Members of First Baptist Church hosted the pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia, Liberia, and other Liberians living locally and throughout the U.S.
“We were excited to host them,” said Rev. Nathaniel Burnes, pastor of First Baptist Church. “We came together in like-mindedness to serve God locally and abroad,” Burnes said.
Rev. Samuel B. Reeves Jr., pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia, traveled to Methuen. Liberia is located on the West African coast.
Using the theme “Great is Our Faithfulness,” the weekend of July 18-20 was packed with activities including fellowship; a banquet; workshops for men, women and teenagers; and worship service at the church on Lawrence and Park streets.
Johnetta Hudson of Methuen chaired the Providence Fellowship convention.
Reeves said fellow Liberians who had not seen each other in 5, 10 and even 50 years were able to rekindle their friendship. Other than Massachusetts, participants traveled from Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Minnesota, Maryland, Texas, Georgia, Philadelphia, Seattle, Utah and North Carolina.
In addition to the fellowship, Reeves said the church in Monrovia is raising money to build a four-story nursery-to-elementary school. The goal is to raise $250,000 for the project.
The event ended with a reception at Greycourt Park.
The last time First Baptist hosted the Liberian Fellowship was in 2008, Hudson said.
