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LIBERIAN MINISTERS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA

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HISTORY OF THE LIBERIAN MINISTERS ASSOCIATIONS OF GEORGIA

By Rev. William BGK Harris – October 5, 2011

During the early eighties, many students from Liberia, West Africa were at the Gammon Theological Seminary located in Atlanta, Georgia and also that others local schools and other ministries.  A few of the students/ministers included Rev. Jacob Katweh, Rev. Momo Kpann, Rev. Anna Kpana, Rev. Cornelius Minor, Rev. Nathan Junius, Elizabeth Anderson, Octovus Gaba, Julius Nelson, Rev. Solomon Gueh,  Rev. William T. Diggs, Rev. Wiliam B. Harris, Rev. Richard Armstrong, Rev. William Sherman and others not named.  Under the leadership of Rev. William B. Harris who expressed the need for the ministers to organize and offer support to one another as well as offer ministerial support to the then Liberian Student Association (now LAMA), the Liberian Ministers Association  (LMA) was organized with Rev. William B. Harris serving as its president in 1982. The LMA was very active in the Liberian Community hosting special worship services at Fort Street United Methodist Church on Boulevard in Atlanta, Georgia. At that time, the Liberian population was growing rapidly and various pastoral support services were rendered  by the ministers. The LMA continued to serve but many of the original members returned to Liberia and there were difficulties in getting the full cooperation of ministers. For a long period of time, the LMA was inactive as a group until about 2003 when the newly elected president of LAMA, (Deacon Armaso Bawn)  hosted a meeting with Liberian ministers for the purpose of reorganizing  the group. Rev. William BGK Harris was appointed by the ministers to serve as interim president. The LMA continued to offer pastoral support to LAMA and the Liberian Community by conducting wakes, funerals and hosting various worship services quarterly, July 26 services, Thanksgiving services,  and various fellowship breakfast meetings. The membership started to grow and Minister Laura Mae Gabbidon was appointed as Coordinator and she kept the ministers posted on upcoming and various activities of LMA.  The ministers met with Bishop Authur F. Kulah on May 27, 2007 who updated the group on many issues of Liberia including the TRC. Under the leadership of Rev. Yarkasah Peter Paye, the appointed Constitution Committee generated a constitution that was adopted on December 27, 2008 with the new name: Liberian Ministers Association of Georgia, Inc. (LMAG). An Election Committee was appointed that included Minister Anita Paye, Elder Salifu Kamara, and Rev. Alphonso Davis who conducted an election at Rev. James Daykah’s Church (New Life Christian Fellowship, Intl) located in Lawrenceville on January 25, 2009. At that election, Rev. William T. Diggs was elected as president, Rev. James Daykah as VP, Rev. Dr. Peter Nehsahn was elected as secretary and other official including three Board members (Rev. William BGK Harris, Rev. Jerry Alladin, and Rev. Aletha Mallory). Under the leadership of Rev. Diggs who was installed on February 2009 at Vision of Faith UM Church in Tucker, GA, LMAG continued to render various pastoral support to the Liberian Community and LAMA with Rev. Clifford Hooke serving as General Secretary. Elections were held on June 26, 2011 under the leadership of Rev. James Daykah and others. At that election, Rev. Clifford Hooke was elected as president along with other officers and five board members (Rev. William T. Diggs (chair), Rev. Peter Nehsahn, Bishop Percy Mulbah, Min. Anita Paye and Rev. William BGK Harris). The date for installation was set for October 8, 2011 to be held at the Sunrise Baptist Church of Lawrenceville., GA. At the time of this historical documentary, there are about sixteen churches in the Metro-Atlanta that pastured by Liberian ministers. The membership roll of LMAG has over fifty ministers listed.

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