VARNEY SHERMAN VISITS SURBURBAN CHURCH

Cllr. Varney Sherman attended services at the Christian Baptist Church, a fast-growing Liberian congregation in suburban Washington DC, on Sunday, Sunday September 5, 2005. The congregation comprised of Liberians, persons from West African countries, as well as from the West Indies.

In welcoming Cllr. Sherman, the congregation’s pastor, Rev. Michael S. Mattar, said that it was a blessing when men and women were prepared to offer themselves up for service to their country, to present themselves for the very arduous and daunting tasks of reversing the trends in Liberia. He thanked Mr. Sherman for joining them during their worship services and invited him to the pulpit to make remarks.

Cllr. Sherman thanked the pastor and members for permitting him to join them in praising and serving God with them. He asked for their continued prayers for the country and its people. He told the congregation that his vision for the country was focused on peace and prosperity, where Liberians like members of Christian Baptist Church, who now lived in the United States and other parts of the world, if they wanted to, could return to Liberia to live or visit. He stated that he was standing for the nomination of the Liberian Action Party in an effort to help create a Liberia where, for example, older Liberians who retired after working in the United States could enjoy their retirement in a welcoming Liberia. He told the congregation that it was his plan to visit different houses of worship in several states in the United States while he was in the country.

Mr. Sherman stated that he was optimistic about Liberia’s future, emphasizing that if he were elected President of Liberia, the central theme of his administration would be “Enterprise Liberia,” putting systems in place that significantly improved the quality of life in the country by coherently addressing the problems in the country. Cllr. Sherman said that his primary goal would be to reverse the declines Liberia has experienced.

During the service, the Church’s pastors, joined by its Deacons, and led by Rev. Sarah Perry, said an uplifting and fervent prayer for Liberia and Cllr. Sherman, asking God to bless him in his endeavor and to guide and guard him, praying that if is was God’s will, under his leadership, Liberia may be set on the right path.

Rev. Mattar preaching on the theme, “When the Glory Comes,” reminded the congregation that it is God’s unbroken promise to be with His people and as such through it all, is with Liberia and Liberians. Following the services, Cllr. Sherman engaged in conversations with members of the congregation.