“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay”.      St. Matthew 28:6

The global community is challenged by an enemy that could be described as a type of the Anti-Christ which has reduced the movement of people and restricted private lives and close down millions of churches worldwide. The Apostle wrote in 1st John 4:3 that: [and I quote], “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world”.

This enemy reminds the church of the mission to steal, kill and destroy. But no matter what the trials may be, Easter reminds us that hope should never be lost, for as dark the road may seem, there always lies light at the end of it. Our Hope is threatened, our celebration of worship during the lent and Passion Week is stopped. Pronouncement of the doors of the church closure is troublesome. The believers gathering to worship has been restricted.

To the Church we say, our faith has been tested by the global pandemic. However, Easter gives us hope and inspires us to be reminded that the weapon of our warfare are not carnal, but powerful by the pulling down of strong holds. I John 4:4 reminds us that, “You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world”

Easter is the reason why we should rejoice, because death could not hold our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the grave, He triumph over principalities, powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. As Jesus is risen so our victory over the Coronavirus will be.

As Jesus conquered death, so we as Christian people of faith will conquered COVID-19. We have always heard the word hope, but our message to you today is have a new hope. We should not allow this tiny enemy to defeat our purpose to worship God. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” [Romans 8:35-37]. I therefore encourage you today to put on the full armor of God and let us fight this battle through prayer. The politicians, doctors, scientists will fail us, but God will never fail us.

We call on all Christians within and outside of our borders to pray sincerely. The faithful prayer of the believers avails much.  Remember, “The Christian army marches on its knees”.

We call on ALL Liberians and people of good faith to pull together in defeating Covid-19. We ask the Government of Liberia to develop an inclusive – and properly coordinated - national plan of action that will address all the ramifications of the virus e.g. medical, economic, social, political and spiritual [concerns]. We call on the authorities including the security forces to create the atmosphere for greater cooperation between they, and ordinary Liberians, in every nook and cranny of this nation, so we can defeat the Coronavirus pandemic, together, like we did with Ebola viral disease (EVD).

We pray for:

1. All Health workers in Liberia and around the world for grace and grit (fortitude), to face this invisible enemy; unwavering - with resilience and faith in God Almighty

2. All who are hurting today and sick in the various care centers in our country and around the world that they will experience the Power of Resurrection, today!

We call on the National Legislature to give consideration to the plight of ordinary Liberians as they act, this week, on the declared State of Emergency by the President of Liberia

Easter Sunday celebrates this same love that God even conquers death. In the words of St. Paul, as recorded in I Corinthians 4 verses 8 thru 10, [and I quote] “We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” God’s very love gives us hope and a reason to make sacrifices in our lives in order to defeat even the threat of a virus.

The Church is aware that in times of uncertainty, we need to stand together on what is certain. Jesus is alive and has conquered death, hell and the grave for all eternity. In Him we have the victory of life and death. It is time we focus on Christ and the cross and not necessarily COVID 19, because it is already defeated in the name of Jesus. We will overcome and we shall overcome.

As I close we urge you to not forget to follow all the health protocols require to keep us safe. We should not also fail to encourage one another.

Happy Easter! The Resurrection experience is yours!

God bless you and keep you safe.