UMU Names Pastoral Program After Karnga -Bishop Quire, UMU Wesseh Celebrate Karnga’s Lifelong Legacy

MONROVIA – The United Methodist University has bestowed one of its highest institutional honors on a living legend of Liberian Christian ministry. Rev. Dr. Abba G. Karnga Sr. had the university’s Clinical Pastoral Education and Ministry Program named after him at a ceremony held at the Stephen Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church in Sinkor.  Born in Grand Bassa County in 1930, Karnga founded the World Wide Missions of Liberia in 1961, which has since grown to 76 churches across 10 districts with more than 15,000 members. In 2006, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf conferred on him the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Africa. Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. keynoted the ceremony. THE ANALYST reports.

The United Methodist University (UMU) has honored one of Liberia’s most distinguished religious and educational figures, Rev. Dr. Abba G. Karnga Sr., by naming its Clinical Pastoral Education and Ministry Program after him, celebrating his extraordinary decades of service to the Church, education, community development, and national advancement.

The naming of the program after Karnga marks a significant moment in the history of the university and Liberia’s theological education sector, recognizing a living icon whose ministry has transcended the pulpit to influence education, healthcare, cultural identity, and community transformation.

The historic recognition ceremony was held at the Stephen Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church in Sinkor, bringing together church leaders, academics, students, and well-wishers to celebrate a man whose lifelong commitment to Christian ministry and human development has left an enduring footprint on Liberia’s religious and educational landscape.

From Grand Bassa to National Eminence

Born on April 5, 1930, in Doun Karnga’s Town, No. 3B Chiefdom, Grand Bassa County, Rev. Dr. Karnga rose from humble beginnings to become a towering figure in education and Christian leadership. His academic journey saw him earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Liberia in 1962, a Master’s degree in School Administration and Curriculum Development from Point Loma College in California, and a Doctorate in Religious Education and Ministry from Georgia Andersonville Seminary.

His passion for empowering communities led to the establishment of the World Wide Missions of Liberia in 1961, an indigenous Bassa Christian denomination dedicated to promoting Christianity, education, healthcare, and social development.

The mission has since expanded to 76 churches across 10 districts, serving more than 15,000 members and operating health facilities and senior high schools throughout the country.

National and International Honors

Over the years, Rev. Dr. Karnga’s exceptional service has attracted numerous national and international honors. In 2006, former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf conferred upon him the prestigious rank of Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Africa during Liberia’s 160th Independence Anniversary.

In 2011, the Government of Liberia, represented by then Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, also named a multimillion-dollar complex in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, in recognition of his contributions to national development.

Quire: We Celebrate a Legacy

Delivering the keynote address, Resident Bishop of the Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, Samuel J. Quire Jr., described the honor as a celebration of a life characterized by unwavering faith, scholarship, humility, and dedicated service.

“Today, we are not merely naming a program; we are celebrating a legacy,” Bishop Quire declared. “Rev. Dr. Abba G. Karnga’s life has been a testament to faithful service, Christian education, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Bishop Quire said the Rev. Dr. Abba G. Karnga Clinical Pastoral Education and Ministry Program will stand as a lasting symbol of the Church’s commitment to raising compassionate and competent spiritual leaders who will serve humanity with integrity and excellence. He urged students who will pass through the program to emulate Karnga’s qualities of humility, faithfulness, and selfless service, noting that true greatness is measured by lives impacted and communities transformed.

Wesseh, Karnga Respond with Gratitude

Also speaking, UMU Interim President Cllr. Medina A. Wesseh hailed Rev. Dr. Karnga as a visionary leader whose commitment to the advancement of the Bassa people and Liberia has inspired generations. She emphasized that his life demonstrates that genuine leadership is defined not by personal achievements or wealth, but by lasting contributions to society and the empowerment of others.

In his response, an emotional and grateful Rev. Dr. Karnga thanked the university and all those involved in establishing the program in his honor, describing the recognition as a call to continue serving God and humanity.

He reminded Christian leaders that faith remains the cornerstone of meaningful ministry and urged them to maintain unity, humility, and compassion in their service to people. Quoting the biblical passage Mark 11:22 — “Have faith in God” — and a Bassa proverb emphasizing the inseparable relationship between faith and unity, Karnga challenged the next generation of church leaders to remain people-centered and not driven by material interests.

Program to Bridge Legacy and Future

University officials said the Clinical Pastoral Education and Ministry Program will provide interfaith pastoral training designed to strengthen spiritual care, personal formation, and practical ministry skills among clergy and aspiring ministers.

For many attendees, the ceremony was more than a symbolic naming event; it was a celebration of a lifetime of sacrifice and a renewed commitment to the values that Rev. Dr. Karnga has championed for more than six decades — faith, integrity, education, humility, and service.

Officials of the University expressed confidence that the newly established program will preserve Karnga’s rich legacy by producing generations of pastors, chaplains, counselors, and Christian leaders committed to serving God and humanity with compassion, integrity, and excellence.