"We are Making History Again"

We are Making History Again

For some time now, two Liberian congregations, the Joy World Mission and the Christ Universal Ministries, in the Twin cities have been working together to merge as one congregation.

The two congregations have been holding joint worship services, prayers, fasting, meetings and discussion on the possibility of a merger. The efforts have led to the signing to a memorandum of understanding on March 7, 2009 and a merger Resolution on October 27, 2009. In response to progress made thus far as well as the celebration of Joy World Mission's 23rd anniversary, Rev. Samuel E. Vansiea, pastor of the Joy Mission Church issued the following statesment:, We are Making History Again." Here is the fill text:

We are Making History Again

October 4, 2009
By Rev. Samuel E. Vansiea

When I was a kid in Liberia I remember we used to form the largest crowd in front of the only television set in our section of Capitol Hill when it was time for the science fiction series Star Trek. The introduction of the shows went something like this, “Space... the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

People make history when they take steps and risks that others hesitate to take. In 1986 Joy World Mission Church, under the leadership of Rev. Lee K. Anderson, made history when it became the first Liberian congregation established in the state of Minnesota. In the 1980s when the political landscape in Liberia became turbulent, Liberians fled to the United States and their population in Minnesota began to rise. They were spread out like sheep without shepherd and rivers without banks.

As during the early days of Africa emancipated men and women created the nation Liberia as a lighthouse to guide colonized countries to the shores of freedom, dignity and statehood, so in 1986, few men and women, emancipated from sin by the Lord Jesus Christ felt called to erect a monument of their faith in God, Joy World Mission Church, as a beacon of faith, hope and dignity for a young and growing immigrant population. It became a lighthouse that guided almost all Liberian faith and political institutions that will later be established in the state.

Through its twenty-three years, the church experienced its shares of trials and tribulations. Nonetheless, it refused to be defined by its troubles, but rather stood true to its creed and destiny—service to God and unity of brotherhood. We are about to make history again. This 23rd anniversary is presumed to be our last anniversary under the name Joy World Mission Church. In few months we will do what, to the best of my knowledge, no Liberian churches have done before. By January 2010 we will demonstrate another pivotal historical act when we merge with Christ Universal Ministries in North East Minneapolis. We, Joy World Mission Church and Christ Universal Ministries, will become “Joy World Universal Church.”

With this merger we are not only making history, we are affirming our destiny and expanding our territory. We are seizing the opportunity of leadership God has extended to us. With this merger we are demonstrating that we are mature and strong and that our faith in God is stronger than our fears and apprehensions. We are showing a new way and a new light that will bring vibrancy to our faith institutions.

This new history, the merger, is a blessing of God toward us. It is a promotion to be celebrated. It shows that God is pleased to take us to a higher level. I encourage all members, past and present, and friends of Joy World Mission Church and Christ Universal Ministries to support this new endeavor. Pray for us as we seek to do God’s will.