Monrovia — The Christian Community under the auspices of the Liberia for Jesus Prayer Crusade over the weekend declared a state of Emergency at the climax of a grand parade

Declaring the State of Emergency, the Pastor of the Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia, the Rev. Olayee Collins said "the unimaginable suffering of our people and the state of hopelessness in which we find ourselves today constitute an emergency."

"Therefore, we have come to this sacred place, the birth place of our nation, as a church from various denominations represented here, from all walks of life ... to declare a state of emergency, not in a political faction, but in a biblical way," the Baptist Preacher indicated.

Speaking on the theme: "The State Of Emergency" with the text from Jonah 3:6, Rev. Collins pointed out "we have come to declare a state of emergency not from the Capitol Hill where the Constitution is being interpreted, but from the Providence Hill where the Constitution was born (applause)."

The Baptist preacher who delivered the sermon climaxing the Liberia for Jesus Parade noted that "we have come to declare a state of emergency, not from seat of the presidency whose power does not go beyond the borders of the country, ... but from the throne of the Almighty God whose power transcends every borders, sinks deep enough to the core of the earth and rise above the realms of the heavens"

According to Rev. Collins, "Let word goes forth, Let every animal, every Liberian and friends of Liberia, irrespective of your position, tribe, religion or race, participate in this prayer crusade."

Calling on Liberians and friends of Liberia to bury their differences and forge for a peaceful Liberia, Rev. Collins maintained "Let every denomination, Baptists and Methodists, Catholics and Episcopalians, Pentecostal and Evangelicals, Assemblies of God, Lutherans, Presbyterians ... lay aside our differences, come together in one accord and seek God's face. Who knows God Almighty hear our cries and may delivers us from these trouble."

He said the three-day prayer time from February 22-24 that constitute is not an end in itself but only a only symbol of the actual safety, saying "the hope of our prayer being answered is not in the parade, not in the banner or the crowd that may congregate at the SKD Sports Complex, but is inherent in our resolve to as a people, like the people of Nineveh, genuinely repent from our wicked, corrupt ways, to to the ... living God because without true repentance, the prayer crusade will be a failure."

"We challenge every Liberian to participate in this prayer crusade," he said, " from the last of us to the greatest of us, no Liberian should feel too big or too small to join this prayer crusade."

He however noted that the refusal of one man to pray could hamper the success of this crusade, but added that if that should happen, we would have failed but God will hold that person responsible.

He acknowledged that there is a threat, and that Christian have gathered to respond to the threat.

"We have gathered here to deal with our suffering and trouble. For 12 long years we have been the victims of war and brutality, we have been the symbol of troublemakers and the laughing stalk of other nations."

He said for 12 long years Liberians have been a resented people found on a lonely Island of despair where no friend is willing to heed their cry for help.

"This is why it is very important for every man, woman, boy, girl, every soul to join in this crusade. Jesus Christ is the answer and the way out of these troubles that have engulfed us. And if we, as a nation and a people, honestly repent and seek the face of God and turn from our wicked, corrupt ways, He will come to rescue us, and He will come quickly," he concluded

Also speaking was the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Crusade, the Rev. Dr. Walter Richards recounted how the trouble of Liberia started from 1955 when a group of True Whig Party renegade formed the Independent True Whig Party which attempted on the President William V. S. Tubman.

Since that time, Dr. Richards said Liberia has been going through political turmoil including the April 14 rice riot of 1989, the April 12 bloody coup of 1980, and the civil conflict of the 1990s. Dr. Richards noted that all of these crises have been claiming innocent blood.

Rev, Rudolph March who also spoke said it is the church which can reconcile Liberians and not any other group, noting that today, the church was now claiming Monrovia to be a save have.

Introducing the program earlier, the Liberia for Jesus Crusade National Steering Committee Chairman, the Rev. Jimmy Dugbe said by the march, all was well in Monrovia and that those who were intending to come to the February 22-24 event should not despair Jesus Christ was in control.

Madam Natty Blah, the wife of Vice President Blah and Victoria Reffell, Chairman of the National Reconciliation Reunification Commission (NRRC) who is also Co-Chairman of the Advisory Board of the national crusade were amongst those who offer prayer for the restoration of Liberia during the march.