SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM PASTOR IN CHARGE

O give thanks to the Lord for the wonders of His mighty love! Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing, power and majesty to the King. My warmest congratulations to the brethren of Dominion Sanctuary on this august commemoration of our 16^th Year of Existence as a parish of the RCCG Liberia Mission Field! A parish that has not only grown over the years physically, materially and spiritually to Area and zonal status, but has also given birth to several other parishes, areas and zones today. Indeed, the Lord has been faithful over these years, glory and honor be to His holy name, as I also express my sincere and profound gratitude and appreciation to all the brethren and past leadership of the church who made the sacrifices that have brought us this far as a church!

Our 16^th year anniversary is being celebrated with mixed emotions – the sad memories of the loss of a diligent and sacrificial builder of God’s Kingdom, a fatherly figure and daddy to all, and a visionary arrowhead of the Dominion Sanctuary Parish in particular and Zone 5 at large still confront the hearts and souls of many brethren amidst the joy of the Lord for reaching us this far by his grace as a parish and zone. In all these beloved, we are more than conquerors (Romans 837)! Dominion Sanctuary as a Church of God must match on without the spirit of sorrow or fear, for we know and believe the gates of hell shall not prevail against God’s church (Matthew 16:18). Indeed, the joy of the Lord is our strength! 

There is a prospect of further growth of the church spiritually, materially and physically. This however hinges on our service to God with sanctification, unity, love and fellowship among the brethren being the cornerstone. Counting not those things which are behind us, but reaching forth unto those things which are before us as we press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, as Apostle Paul admonished us in Philippian 3:13-15. 

The place of sanctification in our service to God cannot be overemphasized. With total sanctification of our workers, ministers and pastors, the fruits of the Spirit are bound to reflect in our lifestyle, thus attracting an outpouring of the anointing from the Holy Spirit in all our services.   With outpouring of the anointing in our services, there bound to be miracles, signs and wonders in our ministrations (Acts 1:8; Acts 10:38), which in turn, would attract multitudes of souls to our services. One key indicator of a growing church is manifestation of the fruits of the spirit among the brethren, which comes through sanctification.

Similarly beloved, we need to abide in unity and love as a church.  We must serve the Lord with oneness of heart and purpose. We acknowledge that we cannot all be the same given the different backgrounds we came from to come together as the body of Christ. God Himself believes in diversity but not division. That is why He always draws people from diverse ethnic backgrounds (Jews and Gentiles, Greeks and Romans etc.) together with different gifts and talents (fishermen and carpenters, doctors and lawyers, teachers and bankers, engineers and journalists  etc.) for the purpose of spreading the goodness of Jesus Christ and propagating the 

Gospel. We also therefore must be willing to accept our diversity (whether Vai or Grebo, Gola or Kru, Gio or Gbandi, Bassa or Belle, Kpelle or Krahn, Mano or Mende, Lorma or Sapo, Mandingo

or Gbee, Liberian or Sierra Leoneans, Ghanian or Nigerian etc.) to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and build or expand the Kingdom of God together. This togetherness doesn’t necessarily mean sameness; rather, it means oneness of purpose – serving God with singleness of heart and in one accord as it was during the days of the early church (Acts 2:46-47). Unity among the brethren will bring about admiration of the church in the community, attraction of favor to the church among the people in the community, thereby triggering gladness in the service of God, increasing the church membership, and above all bringing joy to God (Psalm 133:1-3). 

If the church of God must grow numerically, materially and spiritually, we must add to unity, love. Love must be exhibited among the brethren and by the brethren daily in all things as instructed in John 15:9. A church free from hatred, wrath, strife, and envy among the brethren is a growing church. Love propels us to rejuvenate our soul winning drive and go out there to evangelize to lost souls for Christ. This is the heartbeat of God!  Love brings light and take away darkness from the church (1 John 2:9-11). Love drives away disunity in the church and promotes growth. Beloved, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of Love. 

We must add to unity and love, fellowship. Fellowship with God, but also, fellowship among the brethren (Gen. 1:26; Gen. 3:8-10 and Gen. 2:18). The word ‘fellowship’ derived from the Greek word ‘koinonia’, meaning ‘holding something in common’. It has come to mean companionship, company, community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience. The biblical description of fellowship denotes participative sharing and mutual encouragement towards Christ. 

Whether with God or Man, the devil fears fellowship because it is a bonding capital between God and Man as well as a source of unity and love among man. With such, Satan and his cohorts cannot penetrate the church, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church. The bible says in Matthews 18:20 “for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (KJV). Matthews 16:19 says “And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (NIV).  So, if we as a church must begin to experience tremendous miracles, signs and wonders in our midst, and take over the land in pursuance to

the RCCG Vision 3032, we must come together in homes for fellowship with God and Man using various approaches, ranging from rotational visitations to homes of church members, workers, and ministers to establishing of more house fellowship centers under the Parish.  

Beloved, sanctification, unity, love and fellowship are attributes of God and critical ingredients of church growth. As we commemorate our 16^th year of service to God together as a parish, I will admonish all  members of Dominion Sanctuary to pursue the attainment of using various approaches, ranging from rotational visitations to homes of church members, workers, and ministers to establishing of more house fellowship centers under the Parish.  

Beloved, sanctification, unity, love and fellowship are attributes of God and critical ingredients of church growth. As we commemorate our 16^th year of service to God together as a parish, I will admonish all  members of Dominion Sanctuary to pursue the attainment of these critical indicators of church growth with total commitment and dedication until we fully take over the land for Christ and meet at the Marriage Supper of the of the Lamb. 

Once again, congratulations and enjoy your anniversary celebrations with miracles, signs and       wonders in Jesus’ name, Amen! 

 AP Abraham A. Kiazolu, II 

(Pastor-In-Charge – RCCG Dominion Sanctuary, Zone 5, Duazon, Margibi County)