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Indeed preoccupied in recent days by productive activities contributive to the cross-fertilization of democratic ideals in Liberia, it was quite unfortunate that in the last two decades that I have not been privileged to attend a gospel crusade or revival, German American Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke has been visiting the country with feedbacks from attendants pointing to the possession of demonic spirits by some who were overtaken by the Holy Spirit, thus making them to openly confess before a record congregation.
Well, sorry to have not been there in experiencing the spiritual touch, or to have simply shouted Guthen tag to Evangelist Bonnke, at least as reminder of having visited the Federal Republic of Germany in 1983 on an Economic Development Seminar and experiencing the lives of its wonderful people, along with a senior editor, Mr. Mike T. James who now works as a film producer. Simply a reflection and not necessarily expounding upon what the ‘man of God’ had accomplished during the crusade, at least those blessed resembled the since-destroyed Berlin Wall of those years, when those coming from the West to the East had to go through “Checkpoint Charlie.” Although literature from the then West could not be permitted through the checkpoint to the East, but was permitted from the latter to the former, thank God that the German people have since begun breathing sigh of relief and moving fast ahead in terms of economic development. Oh! Did I forget to mention our first meeting with then unionist Helmut Kohl at GMBH Austellung, or how we were well received in the cities of Berlin, Stuttgart, Bonn, Cologne, Aachen and Frankfurt, having also toured the Black Forest in Baden-Baden Wurttemberg? Well, this is true history, readers, simply to prove that time has been far spent in taking risks for the Liberian nation, especially years when many dared and I am not good at narrating any history about Corporal Adolf Hitler. God however remaining omnipotent, His proven activities in the lives of mankind devoted to His service can indeed change even a nation, just as demonstrated during the past civil crisis in Liberia when many thought changes would not have been brought about. Whilst many stood afar, with the feeble and under-privileged left to feel every pinch, truly characterized by wizards and demons, even up to what was described by Liberians as the “Third World War,” with many remaining totally blind-folded out of little or no faith, this could be the last time cautioning citizens to beware of new cultures that have begun polluting the lives of individual citizens who have quickly forgotten about remaining reverent and are now following things of the world out of lusts of the eyes and flesh. Perhaps now hoping that Mr. Shakarian of the Full Gospel Men’s Fellowship International that was begun during the 1980s, with Mr. Momolu V. Sackor Sirleaf, publisher of the Footprints Today newspaper and Magazine, who later became Minister of Foreign Affairs overly involved, would pay similar visit to Liberia to attract men and women in particularly the business world, more changes in the lives of citizens would come about. Why only Mr. Shakarian or the FGMBFI, some may ask. Simply put, because our little kids are at very serious risks from the kinds of post-crisis businesses been imported, injected with tricks and artifices, some of which are deadly alien to the cultural way of life. Yet we sit and pretend not to accept the fact but argue that this nation was founded on Christian principle? Liberia’s ‘Berlin Wall’ has since been demolished with assistance of regional countries and other international partners. Can’t Liberians not now learn to look at things from a more spiritual point and save it from pollution, whether social, economic, political, cultural or religious? A traditional Liberian from few of the sub-divisions, at this point of the national life, would simply want to say: “Yor-yor; Zena Yor-yor! Misunderstood by those attempting to turn Liberia into another Hell Upside Down, these are the little things that matter in telling the God-given truth and not facts. |
