FREETOWN, May 19, (232News) – Below is the speech of the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Sierra Leone (PFSL), Bishop Akintayo Sam-Jolly at the 75th Anniversary celebration of the Bible Society of Sierra Leone at Radisson Blu hotel.
Madam Chairman, My Lord Bishops
Hon Minister of Social Welfare, Heads of Churches, Members of the Clergy
Distinguished personalities and Brethren, I greet you all in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ. I am humbled at the request to make a speech at this gathering. A time when the institution that proudly names itself after our holy book is celebrating 75th year of existence; the Bible society in Sierra Leone.
When anniversaries are celebrated, we are mostly advised to count our blessings, and if possible “name them one by one” as Johnson Oatman Jr puts it in the hymn. Interestingly, he was born on this very day 21st April in 1856. In light of counting our blessings, Sierra Leoneans (including the Church and PFSL) should enumerate the benefits that Bible Society has brought to this nation. With the Bible Society around, a lot of work has taken place with regards the translation of the Holy Bible into our local languages and its dissemination. This laudable activity has taken some load off us as church leaders as it has greatly helped in making the Holy Scriptures available and accessible to many Sierra Leoneans. If I get the information right on the facebook page of the Bible Society, we now have translations in King James Version, Good News, Women’s Devotional Bible, New International Version and some others in audio formats. Your provision of trauma counselling, sale of Bibles at affordable prices and other forms of outreach programs.
Looking at the aim of the Society, I can safely conclude that indeed your effort is effective and meaningful and it will certainly make room for people to effectively interact with the Word of God. As Ministers of God, this is where we can now complement the effort of the Society to ensure that after distribution, the bible is not only kept on shelves, but opened by all on a daily basis to cater for effective daily replication of the lifestyle lived by our Lord and Savoiur Jesus Christ. As Pastor Billy Graham of blessed memory puts it, “The very practice of reading the bible will have a purifying effect upon [one’s] mind and heart.” The legendary evangelist added, “let nothing take the place of this exercise.”
I would be remiss in my duties if I do not talk about the “Mary Jones Walk.” A little girl in her quest to find out what is contained in the bible, saved money for six years to get her own bible, and even though she had to cover such a long distance to do that, she dared the journey and eventually she is celebrated today. How many Mary Jones’ do we have today? How many people translate their hunger for God into taking practical steps to get their desired spiritual goal? We need more Mary Jones’ in our day who will make history for God. I must say that this story is timely. Considering the state of our youth and female population, and that of the men also, we all need to hear this beautiful story. We do need to ensure that our children can now easily access the Bible and be like Mary Jones in pursuing the welfare and growth of their spiritual lives.
As our nation’s anniversary draws close, let me use this platform as an opportunity to congratulate our President and the people of Sierra Leone on the occasion of our 60th Independence Anniversary. I pray that God’s grace will turn around the story of our nation and bring glory to our great country.
I wish to thank you for the visit paid to me and to congratulate me on my election into office as the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Sierra Leone.
As I conclude, let me on behalf of the executive and members of the PFSL and on my personal behalf to congratulate the Bible Society on their 75th anniversary and to also applaud them for a job well done. Indeed, it is true that the Bible Society thinks Global and acts local. God bless you.
