Monrovia – Liberia, on Thursday, May 14, commemorated the 66th anniversary of National Unification Day with a solemn worship service organized by the Liberia Council of Churches at the Harvest Intercontinental Church in Congo Town.
Delivering a special statement, Rev. Dr. Samuel B. Reeves, Jr. called on Liberians to rise above division and embrace unity, reconciliation, and shared national purpose.
Addressing worshippers, government officials, religious leaders, youth, and citizens gathered for the national observance, Rev. Reeves declared that Liberia’s strength lies not in political power or tribal identity, but in its ability to remain united despite decades of hardship.
“Today, Liberia does not gather as tribes, parties, regions, or social classes. Today, Liberia gathers as family,” Reeves proclaimed.
The LCC President described Unification Day as more than a ceremonial observance, emphasizing that it should serve as a transformational moment for the country.
“This day is not merely ceremonial. It is transformational. It calls us beyond tolerance into trust, beyond coexistence into collaboration, beyond remembering Liberia’s wounds into rebuilding Liberia’s promise,” he said.
In a message filled with calls for national healing, Reeves warned that division, bitterness, and political hostility have never contributed to nation-building.
“Division has never built a nation. Bitterness has never healed a people. And no community, tribe, or political ideology can truly rise while the nation falls,” he stressed.
The respected cleric also challenged Liberians to prioritize reconciliation over resentment and country over conflict, noting that Liberia’s resilience remains one of its greatest strengths.
“Perhaps that is the quiet genius of Liberia itself: that after everything we have endured, we still gather, we still hope, we still pray, we still sing, and we still believe that tomorrow can be better than yesterday. That is not weakness. That is national courage,” Reeves stated.
He further urged citizens to see Liberia’s diversity as a national asset rather than a source of division.
“The destiny of Liberia is greater than the divisions of Liberia. Our diversity is not a problem to manage, but a strength to steward,” he declared.
Speaking on behalf of the Liberia Council of Churches and the broader Christian community, Reeves welcomed attendees to what he described as a “sacred national observance,” underscoring the importance of unity within both the church and the nation.
Quoting Psalm 133, he concluded with a prayer for national healing and divine guidance for Liberia’s leaders and people.
“May God heal our land, guide our leaders, strengthen our people, and bless the Republic of Liberia,” he prayed.
National Unification Day is observed annually in Liberia to promote national cohesion, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence among Liberians from diverse ethnic, political, and social backgrounds.
