Transcript for Samuel K. Karyeah:

I’m grateful to God today to be a part of this enterprise. I want to begin by saying thanks to God for the United Methodist Church, for the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Had it not been for the church, for theological education that I received from the church, I wouldn’t be standing here today.

I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t go to places that I’ve been. I wouldn’t do what I’m doing now.

To God be the glory for great things he has done and greater things he will do. I wouldn’t be standing here today speaking to you as dean of the Bishop George E. Ennis Graduate School of Theology in the Republic of Liberia, the United Methodist Church. If the United Methodist Church had not given me sound theological education, I wouldn’t be standing here today.
So I’m grateful to the United Methodist Church, especially Bishop Samuel Jerome Quiet Jr. Now, currently we have 30 students that are enrolled in our theological institution. And we’ve got about 50 more students who are awaiting to enroll. But because of the lack of funding, those students cannot come.

Personally, there is a pastor in Bunga, Bunga County, one of the Episcopal areas, who is very desirous to come and obtain his master’s degree. When I called him, he told me that he didn’t even have the registration fees, a minimum of $160 to come and register. So because of that, he was not able to enter.

So I want to sound this appeal to you and those listening to me, that there is a serious need to raise more funding to help our people, our pastors, theological education