Welcome to the Men’s Department
Welcome to the Men’s Ministry of Effort Baptist Church! We are thrilled to have you join us as we strive to grow spiritually, strengthen our fellowship, and serve our church and community. Our ministry is a place where men come together to uplift each other, develop leadership skills, and deepen their relationship with God. Whether you are new or returning, we are committed to supporting you on your journey of faith and providing opportunities for meaningful contributions to the life of our church. Come and be part of this impactful brotherhood, where we walk together in faith and service!
The Men’s Ministry, like the Deacon Ministry, has been part of the Church since its founding in 1875. However, it wasn’t formally organized until 85 years later. In 1960, Deacon J.C.N. Howard, Sr. represented Effort at the Tenth 12th Congress of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During this congress, Liberia was appointed as the Continental Vice President for Africa under the BWA, with Dea. Howard serving in this position. In 1963, the men of Effort formally organized into a department, becoming the first Baptist Church within the LBMEC to establish a formal men’s group. Bro. Maesa D. Nelson, Sr. served as the first president. This milestone followed the official recognition of a Men’s Department under the LBMEC at Zion Grove Baptist Church in 1962 during an LBMEC session, where Deacon Peter Amos George Sr. was appointed as the first President.
In the 1980s, Rev. Emile D.E. Sam-Peal and Bro. John Alphanso D. Perkins were notable for their long tenures as Executive Secretaries of the LBMEC and its National Baptist Men’s Department, respectively. Other prominent figures from Effort, such as Rev. Jonathan Johnson (JJ), Rev. Justus Y. Reeves, and T. Martin Allen, also played important roles within the LBMEC.
In 1997, Dea. Cornelius W.V. Reeves proposed the formation of a “Deacons’ Union” to bring together all Baptist Deacons, though this is yet to be formally recognized by the LBMEC.
The Men’s Department launched its first Baptist Men’s Breakfast Fellowship in 2004, led by Dea. John D. Gray as Chairman, with Bro. Lemuel B. Sherman serving as President. Rev. Jonathan C. Taylor was the keynote speaker, delivering a message on “True Greatness,” emphasizing the qualities of conviction, commitment, compassion, and courage.
The Men’s Ministry is currently organized into three divisions, known as Houses: The Royal Men of the House of David, the Militants of the House of Joshua, and the Wise Men of the House of Solomon. The current President of the Men’s Ministry is Bro. T. Siekula Vannie. Effort’s Men’s Ministry has held the presidency of the National Baptist Men three times, through Dea. Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., Dea. Cephus K. Dougbe Jr., and Dea. Lemuel Borbor Sherman.
In 1986, after 24 years of the founding of the National Baptist Men, meetings were held to revitalize the organization, led by Dea. Draper J. Birch of Providence Baptist Church. Effort Baptist men, including Dea. Moses S. Mooney, Dea. Cornelius W.V. Reeves, Dea. O. Anthony Hubbard, Dea. James Daniel Weaver, Sr., and Bro. John Alphanso D. Perkins, were actively involved in these efforts.
Effort men held key positions in the interim administration, with Dea. Moses S. Mooney serving as Vice Chairman, J. Alphanso D. Perkins as Secretary General, and Dea. Cornelius W.V. Reeves as Chairman of the Constitution and By-Laws Committee. Since its formal establishment in 1963, Effort’s Men’s Department has benefited from the leadership of some of the country’s most forward-thinking and development-oriented men, starting with Bro. Maesa D. Nelson, Sr. Other notable leaders include William Henry Minor, Sr., James Henry Lewis, Jr., G. Bismarck Reeves, J.C.N. Howard, Jr., Momolu V. Sackor Sirleaf, S. Eldred Liberty, Cornelius W.V. Reeves Sr., Lemuel Borbor Sherman, Jerry Tamba Taylor, Sete Fumba Marshall, T. Martin Allen, Somah E. Liberty, and the incumbent, T. Siekula Vannie.