By: Julius Konton
Liberia’s Christian community gathered in celebration and reflection as Resident Bishop of the Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church (LAC/UMC), Dr. Samuel J. Quire Jr., paid tribute to retired Lutheran cleric Rev. Bartholome B. Colley, praising nearly five decades of ministry as a model of steadfast faith, sacrifice, and spiritual leadership.
At a special retirement and thanksgiving ceremony in Monrovia, Bishop Quire described Rev. Colley’s 46-year ministerial journey as a testimony of perseverance and divine calling, emphasizing that faithful service to God transcends titles, positions, and active pastoral assignments.
Delivering a sermon titled “Honoring a Faithful Servant: Finishing the Race with Joy,” Bishop Quire urged worshippers to view retirement not as the conclusion of Christian service but as the beginning of a renewed mission rooted in mentorship, prayer, wisdom-sharing, and spiritual encouragement.
Drawing inspiration from the Apostle Paul’s declaration in the Bible, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” , the Methodist Bishop told congregants that the ceremony represented more than institutional recognition.
“This is not simply a retirement celebration,” Bishop Quire declared. “Today, we celebrate faithfulness, sacrifice, commitment, and divine calling. The true measure of ministry is not popularity or position, but faithfulness to God’s call.
Retirement does not erase legacy.”
A Life of Ministry in a Nation of Faith
The recognition of Rev. Colley comes at a time when Christianity remains one of Liberia’s most influential social and spiritual institutions.
According to demographic estimates, more than 80 percent of Liberians identify as Christians, with churches continuing to play significant roles in education, healthcare, peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and reconciliation following the country’s devastating civil conflicts between 1989 and 2003.
Religious institutions, particularly Protestant and Methodist denominations alongside the Lutheran Church, have historically served as pillars of community support, moral guidance, and post-war reconstruction.
Against this backdrop, Rev. Colley’s decades-long ministry stands as part of a broader legacy of church leadership in Liberia’s social development.
Officially retired during the Lutheran Church in Liberia’s 21st Biennial Convention and 166th Anniversary Celebration, Rev. Colley concluded 46 years of ministry, including 36 years as an ordained pastor, according to church records.
On April 26, 2026, he was formally decommissioned from active pastoral ministry by Bishop James B. Padmore.
Throughout those years, Bishop Quire noted, Rev. Colley devoted himself to preaching, teaching, counseling, discipleship, and shepherding congregations through periods of national hardship and renewal.
“Every servant of God begins with a divine call and is sustained by grace through both joyful and difficult seasons,” Bishop Quire said. “Rev. Colley answered that call faithfully.”
Ministry Measured by Impact, Not Visibility
Reflecting on the long-term influence of pastoral service, Bishop Quire said the fruits of ministry are often invisible but deeply transformative.
He credited Rev. Colley with strengthening families, nurturing congregations, mentoring young believers, counseling troubled communities, and helping lead many to the Christian faith.
“The fruits of faithful ministry often extend far beyond what human eyes can see,” he said.
The Bishop further reminded worshippers that spiritual leadership is defined not by perfection but perseverance, remaining committed through sacrifice, uncertainty, hardship, and triumph.
According to him, Rev. Colley demonstrated unwavering dedication to Christ and the Church despite the changing seasons of ministry and national life.
Retirement Is Not the End of Service
A central theme of Bishop Quire’s message was the belief that ministry does not conclude with retirement.
“In God’s Kingdom, there is no retirement from discipleship,” he told the congregation. “Though active pastoral responsibilities may conclude, the ministries of prayer, encouragement, wisdom, and mentorship continue.”
He encouraged younger clergy and emerging church leaders to learn from Rev. Colley’s example of integrity, commitment, humility, and discipline, stressing that enduring spiritual leadership is built on consistency rather than public acclaim.
Faithful servants, he added, leave behind legacies of discipleship and moral influence that shape generations beyond their years of formal leadership.
Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee Pays Tribute
Among those honoring the retired pastor was Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Liberian peace activist , who credited Rev. Colley’s mentorship and nurturing spirit as instrumental in shaping her personal and professional journey.
Addressing attendees, Gbowee praised the clergyman for investing in people and believing in the potential of Liberians.
“Take chances with Liberians because you never know what they can become,” she said while congratulating Rev. Colley for what she described as decades of dedicated service to the Lutheran Church and humanity.
‘My Legacy Will Continue’
Responding to the tributes, Rev. Colley reflected on the enduring importance of personal example and moral accountability.
“Whatever you do, remember that your legacy will live after you,” he told the audience. “As you live, keep watching your back the Christian way. Even though I am retired, I am not leaving the Gospel.”
He also thanked Bishop Quire for his encouragement and praised his leadership of The United Methodist Church in Liberia.
The retirement celebration drew senior clergy, government officials, academics, legal professionals, and members of Liberia’s Christian community.
Among attendees were Cllr. Meda A. Wesseh, Chairperson of the Interim Management Team of United Methodist University; former River Gee County Senator Fth. Company A. Wesseh; former Associate Justice of Liberia’s Supreme Court; Cabinet Minister Janah; and other dignitaries.
In recognition of Rev. Colley’s years of service, individuals and institutions presented gifts of appreciation, including a vehicle, a symbolic gesture honoring his contributions to faith, leadership, and national service.
As prayers of thanksgiving filled the gathering, church leaders described Rev. Colley’s retirement not as an ending, but the opening of a new chapter centered on mentorship, advocacy, teaching, and spiritual guidance.
For many in attendance, the message was clear: while pastoral assignments may conclude, the legacy of faithful service continues long after the pulpit falls silent.
