Dr. Christian Bell, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Love One Another Campaign-Sierra Leone (LOAC-SL) has enlightened that peace can only exist in a conducive environment for development to thrive, that there can be no peace without justice, underscored that peace is not just the absence of war and asked the rhetoric question: How many Sierra Leoneans are righteous?
This question triggered the audience to burst into prolonged laughter with one elderly man stating that if his compatriots were honest, then there would be no need for the Anti-Corruption Commission.
He was addressing members and guests of the First Chapter of the Women’s Aglow Fellowship in Sierra Leone at the John Ezzedio Hall of the Wesley Methodist Church on Lamina Sankoh Street in Freetown on 20th July 2024.
In his keynote address on the theme, ‘Love as a Catalyst for Sustainable Peace’ he defined Agape love as God’s love for mankind, revealed that LOAC works by revelations, underscoring that love must be trustworthy, honest, patriotic, that love is the ingredient for all relationships, that love must be disciplined and that all Christians are stewards.
The guest speaker also underscored the need for Sierra Leoneans to love one another without condition, dilated on various topics including ‘What is the Importance of Love in National Development, What is Love, Why Should We Love, What Are The Consequences When Love is Absent, How Should We Love and What Are The Barriers to Love?’ underscoring that love is selfless and a sacrifice quoting Romans 4: 25, John 1:29 and Philippians 2:2-4.
He further quoted Romans 13: 8-10 and 1st John 2:15-17 and encouraged all to buy and read the book titled ‘A Call to Love for Sustainable Peace’ authored by Dr. Christian Bell, a copy of which he donated to the organisation. The book is available for sale at the cost of Le120 new Leones at the Diocesan Bookshop and the Christian Literature Crusade Bookshop respectively.
According to Dr. Christian Bell, Christians love for spiritual and social reasons, affirmed that love is a gift, that love is the most valuable gift from God, that without love we cannot sustain peace, that we don’t own anything in this world including our lives and revealed that it is an abomination for Christians to pour libation on the graves of the dead and even visit cemeteries to talk to the dead not to mention worshiping other Gods which he restated is unchristian.
The First Chapter of the Women’s Aglow Fellowship in Sierra Leone was founded in 1989 and has 10 chapters in the country. It was founded by four women in America in 1967 where it has its headquarters.
Women’s Aglow Fellowship is an inter-denominational worldwide organisation operating in 170 countries worshiping and praising God in all areas of their lives.
The organisation also wins souls for Christ, especially those not reached by commonly reached methods like evangelism. They share with believers everywhere the full gospel of Jesus Christ including Jesus as Savior, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, Deliverer and Healer, work for spiritual unity among Christian believers, fosters fellowship among women, encourages each woman to be a member of and to participate in the activities of her local church and helps women recognize their roles and relationships according to the Scriptures.
Highlights of the program were distribution of LOAC campaign materials, contributions/promotions/fund-raising, teaching/testimonies and ministrations for anniversaries, for the nation of Sierra Leone, the Body of Christ, for the children and youths and the sick.
Other highlights were the vote of thanks, singing of the Aglow Song and the benediction.
