Paragons Foundation-SL congratulates Bishop James Boye-Caulker

Paragons Foundation-SL on Wednesday 26^th February 2025, paid a courtesy call on the newly elected Resident Bishop of the United Methodist Church, Sierra Leone Annual Conference (UMC-SLAC), Bishop James Boye-Caulker, at the Charles Davies United Methodist Church, Regent Road, Lumley in Freetown.

Rev. Professor Edwin J. J. Momoh, who doubles as the Conference Secretary and the Chief Adviser of the Foundation, introduced representatives of the Foundation, which was renamed from the Young Leaders to Paragons Foundations.

In his address, the Chief Paragon, A. B. Moisia Esq. congratulated the Bishop on his election as the Resident Bishop of the United Methodist Church Sierra Leone Annual Conference, commended the Bishop for granting the Foundation the opportunity for the visit and holding fruitful discussions for the growth of the church.

He also noted that the Foundation has just constituted a new leadership, with himself as the Chief Paragon and Head of the Council of Administration, revealing that the Foundation is an outlet of the United Methodist Church, comprising United Methodists who have transitioned from the youths and young adults to the Men and Women’s Organisations respectively, of the Annual Conference, with the aim to continue in fellowship.

1. B. Moisia Esq furthered that as a Foundation, it has been supporting projects of the UMC-SLAC, and disclosed that the Foundation would be supporting the Child Reintegration Centre (CRC) Bo project this year, intimating that in that regard, he is appealing for time to be allocated to the Foundation during this year’s Annual Conference to make a statement.

For and on behalf of the Foundation, the Chief Paragon presented a token of support in the sum of NLe 20,000 towards this year’s Annual Conference.

In his address, the Resident Bishop, James Boye-Caulker, heartily welcomed the Foundation, thanking them for the invaluable support it has been giving to the church over the years, also congratulated the new leadership of the Foundation and promised to work closely with them for the growth and development of the church.

The Bishop consented to give a slot to the Foundation to make a presentation to the CRC in Bo at this year’s Annual Conference, and further encouraged all to continue working together for the growth and development of the Annual Conference.

In a related development, the 145^th Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church–Sierra Leone Annual Conference will commence from 4^th – 9^th March 2025.

The theme for this year’s Annual Conference is ‘That they all shall be one” – John 17:21.

The 6-day, 4^th – 9^th March 2025 conference will be hosted at the Brown Memorial United Methodist Church, Kissy, Freetown, with delegates from across all districts in Sierra Leone, who will be joined together by international guests from the West Africa Central Conference (WACC), other Central Conferences and the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) Representatives.

This year’s Annual Conference will be preceded by the inauguration of the new Resident Bishop of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area, the Rt. Rev. James Boye-Caulker, who was elected in December 2024 during the 10^th quadrennial session of the West Africa Central Conference (WACC) held in Accra, Ghana.

The inauguration service of Bishop James Boye-Caulker took place on Sunday, 2^nd March 2025, at the King Memorial United Methodist Church, Regent Road, Freetown.

Among the many events scheduled for this year’s conference, on Tuesday, March 4^th, 2025, there will be an Executive and Lay Session in the morning, to be later followed by a procession and formal opening of the Conference Session and Children’s Night.

On Wednesday, 5^th March 2025, there will be the official opening of the sessions of the annual devotions, fraternal greetings and representative session and Youths Night.

The 6th, 7th and 8th March will be followed by daily devotions and representatives’ sessions, Women’s Night, Young Adults Night and Men’s Night respectively.

The conference will climax with a Thanksgiving and Ordination Service on Sunday 9^th March 2025, at the Brown Memorial United Methodist Church, Kissy, Freetown.

It could be recalled that the United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone was without a Resident Bishop for over four years, since the tragic death of the late Bishop, Dr. John K. Yambasu.

In an Interview with the Acting Superintendent of the host district (Western District), Rev. Sahr Edward K. Fallah, expressed joy at how well United Methodists are ready to celebrate the new Resident Bishop.

He asserted that United Methodists from all corners of Sierra Leone have regained a renewed spirit in working together to continue building the United Methodist Church and to make disciples of Jesus Christ, as they are called to do.

In Sierra Leone, the United Methodist Church has long addressed the physical and socio-economic needs of the people, in addition to their spiritual needs.

The mission runs a university with two campuses in Freetown at Leicester Peak: Bishop Wenner School of Theology and the Siaka Stevens School of Transformative Education, Dr. Sanpha Koroma School of Business and Entrepreneurial Studies; 400 primary (elementary) schools; 50 secondary (high) schools; 6 Technical Vocational Institutes; 11 maternity centres, hospitals and several clinics across the country, and an eye hospital in Kissy, Freetown.

Manjama (Bo District), Pa Lokko (Western District), and Yonibana (Northern District) are three agricultural and community developments that have been revitalised.

In addition to a robust Children’s Ministry, there are active service organisations for men, women, youths and young people. Betty Carew, Kono Musu and Urban Centre are the three training facilities owned by the Women’s Organisation.

The UMC operates a Child Reintegration Centre (CRC) in Bo, South Sierra Leone, which helps vulnerable children and youths, by putting them in touch with families and giving them access to services like healthcare and education.

To prepare leaders for churches and the community, the UMC is one of the partnering churches operating the Ecumenical Theological College and Church Training Centre in Freetown.

The sessions of the annual conference will be presided over by Bishop James Boye-Caulker, Resident Bishop of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area.