

“It was really an historic event in Lunsar as the people were really happy to accept the church,” he said.

He said after about one month, he talked to his brother Mr. Sidique Dao, who was the Manager of Sierra Leone Housing Corporation to rent me a villa at the OAU Village because the house they were living was very expensive. He said he was given Villa 27 at the OAU Village where the two couples were transferred to later.

Mr. Sankoh said he was baptized in Spain and received the Melchizedek Priesthood by Elder Whaite in Sierra Leone Freetown.

He said the first church was at Lower Pipeline, the second at Goderich, and the third at Wellington.

“I did not baptize nor ordained but was involved in preaching the word of God and telling people about the church until when the two couples arrived and I was ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood. I then started to baptize at the river Lumley, Beach Road,” he said.

He continued: “As the church grew, we later started having calling for our members to occupy big positions. For example, the first appointed President for Goderich Branch was President George. After a period of six months I was given a temple recommendation card by President George, President Sylvester and many others.

“President George later went to London where he died and President Sylvester went to the Temple in South Africa; when he returned later he died. When the church started growing with more membership the other churches grew jealous and started threatening my life. Elder Whaite was about to send me out on a mission but wanted me to be by his side; the process was rather slow which made me grew impatience.

“I later left for London but by the time I came back Elder Whaite had left Sierra Leone and a new Elder took over the church; they did not know me. I then made copies of the correspondences, the history of the church and all my certificates and handed them over to the new Elder, because I was dissatisfied with the new Sierra Leone membership in the church,” said Mr. Sankoh.

He said after going through his documents and heard about all he had done for the church, the new Elders called him to join them but he told them emphatically that he would only take part or join them if he was sent out as a missionary elsewhere.

“Whilst they were preparing to send me out on a mission, I left the country for Europe,” said Mr. Sankoh.

Pentecostal Fellowship Condemns ‘Sister’ Linda’s Prophecy

Editor — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:20:56 +0000

By Mustapha Kamara

For the past weeks in Sierra Leone, the Christian community has been seriously disturbed by a prophecy made by a so-called ‘Sister’ Linda Ngaojia who claimed she died, went to hell and heaven, and was sent back to earth by the Lord Jesus Christ to deliver a message of deliverance to Sierra Leoneans in particular and the world in general.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Sierra Leone, which comprises of different Pentecostal churches in the country, has condemned the revelation and considered it to be false and misleading. The condemnation was made yesterday in a press conference that was held at the Bethel World Outreach Ministry, Circular Road in Freetown.

Speaking on the purpose of the press conference, the General Secretary of the Fellowship, Apostle Akintayo Sam-Jolly, said they as pastors were called to serve as custodian of the truth and to ensure integrity and accuracy of the Gospel. Therefore, he said the Pentecostal Fellowship of Sierra Leone decided to address the recent ‘Sister’ Linda Testimony, which was causing confusion in the minds of Sierra Leoneans.

Apostle Sam-Jolly said the revelation was misinterpreting God’s word and was also promoting confusion, destruction and also has the potential to undermine the peace of the nation.

Also speaking at the press conference, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship and General Overseer of the New Life Ministry, Bishop Archibald Cole, condemned the entire revelation. He said credible leaders of the Body of Christ in Sierra Leone have analytically examined ‘Sister’ Linda’s revelation and have observed that it was false and was not in line with the word of God. As Leaders of the Body of Christ, he said, they considered it their responsibility to judge every revelation by the standards of the written words of God.

Bishop Cole said according to Biblical Doctrine, divine revelation has been completed in the 66 books of the Holy Bible and therefore any revelation made by anybody whether dead or alive must be tested by the divine revelation of the word of God; and that if the revelation was not in conformity with the word of God it would obviously be declared as a false revelation.

Furthermore Bishop Cole said the revelation was misleading and has the capacity to create confusion and bring division in the Body of Christ. He said ‘Sister’ Linda made unsatisfactory statements about Catholic churches in her revelation. He said with such an alarming revelation, there was the possibility that some Catholics would think that the ideology was coming from Pentecostal Churches because the revelation was somehow in favor of the latter.

Moreover, Bishop Cole emphasized that after they have examined the revelation they came to the conclusion that it has the potential to undermine the religious tolerance for which Sierra Leone was popularly known in the world. He said ‘Sister’ Linda’s testimony that former president of Libya, Muammar Al-Gadifi, told her that Muslims should destroy mosques that he had built in different parts of the world before he died, was inflammatory and, above all, has the potential to undermine the religious tolerance and peace in the country.

Meanwhile, the Body of Christ promised that they would secure the peace and prosperity that God has given to the great nation of Sierra Leone.

‘Sister’ Linda’s testimony claimed that there were only three upright Pastors in the Body of Christ in Sierra Leone, including Pastor Mambu of the Faith Healing Church where she delivered her testimony. The other two pastors include Pastor Ezekiel Baimba of Holiness Ministries in Sierra Leone and Pastor Emeka Moses in Nigeria. She said Christ told her that all the other Pastors have changed His word for material gains.

‘Sister’ Linda, who claimed to be a student of LICSAL College at Wilberforce Village, said Christ has resolved to henceforth use people outside the Church, such as prostitutes, to spread His Gospel since the current crop of pastors and reverends and the like have failed Him.

Her testimony has suddenly become popular and is now being passed on from one mobile phone to another.

For Better or Worse … Blind Man weds Physically Challenged

Editor — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:23:08 +0000

By Dominic J. J. Tucker (J-TELL CRITIC)

For those of you who think disability is inability, here is some news for you: a blind man and a physically challenged woman have been happily united as one before God and man.

It was a memorable day for Issa Kabia and Yeabu Sankoh as they tied the knot on Saturday 16^th March 2013 at the Way of Truth Evangelical Ministries Church at 6P May Street, Kingtom, Freetown, at 12pm to become Mr. and Mrs. Kabia.

The well-attended marriage ceremony can be likened to the talk-of-the-town wedding of the popular midget, Maseray, a couple of years ago, as it was well designed to showcase another couple of the century. Throngs of well wishers and onlookers stormed the already jam-packed church to witness the ceremony.

After the church service, the couple were driven in a black jeep around town and stood through the roof waving to onlookers.

According to officiating clergy and head of the Way of Truth Evangelical Ministries, Rev. Samuel Sankoh, Issa and Yeabu have been in courtship for over three years and they have been blessed with a year and month-old baby boy.

Rev. Sankoh said even though the two were physically challenged, he believed they would make a peaceful home as they have been blessed by the Church. He described Mr. Issa Kabia as totally blind. However, he said Issa was not born blind, but encountered the condition due to a prolong illness. Similarly, he described Yeabu as a beautiful woman that has problem with her speech; her left hand is inactive; and couldn’t walk like a normal person. In spite of her disadvantages, he said Yeabu had given birth to a bouncing baby boy and has finally got married.

According to Rev. Sankoh the couple were street beggars before they became members of his church. He pleaded with the public that as the Church has united the two as one before God and man, the next thing now was how best to sustain the home. He said if anyone wanted to help the newly wedded couple they could do so through the Way of Truth Evangelical Ministries.

Rev. Sankoh further described the marriage ceremony as a way to show the world that Sierra Leone was a unique country where tolerance and respect for humanity is supreme.

Ferensola on reunion drive

Editor — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:39:29 +0000

By Fasalie S. Kamara

Ferensola, an ancient Koranko ethnic group organization, on Sunday 17^th March met with all Korankos living in the Western Area of Freetown at No. 1 Guma Drive Off Spur Road Wilberforce to reconcile after prolong division due to national politics.

The meeting attracted elders of the Koranka Ethnic group.

Speaking at the forum, the Chairman of Ferensola, Rtd Maj General M.S. Tarawally, urged all Korankos to come together ‘as the fourth largest ethnic group in Sierra Leone’. He said their grand fathers fought for Sierra Leone and recounted the days of the ‘Tamaboros’ in the 1990s.

“Revamping Ferensola is once again another memorable day in my life,” said Rtd Maj Tarawally. “If we come together it is for our collective good.”

The Koranka Tribal Head in the Western Area, Chief Kurisi Marah, assured every Koranko that total peace has come to Ferensola hence the entire Koranko in Sierra Leone. “We are all equal, nobody should feel discriminated,” he said, and called on every member including elders to come together in the name of unity.

Hon. Member of Parliament for Constituency 112 Sheku Sana (Amine), a Koranko by tribe, said that they have lost a lot as a result of political infighting.

He said: “For too long we have been behind; let’s come together to go at the fore front.” He commended elders of Korankos for their support in becoming honourable Members of Parliament. He further said that he has broken new ground in becoming the first Koranko parliamentarian in Freetown.

Hon. Tunde Lewally boosts Limba Pentecostal Church

Editor — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:58:14 +0000

By Umarr Sesay

Hon. Alpha Babatunde Lewally of Constituency 104 has boosted Limba Pentecostal Church at Krojimmy in the Fourah Bay Community, Freetown with an undisclosed sum as a start for the church’s reconstruction project. The donation was made during a divine service last Sunday.

Addressing the congregation after the sermon by Reverend Mack Kamara, Hon. Lewally said he was proud to give thanks to the church because the church prayed to God for his successful second term bid to Parliament.

He praised the sermon delivered by Reverend Kamara on the theme: Your Past Should Not Determine your Future and encouraged the congregation to believe and practice the doctrine for a prosperous future.

He disclosed that the Agenda for Prosperity was poised to drive away poverty but needed the concerted efforts of all and sundry and encouraged the Limba Union to be firmly united in order to attract prosperity.

He showered praises on the Chairman of the Limba Union, Rtd. Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police, Brima Acha Kamara, whom he described as a credible man that was up to the task in promoting the Limbas to an enviable height in society as the Akutay Society had declined in value.

On his part, Chairman of the Limba Development Union, Mr. Brima Acha Kamara disclosed that disunity was among the Limbas, adding that that was the most appropriate time for the Limbas to benefit from the current administration since the late mother of the President was their Limba sister.

He went further to say that the Union was dtermined to empower Limbas through collaborative efforts and called on the Limbas to make use of the APC regime in power.

African Christian Foundation ground-breaking ceremony for construction of hospital

Editor — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:29:44 +0000

By George English

Pastor Samuel Wellington of Harvest Field Ministry, Freetown, has revealed that he got the vision to start a mission at Samuel Town in nearing fulfillment five years ago.

He told AYV that his vision to construct a church and to reduce constraints faced by children who travel 2 to 3 miles to school every day and to also construct a school within their vicinity plus the provision of water and sanitation facilities was also taking positive direction.

“As the saying goes health is wealth”, said the pastor Wellinton. He said he was in dire need of a hospital because sick people are constrained to travel to faraway places in search of medical assistance.

According to Pastor Wellington, the project was sponsored by a non-governmental organization called African Christian Foundation. He further stated that the project was going to be in 3 phases, a clinic which is going to be completed by December this year, added to a patient admission and nursing training school.

He also stated that the hospital would not only be for Samuel Town but for its environs and that it would be based on a low-cost basis. Talking about competency and professionalism in terms of staffing and delivery, Pastor Wellington said they were working directly with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation which is providing support in equipment and staffing.

In his statement, the Director of African Christian Foundation Southern Region, Brother Elijah Adooye said their coming to Sierra Leone is for a purpose and that by the grace of God, they shall accomplish that purpose. According to him, the cooperation of community members was poor at the beginning but that due to constant persuasion and prayers, they are now claiming grounds in Sierra Leone.

According to him, their organization is not only here to construct a hospital but to spiritually fill people. He also stated that they are in Samuel Town for the sake of the children because they want them to be problem solvers and solution thinkers, adding that as this generation is fading away, he wants the younger ones to be different and creative for the betterment of Sierra Leone. He encourages those present to use their God-given talents to put Sierra Leone on the map.

The village Headman, James Harding expressed his gratitude to God, ACF and Pastor Wellington for making a dream come true. He said Samuel Town has longed for a hospital for so many years, and thanked God that it was happening in his tenure as Headman.

According to him, the community population was approaching 1,000. He added that the construction of a hospital was timely as residents would no longer need to go all the way to Bangura Town or Waterloo for medical attention. The headman applied to the ACF to not only construct a hospital but to also help them with safe drinking water, electricity and good roads.

The ground-breaking ceremony was done by: Pastor Evangelist Samuel Wellington, Brother Elijah Adooye, Brother James Harding, Pa Joseph Roben, Pastor Mrs. Sylvia Wellington, Pastor Michael Davies, Military Chaplain Captain Aruna Bangura, Rev. Betty Sawie, Mr. Sorie Turay and Pastor Morlai Conteh.

Revival Temple Evangelistic Ministries celebrates 1st anniversary

Editor — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 10:43:52 +0000

The Revival Temple Evangelistic Ministries on Sunday 3^rd March 2013 officially launched the Ministry and held its first annual thanksgiving service at the residence of the General Overseer.

The thanksgiving and launching ceremony was graced by eminent Christian personalities and distinguished guests from all walks of life. According to the General Overseer of the Revival Temple Evangelistic Ministries, Rev. David Washington Chambers, in the year 2011, the church was born after he had an encounter with God. He told his audience that as he was praying one night, he heard a voice saying to him that he must be devoted, dedicated and committed to the work of God for the goodness of God to work in his favour, and henceforth he became more dedicated to the call.

Rev. David Washington Chambers added that prior to that he was working with the Church of Pentecost in 1997- and since then he has been helping other churches in various ways by providing land, supporting church building projects among others.

Delivering the anniversary message title “Behold I will do a new thing”….recorded from Isaiah 43:19, Rev. Chambers told his audience that since the inception of the Ministry new things have been happening in the Ministry, and that they have never been short of building materials for their building project. He admonished all present to trust in the Lord, and to ask of Him when in need.

The Revival Temple Evangelistic Ministries aims to reach out with the good news of Christ to the lost, and to establish the members with the infallible word of God. In addition the ministry will engage in activities /projects in order to advance the Kingdom of God, and extend caring hands to the needy and orphans in the society. Rev. David Washington Chambers said key among is to establish counseling department in the church so as to unearth the hidden problems of the congregation and provide them with hope, and to further build schools as an arm to improve education for the members of the church, especially for the children and youths.

Majid Nabawiya Mosque hails Usu Boie

Editor — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:53:21 +0000

Former Flag bearer aspirant of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party, Alhaji Usman Boie Kamara has joined Muslims at the Kaningo community to observe this week’s Friday Juma Prayers at the Majid Nabawiya Mosque Kaningo, Juba Hill.

Speaking at the mosque, the Chairman of the Jammat Hassan, Foday Dabboh, said as a community they felt very happy to be joined in prayers by Usman Boie Kamara who he went further to say has helped them out with a mosque which they never had for over 15 years. He said for the past years they never had the opportunity to pray together as one community people and that they were using their individual veranda’s to pray be it national Muslim holidays or not. However, he noted that when they contacted Usman Boie Kamara for support in having a mosque of their own, he supported them financially in getting one on the piece of land that they had long purchased.

Making a statement also, Alhaji Usman Boie Kamara, said he felt very good keeping up to his promise which was building a mosque for the Kaningo community at a time when they had none, adding that he did not do it to please anyone but for the blessings that would be bestowed on him by Allah. He said he would continue to help those in need with the little resources that he has got as he believed that in doing so he would receiving more.

Usman Boie Kamara said that he has not been helping those in need in the name of politics. He said those who were in position to help should always be giving out a helping hand in order to develop the country and improve the life of its citizens.

Sierra Leone makes history

Editor — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:38:31 +0000

By Mucktarr Tejan Cole

While the majority of Sierra Leoneans are still caught up in post-elections results trauma and euphoria, a small fraction of people who believe in the atonement of Christ and His restored Church on earth, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, on Sunday 2^nd December, 2012 at the Miatta Conference Centre, witnessed a historic day, a great day in heaven as the newest ‘Stake in Zion’ in all the world was created.

Presiding over this miraculous New Stake creation in Freetown was a member of the Quorum of Twelve, revelator and seer, Elder Jeffery R. Holland, who flew on chartered flight together with his wife and other top notch dignitaries from the Church’s headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States to specifically officiate this meritorious milestone of church history: to create the three thousandth stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sierra Leone.

Explaining the great significance of this for our beloved Sierra Leone and the Church, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, described a stake as “the most perfect ecclesiastical unit God has ever given to man.” He maintained that this was a historic day, a significant hour in the history of the church which only celebrates every thousandth stake. Elder Holland disclosed that the site for the one thousandth Stake was in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA, the two thousandth in Mexico, while the site for the creation of the three thousandth was Sierra Leone, the newest Stake in the history of the Latter-Day Saints Church. He spoke glowingly of the blessings God is poised to rain down on Sierra Leoneans from now on moving forward.

In his concluding remarks, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland told the rapt congregation, comprising church members, investigators, visitors and journalists alike that the new Sierra Leone Stake is strong in numbers, strong in faith and strong in missionary work. He reiterated his conviction that the gospel of God was planted, rooted and driven to the ground in the blessed land of Sierra Leone.

Speaking of the new church officials that had just been called by the Church Leadership and sustained by the congregation, to serve and lead the new Stake, the man of God said they were chosen purely by divine revelation alone. Elder Holland revealed that Latter-Day Saints do not seek for office; rather “we all take turns to do what we are called to do. We are all equal in the church,” he concluded. He said that was one of the miracles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Also, Elder Holland took time to explain while rounding off that the main purpose of a stake is to unify and perfect the members who live within a specific geographical boundary by extending to them the church programs, the ordinances, and gospel instructions. Members of stakes are to be models, or standards, of righteousness. The living prophet of God stressed that stakes are to be a defense, a refuge from the storm to be poured out over the earth.

OIC Hails Sierra Leone Elections

Editor — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 14:44:08 +0000

By Alhaji M.B Jalloh

(Information Attaché, Saudi Arabia reports from Bo)

The Secretary General of the Saudi based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has joined other international organizations to express his satisfaction with the overall conduct of the just concluded elections in Sierra Leone.

In a press statement issued last night, H.E Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, extended his congratulations to Sierra Leoneans for “showing their keenness to foster national unity and interest in the protection of democracy in their country.” The Turkish – born diplomat also expressed his appreciation to the authorities for their “organized approach in conducting the elections.”

Upon an invitation from the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone, a delegation of Observers from the OIC General Secretariat took part in monitoring the just concluded Presidential, Parliamentary, and District Council elections.

On the Election Day, the statement adds, members of the delegation undertook extensive field visits to various polling centers throughout major districts of the country and the capital, Freetown, and monitored all stages of the voting.

The OIC also said their observers “took note of the massive turnout of the voters who cast their votes in a calm and disciplined atmosphere.”

The OIC is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations which has membership of 57 states spread over four continents.

Other International observers have also hailed the entire process. ”Sierra Leone’s elections were generally well conducted, saw a large turnout, and will help consolidate democracy in the West African state,” European and U.S. observers told a news conference Monday.

“We describe this election as being well-conducted … a contribution to democratic consolidation,” EU chief observer Richard Howitt told reporters in Freetown on the same Monday.

“The process was conducted with a high degree of transparency … I was extremely impressed,” the Carter Center’s mission chief, former Zambian President Rupiah Banda, also said.