By Bill W. Cooper
The Zion Assembly of God Church through its ‘Relief Distribution Activities’ has extended its benevolence to scores of Liberians and institutions residing within Dixville and Caldwell respectively.
The 2023 Relief Distribution of the church which costs a little over of US$2,000, targeted 51 beneficiaries including 43 individuals and 8 local institutions as part of its Social Welfare initiative that seeks to identify with those in need in fulfillment of the Biblical Scripture.
Additionally, the recipients were mostly senior citizens, elderly people who are desperately in need as well as institutions who they believed continue to provide services for the growth and development of Liberia.
Items donated consist of 66 bags of 25kg rice, 23 cartons of food and non-food goods (vegetable oil, bathing soap, washing soap, and Detol), as the local police station and its depots in Caldwell and Dixville, the Commissioner’s office of the Township of Caldwell, and some local media (radio stations) in Caldwell also benefited.
With joy and excitement, one of the beneficiaries, Oldma Cecelia and her husband, thanked the Church and members for the donation of rice and other items which she said was indeed timely and appropriate.
An old lady only identified as Cecelia, with tears of joy streaming down her cheeks stated, “I don’t even know what to say but all I can say is I am so happy and thank God for the Church and the pastor for the things and I am so happy because things have not really been easy on me.”
She added that although this is not the first time for the Church to have identified with citizens of the community, she was also grateful to have been captured as one of the beneficiaries of the donation.
Also in remarks, the Station Manager of the Revelatory Radio (93.5), Radio- Romeo J. Sherman, the Zone 7-based Police Station in Caldwell Deputy Commander, Richard King and Zone 7, Depot 1 Inspector, Miatta K. Fahnbulleh all thanked the Church for the gesture.
“I am so impressed about this gesture and also thankful to God for the church, the pastors and members for recognizing the work that we do as law enforcement officers to ensure that this vicinity is safe and protected for all Liberians, be it residents or not,” Richard King stated.
“Again, we are very impressed and are calling on other churches and well-meaning Liberians to emulate the good example of the Zion Assembly of God Church to help put smile on the faces of Liberians amid the economic challenges we are all now faced with,” Deputy Commander, Richard King asserted.
For his part, the Lead Pastor of the Zion Assembly of God Church, Rev. Dr. Abenda F. Tamba said the gesture is his Church’s own way of sharing the blessings of God to mankind by sending his son Jesus Christ for the remittance of our sins.
Rev. Dr. Tamba added that God sent his son not only to save us from troubles, but to also bless us and that such blessings must be shared with others, noting, “It’s our way of sharing the blessings of God as well as buttressing government’s efforts aimed at identifying with the needy.”
According to him, this is not the first time the Church has identified with Liberians in need; instead, it is a normal routine and as such, they do their donation periodically across the Dixville and Caldwell belt.
He also named the provision of several scholarships to school-going children from both the Islamic and Christian backgrounds as areas in which the Church is also touching and changing the lives of Liberians.
Rev. Tamba then clarified that all monies used during the exercise were raised by the Church through offerings and pledges from its church-going members and not from politicians or government or any NGO.
He added that though they are open to accepting offers from any well-meaning Liberians to buttress the Church’s effort, such should be done void of politics or a way of seeking self-glorification.
The Zion Assembly of God is located at Dixville Junction, Coffee Farm, in the Township of Caldwell, Montserrado County. Founded in April of 1988, the Church has since been involved in giving out to society not only spiritually but meeting the social needs of the needy within and out of the Church.
All past and current efforts are made possible through the generous contributions from the Church, being championed by its vision bearer, Rev. Dr. Abenda F. Tamba, the Lead Pastor who currently serves as the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Liberia, Inc.
Meanwhile, the distribution process which commenced on Friday, March 17, 2023 with surrounding communities and institutions in Louisiana, Caldwell and Dixville, was climaxed on Sunday, March 19, 2023 with presentation of relief items to the elderly and widows of the Zion Assembly of God Church, Coffee Farm, Caldwell.
