Tuesday, February 16, 2010 

Dear Friends,

I pray this message finds all of you well.

I write to you as one of you - a minister of Christ, a fellow United Methodist, and a Liberian.  As one of you, we had memorable times.  Our relationship goes back, with many, to Gbarnga, before GST went to Monrovia and then returned.  Our shared ministries were nurtured in the cool mornings of Gbarnga where the dew playfully lingered near the ground until the sun smiled and sent the message, it was okay for the mist to return to its source. 

I could point out time and more times of how we became connected.  I am proud to say the radio station, the university, and the department of communications are results of the power Jesus Christ allowed us to exercise.  We did everything we could to advance the Church of Christ.  I am thrilled to have been a part of those projects and more.

The more pressing matter at hand has to do with our Church, the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.  I write to appeal to you to pursue reconciliation with Bishop John Innis.  When Bishop Innis was elected, I knew he was the one God had for us because the Conference had prayed incessantly for a leader.  Our prayer warriors from Cape Mount to Cape Palmas interceded and petitioned God for a leader.  Are we saying our prayers were not answered?

I know the pain I felt during the tenure of our last Bishop, Rev. Dr. Arthur F. Kulah when the Concern Methodists, mainly a different group, I’m sure, made the episcopacy of Bishop Arthur F. Kulah quite difficult.  During those years, I sided with the Church because I remember reading from the book of Acts, chapter 5: 33-39 when Gamaliel counseled his peers who were attacking the apostles to desist and “Leave them alone!” If they kept on fighting, Gamaliel told them, “You could find yourselves fighting against God.”

You all have visions for the LAC/UMC.  Is it not possible for your visions and my vision to be implemented through the bishop God has given us?  Bishop John Innis is a good man.  I have resumed working closely with him and I thank God for renewing our friendship.  I pray my friendship with all of you will continue.  You matter to me and together we can make our Conference and our beloved Liberia a great country.

Please e-mail me when you get a chance.  My address is lcw22001@yahoo.com. Or you may call me at (317) 691-6283.  Bishop Innis is God’s servant.  You are all God’s servants.  Our ministry is a shared one and we have one Lord, one faith, one baptism.  Please, in the name of Jesus, the name that has all power, let us work together.  I look forward to a visit soon so that we can sit and reason together.  While we know that nobody is indispensable to the work of God, we are grateful that God has called us to be His servants.  You are my Church family.  I love you all very much.  By the Grace and Mercies of God, please, let us seek reconciliation and unity.

Thank you.

May you be blessed always,

 Rev. Levi C. Williams 

Former Dean of Gbarnga School of Theology                                                            Former Director of Communications                                                                                  Former Director, Council on Ministries                                                                              Former Pastor, Tubman UMC                                                                                            Former Chaplain, College of West Africa