By Augustus Toomey

It was "praise the Lord," "bless the lord," "The Lord is great," "Alleluia," "Amen," as the Ebenezer Community Church in Minnesota commemorates its 1th Anniversary celebration with the ordination of several individuals and ministers of the church.

"To God be the glory, for great things he has done," is the thought that comes to mine as one reflects on the ministry which started in 2000 which is just like yesterday and today, there is a big celebration. It was thanksgiving to the Almighty for sustaining this ministry as they labor in the Master’s vine yard.

The service which was held at the Park High school location of the Ebenezer Community Church in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota brought a number of clergy and prelate from various churches and religious institution in and around Minnesota and across the United States. Indeed the Holy Spirit was in this place and on fire! You could feel the power of the Lord moving in many hearts.

Like the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, so was it as the ordination, licensing, and installation ceremonies were being conducted. Among those ordained during the service were Etta Gbeizon-Bornor, Marlene Nah, Kimma Redd, Emmanuel Sackie, Eliza Smythe, Eliza Snoh, Sarah Swen, Betty Toe and Richard Toweh as deacons and deaconesses; Clarence Bernard, Timothy Gbehan and Eugenia Lanford were licensed as Gospel Ministers or Licentiates. Frederick Nah, Daba Francis Hoff and Philip Sieh were installed as members of the Board of Trustees.

The highlight of the ceremonies was the ordination of Daniel K. G. B. Goba, Sr as a Minister of the Gospel which was conducted by Rev. Francis Talba, Rev. Tar-U-Way Bright, Rev. Josef Howard and other visiting ministers. The new minister was charged and encouraged to" preach the gospel," "…correct," "…be prepared," "…rebuke" and "…exhort."

The sermon was delivered by Reverend. Dr. Tar-U-Way Bright, Executive Pastor of the Turner Chapel AME Church in Marietta, Georgia. Speaking on the theme, "It’s time to De-stuff and Rise in God’s Light," Reverend Bright says God calls ordinary people and equips and prepares them and send them out to do his will. He urged all Christians to not only listen to the call, but answer it and go about doing the will of the Lord. He emphasized that when the Lord calls you, He equips, prepares and leads you.

Reverend Dr. Bright is a proud native of Liberia, West Africa. He is the son of The Reverend Canon J. Jellico Bright (a retired Episcopal Priest) and Mrs. Eliatha K. Bright. Reverend Bright attended the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary where he received a Bachelor of Theology Degree with honors. In 2001, he graduated with honors and awards with a Master of Divinity in Theology and Homiletics from the Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2008, he received his Doctor of Ministry Degree also with honors from the ITC in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reverend Dr. Bright is married to the beautiful Mrs. Retta Sugarpea Bright and they are the proud parents of Tar-U-Way Jr. and lovely, TaRetta Melody.

According to Reverend Francis Tabla the vision to plant a church came about when he & Sis. Tabla were asking God whether or not to immediately return to Liberia following completion of his graduate studies at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University.　He said when it became clear that the family would not return immediately to Liberia due to civil war, God impressed upon them the need to reach Liberians in the United States of America with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The family then conducted surveys in Atlanta, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Philadelphia, Rhode Island and Virginia respectively.　 As the burden intensified, they began sharing the vision with churches (including First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia) and friends, including Rev. Courage Kai and family, who were residing in Rhode Island; Pastor & Sis. Augustus Marsh, who reside in Minnesota and Pastor and Sis. Jerome Sackor who reside in Philadelphia.

The Ebenezer Community Church was founded in 2000 in Minnesota and has since being a place of refuge and strength of the community. The church is currently on the verge of constructing its edifice in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. In 2003 the church identified 4.3 acres of land and is in the process of obtaining for the construction work to begin. The membership of Ebenezer now stands at 250, excluding a children's church with about 85 children