National Pentecostal Mission Celebrates 15th Biennial Conference

By Mohamed Jawara

On Wednesday, February 7th, 2024, the National Pentecostal Mission Sierra Leone convened its fifteenth Biennial Conference in Bo City, located in the Southern province of Sierra Leone. Themed “Deeply Rooted in Christ in the New Dawn,” the event marked a historic occasion for the Mission, gathering believers from Sierra Leone and the diaspora.

Bishop Benjamin B. Bangura, the Head of the Pentecostal Mission Sierra Leone and diaspora, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the safe arrival of attendees to Bo City and commended the Mission for hosting its first conference in the southern part of the country. Despite facing challenges, Bishop Bangura stated, “We have finally converged here today to witness our 15th Biennial Conference.”

Highlighting the significance of the conference, Bishop Bangura shared that this was his inaugural conference since being appointed as the first designated Bishop in Sierra Leone. He outlined the mission’s focus on spiritual and truthful development, socio-economic progress, education and human development, as well as resource mobilization and sustainability in their strategic plans spanning from 2022 to 2027.

In a call for collective effort, Bishop Bangura emphasized the importance of the entire Christian family contributing to the mission’s success. He urged attendees to participate actively in the post-service binary fusion, where the Bishop would articulate the mission’s aspirations for the future.

Rev Sarah Kulio Kanu, Head of the Pentecostal Mission Mission Institute, explained the decision to hold the conference in the southern province, addressing misconceptions about the Mission’s existence. “We want to tell the world that we are true representatives of Christ,” she declared, emphasizing the new era of Jesus Christ.

Rev. Kanu outlined the developmental plans for the next five years, including initiatives in education, agriculture, and economic empowerment. She stressed the need to move away from dependence on external sponsors, revealing ongoing projects aimed at financial self-sustainability.

The Mission Institute has already built seven shops in Bassa town, Waterloo, with plans for a total of twenty-one shops. These will be rented out to the public to generate income, reducing reliance on envelope distributions. Rev. Kanu expressed the mission’s commitment to opening health centers for the benefit of the wider community.

Looking beyond the conference, Rev. Kanu articulated aspirations for increased church growth, additional congregations, and greater involvement of young people in leadership positions.

Rev. Dr Shodankeh E.B Johnson concluded the conference by highlighting the importance of leadership positions in the church, drawing inspiration from the biblical teachings of Paul. He urged courage in the face of challenges and offered prayers for the dedicated leaders of the National Pentecostal Mission Sierra Leone and diaspora, applauding their role model dedication in advancing the mission’s journey.