Several members of the Saint Assembly Ministries International on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, stormed the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a peaceful prayer gathering called on the Minister and other relevant authorities of the Ministry to immediately release their pastors and church members who were allegedly forcefully taken into the Zoe bush for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in Gbartala, Bong County.
According to them, their pastors along with their wives and several members were arrested October 5, 2021 by country devil and traditional leader and taken in the Zoe bush were they are undergoing torture and inhumane treatment on grounds that they have come to set their people free.
Those forcefully taken into the zoe traditional bush include, breastfeeding mothers, children’s, boys and girls amongst others for taking the good news of Jesus Christ to the hinterland of Liberia.
The Saints Assembly Ministries International is a world wide ministry with branches in several parts around the world. In Liberia, they are located in several area including their head church on the Old Road. Their Ministry is noted for preaching righteousness, holyness and living up to the dispensation of the past. It’s also that they don’t brush their mouth, put on others good things because they believed it’s unsafe and unrighteous.
Speaking at the prayer gathering scene at the ground of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the resident pastor of Monrovia, Alpha R. Tarway, noted that the senior resident pastor of the Saint Assembly Ministries International in Bong County, Gbartala was arrested and forcefully taken to the Zoe bush for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
According to the Saint Assembly Ministries International pastor, they received a call in Monrovia from members in Bong County that their pastro was arrested and taken to the Zoe bush for leading Community to Christ and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom.
Pastor Tarway further indicated that based upon the call received, several pastors, members, and breastfeeding mothers along with their babies went to Bong County to have their pastor released but it didn’t materialize because the police claimed that the issue is beyond their control.
He noted that while they were discussing with the police, residents of Gbartala, Bong County began threatening them that they will be attacked. He said they informed the residents that their action is against the will of God and has negative consequences.
“After that, a lady came with the sheriff with a writ of arrest for one of our pastors and we went at the court. While at the court for the case and to sign a bond, the Zoe people came and everyone ran away including the police and the judge. Another group of our members was again forcefully arrested and taken into the Zoe bush by traditional leaders and country devil,” Pastor Alph R. Tarway noted.
The clergyman narrated that the other members who managed to run away were taken in by a resident who promised to protect them till morning but during the night time, the Zoe people came to the house and collected the others and took them in the Zoe bush were they are undergoing serious punishment.
Also speaking, a young pastor of the Saint Assembly Ministries International, Abel Jeffery, explained that they have communicated with the Chief Zoe of Liberia ZaZan Kanwa and other authorities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who assured them on the matter and promised the release of their members and pastor, but until now they have not been released.
“We were given a mandate by God to preach the gospel to all nation so that people can be safe. What have we done wrong that our people are been mistreated? The police can’t do nothing to help us even the Ministry responsible for the action has continue to promise us. With this action against the people of God, Liberia is heading for danger,” pastor Jeffery disclosed.
He said that they were fortunate to speak with some of the women in a telephone conversation who were taken in the Zoe bush and they narrated that they have been badly treated, with nails being put in their flesh and cut all over their body to get blood for them and they are naked, sleeping under the open without food for them and their children.
Pastor Jeffery disclosed that the women were able to speak with them because their phones have not been taken from them, like the men or pastor who the women said were taken to another place in the bush.
Speaking in an interview with Journalist at the prayer scene, the Chief Zoe of Liberia ZaZa Kawan confirmed that it’s true that some people were arrested from the Christian community, but they are working on their release, adding that the situation calls for them to sit at the table and talk.
“They have gathered here with prayers and we sent for their representation but refused to come to us rather we should come to them. Now I’m here to them for us to settle thing they are not ready. Why are can say now is if they feel that praying here can help them without us sitting on the table to talk, let them be here praying,” ZaZa Kawan noted.
ZaZa Kawa, who also claimed to be a deacon in his church, further indicated that Minister Varney Sirlef is not in the country and he will make sure in get to the county today to see how best the situation can be brought under control, thereby urging the crowd to be patient and let them talk and have an understanding.
Written by: Elijah D. S. Pyne
