Our Story

In 1816 slaves’ masters in the Americas bought the idea of Rev. Robert Finley to emancipate black slaves. They then granted freedom to African slaves. Black freed slaves returned to Africa and established colonies in West Africa particularly in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The group that headed for Liberia landed in 1821 (founding of Liberia). In 1875 (fifty-four years later) a group of seventeen (17) immigrants, headed by Rev. Moore T. Worrell, arrived in Liberia from the United States and settled in Paynesville. They included: Rev. Moore T. Worrell, Alex Mars, Chester Moore, Henry Brown, James Howard, Jimmy Clarke, John Hunter, John Jackson, John Wilson, Johnny Roberts, Josiah Barbour, Lewis Norflect, Nelly Howard, William Brown, Jack Nelson, S.P. North, and William Weaver

In grateful appreciation of God’s unmerited benedictions, they established in 1875 what is today, ‘Effort Baptist Church’ – most likely to commemorate their unity and concerted effort as a group. The Church has since grown out of a small community of cooperative people to a larger and competitive society.

In the eye of faith and in grateful appreciation to God, it is believed that the founders of the church considered Proverbs 3:6-8 (In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your effort with success. Don’t be conceited, sure of your own wisdom. Instead, trust and reverence the Lord, and turn your back on evil; when you do this, then you will be given renewed health and vitality). The name "Effort," was then selected by the founding members to illustrate a spirit of unending zeal and determination to establish an edifice to glorify God for delivering them and their descendants from the yoke of oppression in the United States. It also signified the divine inspiration and "effort" to evangelize their brothers and sisters in Africa, and spread the name of Jesus in the rural sections of Liberia (Matt. 28:18-19). In obedience to this mandate of Christ, Effort ordained Rev. Madeh Weaver as her first recognized single evangelist in 1935 (sixty years later), and sent him to the surrounding villages to take the Good News and win souls for Christ in furtherance of the effort of the founding immigrants of the Church. The community was a small one and could conveniently be travelled through by a single person.

Over the years the church has ministered to thousands and thousands of worshippers and community dwellers and converted many to Jesus Christ through Bible Study, Prayer Partner groups, Sunday school, Weekly Prayer Service, Revival, Vacation Bible School, the Church School and Sunday Worship Services as well as Evangelism in fulfillment of Matthew Chapter 28:18-19. Souls have also been won through church musical concerts and Christmas Home-Home Serenading by the church choir which have conversely and hugely increased church membership.

In furtherance of the church’s outreach and evangelism programs, her services have been aired on some of the local radio stations. The first Sunday Morning Worship service under this program was aired on Sunday, September 3, 1993 on the Liberia Broadcasting System 91.6 FM at 9:15 p.m. Pastor Theo D. Allen delivered the sermon on the theme “The Cost of Discipleship” taken from St. Luke 14:26-35. The Church also once ran a teaching radio program called ‘He’s On the Throne Teaching Ministry’ on Radio ELWA.

By the early 1980s, many more members of the Church were installed as Missionaries and sent out into Public and Private Schools in Liberia to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, while others evangelized the general community. Those members included: Rev. Jonathan S.M. Johnson, Bro. Alexander K. Freeman,

Rev. Momolu S. Freeman, Bro. David Suah, Bro. Emmanuel S. Cooper, Bro. Wakai Gibson (travelled to Lofa County), Rev. Emile D. E. Sam-Peal (travelled to Grand Bassa County), Bro. J. Alphonso D. Perkins, Bro. Samuel A. Stev-Quoah III, Sis. Caroline Nelson (today Caroline N. Cooper-Barnard), Sis. Lucia Barchue (today Lucia B. Wreh), Sis. Thelma Johnson (today Thelma J.Garga-Richardson), and Sis. Thelma Clarke.