By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone (BCSL) has officially bid farewell to its outgoing Executive President and Head of Missions, Rev. Dr. Joseph Samuel Fornah and his wife, Mariama Khai Fornah, in recognition of their decade of dedicated service, visionary leadership and contributions to the growth and development of the Convention.
The thanksgiving and farewell ceremony was held on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, drawing clergy, church members, development partners and invited guests from across Sierra Leone who gathered to celebrate ten years of leadership marked by spiritual growth, institutional development and humanitarian service.
Speakers at the event described Rev Dr. Joseph Samuel Fornah’s tenure as one characterized by stability, discipline, compassion and a strong commitment to strengthening the Baptist Convention and expanding its impact across communities nationwide. Many paid tribute to his efforts in promoting leadership development, community transformation and institutional sustainability.
During his time in office, Rev. Dr. Joseph Samuel Fornah was credited with supporting a range of social and educational initiatives, including scholarship opportunities for pastors, teachers and theological students as well as humanitarian interventions that provided food and non-food assistance to vulnerable communities during emergencies and periods of hardship.
One of the landmark achievements highlighted during the ceremony was the construction of the BCSL Multipurpose Building in Lunsar, which has since been named the Rev. Dr. Joseph Samuel Fornah Multipurpose Building in recognition of his contributions. The facility has hosted the Convention’s annual conferences since 2024 and is regarded as a major step toward institutional self-reliance and sustainability.
Church leaders noted that the facility has significantly reduced the Convention’s expenditure on rented conference venues, allowing more resources to be directed toward missions, evangelism and community outreach programmes.
Rev. Dr. Joseph Samuel Fornah’s administration was also commended for overseeing the rehabilitation of the Lunsar Eye Clinic, improving access to healthcare services for residents in the region and surrounding communities. In the education sector, his leadership supported the distribution of learning materials to pupils in Baptist schools across Sierra Leone while also extending assistance to selected non-Baptist schools.
Delivering the sermon, Prof. Dr. Momolu Massaquoi of the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary preached on the theme: “Service and Legacy,” drawing lessons from Acts 20:17–35. He emphasized the importance of servant leadership, humility, sacrifice and leaving a lasting impact through service to God and humanity.
In his farewell address, Rev. Dr. Joseph Samuel Fornah expressed gratitude to God, mission partners, donors and members of the Baptist Convention for the opportunity to serve over the past ten years. He described his tenure as both a privilege and a profound responsibility, attributing the achievements recorded during his administration to divine grace and collective effort.
He also encouraged the incoming Executive President, Rev. Dr. Samuel G. A. Kargbo and the Convention’s leadership to continue building on the foundation that has been laid to ensure sustained growth and impact across Sierra Leone.
The ceremony featured musical performances and tributes from various Baptist congregations and church groups. A special presentation by members of the Baptist Mission in Kenema drew emotional responses from attendees as they celebrated the outgoing president’s years of service and dedication.
The Convention announced that Rev. Dr. Samuel G. A. Kargbo is expected to continue advancing the institution’s development agenda by strengthening governance structures, expanding outreach programmes and promoting sustainable growth within the Baptist community.
The event attracted more than a thousand participants from religious, professional and social backgrounds, reflecting the widespread respect and admiration Rev. Dr. Joseph Samuel Fornah has earned throughout his ministry.
The transition to new leadership marks the beginning of another important chapter for the Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone, while the contributions of Rev. Dr. Joseph Samuel Fornah are expected to remain a lasting testament to visionary leadership, institutional growth and dedicated Christian service. Members and stakeholders believe his legacy will continue to inspire the Convention’s mission and future generations of faith leaders across Sierra Leone.
